Letters to the Editor 05-13-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Tootsie Roll Drive - School Security - Rally Response - Smoking - Thanks To Wal-Mart - KKK
Tootsie Roll Drive
Editor, Times-Union:What do you do with 30,000 Tootsie Rolls? Warsaw Knights of Columbus Council 4511 is getting ready to do what they do best when faced with this problem every spring. On May 14 and 15, we will take to the street corners and storefronts. Along with volunteers from Kosciusko County Special Olympics and Cardinal Center, we will be accepting donations for our Campaign for Developmentally Disabled Youth. For our part, we will return your generosity with the gift of a chewy, chocolate delight - a Tootsie Roll. As we all know from previous years, these also make attractive dashboard ornaments!
Last year, Council 4511 again led Indiana in donations during this national campaign. All of the money collected in our county stays in our county. What you give to us goes back to ours and yours. 1998's total was $13,433 and we are shooting for an even $20,000 for 1999. We are certain that we can reach this goal with the caring help of Kosciusko County residents. So look for the yellow vests on Friday and Saturday. We'll be looking out for you.
Martin Pfister , K of C Council 4511
School Security
Editor, Times-Union:My name is Whitney and I am a senior at Tippecanoe Valley High School. Lately, because of the recent attention given to school security in light of the school shootings that have swept the nation, our safety at school has been a topic stressed to the public. Administrative officials have been quoted as of late, ensuring parents that the school doors are locked and that extra efforts were being made to ensure our safety. These quotes are blatant lies. As students in this school, we know that at any given time, we are lucky to find even a single door locked during our school day. I don't believe that these precautions would do anything to deter a serious attack anyway, but I do not appreciate the lies.
I believe the reason I am writing this now is solely because of events leading up to and occurring on Monday, May 10, immediately after school. It was made known to the office nearly two hours before the end of school (approximately 1:15 p.m.) that threats had been made toward students in our school. It is unclear who eventually contacted the police department, but by our last period, there were several police officers in the building/office area.
An armed suspect was expected to be in our parking lot after school. Instead of releasing students early or holding us after school until the situation was disarmed, we were released as usual. While students were making their way to their vehicles, three police cars flew up to the suspect's car and proceeded to draw their weapons and surround the vehicle. I was less than 20 feet away at the time and had the frightening experience of having a gun aimed at me. I believe that this situation could have been prevented. I realize that this was a volatile situation and that it could have ended violently. But I believe that we, the students, are the important ones and that our safety should be the school's No. 1 responsibility.
Whitney Stump, Silver Lake
Rally Response
Editor, Times-Union:I know that I am not alone when I offer my thanks and appreciation to our County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine! Thank you for all your effort in coordinating the events of last weekend. It was truly a blessing to see how all the different law enforcement departments worked together. People's First Amendment rights were honored while the impact of message of hate, fear, racism, antisemitism and prejudice were minimized.
Our thanks go out also in a mighty way to Rev. Randy Packer, president of the Warsaw Ministerial Association, and all the organizers of last Friday's "Celebration of Diversity" held at Center Lake Park. Through the work, prayers and efforts of our community working together we were able to proclaim the positive message of God's love for all people.
Thank you as well to the thousand or so people who were able to attend the "Celebration of Diversity" gathering and to those who could not but supported in other ways. Finally, I wish to thank the children who drew the pictures of peace, ethnic and racial diversity and unity which the downtown businesses displayed.
Our world does not need more of the message of hate and fear. I am proud to live in a community that dares to take a stand for the message of love.
Milton Gould, Warsaw
Smoking
Editor, Times-Union:Fort Wayne's policy on smoking is illogical. It seems the dominant reason being presented for restricting smoking is that these misguided smokers are costing us good health and therefore a diminution of quality of life. Please consider that both the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society attribute diet as well as smoking as a significant factor in the cause of their respective diseases. It is not hard for me to speculate that many more people eat than smoke, and that perhaps the cost to society because of diet, may surpass significantly the cost of smoking. What the proponents of the smoking ban are really saying is that they want to further restrict individual liberty, private property rights, and reduce sanctuary from government not for the good of the country, but because they can. (Smokers are a minority). After these enlightened citizens get their smoking ban, they will enter their favorite restaurants to celebrate the great service they have performed for America. Then they will proceed to order prime rib, pork chops and pizzas and heaven help anyone who says they can't.
Chas Creekmore, Pierceton
Thanks To Wal-Mart
Editor, Times-Union:I want to thank Wal-Mart for the $1,000 shopping certificate which I received as a part of Wal-Mart's 10th anniversary celebration. My wife, Thelma, and I had a good time shopping. Everyone was very helpful and friendly.
Dale Beery, Claypool
KKK
Editor, Times-Union:Once again, the majority of Kosciusko County residents rejected the hatred, violence, fear and racial separatism known as the KKK, although several KKK sympathizers were seen driving around aimlessly in circles in the downtown area.
At the actual rally or standing session, the KKK and several persons wearing black clothes and berets in a lame imitation of Benito Mussolini's Blackshirts (Italian fascists from WWII), tried to make themselves look like a silent peaceful persecuted minority in the face of a hostile crowd.
Their attempt failed, despite their public statement to county commissioners of being a peaceful, Christian-loving organization. Their real intention is to create hatred, suspicion and division among the residents of Kosciusko County.
Instead, what they accomplished was a massive police presence at taxpayers' expense, not a good way to gain sympathy from the public; restricted access to the downtown area; and disgraced the county courthouse and its war memorials. And for twenty minutes they were labeled as cowards, murderers, clowns, risking the wrath of God, heard evaluations of their I.Q., asked whether they graduated from grade school, given directions to the welfare and unemployment offices, informed that Jesse Jackson was going to get their vote and cursed at in several vulgar ways.
That sounds like a complete waste of time for a group of people who spent a Saturday afternoon by renting a bus to drive to another county, to set up a PA system on the steps of the courthouse. With the intention to speak to the public, parade around the courthouse square and distribute so-called literature to the general public.
Gladly, they decided to leave the county after having a group discussion about the clear-cut lack of support from any member of the public who were present at the rally.
Alex Houze, Leesburg
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- Tootsie Roll Drive - School Security - Rally Response - Smoking - Thanks To Wal-Mart - KKK
Tootsie Roll Drive
Editor, Times-Union:What do you do with 30,000 Tootsie Rolls? Warsaw Knights of Columbus Council 4511 is getting ready to do what they do best when faced with this problem every spring. On May 14 and 15, we will take to the street corners and storefronts. Along with volunteers from Kosciusko County Special Olympics and Cardinal Center, we will be accepting donations for our Campaign for Developmentally Disabled Youth. For our part, we will return your generosity with the gift of a chewy, chocolate delight - a Tootsie Roll. As we all know from previous years, these also make attractive dashboard ornaments!
Last year, Council 4511 again led Indiana in donations during this national campaign. All of the money collected in our county stays in our county. What you give to us goes back to ours and yours. 1998's total was $13,433 and we are shooting for an even $20,000 for 1999. We are certain that we can reach this goal with the caring help of Kosciusko County residents. So look for the yellow vests on Friday and Saturday. We'll be looking out for you.
Martin Pfister , K of C Council 4511
School Security
Editor, Times-Union:My name is Whitney and I am a senior at Tippecanoe Valley High School. Lately, because of the recent attention given to school security in light of the school shootings that have swept the nation, our safety at school has been a topic stressed to the public. Administrative officials have been quoted as of late, ensuring parents that the school doors are locked and that extra efforts were being made to ensure our safety. These quotes are blatant lies. As students in this school, we know that at any given time, we are lucky to find even a single door locked during our school day. I don't believe that these precautions would do anything to deter a serious attack anyway, but I do not appreciate the lies.
I believe the reason I am writing this now is solely because of events leading up to and occurring on Monday, May 10, immediately after school. It was made known to the office nearly two hours before the end of school (approximately 1:15 p.m.) that threats had been made toward students in our school. It is unclear who eventually contacted the police department, but by our last period, there were several police officers in the building/office area.
An armed suspect was expected to be in our parking lot after school. Instead of releasing students early or holding us after school until the situation was disarmed, we were released as usual. While students were making their way to their vehicles, three police cars flew up to the suspect's car and proceeded to draw their weapons and surround the vehicle. I was less than 20 feet away at the time and had the frightening experience of having a gun aimed at me. I believe that this situation could have been prevented. I realize that this was a volatile situation and that it could have ended violently. But I believe that we, the students, are the important ones and that our safety should be the school's No. 1 responsibility.
Whitney Stump, Silver Lake
Rally Response
Editor, Times-Union:I know that I am not alone when I offer my thanks and appreciation to our County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine! Thank you for all your effort in coordinating the events of last weekend. It was truly a blessing to see how all the different law enforcement departments worked together. People's First Amendment rights were honored while the impact of message of hate, fear, racism, antisemitism and prejudice were minimized.
Our thanks go out also in a mighty way to Rev. Randy Packer, president of the Warsaw Ministerial Association, and all the organizers of last Friday's "Celebration of Diversity" held at Center Lake Park. Through the work, prayers and efforts of our community working together we were able to proclaim the positive message of God's love for all people.
Thank you as well to the thousand or so people who were able to attend the "Celebration of Diversity" gathering and to those who could not but supported in other ways. Finally, I wish to thank the children who drew the pictures of peace, ethnic and racial diversity and unity which the downtown businesses displayed.
Our world does not need more of the message of hate and fear. I am proud to live in a community that dares to take a stand for the message of love.
Milton Gould, Warsaw
Smoking
Editor, Times-Union:Fort Wayne's policy on smoking is illogical. It seems the dominant reason being presented for restricting smoking is that these misguided smokers are costing us good health and therefore a diminution of quality of life. Please consider that both the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society attribute diet as well as smoking as a significant factor in the cause of their respective diseases. It is not hard for me to speculate that many more people eat than smoke, and that perhaps the cost to society because of diet, may surpass significantly the cost of smoking. What the proponents of the smoking ban are really saying is that they want to further restrict individual liberty, private property rights, and reduce sanctuary from government not for the good of the country, but because they can. (Smokers are a minority). After these enlightened citizens get their smoking ban, they will enter their favorite restaurants to celebrate the great service they have performed for America. Then they will proceed to order prime rib, pork chops and pizzas and heaven help anyone who says they can't.
Chas Creekmore, Pierceton
Thanks To Wal-Mart
Editor, Times-Union:I want to thank Wal-Mart for the $1,000 shopping certificate which I received as a part of Wal-Mart's 10th anniversary celebration. My wife, Thelma, and I had a good time shopping. Everyone was very helpful and friendly.
Dale Beery, Claypool
KKK
Editor, Times-Union:Once again, the majority of Kosciusko County residents rejected the hatred, violence, fear and racial separatism known as the KKK, although several KKK sympathizers were seen driving around aimlessly in circles in the downtown area.
At the actual rally or standing session, the KKK and several persons wearing black clothes and berets in a lame imitation of Benito Mussolini's Blackshirts (Italian fascists from WWII), tried to make themselves look like a silent peaceful persecuted minority in the face of a hostile crowd.
Their attempt failed, despite their public statement to county commissioners of being a peaceful, Christian-loving organization. Their real intention is to create hatred, suspicion and division among the residents of Kosciusko County.
Instead, what they accomplished was a massive police presence at taxpayers' expense, not a good way to gain sympathy from the public; restricted access to the downtown area; and disgraced the county courthouse and its war memorials. And for twenty minutes they were labeled as cowards, murderers, clowns, risking the wrath of God, heard evaluations of their I.Q., asked whether they graduated from grade school, given directions to the welfare and unemployment offices, informed that Jesse Jackson was going to get their vote and cursed at in several vulgar ways.
That sounds like a complete waste of time for a group of people who spent a Saturday afternoon by renting a bus to drive to another county, to set up a PA system on the steps of the courthouse. With the intention to speak to the public, parade around the courthouse square and distribute so-called literature to the general public.
Gladly, they decided to leave the county after having a group discussion about the clear-cut lack of support from any member of the public who were present at the rally.
Alex Houze, Leesburg
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