Online readers of The Athens NEWS were busy as usual the past couple of weeks, posting comments to stories and letters that ran in the Internet version of our paper. Topics sparking reader reaction ranged from a letter about those love-'em-or-hate-'em Tea Party activists, to an illustrated feature on a seniors' skate night at an area roller rink.

A STORY BY first-time NEWS contributor Bethany Williams about Dow's Rollarena in New Floodwood near Nelsonville triggered a brief nostalgic flashback for one reader, who opined that 1955-57 was "œthe best time ever at Dow's."

A SKEPTICAL READER predicted "“ correctly, as it turned out "“ that Ohio University administrators would decide, against the wishes of OU Faculty Senate, to cut a pay-raise pool for university employees.
"5-1 betting that they cut the pool," the reader wrote. "Anyone want to take those odds? Didn't think so."

IN A COLUMN that ran Monday, U.S. Rep. Zack Space, a Democrat who represents a congressional district including part of northern Athens County, explained why he voted "no" on the big health-care reform bill. Space's rationale prompted one apparently conservative reader to call for like-minded voters to get cracking and throw the rascals out.

"Focus, Conservatives!" this commentator urged. "Hope doesn't cut it. We need ACTION for CHANGE IN A POSITIVE CONSERVATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL DIRECTION!"

A letter giving Space the thumbs-up for his vote drew this brief, sardonic remark: "$20 says this was ghostwritten by an insurance industry PR person."

ANOTHER READER responded acidly to a story reporting that more local landlords are complying with a city law that requires them to fill out a form providing information on their tenants.

"In the irony of ironies, Athens City officials applaud the privacy laws and confidentiality of the U.S. Census, while actively denying a certain class of Athens residents (renters) their right of privacy," the comment read.

A HANDFUL OF people weighed in on a story about hopes by the county sheriff to build a new headquarters on a site off U.S. Rt. 33 northwest of Athens.

"Why do we need to buy 29 acres for an office site?" one asked. "That seems like a waste of a lot of money. Oh, and didn't the sheriff once say something about locating in a more central location in the county?"
Another sarcastically questioned the estimated price tag: "Really! Over $6,000 per acre. Prime farm land is cheaper. Hey, I've got some land for sale."

A REPORT ON the sentencing of former Athens County Democratic Party Chair Susan Gwinn, for falsifying campaign finance reports (a judge fined her $1,000) drew a number of comments both for and against the politician.

"Does anyone else wonder just what justification exists for an investigation and prosecution that went on for well over a year and yielded such a small return?" asked one reader. "This entire affair was a misuse of the court's purposes..."

Another reader noted that special prosecutor Dave Yost told The NEWS he had hoped to see Gwinn serve at least 30 days in jail.

"And for what?" the reader asked. "Would the streets of Athens be safer for 30 days? Would the people?"
A third reader, however, suggested that Gwinn got off without a stay in the crowbar motel only because the judge on the case has a "D" after his name.

"Please. I'm wondering why you aren't asking why a retired Democrat judge... chose to find her not guilty of money laundering," the reader said. "Apparently the judge felt he should find her guilty of 'something' so he didn't look like a complete partisan hack."

YET ANOTHER READER found the Gwinn case an example, not of judicial partisanship, but of a deeper class bias in the courts.

"Crooked lawyers usually get a slap on the wrist when they finally end up on the receiving end of justice," the poster alleged. "Although there are many hardworking and honest people in law enforcement and the courts, 'equal protection under the law,' in America has become a joke, but not the funny kind."

A LETTER CRITICIZING the Tea Party movement sparked a running back-and-forth between readers who consider the movement an admirable upsurge of grassroots patriotism, and those who see it more as a mob of ill-informed, racist blowhards. To enjoy the whole debate from start to finish, go to http://www.athensnews.com/editorial/letters/30740-letter-unfairly-and-unpatriotically-questioned-motive-of-tea-partiers.