Sound Off calls Monday, Oct. 4, 2021

Flood insurance not that cheap

I'm calling in regard to the Amanda F. Woodward guest column in the Chronicle on Sunday, Oct. 3 (Page C1, "Reducing flooding risk may be easier than one thinks"). She mentions about the federal flood insurance that they can reimburse you for damage to your property due to flooding. Apparently she hasn't done her homework because she said, "Through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), residents can easily purchase flood insurance, which is actually quite affordable." As I understand it, she is the director of Citrus County Emergency Management. One would think that she would know how expensive flood insurance is. Mine is quite expensive. I draw Social Security.

Forcing nonprofit group out is rotten

In regards to Living Water, that they have to be moved out when they're willing to pay the monthly rent (Monday, Oct. 4's front-page story, "Living Water must move," "Ministry losing lease at thrift store"). It is disgusting and rotten that a partnership of such wealth would kick out the poor tenants whose ministering efforts of pantry food for homeless, for the poor and those in need of a friend will end, at least temporarily. They have to move and they have to probably pay more and it's all because you wealthy, wealthy people that want to put in an upscale business. I'm just furious. I'm just furious.

Need more local, enlightening news

In the Monday Chronicle under the Opinion (Page A7, Oct. 4's Sound Off, "More news please"), there was a writer who talked about more local news. I totally agree. I think there should be more local news. It's to the point that even the national news, we don't even see a lot about. And the thing is, there's a lot of positive news out there - you know, positive news that makes people feel more enlightened and want to read about. It's not like it's difficult to find. Just saying. Just a point of view in agreement with the other person. Also, on a different note: That's right, maybe deputy sheriffs should say hi once in awhile. You know, I remember when growing up, it was always no second thought. You know, you'd walk up and say hi to the police officer and they'd always say hi back, but I guess that was the '60s and it was a different world back then.

No COVID test, really?

OK, I want to know what's going on in Florida hospitals. I just had a granddaughter, No. seven grandchild, and it's wonderful. However, my son just related a story to me that kills me. She was born at Winnie Palmer in Orlando. There's allowed one support person. My son was the support person, Daddy. Anyway, Mommy was tested for COVID - it was a requirement - but Daddy, who was a support person, wasn't. Now I don't know if this was an oversight or general practice, but my son wasn't tested for COVID. When I think of all the babies and mommies in those hospitals, not being tested for COVID? It really bothers me.

Thanks Duke for fixing streetlight

I'd like to give a big shout-out to Duke Energy for fixing the streetlight at the intersection of (U.S.) 41 and North Citrus Springs Boulevard. Thank you so, so much for getting on it so quickly. Again thanks, Duke guys, we appreciate you. Thanks!

Where's the gas tax funds going?

Citrus County residents are objecting to the tax rate increase to pave the roads. The common question that everybody's asking is, what happened to the taxes that were being collected from the gas sales to pave the roads? What my issue is, why isn't the county putting somebody to the desk to write down and explain how much they collected over a certain period of time and how much of them went to repair the roads and even go ahead and list which roads were repaired? Unless this is done, the county residents are going to keep on objecting to the increased sales taxes. Get with it, you know, if you can't properly explain where the money went.

Solar power is eliminating trees

Trees are an important thing for the carbon footprint, I've seen. Yet I go by these solar panels that are in fields. Like one place, there's a mile long and a half-mile deep of solar panels, so there's no trees whatsoever. I watched them clear-cut the forest down for the solar panels. Well, that's somewhat renewable energy. Thing is, you're killing all the trees to put it there and it takes a lot of solar panels to produce enough energy for anything. So that's why they're taking, I mean, there's got to be hundreds of thousands of acres cleared just for solar panels in this country today because all the electric companies get a tax break from the government. But anyhow, we need the trees. So maybe they need to back down on solar or do something different with solar.

Citrus a 'peaceful little county'

I've just been reading Sound Off and for the last couple of weeks, even more, I've come to the conclusion that Citrus County has got to be one of the most perfect counties in the whole state. I read - and I quote, it's supposed to be Sound Off - that we're talking about a little safety here and garbage pickup. There's no big things, really, you know, that people are mad about. I think that's wonderful. Now, you are really doing a job for the county, showing how wonderful we're doing. Oh, by the way, can you please tell me how many people have died of COVID in the county? Let's see, there's over 700,000 in the United States and over 50,000 in this state alone, but, you know, we're not really mad about anything. We're just a peaceful little county. Oh, I just love it.