Letters to the Editors

It's okay to support Wal-Mart

Editor: Re: Wal-Mart defends supercenter site, Feb. 1 Times:

Arline Erdrich's zealous opposition to Wal-Mart's plans for a new Spring Hill supercenter got my attention. She continues inexorably to raise the bar for this huge corporation.

Imagine taking on, as she has, a megabillion-dollar concern, one so spectacularly successful in profiting while serving the purchasing needs of millions of Americans.

Her demands, among so many other considerations, seek: new traffic studies, a wildlife survey, a sinkhole study and proof that no archaeological sites are in contention. Will she or her CAUSE proponents finance the dig for such evidence? Of course not. That isn't what they have in mind. In her Gibraltar-like determination, she warns that "we" (whomever "we" are) are going to hold Wal-Mart's "feet to the fire." She further pledges "we" are not going to let things go by.

Her admonishment zone again zeros in on the county. I suppose if this lady does not get her way in this matter, county officials must stand by to be stood up for their unaccountability. Obviously, Ms. Erdrich subsumes she represents a powerful constituency. I hold no stock in Wal-Mart. Neither I, nor anyone in my family, is working or has worked for this giant corporation. I, like thousands of my neighbors, shop there. It is our choice. We deserve some consideration.

Why is this so? Go to Wal-Mart's two stores in this area and try to park there, or stand in the checkout counter lines, or get jostled around in the crowded aisles. It should give Ms. Erdrich some idea of why thousands of us look forward to this new supercenter. I hope my determined neighbor will accord us the consideration our numbers deserve in her crusade.
-- John C. MacKercher, Brooksville

Proposed supercenter fills need for Spring Hill

Editor: It seems like the CAUSE organization (Coalition for Anti-Urban Sprawl Effort) of Hernando County is a spoiler and against any future development.

The new Wal-Mart supercenter planned for U.S. 19 in Spring Hill will bring more business to the county and offer more jobs. They were opposed to the Wal-Mart store on Cortez Boulevard. It is difficult to find a parking space most days.

If and when the new Wal-Mart supercenter is built on U.S. 19, the CAUSE organization people will be some of the first customers in line when the stores open.
-- Paul W. Neuber, Spring Hill

Judge needs to look out for his constituency

Editor: January must be a bad judgment month for Judge Peyton Hyslop.

In January 2001, Judge Peyton Hyslop was written up as one of America's worst judges in Reader's Digest magazine.

On Jan. 16, 2001, the Hernando Times, an edition of the St. Petersburg Times, came out with an article that was taken from the police report regarding Judge Hyslop's decision on a hit-run driver. Excerpts from the article are as follows:

"The Florida Highway Patrol charged James M. Beveridge of 5072 Kirkwood Ave., with leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury. Authorities said he hit a 40-year-old man who was pushing his bicycle on Commercial Way south of Forest Oaks Boulevard Friday at about 7 p.m.

"The 40-year-old victim was flown by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center with serious head injuries.

"Beveridge was released on his own recognizance by County Judge Peyton Hyslop, according to a jail spokeswoman."

We have brave men and women fighting and dying in Afghanistan to protect the people on the home front. We need our judges to do the same.

It is my understanding that leaving the scene of an accident is considered a felony and is punishable by prison time.

Judge Hyslop is an elected official. It is time that we judge the judge.
-- Eleanor Marholin, Brooksville

Leave business support in private sector's hands

Editor: Re: Suddenly, 2 groups racing to help businesses, Jeff Webb's Jan. 27 column about a private and a public group vying to renew efforts to improve the business conditions of Hernando County:

The column accurately conveyed the question, "What is going on here?" Why are two different groups preparing to perform redundant actions for the same goal?

My first reaction was that economic development should be left with the private sector exclusively, since they seem to be more efficient about most activities they do. The private sector takes the risks, provides its own effort, conducts research and development better and usually affiliates itself with prestigious economic institutes and private universities with caliber staff.

On the other hand, the public sector uses taxpayer money, takes no risk, and usually has a lot of strings attached to expectations and regulations. The government is not as good at the business itself and its efficiency is half of what the private sector can do.

My natural reaction is to save the taxpayers money, and encourage this private sector Economic Development Commission to reactivate itself on its own dollars. Since Hernando County already has spent $1.1-million on a four-year effort that was not successful, then forget it! If the private group is willing to venture forth on its own, then the county should encourage them, not compete with them or provide obstacles or redundant services. Besides, depending on the private sector exclusively will save the taxpayers money, too.

What I would hope the private group would do would be less wining and dining of prospective companies, and take its time in analyzing conditions of the county, the needs of present and of prospective employers, and also what the citizens have to offer with regard to both their existing skills and what training they would like to see offered in Hernando County. Maybe the government's role could be in the training of a labor force, once the needs of companies and citizens are well known and established, instead of concentrating on the retention or recruitment process of present and new employers.

Since Hernando County is forecast to double its population in the next 25 years (approximately 220,000 residents by 2025), it will be imperative to establish some short-term business expansion, and long-term recruitment, plans that will be business-wise and cost-efficient for all concerned.
-- Brian P. Moore, Spring Hill

More needs to be known about teacher, intentions

Editor: Re: 3 people, 5 years of questions, Feb. 3 Times:

Your article regarding Joseph Gatti is so one-sided.

Too much unnecessary information on the boy's parents, and hardly any details on a 41-year-old who had past questionable contact with young boys before all this came about.

What people want to know is:

What is a teacher doing cooking and hanging out at a student's home without the parents being present?

Why did a teacher sign out a student during school hours without the parent's consent?

What happened at a boys camp in Vermont years ago that they no longer want Mr. Gatti there?

Why did a teacher hide a young boy at a friend's home while the parents and the police were looking for him?

What was found on the computer Mr. Gatti had at the school?

Having had the opportunity to read transcripts available to the public, I find that too many details are left out and parents should know.
-- Linda Susan, Spring Hill

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