The Valdosta Daily Times
June 11, 2009 12:27 am
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A day of reckoning
It has become painfully obvious to me that Saturday night in Hahira on Futch Road, someone or some persons are playing a game of “kill the cat.”
After having just buried two more of our beloved cats, we are going to do our best to find out whether any of our neighbors are experiencing this problem.
Personally, I am going to pay a visit to the police department and try and get the speeders taken care of. This is number four of our cats and one of someone else’s that we have buried over the last year.
I am disgusted to think that people can devaluate the life of an animal like that. These are actions that the perpetrators should be accountable for.
For the reasons above, I do not feel these incidents are accidental nor am I convinced that it’s youngsters at fault. Whoever it is, will be answering to someone down the line. When you are sitting around with your head bowed shamefully, feeling sorry for yourself, remember your “sorry self” killing those poor defenseless creatures.
They had names, Pumpkin, Pixie, Trixie and Geo. We will miss them. I hope that the day of reckoning for whoever is doing this comes soon.
Eunice Jones
Hahira
Impressed with law-enforcement
I am most impressed with the law-enforcement agencies in Georgia. To have cleaned up the drug problem in the state is a magnificent achievement. These crimes must no longer be an issue, or how else could the state afford to release so many officers and assets to stop mini-vans carrying families to Disney World in the middle of the night for doing 61 mph in a 60 zone. But all was not as it appeared.
I was traveling southbound on I-75 at mile marker 42. The conditions were dry, light traffic, both lanes open, with no lights (it was 11:30 at night), no construction equipment, no men working and the only thing to indicate a construction zone were orange barrels strategically placed along the median and a posted speed limit of 60 MPH about 20 miles back.
I was flowing with the traffic around 60 mph when a police car appeared behind me with lights on. I pulled over at the next convenient safe area (exit 39) which happened to place me behind another police car that had stopped a motorist. (There were a lot of flashing blue lights that night.) The officer said it was a 50 zone. I said I thought it was a 60. He wrote me a ticket. He was very cordial and respectful. I thank him for that.
Five days later, as I was returning to my home state traveling north on I-75, I analyzed how this trap was set. The farthest south point of the “construction” zone was at mile marker 39. In both directions two lanes were traversable. The speed limit in both directions was 50 mph until mile marker 44 at which time the speed limit went to 60 mph (both directions.) The speed limit remained 60 mph until approximately mile marker 60 and the end of the “construction” zone. There was no change in road conditions in either direction at the point where the speed limit changed.
The interesting point is the insidious speed change from 60 mph to 50 mph while traveling southbound. After entering the “construction” zone at mile marker 60 and slowing to the posted speed limit of 60 mph for 15 miles there is an arbitrary change in speed limit with no corresponding change in road conditions. If not specifically looking for the new speed limit, it is very likely that a motorist would not notice the “new” limit. If there ever was a definition of a speed trap, that was it.
This is not a plea of innocence, I was going 61 mph. I just thought it was a 60 limit. If the city of Adel, the county of Cook or the state of Georgia needs revenue then just set up a road block and confiscate $145 (my fine) from each motorist. But don’t do it under the pretense that there is a safety issue involved. If that were the case, the speed limit should be 50 mph at the beginning of the “construction” zone. Not in the last five miles where the numerous police assets were strategically concentrated immediately after the speed change. Maybe that was just coincidental.
As a side note: Five days later as I entered the “construction” zone heading northbound at mile marker 39 and very conscious of my speed reduction to 50 mph, a marked police car passed me in the 50 limit doing approximately 65 mph with no lights on and no siren. (I’m fairly experienced in closure and opening rates of velocity after flying jet fighters for 24 years in the USAF.) Correct me if I’m wrong, but I was always under the assumption that a police car was required to operate under the same laws and statutes as a civilian car unless performing in official police business capacity.
I will think long and hard before visiting your state again. A concerned interstate traveler.
Wyatt Stedman, Louisville, Ky.
Lt. Col. USAF, Retired
Why must we begrudge the first couple a night out?
Two Rants regarding the Obama's date night beg an answer.
When coverage of the Obama’s date night came on the news, this is what I saw: A loving, young American couple having a well-deserved night out. The president himself said on the news yesterday that he would rather take a shuttle, and rather not have a 15 car motorcade everywhere he goes, but it comes with the job, and he cannot change that.
Why must we begrudge the first couple a night out? I believe it is because of the hate people hear spewed forth from the likes of Rush Limbaugh and a few of the Republicans who hate everything to do with President Obama. Sadly, these people profess to be good Christians. There is nothing good or Christ-like about hate.
We can open our minds and think for ourselves, and surely come to a better conclusion than hate.
The couple is well-deserving of a night out as often as they can take one. If I am paying for it, I am happy to do so.
Joan Lombardo
Valdosta
Throwing away trillions of dollars
We’re throwing away trillions of dollars when a better solution exists. The FairTax can save the U.S. economy. The income tax makes politicians powerful and lobbyists rich, but undermines the very things that make our economy strong. We’re hobbling the American economic strengths that can solve this crisis without destructive borrowing and spending.
Our American genius for commerce, invention, productivity and growth is unleashed when we tax what comes out of our economy — consumption—instead of what goes into our economy— work, savings, and investment.
The FairTax is a national retail sales tax that stops the damage, jump starts our recovery and begins a new period of American growth. It replaces every penny now raised, broadens the tax base and is simple, fair and transparent. Federal taxes are paid at the cash register only at the point of final retail sale. Every worker takes home their whole paycheck. The FairTax ends corporate and capital gains taxes, which in turn brings businesses back to the U.S. Low-income and middle Americans get permanent relief in the form of a monthly prebate check.
It can happen if we make our democracy work. There will be a Fair Tax meeting on Monday June 15, 7 p.m. at Marco Polo restaurant.
Kelly Phillips
Ray City
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