Letters to the Editor 02-16-2001
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Stop Meijer - Legislative Reporting - Loves Warsaw - News Views Unfair - Hospital Care - Gun Legislation
Stop Meijer
Editor, Times-Union:Attention NIMBYs! Meijer is coming back.
I recently received a call from TDM Marketing, asking me to participate in a "random, nonpartisan survey of issues of importance to the Warsaw area." The first 10 minutes of questions concerned my feelings about the quality of representation by our city council, mayor and appointed officials.
Although the questions were framed to lead to me criticize their performance, I was as complimentary as the survey choices allowed. Then I was asked about the economic "problems" of the area, including little growth, layoffs and lack of infrastructure to support economic progress.
Finally, almost as an afterthought, I was asked about the Meijer store and supporting businesses on Husky Trail Road. Again, the questions were obviously framed to elicit a positive response, but I am afraid I disappointed the questioner. I was especially intrigued by the question of whether I would support the zoning change, if the city council were to receive several thousand postcards supporting the action.
It is apparent that Meijer has taken another approach to place a store where hardly anyone wants it. I sincerely hope the city planner, Plan Commission and city council will again listen to the Warsaw taxpayers and kill this proposal before the dialogue becomes as scurrilous as it did the during the last round. And I truly hope that the Times-Union will report and comment on the activities in a fair and balanced manner.
Jerry Hogan
Warsaw
via e-mail
Legislative Reporting
Editor, Times-Union:Allow me to extend appreciation to Teresa Smith for her recent three-part report of the Kosciusko County Farm Bureau legislative meeting held last Saturday in Warsaw. The more these "Third House" meetings are covered and reported by the local press to keep citizens informed about happenings in state government is all the better.
There is a large apathy about government in general with the citizen population, especially in times of a good economy, however when the economy begins tightening up, more seem to pay attention. Rep. Wolkins, myself and other state legislators representing our area of the state encourage and welcome participation by all constituents.
As former governor Doc Bowen (who teamed up with me in writing a major property tax relief bill last year that passed the Senate twice, only to die in the House due to lack of support by the leadership and the governor's office) said, "We must make some tough choices and start living within our means in state government." We certainly are collecting a large amount of taxes, and simply collecting more for the sake of increased spending is not the answer.
Regarding the comment reported in the paper about a gas tax passing, I believe Rep. Wolkins was specifically addressing the House, where this bill is under consideration. At this time, please be clear there is no consensus for a gas tax increase in the Senate and I personally will not support such an increase.
Sen. Riegsecker of Goshen has a bill under consideration in the Senate that would direct the sales tax on gasoline to local roads in an effort to get more monies for the roads back home, other than state highways. This is not a tax increase, but simply a re-direction of the sales tax on gasoline now collected.
Also, as a point of information and to clarify a reference in the news report of the meeting held, the procedure on the floor of the House is much different than in the Senate. The president or president pro-tem of the Senate does not attempt to sway or change a senator's vote from the position of the chair or by holding the voting board open, as was reported happening in the House.
Again, the reporting of these public meetings is good and we look forward to more of the same.
Kent Adams
State Senator
Warsaw
Loves Warsaw
Editor, Times-Union:We are new in town, having just moved from Texas four months ago, and we love it here. These six short sentences describe why we think it is a privilege to live in Warsaw.
Water, water, everywhere ... the lakes are pretty, the streams are picturesque.
Available services within the community meet our every need.
Resources, such as the Public Library, bring in such interesting and informative guest speakers, like Laurie Hahn, who spoke so well on freelance writing.
Scenery ... colors in the fall, and the crispness after a snowfall, and beautiful sunsets.
Attractions abound ... the courthouse, the numerous parks, the YMCA, neighboring villages.
Wow ... why live anywhere else when we can enjoy all of this, right at our doorsteps.
Of course, the first letter of the first word in each sentence says it all ... WARSAW, our new home.
David McTavish
Newly arrived, happily ensconced
Warsaw
News Views Unfair
Editor, Times-Union:Your recent News Views column recently highlighted the embarrassing pardons granted by our former president, Bill Clinton. While shedding light on yet another slap to Americans' faces, I believe your view to be too one-sided in its approach.
While I do not condone Clinton's actions, especially with the Marc Rich pardon, you make it seem as if only a Democrat could stoop to such lows. As a matter of fact, other former presidents have used the presidential pardon in somewhat shady ways.
Former president George Bush, father to our current president, pardoned Casper Wienberger. The significance? Upon being pardoned, it was assured that he did not have to testify against - you guessed it - Bush in the Iran-Contra scandal, guaranteeing Bush that what could have been damning testimony was never spoken. The Bush pardons were given to six individuals involved in the ordeal.
What's this mean, then? Many people in high power positions have done shady dealings in the past, both Democrats and Republicans. And while I respect News Views, an order of fairness should have been included.
Matt Perry
Muncie
via e-mail
Hospital Care
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is with regard to the fine treatment accorded to our dear mother, Mrs. N. Rogers, during her sudden heart illness. The ambulance people were there in four minutes to convey our mother to the hospital. Our gratitude to those two lovely ladies.
The utmost thanks go to Dr. Haase for his diligent, meticulous, loving and professional care of our mother. The staff in the intensive care unit were superb. They handled our fragile mother with utmost care and showered genuine love on her.
Every day we visited our mother, we noticed a caring, loving and priceless attitude of the nurses toward our mother in both the third and fourth floors. What more can we ask? We are deeply gratified and appreciate everything KCH has done starting from the emergency room personnel to every one else until the end.
Our mother is recovering very well at home and joins us in expressing her gratitude to everyone at KCH.
We also would like to thank our Drs. Kishan and Mrs. Anita Kishan for their love, concern, kind visits and encouragement. What a blessing are they to our community!
Above all we want to thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His mercy toward our families.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Vasantha Methuselah
Beulah Rao
Warsaw
Gun Legislation
Editor, Times-Union:Well, it certainly didn't take long. As is usual the first of the year, a ton of anti-gun legislation is being proposed in both houses of Congress. The bill to watch at this time is one being proposed by John McCain and Joe Lieberman. It appears to be a rerun of the old Hatch "Juvenile Crime Bill" and although it's all bad, the worst part is the requiring of background checks by private individuals at gun shows. Again an attempt to gain control of the secondary market. As I've said before, the goal is to make it a crime to buy or sell a firearm except through a licensed dealer. You can just imagine what this would do to the value of your collectible.
Sen. Lieberman is so far left it would be a waste of effort to contact him, but it might help to contact Sen. McCain, phone 202-224-2235 or fax 202-228-2862. It is also always a good idea to contact Reps. Roemer and Buyer, and Senators Lugar and Bayh to let them know we oppose any and all new gun legislation. Buyer is the only one that listens, but at least they know where we stand.
On the state level, we should do the same with Senator Adams and Rep. Wolkins. There is some heavy duty stuff popping up here, too, and we need to dig in. I can't recall if Mr. Meeks is a state senator or representative, but we need to ask ours to support his bill to ban these frivolous anti-gun lawsuits.
One more thing, if you haven't already done so, you need to stop in at Timberwolf Guns and Ammo on East Market Street and say hi to Tammy. It's really great to see women getting involved in firearms and is probably our only hope for the future. Besides, although John was a very good friend and I miss him a lot, even he would have to admit that Tammy is a whole lot easier on the eyes.
Harold Kitson
Warsaw
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- Stop Meijer - Legislative Reporting - Loves Warsaw - News Views Unfair - Hospital Care - Gun Legislation
Stop Meijer
Editor, Times-Union:Attention NIMBYs! Meijer is coming back.
I recently received a call from TDM Marketing, asking me to participate in a "random, nonpartisan survey of issues of importance to the Warsaw area." The first 10 minutes of questions concerned my feelings about the quality of representation by our city council, mayor and appointed officials.
Although the questions were framed to lead to me criticize their performance, I was as complimentary as the survey choices allowed. Then I was asked about the economic "problems" of the area, including little growth, layoffs and lack of infrastructure to support economic progress.
Finally, almost as an afterthought, I was asked about the Meijer store and supporting businesses on Husky Trail Road. Again, the questions were obviously framed to elicit a positive response, but I am afraid I disappointed the questioner. I was especially intrigued by the question of whether I would support the zoning change, if the city council were to receive several thousand postcards supporting the action.
It is apparent that Meijer has taken another approach to place a store where hardly anyone wants it. I sincerely hope the city planner, Plan Commission and city council will again listen to the Warsaw taxpayers and kill this proposal before the dialogue becomes as scurrilous as it did the during the last round. And I truly hope that the Times-Union will report and comment on the activities in a fair and balanced manner.
Jerry Hogan
Warsaw
via e-mail
Legislative Reporting
Editor, Times-Union:Allow me to extend appreciation to Teresa Smith for her recent three-part report of the Kosciusko County Farm Bureau legislative meeting held last Saturday in Warsaw. The more these "Third House" meetings are covered and reported by the local press to keep citizens informed about happenings in state government is all the better.
There is a large apathy about government in general with the citizen population, especially in times of a good economy, however when the economy begins tightening up, more seem to pay attention. Rep. Wolkins, myself and other state legislators representing our area of the state encourage and welcome participation by all constituents.
As former governor Doc Bowen (who teamed up with me in writing a major property tax relief bill last year that passed the Senate twice, only to die in the House due to lack of support by the leadership and the governor's office) said, "We must make some tough choices and start living within our means in state government." We certainly are collecting a large amount of taxes, and simply collecting more for the sake of increased spending is not the answer.
Regarding the comment reported in the paper about a gas tax passing, I believe Rep. Wolkins was specifically addressing the House, where this bill is under consideration. At this time, please be clear there is no consensus for a gas tax increase in the Senate and I personally will not support such an increase.
Sen. Riegsecker of Goshen has a bill under consideration in the Senate that would direct the sales tax on gasoline to local roads in an effort to get more monies for the roads back home, other than state highways. This is not a tax increase, but simply a re-direction of the sales tax on gasoline now collected.
Also, as a point of information and to clarify a reference in the news report of the meeting held, the procedure on the floor of the House is much different than in the Senate. The president or president pro-tem of the Senate does not attempt to sway or change a senator's vote from the position of the chair or by holding the voting board open, as was reported happening in the House.
Again, the reporting of these public meetings is good and we look forward to more of the same.
Kent Adams
State Senator
Warsaw
Loves Warsaw
Editor, Times-Union:We are new in town, having just moved from Texas four months ago, and we love it here. These six short sentences describe why we think it is a privilege to live in Warsaw.
Water, water, everywhere ... the lakes are pretty, the streams are picturesque.
Available services within the community meet our every need.
Resources, such as the Public Library, bring in such interesting and informative guest speakers, like Laurie Hahn, who spoke so well on freelance writing.
Scenery ... colors in the fall, and the crispness after a snowfall, and beautiful sunsets.
Attractions abound ... the courthouse, the numerous parks, the YMCA, neighboring villages.
Wow ... why live anywhere else when we can enjoy all of this, right at our doorsteps.
Of course, the first letter of the first word in each sentence says it all ... WARSAW, our new home.
David McTavish
Newly arrived, happily ensconced
Warsaw
News Views Unfair
Editor, Times-Union:Your recent News Views column recently highlighted the embarrassing pardons granted by our former president, Bill Clinton. While shedding light on yet another slap to Americans' faces, I believe your view to be too one-sided in its approach.
While I do not condone Clinton's actions, especially with the Marc Rich pardon, you make it seem as if only a Democrat could stoop to such lows. As a matter of fact, other former presidents have used the presidential pardon in somewhat shady ways.
Former president George Bush, father to our current president, pardoned Casper Wienberger. The significance? Upon being pardoned, it was assured that he did not have to testify against - you guessed it - Bush in the Iran-Contra scandal, guaranteeing Bush that what could have been damning testimony was never spoken. The Bush pardons were given to six individuals involved in the ordeal.
What's this mean, then? Many people in high power positions have done shady dealings in the past, both Democrats and Republicans. And while I respect News Views, an order of fairness should have been included.
Matt Perry
Muncie
via e-mail
Hospital Care
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is with regard to the fine treatment accorded to our dear mother, Mrs. N. Rogers, during her sudden heart illness. The ambulance people were there in four minutes to convey our mother to the hospital. Our gratitude to those two lovely ladies.
The utmost thanks go to Dr. Haase for his diligent, meticulous, loving and professional care of our mother. The staff in the intensive care unit were superb. They handled our fragile mother with utmost care and showered genuine love on her.
Every day we visited our mother, we noticed a caring, loving and priceless attitude of the nurses toward our mother in both the third and fourth floors. What more can we ask? We are deeply gratified and appreciate everything KCH has done starting from the emergency room personnel to every one else until the end.
Our mother is recovering very well at home and joins us in expressing her gratitude to everyone at KCH.
We also would like to thank our Drs. Kishan and Mrs. Anita Kishan for their love, concern, kind visits and encouragement. What a blessing are they to our community!
Above all we want to thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His mercy toward our families.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Vasantha Methuselah
Beulah Rao
Warsaw
Gun Legislation
Editor, Times-Union:Well, it certainly didn't take long. As is usual the first of the year, a ton of anti-gun legislation is being proposed in both houses of Congress. The bill to watch at this time is one being proposed by John McCain and Joe Lieberman. It appears to be a rerun of the old Hatch "Juvenile Crime Bill" and although it's all bad, the worst part is the requiring of background checks by private individuals at gun shows. Again an attempt to gain control of the secondary market. As I've said before, the goal is to make it a crime to buy or sell a firearm except through a licensed dealer. You can just imagine what this would do to the value of your collectible.
Sen. Lieberman is so far left it would be a waste of effort to contact him, but it might help to contact Sen. McCain, phone 202-224-2235 or fax 202-228-2862. It is also always a good idea to contact Reps. Roemer and Buyer, and Senators Lugar and Bayh to let them know we oppose any and all new gun legislation. Buyer is the only one that listens, but at least they know where we stand.
On the state level, we should do the same with Senator Adams and Rep. Wolkins. There is some heavy duty stuff popping up here, too, and we need to dig in. I can't recall if Mr. Meeks is a state senator or representative, but we need to ask ours to support his bill to ban these frivolous anti-gun lawsuits.
One more thing, if you haven't already done so, you need to stop in at Timberwolf Guns and Ammo on East Market Street and say hi to Tammy. It's really great to see women getting involved in firearms and is probably our only hope for the future. Besides, although John was a very good friend and I miss him a lot, even he would have to admit that Tammy is a whole lot easier on the eyes.
Harold Kitson
Warsaw
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