WHAT a time the citizens of New Orleans have been through.

The hurricane struck on the Sunday - but where were the response teams? Monday passed quietly, then on Tuesday the many garages around the USA began to run out of petrol. Why? Because the refineries in the Biloxi area provide around ten per cent of the daily petrol requirements for the US.

When petrol stations suddenly doubled the cost of their petrol to $2 a gallon (we pay nearly $2 a litre!) then George Bush decided that something should be done. If the refineries hadn't been there, how long would it have taken before action was taken?

Now we ask ourselves, how will the people of Stamford Bridge and other outlying areas of York cope if flood prevention measures are not taken? Many areas are still waiting for promised cash to fund the floodgates and time is running out. Must we wait to see corpses floating down the main street before something is done?

THE council is to implement new plans to put sugar on our roads to eradicate the problems of ice (September 5).

But how much do we need for each street?

Would it be one lump or two?

ST Barnabas school looks set to be demolished. Another part of York's colourful past about to bite the dust.

What we want to know is who decides these things? Who was the person who said, "you know that lovely old building full of character down the road - let's knock it down"?

If you speak to councillors they always tell you it wasn't their decision, it was just brought up at the last meeting and it was decided the school wasn't cost effective and it would be cheaper to knock it down.

Our "Beacon Council" who set the way for others around the country to follow should remember this advice: less waste, less want.

All those that live in the Beckfield Lane area still miss the school facilities, not just from the kids' point of view, but the many evening classes who used to go on there, and the many social events that also took place.

It was knocked down, new houses were built on the site and now the people that live there have to look for a school to send their kids to. For many this means a journey to the other end of Acomb or into the town.

This, of course, leads to more city centre congestion and the whole farce turns full circle.

ON a brighter note, August saw one of the most active months for Elvis Tribute Acts around the country.

Elvis fans commemorate their hero's death on August 16 every year, but with Elvis having had 18 top 20 hits and three number ones in 2005 so far, extra events have been put on nationwide to satisfy the demands of the fans.

I was lucky enough to meet up with Elvis's original backing band - the TCB band -featuring Glen Hardin, James Burton and many more of his close friends.

I asked James what his favourite Elvis song was, and he replied in a manner similar to many Elvis fans around the world. "All of them!"

I also took part in a Bargain Hunt Elvis Special which will be screened on Monday, October 3 for those fans of daytime TV who wish to tune in.

So until the next time...

Thankyouverymuch.

Updated: 08:51 Friday, September 09, 2005