text: As a resident concerned about a potential Walmart in Burbank, I would like to say that everyone wants to pay less for things. Everyone.
  And as a teacher who can't get more hours, I can especially appreciate that. But if there is one thing that I could try and get across to people, it would be these “low prices” that Walmart advertises aren't as low if you look at the larger picture (“Walmart is far from a cure-all,” Aug. 30).
  A lot of people who want Walmart think that its coming to town would be good because of the state corporate income taxes they will pay. But what a lot of people don't realize is that Walmart avoids paying millions in dollars in taxes a year because of the way their real estate trust is set up. They put their stores under the ownership of a real estate investment trust. Then they pay rent to the trust and deduct those payments as a business expense, basically paying rent to themselves, which brings down the company's taxable income and then lowers the state tax bill.
  Walmart is not the only corporation who does this, but it did start the trend. There are plenty companies that run tactics like these. Walmart’s lack of corporate responsibility is appalling. They put strangleholds on suppliers to meet their demand and rock bottom prices, which has single-handedly changed the way manufacturing in this country has taken shape.
  We all want cheaper prices. I don't make enough money to shop at Whole Foods or Sprouts or some of the boutique stores in Burbank all the time. But I'd rather spend my hard-earned money at any of those places than give in to this company that is ruining this country.
  People need to stop and say, “enough if enough.” Consumers can change the way retailers in this country do business. All they have to do is just think about the impact of what and where they are buying.
  And this goes for every company, not just Walmart. Start making irresponsible retailers accountable for their actions.
  A LETTER writer suggests that Lake Mary police are taking advantage of speeding students running late to classes at Seminole Community Collge to make ticket quotas.
  The police are not turning student misfortune to the city's benefit; they are only doing a fine job for our community.
  The people of Lake Mary deserve the same protection as any other neighborhood. If those from whom we need protection are students who speed or drive illegally, then the students must pay the price. They are not above the law.
  The head of the U.S. attorney's office in Orlando said Wednesday he has resigned to accept a job as a federal prosecutor in Indianapolis.
  Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Turner said Wednesday he decided to leave for ''family reasons'' and return to his home state. He said his resignation is effective Jan. 19.
  Since last spring, the FBI and a federal grand jury have been looking into allegations of racketeering, bribery, case-fixing and interfering in police investigations. Eagan and others accused in the probe have denied any wrongdoing.
  Turner, who has run the Orlando office for U.S. Attorney Robert Merkle of Tampa since February 1983, said Wednesday that the corruption investigation will not be interrupted by his departure.
  ''My leaving will have no effect on that probe,'' Turner said. He said the investigation will be passed on to another prosecutor in January if it is not completed. Turner would not elaborate on the status of the investigation.
  Merkle said he was sorry to see Turner leave and praised his work. ''We'll miss him terribly,'' Merkle said.
  Merkle said no replacement has been named, but added that his office ''won't miss a step'' in any investigations when Turner departs.
  Turner's announcement comes in the wake of his being passed over for a federal judgeship vacancy in Orlando earlier this year. Although Turner was one of four whose names were submitted to the Justice Department for approval, sources said Orlando civil lawyers John O'Donnell and Patricia Fawsett are the front-runners for the job.
  Turner has worked as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., Indianapolis and Springfield, Ill., during the past 11 years, specializing mostly in white-collar crimes and fraud cases. Last month, he said he was offered a trial attorney slot in the U.S. attorney's office in Indianapolis, where he had worked before moving to Orlando.
  While in Orlando, Turner supervised eight other prosecutors and several major drug, corruption and fraud cases. He also tried several high-profile cases and is best known for convicting former Orlando savings and loan president Charles Hawkins on conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges in 1983, and the Pershing Plowshares, nuclear weapons protesters who vandalized the Martin Marietta Aerospace plant on Easter Sunday 1984.
  Turner said he has ''toyed'' with the idea of returning to Indiana for several months. Turner is a native of Bluffton, Ind., and his wife, Judy, is from Fairmont, Ind. They have two children.
  ''It was not an easy decision to leave,'' Turner said. ''But for family considerations, I decided to return. We've become very attached to Orlando and that made it very difficult to leave.''
  “Singles for Christ” invites all singles 40 and over to our annual Christmas Potluck at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15 at Charlevoix Estates Clubhouse, 6685 M-66 N., Charlevoix. Bring a $10 gift to exchange, a dish to pass and your beverage of choice. R.S.V.P. soon as seating is limited. Please call Frieda at (231) 347-5747.