Memorial Day Weekend - If you had visited Clearwater Beach over Memorial Weekend, you quickly became aware of roadway construction. Whether you drove to Clearwater Beach from the mainland and found traffic backed-up to Memorial Causeway bridge, or if you tried to drive to Clearwater Beach from Clearwater Sand Key, you most likely were a part of bumper to bumber traffic. Bridge to bridge traffic . . . and not many places to park.
It was amazing to notice the traffic on Clearwater Beach even though not many hotels were open for business (due to future construction plans, now on hold.)
From Indian Rocks Beach south to St Pete Beach, motels and hotels were full. There were plenty of people walking the streets and beaches were full of visitors enjoying the fantastic weather.
Once the roadway construction is completed on Clearwater Beach perhaps private developers will begin much anticipated construction on vacant beach-front lots.
On the other hand.
Another Alligator Attack - There was another alligator attack in south Florida. A small Yorkshire terrier was killed by a seven-foot long alligator while taking a drink at a neighborhood pond.
The small dog is gone and animal control said they caught the gator.
State legislators who write laws to protect alligators must know that the people of Florida are having a huge safety problem with alligators (predatory friends of our local ponds and rivers.)
Children, adults (male and female), dogs, cats, and other small pets have been killed in recent years due to the ever-growing threat of alligators. When do you think our legislators might write new law to protect people and domestic pets?
One reader wondered if I meant that all alligators over four-feet should either be removed or killed if they inhabited local ponds and lakes. Yes, alligators over four-feet are dangerous. Move the predators to protected swamps or the Everglades. The way I see it, there is a place for large alligators and it should not be in a local pond where youngsters might swim.
Good grief, people have found gators in their swimming pools and trying to climb over walls and fences.
Don't you just hate to read about people or pets being eaten by large alligators?
Cut this out and send it to your legislator. It is time to restrict the uncontrolled growth of alligators in Florida (except for state lands.)
Former President Jimmy Carter Recants His Statement - Former Presidents of the United States traditionally have held their tongues before criticizing current Presidents, call it professional courtesy.
Not Jimmy Carter. He has taken more than one shot at current President George W. Bush. Of course, it is the same Jimmy Carter that would have disliked statements from former President Ronald Reagan criticizing the Carter administration and Carter's dealings with foreign nations.
For example, imagine how Carter would have appreciated Reagan saying something like, "When Carter was President he had terrorists capture Americans and hold them hostage for about 400 days. He was a weak leader and foreign nations were not afraid of America. Foreign nations knew I (Reagan) would not tolerate acts of terrorism and when elected, terrorists released all the Americans within two days. They knew we were coming." Imagine how Carter might have felt?
Same could be true of Clinton. Another weak leader as far as dealing with terrorists and foreign nations.
There are many things wrong with the Bush Presidency, but having past Presidents make comments, they themselves could not defend, is unacceptable. (But, the media feeds on every critical word of Carter or Clinton.)
Yes, Jimmy Carter recently said his comments were taken out of context.
Young Upcoming Golfer MacKinzie Kline - If you have not heard about young 15-year-old golfer MacKenzie Kline, perhaps you will this weekend during the Ginn Tribute LPGA Golf Tournament at Charlestown, SC.
This young upcoming golfer has been given an invitation to this weekend's LPGA tournament.
The interesting part about this LPGA invitation is the fact that this young lady has a congenital heart defect that, only years ago, might not have been treatable. She golfs using a golf cart to help eliminate added stress on her repaired heart.
Quite a story. She aspires one day to compete with all the LPGA pros on the circuit.
Of course, and as tribute to the LPGA, they passed rules allowing golfers use of a golf cart if necessary. Kudos to he LPGA,
Then there is high school graduate Michelle Wie, with no LPGA wins, invited again to play with the men at the upcoming John Deere PGA Golf Tournament. Wie had not qualified for a PGA tournament after several attempts. Wie says that she will keep trying to win a PGA event . . . as long as tournament sponsors keep giving her a tournament spot. Since her recent graduation from high school, Wie is no longer that young high school upstart with huge golfing potential. Wie is indeed a golfing talent who will most likely win many LPGA tournaments over the next ten years, but why does she think she should try to beat Tiger Woods or the best PGA men golfers? What is wrong with being the best female golfer in the LPGA?
Then again, how about our local (Seminole) LPGA star Brittany Linnicome rising in the LPGA ranks!
The way I see it, there are a couple of talented young ladies currently playing at the Belleview Biltmore Golf Club that, after graduation from high school, yes, they are still in high school, will soon play golf at top level colleges (Florida, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, etc.) These local young ladies hope one day to play at the highest level of golf, the LPGA. Great golfing talents at age 16 and 17 - just like Brittany from Seminole.
