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Show TIMES November 13, 2008 TIMES " - -1 '• •-•'• • '•''.' Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee Carter... Standard-Examiner publisher Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor Lee Anne Hensley HllltopTimcs Writer Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news items e-mail hilltoptimes©standafd,net or call 625-4273. For Classified Advertising, call 625-4300. For Retail Advertising, call 625-4388. The Hilltop Times is published by Ogden Publishing Corporation, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under, and in compliance with, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hill Air Force Base. The content of the Hilltop Times does not necessarily represent the views of, nor is it endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Hill Air Force Base (collectively, the Government). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Government 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 nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Standard-Examiner's Davis County Office, 67 S. Main St., Suite 140, Layton, Utah, 84040. Additional editorial content is provided by various military and civilian wire services and Hill Air Force Base public affairs departments. Call 625-4273 with story ideas or comments, or send e-mail to Editor Mary Lou Gorny at mgomy@standard. net. Call 625-4300 for Classified Advertising or 625-4388 for Retail Advertising. COMMENTARY Winter driving can reshape your outlook BY ANDY FLOWERS Manpower and Personnel director O n Oct. 11 I was in Idaho driving east on Highway 20 toward Yellowstone National Park in my 1994 Toyota 4-Runner. My significant other, Christy Felton, and I were looking forward to a weekend of wildlife viewing and relaxation. It was 4:30 p.m. and beginning to get dark. The temperature was around 20 degrees, with snow and ice on the roadway. Since conditions were not very good, I was going about 35 mph, just to err on the side of safety. All of a sudden, I hit a large patch of ice and the rear of the vehicle swung to the left. Trying to correct the direction of the vehicle, I turned to the left and managed to straighten the vehicle out, but on ice, the vehicle continued in the direction of the slide. The vehicle crossed into the westbound lane and hit an oncoming vehicle, a Volkswagen Jetta. Upon impact, the Jetta was knocked about 50 feet down a slight embankment and rolled a few times, coming to rest on the driver's side. Our vehicle remained in the westbound lane after spinning a few times. After getting the car off the road, I fol- lowed Christy down the embankment to assist with the occupants of the Jetta. We didn't know how many occupants there were or if they had survived. Christy opened the passenger side door, now on top of the vehicle, and a young couple Flowers began to get out. Then we heard the baby cry. Christy opened the passenger side rear door, and lifted out the car seat with the infant intact. Fortunately, everyone was OK. The Jetta's air bags and seat belts worked as advertised, as well as the child restraint system. The seat belts in my Toyota worked well, keeping us from any injury. I then called 911 for assistance. The police arrived shortly, as well as the tow trucks. No'ambulance was necessary. After re-living the accident, I realized that my life hadn't flashed before my eyes, and it didn't happen in slow motion. From the time I lost control of my vehicle until the time of impact, it was estimated that about three seconds had elapsed. I can recall vividly every detail, including the impact. I also realized three truths about my accident that apply to most highway accidents. These are truths that we've all heard before, but being in an accident emphasizes their importance and improves on the clarity of the truths. First, speed is indeed the most important aspect of an accident. If I had been going 50 mph, I might have killed the occupants of the Jetta. So, let's slow down and live. Secondly, the laws of physics prevail in an accident. Newton was no dummy. My vehicle outweighed the Jetta by about 2,000 pounds. That's quite an advantage in a force versus force situation. I don't suggest that we all drive Hummers, but you get the point. Thirdly, steel is better than plastic. The bumpers on the 4Runner were steel, while the Jetta's weren't. In the aftermath, the damage to the Jetta was substantial, while damage to the 4Runner was considerably less. As we approach the winter driving season, it's a good time to focus on safe driving habits. Accidents do happen; we just don't think they'll happen to us. I've not had an accident in 40 years of driving, but three seconds has certainly added a new dimension to my driving focus. Please, slow down and be safe. Report suspicious activity via the AFO5I EAGLE EYES Dial: 777-3056/3057/3058. Watch - Report - Protect Force Protection is Our Business - Everyone is a Sensor 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil TODD CROMAR/U.S. Air Force Hill Air Force Base participated in the combined service color guard presentation at the Veterans Day Parade in Ogden that was held Nov. 8. Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be ;-/-.' ;•:' contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: Security Forces,..:....:..... 777-3056 24-hr. Crisis Information 777-3056 Force Support Squadron 777-4134 Base Restaurants 777-2043 Retirement/Compensation 777-6142 (civilian) Social Actions.......:.......... 777-3516 Employer Relations .....777-7129 Military Pay ....:....:..; 777-1851 Civilian Pay 777-6246 Air Force Suggestion .V..777-6901 Program Hill Straight Talk ;.;...777-9696 IG Complaints 777-5305 (for appointment) IG Complaints 777-5361 (after hours) When you call or send an e-mail, your comments will be recorded and staffed through the agency responsible for action. Please give your supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to work with you in answering questions and solving problems before calling the Action Line. This will help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest will be published in the Hilltop Times. .Military Housing .........'..........825-9392 Fraud, Waste or Abuse.,...,.... 777-5361 Maintenance (recording) Loud Noise 1-877-885-9595 Safety Office 777-3333 (complaints) Safety Office Hotline 586-9300 Union 777-3257 75th Medical Group 777-4918 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline 777-1852 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Family Assistance Center 777-3090 Hill Pride Hotline 777-7433 (whenactivated) • • • .-.•-.> •__-...,. Public Affairs 777-5333 Nest Decided to quit smoking? Avoid drinking alcohol as it can often be a trigger for tobacco use. Keep busy. Go somewhere where smoking is not allowed. Eat several small meals during the day to keep your energy level up. Stock up on low calorie fat-free snacks such as pretzels, gum, mints, carrot sticks or unshelled sunflower seeds. Spend time with friends who don't use tobacco. Work on a hobby. Keep your hands and mouth busy. Make quitting easier with the support of others and sign up for the Health and Wellness Center Tobacco Cessation course by calling 777-1215. HILII What is your all-time favorite movie and why? THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2008 DUIs: 28 rfTfTTTfTT Hill's Last DUI: Octot&t 26 Unit Involved: 1st Lt. Stephanie King 75th Aerospace Medicine Squadron "'Sister Act.' Ifs kind of a stupid movie, but it makes me feel good." Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 777-1111 any time to request a ride. Bruce Harayda 75th Air Base Wing Plans and Programs '"Casa Blanca.' It's a great movie." Delores Valdez CSI Contractor "'ET,' because that was a good movie. I thought it was pretty cute." Brandon Chinn 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group " 'Jurassic Park.' It's just the movie I put in when I'm sick. It makes me feel better. It is a bummer that the author, Michael Crichton, died recently." |