The Sanford Herald – March 19, 2002

Reader Opinions

Name: Jill Fallin
Date: Mar, 22 2002
See what I am saying? The judicial system is all screwed up. You people think that people really get life for murdering someone. I think that is the way it should be too. In my other statement that I said earlier, I said that you people were self centered and stupid. I see that it has gotten alot of responses out of people and a lot of you are people that I know. I was not meaning that Dale should have been set free. My point is that The System Does Not Work The Way We Want It To. I know of a 23-year-old man that mudered someone in Broad Daylight and with 27 witnesses. Do you know what he got? 6 years. WOW! So how are they supposed to sentence someone to life for involuntary manslaughter or death by motor vehicle? If you don't get life for killing someone on purpose then what do you people think they are going to give the one's that do it unintentionally? DUH? It is obvious that it is all screwed up. THAT WAS MY POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do feel sorry for the family. Any family that looses someone is devastated. But our thought of "justice" is not the same as the judicial system. People go to prison longer for drugs than people do for murder half of the time? You people need to question the council and the justice system itself and don't take it all out on one person because they let him off. The judge still makes the decisions here people! Ask the judge why he didn't lock him up? Money can't buy you out of everything. So ask the judge the question that you keep asking yourselves.For the one trying to make a point to me and you know who you are "How would you feel if it were your son?" and we know how that goes so it is possible.

Name: unknown
Date: Mar, 22 2002
I don't know what is wrong with you people. Yes the Zuravel family has experienced a terrible lose.i do pray they will get through this.For the people bad mouthing Jon Sauls,why are you acting like he thinks what happened is okay. I don't recall him stating that drinking and driving is okay. He is simply doing his job as a pastor and being there for the Hardee family.If you all think Mr.Hardee bought his son out of this isn't that the judicial systems fault?

Name: Brenda Flow
Date: Mar, 22 2002
My heart goes out to the Zuravel family.I pray you can find a way to get through this loss.I hope someday things will be different with our judicial system.But right now it is the only thing we have.For the one who thinks these people are self centered and stupid,try to put yourself in the family that can't hug and say i love you to anymore and i am sure you would feel different.

Name: Sam Waterhouse
Date: Mar, 21 2002
This is a very sad story I feel for the family and friends for a senseless lose. I know for a fact I shall never spend any more monies with Mr. Hardees fish establishment. I also know for a fact as a lifelong member of the GOP I have never voted for a Democrat but given the choice of John Sauls I will be casting a vote for my first one.

Name: Mitch Lassiter
Date: Mar, 21 2002
What is a person supposed to think by reading these opinions?!?! Ms. Kneiley, please do not judge and use God's name at the same time. It is not for us to decide the fate of Mr. Hardee's soul..that is left solely to God. This is truly a tragedy, a life has been taken and others ruined by irresponsibilty and bad decisions. I do not know anyone involved in this case, however, there are countless cases every day where drunk drivers are let off with slaps on the wrist, and there is no "big money" involved. Our system has been far too lenient in the past, when death is not involved, and that leads people to commit these same offenses again and again. We should be just as angry when a drunk driver is caught without hurting someone, as the potential is always there, but we must do it in Christian love. Mr. John Sauls, whether he is running for the House or not, did the right thing. What would we say about a Pastor who knew this young man, yet did nothing to counsel him? I am sure that Mr. Sauls has not condoned Dale's actions in any way, but I am also sure that he has tried, as the bible instructs us to do, to point out the error of Dale's actions and try to lead him to Christ. In my mind, he has done his job as a pastor and nothing more. Do you not also think that Mr. Sauls had to condsider that this would be a controversial move for his political career? Yet, I rest assured that he values his position of Pastor much more than his position of County Commisioner, and therefore, put these responsibilities first and foremost in his life. As for Dales' father, he is only doing what any father would do. I know that many times throughout my life, my father has stepped forward and put his reputation on the line to defend me, his son. I am equally sure, that you have done the same for your child, while maybe not on such a large platform or scale. Our society is so quick to rush to judgement!! Any one of us would gladly give our own lives to protect our children, let alone spend some cash to keep them out of jail. I am sure that Mrs. Zuravel is devastated by her loss, and that she holds a level of disregard for Mr. Hardee, however, many of you do not know her, nor did you know her husband. How then can you judge? As a Christian, I am called to reach out to those who are lost and to hate the sin, but love the sinner. I do not condone Mr. Hardee's actions, but I do not condemn him, for that is not my place.

Name: DEBORAH KNEILEY
Date: Mar, 20 2002
ONCE AGAIN JUSTICE WAS NOT SERVED. THE TRIAL OF DALE REESE HARDEE WAS FILED AS SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND THAT IS WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRIED FOR, NOT A PAT ON THE HAND PLEA BARGAIN. WHEN IS HARDEE AND HIS BIG SHOT DADDY GOING TO REALIZE THAT THE CAR HE USED TO DRIVE DRUNK IN WAS THE SAME AS PUTTING A LOADED OR A LARGE SIZE BOMB IN HIS HAMD?? A DRUNK DRIVER THAT KILLS SOMEONE WITH HIS DRIVING IS DEFINITLY A MURDERER. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND TO ALL THE ZURAVELS.. IT IS HARD TO KNOW ONLY ONE OF THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE AN EXTREMELY CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY THAT WELCOMES A TREMENDOUS ASSORTMENT OF FRIENDS--OLD, YOUNG, RICH, POOR , WHITE, BLACK OR WELL, JUST EVERYONE INTO THEIR FAMILY OF FRIENDS. ROBERTA AND STAN HAVE RAISED 5 SONS THAT ARE ALL ANYONE COULD ASK FOR IN A SON. SEVERAL OF STAN'S SONS NOW HAVE CHILDREN THAT LOVED THEIR GRANDADDY. WHAT CAN THE SON'S OF STAN AND ROBERTA NOW TELL HIS GRANDCHILDREN? THAT SOME IGNORANT,SELFISH, SPOILED IDIOT DRIVER TOOK THE LIFE OF GRANDADDY AWAY FROM ALL OF THEM. I KNOW I AM NOT SUPOSSED TO QUESTION GOD AND I WILL NOT BECAUSE IT WILL NOT BRING STAN BACK TO ROBERTA, STAN JR., LEE, MICHAEL, MARK AND EDDY. BUT I CANNOT HELP BUT HOPE THAT SOMEDAY MR HARDEE AND HIS FATHER WHO PAYS HIS FINES AND GIVES "GIFTS OF FREE FOOD AND COFFEE E. T. C.!!!! TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE HAVE TO SUFFER THE WAY EVERYONE WHO KNEW STAN AND HIS FAMILY HAS SUFFERED IN THE GREAT LOSS OF STAN ZURAVEL. STAN TOOK HIS WIFE TO DUKE MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENTS SHE NEEDS TO SAVE HER LIFE FROM OVARIAN CANCER. NOW WHO WILL TAKE HER? WHO WILL STAY UP WITH HER AS SHE SUFFERS THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THE TREATMENT? WHO WILL SHE CLING TO FOR COMFORT AND SUPPORT NOW? HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW OR MANY DEDICATED FRIENDS THAT A TRULY GOOD PERSON LIKE ROBERTA HAS??? YES, WE WILL ALL BE THERE FOR HER, BUT HER ONE ROCK AND STRENGTH CANNOT BE THERE FOR HER LIKE HE HAD BEEN FOR FORTY YEARS. WHY? BECAUSE DALE HARDEE TOOK STAN'S LIFE AWAY IN ONE DRUNKEN SECOND. WE WILL MISS STAN TERRIBLY BUT I AM GLAD HE TOUCHED MY LIFE: I AM A BETTER PERSON BY JUST KNOWING HIM AND ALL THAT HE STOOD FOR. AS FOR DALE HARDEE, I THINK YOU HAD BETTER START TAKING A LONG HARD LOOK AT THE MISERY YOU HAVE CAUSED OTHERS. YOU OR YOUR DADDY CAN BAIL YOU OUT WHEN YOU KILL SOMEONE, BUT THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL BAIL OUT YOUR SOUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WHEN YOU STAND BEFORE GOD. TO SANFORD COPS \

Name: Jill Fallin
Date: Mar, 20 2002
What is wrong with you people? Of course you want Dale to die for what he did but have you thought about what if it were your son? What would you do? You would bail him out just as Clavin did, "if" you had the money. See, that is the problem! You people that are fussing don't have enough money to get out of anything. The justice system is not all about what is right. We witness that everyday. I know someone that got 37 felonies dropped all because he had a good lump of money. So before you go being Judge and Executioner think from the other point of view. Ya'll are all so self centered and stupid.

Name: Angela Cherbonneau
Date: Mar, 20 2002
How can Mr. Calvin Hardee live with the fact his son is a murderer?? I know, he has no conscience!!! I pray God can forgive you Mr. Hardee, I can't. Your son took the life of a father, husband, grandfather, and a truly upstanding citizen of Fayetteville. Your son should stand up like a man and face his punishment, not let you "Big Daddy' payoff the system. I am sure if the role were reversed and your wife were killed by a sorry drunk driver, you would ask for a trial by jury. I did have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Zuravel and his family, again it is such a loss for the Fayetteville community.

Name: Paulette McDougald
Date: Mar, 20 2002
I don't think that this county realizes what the term really means. People play the money card all the time. I think that it all comes down to not what you know but who you know. I read cases in the paper like this all the time, I have never read a turn out like this. One similar case where the person dropped a cigarette instead of a cell phone while driving impaired. This person got a slap on the wrist with his charge reduced while the other person deserves the same and not wasting 10 years in a prison. Now the that sound like justice to you!--I think not.

Name: Sam Tallman
Date: Mar, 19 2002
What else has Calvin Hardee's cash bought? His son -- Dale Reese Hardee 06/08/00 Speeding 84 in 55 with alcohol test -- voluntarily dismissed. 05/01/97 Speeding to elude arrest -- voluntarily dismissed. 05/01/97 Reckless driving to endanger -- voluntarily dismissed. 10/23/94 Disoorderly conduct -- Guilty. 10/22/94 Unsealed wine/liquor in passenger area -- voluntarily dismissed. That's why the second degree murder charge couldn't go to trial. Plus there are 3 other speeding violations on which he was found guilty. Anything to do with alcohol, however, got voluntarily dismissed. Was John Sauls involved in the dismissals? If John Sauls was his counsellor, why no substance abuse treatment?

Name: DeeAnn F.
Date: Mar, 19 2002
I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Zuravel but I know he was a wonderful man. I do know one of he's sons and from knowing him I can tell what a loving and wonderful family he is from. As far as the murderer I hope I never come in contact with him. It breaks my heart to know the pain the Zuravel family is going through. This is a pain that this family did not have to encounter had Dale Reece Hardee not made the choice to get behind the wheel after his "4 or 5" beers that he had. It sounds to me that "daddy" has sheltered his son from facing responsibilities from the choices he has made in the past. I hope during his prison sentence he will truly come to grips with the result of his actions but somehow I know he will not. How can a person who has never accepted responsibility and was always had someone bail him out of sticky situations,may it be finacially, socialy or even politically ever know what he took away from the world. On several conversations I have had regarding the murder of Mr. Zuravel the family had been told what a " good guy" Mr. Hardee is,well now no thanks to his bad decision, I nor will anybody else be able to meet Mr. Stanley Eugene Zuravel and know what a wonderful loving happy and kind man he was. My heart goes out to the Zuravel family may God Bless You.

Name: Eileen Kibler
Date: Mar, 19 2002
Sue Thackeray did an excellent job pointing out the devastation that the Zuravel family has experienced.

Name: George Anderson
Date: Mar, 19 2002
John Sauls county commissioner,candidate for the House testifies on behalf of a murderer... this is a storyline is fit for the New York Post. Ms. Thackeray did a fine job covering a story that shows how irresponsible people are and how some politicans will do anything for political gain.Mr Sauls is counting on Calvins cash and help to win the House seat.