Letters to the Editor 05-21-2004
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- God Bless The USA - School Issues - Vanlaningham Scholarship - MHA Honors Students - Property Taxes - Ashamed, Too - Don't Block Alley - Newton Responds
God Bless The USA
Editor, Times-Union:Dear Ms. Newton,
I can only assume after reading your "ashamed" letter that you must have been in a rare state of anger. How else could I rationalize the things you said?
I sincerely doubt that the beheading of Nick Berg had anything to do with the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners. These kinds of fanatics have been doing things like this for 2,000 years. They don't need an excuse because they are barbarians. It's acceptable behavior to them.
Also, since you've never worked for the CIA or the FBI then you really can't say that the WMD claim is a lie, can you? I know I don't feel qualified to say that. I just heard in the news today that there was poison gas found in a roadside bomb attack. Where did that come from? And if Saddam really didn't have WMDs, why didn't he just surrender? He knew he had no chance of defeating us and he was given ample opportunity to do so.
Furthermore, I thank my father in Heaven that I was born and raised in these great United States of America and I'm not, nor will I ever be, ashamed. Perhaps you should try living in another country for a few years and then you'd realize how wonderful it really is here.
The next time you're thanking God for your family, please remember to pray for our president, our country and all those who don't know him. Please read Romans 13:1.
God bless the USA!
Deb Morrison
Warsaw
via e-mail
School Issues
Editor, Times-Union:The judge has rules in favor of the school board with regard to the closing of three schools. What came out in the hearing was that the members of the school board do not have to listen to us the people. This according to Indiana law, which is contrary to our system of government. Elected officials are to represent we the people and do the bidding of the majority. According to the attorney representing the school board, the issue of closing the schools is political. If this be true, then the closing issue should be on the ballot for us to make the decision, and not be arbitrarily done by the school board and superintendent.
One argument by the superintendent is that closing the three schools would save around $300,000. One item listed for this saving is $10,000 for water. From this it would appear that the students from the three schools will not be using Warsaw or Winona Lake water. Also, there is additional costs for busing these students compared to present needs, especially for those from the south.
Persons living in districts other than the three schools are being affected. The schools will be crowded and the students will not receive the attention they are now getting. And not very far down the future I can see the superintendent saying we need more buildings, so let's go in debt and build them. The interest cost for doing so will come to a lot more per year than the so-called savings from closing.
Fred R. Yohey
Warsaw
Vanlaningham Scholarship
Editor, Times-Union:Amy Vanlaningham of Milford died from a Haitian bullet on May 22, 1984. Twenty-five years of age, she was completing her nurse's degree at Goshen College and had been assigned to Haiti for her study-service trimester. She was returning to her Haitian guest home after having attended an evening Goshen College student meeting when she was shot.
Amy was a committed Christian planning to nurse and assist the poor. She was the type of young lady that every community and church would be proud to claim.
Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hazel Vanlaningham, Milford, established a scholarship at Goshen College for nursing students in Amy's memory. It is given annually to at least one and sometimes two older students who are returning to college to complete their nursing studies and who could not qualify for other types of financial aid. A contribution to this scholarship fund is but one small way to remember Amy and the things she was planning to do in her life.
Berniece Dwyer
Milford
MHA Honors Students
Editor, Times-Union:The Mental Health Association of Kosciusko County Board of Directors would like to recognize and honor two very outstanding young people, Tiffany Frush and Philip Peters. They are Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education Seniors from Whitko High School who worked in our office this school year. Tiffany helps with the drug and alcohol, GED and parenting classes held by the MHA in the Kosciusko County Jail. She prepared lessons, graded homework and did endless hours of research. Tiffany also helped with the CARe Sexual Assault Prevention programs presented at the area high schools. Philip did copying, research, set up newsletters, prepared GED lessons and most of all, helped to present Good Touch/Bad Touch in the area elementary schools. Philip even allowed his picture to be published in this paper with "mouse ears and whiskers," his Mouse Talk costume. Philip also helps with the CARe presentations against dating violence and date rape in the high schools.
We want to commend these two young people for being outstanding examples of all that is good and right with American youth today and thank Whitko High School for producing such outstanding students. We also want to thank Mr. Begley, the ICE supervisor, for doing such an outstanding job with the ICE program. We also encourage any business that is approached to take part in the ICE program, you never know what a treasure you may find.
Sandra Frush
Executive Director
Mental Health Association of Kosciusko County
via e-mail
Property Taxes
Editor, Times-Union:"We want a better system," and "Do no harm," were the sentiments echoed in the Property Tax Replacement Study Committee, which met recently at the Statehouse. The property tax situation in Indiana is a frustration shared by many as the newly-formed committee, consisting of legislators, farmers, businessmen and homeowners, develops methods to reduce local government's reliance on property taxes.
Though the reassessment process has not been completed in several counties, agencies and organizations are collecting data that will aid the committee and the legislature in figuring ways to replace over $1.7 billion in property taxes collected each year and to provide oversight of over 9,000 levies and 172 different types of funds for localgovernment programs and services.
This monumental task is being conducted due to a law passed during the recently concluded legislative session. The committee must study the effects of eliminating 50 percent, 75 percent and 100 percent of net property tax levies.
One major hurdle for the committee is to identify revenue sources capable of replacing property taxes and providing sufficient revenue to maintain essential government services. The commission will submit status reports to the Legislative Council, which is the administrative body of the General Assembly, in June and September.
The committee broke down into small groups that will work on five major issues during the year: 1) Property Tax Administration Issues; 2) Local Government Services; 3) Long Term Debt Issues; 4) Other State Tax Systems; and 5) Property Tax Levies and Controls.
The goal is to lessen local governments' dependence on property taxes and create a more equitable and fair method of funding local government. As the committee continues its work this summer, we'll keep you informed of the progress or you can contact my office for further information.
State Sen. Kent Adams
Statehouse
via e-mail
Ashamed, Too
Editor, Times-Union:I'm ashamed also. I'm ashamed of Americans that will give aid and comfort to the enemy by condemning the war while we have combat troops in harm's way.
Do you people never stop to think of how much encouragement that sort of thing gives the enemy?
Kerry knows. He and Jane Fonda did the same thing 35 years ago.
Isn't it amazing that the closer we get to the elections the more opposition there is to the war.
Harold L. Kitson
Warsaw
Don't Block Alley
Editor, Times-Union:This is to the people that park in the alley between 15th Street and 16th Street in Winona Lake. That is an alley, not a driveway. Everyone should be able to drive through whenever they need to! What happens when the police or the firemen need to get through, they won't be able to. It doesn't matter how long they may honk their horn, these people still don't move their vehicles. There is a place along the road in front of the house to park just like everyone else does. Why can't they use that? I park my car behind my house because I have a driveway. I usually can't get to it unless I go down the road to the other end of the alley. That is not right. The alley should be clear so emergency vehicles and the trash removal can get through. Please stop parking in the alley. And keep your music turned down in your vehicle! Thank you.
Cassey Lindzy
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Newton Responds
Editor, Times-Union:In answer to Phil Smith and Amy Harding's letters of May 20. First of all I did not say the deviants who mistreated Iraqi prisoners represented all of America, but that is what the rest of the world sees and remembers. Sadly enough many in our nation think it is OK to treat the Iraqi prisoners is such a manner because they are blowing up our soldiers. Hello people, it is war and we infiltrated their country, not they in ours. If we are going to behave in such a despicable manner, then we are no better than they and we shouldn't be there. And what those few do, makes our enemies hate us even more and they will retaliate in kind.
There is nothing to link Saddam to 9/11, although I am sure he and his followers were dancing and cheering in the streets and wishing they had done the evil deed. Saddam was a threat to his own people and to some of the countries surrounding him, but not to us. We may have eliminated him but there are hundreds more like him ready to take his place. We cannot hunt down and kill everyone who hates America.
For your information I am no longer a libertarian and I am anything but a liberal. If you are wanting to call me names, I am extremely conservative so I suppose you could call me right-wing. I do not believe in war, abortion, homosexuality or any other evil. I will not buy into government propaganda on the lies of the politicians. I owe my allegiance to none other than my father in Heaven and my brothers and sisters in Christ. I believe in right and wrong, black and white, there are no gray areas and no in-betweens. There is only one way and it is my Father's way. I don't expect you to understand, you are blind to the truth. The truth shall set you free and yes I am free because my Jesus has set me free.
To Amy Harding, I do not hate this country but is is not nearly as great as it once was. When we began turning away from God and letting Satan in, it began slipping and as long as we continue to take God and His commandments out of our schools and public places and allow sex education, homosexuality, abortion and all the other evils in, we will continue to slide.
I do not consider your son's military enlistment and service in Iraq to have anything to do with my freedom. That is political propaganda. Take off the blinders.
I do hope sincerely he is back safe on U.S. soil.
Perhaps we have a little too much freedom in this country. You claim communism and despotism has killed 100 million people, how many unborn children have we killed in the name of freedom?
Deanna Newton
Warsaw
[[In-content Ad]]
- God Bless The USA - School Issues - Vanlaningham Scholarship - MHA Honors Students - Property Taxes - Ashamed, Too - Don't Block Alley - Newton Responds
God Bless The USA
Editor, Times-Union:Dear Ms. Newton,
I can only assume after reading your "ashamed" letter that you must have been in a rare state of anger. How else could I rationalize the things you said?
I sincerely doubt that the beheading of Nick Berg had anything to do with the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners. These kinds of fanatics have been doing things like this for 2,000 years. They don't need an excuse because they are barbarians. It's acceptable behavior to them.
Also, since you've never worked for the CIA or the FBI then you really can't say that the WMD claim is a lie, can you? I know I don't feel qualified to say that. I just heard in the news today that there was poison gas found in a roadside bomb attack. Where did that come from? And if Saddam really didn't have WMDs, why didn't he just surrender? He knew he had no chance of defeating us and he was given ample opportunity to do so.
Furthermore, I thank my father in Heaven that I was born and raised in these great United States of America and I'm not, nor will I ever be, ashamed. Perhaps you should try living in another country for a few years and then you'd realize how wonderful it really is here.
The next time you're thanking God for your family, please remember to pray for our president, our country and all those who don't know him. Please read Romans 13:1.
God bless the USA!
Deb Morrison
Warsaw
via e-mail
School Issues
Editor, Times-Union:The judge has rules in favor of the school board with regard to the closing of three schools. What came out in the hearing was that the members of the school board do not have to listen to us the people. This according to Indiana law, which is contrary to our system of government. Elected officials are to represent we the people and do the bidding of the majority. According to the attorney representing the school board, the issue of closing the schools is political. If this be true, then the closing issue should be on the ballot for us to make the decision, and not be arbitrarily done by the school board and superintendent.
One argument by the superintendent is that closing the three schools would save around $300,000. One item listed for this saving is $10,000 for water. From this it would appear that the students from the three schools will not be using Warsaw or Winona Lake water. Also, there is additional costs for busing these students compared to present needs, especially for those from the south.
Persons living in districts other than the three schools are being affected. The schools will be crowded and the students will not receive the attention they are now getting. And not very far down the future I can see the superintendent saying we need more buildings, so let's go in debt and build them. The interest cost for doing so will come to a lot more per year than the so-called savings from closing.
Fred R. Yohey
Warsaw
Vanlaningham Scholarship
Editor, Times-Union:Amy Vanlaningham of Milford died from a Haitian bullet on May 22, 1984. Twenty-five years of age, she was completing her nurse's degree at Goshen College and had been assigned to Haiti for her study-service trimester. She was returning to her Haitian guest home after having attended an evening Goshen College student meeting when she was shot.
Amy was a committed Christian planning to nurse and assist the poor. She was the type of young lady that every community and church would be proud to claim.
Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hazel Vanlaningham, Milford, established a scholarship at Goshen College for nursing students in Amy's memory. It is given annually to at least one and sometimes two older students who are returning to college to complete their nursing studies and who could not qualify for other types of financial aid. A contribution to this scholarship fund is but one small way to remember Amy and the things she was planning to do in her life.
Berniece Dwyer
Milford
MHA Honors Students
Editor, Times-Union:The Mental Health Association of Kosciusko County Board of Directors would like to recognize and honor two very outstanding young people, Tiffany Frush and Philip Peters. They are Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education Seniors from Whitko High School who worked in our office this school year. Tiffany helps with the drug and alcohol, GED and parenting classes held by the MHA in the Kosciusko County Jail. She prepared lessons, graded homework and did endless hours of research. Tiffany also helped with the CARe Sexual Assault Prevention programs presented at the area high schools. Philip did copying, research, set up newsletters, prepared GED lessons and most of all, helped to present Good Touch/Bad Touch in the area elementary schools. Philip even allowed his picture to be published in this paper with "mouse ears and whiskers," his Mouse Talk costume. Philip also helps with the CARe presentations against dating violence and date rape in the high schools.
We want to commend these two young people for being outstanding examples of all that is good and right with American youth today and thank Whitko High School for producing such outstanding students. We also want to thank Mr. Begley, the ICE supervisor, for doing such an outstanding job with the ICE program. We also encourage any business that is approached to take part in the ICE program, you never know what a treasure you may find.
Sandra Frush
Executive Director
Mental Health Association of Kosciusko County
via e-mail
Property Taxes
Editor, Times-Union:"We want a better system," and "Do no harm," were the sentiments echoed in the Property Tax Replacement Study Committee, which met recently at the Statehouse. The property tax situation in Indiana is a frustration shared by many as the newly-formed committee, consisting of legislators, farmers, businessmen and homeowners, develops methods to reduce local government's reliance on property taxes.
Though the reassessment process has not been completed in several counties, agencies and organizations are collecting data that will aid the committee and the legislature in figuring ways to replace over $1.7 billion in property taxes collected each year and to provide oversight of over 9,000 levies and 172 different types of funds for localgovernment programs and services.
This monumental task is being conducted due to a law passed during the recently concluded legislative session. The committee must study the effects of eliminating 50 percent, 75 percent and 100 percent of net property tax levies.
One major hurdle for the committee is to identify revenue sources capable of replacing property taxes and providing sufficient revenue to maintain essential government services. The commission will submit status reports to the Legislative Council, which is the administrative body of the General Assembly, in June and September.
The committee broke down into small groups that will work on five major issues during the year: 1) Property Tax Administration Issues; 2) Local Government Services; 3) Long Term Debt Issues; 4) Other State Tax Systems; and 5) Property Tax Levies and Controls.
The goal is to lessen local governments' dependence on property taxes and create a more equitable and fair method of funding local government. As the committee continues its work this summer, we'll keep you informed of the progress or you can contact my office for further information.
State Sen. Kent Adams
Statehouse
via e-mail
Ashamed, Too
Editor, Times-Union:I'm ashamed also. I'm ashamed of Americans that will give aid and comfort to the enemy by condemning the war while we have combat troops in harm's way.
Do you people never stop to think of how much encouragement that sort of thing gives the enemy?
Kerry knows. He and Jane Fonda did the same thing 35 years ago.
Isn't it amazing that the closer we get to the elections the more opposition there is to the war.
Harold L. Kitson
Warsaw
Don't Block Alley
Editor, Times-Union:This is to the people that park in the alley between 15th Street and 16th Street in Winona Lake. That is an alley, not a driveway. Everyone should be able to drive through whenever they need to! What happens when the police or the firemen need to get through, they won't be able to. It doesn't matter how long they may honk their horn, these people still don't move their vehicles. There is a place along the road in front of the house to park just like everyone else does. Why can't they use that? I park my car behind my house because I have a driveway. I usually can't get to it unless I go down the road to the other end of the alley. That is not right. The alley should be clear so emergency vehicles and the trash removal can get through. Please stop parking in the alley. And keep your music turned down in your vehicle! Thank you.
Cassey Lindzy
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Newton Responds
Editor, Times-Union:In answer to Phil Smith and Amy Harding's letters of May 20. First of all I did not say the deviants who mistreated Iraqi prisoners represented all of America, but that is what the rest of the world sees and remembers. Sadly enough many in our nation think it is OK to treat the Iraqi prisoners is such a manner because they are blowing up our soldiers. Hello people, it is war and we infiltrated their country, not they in ours. If we are going to behave in such a despicable manner, then we are no better than they and we shouldn't be there. And what those few do, makes our enemies hate us even more and they will retaliate in kind.
There is nothing to link Saddam to 9/11, although I am sure he and his followers were dancing and cheering in the streets and wishing they had done the evil deed. Saddam was a threat to his own people and to some of the countries surrounding him, but not to us. We may have eliminated him but there are hundreds more like him ready to take his place. We cannot hunt down and kill everyone who hates America.
For your information I am no longer a libertarian and I am anything but a liberal. If you are wanting to call me names, I am extremely conservative so I suppose you could call me right-wing. I do not believe in war, abortion, homosexuality or any other evil. I will not buy into government propaganda on the lies of the politicians. I owe my allegiance to none other than my father in Heaven and my brothers and sisters in Christ. I believe in right and wrong, black and white, there are no gray areas and no in-betweens. There is only one way and it is my Father's way. I don't expect you to understand, you are blind to the truth. The truth shall set you free and yes I am free because my Jesus has set me free.
To Amy Harding, I do not hate this country but is is not nearly as great as it once was. When we began turning away from God and letting Satan in, it began slipping and as long as we continue to take God and His commandments out of our schools and public places and allow sex education, homosexuality, abortion and all the other evils in, we will continue to slide.
I do not consider your son's military enlistment and service in Iraq to have anything to do with my freedom. That is political propaganda. Take off the blinders.
I do hope sincerely he is back safe on U.S. soil.
Perhaps we have a little too much freedom in this country. You claim communism and despotism has killed 100 million people, how many unborn children have we killed in the name of freedom?
Deanna Newton
Warsaw
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092