Letters to the Editor 10-21-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Public Access - By The People - Faith Is The Answer - Gun-Grabbing Government - Dog Dumped - Importance Of Learning - Thank You - Chili Update - Special Mother
Public Access
Editor, Times-Union:In July 1, 1999, modifications that considerable strengthened Indiana's open access laws permitting citizens access to government public records became the law of the land in Indiana. Unfortunately, no one apparently bothered to inform the Hon. Frances C. Gull. In April of this year, I filed an open access suit against the Central Noble School Corporation seeking documentation of their expenditures for legal services in matters regarding keeping my children's educational records from me. The regular judge of the Noble Circuit Court, the Hon. G. David Laur, recused himself from this case and sent it to the Indiana Supreme Court for the appointment of a special judge.
On her appointment to this case (Cause Number 57C01-9904-MI-011) the Hon. Frances C. Gull issued a rule to show cause why this case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute this action. The Central Noble School Corporation did not even bother to show up for the hearing. Nevertheless the Hon. Frances C. Gull dismissed this case on Oct. 13, 1999.
The Hon. Frances C. Gull rejected arguments that the legislature clearly expressed the public policy of this state by passing the enhancements to Indiana's open access law by 94-1 in the house and 46-0 in the Senate. The Hon. Frances C. Gull also rejected the argument that I would simply rerequest the records and when denied once again, would refile the suit.
Open access can only work if the Indiana judiciary is willing to recognize the principle of separation of powers and not view itself as a handmaiden of the executive branch. Judge Gull has clearly expressed her contempt for the notion that we have a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Indiana's newpapers rose to the challenge of raising the open access issue to the Indiana legislature. The job is only halfway finished. Unless and until Indiana's judiciary recognizes that open government is inherent to democracy, we will not have open government in Indiana.
John D. Berntson, Bristol
By The People
Editor, Times-Union:Sometime back, a person from Leesburg wrote a Letter to the Editor about a government by the people, for the people and of the people. Only trouble is in order for this to be true, the people themselves must become involved. This means attending the either or both county and city/town meetings. The newspaper does a fair job of reporting these meetings but one can't necessarily rely on all it says as being the truth, for the writers also have opinions and do try to swing the public opinion as to their own beliefs.
A good example of this is in both the political news slant and the increase taxes by way of a so-called economic development income tax. Better known as an EDIT tax. The voter's taxpayers of the county's cities and towns need to get involved and find out what the candidates for these cities or town offices views are with regard to the EDIT tax. They need to find out if any of these candidates belong to or are members of an almost totally tax-supported special interest lobbying group such as the Kosciusko Developing Corp. or the Warsaw Developing Corp. whose members' primary interest is for their self-interests and not that of necessarily the publics.
If so, who are these candidates going to represent, the voter taxpayers or this special interest group? In the last county election, not one of the candidates for county office commented on this EDIT tax or whether they were members/officers of these special interests groups. Nor were there any comments from them as to how they were going to push this tax through with very little input from the public. This is not a government by the people, for the people, of the people. This is more of what one would expect in the Soviet Union, this is more of a government of slight of hand or that of deceiving the public as a means to justify an end. So as to get the public to finance more tax and spend special interests projects with little or no public input to say otherwise?
It is a sorry state of affairs when candidates of both of the major political parties of this county feels this is an acceptable practice. It is sadder when there is but only one candidate running for a public office that really has told their views on the use public tax monies. This is Mr. Daniel Stevens. If Mr. Stevens can do this then why can't the rest do it as well? If these others can't then why should they be elected to a public office? Isn't it about time the public officials are informed that we expect them to serve us the public and not some special interest, that they were elected to office to serve the people and not the people to serve them? Only then will we have a government by the people, for the people and of the people.
Marvin Gunter, Warsaw
Faith Is The Answer
Editor, Times-Union:There is a profound loss of life's meaning in so many lives in our time, resulting in a cheapening of life. The result: shootings; suicides; neglect of care for others, of family, neighborhood, school, workplace and church across the nation.
Without faith in God as the author, sustainer and receiver of life, a meaningless and fatal cycle takes place in each and every person. One works. Why? To make money. Why? To live. Why? To work. Why? To make money. Why? To live. Then the acid test question becomes "Why live?" This is the purposeless cycle which leads to death and hell. It is nihilism, that there is no meaning or purpose in existence.
What is life for? Just to die? No! Ask the question: Who am I? Answer: The first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:27, reads "So God created man in His own image ... male and female he created them." Genesis 2:7 tells that each person becomes a living soul. A rabbi on "Larry King Live" the other night said that each person is "a spiritual being in a material body." Every person is a child of God, with tremendous potential to make himself what God intends for him to become with God's help. "God and Son Inc." and "God and Daughter Inc." Don't those titles sound good? In business with God, the Senior Partner!
Ask another question: "Why am I here?" Answer: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Another saying "Life is a gift from God, what we do with it is our gift back to God." In partnership with God, there is so much to do.
Another question: "How can I get free of guilt?" Answer: Everyone feels guilt before God. But God offers cleansing through Jesus, His own son, who died on the cross for all our sins.
Next question: "What do I do?" Accept Jesus as Savior by faith, and know God's mercy and grace and be clean. Clean. Faith is a leap beyond reason. An old tale tells of faith and reason stopped at a chasm. Faith flew to the other side. Reason could not. In times like these "Man's extremity is God's opportunity." The Bible book of Jeremiah 29:13 reads: "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Why wait, when by faith you can talk in your heart and mind with God right now, and walk in real life with God today and forever!
C.L. Hendrix, Winona Lake
Gun-Grabbing Government
Editor, Times-Union:The gun-grabbers claim to see an "opportunity." From here it looks like "desperation." In 1993, they were convinced they would have the Second Amendment all but repealed by now. They were sure that with Clinton in the White House, all the gun control they wanted was a done deal. But then came the elections of 1994 and it all came to a screeching halt. They had gotten a so-called "assault weapon" ban and a background check and that was about it. The assault weapon ban was a joke because it only affected weapons produced after Sept. 23, 1994. All firearms produced prior to that are exempt. The background check was OK, but in order to get that, they had to give up their precious waiting period which did not make them happy.
Now comes the so-called Juvenile Crime Bill and with the prospect of another Bush in the White House, they are afraid this may be their last shot for some time. That probably depends on what happens to Congress, but I hope they are correct.
As for the bill itself, about all that's left of the gun legislation is a ban on imported magazines over 10 rounds, making it illegal for persons under 21 to possess a handgun, and background checks on all sales at gun shows.
Now if this were whittled down to just one, which would you guess the gun-grabbers would want? My guess would be the background checks at gun shows. The other two are dead ends but the background check opens up an entire can of worms. It is the first step in controlling the secondary market. In other words, making it illegal to buy or sell a firearm except through a licensed dealer. For those of you with old or rare firearms, you can just imagine what that will do to the value of your firearms.
Unfortunately, for most of us there is little we can do. Most of us have Lugar, Bayh and Roemer, all three of which voted for the bill in its original version. Those of you in Congressman Buyer's district have a better shot. Please ask him to vote "no" again.
Harold Kitson, Warsaw
Dog Dumped
Editor, Times-Union:This is addressed to the person or persons responsible for dumping their dog at my house on Sunday, October 17. I would just like you to know that he was responsible for killing a kitten in front of my children last night and that the animal control officer came to get him this morning.Ê
He is an older male shepherd/husky mix that looks like he might have a problem walking. If he needed medication or even put to sleep you should have been a RESPONSIBLE pet owner and taken care of him yourself.
Just because we live in the country doesn't mean we are able to take care of your unwanted pets. I have animals that I am responsible for and if I wanted another I would go rescue one at the shelter.Ê
V. Watkins and Family, via e-mail
Importance Of Learning
Editor, Times-Union:Mi tetchers are not learning me anythin in skule. I am tried of skule. I wannt too go out and hav a gut tim. The futer ist not heir yet, zo why wory bout it now? I'm a vary gut bal plaier, zo I kno that I kan go to kolege wherefer I wont to go, an I will get gut grads as long az I kan mak gut skores in my gam.
This type of spelling, among other misspelled words, was what I got in my last 10 years of teaching.
What is our country of America going to be like in the year of 2000? Some of our politicians and educational administration must travel to Germany and spend two to three weeks examining the German methods of educating young people. Indiana ranks 50th on the bottom of our 50 states, and Germany ranks the 1st in our world. These are facts that I have read in our newspapers and magazines.
In Germany, one never sees a telephone pole like we have millions of. There, wires of all kinds are all underground.
My wife's home town in Germany, about the size of Warsaw, does not have a single policeman. They are 10-20 kilometers away in a large city. Auto speeders, well, they are caught on a film, taking automatically - back of car, license plate, date and speed.
Albert G. Smith, Warsaw
Thank You
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to thank my wonderful husband, family, friends and co-workers for all their love and support during this ordeal.
On Saturday, Oct. 9, I was notified by mail that I was drawn to be on the Hoosier Lottery Show.
We were reading the rules and found out Rule No. 6 could be a problem. It states I guarantee that I am not employed by, or a relative living in the same household with, someone employed by the Lottery Commission or a vendor under contract with the State Lottery Commission for the provision of goods or services. I further guarantee that I did not buy my lottery ticket from the place where I am, or my employer is licensed to sell lottery tickets. Not sure where I bought my ticket, but knowing the possibility that it came from where my son works part-time (he is a high school student), we notified Hoosier security.
To make a long story short. On Thursday, Oct. 14, they called and told me I was disqualified because I did buy my ticket where my son works. Believe me, this has been a nightmare. You learn from your mistakes and I sure did. Just don't buy your ticket where a relative living in the same household with you works. I just don't want to see anybody else go through this.
Deb Disher
Chili Update
Editor, Times-Union:Oct. the 6th, the Times-Union 'Lifestyle Editor' Teresa Carrano, wrote an article about me winning the Indiana State Championship Chili Cook-off.
I would like to thank her for such a wonderful article. I wouldn't have expected anything any different than the best from the Times-Union staff. Teresa, it was Veggie Beef Soup, not Beef Stew.
I would like to also thank Mark for the idea of keeping my cooking items from getting smashed during the flight; for VITAL SIGNS for making the best banner in the State and World competitions; for J. French and K. Stevens for their mental support; and my photographer, for the wonderful embroidery work from Reneker's Sport Shop.
I went to Las Vegas (lost wages) with the best ingredients money can buy. I could go anywhere in the state of Indiana and cook the same chili, but what I never even thought about was Vegas is 1,500 feet above sea level and water/tomato juice/or sauce boils at 195 degrees, not 212 degrees like here in Indiana. The boiling point plus overuse of juice to keep the chili the right thickness my sauce turned slightly sweet. The western judges picked that up, they like salt in the desert. There were five tables, each table had 25 32-ounce cups of the best chili in the world, you're one of 10 judges. You must pick, three, to do this you must nitpick and I got nitpicked and lost points that way thus never made the final table. Have faith, I will go to the World Championship Chili Cook-Off again.
Robert Reed
Hot LZ Chili, Warsaw
Special Mother
Editor, Times-Union:Today, I read an article in your letter to editor that made me cry. The one of a special mother.
I have four living sons, of whom I worked very hard to get them a start in life. Two have decided I guess that I am no longer alive, what a terrible thing this is to a mother, who does not even know why they have turned their backs on their other two brothers and me.
This is the nicest thing that any mother could ever ask for, a letter such as the one that Rita Price Simpson wrote about her mom. I was an adopted child, and took care of my mom and dad in their older lives. And now 30 some years after both were taken to heaven, my thoughts are still with them, and I did take care of them, and proud to have done that, for all the years they took care of me. So sad that a mother suffers heartache for the longing of her family being back together to support each other. A mother from Florida.
Betty J. Snyder, via e-mail
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- Public Access - By The People - Faith Is The Answer - Gun-Grabbing Government - Dog Dumped - Importance Of Learning - Thank You - Chili Update - Special Mother
Public Access
Editor, Times-Union:In July 1, 1999, modifications that considerable strengthened Indiana's open access laws permitting citizens access to government public records became the law of the land in Indiana. Unfortunately, no one apparently bothered to inform the Hon. Frances C. Gull. In April of this year, I filed an open access suit against the Central Noble School Corporation seeking documentation of their expenditures for legal services in matters regarding keeping my children's educational records from me. The regular judge of the Noble Circuit Court, the Hon. G. David Laur, recused himself from this case and sent it to the Indiana Supreme Court for the appointment of a special judge.
On her appointment to this case (Cause Number 57C01-9904-MI-011) the Hon. Frances C. Gull issued a rule to show cause why this case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute this action. The Central Noble School Corporation did not even bother to show up for the hearing. Nevertheless the Hon. Frances C. Gull dismissed this case on Oct. 13, 1999.
The Hon. Frances C. Gull rejected arguments that the legislature clearly expressed the public policy of this state by passing the enhancements to Indiana's open access law by 94-1 in the house and 46-0 in the Senate. The Hon. Frances C. Gull also rejected the argument that I would simply rerequest the records and when denied once again, would refile the suit.
Open access can only work if the Indiana judiciary is willing to recognize the principle of separation of powers and not view itself as a handmaiden of the executive branch. Judge Gull has clearly expressed her contempt for the notion that we have a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Indiana's newpapers rose to the challenge of raising the open access issue to the Indiana legislature. The job is only halfway finished. Unless and until Indiana's judiciary recognizes that open government is inherent to democracy, we will not have open government in Indiana.
John D. Berntson, Bristol
By The People
Editor, Times-Union:Sometime back, a person from Leesburg wrote a Letter to the Editor about a government by the people, for the people and of the people. Only trouble is in order for this to be true, the people themselves must become involved. This means attending the either or both county and city/town meetings. The newspaper does a fair job of reporting these meetings but one can't necessarily rely on all it says as being the truth, for the writers also have opinions and do try to swing the public opinion as to their own beliefs.
A good example of this is in both the political news slant and the increase taxes by way of a so-called economic development income tax. Better known as an EDIT tax. The voter's taxpayers of the county's cities and towns need to get involved and find out what the candidates for these cities or town offices views are with regard to the EDIT tax. They need to find out if any of these candidates belong to or are members of an almost totally tax-supported special interest lobbying group such as the Kosciusko Developing Corp. or the Warsaw Developing Corp. whose members' primary interest is for their self-interests and not that of necessarily the publics.
If so, who are these candidates going to represent, the voter taxpayers or this special interest group? In the last county election, not one of the candidates for county office commented on this EDIT tax or whether they were members/officers of these special interests groups. Nor were there any comments from them as to how they were going to push this tax through with very little input from the public. This is not a government by the people, for the people, of the people. This is more of what one would expect in the Soviet Union, this is more of a government of slight of hand or that of deceiving the public as a means to justify an end. So as to get the public to finance more tax and spend special interests projects with little or no public input to say otherwise?
It is a sorry state of affairs when candidates of both of the major political parties of this county feels this is an acceptable practice. It is sadder when there is but only one candidate running for a public office that really has told their views on the use public tax monies. This is Mr. Daniel Stevens. If Mr. Stevens can do this then why can't the rest do it as well? If these others can't then why should they be elected to a public office? Isn't it about time the public officials are informed that we expect them to serve us the public and not some special interest, that they were elected to office to serve the people and not the people to serve them? Only then will we have a government by the people, for the people and of the people.
Marvin Gunter, Warsaw
Faith Is The Answer
Editor, Times-Union:There is a profound loss of life's meaning in so many lives in our time, resulting in a cheapening of life. The result: shootings; suicides; neglect of care for others, of family, neighborhood, school, workplace and church across the nation.
Without faith in God as the author, sustainer and receiver of life, a meaningless and fatal cycle takes place in each and every person. One works. Why? To make money. Why? To live. Why? To work. Why? To make money. Why? To live. Then the acid test question becomes "Why live?" This is the purposeless cycle which leads to death and hell. It is nihilism, that there is no meaning or purpose in existence.
What is life for? Just to die? No! Ask the question: Who am I? Answer: The first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:27, reads "So God created man in His own image ... male and female he created them." Genesis 2:7 tells that each person becomes a living soul. A rabbi on "Larry King Live" the other night said that each person is "a spiritual being in a material body." Every person is a child of God, with tremendous potential to make himself what God intends for him to become with God's help. "God and Son Inc." and "God and Daughter Inc." Don't those titles sound good? In business with God, the Senior Partner!
Ask another question: "Why am I here?" Answer: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Another saying "Life is a gift from God, what we do with it is our gift back to God." In partnership with God, there is so much to do.
Another question: "How can I get free of guilt?" Answer: Everyone feels guilt before God. But God offers cleansing through Jesus, His own son, who died on the cross for all our sins.
Next question: "What do I do?" Accept Jesus as Savior by faith, and know God's mercy and grace and be clean. Clean. Faith is a leap beyond reason. An old tale tells of faith and reason stopped at a chasm. Faith flew to the other side. Reason could not. In times like these "Man's extremity is God's opportunity." The Bible book of Jeremiah 29:13 reads: "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Why wait, when by faith you can talk in your heart and mind with God right now, and walk in real life with God today and forever!
C.L. Hendrix, Winona Lake
Gun-Grabbing Government
Editor, Times-Union:The gun-grabbers claim to see an "opportunity." From here it looks like "desperation." In 1993, they were convinced they would have the Second Amendment all but repealed by now. They were sure that with Clinton in the White House, all the gun control they wanted was a done deal. But then came the elections of 1994 and it all came to a screeching halt. They had gotten a so-called "assault weapon" ban and a background check and that was about it. The assault weapon ban was a joke because it only affected weapons produced after Sept. 23, 1994. All firearms produced prior to that are exempt. The background check was OK, but in order to get that, they had to give up their precious waiting period which did not make them happy.
Now comes the so-called Juvenile Crime Bill and with the prospect of another Bush in the White House, they are afraid this may be their last shot for some time. That probably depends on what happens to Congress, but I hope they are correct.
As for the bill itself, about all that's left of the gun legislation is a ban on imported magazines over 10 rounds, making it illegal for persons under 21 to possess a handgun, and background checks on all sales at gun shows.
Now if this were whittled down to just one, which would you guess the gun-grabbers would want? My guess would be the background checks at gun shows. The other two are dead ends but the background check opens up an entire can of worms. It is the first step in controlling the secondary market. In other words, making it illegal to buy or sell a firearm except through a licensed dealer. For those of you with old or rare firearms, you can just imagine what that will do to the value of your firearms.
Unfortunately, for most of us there is little we can do. Most of us have Lugar, Bayh and Roemer, all three of which voted for the bill in its original version. Those of you in Congressman Buyer's district have a better shot. Please ask him to vote "no" again.
Harold Kitson, Warsaw
Dog Dumped
Editor, Times-Union:This is addressed to the person or persons responsible for dumping their dog at my house on Sunday, October 17. I would just like you to know that he was responsible for killing a kitten in front of my children last night and that the animal control officer came to get him this morning.Ê
He is an older male shepherd/husky mix that looks like he might have a problem walking. If he needed medication or even put to sleep you should have been a RESPONSIBLE pet owner and taken care of him yourself.
Just because we live in the country doesn't mean we are able to take care of your unwanted pets. I have animals that I am responsible for and if I wanted another I would go rescue one at the shelter.Ê
V. Watkins and Family, via e-mail
Importance Of Learning
Editor, Times-Union:Mi tetchers are not learning me anythin in skule. I am tried of skule. I wannt too go out and hav a gut tim. The futer ist not heir yet, zo why wory bout it now? I'm a vary gut bal plaier, zo I kno that I kan go to kolege wherefer I wont to go, an I will get gut grads as long az I kan mak gut skores in my gam.
This type of spelling, among other misspelled words, was what I got in my last 10 years of teaching.
What is our country of America going to be like in the year of 2000? Some of our politicians and educational administration must travel to Germany and spend two to three weeks examining the German methods of educating young people. Indiana ranks 50th on the bottom of our 50 states, and Germany ranks the 1st in our world. These are facts that I have read in our newspapers and magazines.
In Germany, one never sees a telephone pole like we have millions of. There, wires of all kinds are all underground.
My wife's home town in Germany, about the size of Warsaw, does not have a single policeman. They are 10-20 kilometers away in a large city. Auto speeders, well, they are caught on a film, taking automatically - back of car, license plate, date and speed.
Albert G. Smith, Warsaw
Thank You
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to thank my wonderful husband, family, friends and co-workers for all their love and support during this ordeal.
On Saturday, Oct. 9, I was notified by mail that I was drawn to be on the Hoosier Lottery Show.
We were reading the rules and found out Rule No. 6 could be a problem. It states I guarantee that I am not employed by, or a relative living in the same household with, someone employed by the Lottery Commission or a vendor under contract with the State Lottery Commission for the provision of goods or services. I further guarantee that I did not buy my lottery ticket from the place where I am, or my employer is licensed to sell lottery tickets. Not sure where I bought my ticket, but knowing the possibility that it came from where my son works part-time (he is a high school student), we notified Hoosier security.
To make a long story short. On Thursday, Oct. 14, they called and told me I was disqualified because I did buy my ticket where my son works. Believe me, this has been a nightmare. You learn from your mistakes and I sure did. Just don't buy your ticket where a relative living in the same household with you works. I just don't want to see anybody else go through this.
Deb Disher
Chili Update
Editor, Times-Union:Oct. the 6th, the Times-Union 'Lifestyle Editor' Teresa Carrano, wrote an article about me winning the Indiana State Championship Chili Cook-off.
I would like to thank her for such a wonderful article. I wouldn't have expected anything any different than the best from the Times-Union staff. Teresa, it was Veggie Beef Soup, not Beef Stew.
I would like to also thank Mark for the idea of keeping my cooking items from getting smashed during the flight; for VITAL SIGNS for making the best banner in the State and World competitions; for J. French and K. Stevens for their mental support; and my photographer, for the wonderful embroidery work from Reneker's Sport Shop.
I went to Las Vegas (lost wages) with the best ingredients money can buy. I could go anywhere in the state of Indiana and cook the same chili, but what I never even thought about was Vegas is 1,500 feet above sea level and water/tomato juice/or sauce boils at 195 degrees, not 212 degrees like here in Indiana. The boiling point plus overuse of juice to keep the chili the right thickness my sauce turned slightly sweet. The western judges picked that up, they like salt in the desert. There were five tables, each table had 25 32-ounce cups of the best chili in the world, you're one of 10 judges. You must pick, three, to do this you must nitpick and I got nitpicked and lost points that way thus never made the final table. Have faith, I will go to the World Championship Chili Cook-Off again.
Robert Reed
Hot LZ Chili, Warsaw
Special Mother
Editor, Times-Union:Today, I read an article in your letter to editor that made me cry. The one of a special mother.
I have four living sons, of whom I worked very hard to get them a start in life. Two have decided I guess that I am no longer alive, what a terrible thing this is to a mother, who does not even know why they have turned their backs on their other two brothers and me.
This is the nicest thing that any mother could ever ask for, a letter such as the one that Rita Price Simpson wrote about her mom. I was an adopted child, and took care of my mom and dad in their older lives. And now 30 some years after both were taken to heaven, my thoughts are still with them, and I did take care of them, and proud to have done that, for all the years they took care of me. So sad that a mother suffers heartache for the longing of her family being back together to support each other. A mother from Florida.
Betty J. Snyder, via e-mail
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