Letters to the Editor 08-30-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Puppy Hit - Accident Photographs - Music Festival - Nursing Homes - Animal Welfare - Animal Buck Passing - Charity Carnival
Puppy Hit
Editor, Times-Union:This is in regard to the letter about the puppy that was hit at 4:30 a.m. I feel very sorry for the loss to the family. I have two dogs of my own and they are truly members of our family. However, when one of my human family members aren't outside, my dogs are in a large fenced in area. I wouldn't let either one of them run loose alone any more than I would have let my daughter outside alone when she was younger. As a responsible pet owner you need to constantly be aware of dangers to your pets, just as you are with children as responsible parents. The dangers are the same: poisons, vehicles, strangers, strange animals etc. You need to constantly be aware of where your pet/child is all of the time. Either one can dart in front of a car.
One last item, usually it's raccoons, opossum, wild dogs out at 4:30 a.m. They could have rabies. We all need to take responsibility for our actions as well as the actions of our family members - human or furry - when they don't know any better.
Theresa Schuster, via e-mail
Accident Photographs
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to know why it seems so necessary to print photographs of automobile crashes when it results in a fatality. I realize from your point of view, that it sells a lot of papers on the day that it is published. Since when is it all right to receive money at the cost of someone else's grief? Isn't that immoral?
When your child, loved one or friend is involved in such an accident, it is hard enough to face such a thing. But, when you open the evening paper and you have to see that vehicle on the front page it just seems to make things a little worse, if there is such a thing. I take that back; there is something worse. Seeing the blanket that someone laid over the car and it makes you realize that your loved one is still there!
I see another tragedy has happened that has claimed more young lives. Mr. Nieter has just happened to be there to inflict more pain with his camera. Why is it that when a Warsaw businessman is killed there was no picture? Was it because of the circumstances of the wreck, or because of his position in the community? I am glad that there were no pictures of Mr. Chapman's wreck for the sake of his family. But, why do you have to take pictures when anyone is killed? Also, if it was your son or daughter would the picture still be published?
You wonder how I know how painful it is to the family? Our son, David, was one of those victims just before Christmas last year. All day long, I was hoping someone would just wake me from this awful nightmare, and then I saw the Times-Union that day and all hope of that was crushed.
Please don't ignore my letter, as I would like some answers. Please don't tell me that it is to get people to be more careful. Have you seen the way people drive in this county? So far it hasn't worked, so I think it is time to stop this practice.
I hope and pray, Mr. Nieter, that you will never live through a tragedy like this. I simply ask you that the next time you get ready to snap that picture, would you try to imagine how it would feel if it were your child?
Joyce Hedington, Mother of David Hedington
Music Festival
Editor, Times-Union:I have these comments in response to the reader concerned about the Pro-Life Music Festival and the Times-Union.
First, I personally believe it IS news when a local non-profit organization works to put on a quality musical event for the purpose of making a positive pro-life stand. Because it was a charitable event, it was hoped that money would be raised to be given to pregnancy support centers here locally and in the northern Indiana area. These centers provide support to help women make the right decision, that being to accept the responsibility of the human life that they have begun.
Second, nothing does more to demean the emotional nature of this topic than people who are silent about it. Additionally, the event was not a rally of any kind, but a peaceful and joyous gathering to celebrate the sanctity of life.
Lastly, the primary tool used to make this event work was Christian rock music. Unfortunately, most parents are too busy living their lives to really understand the effect that the movies, TV and mainstream rock music are having on their kids. Looking the other way or failing to recognize the increasing immorality in this country are not effective responses to the problem. The festival offered a truly positive alternative to our destructive pop-culture.
The Pro-Life Music Festival was all about making a totally non-confrontational, true Christian stand to show that life is far too precious to be destroyed at will. Even though the event ran at a loss (due to a heavily promoted free Christian concert in South Bend on the same day), the festival was totally peaceful, loving and was an awesome experience for those who did attend. I look forward to another successful event in 2000.
Martt Clupper, organizer Pro-Life Festival, Warsaw
Nursing Homes
Editor, Times-Union:Recently there has been coverage of area nursing homes which have received fines for the below standard care of our elderly and incapacitated. Shame on them for neglecting their responsibilities.
These fines should remind the rest of us that we have a responsibility to hold centers charged with caring for the elderly or incapacitated accountable. In order to hold them accountable, we need to be checking these places out on a regular basis.
From my experience with the elderly in nursing homes, many residents rarely if ever have visitors. Who then, is keeping their caregivers accountable?
It's easy to justify lack of involvement by thinking that agencies funded by our tax dollars are doing a good job of ensuring adequate care. No system, however, can replae the attentiveness and care of a concerned, involved person.
In addition to helping ensure adequate care, we owe it to our elderly to visit with them and become active parts of their lives. Involvement can be as simple as calling an area nursing home and asking who at their facility could really use a regular visitor.
I should also point out that my nursing home experiences have enabled me to encounter many caring and attentive staff members. These people deserve a pat on the back for the service-from-the-heart they deliver each day.
The elderly spent their lives contributing to our community to make it the thriving place to live that it is today. They deserve our attention now.
Stephanie Noffsinger, Warsaw
Animal Welfare
Editor, Times-Union:In rebuttal to the letter on Animal Welfare, I would like to ask the authors if they know the entire story behind the decision the County Council made last week. Were they at the meeting or are they just hearing and/or reading only part of the facts?
Did they bother to call any of the Councilmen before writing their letter? Do they know any of the Councilmen? Do they know they have fine, upstanding men sitting on the board?
Do they know the work these men do for the county? Do they know the hours spent trying to balance the budget so all of the community gets their needed share and rights? Do they know what a difficult job it is to please all departments fairly? Do they know the stress these Councilmen are under trying to hold down our taxes?
I can only speak for my husband, but do they know how much he loves and admires animals? Did they bother to find out any answers to these questions or did they just rashly write a letter off the top of their emotions asking for voters to elect different representatives.
The residents of Kosciusko County have Councilmen who are upstanding, honest men in our community and I am proud to have them represent us and serve the needs of our county.
Karen Tranter, Syracuse
Animal Buck Passing
Editor, Times-Union:This is an open letter to the 400 members of the Animal Welfare League; the generous, compassionate and animal-loving citizens of the county, and the County Commissioners and the County Council.
Once again, we have a situation where the buck is passed between the Commissioners and the Council and nothing gets accomplished. The Commissioners had already recommended $50,000 for the year 2000 budget, without having any input from AWL, since they knew that the originally agreed upon $30,000 was wholly inadequate. We presented our proposed budget to the Commissioners Aug. 3 and were told that the final decision was up to the Council and would take place Aug. 17. We feel that the Commissioners, after hearing our presentation, should have increased their recommendation and sent it, along with copies of our budget, to the Council. They apparently did neither, why?
Unbeknownst to us, a vote was taken by the Council Aug. 16. For an item that wasn't even on the agenda (I guess the animals welfare isn't all that important), it was decided to cut the Commissioner's recommended $50,000 back to $30,000, with no discussion other than that was the original 'negotiated' figure. It seems that matter wasn't anything for the Council to care about, but we and the community care about AWL and this has to be demonstrated to the Commissioners and the Council, loud and clear. We have all their addresses and know which ones are coming up for re-election this fall. Call either our president, Chad Harvey at 269-3876 or treasurer, Bob Brilliandt at 269-9630 to obtain them. Then, write many times, to try to get a reasonable answer to our questions (if one exists) and let them all know that the community is behind the AWL because we are doing much better for the animals. Their conditions are better, they have an increased chance for life and adoption. The Council knows, from its own budgets, that it cost $80,000 for them to run the shelter with only about 100 animals. We were asking for the same amount to maintain an average population of 300 animals. Why didn't they have the intestinal fortitude to make a motion and approve the $80,000?
We were able to plead our case Aug. 17 and again Aug. 19, but apparently it fell on deaf ears and the amount budgeted remained at $30,000.
Both the Commissioners and the Council seem to operate in their own little world, out of touch with reality and the wants and needs of their constituents. If they don't meet those needs then they should be voted out of office!
The bottom line is that without sufficient funds AWL would reluctantly, at some time in the future, be forced to relinquish the Shelter. Then it's the animals who will suffer.
Bob Brilliandt, treasurer Board of directors, AWL
Charity Carnival
Editor, Times-Union:We express our sincere "Thank You" to the Kosciusko Board of Realtors and their families and friends who gave much time and energy to organizing the second annual Charity Carnival - a wonderful family and community event to benefit individuals with disabilities and children with needs served through Cardinal Center. We want to thank all the individuals and families for all of their hard work on a very hot day. We also want to thank the brave souls who were dunked during the carnival who endured the cold water, soggy clothes and agonizing heat. The money raised from the event will help meet the long-term financial needs of people served by Cardinal Center.
Thanks again for all you do to help improve the quality of life in the community.
Board of Directors and Staff of Cardinal Center Inc.
via e-mail
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- Puppy Hit - Accident Photographs - Music Festival - Nursing Homes - Animal Welfare - Animal Buck Passing - Charity Carnival
Puppy Hit
Editor, Times-Union:This is in regard to the letter about the puppy that was hit at 4:30 a.m. I feel very sorry for the loss to the family. I have two dogs of my own and they are truly members of our family. However, when one of my human family members aren't outside, my dogs are in a large fenced in area. I wouldn't let either one of them run loose alone any more than I would have let my daughter outside alone when she was younger. As a responsible pet owner you need to constantly be aware of dangers to your pets, just as you are with children as responsible parents. The dangers are the same: poisons, vehicles, strangers, strange animals etc. You need to constantly be aware of where your pet/child is all of the time. Either one can dart in front of a car.
One last item, usually it's raccoons, opossum, wild dogs out at 4:30 a.m. They could have rabies. We all need to take responsibility for our actions as well as the actions of our family members - human or furry - when they don't know any better.
Theresa Schuster, via e-mail
Accident Photographs
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to know why it seems so necessary to print photographs of automobile crashes when it results in a fatality. I realize from your point of view, that it sells a lot of papers on the day that it is published. Since when is it all right to receive money at the cost of someone else's grief? Isn't that immoral?
When your child, loved one or friend is involved in such an accident, it is hard enough to face such a thing. But, when you open the evening paper and you have to see that vehicle on the front page it just seems to make things a little worse, if there is such a thing. I take that back; there is something worse. Seeing the blanket that someone laid over the car and it makes you realize that your loved one is still there!
I see another tragedy has happened that has claimed more young lives. Mr. Nieter has just happened to be there to inflict more pain with his camera. Why is it that when a Warsaw businessman is killed there was no picture? Was it because of the circumstances of the wreck, or because of his position in the community? I am glad that there were no pictures of Mr. Chapman's wreck for the sake of his family. But, why do you have to take pictures when anyone is killed? Also, if it was your son or daughter would the picture still be published?
You wonder how I know how painful it is to the family? Our son, David, was one of those victims just before Christmas last year. All day long, I was hoping someone would just wake me from this awful nightmare, and then I saw the Times-Union that day and all hope of that was crushed.
Please don't ignore my letter, as I would like some answers. Please don't tell me that it is to get people to be more careful. Have you seen the way people drive in this county? So far it hasn't worked, so I think it is time to stop this practice.
I hope and pray, Mr. Nieter, that you will never live through a tragedy like this. I simply ask you that the next time you get ready to snap that picture, would you try to imagine how it would feel if it were your child?
Joyce Hedington, Mother of David Hedington
Music Festival
Editor, Times-Union:I have these comments in response to the reader concerned about the Pro-Life Music Festival and the Times-Union.
First, I personally believe it IS news when a local non-profit organization works to put on a quality musical event for the purpose of making a positive pro-life stand. Because it was a charitable event, it was hoped that money would be raised to be given to pregnancy support centers here locally and in the northern Indiana area. These centers provide support to help women make the right decision, that being to accept the responsibility of the human life that they have begun.
Second, nothing does more to demean the emotional nature of this topic than people who are silent about it. Additionally, the event was not a rally of any kind, but a peaceful and joyous gathering to celebrate the sanctity of life.
Lastly, the primary tool used to make this event work was Christian rock music. Unfortunately, most parents are too busy living their lives to really understand the effect that the movies, TV and mainstream rock music are having on their kids. Looking the other way or failing to recognize the increasing immorality in this country are not effective responses to the problem. The festival offered a truly positive alternative to our destructive pop-culture.
The Pro-Life Music Festival was all about making a totally non-confrontational, true Christian stand to show that life is far too precious to be destroyed at will. Even though the event ran at a loss (due to a heavily promoted free Christian concert in South Bend on the same day), the festival was totally peaceful, loving and was an awesome experience for those who did attend. I look forward to another successful event in 2000.
Martt Clupper, organizer Pro-Life Festival, Warsaw
Nursing Homes
Editor, Times-Union:Recently there has been coverage of area nursing homes which have received fines for the below standard care of our elderly and incapacitated. Shame on them for neglecting their responsibilities.
These fines should remind the rest of us that we have a responsibility to hold centers charged with caring for the elderly or incapacitated accountable. In order to hold them accountable, we need to be checking these places out on a regular basis.
From my experience with the elderly in nursing homes, many residents rarely if ever have visitors. Who then, is keeping their caregivers accountable?
It's easy to justify lack of involvement by thinking that agencies funded by our tax dollars are doing a good job of ensuring adequate care. No system, however, can replae the attentiveness and care of a concerned, involved person.
In addition to helping ensure adequate care, we owe it to our elderly to visit with them and become active parts of their lives. Involvement can be as simple as calling an area nursing home and asking who at their facility could really use a regular visitor.
I should also point out that my nursing home experiences have enabled me to encounter many caring and attentive staff members. These people deserve a pat on the back for the service-from-the-heart they deliver each day.
The elderly spent their lives contributing to our community to make it the thriving place to live that it is today. They deserve our attention now.
Stephanie Noffsinger, Warsaw
Animal Welfare
Editor, Times-Union:In rebuttal to the letter on Animal Welfare, I would like to ask the authors if they know the entire story behind the decision the County Council made last week. Were they at the meeting or are they just hearing and/or reading only part of the facts?
Did they bother to call any of the Councilmen before writing their letter? Do they know any of the Councilmen? Do they know they have fine, upstanding men sitting on the board?
Do they know the work these men do for the county? Do they know the hours spent trying to balance the budget so all of the community gets their needed share and rights? Do they know what a difficult job it is to please all departments fairly? Do they know the stress these Councilmen are under trying to hold down our taxes?
I can only speak for my husband, but do they know how much he loves and admires animals? Did they bother to find out any answers to these questions or did they just rashly write a letter off the top of their emotions asking for voters to elect different representatives.
The residents of Kosciusko County have Councilmen who are upstanding, honest men in our community and I am proud to have them represent us and serve the needs of our county.
Karen Tranter, Syracuse
Animal Buck Passing
Editor, Times-Union:This is an open letter to the 400 members of the Animal Welfare League; the generous, compassionate and animal-loving citizens of the county, and the County Commissioners and the County Council.
Once again, we have a situation where the buck is passed between the Commissioners and the Council and nothing gets accomplished. The Commissioners had already recommended $50,000 for the year 2000 budget, without having any input from AWL, since they knew that the originally agreed upon $30,000 was wholly inadequate. We presented our proposed budget to the Commissioners Aug. 3 and were told that the final decision was up to the Council and would take place Aug. 17. We feel that the Commissioners, after hearing our presentation, should have increased their recommendation and sent it, along with copies of our budget, to the Council. They apparently did neither, why?
Unbeknownst to us, a vote was taken by the Council Aug. 16. For an item that wasn't even on the agenda (I guess the animals welfare isn't all that important), it was decided to cut the Commissioner's recommended $50,000 back to $30,000, with no discussion other than that was the original 'negotiated' figure. It seems that matter wasn't anything for the Council to care about, but we and the community care about AWL and this has to be demonstrated to the Commissioners and the Council, loud and clear. We have all their addresses and know which ones are coming up for re-election this fall. Call either our president, Chad Harvey at 269-3876 or treasurer, Bob Brilliandt at 269-9630 to obtain them. Then, write many times, to try to get a reasonable answer to our questions (if one exists) and let them all know that the community is behind the AWL because we are doing much better for the animals. Their conditions are better, they have an increased chance for life and adoption. The Council knows, from its own budgets, that it cost $80,000 for them to run the shelter with only about 100 animals. We were asking for the same amount to maintain an average population of 300 animals. Why didn't they have the intestinal fortitude to make a motion and approve the $80,000?
We were able to plead our case Aug. 17 and again Aug. 19, but apparently it fell on deaf ears and the amount budgeted remained at $30,000.
Both the Commissioners and the Council seem to operate in their own little world, out of touch with reality and the wants and needs of their constituents. If they don't meet those needs then they should be voted out of office!
The bottom line is that without sufficient funds AWL would reluctantly, at some time in the future, be forced to relinquish the Shelter. Then it's the animals who will suffer.
Bob Brilliandt, treasurer Board of directors, AWL
Charity Carnival
Editor, Times-Union:We express our sincere "Thank You" to the Kosciusko Board of Realtors and their families and friends who gave much time and energy to organizing the second annual Charity Carnival - a wonderful family and community event to benefit individuals with disabilities and children with needs served through Cardinal Center. We want to thank all the individuals and families for all of their hard work on a very hot day. We also want to thank the brave souls who were dunked during the carnival who endured the cold water, soggy clothes and agonizing heat. The money raised from the event will help meet the long-term financial needs of people served by Cardinal Center.
Thanks again for all you do to help improve the quality of life in the community.
Board of Directors and Staff of Cardinal Center Inc.
via e-mail
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