Published: April 25, 2008 03:55 pm            

Letters to the Editor April 25, 2008

Dear Editor,

I have spent many years giving safe driving classes, especially to the over age 50 group and have found that all age groups seem to suffer from the same problem. We seem to be in a big hurry to get “there” when an earlier start would solve most of the problem. Speed kills. We kill and maim more people on our highways each year than we do at war.

The use of the highway, unless it is a private road, is a privilege, not a right. A very high percentage of the accidents are preventable and are usually driver error. Courtesy to others is a clue to safer driving. Much of what we do in life is by habit.

Courtesy can be habit forming and the younger the better. Though we have many laws on highway usage, many of these rules are difficult to enforce. Speed, left turns and unsafe backing are the major causes of accidents at any age.

Lack of attention to driving by the uses of cell phones, tuning a radio, talking to passengers and the like are the main causes of unnecessary accidents. Other problems can be the maintenance of the vehicle, such as tires, lights, wipers and mirrors.

Improper signaling or none at all leads to confusion of other drivers that need to know about our intentions. Hand signaling can be used if the signal lights fail. Having our head and taillights on in the dusk and dawn can give the other driver knowledge that you are there. Foggy and rainy days are also needed for the use of our lights.

Insurance companies give premium reductions for people that take a Safe Driving course. Check with your agent. In Oklahoma, unlike many states, all age licensed drivers are allowed to participate in these classes at an affordable cost while saving insurance premiums for three years. My biggest concern is to make our highways safer driving at any age.

Just thought you should know.

Mel Hutt

Ada



Dear Editor,

On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, the Ada Business and Professional Women joined thousands of women from across the United States in a national day of action against unfair pay called Equal Pay Day.

April signifies the point into the next year that a woman must work in order to earn the wages paid to a man in the previous year. On a national level, women are paid only 77 cents for every dollar a man is paid, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.

Fair pay takes real change and we can make a difference! Here in Ada, we joined hundreds of other BPW/USA members across the nation to educate women and men about pay inequity and to offer solutions to wage discrimination.

In Ada, BPW members accepted a proclamation from the mayor, acknowledging Tuesday, April 22 as Equal Pay Day in Ada. The proclamation will further encourage the business community to review their pay practices and to perform and Equal Pay Self-Audit provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau.

As a working woman, I am interested in pay equity for women and I am convinced that several Ada businesses strive for equity in pay. I encourage all of our local employers to perform the Equal Pay Self-Audit.

Dee Ann Jones, President Ada BPW

Ada



Dear Editor,

During the just completed tax season, thirteen AARP Tax-Aide volunteers working at the chamber of commerce completed 869 tax returns for citizens of the community at no charge to them. Almost 800 of these returns were e-filed and 238 of them were filed only for the purpose of qualifying for the stimulus payment.

These volunteers are outstanding examples of good citizenship in practice, especially the following three. Our local coordinator, Bette Cole, put in over 400 hours during the past six months. Andy Hood, our computer systems expert, put in over 300 hours.

Both of them have been doing this for the community for 10 years or more. M.E. Carr, our quality control leader, has been doing this for 19 years.

Other volunteers included Bob Ardiana, Jim Barlow, Dorothy Barlow, Don Clark, Vestel Cole, Maggie Davidson, Morris Gonsoulin, Jennifer Hood, Joann Hood, Wanda Privett, and Steve Wilson.

Thank you to the Ada Evening News for carrying notices about the Tax-Aide program. Thank you to the chamber of commerce for allowing us to use your meeting room. We will need more volunteer help next year. You do not have to be an accountant.

We will train you. If you want to learn more about volunteering, please call Bette at 332-3882.

Jim Barlow

Ada

        

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