By Staff
Drivers should slow down in highway work zones
To the editor:
I grew up in Meridian and read The Meridian Star often. I applaud your article on the dangers to highway workers from passing motorists. It is best piece of reporting I have read in The Meridian Star.
In light of the dangers that you have uncovered to the fine men (and women) who work to improve these roads why aren't better safety features to protect them in place. For example, why not require all traffic to slow to a safe speed (possibly 10 to 15 miles per hour) before passing within inches of them?
Michael B. Mushlin
via e-mail
Face the facts
To the editor:
Fact 1. A citizen cannot get into court or even seriously threaten a liability claim without enlisting the help of an attorney. A lawyer is the "gatekeeper" even for the multitude of unnecessary and frivolous
claims. No willing lawyer, no claim.
Fact 2. A citizen cannot be treated at a hospital or get a prescription filled without an order from a doctor. A doctor is the gatekeeper of quality medical care. No doctor, no quality medical care.
Fact 3. Most reasonably prudent businesspersons will not continue in any business or profession subject to liability claims, unless he or she can purchase liability insurance.
If you can understand these three facts you should be able to see that in the very near future you and your family are at risk of not being able to obtain medical care from your doctor, or worse still, may not be able to have your ongoing medical needs met, or to obtain emergency medical care.
Here is a simple test for those readers who doubt that such a crisis exists. Phone your physician's office  any Mississippi physician, and ask if the doctor is certain that he will be able to obtain liability insurance against malpractice claims at an affordable price when his current annual renewal is due. His or her answer will probably shock you.
A long term solution can be found later. We unfortunately need a "quick fix" now! The only ones that can do that are the elected state officials in Jackson. You would be very wise to exercise your citizens' rights to call them and demand immediate action. If you choose not to get involved, please don't blame your doctor when he is not at work one day.
Don Hopkins, MD, FACS
Gulfport
via e-mail
Country needs Amtrak
To the editor:
I am a Amtrak employee and I am writing this letter to Meridian to express how much I appreciate your Mayor John Robert Smith for "going the extra mile to help save Amtrak." I recently took a mini-vacation to Northern California with my family via Amtrak and one passenger after another told me "If Amtrak stops running they would have no other means of travel."
My Amtrak customer relations skills kicked in and I let the passengers express their fears and frustration about possibly losing train service, some passengers begin to cry. It was then that I realized the severe impact facing those that live in rural areas if our trains stopped running. I continually made the same statement to those concerned souls who asked, "Where would America be without passenger rail service?" I love Amtrak, and I realized many others love Amtrak. We need passenger rail service in America.
I thank you, Mayor John Robert Smith, for your dedication and hard work.
Gloria J. Woodridge
Amtrak Employee
Perris, Calif.
Prison ministry
To the editor:
Thanks go out to Ida Brown for the wonderful article in the Saturday, June 22, paper concerning the jail ministry. We have already received calls from people about the volunteer training coming up in July.
I would like to clarify just one thing. By law, the detention facility and the chaplain's office are required to accommodate the religious preferences of the inmates. As a minister of the Gospel and a chaplain, I am not required to promote any other religion. We have volunteers from various denominations that serve in the jail, providing religious services.
For more information, feel free to contact me at 485-7708 or e-mail at demarks@clergy.net.
Chaplain Dennis Marks
Lauderdale Detention Facility
Meridian