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Letters, 4/16: Turco needs to be punished

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Monday, Apr 16, 2007 - 09:11:16 am CDT

“I don’t think I should be put away for it,” he said. “‘Cause technically I didn’t kill anybody.” This is what Ricky Turco said in the April 7 story about the death of a passenger in his car when he was driving negligently. The young man does not have a driver’s license, repeatedly breaks the law, admits to driving too fast for conditions with passengers in the car but yet: “I slowed down a little bit before I jumped it. I jumped the hill and there was this truck in front of me that I would have crashed into … but I swerved out of the way.”

He doesn’t remember what happened next. “I mean, no one wanted it to happen. It wasn’t something that someone saw coming. But when you do things like that you put your own life in your hands.

“I don’t like hurting people or anything like that. Nobody knew it was going to happen.” If he is going to drive like an idiot, he should be doing it alone, not endangering the lives of innocent people, both those in the car and on the street.

Maybe because I knew Megan as a little girl, this makes me even more angry. But that person driving the truck that caused him to swerve, could have been injured or killed, too. Or innocent children playing in the front yard. This young man needs to be punished, and something needs to be done to assure the citizens where he lives after jail time, that he will not drive a car. Not for a long time. Turco tallied a point for each of nine convictions for driving without a license between October and this week. He was also picked up for various other violations for a total of 17 since October, among other things. Absolutely ridiculous!

Cindy M. Hodge, Lincoln2 kinds of DUI offenders

The recent public discussion of DUI law suggests that the enthusiasm for punishing drunk drivers has overcome any ability to reflect carefully on how the ham-fisted way DUls are handled can produce bad results for everyone, not the least of which are the families and children of DUI defendants.

Everyone is against drunk driving. The dangers are obvious. DUI law means to protect the public from the notorious drunk driver. But is that what it does?

There are two kinds of persons picked up for DUI. First is the “notorious drunk driver” who is the real menace to society that the harshness of DUI law is properly meant for.

But a large portion of DUI arrests are for people who are not ordinarily drunk drivers. These are the folks who unwittingly cross the line on an unusual occasion in which they probably did not even know that they were over the .08 limit. If they have a CDL license, the limit is .04! These good folks get arrested once, and they will never drive after drinking even a single beer again.

But what does the law do? The day these harmless people are arrested, the law treats them the same as the notorious drunk driver. The law immediately suspends their license for 90 days. And here is the brutality of it: If they have a job that requires a license, they lose their job. Their lives are changed and their families are devastated. And what for?

It is the notorious drunk driver that is the real problem. The law suspends his license, too. But for the person that is willing to repeatedly drive drunk, no license is needed to drive. And as soon as they bond out of jail, they are driving back to the bar. I say: Put these people in jail and keep them there.

Vengeance is not a just motivation for punishment. The zeal to punish the real offenders does not provide us with license to overlook the brutality and the needless devastation that DUI law works on the spouses and children of those who have simply made a once-in-a-lifetime mistake with no consequences to others.

Melvin Moore, Lincoln

Enough is enough

In response to Jeffrey Sanley’s letter, April 2: According to Sanley there is too much whining over the placement of a drag strip along U.S. 77 and Branched Oak and Davey roads. These people are the very people who chose to live in the quiet of the country. The trains, sirens, Memorial Stadium, church bells, traffic, airplanes, tractor pulls and high school bands are all a part of the city of Lincoln living. Most of these noisemakers have been there for decades! If you choose to live in the city then you choose to listen to the city noise. It all comes down to the freedom this country gives its citizens — the freedom to choose where you live.

I prefer quiet and everyone in this country community chose the quiet over the noise of the city. North Lincoln has gotten the short end of the stick for the last 20 years. The land fill, the wind turbines, the huge electrical plants, mining of good farm ground across from the land fill. And now the motocross. This is a small sampling. Enough is enough!

The perfect place for the drag strip would be where there is already noise. By the airport. But our city officials don’t want to use industrial land because of potential jobs that may be added to the community. But Sanford claims he will be adding as many as 300 new jobs.

Being close to retirement we bought our home 20 years ago and built a backyard pool to entertain family and friends. Can you imagine listening to dragsters Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m. until after midnight, April through November?

If this proposal goes and the drag strip is built along U.S. 77 and Branched Oak Road, several properties will go up for sale. Are the supporters of this noise pollution willing to put their money where their mouth is and live out here next to the noise?

Karen K. Grant, Lincoln

Undue criticism

Gov. Heineman got undue criticism from Donald C. George (letter, April 7) regarding state employee wages being negotiated via the Nebraska Association of Public Employees.

George complained about the lack of wage increases, while the health insurance increased

40 percent during the last six years, and claims wages have lagged behind those of neighboring states.

George and his negotiator should also consider the cost of the benefit package as part of the compensation. That insurance package is richer in benefit than a majority of privately employed workers here in Nebraska, so its excess cost should then be part of the total compensation package open for discussion. He clearly is a victim of the cruel fact that medical costs, and so insurance, is increasing faster than the cost of living index. If he wants higher wages, he then should consider a lower cost insurance package, more like the average privately employed worker, and then be in a position to negotiate a better salary. He shouldn’t have both high wages and very expensive insurance, since most private industry doesn’t do that.

Thank you, Gov. Heineman for taking a stand against higher cost of government. It is high time the state employees have wages and benefits parallel with private industry. The cost to the taxpayer should be a sensible balance of benefits and earnings.

Tom Hanthorn, LincolnBeyond words

I am appalled at the callous decision by some area nursing homes to evict their elderly Medicaid waiver residents. It would be bad enough if these homes said that from this point forward they were no longer going to accept waiver residents, but to force those already living there to move is beyond words.

I realize that Medicaid, along with the patients share of cost, is not able to cover the ever-increasing cost of health care and I agree it is not fair for the private pay residents to make up that cost. However, those reasons should not constitute homes leaving Nebraskans who qualify for government assistance without care.

Giving a few months notice of eviction in some cases will not be enough. I know from personal experience that homes that accept Medicaid waiver are far and few between, usually only have a handful of waiver rooms and most have lengthy waiting lists. Luckily for my family we were able to get my mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease into a wonderful facility that accepts waiver. My heart goes out to the residents and families affected by the evictions. The stress and frustration they must be feeling is heartbreaking.

For these homes to say they are doing what is best for residents … is laughable. They are turning their backs on some of the residents who need them the most and they are uprooting people at the most fragile time of their lives. The people who made these decisions should literally be ashamed of themselves.

Leslie A. Galloway, Lincoln


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CS wrote on April 16, 2007 7:35 am:
" I have lived in North Lincoln and it never fails to surprise me that its a minority of moneyed property owners the choose to removed themselves from Lincoln proper, yet want to complain about things done for the good of Lincoln. Wind turbines? Big noise maker there-and part of the solution for your other issue of big electrical plants. Unless you farm it's no concern of yours what the property owner does with their 'good farmland' across from the landfill, that you probably help to fill, by the way. Please, take your elitist attitude somewhere else that will bend to your every whim. I won't miss you when I pay my property taxes. "
Sick of enough being enough! wrote on April 16, 2007 7:57 am:
" I am tried of comments like these. Urban areas expand...fact. Where do they expand to? Oh yeah, areas that are not yet developed. Country living, huh? You live a couple miles outside of town and pay no city taxes. You use the cities roads but offer up no wheel taxes. Now you complain about a little noise out in "the country." You have no right to complain. If this drag strip was built in lincoln it would expose many more people to "noise." Get over it...you have it really easy! "
I buy wrote on April 16, 2007 8:02 am:
" Karen, I'll buy your land right now. When a motorsports facility is built out there, your value will go up because of all the additional businesses that will want to go out near there, we're talking resturants, hotels, gas stations, private workshops. You should take a good look around at the development that occurs around these tracks. I've seen brand new million dollar homes right near a track. This would be a great opportunity for you to get a high return on investment in your property. "
dtw wrote on April 16, 2007 8:28 am:
" This problem is only going to get worse, Leslie. Just another reason why we need a national healthcare plan. "
TT wrote on April 16, 2007 9:10 am:
" Karen, thank you for your letter. I am so sick of hearing about economic benefit when the real issue is these people are whining that Kearney is too far. Why should a few people's lives be ruined for this environmentally hazardous sport? And CS, why do only farmers have a say in their property--where are you getting that twisted logic? Sanford came out here and has threatened his neighbors' lifestyle. So stop the bullying. "
Melvin says.. wrote on April 16, 2007 10:00 am:
" "The zeal to punish the real offenders does not provide us with license to overlook the brutality and the needless devastation that DUI law works on the spouses and children of those who have simply made a once-in-a-lifetime mistake with no consequences to others." Well Melvin, what about the needless devastation that a "one time" DUI offender creates when they kill or injure another person? These laws were not created just for the "drunks". ANYONE who decides to drink and drive ought to suffer the consequences as EVERYONE who does so has the same potential to injure or kill another! "
Ashamed wrote on April 16, 2007 12:09 pm:
" We wouldn't want a national health care plan, because everybody might be treated equal. We wouldn't want that, now would we?? And yeh, a drag strip might bring in motels, restaurants etc, but NOT in Nebraska. You have to remember, people are already avoiding Nebraska because of high gas, taxes and consumer goods will cost you double than most states. I bot a set of tires and they were double the cost in my former state. Its been that way for years, because Nebraska ain't gonna grow, so it costs everybody more to live. And its sure not going to change with the leadership in place and those hopeing to be elected to continue the drag DOWN!! Yeh Heinemann deals with employees pay checks & benefits, but does nothing to build the state and bring in more revenue. He does a pretty good job cutting ribbons too. In my formers state every day are articles of the governor doing, building & bringing in jobs & revenue. You sure don't see that in Nebraska!! The most your going to get out of this governor is a fancy speech and wait to propel himself to Washington D.C for the big bucks & benefits. "
Wanna race? wrote on April 16, 2007 12:10 pm:
" Then move to Topeka. I hope this stupid drag-strip is never built anywhere around here. I could really care less about racing, but I can't stand the selfish attitudes of those that have to impose their hobby onto other people. Yeah, all the money it will generate will lower our property taxes, right. The only money generated will be from the liquor and "cheap tobacco" stores that will have to be built to support this thing. "
CF wrote on April 16, 2007 12:18 pm:
" I was glad to see your letter in the paper today, Karen. I too wrote a response to Jeff Sanley's letter, and was dismayed to see the rude, offensive, juvenile comments written by some others. Surely they should realize that such childish comebacks make them look just that... childish. I know that I, along with many others in the area appreciate what you had to say! I don't have a problem at all with a drag strip. It's all about location..I agree with you, put it where the noise won't be noticed as badly, and negatively affect the lives of so many others. "
Don wrote on April 16, 2007 12:48 pm:
" Maybe some trees could be planted or some other barriers be erected around the drag strip facility to reduce the noise for residents living nearby. "
Josh wrote on April 16, 2007 2:28 pm:
" Well Leslie, Nursing homes are in the business of making MONEY. If you ran the home, would want to lose money everyday on somebody??? Nursing homes get around $2500 a month for care from Medicaid and the cost is about $4000. Not good numbers for ANY business. Maybe people should quit giving away their assets and relying on the gov. Its called insurance, buy it. "
Former State, Schmormer Shtate wrote on April 16, 2007 2:57 pm:
" So proud of your former state? Then please name them. People are in here everyday talking about their "former state." They have names, let's hear them. Everything is relative. It's give and take no matter where you are, and sorry there are no fences holding you here. "
CD wrote on April 16, 2007 3:03 pm:
" What, a day in the editorial section with no whining about comic strips? "
Jerry wrote on April 16, 2007 4:30 pm:
" Build the race track on North Hwy 77 and hopefully some of these acreage owners will move away or stop developing land thru out Lancaster County. My farming operation creates dust and noise and I have had acreage owners complain about me spreading manure for fertilizer on my fields. Build the race track on hwy 77 and hopefully some of these acreage complainers will move away. Many realtor friends have told me, once an acreage owner builds a house, they want to control a square mile around them. If one race track using 160 acres will prevent 30 acreage developments using up the minimum 20 acres for 600 acres, the farmers are all for keeping them out of this area in Lancaster county. "
smirnoff wrote on April 16, 2007 4:30 pm:
" While I was a citizen of Lincoln for several years I always was amazed at the letters to the paper. The problem with the average person in Lincoln is their anger. I think if someone can afford to get out of the confines of Lincoln to move to the quiet of the country good for them. Then, the other part comes. People of Lincoln are just so jealous of each other it's sickening. Thats what the conflict with the drag strip is. The ones who want it have never enjoyed peace and quiet so they think it's normal to have sirens , trains, trucks,etc. Most of the citizens can't or won't afford the price to live in the country. It's like if I can't have it I don't want you to have it or i'll ruin it. The drag strip belongs by the airport. I don't even live close to the city or the lancaster countryside. "
tcan wrote on April 16, 2007 5:45 pm:
" No drunk drivers are harmless. A person would make about as much sense arguing that habitual drunken drivers are less of a hazard, because they have plenty of practice. "
Noise on 77 build the dragstrip wrote on April 16, 2007 11:05 pm:
" There is noise already along 77. If you didn't catch the newscast that Channel 8 did a few weeks ago the newscaster had to shout over the noise of the traffic....and she was doing her news cast from the cemetary on 77. Build the dragstrip at the best location hwy 77. "
Dave M wrote on April 17, 2007 9:17 am:
" Actually if you add up MADD's own massively inflated figures and combine them with their own estimate of impaired trips taken, you still come out with one death (which at least 3/4 of the time is the "drunk" driver) every 3.3 MILLION "drunk" driving trips. So it's actually fair to state that 99.99997% of drunk drivers are hamless. Oh and that's if you include pedestrians and passengers and druggies and wild guesses from officers about participants that never had BAC tests in those "drunk driving" stats. "
From a Farmer wrote on April 18, 2007 8:47 am:
" Slowly our farming lifestyle is being squeezed out by people who want "economic development". Soon there won't be any land to buy to farm because it's being used for ridiculous enterprises by millionaires like Sanford who come in and want to wreck our way of life by a drag strip. KEEP IT OUT OF HERE. And for you who say there is already noise on 77--I live off hwy 77 and it is very quiet and peaceful here now. I used to own a house in LIncoln and this is far more peaceful. Don't wreck it with this dumb drag strip. "
shsh wrote on April 19, 2007 4:48 pm:
" With regard to the letter about negotiations with state employees, I would like to set the record straight. There was a time when state jobs did have good pay and excellent benefits. Often the benefits would help attract employees who would earn more in the private sector. The pay has never been great but used to be good. These days, however, if the state were to match private industry, salaries and benefits would actually have to increase. I worked for the state recently in a position that privately would have paid TWICE the salary as I received, and the health insurance kept getting more and more expensive while benefits were slashed year after year. It got to the point that the skill required to perform my job was worth far more than what I was receiving. The good old days of the wonderful job working for the state are long gond. "
Eagle wrote on July 26, 2007 12:35 pm:
" Why not locate the drag strip out at Eagle. There is already a race track in Eagle. Locate out there and benefit from the race fans that are already in the area. This track has been there for many years and not knowing for sure but I would think that those who didn't want to live near the Eagle track have moved on or gotten use to it. It's alot closer than Kearney and away from people who already voiced opposition to it. I use to go to Cornhusker drag strip in Omaha and remember just how loud it was. VERY LOUD. "

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