Letters to the Editor 01-21-1998
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Stolen Toy - DARE Thanks - Small Thanks - Real Justice - Elected Officials - Police Supported - License Branch Key
Stolen Toy
Editor, Times-Union:I'm writing this letter hoping that the person or persons who stole my two children's most prized possession will have the guts to return the 1996 Big Foot Power Wheels truck. As a single mother it was very hard for me to buy the one thing my 2- and 5-year-old boys wanted more than anything. The look on their sweet little faces was worth a million dollars when we assembled and tested the truck together. And now some cold-hearted, selfish thief has broken their hearts. What kind of a person would back a truck into someone else's yard, right past a child's bedroom, to steal from that child while he sleeps? It took a lot of guts for you to do something as low. I wonder if you have the guts to explain to these two children why you had to steal from them instead of working to buy things like other people. I also wonder if you have children so that someday when they get their hearts crushed like this, you might remember how ruthless you are. If there are any honest people in Warsaw that know something about this stolen truck would you please contact Warsaw police with the name and address of this person? This would make two great little boys very happy. To the person who stole from my children, if you return the truck undamaged back to the spot from which you took it, I will not press charges against you. If you do not return it willingly, I will press charges and make sure everyone in Warsaw knows who you are. There are two people who can identify your truck, it's just a matter of time until we get your address. I hope you will do the right thing.
Miss Hancock
Warsaw
DARE Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1998, we had our DARE graduation for 60 fifth-grade students at Mentone School. As principal, this was my first graduation at Mentone School. Tony Ciriello, DARE officer, presented the program, and this was one of the most moving, well-orchestrated programs I have witnessed in my 30 years in education.
Students received instruction for one hour each week for one semester. The curriculum deals with ways for children to say no to drugs, alcohol, tobacco and violence. During the past year, I have heard of schools who dropped the DARE program because it was not effective. Actually, the program is very effective. Officer Ciriello has taught the students how to deal with bad situations. He has developed a bond between these students and the police department. Every one of these students will tell you that drugs, alcohol and violence are bad. They accept that message and believe it.
Once students have learned how to deal with peer pressure, it is our responsibility, as parents, to talk with our children about these subjects and let them know how we stand on drugs, alcohol, tobacco and violence. As a parent, I know how difficult it is to make sure our children understand how we feel. Even with parental guidance, students still can succumb to peer pressure, but the chances that our children can make good decisions increase greatly if we can let them know that we care and will support them through some difficult years.
This was Officer Ciriello's last DARE graduation at Mentone School. He will be taking another position within the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office. He taught DARE classes at Mentone School from 1992 to 1998. He will be missed because he is such a good person, but thanks to our sheriff, Mr. Al Rovenstine, the DARE program will continue. Officers have taken the training to take Officer Ciriello's place. I want to publicly thank Officer Ciriello, Sheriff Rovenstine and the other Kosciusko County people who make this program available in our schools. We do appreciate your efforts.
Jack R. Fisher
Mentone
Small Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:Jeff and I would like thank all the people who attended the recent open house at 324 S. Cleveland St. We would like to especially thank those at Warsaw Community Development Corp. for honoring us with a beautiful plate and the wonderful certificate.
Also we want to thank the department for the lovely plant given to us and for their promptness to inspect the house in progress. They were always very friendly and very easy to work with. We thank you very much for your encouragement and patience during the renovation.
Last and not the least, we thank our families for all the hard work and support they lent during the renovation. And our friend for doing a lot of excavating. And several of the men Jeff works with that were willing to help unload materials. Thanks for making our project to be a successful one.
With a sincere thanks!
Jeff and Susie Small and family
Warsaw
Real Justice
Editor, Times-Union:Recently in the News Views of the Times-Union, Gary Gerard raised a very good question.
Kristina Crooks is found guilty of reckless homicide, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and subsequent death, and neglect of a dependent.
And her bond was not increased!
The death of 11-month-old Lois was a tragedy. This innocent child will never have a chance to live her life because of the direct behavior of her mother.
She now faces a maximum sentence of only 20 years in prison which she will not have to serve a full term, gets three meals a day, warm place to sleep, clothing, recreational area, TV, and medical attention when needed, all at the taxpayers expense. I suppose this is justice in the '90s. It's a shame, but the justice system in America has lost sight of real justice that our forefathers had in place. Is this what happens when "our" justice system gets polluted with politics? Or a society that sits back and does not demand more out of our elected officials?
An increase in Kristina Crooks' bond is the least that should have happened, behind bars after the conviction is what should have taken place! Life in prison would have been reasonable.
In some cultures the value of a society is measured by how well they take care of the children and elderly. How do we measure up?
Mike Wood
Warsaw
Elected Officials
Editor, Times-Union:Thank you for your News Views column yesterday, Jan. 17. In response, here is my first ever letter to the editor.
Like you, I am absolutely appalled by the pervasiveness of the scandals of the current crowd in the White House, as well as with the American public accepting it!
You listed for us very clearly the numerous investigations, charges and penalties brought against just the First Family and Cabinet members; one can only imagine all the transgressions committed by the host of other staff members whose only example is of abuse of power and obstruction of justice! Those bureaucrats have made a travesty of the values so many others have died for. Well, I'm sick of it!
My wife and I, like millions of other Americans, are trying to do right and influence those around us, especially our children, to do right. Despite the damage done by those in Washington, we will continue to believe in absolute standards of right and wrong and will try to live by them. I trust that other Americans will also.
This is still a democracy! To you who believe in right and wrong, let's all bombard our elected representatives with demands for accountability and a cleanup in Washington. The Times-Union is good enough to regularly print these officials' addresses.
Let's return to the days when most public officials earn our respect rather than shame!
Rick Van Puffelen
Warsaw
Police Supported
Editor, Times-Union:Thank you, City Council, for deteriorating the morale at the Warsaw Police Department.
Thanks to you, my friends who love their jobs as police officers are wishing they had a different career.
Thank you for saving us taxpayers money, even when it costs us our best officers in the city.
Thank you for giving our protectors the respect they deserve for putting their life on the line each day of work.
Thank you for letting me see how important the public voting system is.
Thank you for tarnishing the image of working as a police officer, which is what I have wanted to do since I was old enough to walk.
"Thank you" is the phrase you would use when the police capture a murderer loose in the city. Sound familiar?
Thank you, Mr. Lawshe, for that fine explanation/apology letter; it was the equivalent of a Dixie Cup¨ of water thrown on a blazing house fire.
Thank you to the Warsaw Police Department, although some people or person may not see it, I applaud you for every effort you put into making this town of Warsaw a safer place.
Thank you to every officer on the Warsaw Police Department for all that you have taught me.
I urge all persons to take a moment and write a thank-you note to the Warsaw police. If they have been of any assistance to you in the past, or just seeing them on the street patrolling your neighborhood, drop them a line and tell them you appreciate their efforts. It would brighten their day, or put a smile on their face, to know we care about them. The public needs to support them when the council won't.
Brian Tack
Warsaw
License Branch Key
Editor, Times-Union:In Dan Spalding's Dec. 31 article titled "Fired Branch Manager Alleges Politics," Barb Eastlund, ex-manager of the Warsaw License Branch, claims that the sheriff's department has held a key to the license branch since 1969, stating "there's been a key out since 1969. It's just something we've always done."
From whom did Eastlund obtain her information that a key to the license branch has been in the possession of the sheriff's department since 1969? The assertion that the sheriff's department has held a key to the license branch as a matter of course since 1969 is simply inaccurate. The sheriff's department held no key to the license branch during my four-year tenure as sheriff from 1975-1978, nor was I informed by my predecessor that one existed at the department when I took office.
John Hammersley
Tuscon, Ariz.
Editor's Note: In addition to information from Mrs. Eastlund, reporters have been told by several past and present police officers that either the sheriff's department or the city police department have had a key to the License Branch for many years due to an occasional need to do an after-hours emergency vehicle registration check, particularly back in those days before computers.
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- Stolen Toy - DARE Thanks - Small Thanks - Real Justice - Elected Officials - Police Supported - License Branch Key
Stolen Toy
Editor, Times-Union:I'm writing this letter hoping that the person or persons who stole my two children's most prized possession will have the guts to return the 1996 Big Foot Power Wheels truck. As a single mother it was very hard for me to buy the one thing my 2- and 5-year-old boys wanted more than anything. The look on their sweet little faces was worth a million dollars when we assembled and tested the truck together. And now some cold-hearted, selfish thief has broken their hearts. What kind of a person would back a truck into someone else's yard, right past a child's bedroom, to steal from that child while he sleeps? It took a lot of guts for you to do something as low. I wonder if you have the guts to explain to these two children why you had to steal from them instead of working to buy things like other people. I also wonder if you have children so that someday when they get their hearts crushed like this, you might remember how ruthless you are. If there are any honest people in Warsaw that know something about this stolen truck would you please contact Warsaw police with the name and address of this person? This would make two great little boys very happy. To the person who stole from my children, if you return the truck undamaged back to the spot from which you took it, I will not press charges against you. If you do not return it willingly, I will press charges and make sure everyone in Warsaw knows who you are. There are two people who can identify your truck, it's just a matter of time until we get your address. I hope you will do the right thing.
Miss Hancock
Warsaw
DARE Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1998, we had our DARE graduation for 60 fifth-grade students at Mentone School. As principal, this was my first graduation at Mentone School. Tony Ciriello, DARE officer, presented the program, and this was one of the most moving, well-orchestrated programs I have witnessed in my 30 years in education.
Students received instruction for one hour each week for one semester. The curriculum deals with ways for children to say no to drugs, alcohol, tobacco and violence. During the past year, I have heard of schools who dropped the DARE program because it was not effective. Actually, the program is very effective. Officer Ciriello has taught the students how to deal with bad situations. He has developed a bond between these students and the police department. Every one of these students will tell you that drugs, alcohol and violence are bad. They accept that message and believe it.
Once students have learned how to deal with peer pressure, it is our responsibility, as parents, to talk with our children about these subjects and let them know how we stand on drugs, alcohol, tobacco and violence. As a parent, I know how difficult it is to make sure our children understand how we feel. Even with parental guidance, students still can succumb to peer pressure, but the chances that our children can make good decisions increase greatly if we can let them know that we care and will support them through some difficult years.
This was Officer Ciriello's last DARE graduation at Mentone School. He will be taking another position within the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office. He taught DARE classes at Mentone School from 1992 to 1998. He will be missed because he is such a good person, but thanks to our sheriff, Mr. Al Rovenstine, the DARE program will continue. Officers have taken the training to take Officer Ciriello's place. I want to publicly thank Officer Ciriello, Sheriff Rovenstine and the other Kosciusko County people who make this program available in our schools. We do appreciate your efforts.
Jack R. Fisher
Mentone
Small Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:Jeff and I would like thank all the people who attended the recent open house at 324 S. Cleveland St. We would like to especially thank those at Warsaw Community Development Corp. for honoring us with a beautiful plate and the wonderful certificate.
Also we want to thank the department for the lovely plant given to us and for their promptness to inspect the house in progress. They were always very friendly and very easy to work with. We thank you very much for your encouragement and patience during the renovation.
Last and not the least, we thank our families for all the hard work and support they lent during the renovation. And our friend for doing a lot of excavating. And several of the men Jeff works with that were willing to help unload materials. Thanks for making our project to be a successful one.
With a sincere thanks!
Jeff and Susie Small and family
Warsaw
Real Justice
Editor, Times-Union:Recently in the News Views of the Times-Union, Gary Gerard raised a very good question.
Kristina Crooks is found guilty of reckless homicide, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and subsequent death, and neglect of a dependent.
And her bond was not increased!
The death of 11-month-old Lois was a tragedy. This innocent child will never have a chance to live her life because of the direct behavior of her mother.
She now faces a maximum sentence of only 20 years in prison which she will not have to serve a full term, gets three meals a day, warm place to sleep, clothing, recreational area, TV, and medical attention when needed, all at the taxpayers expense. I suppose this is justice in the '90s. It's a shame, but the justice system in America has lost sight of real justice that our forefathers had in place. Is this what happens when "our" justice system gets polluted with politics? Or a society that sits back and does not demand more out of our elected officials?
An increase in Kristina Crooks' bond is the least that should have happened, behind bars after the conviction is what should have taken place! Life in prison would have been reasonable.
In some cultures the value of a society is measured by how well they take care of the children and elderly. How do we measure up?
Mike Wood
Warsaw
Elected Officials
Editor, Times-Union:Thank you for your News Views column yesterday, Jan. 17. In response, here is my first ever letter to the editor.
Like you, I am absolutely appalled by the pervasiveness of the scandals of the current crowd in the White House, as well as with the American public accepting it!
You listed for us very clearly the numerous investigations, charges and penalties brought against just the First Family and Cabinet members; one can only imagine all the transgressions committed by the host of other staff members whose only example is of abuse of power and obstruction of justice! Those bureaucrats have made a travesty of the values so many others have died for. Well, I'm sick of it!
My wife and I, like millions of other Americans, are trying to do right and influence those around us, especially our children, to do right. Despite the damage done by those in Washington, we will continue to believe in absolute standards of right and wrong and will try to live by them. I trust that other Americans will also.
This is still a democracy! To you who believe in right and wrong, let's all bombard our elected representatives with demands for accountability and a cleanup in Washington. The Times-Union is good enough to regularly print these officials' addresses.
Let's return to the days when most public officials earn our respect rather than shame!
Rick Van Puffelen
Warsaw
Police Supported
Editor, Times-Union:Thank you, City Council, for deteriorating the morale at the Warsaw Police Department.
Thanks to you, my friends who love their jobs as police officers are wishing they had a different career.
Thank you for saving us taxpayers money, even when it costs us our best officers in the city.
Thank you for giving our protectors the respect they deserve for putting their life on the line each day of work.
Thank you for letting me see how important the public voting system is.
Thank you for tarnishing the image of working as a police officer, which is what I have wanted to do since I was old enough to walk.
"Thank you" is the phrase you would use when the police capture a murderer loose in the city. Sound familiar?
Thank you, Mr. Lawshe, for that fine explanation/apology letter; it was the equivalent of a Dixie Cup¨ of water thrown on a blazing house fire.
Thank you to the Warsaw Police Department, although some people or person may not see it, I applaud you for every effort you put into making this town of Warsaw a safer place.
Thank you to every officer on the Warsaw Police Department for all that you have taught me.
I urge all persons to take a moment and write a thank-you note to the Warsaw police. If they have been of any assistance to you in the past, or just seeing them on the street patrolling your neighborhood, drop them a line and tell them you appreciate their efforts. It would brighten their day, or put a smile on their face, to know we care about them. The public needs to support them when the council won't.
Brian Tack
Warsaw
License Branch Key
Editor, Times-Union:In Dan Spalding's Dec. 31 article titled "Fired Branch Manager Alleges Politics," Barb Eastlund, ex-manager of the Warsaw License Branch, claims that the sheriff's department has held a key to the license branch since 1969, stating "there's been a key out since 1969. It's just something we've always done."
From whom did Eastlund obtain her information that a key to the license branch has been in the possession of the sheriff's department since 1969? The assertion that the sheriff's department has held a key to the license branch as a matter of course since 1969 is simply inaccurate. The sheriff's department held no key to the license branch during my four-year tenure as sheriff from 1975-1978, nor was I informed by my predecessor that one existed at the department when I took office.
John Hammersley
Tuscon, Ariz.
Editor's Note: In addition to information from Mrs. Eastlund, reporters have been told by several past and present police officers that either the sheriff's department or the city police department have had a key to the License Branch for many years due to an occasional need to do an after-hours emergency vehicle registration check, particularly back in those days before computers.
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