Letters for Saturday, December 23, 2006

• Public information should be on a public, accessible, forum

• Tragedy for visitors

• Big savings

• His way or the highway

• Mahalo from the Mainland

Public information should be on a public, accessible, forum

I had originally written this letter in July but never received a response. I decided to write again seeing how this made the front page (“Info sharing up to chief, commission says,” Dec. 18).

I have been on the island since 1979 and, as a female, I feel very vulnerable lately.

This is the information at the kauai.gov site under the police heading:

Effective June 29, 2006, the daily bulletin will be discontinued on the County Web site. The daily arrest log information will be available to the public from the Patrol Services Bureau lobby area from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays).

I live on the North Shore and was reading the daily bulletin daily to see what was happening on the island with crime but especially what was happening with crime in my own neighborhood and the North Shore. For example, there were two rapes that occurred in Princeville during the week of May 15 that were reported in the daily bulletin. This item, to my knowledge, was not reported in The Garden Island.

The daily police bulletin helped me to share this information with several single females that I know. One of the rape victims was my friend’s next-door neighbor, who was slipped a date rape drug during a cocktail reception at a local timeshare presentation on the North Shore.

Her body was found at a construction site nearby. She has no idea what happened to her while the date rape drug was in her system. Things like this, as well as thefts and car break-ins, need to be accessible to our everyday citizens so we can be aware, prepared and diligent in watching out for our neighbors as well as our own personal property.

In the police daily bulletin, a theft was reported and the Princeville patrol on duty at the time visited my neighbor, who reported it to see what was the situation so they could be more aware and in tune.

The daily bulletin was a valuable source of information for those of us who live here and have homes, as well as letting our neighbors and friends know what is happening in their neighborhoods. Now, if you want to know what is happening, you have to drive to the Lihu‘e police department to get a copy.

With the price of gas, as well as congestion on our rural roads, who will drive to Lihu‘e to pick up the daily bulletin?

There is a lot happening here on the island with drugs and alcohol abuse and other things — we are seeing an increase in crime, criminal property damage and the more information we have, the better we can be to help, solve and perhaps stop bad things from getting worse.

I feel that taking the police daily bulletin off the Internet diminishes our awareness, alertness and, ultimately, our power.

We need the police bulletin reinstated online so we can all have access to this valuable information.

Princeville

Tragedy for visitors

I’m sure we are all saddened by the deaths of visitors on our islands. They come here for fun and relaxation and wind up going home in a box. Unfortunately no one is able to control the impulses that make some people try to do things that are beyond their abilities. The hikers who died on Mt. Hood are a good example. They used incredibly poor judgment by not taking sleeping bags and stoves. Sorry.

How terrible it would be if we were referred to as a place to get accidentally killed. Perhaps someone can explain why it is we think we can afford a $30 million bike path but we can’t or won’t block off some trails that cause people to get killed. Perhaps some of the bike path money could be used to hire more lifeguards.

From what I read, our drownings are many more per (capita) than the other islands. We must learn that tourists won’t read or listen to everything written or that is on video. So in some cases they must be barred from trying to do things that have a high rate of danger or death. Blocking off the trails that lead to the deaths of these two women would have saved their lives. I feel sure volunteers would be happy to do things of this nature. We must come to realize that human life is more important than cars, homes, bike paths or pretty shrubs by the airport. At dangerous beaches, anchor markers that will not allow swimmers at a certain point or in certain areas. I pray that our county government and state government will give human life first priority.

I would hope that Christmases in the future will not be spoiled by unnecessary deaths.

Kalaheo

Big savings

In response to all the letters regarding “big box” stores coming to Kaua‘i, it might be to the benefit of some of the citizens to look at the way prices for items have dropped. Gas prices (that we had been told were a result of Arab oil price hikes) have also declined since October’s Costco opening. Competition is good for most all economies, not bad. It’s time to consider “big boxes” to be opened, not closed.

Kalaheo

His way or the highway

Thanks Ross from Kapa‘a for letting us know the real gay agenda in your letter. What’s more ridiculous than the agenda you posted? The fact that I, Mrs. Metcalf, never put a letter in the paper! Your response should have been to Mr. Metcalf. Since he is my husband, I thought I’d respond to Michael Mann’s response rather than waste too much effort and respond to your schedule.

To get to the point, marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God in Genesis 2:24-25, and I Corinthians, Chapter 7. Romans 1:18-32 and I Corinthians 6:9-11 addresses homosexuality as sexual sin. If you knew your history, you would realize there has been legislation in the past criminalizing illegitimate births, extramarital affairs, premarital affairs and homosexuality. All are against God’s will and man’s best interest. A government based on Biblical truth will honor God’s Word.

Unfortunately our society has moved far away from Biblical truth, and our legislation is not what it once was. His truth is everlasting and will stand long after man’s philosophies die away. No matter what man’s law (our current legislation) says, God’s law is the truth. This issue is not up for debate or discussion. It’s settled in God’s Word. Try reading it!

Lihu‘e

Mahalo from the Mainland

Each morning I arise and go to my computer to check e-mail, play sudoku, look at the comics, work the crossword puzzle and read my local news in the Seattle Times. Then I go to The Garden Island Web site and read not only weather that warms my toes, but news that warms my heart. I do this in this order because it’s just like dessert. The best part of the meal. Thanks.

Seattle