Dear Editor:
As you and many of your readers are aware, I volunteer for Operation Shoebox a military support group for our men and women serving in war zones.

It was with a saddened heart that I came home from OSB yesterday.  We packaged 3,000 care packages and had to put them in storage because we do not have the funds to ship them. 

Now your readers have been very generous in sending me their Christmas card fronts to put in our Christmas stockings, but now I'm here begging for a little bit of financial help so we can ship our packages.  If everyone who reads this letter or hears about it from someone else, would simply send a dollar or two, we would have enough to send several months worth of packages.  I'll also be sending this request via email to the several blogs in the county and one in Randolph county, as well as to the Elkins newspaper.

If your readers can help us out I'd like them to make a check or money order out to: Operation Shoebox and send it to me at: Linda Gibb (OSB); 1277 Pageland Way; The Villages, FL 32162-8685..

On behalf of OSB and the men and women serving our country in the war zones, I'm thanking you in advance.
Sincerely,
Linda Gibb
The Villages, FL

Dear Editor:

I have learned that the sheriff’s department has what it calls an “auxiliary force.” I do not recall any authorization and funding for this activity being discussed publicly. Perhaps I am mistaken, but such a hand-picked force, not only causes me much consternation, it begs an answer to many questions.

I would appreciate it if the answers to the questions below be provided to all of our citizens by our County Commission, the sheriff and anyone else who can give factual answers.

What is the justification for such a force?
How was the sheriff authorized to have such a force?
Who decides how many will be on this force?
Were federal and state guidelines followed for bringing these people into our county government whether they are paid or not?
How has this activity been budgeted?
And what do they make in payments, if anything?
Do they receive any benefits?
Why weren’t the jobs advertised and open to the public?
Did these people have to fill out an application form?
Did they have to take a test to demonstrate any mental or physical competence?
Was hiring done solely by the sheriff, by the commission or by a panel of citizens?
What vetting was done on each person?
Is the sheriff’s budget for them unlimited?
Is his use of this “force” unlimited and does he alone decide when and how to use them?
What review is there if a complaint arises?
Are there any guidelines for their use?
Can they act on their own when casually in the community?
Can they make arrests?
Do they have uniforms?
How are they trained?
Do they carry weapons and why?
Are they periodically drug tested?
Where can a citizen find information on all the officers of the sheriff’s department?
What is the county’s liability, medical or civil, in regards to their actions?
What are the rights of our citizens in regards to their actions?

I believe all of our citizens should know the answers to these questions.

Joel Rosenthal
Hillsboro