In response to all of the letters complaining about local law enforcement officers enforcing “easy” laws such as speeding and seat belts, a broken law is a broken law no matter what you choose to call it.

In light of the tragic accident that took place last Sunday night, we need to all show some more appreciation for our local law enforcement. This tragedy should remind us all that these men and women go out every day and put their lives on the line and can have it so quickly taken away. These officers are faced daily with having to make split-second decisions that could quite possibly have life-altering effects on many people.

Many of them encounter gruesome scenes with images that may never be erased from their minds. Having a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice myself, I know that law enforcement professions have one of the highest levels of divorce and stress in the country. Do they go out and endure all of this for the great pay? Not hardly, Many of them are forced to work two jobs just to make ends meet and put food on the table.

Their reward is being able to serve and help others in times of distress. So next time you see a law enforcement officer, give him a pat on the back and let him know you respect and appreciate everything he does. And remember they aren’t there to give you a hard time, but to keep you and all the surrounding citizens safe and out of harm’s way.

God bless them and the job they do! 

Adam Cook

Vicksburg

Leyens transformed city

When I first arrived in Vicksburg in 2001, I was surprised at the lack of infrastructure and the condition of such a historic city. Not long after my arrival, Laurence Leyens was elected mayor, and even though I didn’t agree with all his decisions, things started changing for the better. I started seeing things like downtown getting a full facelift, roads getting paved and a team at City Hall that worked with industry, private businesses and all residents of Vicksburg to improve their town.

Unfortunately, I was forced to leave this area in October 2007 to pursue employment. It didn’t take my wife and I long to decide that we missed living in a community that was as diversified as Vicksburg. We visited Vicksburg several times while living in Louisiana and every time we returned I saw improvements. I know that without great leadership, improvements in a city are virtually impossible. Without Mayor Leyens, I do not believe the NRoute bus service would be a reality today. I know firsthand how hard Mayor Leyens worked to pursue funds for the bus service to become a reality.

The old saying, “You reap what you sow,” is very evident in Vicksburg. Under the vision and leadership of Mayor Leyens, this city has become a magnet for folks looking to retire in a warm climate with many cultural events. Vicksburg is a city that is recognized as a cultural melting pot. The citizens of Vicksburg should be proud of Mayor Leyens and what he has done for this fine, historic place. Without any hesitation, on June 2 citizens should again give Mayor Leyens their vote of confidence.

My wife and I are proud to be back in Vicksburg.

Bob Croisdale

Vicksburg

Health reform cannot wait

Recently, the American Academy of Family Physicians, an organization of more than 94,600, released survey findings indicating the devastating effects of the recession on their patients. The results are not surprising, but they are serious.

Nearly 90 percent of family physicians surveyed said their patients expressed problems paying for health care while 60 percent said they had seen more health problems caused by patients forgoing needed preventive care.

In my own practice patients have requested medications over the phone to treat an illness rather than coming in for an appointment so that they can save the fees for the visit. This puts me in a predicament because I do not want our patients to remain ill but I also want to accurately diagnose the patient by seeing him or her in the office for evaluation.

Private insurers are covering less of the copays for visits and allowing the patient to pay more for prescriptions. This gives more responsibility to the patient, but also gives him or her more financial burden in this current economic climate.

The AAFP survey is further evidence of what I have seen in my own practice: Americans often defer health care during a recession. This is why we need comprehensive health-care reform that includes coverage for all Americans regardless of their employment status or socioeconomic status. To achieve this goal and provide better care for all Americans in a cost-efficient manner, we must move toward a health-care system based on enhanced primary care.

It’s encouraging to see the Obama administration and members of Congress pushing for health-care reform this year. But we must hold them to their promise. Health-care reform cannot wait, and primary care is the cornerstone of meaningful health-care reform.

Susan Archer Chiarito, M.D.

Vicksburg