Posted by  Tim Murphy, Clearwater, Fl on 06/28  at  02:58 PM

Its a shame that some parents dont care enough to discipline their own children and leave it up to others to handle their responsibilities…

Posted by  Kathy Cooney, tampa on 06/12  at  07:24 PM

This post is in relaton to the weight loss challenge, not the recent news events, did the other folks that made comments even read about the folks struggling to lose weight?  Maybe they should start their own blog to discuss this, the title is misleading for people that don’t read….. by the way-all the posts are great, you all are doing so well, hang in there!!!

Posted by  Wanda Watson, Seffner, Fl. 33584 on 05/06  at  12:46 PM

I would like to give Pat Franks kudos for the good deed she did for the lady she helped marry her dying husband.

Some time back I responded to an article concerning a decision she made to disclose information that was private and personel concerning some of the employees in the clerks office.

I would like to thank you for showing such compassion for that couple.

Your star is shining where it really matters now.

Posted by  Wanda Watson, Seffner, Fl. 33584 on 05/06  at  12:14 PM

I agree with G.Reilly. And to attack the child’s Mother is just wrong. Today our kids are influenced by the stuff they see on television and hear recorded & sold as so called art that parents don’t control over. I’m a parent, don’t think I haven’t been disappointed by my children from time to time. Any more in life it is imperative we teach our children legitimate spiritual lessons from birth,and even then you must continue to be prayed up daily. Have a heart, there are many many Mother’s crying because a child has gone astray.

Posted by  Wanda Watson, Seffner, Fl. 33584 on 05/06  at  11:24 AM

Why is it Mr. D you feel the parents weren’t good parents? Understand this wasn’t a violent crime. He like so many other kids, took his g’mothers car for fun. Where’d you get the idea he would kill someone. Because he was killed? That would make the killers the same as you have so prejudicely labeled this child. It would be a good thing to take a moment to think before you speak. He did not deserve the punishment inflicted upon him for the crime he committed. For years children have taken their parents cars and gone for a joy ride. What is wrong with you sir? He was a child for God’s sake. Do you have any? If so did they not ever do anything that you taught them not to do? It would be a good thing to think before you speak.

Posted by  Ed Donough, Tampa, Fl on 03/17  at  08:28 AM

You have to wonder though.  In 5-10 years who would this kid have killed or would he have been killed himself while committing another crime. 

Where were the parents when he was getting in trouble in the first place.  Now that mom’s “baby” is dead she is on tv all concerned.  You should have been concerned months or years ago.  Not now when he is dead.  How long before Al and Jesse are down here marching?

Posted by  Bud Clark, Clearwater, Florida on 03/05  at  02:22 PM

I spent 9 weeks as a boot at the Great Lakes Naval Traning Center near Chicago, in 1951. Literally thousands more service men and women go through the same training and I think the vast majority of them would agree that it was a positive experience. So I don’t think the concept is wrong, but it might be the implementation of it. So let’s look to improve them rather than eliminate them.That they work has been proven unless, of course the subject of the training is incorrigible.

Posted by  Richard Smith, Sebring Florida on 02/21  at  07:29 AM

Boot Camps serve a purpose; to educate and discipline children when the parents fail.

Some wise sage once stated the circle of control works like this: 1. Self control 2. Parental control 3. Societal control 4. The Death penalty.

Each circle of control escalates in effectiveness for preventing repeat offenders.

Every dollar spent on boot camps saves a child from a likely lifetime of crime and repeat offenses. No program is 100% effective except for the death penalty.

Posted by  Geneva Reilly, Brooksville Florida on 02/21  at  06:22 AM

This is an outrage. I feel that every single person in that video should be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Especially, the so called DR.woman. She is supose to cure not kill, and, they can try to use the sickle cell as an excuse for him dieing, but, if they were not beating on him they would not have to worry about him bleeding to death. It is situations like this that just add to my disgust of the legal system and enforcers in the State of Florida I am almost embarassed to call myself a Floridian any more.

Just disgusted in Brooksville

Posted by  Finn Kavanagh, Tampa on 02/20  at  10:05 AM

Boot Camps have never produced impressive public safety results.  They came into being on an emotional wave of anger about crime.  Nevertheless, government has a responsbility to rise above pure emotion in setting policy.  The Department of Justice should terminate contracts for boot camps and re-contract these resources to their highest performing commitment programs across the state.

Posted by  Katie Bethune, Tampa Fl. on 02/19  at  01:56 PM

We would all like to see the video of Martin Anderson’s beating(in full) at the boot camp. The part I saw on TV is horrible, so I would like to see the whole video of these inhumane people. Thanks, Katie.

Posted by  fred carlson, Bradenton Fl. on 02/19  at  09:00 AM

“Abuse” starts with “Abuse”. Parents, Society cry out,“do something”. Then when something is done. They are the one to cry out “Abuse”. Rights and Freedom are given but not with out a cost of “Responsibility, and Countability. The first and worst “Abuse” is given the Bill of Rights with out a cost.