Letters to the Editor 03-30-1998
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Industrial Park - Roadside Trash - YMCA Improvements - Commissioners - SWAT Response - Tri Kappa Thanks
Industrial Park
Editor, Times-Union:I was reading with interest the front page of the Feb. 24 issue of the Times-Union the article "Tandy Seeks 2nd Term On Council" and was wondering where Mr. Tandy has been spending his life in the past few years?
Mr. Tandy expresses his concern about expansion of industry along U.S. 30 near Columbia City. His concern is and I quote "Kosciusko County does not have such a place for businesses to look at when they are wanting to expand or relocate." Tandy hopes that will change.
Apparently Mr. Tandy is blind to the fact that while traveling between Warsaw and Columbia City on U.S. 30 that he passes two industrial parks in Pierceton. They being the Matchett Park on the north side and the Arnold Park on the south side of U.S. 30.
Even worse perhaps Mr. Tandy doesn't know that Pierceton is in Kosciusko County.
These two parks offer several hundred acres for development.
Claud Stahl
Pierceton
Roadside Trash
Editor, Times-Union:People, please take a ride down County Road 650E toward the Barbee Lakes area. Note all the trash along the road. It's totally disgusting. There are plastic bottles, glass containers, paper, metal pieces and even a mattress lying in the ditch. How many times do we have to drive past other people's garbage before we do something to correct the problem? How about some fines or some community service help to at least assist in cleanup?
I wish people would show more pride in their environment and wouldn't litter in the first place. It's a lazy man's way out and it's a disgusting habit. There should be harsh fines for doing it.
Come on people! Let's clean up the roadways in Kosciusko County.
Let's show some pride where we live and drive. Make a difference don't just talk a difference. Actions do speak louder than words!
Sheryl Wallace
Pierceton
YMCA Improvements
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to thank the administration, staff and board members of the Kosciusko Community YMCA for the recent facility improvements. The new fitness center is truly state-of-the-art with the Cybex circuit, and the new weight room is greatly appreciated.
Also, I would like to thank everyone in our community who gave money toward this capital expansion. Your generous gifts will reap "dividends" for years to come as people strive for personal physical improvements at the Y.
Brad Green
Warsaw
Commissioners
Editor, Times-Union:Apparently we are looking at a close race for the upcoming election for county prosecutor. One way either candidate could get my vote would be to investigate the county commissioners for graft and corruption. Would we need to convene a grand jury? Ask me my opinion. Probably. But if you see any of our current commissioners this summer in their new "Speedo" you can't help but notice all the permanent lip imprints on their butts. It looks apparent that a few pounds were added from all the "free" dinners also. Seriously, you guys need to watch your calories if you are in a Speedo.
Back to the point at hand. The county planning commission denied the expansion of a housing development to an individual impersonating a developer. Their reasoning was simple when it was started three years ago. The commissioners and planners made it public information that the development needed to stay its current size due to the value of the land as farmland and the lack of sewers. Congratulations to the plan commission. But then it goes to our flawless, uncorruptable commissioners - Eddie and the brown-nosed eggheads only to be returned to the zoning board for additional consideration. Sounds to me like this means if you don't vote in favor of it the commissioners will.
Do you really have to ask how the commissioners with the biggest lip imprints on their butts and the best deals on building lots in one of the developer's housing additions voted?
So, after all this rhetoric, the prosecutor who can clean up our commissioners' act will have my vote.
Tony Miller
Warsaw
SWAT Response
Editor, Times-Union:In regards to Mr. Holderman's letter on March 20, (sheriff's race), saying that the SWAT team is better left for Fort Wayne or a bigger town, or even for more qualified team members. Well I happen to know several of the SWAT team members from Kosciusko County and I would have to say I wouldn't trust my life or that of any friends or neighbors to anyone else but our SWAT team. These men went through extensive training and continue to train on their own time and most of all for their own beliefs, that what they're doing is for our protection and safety.
Mr. Holderman also stated that you wouldn't want an inexperienced SWAT team to protect with high-powered rifles. First of all, they select a few men for the "sniper" position, and these men have grown up around firearms most of their lives, but for the most part Mr. Holderman makes it sound like they're going to be trigger-happy. Well, if he would be better informed, he would find out that the use of any weapon is the last resort in any situation.
Also Mr. Holderman was concerned about our tax dollars going for training. What's the difference if we send one of our sons or daughters to college, or we send one of our officers to a training course on how to better protect our community? I personally would rather pay a few hundred dollars for this training, because I know if I or my family was an "innocent bystander" I would rather have a well trained SWAT team to shoot that high-powered rifle to even at least try to save my life or others. You can't put a price on a life, why put a price on the training they do to protect that life?
Another thought to ponder on is that of the morale within the SWAT team, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Dept. and Warsaw City Police Dept. How could anyone deny the reason for high morale? Do you, Mr. Holderman, have family morals, beliefs and hopes? I would imagine you do. What would happen to your family if you had none of these things? It wouldn't be pretty. Well, it's the same for the SWAT team. I wouldn't want my husband or friend going to work everyday in an atmosphere that didn't have high morale. They deserve it.
Whether or not the SWAT team stays in effect after election doesn't matter to some. Many of us will still have respect and honor for our law enforcement officers who make up the SWAT team, and that, Mr. Holderman, you can't take away after election.
So next time you (Mr. Holderman) put down the use of our SWAT team, make sure there are more than a few of you who discredit the professions and beliefs of a whole team. One of these days you could be in a situation where you need the high-morale, high-powered rifles, which, yes, the SWAT team members carry, to protect you and possibly to save your life as well.
Last thoughts go out to all the SWAT team members and law enforcement agencies around the world. I am very proud of all of you for making the job choice you have. We need more Americans that could say, "I put my life in danger to save yours." My heart goes out to all of you.
Donna McCune
Silver Lake
P.S. Mr. Holderman, we need somebody to tell family members of an "innocent bystander" that their loved one is dead because an emergency response team was two to three hours away. Would you like to deliver that message?
Tri Kappa Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:On behalf of Tri Kappa Sorority, I would like to thank everyone who helped to make our recent Carnation Day sales a success. Tri Kappa is an Indiana-based sorority that promotes charity, culture and education.
As a result of our various events and fund-raisers, our local chapter is able to donate to both local and statewide causes. The last week of February has been designated Carnation Week for Tri Kappa throughout the state. During Carnation Week we sell carnations locally and donate all of the profits to a local need.
This year, the profits will benefit the family of Jill Walters to help defray current medical expenses. Personally, this event was a very rewarding experience for me. I was once again reminded of how caring this community truly is. In two days, we sold more than 1,000 carnations at both the high school and our local Owen's stores. Our reception at both locations was overwhelming as students and local consumers greeted us with smiles and waited patiently as we often had lines of people waiting. All too often we focus on the negatives of our society when, in fact, there are so many more positives. Though I have never doubted our community strength and ability to cumulatively assist others, it is a nice reminder to feel the warmth as we all pull together to help support a local family.
Debbie Sadler
Tri Kappa Chairman, Carnation Day Sales
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- Industrial Park - Roadside Trash - YMCA Improvements - Commissioners - SWAT Response - Tri Kappa Thanks
Industrial Park
Editor, Times-Union:I was reading with interest the front page of the Feb. 24 issue of the Times-Union the article "Tandy Seeks 2nd Term On Council" and was wondering where Mr. Tandy has been spending his life in the past few years?
Mr. Tandy expresses his concern about expansion of industry along U.S. 30 near Columbia City. His concern is and I quote "Kosciusko County does not have such a place for businesses to look at when they are wanting to expand or relocate." Tandy hopes that will change.
Apparently Mr. Tandy is blind to the fact that while traveling between Warsaw and Columbia City on U.S. 30 that he passes two industrial parks in Pierceton. They being the Matchett Park on the north side and the Arnold Park on the south side of U.S. 30.
Even worse perhaps Mr. Tandy doesn't know that Pierceton is in Kosciusko County.
These two parks offer several hundred acres for development.
Claud Stahl
Pierceton
Roadside Trash
Editor, Times-Union:People, please take a ride down County Road 650E toward the Barbee Lakes area. Note all the trash along the road. It's totally disgusting. There are plastic bottles, glass containers, paper, metal pieces and even a mattress lying in the ditch. How many times do we have to drive past other people's garbage before we do something to correct the problem? How about some fines or some community service help to at least assist in cleanup?
I wish people would show more pride in their environment and wouldn't litter in the first place. It's a lazy man's way out and it's a disgusting habit. There should be harsh fines for doing it.
Come on people! Let's clean up the roadways in Kosciusko County.
Let's show some pride where we live and drive. Make a difference don't just talk a difference. Actions do speak louder than words!
Sheryl Wallace
Pierceton
YMCA Improvements
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to thank the administration, staff and board members of the Kosciusko Community YMCA for the recent facility improvements. The new fitness center is truly state-of-the-art with the Cybex circuit, and the new weight room is greatly appreciated.
Also, I would like to thank everyone in our community who gave money toward this capital expansion. Your generous gifts will reap "dividends" for years to come as people strive for personal physical improvements at the Y.
Brad Green
Warsaw
Commissioners
Editor, Times-Union:Apparently we are looking at a close race for the upcoming election for county prosecutor. One way either candidate could get my vote would be to investigate the county commissioners for graft and corruption. Would we need to convene a grand jury? Ask me my opinion. Probably. But if you see any of our current commissioners this summer in their new "Speedo" you can't help but notice all the permanent lip imprints on their butts. It looks apparent that a few pounds were added from all the "free" dinners also. Seriously, you guys need to watch your calories if you are in a Speedo.
Back to the point at hand. The county planning commission denied the expansion of a housing development to an individual impersonating a developer. Their reasoning was simple when it was started three years ago. The commissioners and planners made it public information that the development needed to stay its current size due to the value of the land as farmland and the lack of sewers. Congratulations to the plan commission. But then it goes to our flawless, uncorruptable commissioners - Eddie and the brown-nosed eggheads only to be returned to the zoning board for additional consideration. Sounds to me like this means if you don't vote in favor of it the commissioners will.
Do you really have to ask how the commissioners with the biggest lip imprints on their butts and the best deals on building lots in one of the developer's housing additions voted?
So, after all this rhetoric, the prosecutor who can clean up our commissioners' act will have my vote.
Tony Miller
Warsaw
SWAT Response
Editor, Times-Union:In regards to Mr. Holderman's letter on March 20, (sheriff's race), saying that the SWAT team is better left for Fort Wayne or a bigger town, or even for more qualified team members. Well I happen to know several of the SWAT team members from Kosciusko County and I would have to say I wouldn't trust my life or that of any friends or neighbors to anyone else but our SWAT team. These men went through extensive training and continue to train on their own time and most of all for their own beliefs, that what they're doing is for our protection and safety.
Mr. Holderman also stated that you wouldn't want an inexperienced SWAT team to protect with high-powered rifles. First of all, they select a few men for the "sniper" position, and these men have grown up around firearms most of their lives, but for the most part Mr. Holderman makes it sound like they're going to be trigger-happy. Well, if he would be better informed, he would find out that the use of any weapon is the last resort in any situation.
Also Mr. Holderman was concerned about our tax dollars going for training. What's the difference if we send one of our sons or daughters to college, or we send one of our officers to a training course on how to better protect our community? I personally would rather pay a few hundred dollars for this training, because I know if I or my family was an "innocent bystander" I would rather have a well trained SWAT team to shoot that high-powered rifle to even at least try to save my life or others. You can't put a price on a life, why put a price on the training they do to protect that life?
Another thought to ponder on is that of the morale within the SWAT team, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Dept. and Warsaw City Police Dept. How could anyone deny the reason for high morale? Do you, Mr. Holderman, have family morals, beliefs and hopes? I would imagine you do. What would happen to your family if you had none of these things? It wouldn't be pretty. Well, it's the same for the SWAT team. I wouldn't want my husband or friend going to work everyday in an atmosphere that didn't have high morale. They deserve it.
Whether or not the SWAT team stays in effect after election doesn't matter to some. Many of us will still have respect and honor for our law enforcement officers who make up the SWAT team, and that, Mr. Holderman, you can't take away after election.
So next time you (Mr. Holderman) put down the use of our SWAT team, make sure there are more than a few of you who discredit the professions and beliefs of a whole team. One of these days you could be in a situation where you need the high-morale, high-powered rifles, which, yes, the SWAT team members carry, to protect you and possibly to save your life as well.
Last thoughts go out to all the SWAT team members and law enforcement agencies around the world. I am very proud of all of you for making the job choice you have. We need more Americans that could say, "I put my life in danger to save yours." My heart goes out to all of you.
Donna McCune
Silver Lake
P.S. Mr. Holderman, we need somebody to tell family members of an "innocent bystander" that their loved one is dead because an emergency response team was two to three hours away. Would you like to deliver that message?
Tri Kappa Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:On behalf of Tri Kappa Sorority, I would like to thank everyone who helped to make our recent Carnation Day sales a success. Tri Kappa is an Indiana-based sorority that promotes charity, culture and education.
As a result of our various events and fund-raisers, our local chapter is able to donate to both local and statewide causes. The last week of February has been designated Carnation Week for Tri Kappa throughout the state. During Carnation Week we sell carnations locally and donate all of the profits to a local need.
This year, the profits will benefit the family of Jill Walters to help defray current medical expenses. Personally, this event was a very rewarding experience for me. I was once again reminded of how caring this community truly is. In two days, we sold more than 1,000 carnations at both the high school and our local Owen's stores. Our reception at both locations was overwhelming as students and local consumers greeted us with smiles and waited patiently as we often had lines of people waiting. All too often we focus on the negatives of our society when, in fact, there are so many more positives. Though I have never doubted our community strength and ability to cumulatively assist others, it is a nice reminder to feel the warmth as we all pull together to help support a local family.
Debbie Sadler
Tri Kappa Chairman, Carnation Day Sales
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