Letters to the Editor
Firefighters cannot put a price on a human life

My name is Jonathan Kanzigg, I am an employee of the Midway [Fire District]. I would love for you to be a firefighter or paramedic for one day and realize that your job saves lives. You can not put a price on a human life. No one will die if you do not sell papers but if we can't do our job people die, including 140 firefighters last year alone. I guess you have never needed to call 911. If you did, then you would know that when you are waiting for a paramedic or a fire truck, you would give anything you have to get help now. I know you live in our District and I guess you have never seen our trucks on 98 cutting someone out of a car or speeding to save someone's life. If you have seen our trucks on the road once then you missed the other 2,100 times were serving the public. You will never know what it is like to hold a dead baby in your arms and look up and see a mother that is counting on you to give her back the only thing she cares about and it is not $224.

Print this if you want to sell papers

Jonathan Martin Kanzigg

Navarre

Seconds mean life or death

It is imperative that both sides of the story be given to Midway residents concerning taxes that support emergency services. The people should realize the consequences for not choosing alternative ways to fund these services and the difference it could make in a loved ones life. It's an on old cliché, but seconds mean life or death when it comes to emergency response. Highly trained professionals make a difference. There is more to think about than just house fires. Vehicle accidents, medical calls, trauma calls, hazardous material calls, flooding, water rescues, high angle rescues, confined space rescues, pet rescues, etc.

Please reconsider your article.

George S. Foss

Gulf Breeze

GB gas is too much

I wonder if those of us who live on this side of the bridge wonder why our gasoline prices have stayed around the $3.00 mark since Thanksgiving? I make the trip to Pensacola each day I work and travel on 9 Mile Road. Lo and behold...the gas prices are $2.81 a gallon and have been that way since Thanksgiving at chain stores. My question is this: With Escambia county taxes per gallon higher than Santa Rosa then why are our gas station prices so much higher? I recall for the longest time prior to the summer it was the opposite...ours lower than 9 Mile Road until an article in the newspaper pointed out the difference. Now I suppose they are making up for lost gravy profits. It is interesting that with a bump in the Middle East the prices can shoot up 25 cents a gallon but take a month to drop back. Am I the only one who notices this? Somebody please hurry with a practical electric car so they (big oil) can enjoy their gas!

William Ables

Gulf Breeze

Midway provides excellent protection

I am writing in support of the Midway Fire Department. I am a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Fort Walton Beach and I happen to live in Midway's fire District. I have watched the Midway Fire Department grow over the years from an all-volunteer department to full-time paid fire department. The Midway Fire Department not only provides excellent fire protection, but more importantly, they provide Advanced Life Support emergency medical service via their compliment of firefighter/paramedics.

In an emergency, seconds count and when you don't have 24 hour a day emergency crews standing by, you are literally placing your life or someone else's in jeopardy. As a taxpayer in Santa Rosa County and in Midway's Fire District, I pay the fire tax without complaining because I understand exactly what I am getting for my money...peace of mind knowing that the lives of my family and friends are safe because I have a professional 24 hour a day fire department where I live, should an emergency arise.

I can appreciate that you have your own opinion and so do many others, but I argue that you maybe are not considering what will happen if we lose the 20 firefighters that are slated to be terminated should the vote pass. I know that everyone is looking to save money due to the increase in home insurance , gas, etc, but cutting the jobs of those that are dedicated to saving our lives and property is not the way to go about it. Maybe you should make a concerted effort to write articles about Governor Charlie Crist's promises to make the insurance companies lower their premiums. Please don't think that I am attacking you personally because I am not, I just think that you have taken a stance that will cost lives.

I unfortunately don't have a forum to give the citizens my opinion on the subject. On the other hand, you are in the unique and powerful position of being a writer for a newspaper.

Alfred J. Calabro

Gulf Breeze