Letters to the Editors

Videotape reveals a lack of credibility

Editor: Re: Video in firefighter sex scandal surfaces, Jan. 28 Times:

The videotape, a (supposedly) new revelation, shows that all the alleged rape victim wants to do is keep stirring the pot. At every turn, you can tell that the woman cannot get her story straight and is thriving on the continuing publicity.

She states that she was uncomfortable with the statements made by firefighter Ed Falk, but then she decides to date him? Hmmmm. That comment alone blows what little credibility she had out of the water -- again.

I believe the reason she will not allow a copy of the tape is because it may prove that parts of the tape were cut out. That might incriminate her. If this woman really wanted these men to be fired, she would have turned over the tape and made short work of this investigation.

The firefighters who made the inappropriate sexual comments and slanderous comments on tape about their superior, then-fire commissioner Robert Kanner, should have been brought up short and fired for their behavior. But without a copy of this tape as actual proof to place in the employees' files, officials' hands may be tied.

It is time for the woman to get this over with and turn over the proof she keeps waving in front of news reporters, or to shut up and get on with her life. Enough is enough.
-- Lynette Ball, Spring Hill

Woman's behavior has been despicable

Editor: Re: Video in firefighter sex scandal surfaces, Jan. 28 Times:

Well, well, well. We make accusations. We claim to have proof of wrongdoing.

Since this unidentified person wants to protect her "property" rights in order to make a documentary for her personal benefit and enrichment, are we to hold justice in limbo? At the cost of what? Firefighters' names? The hobbling of a department? Indefinite legal wrangling?

So, I guess I wasn't too far off the mark when I said that this was occurring in "furtherance of some as yet to be identified persons' or organizations' political/personal benefit."

What despicable behavior by this woman. Let's end this misery once and for all.
-- Vilmar Tavares, Spring Hill

Fire department needs to remove the few bad apples

Editor: It's a darn shame how the Spring Hill Fire Department is being raked over the coals because of a few bad apples. These apples should be removed from the barrel before the rest of the apples get tainted.

The chief and his assistant certainly are the wrong persons to dole out punishment. Remember, most of these firefighters are their friends and have lived with them on their 24-hour shifts. Maybe the chief and his assistant should be replaced with officers who have not been associated with Spring Hill.

The punishment board should be made up of residents not associated with any fire department. Deal with the facts, not friends.
-- William Hughes, Spring Hill

Children of all ages grieve untimely deaths

Editor: Re: U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's trying to limit punitive damages.

I say okay, but don't prevent us from suing the doctor responsible for our loss of a single parent before their time because of our age.

Congresswoman, thank you for all you tried to do on our behalf. Keep up the good fight.

I lost my mom because of a doctor's misdiagnosis, and imagine my shock when told because mom was a widow and I'm more than 25 years old, I couldn't do anything. This is not fair.

God bless you, Ginny, from a still-grieving daughter.
-- Terry Dayton, Spring Hill

A lot of great pets available at shelters

Editor: Re: Dog's dilemma attracts offers, Jan. 10 Times:
-- This letter concerns the dog Lucky, who was very lucky. She is the dog that was hit by a minivan and taken to Animal Control.
First, she had a collar on. Why didn't the people who owned her come to claim her after her picture and story was printed? Could it be possible they were out of town and she ran away from wherever or whoever was caring for her? Or maybe she got away from her owners on a trip and was trying to find her way back home? Too bad she had no tags on her collar. If she did, her owners could have been notified.
Animal Services has a beautiful facility, but they keep the animals for only a short period before disposing of them. The Humane Society, on the other hand, is a no-kill shelter (so is the SPCA). That is the place to take your pets when you no longer want them for whatever reason.
If the 227 people who called, and the 74 people who went to see Lucky, would go to one of the shelters and get a dog, the shelters would be empty. There are a lot of great dogs and cats at the shelters waiting for a good home, so please go see them. They are not all Golden Retrievers, but they are all loveable and adoptable.
Also, the Humane Society is in need of volunteers for the thrift shops. We are not government-run and depend on donations and the profits from the thrift shops to run our shelters. If you have a few spare hours during the week, we could use you.
Nancy Eslick, Brooksville

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