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Viewpoints
Our Opinions
Citzen feels police should
do more than write tickets
Dear Editor:
In viewing the December 1993 Year-To-Date report, it shows that our
Police Department wrote 1,169 traffic tickets in Perry. That shows that
12 percent of our population has seen the wrath of the leadership of this
Police Department. When asked about the rate of traffic tickets, the chief
will deny any kind of “Quota” set for the patrolmen. But, he has been
known to say, while addressing the patrolmen, something such as “If every
officer would just write one ticket a day...”. This tells me that he’s
looking for revenue for the city to make himself look good.
There seems to be other areas that are lacking, such as burglaries,
robberies, thefts by taking, breaking and entering into autos, and of course,
taking the whole car. If I were a criminal, that’s what I would do, just
take the whole car because even though it takes longer you take the
evidence with you and you have plenty of time because the chief has some
of the patrolmen on 1-75 looking for violators (think about the revenue!).
He might deny this, but it can be proven and gladly so.
It seems to me to “Protect and Serve” means to protect my family and
to patrol my business. Ask the family that was burglarized while they
were asleep in their beds if they feel that there are adequate patrolmen in
our neighborhoods.
The newspaper should print the arrest reports along with all other
crimes reported to the police and let the people of Perry see that we are just
being used as revenue.
When I complained about this, I was told that the majority of
complaints were that they were not writing enough tickets. They also told
me that most of the tickets given were to people from out of town (ha, ha,
ha). Who believes that anyway? What did they do, change the sign around
town to read “Welcome Tourism and Industry and be sure to stop by City
Hall and pay your $35 traffic ticket”?
I feel that I have every right to complain since I am the victim of five
burglaries, several thefts by taking, numerous car windows broken, gas
drive-offs, and, of course, one car theft from my business.
After one of my burglaries, the officer wearing sergeant stripes (You
notice that I didn’t refer to him as a sergeant) surveyed the damage to the
door and two locks and, I quote, “Looks to me like you need to find a more
secure place to store your stuff.” After all, he’s the same officer who stops
young drivers during the early morning hours and measures their pickup
trucks with a tape measure to make sure they are not jacked up higher than
the legal limit. He was probably just bored with having to answer a plain
old burglary call when he could be arresting violators on 1-75.
But, maybe some other businesses should be asked their opinion on
less tickets and more patrolling such as S&E Car Sales. This man had to
put up a chain fence to keep his place from being taken off and he is still
having problems. Then there is Akin Drug, Walker Rhodes (who has been
a victim several times), and WPGA. If the burglary at WPGA had
happened during one particular shift, there is a chance there might have
been an officer sitting in his front parking lot watching people buy from
the liquor store across the street.
There is talk that they want to bring out the detectives to add to the
city’s patrol because they are salaried and will not have to pay them extra
money. Why...when they have all those well equipped cars and men on
patrol now? The reason is that they want them to keep that revenue
coming in. However, there are two of the investigators that should be put
back on permanent night patrol, and the other two investigators are very
over worked and they do as well as they possibly can under the
circumstances.
Pete Griffin
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Our government may restrict vehicle choice
The federal government unveiled
new fuel-economy standards for
light trucks in early April, which
gave consumers a two-year reprieve
from unrealistic product
restrictions. But unrealistic
controls on light trucks may be just
down the road, interfering with
basic transportation needs for
millions of families and businesses.
Motorists are turning to "light
trucks "--pickup trucks, utility
vehicles, vans, mini-vans and sport
utility vehicles-in ever-growing
numbers. Over five million were
sold in the United States last year,
representing nearly 40 percent of
new vehicle sales. In fact,
America's number one selling
vehicle for the past few years has
been a pickup, not a car.
Farmers, those living in rural
communities and construction firms
are examples of long-time users of
pickup trucks. And light trucks are
increasingly used elsewhere as well:
compact pickups for light hauling;
mini-vans for family transport and
cargo delivery; larger vans for
commuter pools, shuttle services
and transporting those with
disabilities; sport-utility vehicles
for recreation, towing and bad
weather driving; and many more
tasks.
Today's biggest threat to light
trucks cornel from increases in
1 1 , mm
Perry Scrapbook
These students won prizes for the Inventions In 1989 during Tucker Elementary's Invent
America Contest. We regret that that names of the Individuals pictured were not available.
STREET TALK:
In recent days, the national news has been covered with stories on the Monday
murders of Nicole Simpson, the ex-wife of former National Football League running
back O.J. Simpson, and Ronald Lyle Goldman, a waiter. So far, from media reports,
O.J. Simpson seems to be the only suspect in the slayings. This week, we asked six
local residents, based on the evidence gathered and reported to date, what they
think about the situation. Is he guilty?
ESBk ;
..
.dm. V • • •
Mm fv:-
Judy Free
“I really don’t know, be
cause I haven’t seen all
the reports. I’ll reserve
judgement until it goes to
trial and all the true facts
are revealed.”
3.
Schnita Leary
“I don’t think he’s guilty.
He even offered to help
law enforcement on the
investigation to find the
killer.”
Houston Times-Journal
federal fuel-economy standards,
which run counter to consumer
trends and other government
regulations. Under the Corporate
Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)
program, vehicle makers must
ensure that their light truck sales
meet a specified average gas
mileage level each year, regardless
of customer preferences. The
higher the CAFE standard, the more
difficult it becomes to meet
consumer demand for the larger,
more powerful models.
At the same time, other new
federal rules actually reduce fuel
economy! New safety regulations
for side-door safety beams and air
bags, for example, add vehicle
weight and reduce gas mileage. So
do popular voluntary safety features
like anti-lock brakes. And strict
new federal tailpipe emissions
standards arc going into effect in the
1994-96 model years will further
reduce available options to improve
gas mileage.
Most people support those
safety and clcan-air initiatives, and
don't mind if they mean a slight
drop in gas mileage. But the
government has been increasing the
fuel economy requirement for these
vehicles a little bit each year.
Now, the government says it's
considering much larger CAFE
increases on light truck users
Mary Watkins
"I’d rather not say, be
cause I don’t know all the
facts.”
Jessie Royal
"I think he’s innocent. He
wasn’t even in town.”
Page 4A
- Saturday, June 18,1994 " Houston Tknes-Joumat
beginning in 1998. Some federal
officials seem to favor that
approach as a means to reduce
"greenhouse gas" emissions, with
little apparent concern for vehicle
users.
Several environmental groups
have been aggressively promoting
draconian hikes in the light truck
CAFE standard. Three years ago,
they nearly convinced Congress to
raise the requirement to 28 mpg;
now, they're pushing figures of 30-
35 mpg! Not surprisingly, many
of those advocates have had little or
no personal exposure to light
trucks. They point fingers at those
motorists who use light trucks
(rather than cars) for commuting to
work, completely ignoring the
millions of Americans who need
the added utility of light trucks for
other purposes. Nonetheless, the
government seems to be giving
serious consideration to their
agenda.
That's a chilling prospect for
farmers and contractors who need
full-size pick-ups...for families who
need mini-vans to take the kids to
school and little league...for
commuters in van pools and
businesses which use larger
vans...for motorists who want
utility vehicles capable of hauling
boats and trailers, or driving in
snow...and for everyone who counts
r I M
Robert Wise
'Everybody’s innocent
until proven guilty.”
W" 1 3^,1
mm *
Steve Goodroe
"I don’t really think he did
it. He just doesn’t seem
like the type.”
Guest
Column
on emergency vehicles being able
to get through in adverse road and
weather conditions.
Contrary to what some may
think, increases in CAFE
requirements have little effect on
overall U.S. oil consumption or
greenhouse gas emissions, and
virtually zero impact on oil imports
and air quality. But while the
benefits are few, the downsides can
be substantial, in terms of cost and
restrictions on consumer choice, for
there are no "magic carburetors" or
other similar panaceas to produce
higher mileage ratings.
Consumers all across America,
as well as suppliers of light trucks,
have a big stake in making sure
that govemmeht policymakers don't
inadvertently restrict this valuable,
versatile and popular class of
vehicles.
(Editor’s note: Kathryn
Mitchell is associate
coordinator of the Georgia
chapter of the Coalition for
Vehicle Choice, a national
organization representing
vehicle users.)
BVeto L
Roley I
Staff Writer |
Take some
time and give
needed blood
Give blood.
Blood supplies are dangerously
low across the country, and organi
zations like the American Red
Cross need you to give.
I understand that the blood drive
at C.B.&T. Bank was a huge suc
cess. However, less than a 100
pints of blood were given. Badly in
jured survivors of a bad wreck on I
-75 can easily use over 100 pints of
blood.
People who need blood are not
asking for blood—they demand it.
This is not an aspirin, where the
absence of the drug just prolongs
and inconvenience. The absence of
blood means could mean death or
serious injury.
Only around three percent of the
population gives blood. Now, I un
derstand that many people can't give
blood—they have diseases that can
be transmitted by the blood, they
don't have the required weight, giv
ing blood is really too physically
demanding, etc. If you can not give,
then you can not give.
But, 97 percent of the popula
tion is not prohibited by some med
ical reason from giving blood. So,
if you are not medically prohibited
from giving blood, and you do not
give blood, why not?
Why don't you give blood just
once a year? After all, you can give
five times a year, pacing your dona
tions at least 53 days apart.
For those of you who do not
give because you do not know there
is a need, know that there-is a need.
There is always a need for blood.
Perhaps none of your immediate
family does not need blood; but, all
it takes is a fraction of a second on
a slick road, and they need a lot of
blood.
Besides, even if the need doesn’t
exist in your family, or in your
close circle, others are not so lucky.
And, when you need blood, as I've
said before, the need is immediate.
Afraid of needles? I have given
over 75 times, over 50 times as an
apheresis donor plus over 25 times
as a whole blood donor, and I still
don't like it when they stick that
needle in my arm. I still look away,
pull my legs up when they put the
needle in the arm. I don't even like
getting stuck with a needle prick for
the blood tests the Red Cross does
before the actual donation. I'm
afraid of needles, but I give.
Once again, I note that when
blood is needed, it is needed imme
diately. Is your fear preventing you
from saving a life?
Afraid of getting AIDS or some
other disease from giving? Each do
nation is taken with a new set of
needles. The needles are not exposed
until the time of giving blood. If
you have a blood borne disease al-
Please see ROLEY, page 5A