Ruskin Eagles Donate to Save Lives

By Mitch Traphagen

mitch@observernews.net

RUSKIN - Bumper stickers of years past spoke of how great the day would be when schools had all the money they needed and the military would have to hold bake sales to buy new equipment.

There is some truth to at least one half of that message.

With a slow economy bringing tighter budgets, schools still don't have all of the money they need but one community-minded group decided to help out our local law enforcement with some new equipment.

The Eagles Club of Ruskin has donated a new radar unit, with a cost of more than $2,500, to Ruskin Community Resource Deputy Jeff Service.

"I'd like to thank the Eagles Lodge for this donation, it's very generous of them," said Deputy Service. "Traffic enforcement saves lives, that's the bottom line and I can't say it enough. By enforcing the speed limits, it will save lives, we will prevent accidents and possibly prevent a child from being hit."

Typically there would be a wait of at least two years to obtain a radar unit. The high expense of the units prevent the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office from installing them into each of their more than 800 marked patrol cars.

"We are people helping people," said Eagles member Fred Anderson. A large sign above the door at the Eagles Lodge on U.S. 41 in Ruskin echoes the same sentiment to remind the members of one of their most important missions.

On March 24 a ceremony was held at the lodge to formally present the new radar to Deputy Service. In addition to Service, Lt. J.D. Hill and Sgt. Schintzius of the HCSO were on hand to thank the Eagles for their donation. Chief Deputy David Gee was scheduled to attend but was forced to cancel due to a family emergency. Gee wrote a letter sincerely thanking the Eagles for their community service.

Eagles members Fran St. Jacques, Bob McClister, Fred Anderson and Howard Drappau were there to present their donation.

All four men mentioned how they are hoping that the new radar will help to make the school crossing at Ruskin Elementary School on busy State Road 674 safer for the children. They have seen people not only speeding through the 15 mile-per-hour zone but even running red lights at the crossing.

"We try to do something for the community every year," said Eagles member Howard Drappau. "We try to do a lot for the local charities, whatever we can."

The nearly 300 members of the local Eagles Lodge also place a priority on working with East Bay High School in Gibsonton.

The new radar unit was installed in Deputy Service's patrol car last week.