THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503220155
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 117 lines
As chief of the Holland Volunteer Fire Department, I express thanks to the many emergency service personnel and citizens who responded to the recent aircraft crash on Lummis Road.
With their help, extrication, evacuation and transportation of the injured to area medical facilities worked very well in light of the situation.
The wet, plowed field posed a potential problem of our not being able to reach the crash sight in a timely manner. Citizens readily offered four-wheel- drive trucks, not only to transport equipment and personnel but to transport the injured victims to ambulances.
My hat goes off to these agencies that contributed to the success of this unique emergency situation: Suffolk's emergency communications dispatchers, Bennetts Creek Rescue Squad, Suffolk Police Department, Nightingale Air Ambulance, Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad and Whaleyville Fire Department, for use of its four-wheel-drive brush unit. With all the cooperation, we were successful in preventing further lives from being claimed by this accident.
My special thanks to the following individuals who kept organization throughout the entire effort: Suffolk Fire Department Battalion Chief Edward Taylor, who handled Incident Command; Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Lt. Patricia McCaully, who provided EMS supervision; Holland Fire Department Assistant Chief Gordon Worrell, who supervised scene operations; Holland Fire Department Capt. John H. Lewis Jr., who handled landing zone-/medivac operations; and Rusty Hunley of Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad, who supervised extrication and evacuation of patients. They did an outstanding job!
Lastly, I would like to thank Esther Brown, the crash victim who pulled herself from the wreckage and, despite her injuries, made her way over a quarter-mile of wet and muddy field to the Britt residence to summon help for the other passengers. This took a great deal of courage and determination. Esther, you are a true hero, and because of you, two other lives were saved.
A job well done by all!
John H. Lewis Sr.
O'Kelly Drive
Suffolk Bag that trash marring your top fishing spot
Want to help the environment as you fish? Take part in a cleanup campaign from Fridayto April 16, on Lakes Cohoon, Meade, Kilby and Speight's Run.
Stop by the Lake Cohoon fishing station and pick up a special litter bag. As you journey around the lake, searching for your special spot, retrieve discarded cans, bottles or other trash. When you have a full bag, turn it in to the station attendant for a free drawing ticket, fill it out and drop it in the box provided.
Winners, to be announced April 16, get a free annual fishing permit for these lakes. The number of awards will be based on participation.
I initiated this when I became more concerned about litter accumulating in the many coves of the lakes. I spearheaded a similar cleanup several years ago, while president of the Norfolk County Anglers Club. Now a Suffolk resident, I am chairman of the Cohoon Creek-Speight's Run Watershed Committee and am still concerned about lake pollution.
These are beautiful bodies of water, and we surely don't want them to become garbage dumps. Litter in drinking-water lakes is a real hazard.
This effort is endorsed by the Portsmouth Utilities Department, which is providing the permits; and Mike Gazzara, who operates the fishing station at Cohoon. Litter bags were donated by Wal-Mart of Chesapeake Square.
Let's make this a community effort: go fishing, have fun and help clean up our environment and water supply.
I.E. ``Chuck'' Jordan
Pitchkettle Point Circle
Suffolk This time, a dog was hit; next time, a child?
Recently, my dog was hit by a car. She's a pit bull pup weighing 46 pounds. She's also an indoor dog, never outside long.
The person who hit her, at 1:30 p.m. on a Thursday, never bothered to stop and ask questions or offer help. I heard her when she got hit, so I know the driver who hit her knows what happened.
She immediately ran to my front door, and I let her in. She went into shock within a few minutes. I had to rush her to the vet. I thank God that she's all right.
I have also lost four kittens to the road within six months. This neighborhood is full of children. What will these drivers do if they hit, or kill, a child? Will they stop or keep going?
The fact that police officers live in the neighborhood doesn't seem to slow down these people. The speed limit is 25 mph. I have seen drivers doing 40 mph or more.
It's time for the residents of Burnetts Mill to take some action to stop this nonsense, before someone's child gets hurt or killed.
Cynthia Madray
Burnetts Way
Suffolk Proper nutrition should be part of aid program
The ``Parade'' supplement of the March 5 edition of The Virginian-Pilot contained an article on hunger and our nation's food stamp program.
While I am sure there are instances of hunger in this country, (and we should provide food for people who are truly hungry), there were a few statements that did not sit well with me.
First, the author stated that some people had to add water to baby formula to stretch it. This is a dangerous and ridiculous practice. Breastfeeding is much better nutrition for the baby. Breastfeeding also results in fewer illnesses for the baby and, therefore, medical costs are lower.
Secondly, the author stated that some people are having to eat a lot of rice and beans to survive. Great! Rice and beans are wonderful alternatives to meats and are better for the body, the pocketbook and the environment.
Just last week I stood behind someone in the grocery check-out line who was paying with food stamps. I could not help noticing that the basket was full of meats, chips, cookies, candy and soda.
While I am certain that not all food stamp recipients spend their money this unwisely and unhealthfully, there should be some restrictions put on food stamps so that the food purchased is nutritious.
Kym Long-Wallace
Highland Avenue
Suffolk by CNB