Letters to the Editor 08-15-2003
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Libertarian Education - Sheriff's Department - Winona Lawsuit - Combat Infantry Badge - Meningitis - Winona Lake Thanks
Libertarian Education
Editor, Times-Union:If the residents of the Warsaw School District and the rest of Kosciusko County would like to see a long-term alternative to the current system of public education, they should choose the libertarian solution - separation of school and state. Parents, students and teachers would notice many differences that would come about with freedom of choice in education.
1. Only people with children in schools would be paying the bills, not the general public.
2. The general public would not be forced to pay for such luxuries as overpriced ticket booths, concession stands, additions, school buildings and an athletic program that attempts to rival professional sports teams at the expense of academic funding.
3. Parents and students would be able to choose between schools that are religious or secular, ones that are academic-oriented or athletic-oriented or vocational or college prep. Specifically, one could attend schools that put an emphasis on one or more of the following areas: science, mathematics, business, literature, history, health and medicine, engineering, music and the arts, etc.
4. Students would be able to attend school part of the year or all year round, and either in the morning, afternoon, evening or all day.
5. None of the current controversies that exist over evolution, school prayer, Bible study, Ten Commandments, sex education, political correctness, methods of teaching, etc., would exist. Why? Because there would be no single uniform school systems that organized political factions could gain control over so they can impose their views and values on other people's children.
6. The disciplinary problems would be quickly eliminated since students who do not want to be in school would be gone - any type of misbehavior would not be tolerated at all or for a very short time because it would become too much of a liability.
7. The standards for academic excellence would be higher since students would be required to maintain a C minus or above GPA to remain enrolled.
8. Parents would have more financial resources to homeschool their children since they would not be paying for public schools.
Separation of school and state will not bring about a perfect world or even a nearly perfect world when it comes to education, but it would be a better alternative to the current system of public education, or as some have advocated - the outright nationalization of education where local school districts and state education departments would be assimilated into a national education system operated by the president, Congress, the Supreme Court, a bureaucratic national Department of Education and special interest groups. The choice is up to residents of Kosciusko County and others across America.
Alex Houze
Leesburg
Sheriff's Department
Editor, Times Union:The citizens of this county have been shortchanged by the county government's decision not to utilize the two grant positions that have been awarded to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office is and has been an undermanned agency. Sheriff Rovenstine has stretched his manpower to the breaking point and beyond. The sheriff then receives a grant to hire two more officers, which has been thrown away by the county council. This will preclude Kosciusko County's eligibility to apply for another grant for five years.
When the increase in activity each year is factored in, this will cost the taxpayers far more money to hire officers when our system fails and calls start going unanswered because there are simply too many to handle. The Sheriff's Office is near that point at this time. The public calls and regularly requests that traffic be monitored in problem areas. Sheriff Rovenstine requests units to attempt the special details, but they are called away or never make the area for being dispatched to other priority calls.
The deputies of the Sheriff's Office are proud to serve the citizens of this community. They know and understand that residents are at times frustrated and confused by the service they receive because there are simply not enough officers to serve them properly. You have the voice and the power to demand adequate police protection. Let your councilmen and your commissioners know that safety is paramount above and beyond a fiscal challenge. This county is facing a shortfall, this is a failure to receive the money expected, not a deficit by any means. The challenge is to arrange budgeted accounts to effectively use monies already on hand. One example is the extradition fund, it has been recently noted there is enough money to last several years (Times-Union 01/10/2003). Another is the overtime account that receives a budgeted amount. This money is never used because the county does not pay deputies overtime. This money can be redirected to address the safety needs of the county.
Sheriff Rovenstine and his deputies are busting their backsides to serve this county. It is, however, impossible to "squeeze blood from a turnip." The manpower needs of the Sheriff's Office are well beyond a shortfall. The manpower resources are and have been depleted. The Fraternal Order of Police asks you to contact the county council and county commissioners to voice your concern. Please support Sheriff Rovenstine and the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office.
Travis C. Marsh
President, FOP Lodge 149
Jeff Shaw
Vice President, FOP Lodge 149
via e-mail
Winona Lawsuit
Editor, Times-Union:Hooray for the Winona Lake Lions Club, they need to stand their ground!
It sounds like a race track and school proposal to me.
Enough is enough.
Becky Thomas
Warsaw
via e-mail
Combat Infantry Badge
Editor, Times-Union:It was with great interest that I read the recent article in the Times-Union titled "Indiana Guardsmen Awarded 1st Combat Infantry Badge" in your july 28 edition. Your staff report included details about how our Kosciusko County troops, who are members of the First Battalion, 293rd Infantry (which is based in Fort Wayne), became the first National Guard Battalion in the country to receive the highly coveted Combat Infantry Badge from the Department of the Army since the Korean War!
Clearly, everyone in Kosciusko County can take great pride in the role our local troops are performing in an effort to provide the citizens of Iraq an opportunity to create a democratic form of government. These men and women are fulfilling their mission even in the worst of conditions, and I am thankful for their willingness to make sacrifices during Operation Iraqi Freedom!
I want to remind the citizens of Kosciusko County that another group of local heroes is also making a sacrifice in this war on terror. The families of our deployed military forces are working diligently to maintain households, raise children, pay bills, etc., while working through a long separation from loved ones! These families need your support also, and you can help by donating nonperishable food items, including canned meats and food, cereals, cleaning supplies, toiletries, paper products, fruit juices, prepackaged meals and dinners. A constant need exists for baby food, cereal and disposable diapers of all sizes.
These items can be dropped off at the Warsaw American Legion Post 49, at the intersection of Fort Wayne and North Buffalo streets in Warsaw. The food pantry hours are from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. During other times, feel free to drop off donated items to the American Red Cross, 320 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw. Our staff will ensure that these items get to the food pantry.
In conclusion, it is not possible for you and me to pay for the sacrifice these families are making today, but perhaps you have been in their place during another day. I know I have; and if we all help a little, perhaps, in a small way, it will make a big difference in the lives of our local military families. Thank you for caring and sharing.
Larry Peppel
Executive Director
Kosciusko County Chapter of The American Red Cross
Meningitis
Editor, Times-Union:Please pass our information on to the family of Jared Airgood.
I lost my only child, Ryan, to meningitis. There are many of us and we are here to listen and help Jared's family get through this hard time. Thank you.
Frankie Milley
Meningitis Angels Heaven and Earth Bound Inc.
Founder/Managing Director, HBA, Ryan's Mom
www.meningitis-angels.org
PKIDS- Children's Advocate/Texas, www.pkids.org
Meet Ryan www.meningitis-angels.org/ryanhb.htm
Winona Lake Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The Winona Lake Park Board wishes to thank the following organizations for their ongoing generous monetary support of the summer programs in the park:
Biomet Foundation, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, and Village at Winona.
The generosity of these three benefactors makes it possible to offer the youth of our community a host of enjoyable summer activities.
Willa Henry
Winona Lake Park Board
via e-mail
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- Libertarian Education - Sheriff's Department - Winona Lawsuit - Combat Infantry Badge - Meningitis - Winona Lake Thanks
Libertarian Education
Editor, Times-Union:If the residents of the Warsaw School District and the rest of Kosciusko County would like to see a long-term alternative to the current system of public education, they should choose the libertarian solution - separation of school and state. Parents, students and teachers would notice many differences that would come about with freedom of choice in education.
1. Only people with children in schools would be paying the bills, not the general public.
2. The general public would not be forced to pay for such luxuries as overpriced ticket booths, concession stands, additions, school buildings and an athletic program that attempts to rival professional sports teams at the expense of academic funding.
3. Parents and students would be able to choose between schools that are religious or secular, ones that are academic-oriented or athletic-oriented or vocational or college prep. Specifically, one could attend schools that put an emphasis on one or more of the following areas: science, mathematics, business, literature, history, health and medicine, engineering, music and the arts, etc.
4. Students would be able to attend school part of the year or all year round, and either in the morning, afternoon, evening or all day.
5. None of the current controversies that exist over evolution, school prayer, Bible study, Ten Commandments, sex education, political correctness, methods of teaching, etc., would exist. Why? Because there would be no single uniform school systems that organized political factions could gain control over so they can impose their views and values on other people's children.
6. The disciplinary problems would be quickly eliminated since students who do not want to be in school would be gone - any type of misbehavior would not be tolerated at all or for a very short time because it would become too much of a liability.
7. The standards for academic excellence would be higher since students would be required to maintain a C minus or above GPA to remain enrolled.
8. Parents would have more financial resources to homeschool their children since they would not be paying for public schools.
Separation of school and state will not bring about a perfect world or even a nearly perfect world when it comes to education, but it would be a better alternative to the current system of public education, or as some have advocated - the outright nationalization of education where local school districts and state education departments would be assimilated into a national education system operated by the president, Congress, the Supreme Court, a bureaucratic national Department of Education and special interest groups. The choice is up to residents of Kosciusko County and others across America.
Alex Houze
Leesburg
Sheriff's Department
Editor, Times Union:The citizens of this county have been shortchanged by the county government's decision not to utilize the two grant positions that have been awarded to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office is and has been an undermanned agency. Sheriff Rovenstine has stretched his manpower to the breaking point and beyond. The sheriff then receives a grant to hire two more officers, which has been thrown away by the county council. This will preclude Kosciusko County's eligibility to apply for another grant for five years.
When the increase in activity each year is factored in, this will cost the taxpayers far more money to hire officers when our system fails and calls start going unanswered because there are simply too many to handle. The Sheriff's Office is near that point at this time. The public calls and regularly requests that traffic be monitored in problem areas. Sheriff Rovenstine requests units to attempt the special details, but they are called away or never make the area for being dispatched to other priority calls.
The deputies of the Sheriff's Office are proud to serve the citizens of this community. They know and understand that residents are at times frustrated and confused by the service they receive because there are simply not enough officers to serve them properly. You have the voice and the power to demand adequate police protection. Let your councilmen and your commissioners know that safety is paramount above and beyond a fiscal challenge. This county is facing a shortfall, this is a failure to receive the money expected, not a deficit by any means. The challenge is to arrange budgeted accounts to effectively use monies already on hand. One example is the extradition fund, it has been recently noted there is enough money to last several years (Times-Union 01/10/2003). Another is the overtime account that receives a budgeted amount. This money is never used because the county does not pay deputies overtime. This money can be redirected to address the safety needs of the county.
Sheriff Rovenstine and his deputies are busting their backsides to serve this county. It is, however, impossible to "squeeze blood from a turnip." The manpower needs of the Sheriff's Office are well beyond a shortfall. The manpower resources are and have been depleted. The Fraternal Order of Police asks you to contact the county council and county commissioners to voice your concern. Please support Sheriff Rovenstine and the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office.
Travis C. Marsh
President, FOP Lodge 149
Jeff Shaw
Vice President, FOP Lodge 149
via e-mail
Winona Lawsuit
Editor, Times-Union:Hooray for the Winona Lake Lions Club, they need to stand their ground!
It sounds like a race track and school proposal to me.
Enough is enough.
Becky Thomas
Warsaw
via e-mail
Combat Infantry Badge
Editor, Times-Union:It was with great interest that I read the recent article in the Times-Union titled "Indiana Guardsmen Awarded 1st Combat Infantry Badge" in your july 28 edition. Your staff report included details about how our Kosciusko County troops, who are members of the First Battalion, 293rd Infantry (which is based in Fort Wayne), became the first National Guard Battalion in the country to receive the highly coveted Combat Infantry Badge from the Department of the Army since the Korean War!
Clearly, everyone in Kosciusko County can take great pride in the role our local troops are performing in an effort to provide the citizens of Iraq an opportunity to create a democratic form of government. These men and women are fulfilling their mission even in the worst of conditions, and I am thankful for their willingness to make sacrifices during Operation Iraqi Freedom!
I want to remind the citizens of Kosciusko County that another group of local heroes is also making a sacrifice in this war on terror. The families of our deployed military forces are working diligently to maintain households, raise children, pay bills, etc., while working through a long separation from loved ones! These families need your support also, and you can help by donating nonperishable food items, including canned meats and food, cereals, cleaning supplies, toiletries, paper products, fruit juices, prepackaged meals and dinners. A constant need exists for baby food, cereal and disposable diapers of all sizes.
These items can be dropped off at the Warsaw American Legion Post 49, at the intersection of Fort Wayne and North Buffalo streets in Warsaw. The food pantry hours are from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. During other times, feel free to drop off donated items to the American Red Cross, 320 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw. Our staff will ensure that these items get to the food pantry.
In conclusion, it is not possible for you and me to pay for the sacrifice these families are making today, but perhaps you have been in their place during another day. I know I have; and if we all help a little, perhaps, in a small way, it will make a big difference in the lives of our local military families. Thank you for caring and sharing.
Larry Peppel
Executive Director
Kosciusko County Chapter of The American Red Cross
Meningitis
Editor, Times-Union:Please pass our information on to the family of Jared Airgood.
I lost my only child, Ryan, to meningitis. There are many of us and we are here to listen and help Jared's family get through this hard time. Thank you.
Frankie Milley
Meningitis Angels Heaven and Earth Bound Inc.
Founder/Managing Director, HBA, Ryan's Mom
www.meningitis-angels.org
PKIDS- Children's Advocate/Texas, www.pkids.org
Meet Ryan www.meningitis-angels.org/ryanhb.htm
Winona Lake Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The Winona Lake Park Board wishes to thank the following organizations for their ongoing generous monetary support of the summer programs in the park:
Biomet Foundation, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, and Village at Winona.
The generosity of these three benefactors makes it possible to offer the youth of our community a host of enjoyable summer activities.
Willa Henry
Winona Lake Park Board
via e-mail
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