The week in words

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 13, 2008

"Go to school and watch your pennies. Get a good job and be honest with yourself."

Marie O'Brien, who turned 106 on Jan. 3, giving advice on how to live a long and successful life.

"I'm mad as hell with them. This has been a mess from the whole beginning."

Mary Lewis of St. Petersburg, on the pace of the investigation by Hernando County detectives into the murder of her daughter, Dominique Lewis, whose body was found in Hernando in December.

"I don't have any intent of getting into some kind of cat fight with Barbara. I am a professional and I handle myself in a professional manner."

County Commissioner Diane Rowden, on escalating tension between her and Dupre, the county's human resources director.

"It's curious that the one who found it is Diane, the one who has had it out for me for all this time."

Barbara Dupre, on a controversy spawned by the discovery in her office in October of signed candidate petition cards.

"I'd like to give all of our officers the benefit of the doubt that they won't abuse the policy."

Brooksville Mayor David Pugh, rebutting concerns that a new policy allowing police officers to take home their cruisers needs stricter monitoring.

"It's a jewel in the crown of Hernando County."

Maggie Wood, of the Holiday Springs Travel RV Resort near U.S. 19, urging county commissioners to reject plans for a shopping center neighbors fear would ruin the small spring. The commissioners denied the proposal.

"A 70-something percent graduation rate, that's nothing to be proud of."

Wayne Alexander, Hernando school superintendent, addressing one of a number of areas he hopes to have the district improve upon during his tenure.

"You could do that if everyone wanted to go to the table with the same goal in common, public safety countywide, and you took all of the personalities out of it. But I don't think that can happen."

Tim Mossgrove, Brooksville fire chief, on the obstacles the county must overcome if the various fire departments are to merge.

"I think that he will be young enough when he gets out to prey on other little kids."

The mother of a victim sexually abused by Roland Moore, urging Circuit JudgeJack Springstead to impose a sentence longer than 16.5 years.

[Last modified January 12, 2008, 20:11:11]