THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511180293
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
On Nov. 4, the world lost two men who dedicated their lives to peacekeeping.
One was the prime minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin. The other was Officer Daniel Eaker, a Chesapeake policeman. Both men gave their lives while in the performance of their duties.
We honor all men who strive for peace, but we especially honor a policeman who left his patrol car to assist a passing motorist with a problem when his life is taken.
In times like this, we turn to God and wonder why he needed a prime minister and a policeman for his great plan. We do not understand this, but we can only say to these fallen peacekeepers, a job well done on earth and God bless you.
R.J. Paxson Jr.
Haywood Avenue One of our finest
I am writing this letter in remembrance of Chesapeake Police Officer Daniel Eaker, who was killed Nov. 4.
The citizens of Chesapeake lost a fine officer and gentleman that morning. He left behind a loving wife, Monica, and a lovely daughter, Vanessa, whom he loved early.
In the few short years that I knew Dan he was a family man and dedicated police officer. He never met anybody that needed help that he wouldn't help, whether he knew them or not. He was just that kind of person. I never heard him say a negative word about anyone, and all that knew him liked him. I don't think he had an enemy in the world.
In this world, with all the cruelty and meanness, you wonder why the good die young.
Dan Eaker will be greatly missed and never forgotten. Chesapeake lost one of its finest this time.
Patricia Garrett
Head of River Road Get involved
In 1993 and 1994, the City Council voted to ask our state senators and delegates for legislation that would provide us a way to manage our growth in Chesapeake by allowing us to have an adequate public facilities (APF) ordinance. APF would require that decent roads, schools, fire protection, police protection and other essential services are available before a developer can build new houses in Chesapeake. Most citizens already know what it's like to travel the crowded streets of Chesapeake or to educate their children in portable classrooms.
Last summer, the Chesapeake City Council voted to deny citizens the right to vote on a managed-growth referendum that would have appeared on the Nov. 7 ballot. The vote would have sent a clear message to our state senators and delegates about the need for APF legislation in Chesapeake.
Last Tuesday night, only three City Council members voted to include APF in this year's legislative package - John M. de Triquet, Robert T. Nance Jr. and W. Joe Newman.
What does all of this mean? Our growth problems are continuing to get worse and our City Council continues to provide a green light to increase our population while roads, schools, fire protection and other public services suffer!
The City Council has borrowed $400 million in the last three years to improve schools, $72 million to improve roads and a lot less for community centers, fire protection, police protection and other services. Who's paying for this? You are! What can we do about it? We can get involved.
Call our City Council members and your newly elected state senators and state delegates. You can become active in your local civic league. If there isn't a civic league in your area, you can organize one! And the Chesapeake Council of Civic Organizations can help. Just give us a call at 547-8885 or write to CCCO, P.O. Box 16031, Chesapeake, Va. 23328.
Gene Waters
President
Chesapeake Council of Civic Organizations by CNB