TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

July 26th Letters

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlands Today

Published: July 26, 2008

Sheriff's Office

Reading the Highlands Today story about the sheriff's office on July 23 put things into a perspective that all the people can understand. With all the growth that Highlands County is pushing to achieve, comes the expense that goes with it. Why is it then when a building that is obviously outdated and needs replacing becomes a political football, and the sheriff is held responsible for the growth?

Listening to the candidates who want to be sheriff, Ron Grimming (former highway patrolman retired,) and Mike Rowan, assistant chief at Avon Park Police Department, have come out saying that we do need a new facility and that the economic time is wrong to do so. I agree with Mike Secor's statement that this is a good time to build the new facility at the cost of $11.1 million, as it will certainly be much higher in the future; the construction company that is used should be from Highlands County to help the economy here.

The letters to the editor on behalf of the candidates are lame at best, trying to discredit Sheriff Benton for the job that she is doing very well under the circumstances. We have more patrols and deputies on the road as well as new equipment that was necessary, that is now in place. If that is all the candidates and there families and neighbors can come up with to discredit the sheriff, then we don't need any change.

I have never met Sheriff Benton, however I know several deputies and they all express their admiration for the job that the sheriff is doing with limited resources, with the downturn in economic times that we are now experiencing, it is in our best interests to make sure that all law enforcement agency's has the best equipment and personnel to do the job. Like the man said, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it."

Darrel Johnston
Sebring

What A Difference

Hopefully those in city and county government will finally see what a difference landscaping makes on U.S. 27. The Sebring Chamber raised money and planted the oaks around Lake Jackson over 20 years ago. Not one thing has been done since to add to the beauty of the main highway into Sebring.

While I see progressive communities from Winter Haven to Haines City busy beautifying the U.S. 27 corridor, we have done nothing until now. If the community wants to be viewed as a vibrant alternative to other Florida cities, then we need to look the part.

Hopefully this small project will only be the beginning.

Will Randall
Sebring

Traffic On U.S. 27

Everyone complains about the traffic situation on U.S. 27 and most who do have an idea what it would take to solve at least part of the problem, but no one in a position to do something has the initiative to step forward and actually tackle the problem. Each agency points fingers at another agency and says it's their problem. At best, speed traps are temporarily increased and everyone accountable acts like Dr. Feelgood. The bottom line is, the area continues to develop and traffic (and accidents) increases.

I am not going to tell you how to solve the problem, but I will state the facts and let everyone come to their own conclusion. I will limit this discussion to the stretch of U.S. 27 between Sun 'N Lake Boulevard and SE. Lakeview Drive in Sebring.

Fact: The speed limit is 55 miles per hour.

Fact: Traffic traveling in the two left passing lanes (look the law up) generally drive below the speed limit. This includes heavily loaded tractor trailers as well as the cell phone yakkers.

Fact: If I travel at or below the speed limit, every traffic light I hit is red.

Fact: Traffic permitting, if I average 65 miles per hour, I can travel the above mentioned stretch and get green lights the entire way. Certainly less stressful and gas consuming.

I'm not suggesting anything, I'll just let the readers figure it out.

Stan Paralikis
Sebring

U.S.27 Intersections

In reference to the article on July 22 concerning the intersections along U.S. 27 by Joe Seelig.

Deputy J.P. Fane stated that many distractions such as telephones, text messaging and GPS devices cause problems on U.S. 27, but he left out one of the main causes of all of those black marks up to the traffic lights.

Sunday evenings you can drive U.S. 27 all the way through Sebring with green lights, but on Monday morning when workers and shoppers come on to U.S. 27 at the lights, they are given the right of way without regard to the synchronized system of the lights. That causes the traffic on U.S. 27 to come to a sudden stop from 55 miles per hour, just when they arrive at the light. 50 or 60 vehicles must stop with the synchronization of the U.S 27 lights; those 50 to 60 vehicles could have gone on without stopping, saving all of that gas to get up to speed to the next light, which will be red also. This continues most of the way through Sebring for the rest of the day

Milton E. Killion
Lake Placid

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT