Letters to the Editor 01-15-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- 'Too Cool' Truck - Generosity Toward Band - Misquoted - Salvation Army Says Thanks - Thanks From Kidney Center - Band Says Thanks - Car Towed
'Too Cool' Truck
Editor, Times-Union:You know, the more I've thought of it, the more I've realized that I've got to get this off my chest in order to "get over it!" Not having the extra money to have someone plow out my driveway, every day since the snowstorm I have come home from work and shoveled my driveway again and again and again. Then I get up in the morning and the snowplow has plugged the end of my drive again. Being very thankful that the snowplows were taking care of the roads, BUT also being bummed because I had to work up a sweat and shovel again before work, I just couldn't handle it one morning this week and decided to try to plow through it ... and of course, it didn't work. ... To YOU Mr. Joe Cool Pickup Man, when I was stuck the other morning and my car was half in the road and half in my drive and the flashers were just a flashin'... I KNEW I was causing one lane traffic, BUT if you would have been a kind man, you would have gotten out of your "Too Cool Truck" and given me one little helpful push to get me out of the rut I was in instead of just sitting there and being "Too Cool" honking your horn like some kind of idiot! What were you trying to do? Get my attention and let me know that I was stuck in my drive? You hurt my feelings, Mr. Pickup Man! I was embarrassed and bummed out enough without your stupid honking! Anyway I got myself out ... without your help and I guess at least we know ... that your horn is in fine working condition! Okay, I feel better now, so sorry to inconvenience you "Too Cool," that's all I have to say ... thank you very much!
P.S. I sure hope you read Letters to the Editor!
Sally Goon, Leesburg
Generosity Toward Band
Editor, Times-Union:I want to let the people in the Wawasee community to know what kind of generosity that the Wawasee Band received while on their Florida trip. After finishing a wonderful trip to Florida that gave our students a chance to visit such places as Disney, Universal Studios and Medieval Times and perform on national television, as part of the half-time show for the Toyota Gator Bowl, our parents and students received a very special and wonderful gift. They had a chance, first hand, to see how kind and generous people could be.
It all started while we were making our way back home to Indiana. We had been following the weather all week and, as we suspected, Indiana was getting snow. So much snow that they closed all of the major roads into Indiana and declared a state of emergency. This put us in kind of a tight spot since we had no place to go and very little money left. The decision was made to go back by way of I-75 and to call my parents in Somerset to see if they could provide us with a gym or church to stay in. After an hour or so we received a phone call and the word was "bring them on." So all 115 of us headed to Somerset. All this time the people of Somerset were making arrangements. When we stopped the next morning for breakfast, we touched base with Somerset to find out that they had made arrangements for us to stay at a Day's Inn. After checking into the hotel, we all rested and swam in the pool. We then went to the Somerset First Christian Church for a carry-in dinner that they had put together for us. They could have fed at least 400 people with the amount of food that people in the community had donated for the dinner. Most of the parents and students then joined with the other church members for the evening worship service. The next morning they fed us breakfast at the local Dairy Queen - all the sausage and biscuit gravy we could eat. We then received the go ahead to try to make it back to Syracuse. Ten hours later we made it safely back to Wawasee High School. Both students and parents were deeply touched by the overwhelming generosity of the Somerset community. It is a lesson and a blessing that I will never forget.
To the people of Somerset, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope that we can all learn from your generosity and if ever given the chance, we can do the same for someone else.
James M. Clark, Director of Bands, Wawasee School Corporation
Misquoted
Editor, Times-Union:Thank you sir for bringing the misquote to my attention. You're right Mr. Ott, I was misquoted on the front page, no less, of Times-Union, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1999. What I said at the commissioners meeting, Jan. 5, 1999, was on the last nice weekend which was Dec. 26, 1998, I did have the ring-a-ding-ding type motorcycle confrontation and yes I did call the sheriff's department about it. I am not going to tell what the young female dispatcher said about the call, I'll save that until later. Check the log book of the sheriff for Dec. 26, 1998 about 3:30 p.m., phone number 267-5667. As you will see, it was not the weekend of the storm.
And yes, my wife and I were awakened by your daughter's dog at 5:45 on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999, the day of the commissioners meeting. Further, Mr. Ott, I ask you to stop your nasty remarks. I am only trying to secure our "Country Living" by stopping non-country noises as many people have asked me to continue the efforts. As they say in my faith, "peace be with you."
Herschel Rainwater, Warsaw
Salvation Army Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:We at The Salvation Army say "Thank You" to everyone who supported our fund-raising campaign during the past holiday season. All of those dimes, quarters and dollar bills dropped into the red kettles helped to make the holidays a little more special and warm for many families, individuals and children in Kosciusko County.
We are happy to report that $109,115 was raised during the campaign. These dollars not only allowed us to provide some holiday cheer, but they will also make it possible for us to serve families and individuals throughout the coming year.
I am not sure if we can say "Thank You" enough to all of the businesses who allowed us to place kettles at their establishments, to all of the groups, clubs and organizations that "rang the bell" so well, to over 300 volunteers who made this Christmastime so special for so many and to all of those who contributed to the campaign ... again, we say thank you. Our hearts have been warmed, our lives have been touched, again, by the kindness of the people of Kosciusko County.
God bless you in the new year.
Lt. Jeffery Horn, Commanding Officer, The Salvation Army
Thanks From Kidney Center
Editor, Times-Union:What a wonderful community we live in! In the time of need, many came together to help those in the community. On behalf of Northeast Indiana Kidney Center, we would like to thank some special people that helped the patients and staff during the difficult time with transportation during the heavy snow fall.
We at Northeast Indiana Kidney Center are a hemodialysis unit, that provide treatments to maintain life to 49 patients. These 49 patients require treatments to clean their blood and remove water as their kidneys do not function, this is done to each patient three times per week. Death can occur with missed treatments.
As the current plan for heavy snowfall did not serve our patients, we called WRSW for a plea of help for 4x4 volunteers to transport patients and staff. The response was overwhelming!
A special thank you to the following: (I hope I did not forget anyone) Ellen and Jim Scheweneenan, Tom Knisely, Kyle Vanover, Perry Ellis, Cliff Staton, Dale Tennent, Rick White, Eric Hayden, Jim Merritt, Chuck Richardson, John Rice, Susie and Jake Handel, Sandy Brunner, Mike Wertenberger, Will Bentley, The Red Cross for advice and support, and a special thanks to Nancy Judy for food brought in.
We can be proud of these people that volunteered in time of need. Please accept our sincerest "thank you" on behalf of the patients and staff at NIKC.
Hope White, R.N., C.N.N., Unit Manager
Band Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:I want the people and businesses of the Wawasee community to know how much the members of the Wawasee Marching Warrior Pride and their boosters appreciated the support you gave to help send us to Florida for the Toyota Gator Bowl. While in Florida, the students had a chance to visit Medieval Times, Disney and Universal Studios. They marched in the New Year's Eve Parade in front of a lot of cheering fans and worked with approximately 2,000 other musicians to put together part of the half-time show for the game. They also celebrated the New Year with all 3,000 participants of the half-time show. Everyone had a great time on the trip and it could not have been possible without all of the community support. For this we want to thank you. It is hard to put into words how much we appreciated your support, but if you could have seen the looks on the students' faces as we participated in the different events, you would understand just how much it meant to all of us.
James M. Clark, Director of Bands, Wawasee School Corporation
Car Towed
Editor, Times-Union:Last Monday, Jan. 11, at 6 a.m., during near blizzard conditions with temperatures of -3¼, I became stuck on CR 500E between Tippecanoe Lake and Syracuse on my way to work. After walking one mile back to my home, I had to wait until my father was available to drive me back to my truck, so we could shovel me out and I could proceed on to work. My truck was not there. It had been towed away in the four-hour period it took me to get back to my truck. I repeat, four hours. I had left the truck unlocked, keys in ignition thinking if necessary the snow plow could move it out of the way if they got there before I did.
I had to call the sheriff's department to find my truck had been towed to Stuckman's. My sister from Syracuse was ill but took me on Papakeechie Lake's back roads to get my truck. Those roads were deep with snow and drifting making visibility very poor. I missed a day of work, paid $30 to get my truck from Stuckman's all because the sheriff's department is heartless and power-possessed and doesn't realize or care that the last ten days were a little unusual in snowfall amounts and sub-zero temps.
My mother in Syracuse called Mr. Rovenstine to discuss the matter the following day. Her conversation with him was not pleasant or consoling. He told her it would have been prudent for me to call the sheriff's department to notify them of the situation with my truck. Does that mean the snowplow driver would have radioed the sheriff's department upon finding my truck to see if I had called in or not? Does it also mean the snowplow driver would have gotten the OK from the sheriff's department to leave my truck there, and do not call Stuckman's because this driver had been prudent and called in? Incidentally, my truck was almost totally off the road.
Mr. Rovenstine also told my mother he had no way of knowing if my truck had been stuck for ten hours or 4 hours. The truck has license plates, identification inside and keys in the ignition of the unlocked vehicle.
Mr. Rovenstine, you are supposed to be an educated, experienced officer. When you see an unlocked vehicle with keys in the ignition and stuck in a snowdrift, it is not abandonment requiring towing. A phone call from you prior to towing would have been prudent. Use some brains, Mr. Rovenstine, you obviously have no heart!
Robert Bosstick, Syracuse
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- 'Too Cool' Truck - Generosity Toward Band - Misquoted - Salvation Army Says Thanks - Thanks From Kidney Center - Band Says Thanks - Car Towed
'Too Cool' Truck
Editor, Times-Union:You know, the more I've thought of it, the more I've realized that I've got to get this off my chest in order to "get over it!" Not having the extra money to have someone plow out my driveway, every day since the snowstorm I have come home from work and shoveled my driveway again and again and again. Then I get up in the morning and the snowplow has plugged the end of my drive again. Being very thankful that the snowplows were taking care of the roads, BUT also being bummed because I had to work up a sweat and shovel again before work, I just couldn't handle it one morning this week and decided to try to plow through it ... and of course, it didn't work. ... To YOU Mr. Joe Cool Pickup Man, when I was stuck the other morning and my car was half in the road and half in my drive and the flashers were just a flashin'... I KNEW I was causing one lane traffic, BUT if you would have been a kind man, you would have gotten out of your "Too Cool Truck" and given me one little helpful push to get me out of the rut I was in instead of just sitting there and being "Too Cool" honking your horn like some kind of idiot! What were you trying to do? Get my attention and let me know that I was stuck in my drive? You hurt my feelings, Mr. Pickup Man! I was embarrassed and bummed out enough without your stupid honking! Anyway I got myself out ... without your help and I guess at least we know ... that your horn is in fine working condition! Okay, I feel better now, so sorry to inconvenience you "Too Cool," that's all I have to say ... thank you very much!
P.S. I sure hope you read Letters to the Editor!
Sally Goon, Leesburg
Generosity Toward Band
Editor, Times-Union:I want to let the people in the Wawasee community to know what kind of generosity that the Wawasee Band received while on their Florida trip. After finishing a wonderful trip to Florida that gave our students a chance to visit such places as Disney, Universal Studios and Medieval Times and perform on national television, as part of the half-time show for the Toyota Gator Bowl, our parents and students received a very special and wonderful gift. They had a chance, first hand, to see how kind and generous people could be.
It all started while we were making our way back home to Indiana. We had been following the weather all week and, as we suspected, Indiana was getting snow. So much snow that they closed all of the major roads into Indiana and declared a state of emergency. This put us in kind of a tight spot since we had no place to go and very little money left. The decision was made to go back by way of I-75 and to call my parents in Somerset to see if they could provide us with a gym or church to stay in. After an hour or so we received a phone call and the word was "bring them on." So all 115 of us headed to Somerset. All this time the people of Somerset were making arrangements. When we stopped the next morning for breakfast, we touched base with Somerset to find out that they had made arrangements for us to stay at a Day's Inn. After checking into the hotel, we all rested and swam in the pool. We then went to the Somerset First Christian Church for a carry-in dinner that they had put together for us. They could have fed at least 400 people with the amount of food that people in the community had donated for the dinner. Most of the parents and students then joined with the other church members for the evening worship service. The next morning they fed us breakfast at the local Dairy Queen - all the sausage and biscuit gravy we could eat. We then received the go ahead to try to make it back to Syracuse. Ten hours later we made it safely back to Wawasee High School. Both students and parents were deeply touched by the overwhelming generosity of the Somerset community. It is a lesson and a blessing that I will never forget.
To the people of Somerset, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope that we can all learn from your generosity and if ever given the chance, we can do the same for someone else.
James M. Clark, Director of Bands, Wawasee School Corporation
Misquoted
Editor, Times-Union:Thank you sir for bringing the misquote to my attention. You're right Mr. Ott, I was misquoted on the front page, no less, of Times-Union, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1999. What I said at the commissioners meeting, Jan. 5, 1999, was on the last nice weekend which was Dec. 26, 1998, I did have the ring-a-ding-ding type motorcycle confrontation and yes I did call the sheriff's department about it. I am not going to tell what the young female dispatcher said about the call, I'll save that until later. Check the log book of the sheriff for Dec. 26, 1998 about 3:30 p.m., phone number 267-5667. As you will see, it was not the weekend of the storm.
And yes, my wife and I were awakened by your daughter's dog at 5:45 on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999, the day of the commissioners meeting. Further, Mr. Ott, I ask you to stop your nasty remarks. I am only trying to secure our "Country Living" by stopping non-country noises as many people have asked me to continue the efforts. As they say in my faith, "peace be with you."
Herschel Rainwater, Warsaw
Salvation Army Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:We at The Salvation Army say "Thank You" to everyone who supported our fund-raising campaign during the past holiday season. All of those dimes, quarters and dollar bills dropped into the red kettles helped to make the holidays a little more special and warm for many families, individuals and children in Kosciusko County.
We are happy to report that $109,115 was raised during the campaign. These dollars not only allowed us to provide some holiday cheer, but they will also make it possible for us to serve families and individuals throughout the coming year.
I am not sure if we can say "Thank You" enough to all of the businesses who allowed us to place kettles at their establishments, to all of the groups, clubs and organizations that "rang the bell" so well, to over 300 volunteers who made this Christmastime so special for so many and to all of those who contributed to the campaign ... again, we say thank you. Our hearts have been warmed, our lives have been touched, again, by the kindness of the people of Kosciusko County.
God bless you in the new year.
Lt. Jeffery Horn, Commanding Officer, The Salvation Army
Thanks From Kidney Center
Editor, Times-Union:What a wonderful community we live in! In the time of need, many came together to help those in the community. On behalf of Northeast Indiana Kidney Center, we would like to thank some special people that helped the patients and staff during the difficult time with transportation during the heavy snow fall.
We at Northeast Indiana Kidney Center are a hemodialysis unit, that provide treatments to maintain life to 49 patients. These 49 patients require treatments to clean their blood and remove water as their kidneys do not function, this is done to each patient three times per week. Death can occur with missed treatments.
As the current plan for heavy snowfall did not serve our patients, we called WRSW for a plea of help for 4x4 volunteers to transport patients and staff. The response was overwhelming!
A special thank you to the following: (I hope I did not forget anyone) Ellen and Jim Scheweneenan, Tom Knisely, Kyle Vanover, Perry Ellis, Cliff Staton, Dale Tennent, Rick White, Eric Hayden, Jim Merritt, Chuck Richardson, John Rice, Susie and Jake Handel, Sandy Brunner, Mike Wertenberger, Will Bentley, The Red Cross for advice and support, and a special thanks to Nancy Judy for food brought in.
We can be proud of these people that volunteered in time of need. Please accept our sincerest "thank you" on behalf of the patients and staff at NIKC.
Hope White, R.N., C.N.N., Unit Manager
Band Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:I want the people and businesses of the Wawasee community to know how much the members of the Wawasee Marching Warrior Pride and their boosters appreciated the support you gave to help send us to Florida for the Toyota Gator Bowl. While in Florida, the students had a chance to visit Medieval Times, Disney and Universal Studios. They marched in the New Year's Eve Parade in front of a lot of cheering fans and worked with approximately 2,000 other musicians to put together part of the half-time show for the game. They also celebrated the New Year with all 3,000 participants of the half-time show. Everyone had a great time on the trip and it could not have been possible without all of the community support. For this we want to thank you. It is hard to put into words how much we appreciated your support, but if you could have seen the looks on the students' faces as we participated in the different events, you would understand just how much it meant to all of us.
James M. Clark, Director of Bands, Wawasee School Corporation
Car Towed
Editor, Times-Union:Last Monday, Jan. 11, at 6 a.m., during near blizzard conditions with temperatures of -3¼, I became stuck on CR 500E between Tippecanoe Lake and Syracuse on my way to work. After walking one mile back to my home, I had to wait until my father was available to drive me back to my truck, so we could shovel me out and I could proceed on to work. My truck was not there. It had been towed away in the four-hour period it took me to get back to my truck. I repeat, four hours. I had left the truck unlocked, keys in ignition thinking if necessary the snow plow could move it out of the way if they got there before I did.
I had to call the sheriff's department to find my truck had been towed to Stuckman's. My sister from Syracuse was ill but took me on Papakeechie Lake's back roads to get my truck. Those roads were deep with snow and drifting making visibility very poor. I missed a day of work, paid $30 to get my truck from Stuckman's all because the sheriff's department is heartless and power-possessed and doesn't realize or care that the last ten days were a little unusual in snowfall amounts and sub-zero temps.
My mother in Syracuse called Mr. Rovenstine to discuss the matter the following day. Her conversation with him was not pleasant or consoling. He told her it would have been prudent for me to call the sheriff's department to notify them of the situation with my truck. Does that mean the snowplow driver would have radioed the sheriff's department upon finding my truck to see if I had called in or not? Does it also mean the snowplow driver would have gotten the OK from the sheriff's department to leave my truck there, and do not call Stuckman's because this driver had been prudent and called in? Incidentally, my truck was almost totally off the road.
Mr. Rovenstine also told my mother he had no way of knowing if my truck had been stuck for ten hours or 4 hours. The truck has license plates, identification inside and keys in the ignition of the unlocked vehicle.
Mr. Rovenstine, you are supposed to be an educated, experienced officer. When you see an unlocked vehicle with keys in the ignition and stuck in a snowdrift, it is not abandonment requiring towing. A phone call from you prior to towing would have been prudent. Use some brains, Mr. Rovenstine, you obviously have no heart!
Robert Bosstick, Syracuse
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