Thanking firefighters

To the editor:

We rely on our firefighters to protect life and property on a daily basis, and even more now during these continued drought condition. I would like to take a moment to thank our firefighters.

Professional firefighters provide a valuable service to the community. Not only do they fight fires, they also provide assistance in hazardous weather, carbon monoxide threats, in addition to being first responders to the scene of an accident providing life-saving emergency medical care. I am humbled by the stories of countless firefighters who put their lives on the line every day for others in their community.

I am most thankful for the time firefighters take to help raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Association. Their efforts provide help and hope to local Central Florida citizens affected by neuromuscular diseases. The funds raised through their Fill the Boot campaign provide services such as specialized clinics, MDA Summer Camp, repairs and loans of medical equipment, as well as funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures for the 43 neuromuscular diseases that fall under MDA’s umbrella.

I urge everyone to thank the firefighters for all that they do for the residents of Central Florida.

Kathy Henry
Executive Director
Central Florida MDA

Think twice

To the editor:

A bill (HB 967) by Mike Horner, a representative from Kissimmee, provides a windfall for auto insurance companies because it allows them to systematically delay and deny injury claims with language that is supposedly being introduced to curb fraud.

The problem is that there is no anti-fraud language. Where is the fraud? Only 4 percent of all reported claims resulted in a conviction in 2008 and 2009. The bill slashes and caps attorney’s fees for those who require a last line of defense against multi-million dollar insurance companies from delaying or denying their legitimate claims.  

This bill also forces physicians to attend recorded statements at the leisure of the insurance company on every claim. Horner’s bill is completely anti-consumer and greatly affects those who represent and treat people who are injured in a car accident. The leadership in Tallahassee should refrain from even hearing this piece of legislation and Horner’s constituents should think twice next time.

Raymond Ruszkowski
Curler Bay

Time for change?

To the editor:

As other states and school districts in Florida have adjusted their board membership to include at large members and an elected board chair, I wonder if the time has come to bring back the issue locally for discussion.

Issues and interest relevant to educating our children cross political, regional, ethnic and economic boundaries. A greater representation could provide more expertise, more ideas, more encouragement for good programs and more focus and reinforcement of policies that promote our school district vision and mission. Adding new members would not need to cost the taxpayers anymore money, if we lower the salaries and benefits of board members to a part time status instead of being reimbursed the same as a full time beginning teacher.

As servant leaders representing our community children, I don’t think this is unreasonable. In fact in some places, the board takes no salary.  I know some in our own community, who would serve for free and return the money back to our schools for school improvement. That would be a novel idea too.

Wade Davis
St. Cloud