Letters to the Editor 04-10-2000
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Disappointed - Sign Collectors - We Need Meijer - Opposes Meijer - Senior Center
Disappointed
Editor, Times-Union:I have delayed writing this letter for quite some time but feel, after three years, adequate time has passed. I have been a single mother for eight years. At the time of my divorce, I was granted full custody of our three children and their father was court-ordered to pay support weekly, as I'm sure all non-custodial parents are ordered to do. My children's father stopped paying and I looked at my options. I could hire an attorney or file an application, along with a small fee, with the Prosecuting Attorney's Office to receive help in enforcing child support. At that time, I felt the prosecutor's office would be my best bet. I filed on 9-7-97. I supplied the information they requested: home address of their father, business address, and his home and business phone numbers. After numerous contacts with the prosecutor's office a hearing date was set. He failed to appear, so I was told they would reschedule. Why? To accommodate him? Is that how deadbeat parents are dealt with? Why am I being treated so poorly by the prosecutor's office? Why are only certain people punished for not following court orders? I believe Contempt of Court should not exclude anyone. Are there certain stipulations I'm not aware of?
I have been in the Justice Building many times and have seen the posters of parents wanted for non-support. I can only think that this is a waste of time and paper. If the enforcement isn't there why would this service be offered? I realize there are many other cases like mine, and I can only hope they don't have to wait for three years to find out that there is no enforcement, only false promises. I am extremely disappointed in our Judicial System and the services of the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, including their Child Enforcement Program.
Penny Williamson
Warsaw
Sign Collectors
Editor, Times-Union:If you would be so kind as to pass this message on to our local sign collectors. With election day in Indiana now less than a month away I have found it necessary to post several signs around the Tippecanoe Valley School District informing the voting public of my willingness to be re-elected to the TVSC Board. I have found the past four years on the school board to be a rewarding yet challenging "adventure" and feel now qualified to serve a second more experienced and educated term. But back to the intent of this letter. ... It seems that someone in the community values my election signs so highly as to want them in their home collection. What I don't really understand is why they want so many of the signs. (I have a feeling that they are assuming an appreciation in value following the election.) If these persons would just understand that I will be more than willing to date and apply my signature to signs following the election I am certain it will be well worth the wait. I have also consulted with the sheriff's department and they also concur with the value of abstinence in these days prior to the election. Thank you for your assistance in this concern.
Bruce Andrews
Warsaw
We Need Meijer
Editor, Times-Union:I have lived in Jackson, Michigan, and Findlay, Ohio and have found Meijer a great place to shop. Moved to Warsaw 15 years ago and find it very unusual for a town our size to have only two major supermarkets. I feel they have a monopoly and can charge whatever they want, I also resent having to showÊID in order to buy their advertised specials. We need Meijer and I hope Owen's and Marsh are not the only ones with friends.
Alice Young
via e-mailÊ
Opposes Meijer
Editor, Times-Union:I read with interest the article about the proposed Meijer store published in Tuesday's Times-Union. It sounds from the article that Jeff Noffsinger is comfortable with the proposed plan in terms of traffic. Traffic certainly is one of the major issues in this proposal; however, I don't believe Mr. Noffsinger fully understands the real flow of traffic in this area from the surrounding lakes and county nor the traffic flow from the east and northeast. Even with the intersection of Parker and 30 reconstruction, this area is going to be congested. I grew up in this community but have lived in nine different communities in Illinois and Indiana since high school and I must say Warsaw's city planning and development over the past 20 years has been poor or non-existent. Take a look around and you can see zoning variations that have been granted with little or no thought to the future. A prime example is the debacle around the Marketplace Shopping Center, etc. I would like to challenge the city council to show the residents of Warsaw a long-term plan for the community. I doubt one exists. This is not necessarily the fault of the current administration since this has been ongoing for a long time. It's these kinds of decisions, however, that affect everybody.
Traffic is not the only issue on the table in this proposal. There are also 169 residences in the three major subdivisions and along Husky Trail and Patterson Road that are directly affected by the rezoning of this property from R-1 to C-5. Issues for these residents include:
1. Safety - Harrison Elementary School and the Deb Collier School of Dance are in close proximity to the property in question.
2. Drainage - Meijer has addressed drainage in their proposal, however it still is a concern since the Patterson Place Subdivision drains to the north and occasionally has problems of its own.
3. Property values - Meijer has promised to show specific documentation on how other Meijer stores have helped property values increase. This is supposed to be available at the 4/10 meeting.
4. Debris and litter - It will be difficult if not impossible for Meijer to guarantee debris and litter will not be prevalent in the area (just look at the area around Wal-Mart).
5. Noise pollution - Unloading of trucks 24 hours a day (per Meijer 4-8 trucks per day (?)), traffic in and out of Meijer at all hours of the day, talking and shouting in the parking lots at all hours, etc.
6. Lighting - All night these residences will be subjected to lights in their bedrooms, living rooms, etc.
7. Security - 24-hour a day operations easily become hang-outs or meeting places.
8. Gas station - also a 24-hour a day operation.
9. Outlots - Meijer is proposing four outlots where possibly banks, restaurants, etc., may locate, increasing traffic problems more.
My hope is our community leaders will act prudently after reviewing the plan and deny this request for a zoning variance. There are numerous places Meijer can locate but this is not the proper place. The only winners in this are the property owner and Meijer (who incidentally saves $$$ as a result of not locating on U.S. 30). Some residents say this may be the best of what could later come. The issue is not to accept zoning inconsistent and incompatible with the existing area.
I urge all residents who may be directly affected by this proposal and those in other housing developments who could face a similar issue in the future to attend this hearing at 7 p.m. on 4/10 in the old courthouse.
Steve Holbrook
Warsaw
Senior Center
Editor, Times-Union:The Senior Activity Center may have drawn its last breath. Try as we may to encourage new members, at long last we were blessed with a super director and now he has been ushered out.
It would take 10 letters to you to enumerate his achievements on our behalf. Many programs have been put in place and a clean and loving environment abounds. I can be certain that Jim will have a new cause to put his heart and mind to. However, those seniors that have benefited over and over from his tireless efforts are experiencing a tremendous loss of leadership.
Jim Smelser had one very important trait. He loved his job because he loved to make life better for others.
I beg our mayor, city council members and others who care to look into what is going on.
Marge Gast
Warsaw
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- Disappointed - Sign Collectors - We Need Meijer - Opposes Meijer - Senior Center
Disappointed
Editor, Times-Union:I have delayed writing this letter for quite some time but feel, after three years, adequate time has passed. I have been a single mother for eight years. At the time of my divorce, I was granted full custody of our three children and their father was court-ordered to pay support weekly, as I'm sure all non-custodial parents are ordered to do. My children's father stopped paying and I looked at my options. I could hire an attorney or file an application, along with a small fee, with the Prosecuting Attorney's Office to receive help in enforcing child support. At that time, I felt the prosecutor's office would be my best bet. I filed on 9-7-97. I supplied the information they requested: home address of their father, business address, and his home and business phone numbers. After numerous contacts with the prosecutor's office a hearing date was set. He failed to appear, so I was told they would reschedule. Why? To accommodate him? Is that how deadbeat parents are dealt with? Why am I being treated so poorly by the prosecutor's office? Why are only certain people punished for not following court orders? I believe Contempt of Court should not exclude anyone. Are there certain stipulations I'm not aware of?
I have been in the Justice Building many times and have seen the posters of parents wanted for non-support. I can only think that this is a waste of time and paper. If the enforcement isn't there why would this service be offered? I realize there are many other cases like mine, and I can only hope they don't have to wait for three years to find out that there is no enforcement, only false promises. I am extremely disappointed in our Judicial System and the services of the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, including their Child Enforcement Program.
Penny Williamson
Warsaw
Sign Collectors
Editor, Times-Union:If you would be so kind as to pass this message on to our local sign collectors. With election day in Indiana now less than a month away I have found it necessary to post several signs around the Tippecanoe Valley School District informing the voting public of my willingness to be re-elected to the TVSC Board. I have found the past four years on the school board to be a rewarding yet challenging "adventure" and feel now qualified to serve a second more experienced and educated term. But back to the intent of this letter. ... It seems that someone in the community values my election signs so highly as to want them in their home collection. What I don't really understand is why they want so many of the signs. (I have a feeling that they are assuming an appreciation in value following the election.) If these persons would just understand that I will be more than willing to date and apply my signature to signs following the election I am certain it will be well worth the wait. I have also consulted with the sheriff's department and they also concur with the value of abstinence in these days prior to the election. Thank you for your assistance in this concern.
Bruce Andrews
Warsaw
We Need Meijer
Editor, Times-Union:I have lived in Jackson, Michigan, and Findlay, Ohio and have found Meijer a great place to shop. Moved to Warsaw 15 years ago and find it very unusual for a town our size to have only two major supermarkets. I feel they have a monopoly and can charge whatever they want, I also resent having to showÊID in order to buy their advertised specials. We need Meijer and I hope Owen's and Marsh are not the only ones with friends.
Alice Young
via e-mailÊ
Opposes Meijer
Editor, Times-Union:I read with interest the article about the proposed Meijer store published in Tuesday's Times-Union. It sounds from the article that Jeff Noffsinger is comfortable with the proposed plan in terms of traffic. Traffic certainly is one of the major issues in this proposal; however, I don't believe Mr. Noffsinger fully understands the real flow of traffic in this area from the surrounding lakes and county nor the traffic flow from the east and northeast. Even with the intersection of Parker and 30 reconstruction, this area is going to be congested. I grew up in this community but have lived in nine different communities in Illinois and Indiana since high school and I must say Warsaw's city planning and development over the past 20 years has been poor or non-existent. Take a look around and you can see zoning variations that have been granted with little or no thought to the future. A prime example is the debacle around the Marketplace Shopping Center, etc. I would like to challenge the city council to show the residents of Warsaw a long-term plan for the community. I doubt one exists. This is not necessarily the fault of the current administration since this has been ongoing for a long time. It's these kinds of decisions, however, that affect everybody.
Traffic is not the only issue on the table in this proposal. There are also 169 residences in the three major subdivisions and along Husky Trail and Patterson Road that are directly affected by the rezoning of this property from R-1 to C-5. Issues for these residents include:
1. Safety - Harrison Elementary School and the Deb Collier School of Dance are in close proximity to the property in question.
2. Drainage - Meijer has addressed drainage in their proposal, however it still is a concern since the Patterson Place Subdivision drains to the north and occasionally has problems of its own.
3. Property values - Meijer has promised to show specific documentation on how other Meijer stores have helped property values increase. This is supposed to be available at the 4/10 meeting.
4. Debris and litter - It will be difficult if not impossible for Meijer to guarantee debris and litter will not be prevalent in the area (just look at the area around Wal-Mart).
5. Noise pollution - Unloading of trucks 24 hours a day (per Meijer 4-8 trucks per day (?)), traffic in and out of Meijer at all hours of the day, talking and shouting in the parking lots at all hours, etc.
6. Lighting - All night these residences will be subjected to lights in their bedrooms, living rooms, etc.
7. Security - 24-hour a day operations easily become hang-outs or meeting places.
8. Gas station - also a 24-hour a day operation.
9. Outlots - Meijer is proposing four outlots where possibly banks, restaurants, etc., may locate, increasing traffic problems more.
My hope is our community leaders will act prudently after reviewing the plan and deny this request for a zoning variance. There are numerous places Meijer can locate but this is not the proper place. The only winners in this are the property owner and Meijer (who incidentally saves $$$ as a result of not locating on U.S. 30). Some residents say this may be the best of what could later come. The issue is not to accept zoning inconsistent and incompatible with the existing area.
I urge all residents who may be directly affected by this proposal and those in other housing developments who could face a similar issue in the future to attend this hearing at 7 p.m. on 4/10 in the old courthouse.
Steve Holbrook
Warsaw
Senior Center
Editor, Times-Union:The Senior Activity Center may have drawn its last breath. Try as we may to encourage new members, at long last we were blessed with a super director and now he has been ushered out.
It would take 10 letters to you to enumerate his achievements on our behalf. Many programs have been put in place and a clean and loving environment abounds. I can be certain that Jim will have a new cause to put his heart and mind to. However, those seniors that have benefited over and over from his tireless efforts are experiencing a tremendous loss of leadership.
Jim Smelser had one very important trait. He loved his job because he loved to make life better for others.
I beg our mayor, city council members and others who care to look into what is going on.
Marge Gast
Warsaw
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