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Expand THE Bus To 55-plus Communities

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HERNANDO TODAY

Published: February 11, 2009

Expand THE Bus To 55-plus Communities

Re: THE Bus opinions, of which I have one that should be considered.
If the county would let the transportation, meaning, "THE Bus" go directly into the communities, such as, 55 and older High Point and Brookridge, etc., the county would have more people using THE Bus.
I don't mean stop at every corner! I mean go around the main road, let the people be aware of this. THE Bus could go down and around High Point Boulevard, then pick a stop where each and everyone would know. I believe this would resolve a lot of problems.
Are you aware of the people who cannot or are unable to for lack of transportation go up to the guard house? Many people would be able to go to do their shopping or whatever they need to do.
Most, if not all, without transportation would feel that they could get out of their homes for awhile and really feel good about themselves and THE Bus for thinking about the elderly. We are the ones who need this kind of service. So please reconsider this.
I personally cannot walk up to the guard house and this would help a whole lot. I do believe that would solve one problem.
Thank you very much for considering the idea.

Lois Dziedzic
Brooksville

Kick 'Em While They're Down

Screw up — get kicked — the way of justice in Hernando County if you stupidly go DUI. No argument that justice must be done; but once sentenced, stick to the sentence and don't kick the offender when he is down.
Every week, the sheriff's deputies pick up "probation violators," many who narrowly miss terms of their probation, most commonly by nonpayment of county fees assessed involving their sentences. No excuse for nonpayment of fees for probation officers' visits; but during these times of high unemployment, with no income for many offenders, it seems an easy way for a convicted offender to get three squares (his meals) and a bed at, I must say, taxpayers' expense.
Many DUI cases are clearly more the result of social failures than of criminality. Rehabilitation is, hence, a goal rather than punishment. Kicking a convicted offender would seem improper. Besides, why toss some 19- or 50-year-old whose other previous greatest offense was public expectoration into the "learning center of petty crimes," the county jail, where he might gain unnecessary skills to be criminally utilized upon release?
Return to imprisonment is not the only "kick." Many families fund "unemployeds'" probation fees; hidden fees also financed are excessively mandated repeat "drug/alcohol" tests. Many DUIs are one-time occurrences with repeats not anticipated. Is there any significant prevention of repeat offenses by monthly "specimen in cup, please, and pay $25."
Another "kick:" monstrous fees for purportedly "rehabilitative" driver's education classes. Almost all offenders get to go to such classes; cost $25 session, once a week for about 20 to 35 weeks. Ouch, nice "kick." Number of classes are mandated by "therapist" on his determined "needs basis" for which he gets paid by number in his class.
Interestingly, at classes, the above therapist can decide to go for "specimen in cup, please, and money, thanks." I was told testing is done more frequently as number in class goes down. If a "student" was seen and tested by probabion officer that week, it is at discretion of therapist if test is mandatory. Again, "kick."
Seems that flow of dollars is a big thing in DUI "industry." Some days, the sheriff's Web page on arrests seems to have a good crop of newbie DUIs and failed probations. Comments and some histories would be interesting.
I'm only passing along what I've heard.

Paul A. Mencher
Spring Hill

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