Letters to the Editor 08-12-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Police Pay - Tax Cuts - Tootsie Roll Drive - Medicaid - A Big Thank You - Molester
Police Pay
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is to address the residents of Kosciusko County. On Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. the Kosciusko County Council will be meeting to discuss budget matters. During the meeting, the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department will be discussing the possibility of raises. The community demands that the job done by the Sheriff's Department to be professional, and we are seeking pay to match that demand. The following information is in no way meant to minimize the job other departments do, or to convey that they do not deserve the pay they get. They deserve every penny they make! This is just information to support our belief that a pay increase is necessary. The County Council is an entity that is in place to protect your tax dollars, and that is why your support in this matter is very important.
Part of this information is as follows: The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office Deputies salary is $28,556, compared to Warsaw Police Department's at $32,728 and Indiana State Police's salary of $30,100. Other issues include calls for service, which the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office took 16,931 calls for service in 1998, Warsaw Police Department took 2,593 calls for service in 1998 and the Indiana State Police took 10,548 calls for service in 1998 over their four-county district.
Another statistic is the number of accidents the Sheriff's Deputies work compared to other departments. The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office worked 1,122 accidents during 1998, Warsaw Police Department worked 827 accidents in 1998 and the Indiana State Police statistics for this were not available.
OWI arrests were also compared and the results were as follows: Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office made 111 OWI arrests, Warsaw Police Department made 79 OWI arrests and the Indiana State Police made 106 OWI arrests. Besides the patrol factor of the deputies' job, we must provide service for the court in addition to the other police duties that are typical to other departments.
Provided in the comparison we have done is also a list of other departments with the pay difference. Hendricks County (Indiana) makes a total of $5,063 more than the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office Deputy. The Warsaw Police Department makes a total of $4,172 more than the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office. The Adams County Sheriff's Office receives $3,159 above the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office's Salary. DeKalb County Sheriff's Department makes a total of $2,291 more than the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office, Boone County Sheriff's Office makes $1,944 more and the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Office makes a total of $1,679 more than the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office. These figures were just some of the more pertinent information gathered, but not all the information compiled could be represented in this document due to length.
One might ask, why don't you get a job at one of the departments that pay more? Well, we live here, our families live here and we like serving the public in this community. This is a department with an outstanding group of officers that try to serve this community the best they know how. They would just like to make an honest living doing so. The facts that have been conveyed above are, in general, supported by a majority of the deputies with this department. Thank you for your support in this matter.
Chris McKeand, Kosciusko County Deputy
Tax Cuts
Editor, Times-Union:Have been watching and listening to C-SPAN, CNN, etc. regarding the "new" tax cut law - I finally have determined just how, and why -
First, the Congress passed a pay raise for members of Congress, Federal Judges, the Supreme Court and doubled the President's salary to $400,000 annually!
Second, the Congressmen/women, who passed and accepted that raise knew when they went back to their districts and states for the August recess some taxpayers were going to ask why. So to cover their behinds, they pushed through this misnamed tax cut crap -
Take a good look:
1. Social Security in a "lock box" - yeah right, and Congress has the key!
2. Phase out marriage tax penalty.
3. Eliminate estate taxes.
4. Prescription drugs for the elderly.
5. College students defer taxes on savings for college.
6. Capital gains taxes reduced, etc.
So, what's wrong with this? If El Pres doesn't veto it, it won't take effect until the year 2005! The taxpayers who need relief now, are either going to be dead, divorced, graduated from college or have given up hope of ever getting any relief.
This same Congress defeated a bill submitted to the House that would have required NATO to pay more to the Kosovo recovery. The U.S. (you and I) will pay more to replace houses, factories, etc. that NATO blew up.
The only recourse you and I have is Vote - Vote - Vote! November 2000 - vote for anyone you choose, but VOTE. Let's rattle some cages.
Don Guard, Leesburg
Tootsie Roll Drive
Editor, Times-Union:On behalf of those receiving services through Cardinal Center Inc., I extend my most sincere thanks to the Knights of Columbus for their recent donation of $12,706 from the Tootsie Roll Drive. I also want to express my appreciation to everyone who volunteered their time and resources to help make this event such a success.
We are proud that the Warsaw Knights of Columbus have set a new record in Indiana for the Tootsie Roll Drive. Thanks for going the extra mile to help people with disabilities in our community.
Cynthia A. Pergrem, Director of Development, Cardinal Center Inc. via e-mail
Medicaid
Editor, Times-Union:We have a lot of very stupid rules in the Medicaid medical program. Its leaders simply do not care about low income U.S. citizens, or just simply do not read over the second time what they all put into the law of the land. We have so many "seniors" who are American citizens and yet cannot properly care for themselves under Medicaid rules. Stupid?
Please get an August issue of Reader's Digest and start reading on page 118: "Medicaid's Big Time Rip-Offs."
Philippine women can come over from their country and we "seniors" have to pay for these women giving birth to their own babies. Yet my wife, an American citizen, cannot be afforded two additional days in a hospital bed in our own home because Medicaid's rules say "No!"
Yet my wife has had a near-death abdominal four-hour surgery at KCH by Dr. Neal Van Ness, and has an 18-inch abdominal opening that has 100 staples holding this opening together to heal.
She needs proper rest and sleep, she cannot get this in her own bed at home. She needs a hospital bed to help her sleep.
Why cannot the authors of this stupid Medicaid program think about we Americans, especially the seniors.
We need a hospital-type bed for my wife to help her sleep and recover from this operation. It would be perfect if it had an overhead lifting bar, but we would take on any loan of a hospital-type bed. Call Paula Smith at 269-3913. Thank you.
Albert Smith, Warsaw
A Big Thank You
Editor, Times-Union:The family of Thomas E. Church, who has lymphoma cancer, wants to thank family and friends for coming to his surprise early birthday benefit July 24 at the Lion's Club Community Building, Leesburg.
Thanks to Frank and Karna "The High Times" for playing beautiful music for six hours; Image coaches for driving Tom and wife, Shari, to the benefit in a beautiful limo; Bertsch Vending for catering; the two special ladies who stayed and served for six hours; Cake Creations for making four beautiful cakes with red rosebuds; Mrs. Wilson Gross, 86 years young, for making handmade quilts to be given away and a special one made for Tom.
Love to all who made Tom's day very, very special.
Barb Church (mother) and family, Warsaw
Molester
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in regards to a very serious occurrence.
I want all of the adults in this community to stop and think about this.
What do you tell your children, grandchildren to do if someone, no matter who it is, touches them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable?
If you are like most of us, we tell them to tell us. Tell your Mom, Dad, Teacher, Police, or other authoritative figure.
Well, why? Do you realize how many times these incidents have been told and reported and either nothing is done or it takes way too long for something to be done.
In the mean time. ... The abused child feels alone, hurt, scared, ashamed, and may even wonder why they told since it seems they are the ones that are interrogated, subjected to medical examinations, asked so many embarrassing questions and tell, BUT the person responsible for the sick act of sexual child abuse is still not in jail!
In the case I am referring to, this jerk has molested two very young girls that he has admitted to police already and there is the possibility of several more that are currently going through therapy because they are scared to death to talk about what this jerk told them not to tell!
This guy is not in jail after several months and has not been formally charged with these sex crimes!
WHY? The police have a signed confession! Get this, they are treating the case with kid gloves, pardon the expression, because the guy has threatened suicide.
What about the protection for these little children? Can you imagine being sexually molested from the time you were 2 years old? Finally getting the courage to tell when you were 7 and seeing the actions of the people around you and the police not arresting the guy?
If the jerk thinks killing himself will relieve him of the horrible things he has done, I pray that it's not that easy! I have confidence that he will get what's coming to him. What easy out did those little babies have?
What can we do to make sure everything is being done to stop this abuse from happening and if it does happen to ensure the proper steps are taken in a reasonable amount of time?
If we continue to ask our children to tell, we need to be prepared to stand behind what we promise them we will do!
You know the worst part? This childhood memory never goes away.
Totally mad and unforgiving against molesters!
Amy Fuller, Warsaw, via e-mail
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- Police Pay - Tax Cuts - Tootsie Roll Drive - Medicaid - A Big Thank You - Molester
Police Pay
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is to address the residents of Kosciusko County. On Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. the Kosciusko County Council will be meeting to discuss budget matters. During the meeting, the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department will be discussing the possibility of raises. The community demands that the job done by the Sheriff's Department to be professional, and we are seeking pay to match that demand. The following information is in no way meant to minimize the job other departments do, or to convey that they do not deserve the pay they get. They deserve every penny they make! This is just information to support our belief that a pay increase is necessary. The County Council is an entity that is in place to protect your tax dollars, and that is why your support in this matter is very important.
Part of this information is as follows: The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office Deputies salary is $28,556, compared to Warsaw Police Department's at $32,728 and Indiana State Police's salary of $30,100. Other issues include calls for service, which the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office took 16,931 calls for service in 1998, Warsaw Police Department took 2,593 calls for service in 1998 and the Indiana State Police took 10,548 calls for service in 1998 over their four-county district.
Another statistic is the number of accidents the Sheriff's Deputies work compared to other departments. The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office worked 1,122 accidents during 1998, Warsaw Police Department worked 827 accidents in 1998 and the Indiana State Police statistics for this were not available.
OWI arrests were also compared and the results were as follows: Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office made 111 OWI arrests, Warsaw Police Department made 79 OWI arrests and the Indiana State Police made 106 OWI arrests. Besides the patrol factor of the deputies' job, we must provide service for the court in addition to the other police duties that are typical to other departments.
Provided in the comparison we have done is also a list of other departments with the pay difference. Hendricks County (Indiana) makes a total of $5,063 more than the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office Deputy. The Warsaw Police Department makes a total of $4,172 more than the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office. The Adams County Sheriff's Office receives $3,159 above the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office's Salary. DeKalb County Sheriff's Department makes a total of $2,291 more than the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office, Boone County Sheriff's Office makes $1,944 more and the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Office makes a total of $1,679 more than the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office. These figures were just some of the more pertinent information gathered, but not all the information compiled could be represented in this document due to length.
One might ask, why don't you get a job at one of the departments that pay more? Well, we live here, our families live here and we like serving the public in this community. This is a department with an outstanding group of officers that try to serve this community the best they know how. They would just like to make an honest living doing so. The facts that have been conveyed above are, in general, supported by a majority of the deputies with this department. Thank you for your support in this matter.
Chris McKeand, Kosciusko County Deputy
Tax Cuts
Editor, Times-Union:Have been watching and listening to C-SPAN, CNN, etc. regarding the "new" tax cut law - I finally have determined just how, and why -
First, the Congress passed a pay raise for members of Congress, Federal Judges, the Supreme Court and doubled the President's salary to $400,000 annually!
Second, the Congressmen/women, who passed and accepted that raise knew when they went back to their districts and states for the August recess some taxpayers were going to ask why. So to cover their behinds, they pushed through this misnamed tax cut crap -
Take a good look:
1. Social Security in a "lock box" - yeah right, and Congress has the key!
2. Phase out marriage tax penalty.
3. Eliminate estate taxes.
4. Prescription drugs for the elderly.
5. College students defer taxes on savings for college.
6. Capital gains taxes reduced, etc.
So, what's wrong with this? If El Pres doesn't veto it, it won't take effect until the year 2005! The taxpayers who need relief now, are either going to be dead, divorced, graduated from college or have given up hope of ever getting any relief.
This same Congress defeated a bill submitted to the House that would have required NATO to pay more to the Kosovo recovery. The U.S. (you and I) will pay more to replace houses, factories, etc. that NATO blew up.
The only recourse you and I have is Vote - Vote - Vote! November 2000 - vote for anyone you choose, but VOTE. Let's rattle some cages.
Don Guard, Leesburg
Tootsie Roll Drive
Editor, Times-Union:On behalf of those receiving services through Cardinal Center Inc., I extend my most sincere thanks to the Knights of Columbus for their recent donation of $12,706 from the Tootsie Roll Drive. I also want to express my appreciation to everyone who volunteered their time and resources to help make this event such a success.
We are proud that the Warsaw Knights of Columbus have set a new record in Indiana for the Tootsie Roll Drive. Thanks for going the extra mile to help people with disabilities in our community.
Cynthia A. Pergrem, Director of Development, Cardinal Center Inc. via e-mail
Medicaid
Editor, Times-Union:We have a lot of very stupid rules in the Medicaid medical program. Its leaders simply do not care about low income U.S. citizens, or just simply do not read over the second time what they all put into the law of the land. We have so many "seniors" who are American citizens and yet cannot properly care for themselves under Medicaid rules. Stupid?
Please get an August issue of Reader's Digest and start reading on page 118: "Medicaid's Big Time Rip-Offs."
Philippine women can come over from their country and we "seniors" have to pay for these women giving birth to their own babies. Yet my wife, an American citizen, cannot be afforded two additional days in a hospital bed in our own home because Medicaid's rules say "No!"
Yet my wife has had a near-death abdominal four-hour surgery at KCH by Dr. Neal Van Ness, and has an 18-inch abdominal opening that has 100 staples holding this opening together to heal.
She needs proper rest and sleep, she cannot get this in her own bed at home. She needs a hospital bed to help her sleep.
Why cannot the authors of this stupid Medicaid program think about we Americans, especially the seniors.
We need a hospital-type bed for my wife to help her sleep and recover from this operation. It would be perfect if it had an overhead lifting bar, but we would take on any loan of a hospital-type bed. Call Paula Smith at 269-3913. Thank you.
Albert Smith, Warsaw
A Big Thank You
Editor, Times-Union:The family of Thomas E. Church, who has lymphoma cancer, wants to thank family and friends for coming to his surprise early birthday benefit July 24 at the Lion's Club Community Building, Leesburg.
Thanks to Frank and Karna "The High Times" for playing beautiful music for six hours; Image coaches for driving Tom and wife, Shari, to the benefit in a beautiful limo; Bertsch Vending for catering; the two special ladies who stayed and served for six hours; Cake Creations for making four beautiful cakes with red rosebuds; Mrs. Wilson Gross, 86 years young, for making handmade quilts to be given away and a special one made for Tom.
Love to all who made Tom's day very, very special.
Barb Church (mother) and family, Warsaw
Molester
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in regards to a very serious occurrence.
I want all of the adults in this community to stop and think about this.
What do you tell your children, grandchildren to do if someone, no matter who it is, touches them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable?
If you are like most of us, we tell them to tell us. Tell your Mom, Dad, Teacher, Police, or other authoritative figure.
Well, why? Do you realize how many times these incidents have been told and reported and either nothing is done or it takes way too long for something to be done.
In the mean time. ... The abused child feels alone, hurt, scared, ashamed, and may even wonder why they told since it seems they are the ones that are interrogated, subjected to medical examinations, asked so many embarrassing questions and tell, BUT the person responsible for the sick act of sexual child abuse is still not in jail!
In the case I am referring to, this jerk has molested two very young girls that he has admitted to police already and there is the possibility of several more that are currently going through therapy because they are scared to death to talk about what this jerk told them not to tell!
This guy is not in jail after several months and has not been formally charged with these sex crimes!
WHY? The police have a signed confession! Get this, they are treating the case with kid gloves, pardon the expression, because the guy has threatened suicide.
What about the protection for these little children? Can you imagine being sexually molested from the time you were 2 years old? Finally getting the courage to tell when you were 7 and seeing the actions of the people around you and the police not arresting the guy?
If the jerk thinks killing himself will relieve him of the horrible things he has done, I pray that it's not that easy! I have confidence that he will get what's coming to him. What easy out did those little babies have?
What can we do to make sure everything is being done to stop this abuse from happening and if it does happen to ensure the proper steps are taken in a reasonable amount of time?
If we continue to ask our children to tell, we need to be prepared to stand behind what we promise them we will do!
You know the worst part? This childhood memory never goes away.
Totally mad and unforgiving against molesters!
Amy Fuller, Warsaw, via e-mail
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