Re: Man, 26, accused of sex assault on girls, story, May 19.
I am shocked, disgusted, angry and appalled that such a thing can happen while parents are working and no adult is left in charge of the sleepover.
What interest or knowledge did the parents of the girl under 16 have that their daughter was having a physical relationship with a man 10 years older?
What interest or knowledge did any of the parents of any of the children have regarding this sleepover?
The girl under 16 meets suspect Christopher Bird at the mall. She invites him to a sleepover with others, including one under 13, to be held at a friend's mobile home park. Police say he brings strawberry vodka and spends the main part of the evening sexually battering a child under 13. Did not anyone hear the kicking and yelling of this child?
The parents of these girls should be placed in the slammer with Bird. They are all at fault. They dropped the ball when it comes to good parenting.
Let this be a warning or lesson to all parents. Know your children's friends, their whereabouts and don't allow activities outside of the family without knowing the friends and their families. This is not the world we once lived in.
It is because of such a lack of interest in our children's everyday activities and especially their friends that some are impregnated, kidnapped or murdered.
-- Dee Jackson, Palm Harbor
Belleair could make money in the electric distribution
Re: Belleair bolstered by power report, story, May 14.
To my fellow Belleair residents: Within the past two to three weeks, you have read and heard from consultants the town hired as to whether it was feasible for us, Belleair, to get into the electric distribution business.
The Times article by Lorri Helfand, plus a similar one two weeks ago in the Beach Views & Gazette by Leo Coughlin, explained what is in the current report. Ms. Helfand also wrote that a prior report also stated almost the same thing, that Belleair can make money if we go into the electric distribution business.
To those of you who have been wined and dined by Florida Power or its successor, Progress Energy, and made your minds up in their favor, I have one question to ask you. But before I ask that question, I want to refresh your memories and ask you to recall the fact that Florida's attorney general, Charlie Crist, took Progress Energy to court and got it to refund to us, its customers, $18-million more on top of the $5-million it told the Public Service Commission we were due in excess fuel charges.
So, my question is: If they, Florida Power/Progress Energy, could not figure out what their fuel costs were at the time, and the attorney general got us $18-million more in refunds, how can you believe anything about the numbers they tell you, especially after they wined and dined you?
-- Tom Vourlos, Belleair
Stop stray golf balls now, worry about aesthetics later
Re: Fore! Incoming golf balls, story, May 12.
Maybe none of them play golf, or perhaps the planners have become walking oxymorons for not planning on golf balls bouncing off cars before paving the Keene Road extension.
I don't play golf, but I know what "slice" and "hook" mean. Could someone remind me how long it took the Clearwater Country Club near Drew Street and N Betty Lane to put up preventative measures against broken windshields and dented hoods along those roads?
My chief concern now is safety. Put up something temporary and then worry about aesthetics later.
-- Jac Couch, Clearwater
The young, healthy should consider plights of disabled
Re: Rules make parking tougher for disabled, May 2, and All drivers should pay to park in metered spots, letter by Victoria Johnson, May 11.
From the tone of Ms. Johnson's letter, she doesn't "wheel" or "hobble." I can only hope she never needs to, as it will force her into the moccasins she has never worn - obviously a foreign concept for her. While definitely not elderly, she will be.
-- Roger Goss, Clearwater
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