Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Outstanding job on Ironman event

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published November 15, 2006

Outstanding job on Ironman event 

As a resident of Clearwater, I would like to commend those who brought the Ironman triathlon to Clearwater. The city officials and the Parks and Recreation Department along with its director, Kevin Dunbar, did an outstanding job in making this event a success.

As I traveled Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard on Saturday morning, I was equally impressed with the manpower that was required to host this event. There were law enforcement officers on virtually every corner, along with volunteers who helped to keep the athletes safe and the traffic flowing as smoothly as possible.

In addition, the event was well-publicized so that the general public was made aware of any impact there might be on their travel plans.

What a huge undertaking for our city! I look forward to enjoying the Ironman event annually for the next few years.

Davonne Irion, Clearwater

Applaud city on staging Ironman

The city of Clearwater should be commended for the excellent job it did hosting the Ironman race. We had the most exciting time and were so impressed with how organized everything was, from the parking to the transitioning areas for the athletes. Even the traffic control on the way to and from the event was handled wonderfully.

It was thrilling to be able to be right up close to all the action and I feel badly for anyone that missed this event due to lack of publicity.

I plan on attending the next five years, and here's hoping Clearwater will become the permanent location for many years to come.

Jules Stewart, Dunedin

Planning was poor for Ironman

I fail to understand why Clearwater was offered as a venue for the Ironman triathlon event this past Saturday.

Surely, whoever was responsible for this decision ignored the fact that since we live on a peninsula with roads that are inadequate for the 950,000 people living in Pinellas County, hosting this race would create significant traffic headaches for the local population, particularly on a Saturday, when most people have to do shopping and run other errands.

Why major north-south arteries like McMullen-Booth Road and Belcher Road had to be used for this race is incomprehensible to me. Surely, if these athletes need to ride their bicycles for 56 miles, they can do so by circling 56 times around a mile-long circumference at a sports field, or cycling up and down Fort Harrison Avenue, which would have created minimal disruption of traffic.

This is poor planning of the most irresponsible kind, completely ignoring the needs and convenience of the local population. Whoever was responsible for this fiasco needs to have his head examined.

Jose V. Heinert, Clearwater

Businesses paid the ultimate price

I would like you to list all the elected officials in Pinellas County that voted to hold the citizens hostage on Saturday morning while 1,700 tourists had unfettered access to our busiest streets. As a registered voter who exercises the right, I want to remember them come next election.

I left the Palms nursing home in Largo at 8:25 Saturday morning, heading to the intersection of East Bay Drive and U.S. 19, a 2.4-mile trip. East Bay was blocked at Belcher and all traffic was directed south. The congestion had us at a crawl. It took me 17 miles and 95 minutes (averaging 10 mph) to reach my destination.

Many business along the route were inaccessible. They really paid a price for this fiasco. The competitors may have brought millions to a few select businesses in the county, but many paid much more as a result.

Let's not let them do it again.

Ed Ketcham, Dunedin

Golden Corral honors veterans

Monday the Golden Corral in Largo again hosted a free evening meal for all veterans of military service. It was an unbelievable event with many hundreds of vets and their family members showing up representing all services from World War II through the current war on terror.

The generosity, friendliness and appreciation shown to the men and women who served their county by the Golden Corral restaurant was readily apparent and genuine.

Everyone I talked to, especially fellow Vietnam War era veterans, commented how totally different this was compared to what veterans experienced in the 1960s and '70s.

I would like to salute the management and staff for their actions and say, "Thank you for remembering!"

Bill Wilson, U.S. Army (Retired), Clearwater

[Last modified November 15, 2006, 06:53:48]