Letters to the Editor 02-13-2001
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Red Light Running - Buyer Beware - Ivy Tech Problem - Supports H.B. 1815 - Meijer Detractor - Thanks To Trustee - Gerard And Stalin
Red Light Running
Editor, Times-Union:I am thankful that Mr. Smith avoided the accident he recounts in his letter. Red light running is indeed a socially accepted disease. National surveys find that with traditional enforcement fewer than 6 percent of the drivers who ADMIT to running red lights have ever faced legal consequences for their actions. EVERY red light running incident provides the opportunity for property damage, personal injury or death.
Cameras in use in 12 states and internationally have been proven to reduce red light running over 40 percent - a staggering difference from the 6 percent mentioned above. There definitely is the NEED for cameras to assist police in their traffic law enforcement efforts.
The purpose of Senate Bill 004, pending in our state Legislature, would allow Indiana cities to make their own decision whether or not to use cameras by allowing for mailed citations on the strength of photographic proof of a violation. Those persons interested in voicing their opinions regarding Senate Bill 004 are encouraged to do so: Indiana Senate, 800-382-9467; Indiana House, 800-382-9841.
As for camera cost, yes, $50,000 would be a very expensive camera. Several vendors assure us that camera cost and maintenance are usually only a fraction of that dollar amount.
Should Senate Bill 004 pass into law and the city of Warsaw consider the use of cameras at its most dangerous intersections, that would be a good time for persons to voice their opinion to the city of Warsaw. I have every confidence the city would contact many vendors and various financing arrangements would be explored including lease, lease-purchase or purchase. Exploration would also be done as to the possibility of federal grant monies that could be released for such an undertaking. Citations also offset the cost of equipment and maintenance.
Life safety is the biggest issue here and MUST be addressed, as Mr. Smith mentioned in his letter
Ann Sweet
Focus on Safety
Warsaw
Buyer Beware
Editor, Times-Union:Consumer fraud is big business. Swindlers have devised a multitude of ways to gain consumers' confidence before relieving them of their hard-earned dollars. Feb. 5-11 has been designated as National Consumer Protection week. The Postal Service has partnered with several agencies to help educate consumers about mail fraud schemes while providing them with the tools to recognize and combat fraud - no matter what the scheme.
Everyday decisions regarding anything from vacation plans to opening a credit card account expose unwary consumers to potentially fraudulent situations. The Postal Inspection Service receives about 75,000 mail fraud complaints each year. Based on those complaints and the active cases being investigated, here are the top five fraud schemes:
Advance fee loans - A con artist offers a "guaranteed loan" for a fee paid in advance, however, he or she has no ability to secure a loan for you. Instead, the swindler steals your fee and either disappears or bilks other unsuspecting victims while stalling you with excuses as to why your loan has not been refunded.
Prizes or sweepstakes - "Congratulations! You're the lucky winner of one of four prizes!" You simply have to pay a "processing fee" to find out what you've won. And it's never anything of value.
Charity frauds - Either your money never gets to the charity or the charity doesn't exist at all. The only one who benefits from your generosity is the swindler.
Failure to render merchandise or services - You may have ordered something by mail order or over the Internet in good faith, but the party you made the deal with has taken the money and run.
Employment schemes - "Thousands of high-paying government jobs" - Rather than preparing you for existing vacancies, as they claim, the con artists charge you for materials you could have gotten for free from the hiring governmental agency - which may or may not have job openings.
These are only a list of some of the more common schemes. Others include: identity theft, travel schemes, foreign lotteries, chain letters, insurance fraud, medical fraud, work-at-home schemes, false billing, investment fraud and so on.
The most effective consumer protection is education. Unlike other crimes against citizens, consumer fraud victims must make a conscious decision to participate.
Remember, "If it sounds too good to be true,it probably is."
Linda Bell
Postmaster
Etna Green
Ivy Tech Problem
Editor, Times-Union:Dear Mrs. Walgamuth, after reading of your Ivy Tech problem, I wanted to give you a possible solution. Has anyone considered looking over the vacated grocery building on Center Street? It has been empty for about four years. I am a retired high school educator and I do want to see growth in our education. Thank you for the time taken to read this letter.
Another reason to use this empty Owens building: how many residences do we rent to house our delinquent kids or those in our jails? Would it be far cheaper to use all of this rent money on the payment of buying the Owens building? Plenty of inside room, plenty of parking space. The back yard can be fenced in, if not already.
Al Smith
Warsaw
Supports H.B. 1815
Editor, Times-Union:The Kosciusko County Retired Teachers Association urges you to write as soon as possible to The Honorable B. Patrick Bauer, Indiana House of Representatives, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786. Ask Representative Bauer to schedule a hearing on H.B. 1815, a bill regarding COLA.
Write as soon as possible also to The Honorable David Wolkins at the same address and ask him to support H.B. 1815.
Tim Shoemaker
KCRTA Legislative Chairman
Warsaw
Meijer Detractor
Editor, Times-Union:Here we go AGAIN! Meijer representatives are calling people in the community asking questions on how people feel about having a Meijer store. This would be fine except that the questions are somewhat deceptive. If you are not paying close attention you will answer the questions as they want it answered. (To give them some credit a couple of the questions are opinion answers.)
Meijer tells us they are a community friendly corporation. If that is the case, why are they pursuing this for the same location. If the residents in this area don't want them there, Meijer is not being friendly . Yes, I would like to see a Meijer too. But NOT here. Not where my kids play. Not with a gas station across the street - where semis can park (just like at the local rest area). Not with lighting and traffic 24 hours a day. Not with increased crime and decreased property value. Not with outlots. Not in my front yard.
People in the Harrison and Lincoln areas need to be concerned. This is near Harrison school. The traffic will affect Lincoln school residents. Parker Street and Harrison Street will have greatly increased traffic. Yes, Meijer says they will fix Parker Street extended/Husky Trail/Patterson Road intersection. They are not fixing it, they are just extending the same problem that is already here. When Parker Street is re-routed it will go into the addition adjacent to the hospital.
Meijer says they will have money that will benefit the library and the school. They can still do this in a different location. They can still come. But if they are truly community friendly, NOT ON PATTERSON ROAD AND HUSKY TRAIL.
Amy Furnivall
Warsaw
via e-mail
Thanks To Trustee
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to thank Harrison Township trustee/assessor Jim Moyer for believing that the accident that happened back in the 1990s was the Mentone Fire Department's fault. You see, I am the fireman that he was talking about with the accident in July 1991. So, do you really think that we need a new fire station when you already have an injured fireman out here that has taken over 10 years to pay back for the new knee replacement that I've had when in reality it should have been the fire department that paid for my knee replacement? I was told a year ago that I needed another knee replacement done and, without the money or the insurance, I can't have it done. So I walk around every day with a lot of pain, and believe me, I do have a lot of pain with my legs.
The people here in Mentone think that "good ole Davey" got a lot of money from this accident when in reality, "ole Davey" didn't get or receive any money from this accident.
So it might be a good idea to have a new fire station because then maybe I would be able to go to the fish fries without getting sick whenever I walk into the fire department, where all of my pain started to begin with ...
David Alderfer
Mentone
Gerard And Stalin
Editor, Times-Union:Another top notch News Views. You hit the nail on the head regarding that rap stuff, when I read the lyrics you printed. JEEPERS! Was I shocked. Right away I went to my daughter's bedroom and searched for any evidence of rap.
All I found was Teen Beat magazine, and I cut out everything that I thought was offensive. with G.W. now in office and taking our great country to the moral high ground, I have the highest of hopes for the banning of such garbage as rap.
I would also like to see the banning of such things as the incestuous act of breast feeding, and indecent art, shameful photographs, and we don't need any dirty catalogs either. Victoria will stay a secret. Simple plain modest underwear will minimize UN-godly temptations. As our president said while campaigning, "There ought to be limits to freedom." AMEN GEORGE! Save us from ourselves ...
Do we really need the Bill of Rights? A good American would be proud to have his home or car searched for drugs. Heck fire, the only ones that use the bill of rights is the flag burners, dope dealers and sodomites. Keep up the good work, Gary. Stalin couldn't do it any better.
Mike Snipes
Warsaw
via e-mail
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- Red Light Running - Buyer Beware - Ivy Tech Problem - Supports H.B. 1815 - Meijer Detractor - Thanks To Trustee - Gerard And Stalin
Red Light Running
Editor, Times-Union:I am thankful that Mr. Smith avoided the accident he recounts in his letter. Red light running is indeed a socially accepted disease. National surveys find that with traditional enforcement fewer than 6 percent of the drivers who ADMIT to running red lights have ever faced legal consequences for their actions. EVERY red light running incident provides the opportunity for property damage, personal injury or death.
Cameras in use in 12 states and internationally have been proven to reduce red light running over 40 percent - a staggering difference from the 6 percent mentioned above. There definitely is the NEED for cameras to assist police in their traffic law enforcement efforts.
The purpose of Senate Bill 004, pending in our state Legislature, would allow Indiana cities to make their own decision whether or not to use cameras by allowing for mailed citations on the strength of photographic proof of a violation. Those persons interested in voicing their opinions regarding Senate Bill 004 are encouraged to do so: Indiana Senate, 800-382-9467; Indiana House, 800-382-9841.
As for camera cost, yes, $50,000 would be a very expensive camera. Several vendors assure us that camera cost and maintenance are usually only a fraction of that dollar amount.
Should Senate Bill 004 pass into law and the city of Warsaw consider the use of cameras at its most dangerous intersections, that would be a good time for persons to voice their opinion to the city of Warsaw. I have every confidence the city would contact many vendors and various financing arrangements would be explored including lease, lease-purchase or purchase. Exploration would also be done as to the possibility of federal grant monies that could be released for such an undertaking. Citations also offset the cost of equipment and maintenance.
Life safety is the biggest issue here and MUST be addressed, as Mr. Smith mentioned in his letter
Ann Sweet
Focus on Safety
Warsaw
Buyer Beware
Editor, Times-Union:Consumer fraud is big business. Swindlers have devised a multitude of ways to gain consumers' confidence before relieving them of their hard-earned dollars. Feb. 5-11 has been designated as National Consumer Protection week. The Postal Service has partnered with several agencies to help educate consumers about mail fraud schemes while providing them with the tools to recognize and combat fraud - no matter what the scheme.
Everyday decisions regarding anything from vacation plans to opening a credit card account expose unwary consumers to potentially fraudulent situations. The Postal Inspection Service receives about 75,000 mail fraud complaints each year. Based on those complaints and the active cases being investigated, here are the top five fraud schemes:
Advance fee loans - A con artist offers a "guaranteed loan" for a fee paid in advance, however, he or she has no ability to secure a loan for you. Instead, the swindler steals your fee and either disappears or bilks other unsuspecting victims while stalling you with excuses as to why your loan has not been refunded.
Prizes or sweepstakes - "Congratulations! You're the lucky winner of one of four prizes!" You simply have to pay a "processing fee" to find out what you've won. And it's never anything of value.
Charity frauds - Either your money never gets to the charity or the charity doesn't exist at all. The only one who benefits from your generosity is the swindler.
Failure to render merchandise or services - You may have ordered something by mail order or over the Internet in good faith, but the party you made the deal with has taken the money and run.
Employment schemes - "Thousands of high-paying government jobs" - Rather than preparing you for existing vacancies, as they claim, the con artists charge you for materials you could have gotten for free from the hiring governmental agency - which may or may not have job openings.
These are only a list of some of the more common schemes. Others include: identity theft, travel schemes, foreign lotteries, chain letters, insurance fraud, medical fraud, work-at-home schemes, false billing, investment fraud and so on.
The most effective consumer protection is education. Unlike other crimes against citizens, consumer fraud victims must make a conscious decision to participate.
Remember, "If it sounds too good to be true,it probably is."
Linda Bell
Postmaster
Etna Green
Ivy Tech Problem
Editor, Times-Union:Dear Mrs. Walgamuth, after reading of your Ivy Tech problem, I wanted to give you a possible solution. Has anyone considered looking over the vacated grocery building on Center Street? It has been empty for about four years. I am a retired high school educator and I do want to see growth in our education. Thank you for the time taken to read this letter.
Another reason to use this empty Owens building: how many residences do we rent to house our delinquent kids or those in our jails? Would it be far cheaper to use all of this rent money on the payment of buying the Owens building? Plenty of inside room, plenty of parking space. The back yard can be fenced in, if not already.
Al Smith
Warsaw
Supports H.B. 1815
Editor, Times-Union:The Kosciusko County Retired Teachers Association urges you to write as soon as possible to The Honorable B. Patrick Bauer, Indiana House of Representatives, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786. Ask Representative Bauer to schedule a hearing on H.B. 1815, a bill regarding COLA.
Write as soon as possible also to The Honorable David Wolkins at the same address and ask him to support H.B. 1815.
Tim Shoemaker
KCRTA Legislative Chairman
Warsaw
Meijer Detractor
Editor, Times-Union:Here we go AGAIN! Meijer representatives are calling people in the community asking questions on how people feel about having a Meijer store. This would be fine except that the questions are somewhat deceptive. If you are not paying close attention you will answer the questions as they want it answered. (To give them some credit a couple of the questions are opinion answers.)
Meijer tells us they are a community friendly corporation. If that is the case, why are they pursuing this for the same location. If the residents in this area don't want them there, Meijer is not being friendly . Yes, I would like to see a Meijer too. But NOT here. Not where my kids play. Not with a gas station across the street - where semis can park (just like at the local rest area). Not with lighting and traffic 24 hours a day. Not with increased crime and decreased property value. Not with outlots. Not in my front yard.
People in the Harrison and Lincoln areas need to be concerned. This is near Harrison school. The traffic will affect Lincoln school residents. Parker Street and Harrison Street will have greatly increased traffic. Yes, Meijer says they will fix Parker Street extended/Husky Trail/Patterson Road intersection. They are not fixing it, they are just extending the same problem that is already here. When Parker Street is re-routed it will go into the addition adjacent to the hospital.
Meijer says they will have money that will benefit the library and the school. They can still do this in a different location. They can still come. But if they are truly community friendly, NOT ON PATTERSON ROAD AND HUSKY TRAIL.
Amy Furnivall
Warsaw
via e-mail
Thanks To Trustee
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to thank Harrison Township trustee/assessor Jim Moyer for believing that the accident that happened back in the 1990s was the Mentone Fire Department's fault. You see, I am the fireman that he was talking about with the accident in July 1991. So, do you really think that we need a new fire station when you already have an injured fireman out here that has taken over 10 years to pay back for the new knee replacement that I've had when in reality it should have been the fire department that paid for my knee replacement? I was told a year ago that I needed another knee replacement done and, without the money or the insurance, I can't have it done. So I walk around every day with a lot of pain, and believe me, I do have a lot of pain with my legs.
The people here in Mentone think that "good ole Davey" got a lot of money from this accident when in reality, "ole Davey" didn't get or receive any money from this accident.
So it might be a good idea to have a new fire station because then maybe I would be able to go to the fish fries without getting sick whenever I walk into the fire department, where all of my pain started to begin with ...
David Alderfer
Mentone
Gerard And Stalin
Editor, Times-Union:Another top notch News Views. You hit the nail on the head regarding that rap stuff, when I read the lyrics you printed. JEEPERS! Was I shocked. Right away I went to my daughter's bedroom and searched for any evidence of rap.
All I found was Teen Beat magazine, and I cut out everything that I thought was offensive. with G.W. now in office and taking our great country to the moral high ground, I have the highest of hopes for the banning of such garbage as rap.
I would also like to see the banning of such things as the incestuous act of breast feeding, and indecent art, shameful photographs, and we don't need any dirty catalogs either. Victoria will stay a secret. Simple plain modest underwear will minimize UN-godly temptations. As our president said while campaigning, "There ought to be limits to freedom." AMEN GEORGE! Save us from ourselves ...
Do we really need the Bill of Rights? A good American would be proud to have his home or car searched for drugs. Heck fire, the only ones that use the bill of rights is the flag burners, dope dealers and sodomites. Keep up the good work, Gary. Stalin couldn't do it any better.
Mike Snipes
Warsaw
via e-mail
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