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Vol. 14 No. 20 Thursday, July 25, 2002 NewsObserver@netscape.net
TCA salutes highway angels from TitusvilleFrom STAFF REPORTSThe truckload Carriers Association (TCA) recently recognized George (Ricky) and Connie Williams of Titusville, Florida, as Highway Angels for providing life-saving assistance at the scene of multiple accidents. The couple, who have been traveling together for seven years, were on a desolate highway near the town of Porterville, California, when, in the early morning darkness, Ricky spotted a vehicle veer out of control, roll, and land upside down in the middle of the highway. He called to his wife, Connie, who was in the back of the cab and asked her to call 911 while he pulled over and ran to offer assistance. At the scene Ricky found a hysterical female driver, who appeared to have minor injuries, and one passenger, her father, who had a severe head laceration but was conscious. Despite his injuries, "the guy insisted on crawling out of the car," Ricky said. To stop the bleeding, Ricky wrapped the man's head with shirts he had found and then covered him with a jacket. At the same time, Ricky spoke calmly to the daughter, trying to relieve her fears. "She kept screaming that it was her fault that her father got hurt," recalled Connie, who had remained in the truck calling on the CB for other drivers to help, but could hear the woman from inside the cab. Connie watched as a couple of semis as well as other passing motorists stopped to offer assistance to her husband, who was doing his best to keep one lane of traffic open. Then she was horrified to see two cars speeding around the parked tractor-trailers into the open lane. Upon seeing the accident, the drivers quickly applied their rakes, causing one car to slam into the other. Seven people were in these two vehicles, and three of them were injured. Frantic, Connie again called 911. At this point two lanes of trucks attempted to block traffic and prevent further injury. "I used my flashlight to try to slow traffic down," Ricky said, "because I was worried about someone coming around the parked trucks. My main concern was trying to keep everyone off the highway." As if to reinforce Ricky's fears, shortly thereafter another car, oblivious to the stopped traffic, continued speeding up the highway toward them. "This guy tri ed to pass around the trucks, then slammed on his brakes, turned sideways, and went between the people in the road into the ditch .... I've never seen a vehicle go so high when rolling over." "I can't tell you how I felt seeing this happen," Connie said. "I was so helpless. It was like watching a movie ... I never want to experience anything like that again." But, she added, "I am glad that we were ,there to help." Ricky and Connie Williams received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch for their efforts at the scene of the accident. Sunflower Carriers also received a certificate for acknowledging a Highway Angel in their midst. Since its inception in August 1997, the Highway Angel program has recognized hundreds of drivers for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job. TCA has received letters and emails from people across the country nominating truck drivers for the program. "We continue to be amazed by the number of professional truckers who go out of their way to help a stranger and many times put their lives at risk as well," said Nancy O'Liddy, director of public affairs and marketing for TCA. "TCA is proud and delighted to offer the kind of program that gives these drivers the recognition and support they deserve while at the same time creates a greater public awareness of and appreciation for the many outstanding drivers in this industry." To view archival copies of past Highway Ange press releases, visit the TCA website at www.truckload.org/pressroom/index.htm#angelnews. To nominate a driver online, go to www.truckload.org/highwayangels/nominate.asp. For more information on the program, contact TCA at 703-838-1950 or via email at Angel@truckload. org. TCA is the only national trade association whose collective sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry www.truckload.org. The association represents dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and intermodal container carriers operating in the 48 contiguous states as well as Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Representing operators of over 200,000 trucks, which collectively produce an annual revenue of over $20 billion, TCA is an organization tailored to specific truckload carrier needs.
$35 Million Florida Lotto winnings finally claimed
From STAFF REPORTS
Nobody needs to go out of their way to complain about thingsI'm going to have to start looking for things not to grumble about. My ulcer will love me for it and my attitude might improve.Life is too short to find fault with things you have no control over. But just lodging a grievance in this column makes me feel better for it. It's like an exorcism, or writing it down a cathartic release. Which I suppose is why people write letters to the editor in newspapers. It's those little things that annoy me now that years ago I would not have given a second thought to. Some examples: One morning I pulled into the window of a fast food place and ordered one of their breakfast sandwiches. Ordinarily I would never patronize the place but I made a promise I would try to gain weight, regardless of the personal cost to my taste buds. I ordered and received this response: "Sorry, we don't serve breakfast now. We're in the lunch period." But it's not even eleven o'clock, I reminded her of the time. "We only serve the lunch menu after 10:30, no breakfast," she admonished, with a tone that implied my biological gastronomic clock needed fine tuning. What gives these people the right to say when I eat an egg? I muttered something like 'never mind' and drove out, believing some providence had taken charge and spared me a bout of indigestion. I decided to just go home and make something fattening. With more than 61 percent of the population overweight I fall into the very small category of people who can't gain weight. I'm just underweight and no number of books or magazine articles, doctors visits or food supplements are making any difference. I'm about 14 pounds under what I should be for my height and bone structure. I'm drinking Ensure by the case - in the blender with ice cream and fruit - with no noticeable success. I understand you are skinny for just one reason. You take in less calories than you burn. Doctors concede that some people burn calories faster than others and that the differences in our rates of metabolism make it harder for some to gain weight than others. The common thinking is that if you weigh too little, it's because you don't eat enough. I must be a medical exception to that rule and because there are so few with my problem it probably isn't worth talking about. But I did talk about it once again to my oncologist and said I was concerned that my favorite 3-wood was beginning to feel heavier than I was. What he gave me was a prescription for a couple things called; 1. Okandrin, and 2. Megace. Between the two he said I would have a better appetite and also have more energy. I don't really believe they will work but I'm going to try it anyway. Nothing to lose. The problem is that there is nothing seriously wrong with my appetite. Both Sue and I are pretty good around the kitchen, and I do all the things that people do who are overweight. I eat late in the evening fight before falling asleep. If I awaken in the middle of the night I'll run downstairs for a fattening snack of cake, cookies, pie, or make a malted milk with several scoops of ice cream. I look for everything high in calories, fat, and all that stuff on a twelve dollar pizza. So far I've stopped the downhill slide but it may be only temporary. Being underweight has some of the same drawbacks as being overweight. For example I decided not to wear shorts on the golf course anymore. The shafts of my irons look healthier - and fatter. Pretty soon my putter will weight more than I do, which is why I hesitate buying one of those long 'belly-putters' because I don't know where to put it. This problem is causing some minor problems between my wife and I because she can't eat the same things. I love good old country fried food, soaked in butter, cream gravy, mashed potatoes with half pound of butter and a measuring cup of gravy to boot. Sue, on the other hand, is a fruit eater who eats relatively balanced meals, having a tendency to put on a pound or two. Consequently our menu tends to differ, causing some minor meal planning problems. I suspect that my current medical problem is responsible for some of the problem - perhaps the side effects of some of the drugs, painkillers. and chemo. I understand that this form of a refractory anemia is associated with chromosomal abnormalities (which occur most frequently in adults over the age of 60) and in many cases tend to progress into something else not too exciting. However, on the bright side, I've noticed that having anemia and a lower energy level hasn't hurt my golf game one bit. In fact I played so well the last couple of times out (between the constant rain and opresive heat keeping golfers away in droves, depleting county budgets and driving private club owners into panic) my lack of energy has resulted in my no longer trying to kill the ball on impact. My easier, lazy swing, resulting from what my doctor calls 'lazy bones' has actually reduced my handicap several strokes. In fact, a recent playing partner who owns the Seasons in the Sun RV park up here off SR 46 wants me to join him in the next best ball tourney where he says my short game could help the team bring home a trophy. I'm not convinced of his evaluation but I'm sure that if I can last 18 holes we could be among the leaders. Nobody wants to hit the ball, jump out of the cart and drag me around after I croak to finish the round. I did suggest that if I die on the course it shouldn't halt play. Being thoughtful I said they should prop me up in a pot bunker until finished, then take me back to the pro shop for pick up later. What the hell is the hurry, I wouldn't be going anywhere anyway. But even the serious medical stuff has its compensations. Speaking of golf I also was interested in learning that an amateur golf tour is coming to Brevard. It will accommodate everyone from the 2 to the 25-handicapper - which is near my number. I understand that there will be a division for seniors (50 and over) and even with my handicap level I can compete. The only change I would make in the format is to- schedule a flight for golfers age 70 and older. These are the guys who will play in any weather, any conditions, any time, anywhere at any cost. Recently I watched as a foursome of geezers tee'd off under dark rain clouds, thunder, lightening a couple miles away, and soggy, wet fairways with a cart path only rule. Did that stop them from going off? Hell no! I asked one old gent why he was risking a lightening strike calling a play interruption. "At my age this could be my last round," was his pragmatic response. I couldn't argue with the logic, but I changed my tee time 'till another time anyway. There's always tomorrow, isn't there? Back to other complaints...Recently a number of people have asked me about my armadillo problem. The answer is simple I no longer have one. The only reminder I have today about the experience that almost completely destroyed our lawn is a Willie Dillo coffee mug, complete with graphics of a trio of armadillos on drums, base and guitar sent to me by Clayton Maynard, owner of the Garden Street Depot.The critter problem now belongs to my next door neighbor Mike - who still talks to me, for reasons I can't fathom. What I think happened is that I spread so much poison in the ground nothing could live. I still have the rifle, trap and other chemicals in the garage gathering dust. If anyone, wants to borrow them, be my guest. I hope you have better luck than I did. The only thing that could happen next is that a swarm of locust destroys what's left of my vegetation. Some other complaints of mine are scheduled trash pick-ups for yard waste. Up. here in the north part of Brevard the company (who I wont' mention for fear of reprisal) says they pick up yard debris every Monday. Not true. They pick it up when the mood hits them, consequently homeowners out here are forever picking up bags and trash cans and their contents from the street after heavy rains and winds blow the trash all over the street. I know the problem is not confined to the county but the city as well. Down in the old part of town west of Hopkins and north of Hwy. 50 many streets have had yard trash sitting on the sidewalks for more than three weeks. Is there any possible excuse for this other than the trucks breaking down? And isn't there a city mechanic qualified to fix the problem in less than three weeks? Another of my complaints is the frustrations when calling a phone number, particularly a physicians office for information about anything. They have one of those computer 'cost saving' devices that runs through an endless litany of options and gives you a choice of several numbers, ranging from one to 8 or 10 to press. By the time they get through 10 I forgot what I was calling about, or what number to press. In frustration I wind up hanging up and calling somebody else hoping to find a live human. These people should wise up and understand they are being penny wise and pound foolish. On the other hand, after thinking about the real problems of life, I've decided I may have too much time on my hands to continue to worry about cockamamy stuff that I can't do anything about anyway - except to complain. Hmmmm, thinking about this I wonder if any of you have some of the same problems. If so, why not drop me a note at the newspaper and maybe, just maybe, we could stir up some feculence and get these people to start using their head for something other than a hat rack.
By BOB SOCKS Going flying?Laying in wait.... If you're headed to Orlando International Airport to catch a flight, better leave extra early.According to Travelocity.com, a survey recently completed listed OIA as one of the top ten airports nationally with the longest arrival to gate time. Of those surveyed, it took 42 percent of passengers more than 30 minutes to get from check-in to their gates, and for I I percent of these travelers, it took more than an hour. Orlando was by no means the slowest airport though. For 19 percent of passengers surveyed at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (used to be called Friendship), the time from check-in to their gate was more than 60 minutes. Residential housing report
Ready to retire?The fall of the stock market has left many 401(k) portfolio out of whack and out of money. Here is some 401(k) data:
Strictly my opinionThe CRA (Community Development Authority) meeting on Tues., July 9 was a four hour marathon of hope and despair. The main offering on the agenda was the proposed Harbour Town condos, a 148 unit, 4 building, 8 story luxury condo complex, luxury by nature, with a future marina and all the amenities that go with condos that sell for $250K plus. Many local folks spoke for the project, and many spoke against. The main point of contention was the Space Walk of Fame, and possibly moving that walk to Indian River Avenue, instead of along the river. The summation by the CRA members at the conclusion was interesting. Jeff Rainey summed it up eloquently by saying he was for the project but if someone could show him where he could find the money to buy the property for the city - he 'might' change his mind. Anyway, the next and possibly deciding meeting to discuss and finalize this project will take place on Tue., Aug. 13, at 5:30 p.m., in council chambers. My unofficial poll tells me the project will pass by 5 to 2 vote.Message to Maureen Rupe, Port St. John Civic Association ... thanks for your letter to the editor. Now I know at least one person reads my material. By the way, my first election for city council, in November of 1994 was successful receiving the greatest number of votes of any candidates in that election. I did not do as well in November of 1996 when I ran for Mayor, but alas, I did not get the support necessary. Such is politics. I do wish you success in your request for a city. But are you sure that's what you want?
Quote of the week
You can make a big difference to someone facing life's uItimate challenge, a terminal illness. Hospice of St. Francis at 2395 S. Washington Ave. is holding volunteer training classes on Mon. and Wed., 6 - 9 p.m., beginning Aug. 5. Call Vicky Hamilton, volunteer coordinator for more information or to register at 269-4240.
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