Letters 7-10-2012

Cellphones

Outcry is puzzling

The recent outcry regarding the Kona police sting on cellphone use while driving on Alii Drive has me wondering why people are fighting this.

I have seen two recent letters to the editor expressing frustration about what constitutes a violation and what is deemed legal.

My best guess is these violators would rather discuss the minutiae of their lives while driving rather than applying 100 percent focus on a very pedestrian-heavy road.

To me, the law of the land is clear and simple: Stay off the phone while driving. Period. Focus on the task at hand and make your call when appropriate.

This cellphone use is inconsiderate to others that use the road and as dangerous as drunk driving — probably even more so.

If you got busted for chewing on your phone while driving, don’t cry foul and find fault with the cops — take an honest look at yourself and accept that you are part of the problem.

Todd Trygstad

Kona

Cat scratch fever

There’s no control of feral cat feeding

In reference to nasty bacterial cat-borne infections, I personally contracted cat scratch fever from a feral kitten at the Old Kona Airport Park.

It bit my finger and I didn’t think much of it. A couple of weeks later the bite area started to fester and I went to the doctor. It was diagnosed as cat scratch fever, an infection with bartonella bacteria that is transmitted by cat scratches and bites.

I went through months of super antibiotics. It lodged in my lymph nodes and 11 years later, I have immune system issues, developing allergic reactions that I had never experienced before.

I cringe every time I see a child approach a feral cat at the Old Kona Airport Park. I can attest to what this bacteria does to an adult. These feral cats are out of control and their feeding grounds are feeding grounds for the out-of-control mongoose population at the Old Kona Airport Park.

ADVOcats does nothing to control these renegade women who feed these colonies.

R. Swain

Kailua-Kona