City on the brink
In the summer of 1998, in one of the hottest and driest summers in our history, Ormond Beach was seemingly paralyzed by the constant and overbearing threat of wildfires consuming our beautiful city. Small fires started around the state in mid-May and just kept increasing in number by the day. In early June, neighboring Palm Coast lost 20 homes, and Ormond Beach had to be prepared for what might occur. As June continued with a drought index of 746, late June/early July became a critical time as the small fires combined with each other and became large fires. Ormond Beach evacuated approximately 15,000 residents for their safety. Fortunately no residential homes were lost or totally destroyed in the city of Ormond Beach.
This was one of the most frightening times in the city’s history and it was also one of the most gratifying times. Members from all facets of our community came together to brave this difficult time and communities outside of Florida responded to our need in incredible fashion. The vision of the 1998 wildfires is still vividly imprinted on my mind, as I am sure it is for all who lived in Ormond Beach at the time. In Ormond Beach, we will never forget what we endured, and how amazingly lucky we were, and we will always be thankful for those who served and assisted us in our time of need.
To memorialize the 20th anniversary of such a significant time in our history, the city of Ormond Beach will hold a commemoration ceremony on Tuesday, June 26, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall, 22 S. Beach Street, to which all are invited.
Bill Partington, Ormond Beach
— Partington is mayor of Ormond Beach.
A leave to remember
In 1998 I was in my 21st year of military service, having enlisted from Daytona Beach. I had just completed a deployment to the Middle East in support of the no-fly zone in Iraq, and returned to my base in Georgia. The Air Force gave me 10 days off, which coincided with my mother’s birthday. With my base only a three-hour drive to Daytona Beach, I came down to the city to surprise Mom.
This was the last couple of days of June, and by the first few days of July, the wrath of the fires was no longer an abstract. It was real. Highways were closing very quickly, and my simple three-hour drive was now turning into a puzzle, trying to find the zigzag route to get out of Florida before I was AWOL.
I said my goodbye to my mother, and tried to head north. This was before smart phones, so the radio was my sole means of determining which routes were open. My Rand McNally atlas was open and I was forced to continually adjust, with major highways closing, my gas gauge heading to “E.” It took me 10 hours to get to Valdosta, Georgia.
I had just returned from a combat zone, but that drive out of Florida in July 1998 was more stressful. It seemed like one wrong move could get me in serious trouble. I’ll never forget the fires of ‘98.
Albert G. Smith, DeLand
Embers’ warning
One day before evacuation notice, I was at Kmart in Palm Coast buying dog food.
Upon leaving the store, I saw ashes floating in the air. Going home, I said to my husband, “I think we better leave town.” We did.
It took us six-and-a-half hours to get to St. Augustine and find a place to stay.
Joan Krumlinde, Palm Coast
Family vs. flames
The fires of 1998 — I remember them well! My daughter Lori was to be married on June 27, in our church, Christ Presbyterian, on State Road 40 in Ormond Beach, with a reception to follow at Hunter’s Ridge Club House in Ormond Beach.
The smoke was scary, and I kept riding out to the clubhouse to confer with the firemen stationed there to make sure that we could still have the reception. They said, “Sure, If you invite us!” And of course, I said, “Sure!”
But they closed State Road 40 at Tymber Creek Road (we live in Tymber Creek) two days before the wedding, and I was forced to find a new reception venue! Luckily, Ormond Lakes’ clubhouse was available, so I proceeded to move the reception there and notify all the guests, caterers, bartender, cake baker, etc.
Our families, who were looking forward to staying on Ormond’s lovely beach, were unable to see the ocean from their “ocean view” rooms at the Indies House due to the smoke. My in-laws had an automobile accident (they were not injured). On the way from Palm Harbor, my mother tripped and broke her hand at the rehearsal dinner, my son had a terrible ear ache, and my husband was sick from the smoke!
But the wedding was beautiful, the reception was great, and I lost five pounds! God is good.
This June 27 will be Lori's and Tony’s 20th wedding anniversary!
Jan Wieboldt, Ormond Beach
Strong gun stand
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King, an Orlando businessman, recently made the statement that put me on his side. He said this as he was marching with gun safety protesters: “I’ll stand up to the NRA and make both parties accountable to ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, and require background checks on all gun sales.”
Finally, a Florida politician who has the brass ones to stand up to the NRA. Bravo. He also is pushing for a tax on the sale of ammunition to help pay for gun violence programs, school safety and reimbursement to trauma centers that treat mass shootings.
King, as an avid anti-Trump supporter and pro-gun control advocate, just got my vote. I don’t know his other policies, but that doesn’t matter. He’s my man. He shows great courage and intelligence.
Voters out there: Remember there is a politician who can make a difference when it comes to protecting children. What could possibly be more important?
Dan Amedick, Daytona Beach
Choices for vets
Again President Trump completes a campaign promise.
This one was a pledge to provide veterans with more non-VA health care choices.
On June 6, he signed into legislation the VA Mission Act of 2018.
This should have been headline news, and as of June 8, it hasn’t been mentioned in The News-Journal.
I’m a retired military veteran. I don’t use a VA facility, but there are thousands upon thousands wh oare in dire need of such services. The VA hospitals have been continually lambasted about their lack of adequate services. Veterans who have fought for the United States of America have been put on long waiting lists to get treatment, and sadly some have even committed suicide.
Now President Trump has taken steps to rectify this situation. Some may not like the president, but they should at least give him credit for taking care of our veterans.
Bill Grau, Ormond Beach
Sessions’ strength
Attorney General Jeff Sessions takes a lot of flak. Last year the Democrats did all they could to stop his confirmation by attacking his character with their usual smear tactics. And right now many Republicans would like to see him replaced, accusing him of being low energy and therefore ineffective. I’d submit that Sessions is the right man, in the right place, at the right time. Here’s why.
Suppose that bombshell revelations that will rock the foundations of the republic are coming. Suppose the highest-ranking officials of the previous administration, including the former president, including the former leaders of the FBI, conspired to rig the election of 2016 for Hillary Clinton. And when that failed, they set in motion a soft coup of misinformation in an attempt to remove our duly elected president.
Now suppose that highly energetic Rudy Giuliani is the AG. If he announced these shocking facts to the world, they would be ferociously dismissed by Democrats, the media and Hollywood as partisan lies. The ensuing political chaos would make it nearly impossible to prosecute the conspirators and shake financial markets around the world.
But when Jeff Sessions — the guy who Trump regrets choosing, the honorable man who recused himself from the Russian collusion investigation, this careful and deliberate former senator — announces the facts of the case to the American people, it will be received as likely true.
This is why Sessions is still our attorney general.
Joe Fieldus, Ormond Beach
Historical resonance
Who said, “When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal”? No, it wasn’t Donald Trump.
But Trump did say, “I have the absolute right to pardon myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?”
Richard Nixon also said, “I am not a crook.” These two presidents seem be saying essentially the same thing.
Remember what happened to Richard Nixon!
Richard “Gilligan” Uschold, Port Orange