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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Fireworks laws exist for safety

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published June 12, 2007

Current state law prohibits any person from using or exploding any fireworks, except under certain circumstances such as in a public supervised display for which the county issues a permit or quarry blasting, use of blanks for a show or theater, for ceremonial purposes at athletic events, use by military organizations or armed forces, or to frighten birds from agricultural works or fish hatcheries.

You must be at least 18 years old, according to Chapter 791 of Florida Statutes.

So, why does Pasco County allow children to purchase and use these explosives at will? Parents should be responsible for their children and not buy the fireworks and not allow the children to use them.

Are the officials closing their eyes or do they not care about their senior citizens and other people's property? They not only frighten our pets to the point they won't even go outside, but they land on our roofs and property that could cause a fire. It's also often done after hours.

I know this has been ignored for the last 15 years that we've lived here. Do we have to wait until someone is hurt or a fire has been started before something is done? Something must be done, and done now.

Carl Knight, Port Richey

Editor's note: The Florida Legislature recently approved a moratorium on local government ordinances controlling fireworks sales beyond current state law.

Why the high cost to build schools?

There is something wrong with the picture School Board member Allen Altman and assistant superintendent Ray Gadd are painting of the school district's financing of school construction.

I don't know what contractors Mr. Gadd is speaking for, but the construction companies I deal with are citing concrete, drywall, etc., prices coming down recently and saying that they will come down more in the near future.

So, the school gets money from sales tax revenue, impact fees and it isn't enough? On top of this, they have to borrow money for these projects?

Where has all the increased revenue gone? Commercial property taxes in Pasco have risen 20 percent or, in my case, 40 percent. I'll bet this is a tremendous amount of money already put out by us taxpayers.

Has anyone thought about buying larger parcels of land so schools could expand later on or put both high schools and elementary schools on one parcel?

The economic downturn in the construction industry in Pasco should reflect lower prices.

I'll bet the contractor for the schools in Wesley Chapel is a happy camper with construction costs going down and his contract already set.

Maybe this picture they are painting isn't dry yet and they can do their homework and find a way to save the citizens money.

Bob Clark, Port Richey

Young guns take the spotlight June 5 story

More than 3 kids make up a team

I was very disappointed when I read the Times article about the West Pasco Little Leagues White Sox. The article only spoke of three players. Let's get the facts straight. I'm not looking for my son to get mentioned, but a team is made up of more than three players.

It was a team effort. All the practices, all the running around. That is team effort.

Another very important thing is that we are not in first place. We are tied for first with the Dodgers. My son as well as many of the other boys on the team are very disappointed that only three kids were mentioned. The three just happened to be the coaches' sons.

There were other boys that had higher scores. To me, as well as many of the other parents, this shows our kids that you sacrifice, play hard and play your best and you get kicked in the butt. This is not what we want our children to learn.

Darlene Salamone, New Port Richey

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[Last modified June 11, 2007, 23:12:31]