Editor: I read with dismay the story concerning the out-of-control mob at the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative's office. Do these people not realize what occurred last weekend?
Frances affected the entire state of Florida, not just Hernando County. The utilities have thousands of workers, from as far away as Wisconsin and Texas, working around the clock to restore power to as many residences as quickly as possible. I even saw workers out during the storm.
The utility companies are going above and beyond to ensure that everyone gets power back as soon as possible. Try thinking about the people in Polk County who were without it for twice as long. To verbally abuse and threaten the counter employees at the WREC office is downright appalling.
It saddens me to hear that a deputy sheriff has to be in attendance because of the small-minded, selfish people who took part in this fiasco. As far as I am concerned, these people are an embarrassment and disgrace to an otherwise fantastic county. Shame on all of you who were involved!
-- Robin R. Bauer, Spring Hill
BellSouth's reaction to outages slow compared to other services
Re: BellSouth customers:
Editor: There certainly has been, and appropriately so, a lot of coverage about the electrical power outages and restoration efforts. But I have seen little or no mention of the widespread BellSouth phone outages. The company has been outrageously noncommunicative with its customers by making live telephone contact almost impossible, and their automated "answer-bots" give a restoration date of Sept. 19 as the target.
Does this seem reasonable? What exactly has been the problem, and has the Emergency Operations Center or the St. Petersburg Times looked into or been advised of the situation? I haven't seen any BellSouth trucks or workers anywhere in Hernando County.
But we have our electric and cable television services back already? What's up?
For a company in the communication business, this sure seems like a lousy way to treat customers. But I'm sure there will be a credit on everyone's bill, without even having to demand one, won't there?
-- Clem Johnson, Brooksville
Reporter's angle on artist's death inconsiderate of family, efforts
Re: Artist's death leaves void in area, Aug. 31 St. Petersburg Times:
Editor: This article was an example of unscrupulous reporting. Staff writer Dan DeWitt has forgotten how to be a decent person who can act with sensitivity and grace when the situation calls for it.
I understand that Lewis Watkins was well known throughout the community and Mr. DeWitt felt an obligation to report his death. So, leave it at that. Why would he choose to include information that would cause the family additional pain? It is not necessary to magnify the grief of a heartbroken family.
Why did the reporter feel that dredging up negative accusations from the 1980s was more newsworthy than the fact Mr. Watkins has been renovating houses all over Brooksville, which beautifies the city? Why was that more important than the fact that Mr. Watkins has donated beautiful pieces of his artwork all over town?
In the midst of the Watkins' grief, they were flooded with phone calls from the reporter. Do they physically strip away all capacity for compassion in journalism school?
A man has died. A family is in mourning. And the community has lost a wonderful artist and friend. Please stop adding to the grief.
-- Katie Dysart, Brooksville
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