Letters to the Editor 08-01-2000
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Ten Commandments - Oldest Business - Story Missed Mark - Honest People
Ten Commandments
Editor, Times-UnionI'd like to respond to Michael L. Stevens' response. He seems to think the Ten Commandments make a blanket prohibition against all killing. If so, his position is based on a mistranslation in the King James Version of the Bible. The original Hebrew says "Thou shalt not commit murder." This is reflected in more modern translations like the New American Standard Bible and the New International Version. Also in Exodus 21, the chapter after the Ten Commandments are given, specific crimes punishable by the death penalty are listed. I can't speak for Matthew Trier, but I believe being pro-life and pro-death penalty are consistent. I do not believe innocent people should be put to death. Certainly I don't believe in sparing mass murderers and serial killers, while at the same time killing innocent babies for being inconvenient.
William Michael Kelly
Warsaw
Oldest Business
Editor, Times Union:I enjoyed reading the stories recently in the Times-Union about the oldest companies in Warsaw that are still in business today. You left out one - American Brattice Cloth Corp. (now known as ABC Industries Inc). The company was founded by my father, Daniel B. Mikesell, in 1926. The company, after being a part of the Peabody group, was reorganized by Steve Rufenbarger in 1989, and a new name was chosen - ABC Industries Inc.
We still make brattice cloth and ventilation tubing for the mining industry, but have added several industrial products, mostly in the field of ventilation. ABC people have put our products in many parts of the world, all from our headquarters right here in Warsaw.
ABC is locally owned again - mostly by management, and also by the writer of this letter, who is technically retired, but is today a very active member of the ABC board of directors. So please don't leave us out - we are proud of our last 74 years in Warsaw, and look forward to our next 74.
D. Blaine Mikesell
Winona Lake
Story Missed Mark
Editor, Times-Union:Having been reared in the Los Angeles area, I came to Warsaw 11 years ago with a somewhat jaded view of the media as self-serving and eager to make news by stirring up unnecessary controversy. So it has been with relief and (sometimes) amusement that I have read what often makes the front page in this wonderful midwest community - things that would never be reported in a larger, more competitive market - things that make us unique. For the most part, the Times-Union has done a great job of reporting about the issues in our county, reflecting our values and recording our triumphs and tragedies.
I must say, however, that you blew it big time with the cover story on Warsaw Parks and Recreation Director Andy McCleary's salary. First and foremost, to report it the way you did seems to me nothing more that an attempt to make news by stirring things up. Mayor Wiggins is simply demonstrating good leadership by correcting a problem. Andy is a sharp, experienced college graduate who deserves to make a decent wage. Second, to compare his salary with smaller surrounding cities and towns seems unfair and misleading. I don't know of another community that sponsors more consistently excellent programming, and on as large a scale as Warsaw. Andy is largely responsible for that. Some of our more myopic city council members should be quick to minimally reward excellence and dedication instead of whistle blowing what must seem to them Andy's attempt to "get rich quick."
I see this article as at best, unnecessary, and at worst, incendiary. Either way, it is unfortunate, and its obvious agenda reflects badly on the Times-Union. Andy is a tirelessly dedicated public servant who makes Warsaw a better place in which to live. He is, in short, sterling, and we are fortunate to have him.
Steve Wishart
Warsaw
via e-mail
Editor's Note: McCleary's proposed salary increase of more than 12 percent is fairly unprecedented. Three percent is proposed for other city empolyees. McCleary said the raise would bring him up to the average salary given to parks supervisors in Indiana. His proposed salary was compared to those of activities directors in Syracuse, Plymouth, Columbia City, Huntington, Wabash and Goshen. Plymouth is the same size as Warsaw. Goshen is larger.
Honest People
Editor, Times-Union:In this day and age it is nice to know that there are still a few honest people in the world. This past week while I was in Warsaw, I had the misfortune of losing about $56 in cash while taking care of weekly business transactions.
The day after this happened, I returned to Warsaw to see if I might find my loss. I first went to Horizon Pharmacy in Warsaw and asked them if someone might have turned in the money. They said no, but took my name and phone number. I then went to Colortyme and received the same answer. The same day I retraced my steps, I received a phone call at about 4 p.m. from a man who had found my money. I then returned to Warsaw and met with this honest man, who returned my money.
I would like to say thank you once again to all those involved.
Chuck Hershberger
Silver Lake
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- Ten Commandments - Oldest Business - Story Missed Mark - Honest People
Ten Commandments
Editor, Times-UnionI'd like to respond to Michael L. Stevens' response. He seems to think the Ten Commandments make a blanket prohibition against all killing. If so, his position is based on a mistranslation in the King James Version of the Bible. The original Hebrew says "Thou shalt not commit murder." This is reflected in more modern translations like the New American Standard Bible and the New International Version. Also in Exodus 21, the chapter after the Ten Commandments are given, specific crimes punishable by the death penalty are listed. I can't speak for Matthew Trier, but I believe being pro-life and pro-death penalty are consistent. I do not believe innocent people should be put to death. Certainly I don't believe in sparing mass murderers and serial killers, while at the same time killing innocent babies for being inconvenient.
William Michael Kelly
Warsaw
Oldest Business
Editor, Times Union:I enjoyed reading the stories recently in the Times-Union about the oldest companies in Warsaw that are still in business today. You left out one - American Brattice Cloth Corp. (now known as ABC Industries Inc). The company was founded by my father, Daniel B. Mikesell, in 1926. The company, after being a part of the Peabody group, was reorganized by Steve Rufenbarger in 1989, and a new name was chosen - ABC Industries Inc.
We still make brattice cloth and ventilation tubing for the mining industry, but have added several industrial products, mostly in the field of ventilation. ABC people have put our products in many parts of the world, all from our headquarters right here in Warsaw.
ABC is locally owned again - mostly by management, and also by the writer of this letter, who is technically retired, but is today a very active member of the ABC board of directors. So please don't leave us out - we are proud of our last 74 years in Warsaw, and look forward to our next 74.
D. Blaine Mikesell
Winona Lake
Story Missed Mark
Editor, Times-Union:Having been reared in the Los Angeles area, I came to Warsaw 11 years ago with a somewhat jaded view of the media as self-serving and eager to make news by stirring up unnecessary controversy. So it has been with relief and (sometimes) amusement that I have read what often makes the front page in this wonderful midwest community - things that would never be reported in a larger, more competitive market - things that make us unique. For the most part, the Times-Union has done a great job of reporting about the issues in our county, reflecting our values and recording our triumphs and tragedies.
I must say, however, that you blew it big time with the cover story on Warsaw Parks and Recreation Director Andy McCleary's salary. First and foremost, to report it the way you did seems to me nothing more that an attempt to make news by stirring things up. Mayor Wiggins is simply demonstrating good leadership by correcting a problem. Andy is a sharp, experienced college graduate who deserves to make a decent wage. Second, to compare his salary with smaller surrounding cities and towns seems unfair and misleading. I don't know of another community that sponsors more consistently excellent programming, and on as large a scale as Warsaw. Andy is largely responsible for that. Some of our more myopic city council members should be quick to minimally reward excellence and dedication instead of whistle blowing what must seem to them Andy's attempt to "get rich quick."
I see this article as at best, unnecessary, and at worst, incendiary. Either way, it is unfortunate, and its obvious agenda reflects badly on the Times-Union. Andy is a tirelessly dedicated public servant who makes Warsaw a better place in which to live. He is, in short, sterling, and we are fortunate to have him.
Steve Wishart
Warsaw
via e-mail
Editor's Note: McCleary's proposed salary increase of more than 12 percent is fairly unprecedented. Three percent is proposed for other city empolyees. McCleary said the raise would bring him up to the average salary given to parks supervisors in Indiana. His proposed salary was compared to those of activities directors in Syracuse, Plymouth, Columbia City, Huntington, Wabash and Goshen. Plymouth is the same size as Warsaw. Goshen is larger.
Honest People
Editor, Times-Union:In this day and age it is nice to know that there are still a few honest people in the world. This past week while I was in Warsaw, I had the misfortune of losing about $56 in cash while taking care of weekly business transactions.
The day after this happened, I returned to Warsaw to see if I might find my loss. I first went to Horizon Pharmacy in Warsaw and asked them if someone might have turned in the money. They said no, but took my name and phone number. I then went to Colortyme and received the same answer. The same day I retraced my steps, I received a phone call at about 4 p.m. from a man who had found my money. I then returned to Warsaw and met with this honest man, who returned my money.
I would like to say thank you once again to all those involved.
Chuck Hershberger
Silver Lake
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