Speeding
Anyone who has to use the James River Bridge every day or even occasionally has seen this. You are cruising along at the speed limit or maybe even keeping up with traffic at maybe 63 mph, and all of a sudden a vehicle comes up behind you and darts into the other lane, just missing your bumper and cutting off whoever is in the other lane. He zips around you, and as soon as he has clearance, he cuts back in front of you and speeds away. A minute later you can’t even see him. He had to be going 90 mph.
It’s not the occasional driver going 10 mph over the speed limit, but these folks going 20 or 30 mph over the limit and cutting in and out of traffic. This needs to stop before more people are killed.
I heard of a device called a Flock Safety camera that takes a photo of the license plate. This could be tied to a radar detector and transmitted to a police car waiting at the end of the bridge where there is room to pull him over. The funds derived should be specifically designated to the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office and Newport News Police Department.
I think an officer at each end would only take a few days or a week to put a stop to this dangerous practice.
Joe Lupton, Smithfield
Fort Monroe
Re “Fort Monroe marina, restaurant and hotel overhaul should begin in 2025, developers say in project update” (July 24): In 2017, I found the wonderful beaches on Fort Monroe, including the Paradise Ocean Club. In addition to the beach, it had a diverse crowd and terrific music, great food and very strict security measures in place. Paradise Ocean Club was a jewel — and then it wasn’t.
It seems the National Park Service has implied that security was a problem at the club. The precipitating incident that happened in June 2022 did not occur on club property. The Fort Monroe Authority has security vehicles driving along the boardwalk, but rarely have I seen the officers get out of their air-conditioned trucks. Drinking is widespread on the various beaches throughout Fort Monroe.
The recent article mentioned above about Fort Monroe stated that Old Point Comfort Marina will be transformed into a $50-million development called 37 North at Fort Monroe. The marina’s new docks will accommodate about 300 vessels and will allow for much larger vessels such as superyachts. I’m not sure how many residents of Hampton, Newport News and other communities on the Peninsula own superyachts, but perhaps many of the governor’s friends want to visit Virginia.
In the meantime, thousands of residents in Hampton Roads are not able to enjoy the Paradise Ocean Club this summer. The Fort Monroe Authority and the National Park Service have failed the residents of Hampton and all of Tidewater.
Bill Marsh, Newport News
Grandchild
Having never thought much of President Joe Biden, his latest gesture of not accepting his little grandchild, Navy Joan Roberts, shows me just what a cruel man he has become. After losing his little daughter, Naomi Biden, along with his wife in a terrible automobile accident, one would think he would be thrilled to welcome this precious little girl who came into this world through no fault of her own.
Now Biden has become an angry old man. He should never be president again for his actions of the past, including the high prices of gas, the still-high inflation, the constant chaos at the southern border, and the humiliation of our bungled exit from Afghanistan. These actions show us that Biden should know that the job of being president is too big for him to handle.
Hunter Biden seems to have a strange power over his father that neither of them will acknowledge this precious little girl. It seems to me that Joe Biden is frightened of his own son, and Hunter Biden’s power over his father is truly wicked. Joe Biden and Hunter Biden seem to appease and protect one another. Based on the settlement, the Arkansas girl will get a lot of terrible paintings by Hunter Biden. It is obvious that the Bidens have decided that this little girl does not even exist. What a tragic and sad situation.
Andrew Morton, Virginia Beach
Thank you
I want to express my thanks to someone named Taylor. She or her Navy husband found my wallet and returned it to my previous address. She indicated her husband was jogging on Dam Neck Road and found it. This is the second time the Navy has come to my rescue.
I was assigned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines when Mount Pinatubo erupted. We all drove to Subic Bay in the Philippines and waited for rescue. Everyone was so helpful. I got to go on the USS Abraham Lincoln; the crew enjoyed taking care of all the dogs and cats we brought. I’m retired now from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. I give my deepest regards for the Navy. They’ve rescued me twice.
Linda Summers, Virginia Beach
