Letters to the Editor 04-12-2005
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Abuse And Neglect - Lottery Money - Vandals - No Call Law - Responds To Response - Boys, Girls Club Week
Abuse And Neglect
Editor, Times-Union:Last year in Indiana, more than 63,000 children were reported as being abused or neglected, and over one-third of those were substantiated. Fifty-seven children died in Indiana as a result of being abused or neglected, most often at the hands of a family member or friend.
While it is important to take note of these statistics and to learn from them, it is perhaps even more important to prevent abuse and neglect from happening in the first place. That's why April has been designated Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Awareness Month. Prevention is possible and we encourage all Hoosiers to join us in the effort to stop the pain before it starts.
Here are a few simple ways each of us can help prevent child abuse and neglect:
n Be a nurturing parent. Children need to know they are special and loved. Educate yourself about a child's development process so you can have reasonable expectations about what your child can and cannot do.
n Help a friend, neighbor or relative. Being a parent isn't easy. Someone you know may be struggling with his or her parenting responsibilities. Offer a helping hand.
n Help yourself. When the big and little problems of everyday life pile up to the point you feel overwhelmed and out of control, take time out. Know where you can turn for help when you need it.
n Learn how to calm a crying baby. It can be frustrating to hear your baby cry, especially when nothing you do seems to work. Learn what to do if your baby won't stop crying. But never shake a baby.
n Get involved. Advocate for services to help families. Ask your community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop services to meet the needs of children and families.
n Spend time with your children. Playing with your children, reading to them, or just being with them helps them feel loved. Make time every day for quality time.
n Report suspected abuse or neglect. Keeping children safe is the responsibility of every adult in our community. If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, call 574-267-8108. Remember - it's the law in Indiana to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
For more information about how to prevent child abuse and neglect, call Child Abuse Prevention Council Kosciusko County at 574-269-5760 or Prevent Child Abuse Indiana at 800-CHILDREN (800-244-5373).
Amy L. Drake
President, Child Abuse Prevention Council
Kosciusko County Inc.
Warsaw
Lottery Money
Editor, Times-Union:A specific subject or topic that's almost never discussed or debated in public is the subject of the Indiana lottery.
Some of us remember the inception of the Indiana lottery. Those who lobbied for the legalization of the lottery in Indiana made a faithful promise, the state will use the profits from the lottery to help fund schools, help fund road repairs and construction, and help keep property taxes low with little or no negative effects on the participants of legalized gambling.
I can't speak for others, but I personally feel like the victim of a bait-and-switch scheme. In the beginning (early 1990s), I did play sensibly like many others, and if I lost a couple bucks a week, it didn't matter because the money was going to a good cause. Now I never play because it's obvious the original intent of the Indiana lottery has been subverted. Property taxes have gone and continue to go up, schools are being closed weekly across the state because of lack of funds. Instead of smaller classes with more teachers, we have larger classes with fewer teachers. Some roads in the state are in disrepair, new construction has been halted and there's even talk of selling the toll road to private entities. As for negative effects beyond what I've just mentioned, compulsive gamblers have to be included in the equation.
To me it seems the Indiana lottery is just another bloated self-serving bureaucracy that has no intention of living up to the promise it made to the people of Indiana.
What becomes of all the profits made by the Indiana lottery bureau? Thanks to the readers. If anyone can expound on this subject, please feel free. I am anxiously awaiting your response.
Gene May
Etna Green
Vandals
Editor, Times-Union:In regards to Janet Miller's letter concerning the "BB Gun Vandals," I couldn't agree more.
The 18-year-old should serve some time. The juveniles should be under house arrest for a period of time, make the parents responsible for them. Also, they all should have to reimburse the cost of all damages. What good does it do for the police to find and arrest these people if the court doesn't make the consequences applicable to the seriousness of the offense?
A BB gun might not be considered a deadly weapon but if there are no real consequences, the next time it might not be just a BB gun. When are the courts, and parents, going to realize the little things lead to bigger things if there are no real consequences?
They say they have to release them because the jails are too overcrowded. If they made it less desirable they might not want to come back so soon. Make them work for their lodging. There is lots of trash along the roads to be picked up. In the winter time we sometimes have snow to be shoveled. There is a lot of things they could do beside sitting and watching TV, playing games, exercising, etc. They say we have one of the nicest jails and the best meals of any jail in the area.
Let's make it more undesirable for them and maybe we won't have so many repeat offenders. Let's help our police, they are as frustrated as we are.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kolbe Sr.
Warsaw
No Call Law
Editor, Times-Union:The campaign to save Indiana's No Call law from federal changes has taken numerous forms. While working with the Indiana Congressional delegation and state legislators to protect the law, our Indiana mayors have also taken time to show their support.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins joined more than 50 other Mayors across the state who publicly voiced their support in keeping the strong provisions of Indiana's law intact. The mayors recognize how many people would be adversely affected if the law is weakened.
This is a law that benefits more than 3.5 million people across Indiana. It is a nonpartisan issue with the support of mayors, legislators and congressmen alike. We are all united in continuing the privacy protections that Indiana's No Call law has provided for the past four years.
Eight out-of-state banks: Bank One, Fifth Third, Huntington, Key Bank, National City, PNC, Stock Yards and Wells Fargo, are forging ahead by supporting the Consumer Bankers Association petition with the Federal Communications Commission to force more unwanted telemarketing calls into your home. This would not be limited to banks. If successful, the changes would mean that any company you do business with now - your phone company, your mortgage company, credit card companies - could contact you to sell more products and services each time you pay a monthly bill. This would result in hundreds of unwanted telemarketing calls each year.
If you disagree with these banks, please call them and let them know how you feel. And remember, more than 200 other Indiana banks do respect your privacy. For a list of all banks, their contact information and more about this issue, visit www.SaveDoNotCall.com
We are working hard to defend against this attack and appreciate all of the support from our public officials.
Steve Carter
Indiana Attorney General
via e-mail
Responds To Response
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to Gene May's March 24 response letter to my March 15 response letter to his Dec. 2, Jan. 13, Feb. 2, Feb. 9, Feb. 15, Feb. 24 and March 1 letters to the editor.
First, I will begin by saying that to all the local critics and supporters of the Bush administration, keep doing what you are doing, it is an important contribution to freedom of speech, real political debate and the future of our country. Second, Mr. May, I do not have and do not want the authority to decide what appears on the letters to the editor page, the managing editor of the Times-Union has that authority as it clearly states in the Times-Union's letters policy. Third, apparently merely suggesting from one letter writer to another letter writer that you relax a little bit so that you do not embarrass yourself by sounding like a local demagogue who grandstands on a soapbox in the courthouse square by getting his 2 cents in on everything under the sun and hoping to aroused the masses to act on his personal agenda so he can satisfy his ego-mania is apparently overstepping my bounds, so I will refrain from doing so in the future.
Fourth, I did notice that you did take a timeout since there was a gap between your March 1 and March 21 letters so you shouldn't be puzzled by what I said in my March 15 letter.
Fifth, Mr. May, have you ever used any of your "sharp-edged words" in any letters sent directly to those who have political power? Sixth, the readers of the Times-Union will decide for themselves about whether your letters to the editor are the truth or propaganda or somewhere in between. And, yes, I do know that also applies to me and anyone else who writes letters to the editor.
Finally, Mr. May, I know that you probably will accuse me of the same things that I have said about you or worse and that I have proven your point. But I really do not care anymore and like you I also agree with Mark Rogers' March 15 letter "Personal Attacks" but you also should expect to be challenged and questioned in public when you write a response letter toward me.
I am not going to waste my time in any future letters to the editor supporting or criticizing your letters or responding to any support or criticism of my letters by you.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Boys, Girls Club Week
Editor, Times-Union:National Boys & Girls Club Week, April 3 - 9, is the time each year when some 3,400 communities around the nation, including Kosciusko County, celebrate the important work of their local Boys & Girls Clubs - saving and changing young lives, every day, every week - all year long.
These are troubling times for our nation, especially for children. However, while we help our kids cope with the daily media reports of terrorism and war, other dangers lurk much closer to home. Child predators, gang violence, drugs, sexual abuse and academic failure are but a few of the challenges they deal with daily.
We usually think of the home, with a solid family life and parental guidance, as the answer to nurturing and protecting our kids. But for millions of children in America, there's a gap. Research indicates the hours of 3-8 p.m. as the most dangerous time of day for young people - when crime involving youth doubles - as they leave school and return to an empty household or neighborhood street, idle and unsupervised.
The answer, according to experts, is to provide after-school programs in every community. In neighborhoods with effective programs, most youth-related problems are minimized or eliminated. Children are safe, they're involved in life-enhancing experiences with caring adults and meaningful challenges, and they can better understand and handle the larger threats and fears affecting our nation and our world.
To help spread this message, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is promoting Campaign 3PM, an awareness effort advocating that every young person be involved in a safe, structured, supervised after-school program, every day. As we prepare to celebrate National Boys & Girls Club Week with Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko County, may all parents, educators, caregivers and community leaders stop to consider what more can be done to make this dream a reality.
While we as a nation vigorously debate many difficult and complex issues, the well being of our kids - especially during the critical time of 3-8 p.m., every day - is one responsibility on which we should all agree.
Cindi Knepper
Executive director
Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko County
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- Abuse And Neglect - Lottery Money - Vandals - No Call Law - Responds To Response - Boys, Girls Club Week
Abuse And Neglect
Editor, Times-Union:Last year in Indiana, more than 63,000 children were reported as being abused or neglected, and over one-third of those were substantiated. Fifty-seven children died in Indiana as a result of being abused or neglected, most often at the hands of a family member or friend.
While it is important to take note of these statistics and to learn from them, it is perhaps even more important to prevent abuse and neglect from happening in the first place. That's why April has been designated Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Awareness Month. Prevention is possible and we encourage all Hoosiers to join us in the effort to stop the pain before it starts.
Here are a few simple ways each of us can help prevent child abuse and neglect:
n Be a nurturing parent. Children need to know they are special and loved. Educate yourself about a child's development process so you can have reasonable expectations about what your child can and cannot do.
n Help a friend, neighbor or relative. Being a parent isn't easy. Someone you know may be struggling with his or her parenting responsibilities. Offer a helping hand.
n Help yourself. When the big and little problems of everyday life pile up to the point you feel overwhelmed and out of control, take time out. Know where you can turn for help when you need it.
n Learn how to calm a crying baby. It can be frustrating to hear your baby cry, especially when nothing you do seems to work. Learn what to do if your baby won't stop crying. But never shake a baby.
n Get involved. Advocate for services to help families. Ask your community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop services to meet the needs of children and families.
n Spend time with your children. Playing with your children, reading to them, or just being with them helps them feel loved. Make time every day for quality time.
n Report suspected abuse or neglect. Keeping children safe is the responsibility of every adult in our community. If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, call 574-267-8108. Remember - it's the law in Indiana to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
For more information about how to prevent child abuse and neglect, call Child Abuse Prevention Council Kosciusko County at 574-269-5760 or Prevent Child Abuse Indiana at 800-CHILDREN (800-244-5373).
Amy L. Drake
President, Child Abuse Prevention Council
Kosciusko County Inc.
Warsaw
Lottery Money
Editor, Times-Union:A specific subject or topic that's almost never discussed or debated in public is the subject of the Indiana lottery.
Some of us remember the inception of the Indiana lottery. Those who lobbied for the legalization of the lottery in Indiana made a faithful promise, the state will use the profits from the lottery to help fund schools, help fund road repairs and construction, and help keep property taxes low with little or no negative effects on the participants of legalized gambling.
I can't speak for others, but I personally feel like the victim of a bait-and-switch scheme. In the beginning (early 1990s), I did play sensibly like many others, and if I lost a couple bucks a week, it didn't matter because the money was going to a good cause. Now I never play because it's obvious the original intent of the Indiana lottery has been subverted. Property taxes have gone and continue to go up, schools are being closed weekly across the state because of lack of funds. Instead of smaller classes with more teachers, we have larger classes with fewer teachers. Some roads in the state are in disrepair, new construction has been halted and there's even talk of selling the toll road to private entities. As for negative effects beyond what I've just mentioned, compulsive gamblers have to be included in the equation.
To me it seems the Indiana lottery is just another bloated self-serving bureaucracy that has no intention of living up to the promise it made to the people of Indiana.
What becomes of all the profits made by the Indiana lottery bureau? Thanks to the readers. If anyone can expound on this subject, please feel free. I am anxiously awaiting your response.
Gene May
Etna Green
Vandals
Editor, Times-Union:In regards to Janet Miller's letter concerning the "BB Gun Vandals," I couldn't agree more.
The 18-year-old should serve some time. The juveniles should be under house arrest for a period of time, make the parents responsible for them. Also, they all should have to reimburse the cost of all damages. What good does it do for the police to find and arrest these people if the court doesn't make the consequences applicable to the seriousness of the offense?
A BB gun might not be considered a deadly weapon but if there are no real consequences, the next time it might not be just a BB gun. When are the courts, and parents, going to realize the little things lead to bigger things if there are no real consequences?
They say they have to release them because the jails are too overcrowded. If they made it less desirable they might not want to come back so soon. Make them work for their lodging. There is lots of trash along the roads to be picked up. In the winter time we sometimes have snow to be shoveled. There is a lot of things they could do beside sitting and watching TV, playing games, exercising, etc. They say we have one of the nicest jails and the best meals of any jail in the area.
Let's make it more undesirable for them and maybe we won't have so many repeat offenders. Let's help our police, they are as frustrated as we are.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kolbe Sr.
Warsaw
No Call Law
Editor, Times-Union:The campaign to save Indiana's No Call law from federal changes has taken numerous forms. While working with the Indiana Congressional delegation and state legislators to protect the law, our Indiana mayors have also taken time to show their support.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins joined more than 50 other Mayors across the state who publicly voiced their support in keeping the strong provisions of Indiana's law intact. The mayors recognize how many people would be adversely affected if the law is weakened.
This is a law that benefits more than 3.5 million people across Indiana. It is a nonpartisan issue with the support of mayors, legislators and congressmen alike. We are all united in continuing the privacy protections that Indiana's No Call law has provided for the past four years.
Eight out-of-state banks: Bank One, Fifth Third, Huntington, Key Bank, National City, PNC, Stock Yards and Wells Fargo, are forging ahead by supporting the Consumer Bankers Association petition with the Federal Communications Commission to force more unwanted telemarketing calls into your home. This would not be limited to banks. If successful, the changes would mean that any company you do business with now - your phone company, your mortgage company, credit card companies - could contact you to sell more products and services each time you pay a monthly bill. This would result in hundreds of unwanted telemarketing calls each year.
If you disagree with these banks, please call them and let them know how you feel. And remember, more than 200 other Indiana banks do respect your privacy. For a list of all banks, their contact information and more about this issue, visit www.SaveDoNotCall.com
We are working hard to defend against this attack and appreciate all of the support from our public officials.
Steve Carter
Indiana Attorney General
via e-mail
Responds To Response
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to Gene May's March 24 response letter to my March 15 response letter to his Dec. 2, Jan. 13, Feb. 2, Feb. 9, Feb. 15, Feb. 24 and March 1 letters to the editor.
First, I will begin by saying that to all the local critics and supporters of the Bush administration, keep doing what you are doing, it is an important contribution to freedom of speech, real political debate and the future of our country. Second, Mr. May, I do not have and do not want the authority to decide what appears on the letters to the editor page, the managing editor of the Times-Union has that authority as it clearly states in the Times-Union's letters policy. Third, apparently merely suggesting from one letter writer to another letter writer that you relax a little bit so that you do not embarrass yourself by sounding like a local demagogue who grandstands on a soapbox in the courthouse square by getting his 2 cents in on everything under the sun and hoping to aroused the masses to act on his personal agenda so he can satisfy his ego-mania is apparently overstepping my bounds, so I will refrain from doing so in the future.
Fourth, I did notice that you did take a timeout since there was a gap between your March 1 and March 21 letters so you shouldn't be puzzled by what I said in my March 15 letter.
Fifth, Mr. May, have you ever used any of your "sharp-edged words" in any letters sent directly to those who have political power? Sixth, the readers of the Times-Union will decide for themselves about whether your letters to the editor are the truth or propaganda or somewhere in between. And, yes, I do know that also applies to me and anyone else who writes letters to the editor.
Finally, Mr. May, I know that you probably will accuse me of the same things that I have said about you or worse and that I have proven your point. But I really do not care anymore and like you I also agree with Mark Rogers' March 15 letter "Personal Attacks" but you also should expect to be challenged and questioned in public when you write a response letter toward me.
I am not going to waste my time in any future letters to the editor supporting or criticizing your letters or responding to any support or criticism of my letters by you.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Boys, Girls Club Week
Editor, Times-Union:National Boys & Girls Club Week, April 3 - 9, is the time each year when some 3,400 communities around the nation, including Kosciusko County, celebrate the important work of their local Boys & Girls Clubs - saving and changing young lives, every day, every week - all year long.
These are troubling times for our nation, especially for children. However, while we help our kids cope with the daily media reports of terrorism and war, other dangers lurk much closer to home. Child predators, gang violence, drugs, sexual abuse and academic failure are but a few of the challenges they deal with daily.
We usually think of the home, with a solid family life and parental guidance, as the answer to nurturing and protecting our kids. But for millions of children in America, there's a gap. Research indicates the hours of 3-8 p.m. as the most dangerous time of day for young people - when crime involving youth doubles - as they leave school and return to an empty household or neighborhood street, idle and unsupervised.
The answer, according to experts, is to provide after-school programs in every community. In neighborhoods with effective programs, most youth-related problems are minimized or eliminated. Children are safe, they're involved in life-enhancing experiences with caring adults and meaningful challenges, and they can better understand and handle the larger threats and fears affecting our nation and our world.
To help spread this message, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is promoting Campaign 3PM, an awareness effort advocating that every young person be involved in a safe, structured, supervised after-school program, every day. As we prepare to celebrate National Boys & Girls Club Week with Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko County, may all parents, educators, caregivers and community leaders stop to consider what more can be done to make this dream a reality.
While we as a nation vigorously debate many difficult and complex issues, the well being of our kids - especially during the critical time of 3-8 p.m., every day - is one responsibility on which we should all agree.
Cindi Knepper
Executive director
Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko County
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