Letters to the Editor 03-11-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Dangerous Road - Winona Fire Department - Schizophrenic - Newspaper
Dangerous Road
Editor, Times-Union:Approximately six months ago, a speeding motorist killed my dog in front of my house in broad daylight, and did not stop. At that time, I wrote a "Letter to the Editor" regarding this, and I also put up signs in my yard trying to get motorists to slow down. My dog getting killed is what provoked me to do this, but I also had and have a concern regarding the traffic on this stretch of road. County Road 475 is a short cut from Warsaw to North Webster, and without many houses from 300N for three-fourths of a mile down, many feel no need to slow down.
Although I felt I did not want another dog, my daughter brought home an abandoned dog during the snowstorms in early January. I put up a wire leash run for him as soon as I could, and decided to keep him. He had become a very good pet, and seemed to enjoy a good home. Last Thursday night, March 4, he slipped out when someone came to my front door. I stayed up late in the night calling for him, but as he had been a stray, he had the desire to run. The next morning, a very nice lady rang my doorbell to ask me if I had a white dog, and it was dead on the road. She had seen my letter last year, and my signs, and had said she had tried to slow down in the area ever since.
My grandchildren and myself miss the dog very much. More that that, I am concerned as to what is next on this blind hill. Maybe in the summer, you might hit me as I am riding the mower along the edge of the road. Maybe you might scare or hit one of my grandchildren, if they aren't as conscious of the careless motorists. Maybe, as has happened before, you will hit someone coming in or out of my drive. Maybe you will be speeding up this blind hill, and something will cause you to swerve or have an accident. Then MAYBE, you will think of this letter.
Velma Heeley, Warsaw
Winona Fire Department
Editor, Times-Union:March is upon us and spring will be here before we know it. This also means the Warsaw Volunteer Fire Department fish fry is right around the corner. The Warsaw Volunteer Fire Department is a not-for-profit organization that supplements the Warsaw Fire Department during all structure fires and anytime when additional manpower is needed to mitigate any situation that may occur.
Being a volunteer organization means that we must purchase new equipment and maintain existing equipment ourselves. The way that we fund this program is through the Volunteer Fire Departments annual fish fry and other fund raising activities. In order to maximize the amount of money available for the equipment, the Volunteer Fire Department is asking for donations to help pay for supplies needed at the fish fry.
The cost of plates, napkins, cups, bowls, forks, knives, spoons and other associated supplies are going to cost approximately $275. Along with these needed supplies are the side dishes and drinks. These food items cost approximately $700.
Any donation that you can provide the Warsaw Volunteer Fire Department would be greatly appreciated and help offset the cost of the fish fry. Please send the donation to the above address or call me at home at 269-6909 and the donation will be picked up at your convenience.
Thank you for your continued support of our community and to the organizations that provide a vital service to Warsaw and Wayne Township.
Gary Reller, Secretary, Warsaw Volunteer Fire Dept.
Schizophrenic
Editor, Times-Union:This morning I made a phone call to a local radio station, to ask them to choose another term for describing the weather. Saying that the weather is going to be "schizophrenic" for the next couple of days may sound accurate to most, but it's not. Do these educated, intelligent newscasters (the television newscasters are guilty of this also) really know what this word means? I think not.
Schizophrenia used to be known as a "split personality" disorder. The actual definition reads: "A major mental disorder of unknown cause typically characterized by a separation between the thought processes and the emotions, a distortion of reality accompanied by delusions and hallucinations, a fragmentation of the personality, motor disturbances, bizarre behavior, etc., often with no loss of basic intellectual functions."
Notice the term "fragmentation of the personality." This does not mean a split personality, there is only one personality. However, it is referring the the fact that certain original personality traits that were there prior to the illness may remain in the individual, while others change or disappear completely.
Researchers have found that a chemical imbalance in the brain itself is the cause of this disorder. With proper medication and talk therapy, along with family and community support, people with schizophrenia can lead a fairly normal life. The person next to you might have this illness and you would never know it unless they decided to share that information with you.
Everyone needs to stop using this term as an adjective to describe weather, people, the stock market, etc. This term is being used incorrectly and, unfortunately, all too often.
To families dealing with any mental illness, the misuse of this or any other diagnostic term has the same effect as any racial or ethnic slur or otherwise degrading statement. The "stigma" attached to mental illness causes pain, embarrassment, anger and great sadness.
Fortunately, attitudes are changing. But we all need to help. Please think before using a term that may be very offensive to others.
We have a NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) Support Group right here in Warsaw. They are here to provide emotional support, education on mental illness, the treatment options available for the mentally ill and to be advocates for those who are ill. NAMI also is working to remove the stigma that has been attached to mental illness for far too long.
If you would like to learn more about the NAMI Support Group and the facts about mental illness, please call 858-2757.
I realize this letter is lengthy but this is something very important in the lives of many in our community.
Sara Biller, Warsaw
Newspaper
Editor, Times-Union:Back in the late '60s and early '70s when I was a Times-Union carrier in Larwill, whenever the paper hit the sidewalk, it was understood that those papers were supposed to be delivered if at all possible no matter what the weather. My schedule starts around 5 a.m. and usually ends around 11 p.m. through the week, and between the Times-Union and WRSW I depend on totally for all news, sports, weather, etc! But when the paper doesn't hit the box it totally screws up the day. Now this was not the first day the paper did not get delivered this winter and was probably caused by the weather, but on most times in the afternoon our roads were clear. Now I would of bought the paper in town if I would of known but all in all the dependability of the carriers on our route has been good. The reason for this short note is to let you how much some people depend and appreciate our local paper, but never say thank-you, but like to gripe when something screws up their day. And if I had the paper here I wouldn't be typing on this darn thing!
S.R. Johnson, Warsaw
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- Dangerous Road - Winona Fire Department - Schizophrenic - Newspaper
Dangerous Road
Editor, Times-Union:Approximately six months ago, a speeding motorist killed my dog in front of my house in broad daylight, and did not stop. At that time, I wrote a "Letter to the Editor" regarding this, and I also put up signs in my yard trying to get motorists to slow down. My dog getting killed is what provoked me to do this, but I also had and have a concern regarding the traffic on this stretch of road. County Road 475 is a short cut from Warsaw to North Webster, and without many houses from 300N for three-fourths of a mile down, many feel no need to slow down.
Although I felt I did not want another dog, my daughter brought home an abandoned dog during the snowstorms in early January. I put up a wire leash run for him as soon as I could, and decided to keep him. He had become a very good pet, and seemed to enjoy a good home. Last Thursday night, March 4, he slipped out when someone came to my front door. I stayed up late in the night calling for him, but as he had been a stray, he had the desire to run. The next morning, a very nice lady rang my doorbell to ask me if I had a white dog, and it was dead on the road. She had seen my letter last year, and my signs, and had said she had tried to slow down in the area ever since.
My grandchildren and myself miss the dog very much. More that that, I am concerned as to what is next on this blind hill. Maybe in the summer, you might hit me as I am riding the mower along the edge of the road. Maybe you might scare or hit one of my grandchildren, if they aren't as conscious of the careless motorists. Maybe, as has happened before, you will hit someone coming in or out of my drive. Maybe you will be speeding up this blind hill, and something will cause you to swerve or have an accident. Then MAYBE, you will think of this letter.
Velma Heeley, Warsaw
Winona Fire Department
Editor, Times-Union:March is upon us and spring will be here before we know it. This also means the Warsaw Volunteer Fire Department fish fry is right around the corner. The Warsaw Volunteer Fire Department is a not-for-profit organization that supplements the Warsaw Fire Department during all structure fires and anytime when additional manpower is needed to mitigate any situation that may occur.
Being a volunteer organization means that we must purchase new equipment and maintain existing equipment ourselves. The way that we fund this program is through the Volunteer Fire Departments annual fish fry and other fund raising activities. In order to maximize the amount of money available for the equipment, the Volunteer Fire Department is asking for donations to help pay for supplies needed at the fish fry.
The cost of plates, napkins, cups, bowls, forks, knives, spoons and other associated supplies are going to cost approximately $275. Along with these needed supplies are the side dishes and drinks. These food items cost approximately $700.
Any donation that you can provide the Warsaw Volunteer Fire Department would be greatly appreciated and help offset the cost of the fish fry. Please send the donation to the above address or call me at home at 269-6909 and the donation will be picked up at your convenience.
Thank you for your continued support of our community and to the organizations that provide a vital service to Warsaw and Wayne Township.
Gary Reller, Secretary, Warsaw Volunteer Fire Dept.
Schizophrenic
Editor, Times-Union:This morning I made a phone call to a local radio station, to ask them to choose another term for describing the weather. Saying that the weather is going to be "schizophrenic" for the next couple of days may sound accurate to most, but it's not. Do these educated, intelligent newscasters (the television newscasters are guilty of this also) really know what this word means? I think not.
Schizophrenia used to be known as a "split personality" disorder. The actual definition reads: "A major mental disorder of unknown cause typically characterized by a separation between the thought processes and the emotions, a distortion of reality accompanied by delusions and hallucinations, a fragmentation of the personality, motor disturbances, bizarre behavior, etc., often with no loss of basic intellectual functions."
Notice the term "fragmentation of the personality." This does not mean a split personality, there is only one personality. However, it is referring the the fact that certain original personality traits that were there prior to the illness may remain in the individual, while others change or disappear completely.
Researchers have found that a chemical imbalance in the brain itself is the cause of this disorder. With proper medication and talk therapy, along with family and community support, people with schizophrenia can lead a fairly normal life. The person next to you might have this illness and you would never know it unless they decided to share that information with you.
Everyone needs to stop using this term as an adjective to describe weather, people, the stock market, etc. This term is being used incorrectly and, unfortunately, all too often.
To families dealing with any mental illness, the misuse of this or any other diagnostic term has the same effect as any racial or ethnic slur or otherwise degrading statement. The "stigma" attached to mental illness causes pain, embarrassment, anger and great sadness.
Fortunately, attitudes are changing. But we all need to help. Please think before using a term that may be very offensive to others.
We have a NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) Support Group right here in Warsaw. They are here to provide emotional support, education on mental illness, the treatment options available for the mentally ill and to be advocates for those who are ill. NAMI also is working to remove the stigma that has been attached to mental illness for far too long.
If you would like to learn more about the NAMI Support Group and the facts about mental illness, please call 858-2757.
I realize this letter is lengthy but this is something very important in the lives of many in our community.
Sara Biller, Warsaw
Newspaper
Editor, Times-Union:Back in the late '60s and early '70s when I was a Times-Union carrier in Larwill, whenever the paper hit the sidewalk, it was understood that those papers were supposed to be delivered if at all possible no matter what the weather. My schedule starts around 5 a.m. and usually ends around 11 p.m. through the week, and between the Times-Union and WRSW I depend on totally for all news, sports, weather, etc! But when the paper doesn't hit the box it totally screws up the day. Now this was not the first day the paper did not get delivered this winter and was probably caused by the weather, but on most times in the afternoon our roads were clear. Now I would of bought the paper in town if I would of known but all in all the dependability of the carriers on our route has been good. The reason for this short note is to let you how much some people depend and appreciate our local paper, but never say thank-you, but like to gripe when something screws up their day. And if I had the paper here I wouldn't be typing on this darn thing!
S.R. Johnson, Warsaw
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