Letters to the Editor 02-03-2004
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Government Spending - Lack Of Justice - Globetrotters - Rugby Club - Snow Removal - AWL Support Appreciated
Government Spending
Editor, Times-Union:I would like for someone to explain something to me if anyone can. I only have some college education and my husband and I own our own business so I guess I'm ignorant when it comes to the subject of government spending.
President Bush and Congress passed and sent $84 billion to Iraq to "rebuild" themselves. Every night on MSNBC I watch them blowing up buildings, civilians and of course themselves. So what exactly are we rebuilding?
For a year now we have heard about Warsaw closing down schools because of the "budget," which I frankly don't buy but I'm not in that school system. But it is funny to me that you have $64 billion dollars to build new schools with. I said, I was ignorant on government spending.
My son goes to Manchester Elementary - it's a great school and a great community to live in, but our schools are having to cut programs and employees because of the lack of funds needed to run a school system. You see the same scenario all over the United States. Schools begging for more money, and President Bush's promising "No Student Left Behind." He's going to need these future leaders to be smart enough to continue what he has started over in Iraq because they don't seem to be embracing freedom.
So why wasn't that $84 billion given back to our schools? Then we wouldn't have to have book fairs to fill our libraries, and we wouldn't have to save box tops and soup labels, so that the General Mills and Campbell's companies can give our school much needed money for supplies.
Here's a thought to end with - the Democratic candidates are getting millions of dollars to go around for a year spouting off their mouths, making promises they'll never keep, trashing each other's reputations, blah, blah, blah. President Bush will get the same millions of dollars to run his campaign. What would make me vote for someone is if one of the candidates gave all his money to, say, 10 schools who desperately needed it and did some good. I'd be right on his bandwagon. They would get all the free air time they needed from talk show, newscast and tabloid. People would be paying them to talk instead of them paying the networks to talk.
I think government has lost touch with what is happening in its own back yard. Plus, who cares what's on Mars and the moon? We need money for your children's future.
Patricia Shoemaker
North Manchester
Lack Of Justice
Editor, Times-Union:I remember hearing the saying, "Never judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes." Well, on June 28, 2002, my daughter-in-law, Lisa Schmucker, and my granddaughter, Davanna, 3-1/2 years old at the time, were injured in a car accident (rear-ended), and then air-lifted to Parkview Hospital, where they underwent multiple surgeries. Davanna had serous facial injuries and a skull fracture, and nine days later, July 7, we lost Lisa.
I have walked and cried and wondered, "How could a person tested positive to have been under the influence of a controlled substance, and driving with a suspended license at that time, get off with nothing? Just because of the state law changes. Not fair!"
We were told by the prosecuting attorney that "she had minimum amount of marijuana in her system, and that driving with a suspended license was a small infraction." I thought, "Any amount of drugs in the system or carried was illegal. Plus, driving with a suspended driver's license was against the law." But yet, nothing happened to this lady. Why? If that would have been us, we would have been booked and jailed at the time of the accident.
We are still grieving Lisa's death, and will for some time. Life isn't fair, but who said it was? There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of Lisa. I look at her picture and sob. What a loss! She had her whole life ahead of her, but one person took her from us.
Lisa will never see Davanna's first day of school, her 16th birthday, her first dance, her wedding day or Davanna's firstborn child. Chancy lost his love of his life, companion, best friend, mother of his child and his wife.
Davanna will never be able to have her mom hold her, hug her, kiss her good-night, tuck her in bed or say and hear those words, "I love ya." I can't remember how many times I put Davanna down to bed, and she would cry and say, "I miss my Mommy." All I could say was, "I know, sweetie, I miss your mommy too. But Mommy is in heaven now and she is still watching over you." My heart would break! Every child needs a mommy!
So much was taken from us, especially from Chancy and Davanna.
This lady showed no remorse in the courtroom for Lisa's death - not even a card or letter stating how sorry she was. I hope this lady thinks every day for the rest of her life of what she took from us. I hope she's going through a living hell like we have been.
Most people get closure when justice is served, but not us, since justice wasn't served.
So please be aware that there are people tested positive for a controlled substance and causing a child to lose her mother, a young man his wife, and parents their daughter, and still are driving our streets and highways. Your loved one could be next!
Diana Schmucker and Family
North Webster
Globetrotters
Editor, Times-Union:Regarding Globetrotters:
Amazing - we were able to see the Globetrotters in Warsaw! At home, not a two- to three-hour drive! What a delight! The entertainment was fantastic - they knew just exactly what kids to pick from the audience for the best game players! What a thrill! The acrobatic troupe was very talented!
The scout leaders help to raise our children with honesty and character and good values. Cub Scout motto: Do your best! Boy Scout motto: Be prepared!
I believe these mottos were both met! We had a hard time of just finding a seat, but actually were helped into the stands by a scout leader. The same leader tried to get children to wait while the teams were using the basket at our end, so they wouldn't get hurt by a ball or a man. (Globetrotters don't always stay on the court - part of the fun!) Some children would not mind and were in more danger than anyone else in that gym.
Would the Tiger Den have cost more money, increasing the cost of the tickets? Maybe the disgruntled people should volunteer their time to help these groups, who are trying to do the best for the community, set up and follow the rules, fire codes, etc.!
We as a family from Warsaw appreciate the scouts and the fire chief's article and all the other helpers who gave us the opportunity to see such a fabulous team play on a home court.
Thelma Walton
Pierceton
Rugby Club
Editor, Times-Union:The Warsaw Area Rugby Football Club is preparing to begin its second season of boys' and girls' high school rugby. In preparation for the upcoming season, we are inviting male and female athletes from any of the local high schools and their parents to attend an Introduction to Rugby night, Wednesday, in the Jefferson Elementary School gymnasium at 6:30 p.m. We will be showing a short video introducing the coaching staff, and having some live demonstrations.
We also would like to thank those who helped sponsor our first season: DePuy, Zimmer, Lakeside Chevrolet, Frontline Manufacturing, Lake City Animal Clinic, APLE TRanslations, CDs Plus/Kandy Korner, Nappanee Auto Sales, Powell's Auto Sales, Flagpole Drive-in, Jones Food Center, C and M Body Shop, Brown's Resort, Male Fashions, Dr. Dan Allen, law offices of Byron Berry, Kolbe Law Offices, W. Douglas Lemon, attorney at law and Reneker's Sports shop - and encourage anyone interested in helping sponsor this year's teams to attend next week's meeting.
Mark E. Caruso
Warsaw
Snow Removal
Editor, Times-Union:I heard on the radio about a week ago that we were going to get a lot of snow, so I got out and ran my errands to the grocery store, etc. Then it started to snow. My driveway filled up with snow. I usually shovel the snow myself, but it was too deep so I hired someone to do it for me in case I would have to get out again. I stayed in for three days working on my taxes, etc., and it was still snowing. I looked out Friday evening and someone had come in and cleaned my driveway of all snow. I'm sure they had a truck with a blade on it.
I want to thank this nice person for doing this for me, whoever you are.
Kathern Wolford
Warsaw
AWL Support Appreciated
Editor, Times-Union:We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to those of you who have taken the time to show your support for the AWL and its employees. Too often this is a thankless job, and it means the world to those of us involved to hear that our work has not gone unnoticed, and that we have had a positive impact in the lives of people in our community.
We are so fortunate to have a staff of caring and qualified employees, people who are willing to sacrifice their holidays and weekends, often working seven days a week to care for these animals. We can't begin to thank our volunteers who are willing to work alongside of us to give these animals the individual attention they deserve, often even opening their homes to foster animals until we are able to find them permanent homes. We are ecstatic when responsible pet owners adopt our animals and make them a part of their family. We are fortunate to have established working relationships with city and county government, who work with us to provide funding for our facility. And for those of you who donate money to help us work toward a new facility, where we can provide optimal care for our animals. How can we thank you enough?
We currently have nine board positions open in our upcoming election, and are very excited to have area business leaders willing to accept nominations. Our elections will be held on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Warsaw Community Public Library. This meeting is open to the public. Please join us!
For those of you who look poorly on our organization, please remember that we are not the enemy. We are the ones on the front line fighting for improved animal care, educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering and facing the daily heartbreak when people continue, despite our best efforts, to be irresponsible with the lives of their pets.
We can only make a difference with your help. So, before anyone casts stones in our direction, please remember: Our employees are not here for financial gain (they could make much more doing much less elsewhere); and they are certainly not here for prestige (as they work daily in scrubs, and face both the heartache of euthanasia and the criticism of those who don't understand). They do what they do because they just can't turn their backs on these animals. They have decided to become advocates, speaking for these forgotten animals who do not have a voice of their own.
Miranda VanDoren, shelter director
Tracy Truex, board of directors
Frank Scalet, board president
Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County
Pierceton
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
- Government Spending - Lack Of Justice - Globetrotters - Rugby Club - Snow Removal - AWL Support Appreciated
Government Spending
Editor, Times-Union:I would like for someone to explain something to me if anyone can. I only have some college education and my husband and I own our own business so I guess I'm ignorant when it comes to the subject of government spending.
President Bush and Congress passed and sent $84 billion to Iraq to "rebuild" themselves. Every night on MSNBC I watch them blowing up buildings, civilians and of course themselves. So what exactly are we rebuilding?
For a year now we have heard about Warsaw closing down schools because of the "budget," which I frankly don't buy but I'm not in that school system. But it is funny to me that you have $64 billion dollars to build new schools with. I said, I was ignorant on government spending.
My son goes to Manchester Elementary - it's a great school and a great community to live in, but our schools are having to cut programs and employees because of the lack of funds needed to run a school system. You see the same scenario all over the United States. Schools begging for more money, and President Bush's promising "No Student Left Behind." He's going to need these future leaders to be smart enough to continue what he has started over in Iraq because they don't seem to be embracing freedom.
So why wasn't that $84 billion given back to our schools? Then we wouldn't have to have book fairs to fill our libraries, and we wouldn't have to save box tops and soup labels, so that the General Mills and Campbell's companies can give our school much needed money for supplies.
Here's a thought to end with - the Democratic candidates are getting millions of dollars to go around for a year spouting off their mouths, making promises they'll never keep, trashing each other's reputations, blah, blah, blah. President Bush will get the same millions of dollars to run his campaign. What would make me vote for someone is if one of the candidates gave all his money to, say, 10 schools who desperately needed it and did some good. I'd be right on his bandwagon. They would get all the free air time they needed from talk show, newscast and tabloid. People would be paying them to talk instead of them paying the networks to talk.
I think government has lost touch with what is happening in its own back yard. Plus, who cares what's on Mars and the moon? We need money for your children's future.
Patricia Shoemaker
North Manchester
Lack Of Justice
Editor, Times-Union:I remember hearing the saying, "Never judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes." Well, on June 28, 2002, my daughter-in-law, Lisa Schmucker, and my granddaughter, Davanna, 3-1/2 years old at the time, were injured in a car accident (rear-ended), and then air-lifted to Parkview Hospital, where they underwent multiple surgeries. Davanna had serous facial injuries and a skull fracture, and nine days later, July 7, we lost Lisa.
I have walked and cried and wondered, "How could a person tested positive to have been under the influence of a controlled substance, and driving with a suspended license at that time, get off with nothing? Just because of the state law changes. Not fair!"
We were told by the prosecuting attorney that "she had minimum amount of marijuana in her system, and that driving with a suspended license was a small infraction." I thought, "Any amount of drugs in the system or carried was illegal. Plus, driving with a suspended driver's license was against the law." But yet, nothing happened to this lady. Why? If that would have been us, we would have been booked and jailed at the time of the accident.
We are still grieving Lisa's death, and will for some time. Life isn't fair, but who said it was? There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of Lisa. I look at her picture and sob. What a loss! She had her whole life ahead of her, but one person took her from us.
Lisa will never see Davanna's first day of school, her 16th birthday, her first dance, her wedding day or Davanna's firstborn child. Chancy lost his love of his life, companion, best friend, mother of his child and his wife.
Davanna will never be able to have her mom hold her, hug her, kiss her good-night, tuck her in bed or say and hear those words, "I love ya." I can't remember how many times I put Davanna down to bed, and she would cry and say, "I miss my Mommy." All I could say was, "I know, sweetie, I miss your mommy too. But Mommy is in heaven now and she is still watching over you." My heart would break! Every child needs a mommy!
So much was taken from us, especially from Chancy and Davanna.
This lady showed no remorse in the courtroom for Lisa's death - not even a card or letter stating how sorry she was. I hope this lady thinks every day for the rest of her life of what she took from us. I hope she's going through a living hell like we have been.
Most people get closure when justice is served, but not us, since justice wasn't served.
So please be aware that there are people tested positive for a controlled substance and causing a child to lose her mother, a young man his wife, and parents their daughter, and still are driving our streets and highways. Your loved one could be next!
Diana Schmucker and Family
North Webster
Globetrotters
Editor, Times-Union:Regarding Globetrotters:
Amazing - we were able to see the Globetrotters in Warsaw! At home, not a two- to three-hour drive! What a delight! The entertainment was fantastic - they knew just exactly what kids to pick from the audience for the best game players! What a thrill! The acrobatic troupe was very talented!
The scout leaders help to raise our children with honesty and character and good values. Cub Scout motto: Do your best! Boy Scout motto: Be prepared!
I believe these mottos were both met! We had a hard time of just finding a seat, but actually were helped into the stands by a scout leader. The same leader tried to get children to wait while the teams were using the basket at our end, so they wouldn't get hurt by a ball or a man. (Globetrotters don't always stay on the court - part of the fun!) Some children would not mind and were in more danger than anyone else in that gym.
Would the Tiger Den have cost more money, increasing the cost of the tickets? Maybe the disgruntled people should volunteer their time to help these groups, who are trying to do the best for the community, set up and follow the rules, fire codes, etc.!
We as a family from Warsaw appreciate the scouts and the fire chief's article and all the other helpers who gave us the opportunity to see such a fabulous team play on a home court.
Thelma Walton
Pierceton
Rugby Club
Editor, Times-Union:The Warsaw Area Rugby Football Club is preparing to begin its second season of boys' and girls' high school rugby. In preparation for the upcoming season, we are inviting male and female athletes from any of the local high schools and their parents to attend an Introduction to Rugby night, Wednesday, in the Jefferson Elementary School gymnasium at 6:30 p.m. We will be showing a short video introducing the coaching staff, and having some live demonstrations.
We also would like to thank those who helped sponsor our first season: DePuy, Zimmer, Lakeside Chevrolet, Frontline Manufacturing, Lake City Animal Clinic, APLE TRanslations, CDs Plus/Kandy Korner, Nappanee Auto Sales, Powell's Auto Sales, Flagpole Drive-in, Jones Food Center, C and M Body Shop, Brown's Resort, Male Fashions, Dr. Dan Allen, law offices of Byron Berry, Kolbe Law Offices, W. Douglas Lemon, attorney at law and Reneker's Sports shop - and encourage anyone interested in helping sponsor this year's teams to attend next week's meeting.
Mark E. Caruso
Warsaw
Snow Removal
Editor, Times-Union:I heard on the radio about a week ago that we were going to get a lot of snow, so I got out and ran my errands to the grocery store, etc. Then it started to snow. My driveway filled up with snow. I usually shovel the snow myself, but it was too deep so I hired someone to do it for me in case I would have to get out again. I stayed in for three days working on my taxes, etc., and it was still snowing. I looked out Friday evening and someone had come in and cleaned my driveway of all snow. I'm sure they had a truck with a blade on it.
I want to thank this nice person for doing this for me, whoever you are.
Kathern Wolford
Warsaw
AWL Support Appreciated
Editor, Times-Union:We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to those of you who have taken the time to show your support for the AWL and its employees. Too often this is a thankless job, and it means the world to those of us involved to hear that our work has not gone unnoticed, and that we have had a positive impact in the lives of people in our community.
We are so fortunate to have a staff of caring and qualified employees, people who are willing to sacrifice their holidays and weekends, often working seven days a week to care for these animals. We can't begin to thank our volunteers who are willing to work alongside of us to give these animals the individual attention they deserve, often even opening their homes to foster animals until we are able to find them permanent homes. We are ecstatic when responsible pet owners adopt our animals and make them a part of their family. We are fortunate to have established working relationships with city and county government, who work with us to provide funding for our facility. And for those of you who donate money to help us work toward a new facility, where we can provide optimal care for our animals. How can we thank you enough?
We currently have nine board positions open in our upcoming election, and are very excited to have area business leaders willing to accept nominations. Our elections will be held on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Warsaw Community Public Library. This meeting is open to the public. Please join us!
For those of you who look poorly on our organization, please remember that we are not the enemy. We are the ones on the front line fighting for improved animal care, educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering and facing the daily heartbreak when people continue, despite our best efforts, to be irresponsible with the lives of their pets.
We can only make a difference with your help. So, before anyone casts stones in our direction, please remember: Our employees are not here for financial gain (they could make much more doing much less elsewhere); and they are certainly not here for prestige (as they work daily in scrubs, and face both the heartache of euthanasia and the criticism of those who don't understand). They do what they do because they just can't turn their backs on these animals. They have decided to become advocates, speaking for these forgotten animals who do not have a voice of their own.
Miranda VanDoren, shelter director
Tracy Truex, board of directors
Frank Scalet, board president
Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County
Pierceton
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092