Hurricane Government

[PARAGON]

<SPAN class=story>Article published Feb 26, 2006
<SPAN class=headline>McGee may soon pay
for his 'crime'</SPAN>



We can all breathe a little easier now.


The federal government appears to be close to finalizing "The Case of the
Stolen Ice Trucks."


Thank goodness and hallelujah!


The Crime of the Century may soon be resolved.


Ever since the incident in question occurred Sept. 4, Pine Belt residents
have been eagerly awaiting the prosecution of Forrest County Sheriff Billy McGee
- the admitted perpetrator of this heinous crime - who, along with three of his
deputies, had the audacity to commandeer two ice trucks from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's staging site at Camp Shelby and send them to
Brooklyn and Petal to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.


What was he thinking?


McGee's actions sparked widespread outrage throughout the Pine Belt.


For despite the fact thousands of rural residents were teetering on the brink
of disaster - without ice, water, food, electricity and basic supplies; and
beset by temperatures that exceeded 90 degrees in the shade - South
Mississippians were appalled that McGee would put their welfare above the
federal government's rules and protocols.


Such brazen concern for the citizens of Forrest County is simply inexcusable
and must not be tolerated in civil society.


For his role in the incident, McGee was scheduled to plead guilty Friday to a
federal misdemeanor charge of interfering with, intimidating and impeding a
federal officer.


However, late Thursday, the plea hearing was unexpectedly delayed.


Consequently, we'll have to wait a little longer before justice is meted out
in this case.


But rest assured, federal prosecutors have got their man. And they won't rest
until McGee is punished.


The prosecution of McGee will no doubt help to restore South Mississippi's
flagging confidence in the federal government - a commodity that has been in
short supply since Katrina roared ashore on Aug. 29.


For - and let's be honest here - FEMA's performance during and after the
storm left a lot to be desired.


The hurricane zone is replete with tales of woe: of tractor-trailers filled
with supplies that sat idle for days; of emergency medical teams that couldn't
get to victims because of bureaucratic mix-ups; of FEMA officials who blocked
National Guard troops from delivering supplies.


The federal government couldn't get it right following the worst natural
disaster in U.S. history.


But, doggone it, federal prosecutors have got it right this time!


They aren't about to let a county sheriff break the law and get away with it.


It makes one proud to be an American. </P></SPAN>