THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603220252
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 163 lines
As a Chesapeake taxpayer whose home was saved from fire by our city's firefighters, I am deeply disturbed that two firefighters gave their lives in the Advance Auto fire on Monday.
I had the pleasure of meeting one of the young men. It makes me think how valuable is anything that can be replaced? I am deeply saddened over their gift of their lives for their jobs.
I was out of town when I learned that my home had burned. I was just happy and relieved to learn no one was hurt, including the men who entered to extinguish the fire. Had I lost everything I owned, it would not have been worth one person's life.
In the sad aftermath of this tragedy, I pose this question to myself: ``How valuable is a firefighter?'' If your child or invalid mother or father were in your burning house, how much would you offer this man or woman, this firefighter, to risk his or her life to save a member of your family?
I know when I was in a car accident that the first people to arrive to help me were firefighters. Many minutes later, the ambulance arrived. In many situations these men and women are exposed to diseases and illnesses, not just fires. Any time they answer a call it could cost their life. How many people would wake up and go to work knowing their life is put on the line each day?
I will tell you these men and women have far too long been underpaid. They receive each year much lower cost-of-living raises than do other city employees, who are in greater number.
I hope Chief Michael L. Bolac and Mayor William E. Ward ask themselves the question that I am asking: What is the value of one man or one woman who would unselfishly give their life for you and your family? After a little research you will realize the injustice of their pay raises and benefits. It truly is not commensurate with their duties. Please don't think my concern is just about wages. It is about the value of these men and women in the eyes of our city officials.
I close with a note to the families of firefighters Frank E. Young and John Hudgins Jr. I am truly sorry over the loss of your loved ones. Please know many prayers are with you.
Sharon Ann Day
Clear Springs Road Don't forget record
What is the best thing that can happen to a politician? It's when people forget about his or her record.
I am writing this letter to remind people about Robert T. Nance Jr.'s record.
How many people remember when the City Council spent more than $1,800 per council member for a home fax machine? How many people remember when Robert Nance decided to ban speech at City Council meetings? How many people remember the firing of City Manager Jim Rein?
As a citizen of Chesapeake, you must not forget when a politician does something bad. We have many great candidates who can replace Robert Nance - Bill Pierce and Dalton Edge, for example. We also have terrific candidates running for School Board, like Patty Willis and Mike Woods, who will do a terrific job for Chesapeake.
It's time for a change in Chesapeake. It's time to replace Robert Nance!
Clint Johnson
Coral Drive Camelot not violent
When a person inadvertently ingests a poisonous substance, we are taught to act quickly. The poison must be removed before damage is done.
Accordingly, responses to statements made at the Chesapeake School Board public hearing Feb. 26 about Camelot Elementary School and the Camelot community being violent demand immediate attention.
Residents fear moving students from G.A. Treakle Elementary School to Camelot Elementary School will create serious racial disturbances. This is based on parents sending their children to Camelot Elementary with these negative, racially motivated ideas.
There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that Camelot Elementary School or the neighborhood is violent. This is an obvious lie. As we know, words carry many meanings, and rumors are often spread for selfish purposes. A general perception held by some school administrators and residents is that the verbal attacks on Camelot and the school are racially motivated.
They also believe we can change these ideas if the parents interact with the residents of Camelot at the next School Board public hearing on the matter.
Many people in the Camelot community have contacted the school administration and School Board in the past week regarding allowing the next public hearing on the issue of school zone attendance between Camelot and Treakle to be held at Camelot Elementary School. The Camelot Civic League voted at its general meeting on March 11 to insist that the hearing be moved to Camelot Elementary.
I know this is not an insurmountable problem once the proper resources are dedicated. The key is making our concern a School Board and school administration priority by giving it attention. Yet, the Chesapeake School Board and administration have taken a stance not to try to change threatening racial tension based on the false statements made at their School Board meeting.
We will insist the next public hearing on school zone attendance be held at Camelot Elementary School.
C.C. Hawkins
President
and other officers
of Camelot Civic League Cooperative effort
The need for areawide cooperation has surfaced again. This session of the General Assembly finally recognized the need and passed legislation urging political jurisdiction throughout the state to study many areas of cooperation. This is a goal whose time has finally come.
Few people realize that the commissioner of the revenue for Chesapeake, Ray A. Conner, started this movement of cooperation two years ago. Now, as president of our association, he has redoubled his efforts.
Ray convinced the commissioners and treasurers in 10 jurisdictions to adopt the same color each year for their city decals. Next, he convinced all of us to adopt the same expiration date for the decals. Ray then had each of us convince our city officials or boards of supervisors to approve by resolution to mutual enforcement of expired and missing decals by all police departments. The jurisdictions included Chesapeake, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight County, Suffolk, Hampton , Newport News, York County, Williamsburg and James City County. The police in these jurisdictions have praised these efforts as being of tremendous help in their policing of decals.
With the energy and ability common to Ray he next convinced all areas to adopt the same expiration date for business licenses. The business community has been very strong in their praise of this action, particularly those who do business throughout the area and those who have business outlets. Next Ray urged us to establish a common date for the filing of personal property returns.
Ray Conner has done more to encourage areawide cooperation than all the meetings being held by those advocates of regionalism. The efforts to accomplish areawide regionalism are beginning to make a difference, and I felt that you would want to know the one person who has been demonstrating the value of such cooperation.
The individual jurisdictions cannot accomplish this alone. There must be full cooperation.
Sam T. Barfield
Commissioner of the revenue
Norfolk New perspectives
As a lifelong resident of Deep Creek, I would like to thank Patty Willis and Mike Woods for entering the race for Chesapeake School Board.
I believe the key for a successful School Board is to make sure there are a variety of people with different backgrounds. Patty Willis and Mike Woods both have children in the school system. Patty is also a former teacher. Mike, meanwhile, is a former police officer. They will both bring new perspectives to the School Board in May.
I hope my friends will remember to vote for Patty Willis and Mike Woods for Chesapeake School Board.
Tandi Robol
Canal Drive Inappropriate punishment
Indian River High School has adopted a policy which I feel is unfair to students. A student who is tardy to class three times is given one day out-of-school suspension. If the student is tardy again, another out-of-school suspension is given.
I'm not advocating allowing a student to break the rules without a consequence, I just think another form of punishment should be used.
Why not give in-school suspension with the student doing extra school work? This would benefit the student instead of a free day out of school. The job of educators is to keep the students in school.
Lynn Williford
Phyllis Drive by CNB