THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190269
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
I just finished reading the story about Keith Long's 1993 accident on Mount Pleasant Road, ``Pain lingers from 1993 hit-and-run'' (The Virginian-Pilot, May 9).
I am very sorry for what happened to young Mr. Long and the pain he must now endure; however, I must say, I am not surprised at the cause.
I do not have any information about his accident for the Chesapeake Police Department, but I do have a question: Why is nothing done about the driving problems on this road?
We moved to a neighborhood very near the accident scene two years ago, and I have never seen so many driving violations in one stretch of road in my life! Another thing I have never seen is a police car on Mount Pleasant Road!
The entire road is narrow and winding and has ditches on both sides. People continually pass in no-passing areas, where there are sharp curves. If you drive the speed limit, which is 55 miles per hour, you will most definitely find a tailgater on you within seconds.
There are plenty of places for a patrol car to pull off to monitor the traffic, but in two years I have not seen one there.
I almost always have my two young children in the car with me, and I shake with fear because there is usually a tailgater trying to push me up the road. Some days I feel sure that I or a loved one are going to die on that road!
What has to happen to get a patrol out there once in a while? When I drive down Butts Station Road, there are always at least two patrolmen sitting and watching. Why are the lives on that road worth more than the lives on Mount Pleasant Road?
I hope, for Mr. Long's sake, that the police do catch the person responsible for his accident, but since there is never a patrolman on Mount Pleasant Road when you need one, I seriously doubt that they will.
Carol Ann Cummings
Chesapeake Unwelcome apartments
The residents of Mill Creek and Elmwood Landing in Deep Creek were recently made aware of a planned development of 120 apartments on 7.5 acres of land. We are angered to find the City of Chesapeake is prepared to approve the dumping of an additional 220 cars and approximately an additional 385 children into an already overcrowded system. This three-story development will be located at the entrance of the two existing subdivisions.
The residents of our community have been asking the city for years to purchase this land for a city park. No dice; it costs too much. Other cities, such as Virginia Beach, have developed a way to preserve open space for their citizens. We are asking our city to find some other less people-intense project for this land.
We are asking for a solution to a problem.
Mary C. Lesans
White Tail Court Courts are guilty
On the TV news Sunday I saw one of the most heart-wrenching stories I have ever seen. A little 4-year-old boy, ``Baby Richard'' was taken from his adoptive parents and given to his biological parents. He was screaming for his mommy and sobbing.
At the time of his birth, his biological father was out of the country and his mother told him the baby had died. Why wasn't the father interested enough to check the story out more thoroughly or go to the funeral?
What is wrong with our courts? How can they do this to an innocent little boy? He will never understand this. When the courts allow this kind of thing to happen, they are setting a precedent for future cases.
A ruling such as this is the ultimate abuse of a child. The worst part is our courts are the guilty parties.
Betsy Vaughn
Cheshire Forest by CNB