Star & Enterprise Letters to the Editor: published April 15

Quit stealing the flowers

Dear Editor,
I want to address this letter hopefully to be printed in your publication to all those persons concerned that feel that’s its appropriate to take flowers from a cemetery. I will keep my own unsavory, colorful adjectives to describe those persons to myself, as most are unsuitable for print in any language. In my efforts to decorate the perpetual resting place of my dear departed kin folk, I, unintentionally, have provided decoration to someone’s home for pretty much every season of the year, including the religious holidays of Christmas and Easter. While they bow their heads to give grave, the flowers left for the duly deceased serve as their table centerpiece. God Bless America. While I try to see the glass as half full, I should feel flattered that someone looks upon my floral talents and expertise as being worth the trouble of choosing to become a thief in the might or in broad daylight, whatever the case may be. I do get some delight in knowing that the majority of my departed kin, if able, would reach right up from their resting place and snatch a knot in your head. After giving some thought to the subject, I have even written a song to commemorate my heartfelt thoughts on this matter that I will share with you now.
Please don’t steal the flowers, That are laid upon my grave.
All of you should know by now, That’s no way to behave.
My loved ones left those flowers, On the place I now call home.
I see their fit of anger, When they see those flowers gone.
Please don’t take the flowers, From the place I’m laid to rest.
For when you meet your maker, You must surely then confess.
That you have truly lost you mind, Your brains have left your head,
That could be the only reason’You’d be stealin’ from the dead!
Jeanne C. Norris

Two companies charge for service

Dear Editor,
Does the general public know that a hospital allows two different anesthesia companies to bill a patient for the same day service, same time frame service? I did not know this until my son was hospitalized for outpatient surgery. We received our bills from the hospital, anesthesia department, lab, surgeon, etc. We paid all the bills in full. About 18 months later we received another bill from another anesthesia company (Marion Anesthesia PA in Murrells Inlet) for the same date of service. I called them to explain the anesthesia department had already been paid. They informed me that the other company had a person put my son to sleep and they were the ones to actually speak to my son before he was put to sleep, so they expect to get paid also.
I called the hospital and asked why they would allow double billing for this service? A billing office representative said, “This was standard practice to allow one company to talk to you before surgery and a different company person put you to sleep, that both companies would get paid. I asked her wasn’t this double billing since the person was put to sleep one time… She said no, since one talked to you and the other one put him to sleep. This is insane!
Hospital officials need to tell their patients that they will be billed twice by two different companies for being put to sleep once…Times are hard enough without having to pay twice for one thing.
Sara Elvington

Organizers say thank you for successful day

Dear Editor,
On behalf of the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Marion County Museum, we would like to thank the homeowners and the many volunteer docents that helped to make the April 4 Tour of Homes so successful.  We had an absolutely perfect day weather wise and the city was really looking its best. Our many visitors from out of town were impressed, with the city and the warm hospitality. It takes many people to pull an event like this together.  We wish to thank the homeowners, the volunteer docents, our very generous sponsors, the City of Marion and our visitors and local residents for their support.
Sincerely,
Judy Johnson
Executive Vice President Marion Chamber of Commerce
Tommy Lett
Director of the Marion County Museum

Free job training deserves recognition
Dear Editor,
Thank you for your support and coverage of the job fair at Marion County Adult Education. This is the kind of cooperation that Marion County needs to have to overcome the reputation of having unskilled workers and a high unemployment record. We do have people in Marion County who want to learn, work and have a better life style.  We are working hard to change this problem. Our problem is getting the word out about the training program and lack of support for the program. 
There were many businesses at the fair who were not familiar with the free job training program and the skills these students are learning.
Let me share with you a brief profile of the curriculum. The program has been designed to meet the n eeds indicated by businesses that would help them to have better production, less turnover, and increase profits.
These include: OSHA skills, basic first aid and CPR skills, WorkKeys skills (competency in reading, math, and locator skills), interviewing and resume writing skills, basic computer skills and personal career assessments/
Additionally program participants are taught “soft skills,“ including the necessity of attendance, conflict resolution and team work.
Job Fairs are scheduled on the day of graduation and the resumes are placed online at the Marion County One Stop.
Businesses are strongly encouraged to support this Job Fair, even if they are not hiring at the time.
Students receive a certificate for each area of achievement which is placed in a portfolio to be shown during an interview.Therefore, the employer is well informed about the potential employee rather than hiring by trial and error ...This training saves the time and monetary investment necessary when a business has to teach OSHA and other required skills during “orientation” ... These students are “Job Ready!“
A new session of this free job training, known as the “REWARDS” program, begins April 27. Anyone interested should call (843) 423-2591 to enroll.
Thank you for your support.
Janice G. Smith, Transitional Specialist
Marion County Adult Education