OCR Text |
Show COMMENTARY TIMES November 22, 2006 Being "Dead Right" ... it's not worth the price Without even looking, both individLast week I found myself thankuals abrupting our nation's auto manufacly stepped turers for installing the anti-lock into the brake system (ABS) on the vecrosswalk. I hicle I was driving. I was leaving mashed the base, traveling south in the rightbrake pedal hand lane of South Gate Avenue. to the floor; It was a warm, sunny day (i.e., Lt. Col. Thomas ABS did the the roads were in great shape). Reichert rest. I manAs I entered the S-turn by aged to stop ... with my bumper the Crosswinds Restaurant, I just over the white crosswalk noticed two individuals walkline, and inches from them. ing along the right side of the If I'd been looking away, adroad. Their backs were to me; justing the radio perhaps, or engrossed in conversation, they looking through the corner for showed no intention of crossing potential traffic conflicts ... or if from the south to the north side the streets were icy ... this story of the road. BY LT. COL. THOMAS RE1CHERT 75th Operations Support Squadron commander TIMES Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Col Scott Chambers 75!h ABW Commander Charles Freeman Chief. Public Affairs Barbara Fishor Editor Toch. Sgt. Crystal Roblee Assistant Editor Both Young. Mitch Shaw. Airman Isl Class Jonny Chong and Airman 1st CIHS3 Clayton Murray Stall Writers Shannon Smith ...Page Layout 8 Oesign Ooedllnou; Editorial and news Items, 3 p.m. Friday. For more Information call 777-4598. Published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm m no way connected with the U.S. Air [:oree, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members o\ the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Ogden Publishing Corp., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex. national origin, age. marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonment factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office staff in Bldfi. 132. Call 777-459S with story ideas or comments, or send e-mail to "hilltop.timcsO' hill.af.mil". Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2006 DUIs: 32 Hill's Last DUI: Unit Involved: 75t& Se&vU&f 'potcea Airmen Aguinat Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers arc unavailable. Call 777'lllt anytime to request a ride. might have had a different ending. Where am I going with this? Well, while everyone knows pedestrians have the undisputed right of way in crosswalks, there are folks who've forgotten simple physics ... namely vehicles can't stop on a dime, and the momentum of a several-ton truck wreaks havoc on the human body. The right of way pedestrians enjoy in a crosswalk, as with all "rights," must be tempered with responsibility. While drivers have a responsibility to honor crosswalks, pedestrians also have a responsibility to ensure that 1) drivers see them and 2) drivers stop for them. As winter arrives, this becomes, literally, a life or death issue. Soon there'll be snow on the roads, and with it conies the plows ... weighing in at five-plus tons with thousands of pounds of sand in their beds and a steel blade on the front. Add to that icy roads, night time'and dark clothing without reflective devices, and you have the potential for disaster. You may have the right of way in that crosswalk, but sometimes it might be prudent to yield. You' are positively within your rights to step out into that crosswalk, but, as my Dad used to say, being "dead right" is small consolation. [krrre 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil Photo by Airman 1st Class Jenny Chong Col. Scott Chambers, 75th Air Base Wing commander, (center) answers questions during the Town Hall meeting Nov. 8 at Club Hill. Colonel Chambers led a panel of seven people that Included (left to right) 75th Medical Group commander Col. Matthew Chtni, 75th Civil Engineer Group commander Col. Harry Brlesmaster III, 75th Mission Support Group commander Col. Michael Trapp, Suzann Chambers, Ogden Air Logistics Center and 75th ABW Command Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney and his wife, Trade. HIM personnel had the opportunity to ask questions of base leaders during the "Hot Seat Summit." For children's safety Q Those of us who live on Charlestown Loop have an ongoing battle with traffic concerns that are potentially dangerous to our children. From 3:30-4:15 p.m., personnel are making unsafe and illegal turns on Charlestown Loop and Arsenal/6th Street in an effort to get off base more quickly and avoid backed-up traffic at the Southwest Gate. What will it take for this to be taken care of? Does a child walking home from school need to be hurt in order for something to be done? Thanks for your question . ..Our children are our greatest concern. Nothing could be worse than any one of our kids being struck by a vehicle ...I plead with our many Team Hill folks leaving the base via the Southwest Gate to please stop these turns into our housing areas immediately! If you have no reason to enter into the housing areas, then stay out! I've asked our security forces to specifically patrol along 6th Street near the Southwest Gate during peak traffic hours and to immediately hand out tickets when they see these unacceptable actions happening.. .These patrols are specifically designated to enforce stop sign, crosswalk, speed, and U-turn violations. Additionally, the civil engineer squadron has posted additional "No Through Traffic" signs at all of the housing entrances in the area — that means that for all those who don't live in that housing area to stay out.. .Also, I would ask all the parents living in those houses to watch closely for those unsafe and illegal turns being made —please take down the license plate number and call me direct — 777-7500; we will take it from there. A Civilian fitness Q Numerous times throughout the year, base workers are invited to participate in fun runs, marathons, etc. with no requirement to produce a medical clearance. Why then Is a medical clearance required to participate in the civilian fitness program? Isn't that a double standard? A Excellent question! You are correct that there is a requirement under the official civilian fitness and wellness program to provide a certificate from your physician to participate in physical activities white you're in a duty status, up to three hours per week. Since this exercising is during duty time, it is incumbent upon leadership to make sure our people are medically ready to begin exercising so we all can eliminate any injuries and lost duty time incurred when our people are voluntarily involved in these fitness activities. You don't need this certificate, however, to participate in every Hill wellness activity. Employees participating in events offered through the services division are either doing so under the parameters of the fitness program or while in a non-duty status in which case the certificate is not required. Thanks again for the question—happy exercising! fore calling the Action Line. This will help me When you call or send an e-mail, your com- Please give your supervisor and chain of ments will be recorded and staffed through command the opportunity to work with you in better serve your interests. Items of basewide the agency responsible for action. answering questions and solving problems be- interest will be published in the Hilltop Times. Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: Security Forces 777-5550 24-hr. Crisis Information .. 7717-3056 Services 777-413* Baie Restaurants 777-2043 Retirement/Compensation 777-6142 (civilian) Social Actions 777-3516 Employee Relations 777-7129 Military Pay 777-1851 Civilian Pay 777-6246 Air Force Suggestion 777-6901 Ptogram IC Complaints 777-5305 (lor appointment) IC Complaints 777-5361 (alter houn) fraud, Waile or Abuse .... 777-5361 (recording) 75th Medical Croup 777-4918 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Hill Pride Hotline 777-7433 Public Affairs 777-5201 Public Affairs Information.. 777-9696 Control Line Military Housing 777-2963 Maintenance Safety Office 777-3333 Union 777-325? AfOSI Narcotics Holllne.. . 777-1852 Family Assistance Center ..775-3090 (when activated) What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving? Barbara Gaehle Josh Farr Vaughn Call Ogden Air Logistics Center 84th Combat Sustainment 526th ICBM Systems Wing Wing "I'm thankful for my "I'm very thankful family and my health." "I'm most thankful for that my daughter is still my family and the birth of around. She was involved my healthy son." in a rollover accident and suffered a spinal cord injury that resulted in paralysis." Brett Ternlng 508th Aircraft Sustainment Wing "There's a lot of things to be thankful for but • most important is my Lord Jesus Christ and secondly, my wife." Joanne Daniels 309th Maintenance Wing "Family first and the snow and winter." Airman Christina Steete 388th Fighter Wing "My family as well as the opportunities that the Air Force has opened for me: chances to travel, meet new people and take on more responsibility. Also, when I'm able to pig out on Thanksgiving." |