Letters to the Editor Policy

Great Memories Live On

I have known Audrey (Kotz) Kerr since we were teenagers. Yes sir, she went for Bob Kerr right away. Can’t say that I blame her, Bob was a good looking guy. Think I still had pimples on my face.

To me, I think that Audrey was one of the most fabulous women I have ever known. Bob and Aud raised six kids, boy-girl, boy-girl until they came to six kids. All in that small house by the creek. When the number of kids hit three, they finished off the upstairs. As I remember, the stairway was there. Bob and someone got the flooring out of a building the Sheffield Creamery removed, an old storage building behind the main creamery, next to the old creamery pond. Great stuff, tongue-and-groove, and thick. In the end, several additional bedrooms appeared.

Audrey fed this family of eight, plus Bob’s father, Floyd after his mother, Mary died, and this was in the small house, not the great home they had built later!

Her faithfulness to Bob since his extended illness is so great that I commend her a thousand times for staying by Bob’s bedside 24 hours a day. Outstanding for a woman of our age. In my mind, Audrey Kerr is one of the finest and greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, all these past years. For my money, you’re the tops, Aud! I could go on and on, of the many pleasurable times we had together, both families, the Aldrich and the Kerr families together, going many places and doing many things. It was great fun while it lasted, but as usual, time ended it all, except the great memories.

Sincerely,

Hayden Aldrich

Great Bend, PA

Some Simple Precautions

We all know that the winter cold can be dangerous. But turning up the heat to combat the chill can also be a fire risk if heating equipment is not properly used.

Heating equipment is the second-leading cause of home fires in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The latest NFPA research shows that heating equipment was involved in an estimated 62,000 reported home fires in 2005. These fires resulted in roughly 700 deaths and roughly 1,500 injuries, and nearly half the fires occurred during the winter months. The majority of home heating fires involve chimneys. Most home heating fire deaths involve space heaters.

The Susquehanna County Office of Emergency Management urges all residents to help reduce the number of home heating fires in your community. Here are just a few simple ways you can decrease the risk of a heating fire in your home: keep or maintain a three-foot (one-meter) space between all heating equipment and anything that can burn; do not use your oven to heat your home; inspect and maintain heating equipment regularly for safety; portable space heaters should be turned off every time you leave the room and before going to bed; have your chimney inspected each year and cleaned if needed.

Taking some simple precautions will help decrease the number of home-heating fires this winter. If you have any questions or would like to enquire as to how you might be able to obtain a smoke detector you are encouraged to contact your local fire company.

Sincerely,

Mark R. Wood

EMA Coordinator

The Fireman’s Creed

Just before the holidays, a man walked into the Susquehanna Fire Dept. station and asked me if I had a copy of the Fireman's Creed. To my embarrassment, I did not. I have the creed now, and would like to share it in hopes that the unknown man will read it, along with your other readers.

When I'm called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save a life, whatever be its age.

Help me to embrace a little child, before it is too late, or save an older person from the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert, to hear the weakest shout, and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me, to guard my neighbor and protect his property.

And if, according to your will, I have to lose my life, bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife.

Sincerely,

Dave Scales

Susquehanna, PA

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
Letters To The Editor MUST BE SIGNED. They MUST INCLUDE a phone number for "daytime" contact. Letters MUST BE CONFIRMED VERBALLY with the author, before printing. Letters should be as concise as possible, to keep both Readers' and Editors' interest alike. Your opinions are important to us, but you must follow these guidelines to help assure their publishing.

Thank you, Susquehanna County Transcript

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