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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2008

Remember Eric With A Smile

Thank you to our family and friends for your love and support during this difficult time. To all of you who touched us in so many ways from prayers to food to just a simple "hug" or "I am there for you." Please continue to pray for us in the coming days and months, as we deal with our loss.

We are honored by your heartfelt love for Eric. Although our hearts are broken, Eric's isn't anymore. We will all miss him, but we will never forget him!

Remember to smile every time you think about him, because Eric wanted everyone to always smile.

God Bless.

George and Suzanne Abell

Spring Hill

A Matter Of Public Safety
So now let's get serious about asking legitimate questions that haven't been asked. Let's assume (while chuckling) that a "fuse blew" at the Nature Coast Technical/South Lake game.

OK, so since we know the hot dog stands and subcontracted vendors were all plunged into darkness, we are presented with an unavoidable conclusion: Anyone accidentally or on purpose could have shorted out the entire lighting system for a stadium full of people by simply plugging in a shorted-out appliance.

So where's the concern and outrage with that situation? Where's the inquiry? Where are the news stories?

Why are vendors allowed to use electric on the same fuse with stadium lights? People could have been badly injured or even killed when those lights went out, and one player was indeed flown via helicopter to the hospital. Apparently, our kids and fans are in danger playing in Florida's Rube Goldberg lighted stadiums.

So if a fuse really did blow, where's the outrage that such a public safety situation exists? Where's the handwringing?

No, my friends, there is no handwringing because those in authority seem happy with the current results. Those in authority on the Florida Highs School Athletic Association trumpet care about sportsmanship, but they apparently don't care about lives endangered at this and any similarly lighted stadiums in Florida. It seems their concern was to knock NCT out of the playoffs, not to address any ongoing life-threatening public safety concerns.

The Hernando County Commission, the Hernando County School Board and our state representatives should call for a state investigation of the lighting issue. Lives endangered, our school unfairly maligned, our kids railroaded, futures damaged - where is your concern?

While the school boards run their stadiums as fiefdoms, ignoring local codes and regulation, they are not immune to the State Department of Community Affairs or the state Legislature.

These are our kids, our county, our school. Where's our school board attorney and county attorneys?

I would further suggest that if connection of vendors to said South Lake Stadium electric system violates existing state electrical code, the parents of the minors charged both by the FHSAA and sheriff's department may have cause for a lawsuit based upon these violations. If an ongoing code violation contributed to a situation causing injuries, sanctions and arrests, that violation needs to be revealed and those responsible for it need to be identified and held responsible.

Permits issued to vendors leave an easily followed paper trail, even in South Lake. It should be obvious that no high school football stadium should incorporate vendor electric access onto the same fuse providing stadium lighting; that's a no-brainer, an open-and-shut public safety issue.

I would also suggest NCT get themselves an attorney who doesn't sit at a table meekly reading his side of the case when appearing at a hearing, while loudspeakers loudly blare questions at our witnesses from the opposing attorney in the manner of the Great Oz.

Get an attorney who gets up and shows some determination, commitment and passion, one who cites precedent cases and projects the NCT case aggressively.

Mo Lubee

Spring Hill

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