Letters to the Editor 02-05-1998
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Stolen Sign - Honesty - Trust Law - Act Of Kindness - Sign Of The Times -
Stolen Sign
Editor, Times-Union:Students at Warsaw Community High School have been pulling pranks for years and will keep doing it for years to come. Harmless pranks are one thing, but when theft, vandalism, trespassing and destruction of property become involved it is a different story.
On Jan. 18, between midnight and 6 a.m., our sign was stolen from B&J Auto Salvage. The sign was a custom-built 1969 Torino. The entire sides of this car were cut off and welded back together, resulting in a 3-foot-wide, full-length model of this car. The sign was stacked 12 feet off the ground.
The sign was recovered later that day at Warsaw High School, and the sign is completely destroyed. Pulling the sign down resulted in serious dents and destruction to the entire sign: fenders, doors, quarter panels, grill and bumper. Original emblems, trim and moldings are destroyed or missing. The vandals also painted the sign; it is now black with flames on the front. "Class of '98" and the number "52" were also painted on the car.
Obviously these are costs that should not have happened in the first place. The estimated damage to the sign is over $10,995. We would also be charged $500 to repaint and letter the sign, and $750 to have the sign put back up. All of this just for some students to have a little fun.
Like I said, it is one thing to play jokes, but not at the expense of others. A few years ago, Cowboy Bob was stolen from the Pancake House, but the students did not chop off his head. Then, an 8-foot chicken was stolen from a Silver Lake restaurant, but it was not painted like a rooster. We need to solve this crime before any more times passes and students slip through the cracks once again in high school. If you know anything at all about this destruction, or have any ideas of who the vandals could be, we would love to have your help. Please contact us at B&J Auto Salvage, 453-4902, or call the Kosciusko County Sheriff at 267-5667.
Thank you in advance for anything you can do to help.
Bud Van Scoik
B&J Auto Salvage
Leesburg
Honesty
Editor, Times-Union:What happened to a person being honest?
I know of welfare fraud going on by a person or persons living in Kosciusko County.
The people are on HUD and collect food stamps. They have been turned in to both, but the system doesn't believe it. These people have been getting away with it for almost a year. When the people were turned in they lied about it. And the system believes them. But yet they lie to both HUD and the welfare system.
Then I also know of a single mother who is always being penalized for being honest to the system. Why is it that someone who is honest gets treated this way by our welfare system?
Why doesn't Mr. Kolbe investigate this problem? People who really need help can't get it, and people who don't get all of it?
The single mother can't even get support from the father, because he left the state to keep from going to jail.
This isn't fair at all. I don't believe that the system can be so blind. It's time for them to wake up and stop the fraud going on in this county.
I believe that Mr. Kolbe needs to look into the people who are lying to the system, and stop the fraud.
I challenge Mr. Kolbe to look into those who are doing this deed. It isn't fair that these people are getting away with this crime. As I said, I challenge Mr. Kolbe to look into this and stop these people who are committing this fraud.
Deb Seymour
Winona Lake
Trust Law
Editor, Times-Union:In Indiana, two classes of citizens exist - one that has an absolute right to petition for a change in its relationship with a banking institution and one that does not.
Under current Indiana law, a class of citizens, one comprising beneficiaries of trusts established before June 30, 1996, are powerless to change the administrator of their trust if the trust's administration changed hands as a result of a change in ownership of their bank. They are forced to deal with the new financial institution regardless of how unhappy they may be with this arrangement. This is the only instance where citizens have no control in the relationship with their financial institution.
This problem was magnified when many Indiana banks were purchased by out-of-state banks that moved administration of trusts away from Indiana. Unfortunately, this has often created for Hoosier families a situation of "long distance" trust administration - a far cry from the service we grew to expect from our corner banks.
Families United for Probate Fairness Inc., a coalition established to advance probate legislation from the standpoint of families and the administration of their trusts, believes the readers of this newspaper should be concerned with this situation.
Families United for Probate Fairness Inc. supports Senate Bill 57, legislation introduced in the Indiana Senate to bring equal treatment to all Hoosiers. We hope that everyone interested in fairness will take the opportunity to contact their state legislators to voice their support of this bill.
A large class of Hoosier citizenry, one that comprises many elderly and disabled individuals, is trapped and can only be helped through the support of the people. Please contact your legislator and voice your support of S.B. 57. Many Hoosier families are counting on you.
Ben Gates, Chairman
Families United for Probate Fairness Inc.
Act Of Kindness
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to take the time to thank a very special person. Yesterday our family dog (Mowgli) was hit by a red pickup truck on Winona Avenue who by the way didn't have courtesy enough to stop. A special lady's kindness made up for that. She took time out from wherever she was going that day to stop and help to see if he was OK. He wasn't. He died instantly. With that fact in mind she saw how upset I was and that I was alone with my children and rushed him to the vet anyway. She gave me a heartfelt hug and cried with us, then left us alone to say our goodbyes. Her name is Laurie Miller. I wouldn't have known that had there not been a sympathy card in my door when we returned.
So thank you, Laurie, for your kindness. My four children have grown up with Mowgli and will miss him but will cherish your thoughtfulness and always find comfort in knowing that there are special people out there like yourself.
Tina, Brittnee, Kierstin,
Brandon and Brooklynn Bullington
Warsaw
Sign Of The Times
Editor, Times-Union:I recently discovered the Times-Union web site on the Internet. As a former Kosciusko County resident (1985-1988), I was delighted. My delight turned to dismay, however, as amidst stories of children recycling, holiday food drives, the city council meetings and community news, I found some disturbing lines of thinking. An elected official openly opposing law enforcement leadership in Warsaw? I don't think so. A topless bar in downtown North Webster? Wouldn't think of it. Alcohol in Winona Lake? You must be out of your mind.
Ten years ago, no one would have even asked these questions. In 1985, I was an idealistic Grace College student. Maybe then I wasn't aware of the political goings-on in the Twin Cities (the college campus tended to insulate us from those things). But the moral constitution of the place just couldn't be missed. The fact that Winona Lake was built around the pursuit of biblical principles and practice was widely recognized by the community. Here are a few of those principles.
1) Those who are in authority are there by Divine appointment, and therefore should be given the honor and preference due them from their associates and their subordinates (Hebrews 13:17).
2) There is an inherent social and moral danger in the diversion of a married man's attention from his wife to another woman (Proverbs 5).
3) There are natural consquences that accompany an unmarried man's pursuit of women for his own gratification (Proverbs 6:24-28).
4) Alcohol is a natural drink that carries with it unnatural social and physical side effects. Any society that incorporates alcohol into its cultures subjects itself to those liabilities (Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:20,29-30).
The principles haven't changed, but it seems the moral fabric has. Winona's reputation demanded that the standard be raised a little higher, not to impose, but to represent the warp and weave of a moral and social fabric made up of specific and unwavering values. Values cherished by many. Values respected by all. No one complained about them. No one questioned them. Partly because Warsaw's proximity to Winona made it an unwitting "victim" of the positive effects that accompany moral absolutes.
In 1987, I was privileged to work as a dispatcher for the North Webster Police Department. In North Webster, you didn't exploit or abuse their women, and you sure didn't touch their kids. To my personal disgrace, many of my personal choices failed to adequately represent the moral integrity of Winona Lake. But my friends and co-workers were good people who without a doubt had high standards for social behavior. They were people with standards. People who could not be moved. People who had conscience. Integrity.
It's been said that all it takes for evil to triumph (or control) is for good men to do nothing. A good man does the right thing, whether it means recycling a can or speaking his conscience when a moral standard is challenged. And he does it regardless of what people think or say, because he knows it's right. Morality based on absolute values (i.e., biblical principles, personal integrity) cannot be legislated, it can only be chosen. I encourage the citizens and leadership of these communities to search their hearts with diligence, not for the politically correct response (tolerance/apathy) to these issues, but to the moral one. Think of how you would (or should) have responded 10 years ago; when your children were younger, your resolve was stronger and your convictions (and quite possibly your consciences) were more clear on the subjects at hand. And do what's right.
Nolan Habegger
Houston, Texas
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- Stolen Sign - Honesty - Trust Law - Act Of Kindness - Sign Of The Times -
Stolen Sign
Editor, Times-Union:Students at Warsaw Community High School have been pulling pranks for years and will keep doing it for years to come. Harmless pranks are one thing, but when theft, vandalism, trespassing and destruction of property become involved it is a different story.
On Jan. 18, between midnight and 6 a.m., our sign was stolen from B&J Auto Salvage. The sign was a custom-built 1969 Torino. The entire sides of this car were cut off and welded back together, resulting in a 3-foot-wide, full-length model of this car. The sign was stacked 12 feet off the ground.
The sign was recovered later that day at Warsaw High School, and the sign is completely destroyed. Pulling the sign down resulted in serious dents and destruction to the entire sign: fenders, doors, quarter panels, grill and bumper. Original emblems, trim and moldings are destroyed or missing. The vandals also painted the sign; it is now black with flames on the front. "Class of '98" and the number "52" were also painted on the car.
Obviously these are costs that should not have happened in the first place. The estimated damage to the sign is over $10,995. We would also be charged $500 to repaint and letter the sign, and $750 to have the sign put back up. All of this just for some students to have a little fun.
Like I said, it is one thing to play jokes, but not at the expense of others. A few years ago, Cowboy Bob was stolen from the Pancake House, but the students did not chop off his head. Then, an 8-foot chicken was stolen from a Silver Lake restaurant, but it was not painted like a rooster. We need to solve this crime before any more times passes and students slip through the cracks once again in high school. If you know anything at all about this destruction, or have any ideas of who the vandals could be, we would love to have your help. Please contact us at B&J Auto Salvage, 453-4902, or call the Kosciusko County Sheriff at 267-5667.
Thank you in advance for anything you can do to help.
Bud Van Scoik
B&J Auto Salvage
Leesburg
Honesty
Editor, Times-Union:What happened to a person being honest?
I know of welfare fraud going on by a person or persons living in Kosciusko County.
The people are on HUD and collect food stamps. They have been turned in to both, but the system doesn't believe it. These people have been getting away with it for almost a year. When the people were turned in they lied about it. And the system believes them. But yet they lie to both HUD and the welfare system.
Then I also know of a single mother who is always being penalized for being honest to the system. Why is it that someone who is honest gets treated this way by our welfare system?
Why doesn't Mr. Kolbe investigate this problem? People who really need help can't get it, and people who don't get all of it?
The single mother can't even get support from the father, because he left the state to keep from going to jail.
This isn't fair at all. I don't believe that the system can be so blind. It's time for them to wake up and stop the fraud going on in this county.
I believe that Mr. Kolbe needs to look into the people who are lying to the system, and stop the fraud.
I challenge Mr. Kolbe to look into those who are doing this deed. It isn't fair that these people are getting away with this crime. As I said, I challenge Mr. Kolbe to look into this and stop these people who are committing this fraud.
Deb Seymour
Winona Lake
Trust Law
Editor, Times-Union:In Indiana, two classes of citizens exist - one that has an absolute right to petition for a change in its relationship with a banking institution and one that does not.
Under current Indiana law, a class of citizens, one comprising beneficiaries of trusts established before June 30, 1996, are powerless to change the administrator of their trust if the trust's administration changed hands as a result of a change in ownership of their bank. They are forced to deal with the new financial institution regardless of how unhappy they may be with this arrangement. This is the only instance where citizens have no control in the relationship with their financial institution.
This problem was magnified when many Indiana banks were purchased by out-of-state banks that moved administration of trusts away from Indiana. Unfortunately, this has often created for Hoosier families a situation of "long distance" trust administration - a far cry from the service we grew to expect from our corner banks.
Families United for Probate Fairness Inc., a coalition established to advance probate legislation from the standpoint of families and the administration of their trusts, believes the readers of this newspaper should be concerned with this situation.
Families United for Probate Fairness Inc. supports Senate Bill 57, legislation introduced in the Indiana Senate to bring equal treatment to all Hoosiers. We hope that everyone interested in fairness will take the opportunity to contact their state legislators to voice their support of this bill.
A large class of Hoosier citizenry, one that comprises many elderly and disabled individuals, is trapped and can only be helped through the support of the people. Please contact your legislator and voice your support of S.B. 57. Many Hoosier families are counting on you.
Ben Gates, Chairman
Families United for Probate Fairness Inc.
Act Of Kindness
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to take the time to thank a very special person. Yesterday our family dog (Mowgli) was hit by a red pickup truck on Winona Avenue who by the way didn't have courtesy enough to stop. A special lady's kindness made up for that. She took time out from wherever she was going that day to stop and help to see if he was OK. He wasn't. He died instantly. With that fact in mind she saw how upset I was and that I was alone with my children and rushed him to the vet anyway. She gave me a heartfelt hug and cried with us, then left us alone to say our goodbyes. Her name is Laurie Miller. I wouldn't have known that had there not been a sympathy card in my door when we returned.
So thank you, Laurie, for your kindness. My four children have grown up with Mowgli and will miss him but will cherish your thoughtfulness and always find comfort in knowing that there are special people out there like yourself.
Tina, Brittnee, Kierstin,
Brandon and Brooklynn Bullington
Warsaw
Sign Of The Times
Editor, Times-Union:I recently discovered the Times-Union web site on the Internet. As a former Kosciusko County resident (1985-1988), I was delighted. My delight turned to dismay, however, as amidst stories of children recycling, holiday food drives, the city council meetings and community news, I found some disturbing lines of thinking. An elected official openly opposing law enforcement leadership in Warsaw? I don't think so. A topless bar in downtown North Webster? Wouldn't think of it. Alcohol in Winona Lake? You must be out of your mind.
Ten years ago, no one would have even asked these questions. In 1985, I was an idealistic Grace College student. Maybe then I wasn't aware of the political goings-on in the Twin Cities (the college campus tended to insulate us from those things). But the moral constitution of the place just couldn't be missed. The fact that Winona Lake was built around the pursuit of biblical principles and practice was widely recognized by the community. Here are a few of those principles.
1) Those who are in authority are there by Divine appointment, and therefore should be given the honor and preference due them from their associates and their subordinates (Hebrews 13:17).
2) There is an inherent social and moral danger in the diversion of a married man's attention from his wife to another woman (Proverbs 5).
3) There are natural consquences that accompany an unmarried man's pursuit of women for his own gratification (Proverbs 6:24-28).
4) Alcohol is a natural drink that carries with it unnatural social and physical side effects. Any society that incorporates alcohol into its cultures subjects itself to those liabilities (Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:20,29-30).
The principles haven't changed, but it seems the moral fabric has. Winona's reputation demanded that the standard be raised a little higher, not to impose, but to represent the warp and weave of a moral and social fabric made up of specific and unwavering values. Values cherished by many. Values respected by all. No one complained about them. No one questioned them. Partly because Warsaw's proximity to Winona made it an unwitting "victim" of the positive effects that accompany moral absolutes.
In 1987, I was privileged to work as a dispatcher for the North Webster Police Department. In North Webster, you didn't exploit or abuse their women, and you sure didn't touch their kids. To my personal disgrace, many of my personal choices failed to adequately represent the moral integrity of Winona Lake. But my friends and co-workers were good people who without a doubt had high standards for social behavior. They were people with standards. People who could not be moved. People who had conscience. Integrity.
It's been said that all it takes for evil to triumph (or control) is for good men to do nothing. A good man does the right thing, whether it means recycling a can or speaking his conscience when a moral standard is challenged. And he does it regardless of what people think or say, because he knows it's right. Morality based on absolute values (i.e., biblical principles, personal integrity) cannot be legislated, it can only be chosen. I encourage the citizens and leadership of these communities to search their hearts with diligence, not for the politically correct response (tolerance/apathy) to these issues, but to the moral one. Think of how you would (or should) have responded 10 years ago; when your children were younger, your resolve was stronger and your convictions (and quite possibly your consciences) were more clear on the subjects at hand. And do what's right.
Nolan Habegger
Houston, Texas
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