Driver in fatal park accident should be treated fairly

Driver in fatal park accidentshould be treated fairly
EDITOR:
After reading articles two consecutive days regarding C.A. Lively, the 18-year-old 12th-grader now accused of aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault (after not being indicted by the grand jury last month), I would like to know just who is pushing for these new charges.
What good will it do to ruin this young mans' life? I deeply sympathize with the families of those who were killed and injured, but to send this young man to prison will not bring them back.
I did not know the young man who caused the accident, but I'm sure that he is suffering both physically and emotionally because those injured and killed were his friends.
Isn't it appalling that we have known murderers who can plea bargain their way to freedom, but we can try to sentence a young man who probably has not been in trouble before and who if tried and convicted could get five years for each count and a $10,000 fine?
I regret that you feel it necessary to plaster his face in your paper as do some of the local television stations as though he's a hardened criminal.
I do pray when or if he goes to trial, the jury will have some compassion.
OLLA L. TATE
Youngstown
Job and family service workersoften go beyond call of duty
EDITOR:
I am writing in response to the articles in area newspapers concerning the Department of Job and Family Services in Columbiana County. I think it's time your readers hear the other side of the story.
Employees at the DJFS are caring and compassionate. They do not always agree with what has to be done but must follow the regulations that they are given. They have several referral sites that clients can be sent to in the event they are unable to help.
Employees work hard at their jobs. Workloads have increased over the past year due to company closings and layoffs as well as decreased hours. Additional duties have been placed on workers without the hiring of new employees or overtime due partly because of increase in operating expenses and budget cuts. The training officers do go out of the county for training, but they bring the information back to the workers and train them here. This cuts down on excess travel and loss of work hours for the employees.
The employees do not have "free" medical insurance. They do pay a minimal amount for insurance premiums, but their deductibles have doubled and their copays and prescription costs have increased. Some have had medical bills turned over for collection due to untimely or no payments being made.
The employees are also a very giving group of men and women. Last year, over $2000 was raised through dress down days held on their pay days. The American Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Ronald McDonald House and others have benefited from these donations.
There was over $5,000 collected for the Relay for Life team last year through lunches, pepperoni roll sales, raffles and other fund-raisers
A blood drive was held in December with 24 employees willing to donate blood to the American Cancer Society. There were 18 employees found eligible to donate to help with the low blood supply.
They have joined together twice over the past six months to help replenish the agency food pantry. This was done in December and again when the agency had plumbing problems and many of the food items were destroyed. The two drives netted over 2,500 food items to help feed the needy who are seen at the agency on a daily basis.
Employees volunteer to hand out information on agency programs each year at the Columbiana County Fair. They use their own time after work and on weekends to do this. Several have brought family members with them to help in the distribution.
I hope the next time a need arises to write an article in the newspapers criticizing the employee appreciation breakfast, ice cream treats or reward programs the writer looks at all the facts. These employees are not just working at the DJFS for the perks or the pay; they are here to help the people in the community by giving back what they can.
These are not just employees; they are your friends, neighbors and family members. They are lifelines to many. They are part of your community. They are there when you need them.
MARY M. ZINK
President
AFSCME 3192