Letters to the Editor 01-31-2005
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Likes Winona Lake - Iraq Involvement - War On Drugs - Justice - Great Game
Likes Winona Lake
Editor, Times-Union:My family moved to Winona Lake about a year and a half ago. I catch myself thinking almost every day, "Could this place be any more wonderful?" We live on a quiet street shaded by tall trees and blessed with fresh lake breezes and wonderful neighbors. In the winters, the snow turns Winona into a wonderland; families come to the hillside with warmly bundled children to sled, and snowmen come to life in the park. Neighbors, outside shoveling the walk, smile and wave as you drive by. At dusk, the lights from the village spill pools of warmth into the snow, and if you're really cold, some of the best hot soup around is at the Boathouse Restaurant, where familiar faces, gracious service and a toasty atmosphere make visits a treat. And afterward, you can buy chocolates and a hand-dipped candle at Winona Mercantile, paint a coffee mug at the Pottery Bayou and pick up a treasure or two in one of the many extraordinary shops. Sometimes you will find children skating on the canal ... or folks caroling at Christmastime. Winona winters are magical.
And when summer arrives, and everything is green again, children ride their bicycles down the streets and sidewalks, and neighbors, now mowing the yard or weeding the flower bed, stop and wave as you drive by. You hear the hum of the boats, and colorful sailboats wing their way across the lake, especially during the regattas.
Winona summers mean many picturesque weddings on the hillside, and live music under the gazebo at the village. You can meander through the park, linger under the weeping willow tree by the pond, or sit in an Adirondack chair and soak in the peacefulness.
Events like the Art Festival and the MasterWorks concerts bring culture and world-class entertainment with no admission costs. I attended the concerts religiously last summer, and as anyone who was present can attest, the brilliance of the musicians and directors and the beauty of the music moved and stirred the spirit.
And of course I could go on and on about all the things I love about Winona. The sight of the fine horse and carriage on Park Avenue, the vintage baseball games and the small crowd of loyal fans that are always there to cheer on the Blue Laws, and of course, the irreplaceable feeling of community and "small-town America." I cannot say enough about the great people that live here and the outstanding work that certain individuals have done to make Winona shine again. Thank you so much.
I hope this serves as a simple reminder to everyone who enjoys or lives in Winona Lake - we have so much to be thankful for. It saddens me when people (and this includes myself sometimes) are so focused on petty complaints that they lose sight of the vast number of blessings they enjoy.
This is truly a splendid place, and I count it a privilege to be part of this community.
Rebecca Miller
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Iraq Involvement
Editor, Times-Union:I believe that at times we all feel as if we are not heard, or would like to be more involved in what is happening with the war in Iraq. Letting our military people and their families know on a weekly basis that we are proud of them and we will be supporting them in every way possible. There are many different organizations with programs to send various items needed by our troops. There are support groups for their families, too. You are probably helping out at one of these places. Why don't we let everyone know how much we care and are involved? Can you imagine such a beautiful sight, if each of us wear something red on each and every Friday until this war is over? There are several of the American Legion posts already doing this in their communities, some people at their jobs, at home and on the go. It would be great to keep the spirit going with a weekly reminder, worn in red! Whether you are young or old your voice will be heard. So let everyone know how you feel about this situation. You could even get your pet involved! Please join in and wear something red on Fridays.
Rebecca Conkling
Auxiliary Americanism Chairperson
American Legion Post 253
North Webster
War On Drugs
Editor, Times-Union:Wow! The war against drugs is still alive and well it seems, despite the repeated failures of this costly program since its illustrious beginning in the early 1980s.
I am referring to the recent article regarding an arrest of a local Warsaw citizen for a drug offense. I understand that the community is battling a dangerous metamphetamine crisis and that drug related crimes and offenses are only increasing, but is there not some limit to the costs and efforts involved?
This bust involved a confidential informant and the local drug task force using high technology to corner and collar this one individual.This 27-year-old individual faces being sent to prison for an ungodly length of 20 years? For this nonviolent crime involving the sale of two pills worth $90? Is it safe to assume this person will be offered the opportunity to inform against the seller that sold to him - and possibly locate and prosecute the initial source of this huge two-pill cache?
At what cost was this dangerous menace to society removed from the streets of Warsaw?
Sarah Lowe
Chelmsford, Mass.
(former resident of Warsaw)
via e-mail
Justice
Editor, Times-Union:This is justice? In Wabash County, a portion of my tax money is used for what we jokingly call "police protection." We in Liberty Mills usually do not bother to call the sheriff's deptartment when something is stolen, because it is a waste of time. When my guns were stolen, I had to call the serial numbers in to ATF myself, the deputy apparently did not feel it was important, even though it is impossible to prove a gun is stolen without these numbers. I have made 26 theft reports to the Wabash County Sheriff's Department. Yet when I asked the department for copies of these reports, lo and behold,t hey only had 10! Apparently most of the time,the officers only pretend to take a report. I came home at 3 a.m. last July 6 to find a very intoxicated man in my home. When he finally left, I discovered that someone had been in my office and had stolen all my money. Even though I called the sheriff's office and made a report,t old them who the man was and where he lived, no real report was taken, the man was never even questioned!
And when I needed an attorney, Judge Sposeep refused to appoint one for me, he said I can afford one on my own ,even though I am a disabled single parent on public assistance. The Miranda rights state, "If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you." Most attorneys make more in one hour than I make in a week, and I have four children to support. We have all heard the saying, "It is no crime to be poor."... Obviously that is not true in Wabash County
Don Magnus
North Manchester
via e-mail
Great Game
Editor, Times-Union:Wow! What a game Friday evening between Warsaw and NorthWood. Congrats to "our Tigers." Also I wish to congratulate the young ladies who gave a beautiful rendition of our national anthem , you were great.
Beecher Wiggins
WHS Class of 43
Warsaw
via e-mail
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- Likes Winona Lake - Iraq Involvement - War On Drugs - Justice - Great Game
Likes Winona Lake
Editor, Times-Union:My family moved to Winona Lake about a year and a half ago. I catch myself thinking almost every day, "Could this place be any more wonderful?" We live on a quiet street shaded by tall trees and blessed with fresh lake breezes and wonderful neighbors. In the winters, the snow turns Winona into a wonderland; families come to the hillside with warmly bundled children to sled, and snowmen come to life in the park. Neighbors, outside shoveling the walk, smile and wave as you drive by. At dusk, the lights from the village spill pools of warmth into the snow, and if you're really cold, some of the best hot soup around is at the Boathouse Restaurant, where familiar faces, gracious service and a toasty atmosphere make visits a treat. And afterward, you can buy chocolates and a hand-dipped candle at Winona Mercantile, paint a coffee mug at the Pottery Bayou and pick up a treasure or two in one of the many extraordinary shops. Sometimes you will find children skating on the canal ... or folks caroling at Christmastime. Winona winters are magical.
And when summer arrives, and everything is green again, children ride their bicycles down the streets and sidewalks, and neighbors, now mowing the yard or weeding the flower bed, stop and wave as you drive by. You hear the hum of the boats, and colorful sailboats wing their way across the lake, especially during the regattas.
Winona summers mean many picturesque weddings on the hillside, and live music under the gazebo at the village. You can meander through the park, linger under the weeping willow tree by the pond, or sit in an Adirondack chair and soak in the peacefulness.
Events like the Art Festival and the MasterWorks concerts bring culture and world-class entertainment with no admission costs. I attended the concerts religiously last summer, and as anyone who was present can attest, the brilliance of the musicians and directors and the beauty of the music moved and stirred the spirit.
And of course I could go on and on about all the things I love about Winona. The sight of the fine horse and carriage on Park Avenue, the vintage baseball games and the small crowd of loyal fans that are always there to cheer on the Blue Laws, and of course, the irreplaceable feeling of community and "small-town America." I cannot say enough about the great people that live here and the outstanding work that certain individuals have done to make Winona shine again. Thank you so much.
I hope this serves as a simple reminder to everyone who enjoys or lives in Winona Lake - we have so much to be thankful for. It saddens me when people (and this includes myself sometimes) are so focused on petty complaints that they lose sight of the vast number of blessings they enjoy.
This is truly a splendid place, and I count it a privilege to be part of this community.
Rebecca Miller
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Iraq Involvement
Editor, Times-Union:I believe that at times we all feel as if we are not heard, or would like to be more involved in what is happening with the war in Iraq. Letting our military people and their families know on a weekly basis that we are proud of them and we will be supporting them in every way possible. There are many different organizations with programs to send various items needed by our troops. There are support groups for their families, too. You are probably helping out at one of these places. Why don't we let everyone know how much we care and are involved? Can you imagine such a beautiful sight, if each of us wear something red on each and every Friday until this war is over? There are several of the American Legion posts already doing this in their communities, some people at their jobs, at home and on the go. It would be great to keep the spirit going with a weekly reminder, worn in red! Whether you are young or old your voice will be heard. So let everyone know how you feel about this situation. You could even get your pet involved! Please join in and wear something red on Fridays.
Rebecca Conkling
Auxiliary Americanism Chairperson
American Legion Post 253
North Webster
War On Drugs
Editor, Times-Union:Wow! The war against drugs is still alive and well it seems, despite the repeated failures of this costly program since its illustrious beginning in the early 1980s.
I am referring to the recent article regarding an arrest of a local Warsaw citizen for a drug offense. I understand that the community is battling a dangerous metamphetamine crisis and that drug related crimes and offenses are only increasing, but is there not some limit to the costs and efforts involved?
This bust involved a confidential informant and the local drug task force using high technology to corner and collar this one individual.This 27-year-old individual faces being sent to prison for an ungodly length of 20 years? For this nonviolent crime involving the sale of two pills worth $90? Is it safe to assume this person will be offered the opportunity to inform against the seller that sold to him - and possibly locate and prosecute the initial source of this huge two-pill cache?
At what cost was this dangerous menace to society removed from the streets of Warsaw?
Sarah Lowe
Chelmsford, Mass.
(former resident of Warsaw)
via e-mail
Justice
Editor, Times-Union:This is justice? In Wabash County, a portion of my tax money is used for what we jokingly call "police protection." We in Liberty Mills usually do not bother to call the sheriff's deptartment when something is stolen, because it is a waste of time. When my guns were stolen, I had to call the serial numbers in to ATF myself, the deputy apparently did not feel it was important, even though it is impossible to prove a gun is stolen without these numbers. I have made 26 theft reports to the Wabash County Sheriff's Department. Yet when I asked the department for copies of these reports, lo and behold,t hey only had 10! Apparently most of the time,the officers only pretend to take a report. I came home at 3 a.m. last July 6 to find a very intoxicated man in my home. When he finally left, I discovered that someone had been in my office and had stolen all my money. Even though I called the sheriff's office and made a report,t old them who the man was and where he lived, no real report was taken, the man was never even questioned!
And when I needed an attorney, Judge Sposeep refused to appoint one for me, he said I can afford one on my own ,even though I am a disabled single parent on public assistance. The Miranda rights state, "If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you." Most attorneys make more in one hour than I make in a week, and I have four children to support. We have all heard the saying, "It is no crime to be poor."... Obviously that is not true in Wabash County
Don Magnus
North Manchester
via e-mail
Great Game
Editor, Times-Union:Wow! What a game Friday evening between Warsaw and NorthWood. Congrats to "our Tigers." Also I wish to congratulate the young ladies who gave a beautiful rendition of our national anthem , you were great.
Beecher Wiggins
WHS Class of 43
Warsaw
via e-mail
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