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Remembers explosion well
Dear Editor,
The article about the Willoughby family and the gas line explosion 50 years ago brought back some terrifying memories.
I was 8 years old, lived a couple of miles away on Cunningham Lane, and was sure we were under attack by the Russians. There had been lots in the news about nuclear bombs, and at Trapp School we were instructed on “duck and cover,” practicing by crawling under our desks (the old desks on runners) in case of nuclear attack. It was already a scary time, and my imagination created awful images, made worse by the thunderous explosion, the shaking of the ground and the sight of the flames reaching hundreds of feet in the air just over the hill.
I was playing with my cousin Debbie, who was just a toddler, and my first instinct was to get her to her mom, my aunt Della Williams, who was next door at my grandparents’ house. I ran as fast as I could, stumbled and fell. She got a small cut in her head from her hair barrette, but I got her to her mom.
Everyone was agitated, trying to figure out what was going on. Our grandmother, Ida Mae Combs, was the calming person, telling everyone to settle down, we would find out what happened when Uncle Cecil went over there to see. We eventually heard about the Willoughbys’ horrible experiences, and I remember being told they had “only the clothes they had been wearing and some of those were burnt off.” Like the rest of the community, we helped as much as we could. It is good to see those two sisters looking healthy and happy. I wish them and their cousin Sue Staton all the best.
Rowena Combs
Winchester
Learn the truth about taxes
Dear Editor,
Based on letters to the editor and news articles, it is apparent people do not want a tax increase of any kind. I hope people understand that the president’s jobs proposal and the attendant tax changes continue the 2 percent reduction in Social Security taxes for individuals.
The president got this passed into law for 2011, but this provision expires at the end of the year. Many Republicans, including our two senators, appear to oppose, for Mitch McConnell was quoted as saying the legislation “was dead on arrival” in the Senate. Learn about the bill and contact your elected representatives with your thoughts.
Bruce Miller
Winchester
Setting the record straight
Dear Editor,
Let me set the record straight again. I never obtained information from the city clerk on anyone’s salary. My information came from the city's own budget books.
In the city budget, page 27, is listed the salary of the mayor and commissioners. Also, you will find on the same page “Training and Travel” for seminars, workshops, mileage, lodging, etc., $3,700. On the same page you will find “Duplicating and Printing for Agenda” copying, budget copying, etc., $1,000. Page 28 is where anyone can locate the “Employee Appreciation” at $8,000.
In the city's budget, pages 35-41 is the salaries and wages of $287,000, not including the overtime, “Cadillac” retirement and insurance benefits. This department has listed seven employees. Page 40 is where you can find “Training and Travel,” seminars, workshops, conference, computer training, $4,500 and “Education Reimbursement,” $6,000.
Dear Editor,
The article about the Willoughby family and the gas line explosion 50 years ago brought back some terrifying memories.
I was 8 years old, lived a couple of miles away on Cunningham Lane, and was sure we were under attack by the Russians. There had been lots in the news about nuclear bombs, and at Trapp School we were instructed on “duck and cover,” practicing by crawling under our desks (the old desks on runners) in case of nuclear attack. It was already a scary time, and my imagination created awful images, made worse by the thunderous explosion, the shaking of the ground and the sight of the flames reaching hundreds of feet in the air just over the hill.
I was playing with my cousin Debbie, who was just a toddler, and my first instinct was to get her to her mom, my aunt Della Williams, who was next door at my grandparents’ house. I ran as fast as I could, stumbled and fell. She got a small cut in her head from her hair barrette, but I got her to her mom.
Everyone was agitated, trying to figure out what was going on. Our grandmother, Ida Mae Combs, was the calming person, telling everyone to settle down, we would find out what happened when Uncle Cecil went over there to see. We eventually heard about the Willoughbys’ horrible experiences, and I remember being told they had “only the clothes they had been wearing and some of those were burnt off.” Like the rest of the community, we helped as much as we could. It is good to see those two sisters looking healthy and happy. I wish them and their cousin Sue Staton all the best.
Rowena Combs
Winchester
Learn the truth about taxes
Dear Editor,
Based on letters to the editor and news articles, it is apparent people do not want a tax increase of any kind. I hope people understand that the president’s jobs proposal and the attendant tax changes continue the 2 percent reduction in Social Security taxes for individuals.
The president got this passed into law for 2011, but this provision expires at the end of the year. Many Republicans, including our two senators, appear to oppose, for Mitch McConnell was quoted as saying the legislation “was dead on arrival” in the Senate. Learn about the bill and contact your elected representatives with your thoughts.
Bruce Miller
Winchester
Setting the record straight
Dear Editor,
Let me set the record straight again. I never obtained information from the city clerk on anyone’s salary. My information came from the city's own budget books.
In the city budget, page 27, is listed the salary of the mayor and commissioners. Also, you will find on the same page “Training and Travel” for seminars, workshops, mileage, lodging, etc., $3,700. On the same page you will find “Duplicating and Printing for Agenda” copying, budget copying, etc., $1,000. Page 28 is where anyone can locate the “Employee Appreciation” at $8,000.
In the city's budget, pages 35-41 is the salaries and wages of $287,000, not including the overtime, “Cadillac” retirement and insurance benefits. This department has listed seven employees. Page 40 is where you can find “Training and Travel,” seminars, workshops, conference, computer training, $4,500 and “Education Reimbursement,” $6,000.
