Safety first for truckers
I have driven a truck 3.1 million miles without an accident in my 25 years as a professional driver. You don’t get to have that many accident-free miles without caring about safety. Safety is the thing that I care about most when I’m behind the wheel. Every day, truckers like me are out there working hard trying to keep our roads safe for all of us.
You may have heard a lot of people talking about the new law that’s supposedly going to make truck drivers less safe. But you didn’t hear that from a truck driver. Drivers know there are two parts of the hour-of-service rules that keep us from taking longer rest periods when we could and made more of us hit the road in the early morning, which I can tell you, is not when I want to be there. Too many of you are driving to work and school, and when too many of us are on the road together, it is a lot riskier for all of us.
On June 4, 2014, while traveling eastbound on the New York State Thruway, near Portland, New York, I saw a large bus on the side of the road. It had blown a tire and caught on fire. I stopped and assisted in putting the fire out and getting the passengers to a safe distance. This act resulted in an award of the Highway Angel. When asked why I did it, I was quick to point out that black smoke was pouring out of the vehicle and no one was stopping to help. I didn’t know if there was disabled people on the bus, or infants or what.
So I’m happy that Sen. Susan Collins talked to drivers like myself and she worked hard to lift these restrictions so we can all be safer in the long run.
Jon Wilbur
Phillip
Unfair to Vietnam vets
I am a Vietnam veteran that was prescribed lorazepam for PTSD some 30 years ago. Today, my doctor has informed me that this medication might be more harmful than useful for the older veterans. I am being prescribed a replacement but I am worried that it is not as effective.
I feel the Vietnam vet is being treated unfairly and the government cares less about the older soldiers.
Paul Blanchette
Sunset
Save Katahdin schools
RSU 50, consisting of Katahdin Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, as well as Southern Aroostook Community School in Dyer Brook, will make a decision as to whether or not to close the Katahdin school system. The entire area consists of 400 miles geographically, which is larger in square miles than most school districts in the state of Maine.
Many families and members of the community are outraged with the recent announcement that on Jan. 12 the school board of the two schools will vote whether to close Katahdin schools permanently. The public will not vote, only board members.
Larry Malone, superintendent of the two schools, reported that Katahdin Elementary School is in “bad shape” and $250,000 will be saved by closing the school. Why wouldn’t that amount of money pay for needed renovations for Katahdin school buildings?
Many parents (we have three in the school system) think this is ridiculous. We want our kids in our own district, rather than increase bussing expenses, many more miles of travel for our students, teachers, etc. There are many things that we can do together as a community to get back control of our school.
To anyone who does not want this consolidation to happen, please write your school board members immediately, and show up to the meeting at Southern Aroostook Community High School on Jan. 12. After the vote, it will be too late. We will do everything in our power to see that this injustice does not happen.
Danette Moody-Kay
Patten