Letters to the Editor 10-18-2006
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Ethanol Risks - Crime Prevention - Vote For Smolen
Ethanol Risks
Editor, Times-Union:As a parent and resident in the Milford school area, I have some major concerns about the proposed ethanol refinery. I should preface this by saying that I am not against ethanol, however, I believe that these heavily industrial sites should have a standard minimum distance to schools and/or towns allowable by the state given the risks that are involved with being located close to them.
Due to the proximity of the school to the proposed site and the amounts of hazardous chemicals that are going to be stored on site as well as transported in and out of the area, I have great concern for what will transpire if an accident does occur. In the event of an accident that would put into effect the evacuation plan for Milford School, I guarantee you as a mother that I will not rest until my children are safe with me. I am sure I am not alone in this sentiment. This would mean a large number of people trying to enter the area that is being evacuated, causing additional chaos and confusion in an already tense situation. I honestly feel that an effective evacuation of small children in a hazardous-material situation would be not only a logistical nightmare for administrators, but a legal liability for the school. If a school-adopted evacuation plan is not carried out effectively and as a consequence children suffer from the effects of exposure to hazardous materials, the lawsuits that will follow could financially ruin the school district.
These financial effects will not only be felt by the school district, but also the taxpayers supporting the school district. If property values in Milford decrease (as Claypool has reported a 20 percent drop in property values), the amount of property taxes collected from Milford will also decrease. According to the school board, the children will not feel the effects of this drop in funding, because the amount of money allotted per child will not change. However, the amount of taxes surrounding property owners must increase in order to offset the loss in tax revenue. This would in effect increase the taxes paid by residents of the Syracuse and Wawasee area.
Syracuse and surrounding areas will also be affected by the number of parents who have the choice between sending their children to either Syracuse Elementary and Wawasee Middle or Milford. As a parent with the choice, I would rather have my children a much safer distance from the refinery than less than one mile at Milford School. There would be an influx of students into Syracuse Elementary and Wawasee Middle, possibly overwhelming the school system. My fear is that the choice now given to parents on where they want their children educated will be taken away in order to keep school student levels manageable.
My husband and I moved to Milford from Elkhart because we heard such wonderful things about Wawasee Schools. I would hate for this school system to be adversely affected because of a decision to locate such a volatile industrial site so close to our children.
Ann Schlabach, via e-mail
Milford
Crime Prevention
Editor, Times-Union:October is nationally recognized as Crime Prevention Month. In light of this I would like to remind those in the community that they can take steps to increase their safety. Following some of the safety tips below will help to decrease criminal opportunities.
Burglaries to motor vehicle and motor vehicle thefts are often crimes of opportunity. To reduce the incidence of burglaries involving motor vehicles, there are basic prevention tips to follow:
n Avoid leaving your keys in the car or ignition.
n Be sure to lock your vehicle, even if it's in front of your home.
n Keep the keys to your home and car separate.
n Avoid parking in isolated areas with little foot or auto traffic. Be especially alert in enclosed parking garages.
n Don't leave valuable items in plain view inside the vehicle.
When out and about:
n Stick to well-traveled streets. Avoid shortcuts through wooded areas, parking lots or alleys.
n Don't flash large amounts of cash or other tempting targets like expensive jewelry or clothing.
n Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket, not a back pocket.
n Try to use automated teller machines in the daytime. Have your card in hand and don't approach the machine if you're uneasy about people nearby.
n Have your car or house key in hand before you reach the door.
Around the home:
n Keep your doors and deadbolts locked at all times - even when someone is at home.
n Do not leave notes outside to indicate that you are away from home.
n Don't advertise your new microwave, stereo or TV by leaving the empty boxes at the curb. Put discarded boxes in trash bags.
n Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.
n When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.
n Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer when possible.
n Avoid placing valuables where they can be seen by someone looking in from outside your home.
n Be sure all your property is marked for identification purposes.
n Be wary of solicitations for donations, door-to-door salesmen or couriers delivering gifts.
Steve Zorn, via e-mail
Warsaw
Vote For Smolen
Editor, Times-Union:As election day draws near, I urge all readers to exercise your right to vote.
As you consider your choices, I would like to recommend Barbara Smolen for the position of school board representative from district 1. Barb has been active in local schools for a number of years as a parent volunteer and a member of several different parent-teacher organization boards. I had the privilege of working with Barb during the end of the 2004-05 school year and throughout the 2005-06 year as we served on both the school status and facilities committee and the EdCom Expo committee. Barb is organized, intelligent and passionate about the education of our children. She has a wonderful ability to gather and present information in a logical manner. Barb is always aware of the "big picture" and how individual decisions affect it. Barbara Smolen will be a valuable asset to the Warsaw Community Schools Board of Trustees.
Tamisyn Grantz, via e-mail
Slidell, La.
formerly of Warsaw
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- Ethanol Risks - Crime Prevention - Vote For Smolen
Ethanol Risks
Editor, Times-Union:As a parent and resident in the Milford school area, I have some major concerns about the proposed ethanol refinery. I should preface this by saying that I am not against ethanol, however, I believe that these heavily industrial sites should have a standard minimum distance to schools and/or towns allowable by the state given the risks that are involved with being located close to them.
Due to the proximity of the school to the proposed site and the amounts of hazardous chemicals that are going to be stored on site as well as transported in and out of the area, I have great concern for what will transpire if an accident does occur. In the event of an accident that would put into effect the evacuation plan for Milford School, I guarantee you as a mother that I will not rest until my children are safe with me. I am sure I am not alone in this sentiment. This would mean a large number of people trying to enter the area that is being evacuated, causing additional chaos and confusion in an already tense situation. I honestly feel that an effective evacuation of small children in a hazardous-material situation would be not only a logistical nightmare for administrators, but a legal liability for the school. If a school-adopted evacuation plan is not carried out effectively and as a consequence children suffer from the effects of exposure to hazardous materials, the lawsuits that will follow could financially ruin the school district.
These financial effects will not only be felt by the school district, but also the taxpayers supporting the school district. If property values in Milford decrease (as Claypool has reported a 20 percent drop in property values), the amount of property taxes collected from Milford will also decrease. According to the school board, the children will not feel the effects of this drop in funding, because the amount of money allotted per child will not change. However, the amount of taxes surrounding property owners must increase in order to offset the loss in tax revenue. This would in effect increase the taxes paid by residents of the Syracuse and Wawasee area.
Syracuse and surrounding areas will also be affected by the number of parents who have the choice between sending their children to either Syracuse Elementary and Wawasee Middle or Milford. As a parent with the choice, I would rather have my children a much safer distance from the refinery than less than one mile at Milford School. There would be an influx of students into Syracuse Elementary and Wawasee Middle, possibly overwhelming the school system. My fear is that the choice now given to parents on where they want their children educated will be taken away in order to keep school student levels manageable.
My husband and I moved to Milford from Elkhart because we heard such wonderful things about Wawasee Schools. I would hate for this school system to be adversely affected because of a decision to locate such a volatile industrial site so close to our children.
Ann Schlabach, via e-mail
Milford
Crime Prevention
Editor, Times-Union:October is nationally recognized as Crime Prevention Month. In light of this I would like to remind those in the community that they can take steps to increase their safety. Following some of the safety tips below will help to decrease criminal opportunities.
Burglaries to motor vehicle and motor vehicle thefts are often crimes of opportunity. To reduce the incidence of burglaries involving motor vehicles, there are basic prevention tips to follow:
n Avoid leaving your keys in the car or ignition.
n Be sure to lock your vehicle, even if it's in front of your home.
n Keep the keys to your home and car separate.
n Avoid parking in isolated areas with little foot or auto traffic. Be especially alert in enclosed parking garages.
n Don't leave valuable items in plain view inside the vehicle.
When out and about:
n Stick to well-traveled streets. Avoid shortcuts through wooded areas, parking lots or alleys.
n Don't flash large amounts of cash or other tempting targets like expensive jewelry or clothing.
n Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket, not a back pocket.
n Try to use automated teller machines in the daytime. Have your card in hand and don't approach the machine if you're uneasy about people nearby.
n Have your car or house key in hand before you reach the door.
Around the home:
n Keep your doors and deadbolts locked at all times - even when someone is at home.
n Do not leave notes outside to indicate that you are away from home.
n Don't advertise your new microwave, stereo or TV by leaving the empty boxes at the curb. Put discarded boxes in trash bags.
n Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.
n When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.
n Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer when possible.
n Avoid placing valuables where they can be seen by someone looking in from outside your home.
n Be sure all your property is marked for identification purposes.
n Be wary of solicitations for donations, door-to-door salesmen or couriers delivering gifts.
Steve Zorn, via e-mail
Warsaw
Vote For Smolen
Editor, Times-Union:As election day draws near, I urge all readers to exercise your right to vote.
As you consider your choices, I would like to recommend Barbara Smolen for the position of school board representative from district 1. Barb has been active in local schools for a number of years as a parent volunteer and a member of several different parent-teacher organization boards. I had the privilege of working with Barb during the end of the 2004-05 school year and throughout the 2005-06 year as we served on both the school status and facilities committee and the EdCom Expo committee. Barb is organized, intelligent and passionate about the education of our children. She has a wonderful ability to gather and present information in a logical manner. Barb is always aware of the "big picture" and how individual decisions affect it. Barbara Smolen will be a valuable asset to the Warsaw Community Schools Board of Trustees.
Tamisyn Grantz, via e-mail
Slidell, La.
formerly of Warsaw
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