Kathi's thoughts

I can feel the pain of the folks in Port Richey.  A peacock and his peahen showed up on our property a year or so ago.  At first we were intrigued and entertained, then they showed their true colors (yep, pun intended).  As soon as the birds learned their way around they began to inflict A LOT of damage.  Our neighbors pool enclosure was torn to shreds, our cars were scratched, one nearly beyond repair and everywhere they perched, they left piles upon piles of droppings.  My favorite adirondak (sp?) chair was ruined.  When the weather was nice enough that we could sleep with open windows (Thanks Paul!) we would awake all hours of night to the sounds of the birds "hollering" to one another.  They sure to reproduce quickly too, 2 turned into 7 before we knew it! I finally lost my patience when the large male pecked his way through my kitchen screen to get to an oregano plant!  My husband and I found ourselves constantly chasing the birds off of our property and into the nearby woods.  I checked into having them trapped and relocated......it would cost $150.00 just for the trapper to come out, and additional $150.00 per bird to trap them (multiply that times 7 birds) and then it would be our responsibility to find someone/someplace to take them.  They rarely appear on our property anymore and when they do we chase them away.  Any critter that causes damage to property should be declared a nuisance and I feel that the local animal control agency should assist homeowners in getting rid of them.  But that's just my opinion!

I am sure this officer as well as the Clearwater Police Department will catch a lot of flack for this situation.  A few things to keep in mind........the officer simply asked for her license and registration.  Perhaps had she complied with this very reasonable request, there wouldn't have been any further problems.  Who knows?  Another thing to consider is that if some creep had come up to this woman and tried to rob her while she was sitting in her car, this same officer would have laid his life on the line to help her.   There have been some law enforcement officers who have tainted the reputation of the MANY dedicated and hard working officers who are doing their best to keep us safe, perhaps that is why some people think it's ok to argue with an officer.  I am certain that there will be many differing opinions but as for me, if a law enforcement officer makes a simple request, just comply.  He would certainly lay his life on the line for you!  By the way, I am not a cop, my husband isn't either, in fact I am not related to any LEO, so that isn't where my opinion is coming from.  Just in case you were wondering.

A senior at Land O'Lakes High School is missing prom due to an attendance policy?  At first I wondered how that could work but after asking a few questions I learned that these kids didn't just miss a couple of days of school, they missed nearly 2 dozen days in one semester.  Then I wondered if these poor kids had illnesses that caused them to miss so much school.  That situation did arise and the administration gave the student a waiver.  These kids just  racked up too many UNEXCUSED absences!  One parent responds by saying that had she known this was going to happen she would have "gotten her to school on time".  WHAT???  I guess just getting an education isn't reason enough to be on time for school.  Some students have as many as 30+ absences in one class with only 5 absences in another.  I honestly can't imagine anyone missing that many days in any class!

I fully support the Principal at Land O'Lakes High School and thank her for having the backbone to stand up to the whining and hope that the school board will stand behind her!  If only the parents of these little scholars were willing to be held accountable, but instead they throw blame and excuses.  I wonder what kind of jobs these young adults think they will be able to find that will allow them to attend when it's convenient but will pay them with regardless of their work ethic....................good luck kiddies!

Matthew Lewis died on November 17, 2002 as the result of a vicious beating at the hands and feet (punches, kicks  and stomps) of Ryan Racine and Jeremey Vincent Ray.  You see Matt attempted to diffuse an altercation that took place over spilled beer and the refusal for one person to apologize to another.  While losing Matt was devastating to all who knew him, I can not imagine what his parents, Bob and Cathy went through.

Over 4 years later a trial started.  Both Ryan Racine and Jeremey Vincent Ray pled NOT GUILTY.  While they were both VERY GUILTY as shown on a video taken at the party, their attorneys had them enter not guilty pleas.  I am thankful that the men and women who sat on the jury were wise and saw through the smoke screen that the defense tried to create.  They found both Ryan Racine and Jeremey Vincent Ray guilty on all counts.  Sadly, since it couldn't be proven which of these two losers actually threw the punch, kick or stomp that killed Matt they were only charged with misdemeanor battery!  In fact, the prosecutor wasn't even permitted to tell the jury that Matt died as a result of the beating, he was only able to mention that Matt was deceased.  Thankfully again, the jurors were wise enough to put things together.

On the last day of the trial Jeremey Vincent Ray was even more cowardly than the day he killed Matt (who was nearly half Ray's size) by not even showing up in court.  A capias was issued and followed by a warrant, to date he still has not been located.  Both defense attorneys asked for minimal sentencing as both defendants were remorseful.  I wonder if they were so remorseful, why didn't they plead GUILTY and spare Matt's loved ones the agony of waiting over 4 years for a trial.  A tearful plea by Ryan Racine for forgiveness fell on angry and sad ears as we listened to him speak.  As far as we know Matt's last words were, "Please stop hitting me!".

I saw first hand how our justice system is anything but justice!  There was no truth coming from the defense side as they tried to manuever around witness testimony and video evidence.  Lady JUSTICE is simply a puppet controlled by attorneys who manipulate facts and twist evidence.  I felt guilty pleasure as I watched Ryan Racine leave the courtroom in shackles.  At the same time my heart broke for the lives ruined by this senseless act of violence.

I would like to file an appeal on behalf of Matt Lewis - a death sentence is far too harsh for simply trying to stop a fight. 

I love you Matt!  Love - Aunt Kathi