Letters to the Editors

Waste pickup costs climb where homes far apart

Editor: I wish to comment on the proposal to have mandatory waste collection for all of Citrus County. This county has a large proportion of sparsely settled areas, as compared to high-density areas, which makes mandatory waste collection impractical.

Consider the high cost of collecting waste per household along State Road 200 from U.S. 41 to the Withlacoochee River. Or similarly, the cost of collecting waste per household on U.S. 41 going north out of Inverness to the county line. Even the highly traveled U.S. 19 going north out of Crystal River to the Withlacoochee River is sparsely settled and as such represents a high-cost area. County Road 490 from Lecanto to Homosassa Springs, along with all the side roads is another high-cost area. I could mention many, many more such areas.

Consider those costs with the cost of collecting waste per household in Beverly Hills, Inverness or Crystal River. Are people living in these communities supposed to accept the idea of averaging the total cost of waste collection throughout the county and paying their share? I don't think they will.

Another problem that will come with mandatory waste collection is that those people who now recycle by taking their waste directly to the landfill will probably stop this practice and put their recyclables out for the hauler to collect. Thus the landfill will fill up just that much faster.

If the county does not adopt a mandatory waste collection system, then how will the problems cited be solved? Well, how are they solved now? The cost is covered by our taxes, which is certainly a justifiable expense.
-- Dan L. Davies, Hernando

Need medical care? Try the jail

Editor: Regarding those senior (or destitute) residents who cannot afford their prescriptions (or have to make a choice between medicine and food), take heart, just learn to play the system.

First, just knock off a convenience store. No money for a gun? No problem. Stroll over to the produce counter, pick up a banana and stick it in your coat pocket. That should cover your main expenses of this operation.

Second, rip the joint off. If you pull it off, buy your prescriptions, get something to eat, maybe pay something on the rent, and then case the next heist.

Next, same song, second verse. Not much chance of getting nabbed, but sooner or later someone who knows what you're up to (by noticing that you're looking healthy again) might roll over on you.

No problem. Take the fall. Maybe cop a plea but don't accept probation or a suspended sentence. Once you're in the slammer, now the good times start to roll.

You'll be entitled to all the free prescriptions, doctor visits, lab work, and so forth that you need. If they have to take you to a doctor's office, you'll get head-of-the-line privileges. Think of it. Free food, air-conditioned quarters and lounge for TV (OK, you might have to learn to actually like MTV but keep the advantages in mind), free clothes, free laundry, good library (especially on law topics). Did I mention free eyeglasses and finally getting your teeth fixed? You're feeling better already, right?

Then comes the educational benefits. OK, maybe there is not much call for professional license platemakers on the outside, but you can attend classes (free, of course) to either finish high school or even get a degree. Actually, if you play it right, you can learn any number of useful trades inside.

Sure, you may have to go along the roads and pick up trash once in a while, but I notice law-abiding volunteers doing that also so that wouldn't be too bad, and fresh air will be good for your health, which is why you're here in the first place.

When you get sprung, after sufficiently dragging your heels until the new dentures and eyeglasses come in, the party continues. Since you're still broke (forget about a replay of the convenience store caper, they go harder on second offenders) you'll be scooping in all sorts of welfare, Medicaid, food stamps, job training, and so forth. The list goes on and on.

It's either this or move to Iraq, as every citizen over there is up for free universal medical care. But then you would have to learn to pronounce the Baath Party as a two-syllable word (like Ba'ath).

OK, so this is written tongue-in-cheek, but with that cabal up in Tallahassee, along with Big Bubba up in La-La Land we jokingly call a government, this might be your only chance of survival.

OK, get to work, go get that banana.
-- Walter Treftz, Hernando

Jealousy spurs attacks on coach

Editor: Let's talk about the good things Crystal River High School baseball coach Brent Hall and his family stand for. A great family man, a great motivator, and a great coach! Those wins didn't come from driving a Cadillac or holding baseball camps. The wins came from hard work, dedication, and great team work that was instilled in Coach Hall's program.

Can he help it if students want to come to his school because he is a great coach? What he has done for baseball is apparent in Citrus County. Just take a look at the other high school programs. They have all stepped up with similarities to Crystal River High School, such as cleaned-up fields, sponsor boards, announcers, music for players, practice uniforms. Sounds like Coach Hall has changed the way we all look at high school baseball.

Coach Hall took a baseball program at Crystal River High School and has turned it around to one of the top programs in the state. He has taught his players what respect, discipline, and hard work mean and what positive results they bring. It is just too bad that Coach Hall has to be brought down like this by bitter and jealous people.

And brought down by whom? That's a good question! Have you thought what this may have done to his wife and kids? Shame on all of you!

Coach Hall has always put his family first, and we are sure this will bring them even closer together. For all you friends, players, and parents who know Coach Hall, we urge you to call your School Board members and write letters to the Citrus Times in support of Coach Brent Hall and his family.

Coach Hall has been there for us. We need to step up to the plate and be there for him.
-- Larry and Cathy Pearson, Pine Ridge

Constituents suffer when services cut

Editor: On three occasions I have contacted U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's office to find out if "our" representative was in favor of any tax cuts other than the one for the very rich. I have not gotten an answer.

Perhaps Brown-Waite believes her constituents are made up of only the very rich, and not people of average income who will be denied not only a tax cut, but will have necessary services cut, such as Medicare and school funding.

Perhaps she has forgotten, or never knew, that she represents all people, many of whom are suffering because of cuts in the funding of programs they need to survive or live a decent life.

I realize that hauling the bodies of long-dead soldiers home and creating a medal for Tony Blair take a long time, and she is busy, busy, busy. However, she needs to take a look at the sorry state of the area's economy and pay more attention to the people she represents who live here.
-- Nancy S. Teunis, Weeki Wachee

Share your views

The Citrus Times welcomes letters from readers for publication.

Because of space limitations, letters should be of reasonable length.

Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

All letters must be signed and must contain the writer's address and telephone number. Addresses and telephone numbers will not be printed.

Send your letters to Greg Hamilton, editorial page editor, Citrus Times, 301 W Main St., Inverness, FL 34450. To fax a letter, call 860-7320. Send letters by electronic mail (in text only format) to Hamilton@sptimes.com.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright