Letter to editor
To the Editor:
In response to the news article in last week's newspaper:
a) Everyone who believes that public safety is the "driving force" (hey, it wasn't MY pun) behind the Florence City "Clowncil" and police department's "stepped-up patrolling" of the highways, please raise your hands. I wonder just how dedicated to public safety they would be if they had to turn all of their ticket money in to the state, like the sheriff's department, instead of fattening their treasury at the motoring public's expense.
b) The lack of fatalities at the intersection has nothing to do with any so-called stepped-up enforcement. It stopped because the whole area's been under construction.
c) Florence? Needs a detective?!?!?!
Very seldom does a day go by that I don't have someone who knows I moved to Marion from Florence tell me that they used to really enjoy going to Town and Country in the evenings for dinner or after church on Sundays, but now they go the long way around and go to Newton or Hillsboro so they don't have to go through the "speed trap." I can remember when you had to wait for a table on Friday or Saturday night. Now you have to look twice to be sure they're open.
Some people tell me that they would travel from miles away to buy meat at the Florence market because it was the best around. Now they would just as soon pick it up at Dillon's or Wal-Mart.
If the Florence City Clowncil spent half as much time focused on business and community development and supporting what local businesses are left as they do on their "stepped-up enforcement," Florence would be a thriving community instead of a town taking its last gasping breath. A reputation such as the one Florence has is very easy to acquire but it will take years of hard work and public relations to rid it.
The really amazing part for me is that everyone I talk to in Florence complains about the "speed trap" and the way the town is being run but no one wants to speak up
My friends I've left behind, it's time in April that you remind them who works for whom.
Rick Burcky
Marion
