Letters to the Editor 07-08-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Boating Mishap - Humane Society - Proud Of Kosciusko County - Literacy Volunteers
Boating Mishap
Editor, Times-Union:Our July 4 started out like any other, a family cookout and a day out on the boat. Little did we know it would take a turn for the worse. Luckily there are still people in this world who help those in need.
We went out on Chapman Lake for a day of fun in the sun and everything was going fine until we got to the middle of the lake and our boat wouldn't start. The next thing we knew three or four big waves washed right over the front of the boat and that was it. The boat started to sink right out from under us. It seemed like only seconds and we were all in the water, luckily we all had our life vests on. We yelled and yelled for help and finally three men saw us and realized we were in serious trouble. The next thing we knew there was a pontoon and a couple other boats helping out.
We want to thank the Gill family for taking us all on to your pontoon. The Ridenours, for staying with us until we were able to get the boat in and the people who gathered our skis and belongings. You all saved our lives and you'll never know how much we appreciate what you did. We thank the Lord for you everyday. God bless you.
David and Shawn Gargis and family, DeVon and Susan Craig, Ben Benedict
Humane Society
Editor, Times-Union:In February of 1998, the Times-Union ran a photo and story about the Humane Society of Kosciusko County receiving a check for $208,542.86 from the estate of the late Franklin and Virginia Putt, long-time residents of Syracuse. The photo shows Cathy Teghtmeyer accepting the check. Last week an article appeared in the Times-Union saying that the animal shelter needs food for the animals and the no-kill policy had to be changed due to lack of funds to keep the animals and feed them.
What is wrong with this picture? Why won't the Humane Society give some of the $208,000 to help the shelter care for the animals? I have talked with Julian Miller, the best friend of the Putts', and he told me that the Putts intended all of the money to go to the group that runs the animal shelter. They mistakenly thought the Humane Society ran the shelter and left the money to them. The "Humane Society" consists of three people - Cathy Teghtmeyer, John Bauman and James Butts. They closed membership to the Humane Society years ago. Mr. Miller felt very badly when he had to hand over the check to the Humane Society because he had found out that the money was not going to the animal shelter as it was intended. Mr. Miller said he and the Putts had talked many times about their estate going to care for animals at the shelter, to feed and shelter them, find them homes and spay and neuter them. The Putts were not wealthy. They had no children. $208,000 was their entire life's savings. They made Mr. Miller the executor of their will because he knew their wishes. Mr. Miller requested that the photo and story about the gift be run in the paper. He hoped that public sentiment would cause the Humane Society to give the money to the shelter as it was intended. That didn't happen.
Friends and relatives and fellow church members of Cathy Teghtmeyer, John Bauman and James Butts - will you please talk to them? They must have loved animals at some point of time. $208,000 or even the interest from it could change the course of animals' lives in this county forever. The animals need money now for food and shelter. The Putts left their life's savings for that purpose.
Sharon Gaff, Warsaw
Proud Of Kosciusko County
Editor, Times-Union:We are so lucky to live in the community that we live in! Warsaw and Kosciusko County gives us so much to be proud of! I think a lot of us take for granted the really neat things that we have to do and see right here in our own backyard.
ÊFirst of all, the lakes! How lucky are we? Think of all the people that travel to this area to spend their summer vacations. Do they know something that we don't? Not really, we just take it all for granted!
ÊWe have an entertainment complex featuring the Wagon Wheel.Ê It is a first class operation with top notch entertainment. I can remember my grandparents taking me to see the plays when I was a little girl. Now I enjoy taking my children. It is always an entertaining evening and my kids love it!
ÊThis past weekend was the Fourth of July holiday weekend and what a treat!ÊSo much to see and do it was hard to decide where to visit. We chose to view the fireworks on Chapman Lake. We were not disappointed, they were much more than anticipated and as a special treat we could see the Warsaw/Winona fireworks also! (Note to area event planners, it would be nice to see the firework displays scattered throughout the holiday weekend and not all on the same night!)
ÊAnd Monday evening on the way home from the lake, I decided to take a drive through Winona Lake. Oh My Gosh! What a great surprise! I had not been down there recently, so I had no idea what had taken place. All I can say is, Wow! Brent Wilcoxson, I applaud you! You are a man with a vision and everyone is benefiting from it!Ê
ÊIt is only the first part of July and there are so many more fairs and events planned for this summer. Center Lake Park is another great place to visit! I think there are events planned at the park for almost every Friday evening this summer. In the fall there is the Indian Pow Wow, the Back to the Days of Kosciusko, and then in the winter the Festival of Trees! I know I am not remembering everything there is to mention, but my goodness people, let's enjoy and support what we have right here in our own backyard! We are a very, very fortunate community!
Toni Derry, Warsaw
via e-mail
Literacy Volunteers
Editor, Times-Union:I was pleased to see the item about Tom Truong in the paper recently. It stated that he had been selected by IUPU/Fort Wayne as one of the country's outstanding campus leaders by "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges."
Tom Truong was tutored at the Alternative Learning Center by a Kosciusko Literacy Volunteers tutor, after coming to this country. This honor in being selected both for scholarly endeavors and leadership skills is due, in part, to the dedication and expertise of his tutor, Brad Antonides.
Kosciusko Literacy Volunteers continues to make a difference in the lives of adult non-readers or those for whom English is a second language. We are now set up to tutor at the Warsaw and Milford libraries, and in Pierceton, as well as at the ALC.
Grace Abbott, Executive Director
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- Boating Mishap - Humane Society - Proud Of Kosciusko County - Literacy Volunteers
Boating Mishap
Editor, Times-Union:Our July 4 started out like any other, a family cookout and a day out on the boat. Little did we know it would take a turn for the worse. Luckily there are still people in this world who help those in need.
We went out on Chapman Lake for a day of fun in the sun and everything was going fine until we got to the middle of the lake and our boat wouldn't start. The next thing we knew three or four big waves washed right over the front of the boat and that was it. The boat started to sink right out from under us. It seemed like only seconds and we were all in the water, luckily we all had our life vests on. We yelled and yelled for help and finally three men saw us and realized we were in serious trouble. The next thing we knew there was a pontoon and a couple other boats helping out.
We want to thank the Gill family for taking us all on to your pontoon. The Ridenours, for staying with us until we were able to get the boat in and the people who gathered our skis and belongings. You all saved our lives and you'll never know how much we appreciate what you did. We thank the Lord for you everyday. God bless you.
David and Shawn Gargis and family, DeVon and Susan Craig, Ben Benedict
Humane Society
Editor, Times-Union:In February of 1998, the Times-Union ran a photo and story about the Humane Society of Kosciusko County receiving a check for $208,542.86 from the estate of the late Franklin and Virginia Putt, long-time residents of Syracuse. The photo shows Cathy Teghtmeyer accepting the check. Last week an article appeared in the Times-Union saying that the animal shelter needs food for the animals and the no-kill policy had to be changed due to lack of funds to keep the animals and feed them.
What is wrong with this picture? Why won't the Humane Society give some of the $208,000 to help the shelter care for the animals? I have talked with Julian Miller, the best friend of the Putts', and he told me that the Putts intended all of the money to go to the group that runs the animal shelter. They mistakenly thought the Humane Society ran the shelter and left the money to them. The "Humane Society" consists of three people - Cathy Teghtmeyer, John Bauman and James Butts. They closed membership to the Humane Society years ago. Mr. Miller felt very badly when he had to hand over the check to the Humane Society because he had found out that the money was not going to the animal shelter as it was intended. Mr. Miller said he and the Putts had talked many times about their estate going to care for animals at the shelter, to feed and shelter them, find them homes and spay and neuter them. The Putts were not wealthy. They had no children. $208,000 was their entire life's savings. They made Mr. Miller the executor of their will because he knew their wishes. Mr. Miller requested that the photo and story about the gift be run in the paper. He hoped that public sentiment would cause the Humane Society to give the money to the shelter as it was intended. That didn't happen.
Friends and relatives and fellow church members of Cathy Teghtmeyer, John Bauman and James Butts - will you please talk to them? They must have loved animals at some point of time. $208,000 or even the interest from it could change the course of animals' lives in this county forever. The animals need money now for food and shelter. The Putts left their life's savings for that purpose.
Sharon Gaff, Warsaw
Proud Of Kosciusko County
Editor, Times-Union:We are so lucky to live in the community that we live in! Warsaw and Kosciusko County gives us so much to be proud of! I think a lot of us take for granted the really neat things that we have to do and see right here in our own backyard.
ÊFirst of all, the lakes! How lucky are we? Think of all the people that travel to this area to spend their summer vacations. Do they know something that we don't? Not really, we just take it all for granted!
ÊWe have an entertainment complex featuring the Wagon Wheel.Ê It is a first class operation with top notch entertainment. I can remember my grandparents taking me to see the plays when I was a little girl. Now I enjoy taking my children. It is always an entertaining evening and my kids love it!
ÊThis past weekend was the Fourth of July holiday weekend and what a treat!ÊSo much to see and do it was hard to decide where to visit. We chose to view the fireworks on Chapman Lake. We were not disappointed, they were much more than anticipated and as a special treat we could see the Warsaw/Winona fireworks also! (Note to area event planners, it would be nice to see the firework displays scattered throughout the holiday weekend and not all on the same night!)
ÊAnd Monday evening on the way home from the lake, I decided to take a drive through Winona Lake. Oh My Gosh! What a great surprise! I had not been down there recently, so I had no idea what had taken place. All I can say is, Wow! Brent Wilcoxson, I applaud you! You are a man with a vision and everyone is benefiting from it!Ê
ÊIt is only the first part of July and there are so many more fairs and events planned for this summer. Center Lake Park is another great place to visit! I think there are events planned at the park for almost every Friday evening this summer. In the fall there is the Indian Pow Wow, the Back to the Days of Kosciusko, and then in the winter the Festival of Trees! I know I am not remembering everything there is to mention, but my goodness people, let's enjoy and support what we have right here in our own backyard! We are a very, very fortunate community!
Toni Derry, Warsaw
via e-mail
Literacy Volunteers
Editor, Times-Union:I was pleased to see the item about Tom Truong in the paper recently. It stated that he had been selected by IUPU/Fort Wayne as one of the country's outstanding campus leaders by "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges."
Tom Truong was tutored at the Alternative Learning Center by a Kosciusko Literacy Volunteers tutor, after coming to this country. This honor in being selected both for scholarly endeavors and leadership skills is due, in part, to the dedication and expertise of his tutor, Brad Antonides.
Kosciusko Literacy Volunteers continues to make a difference in the lives of adult non-readers or those for whom English is a second language. We are now set up to tutor at the Warsaw and Milford libraries, and in Pierceton, as well as at the ALC.
Grace Abbott, Executive Director
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