Letters to the Editor 10-26-2006
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Congress - Elect Yeiter - Voting Machines - Letters & Politicians - Bush Approval - Cholesterol Meds - More On Ethanol - Halloween Safety - Toll Road Response - 9/11 Profits - Vote - Kole
Congress
Editor, Times-Union:This congress has often been referred to as the "Do Nothing" congress. This harsh criticism seems undeserved. They have indeed accomplished quite a lot.
They have given the wealthy a $70 billion tax cut. In order to make this a reality, they have cut funding for various social programs including student aid, Head Start, job training and child care. I guess we don't need job training and a strong labor force to be a nation of waiters, maids and sales clerks.
They have given their friends in the pharmaceutical industry as yet undetermined billions at the expense of seniors. Millions of seniors face thousands of dollars of out-of-pocket expenses via the "Donut Hole," and many more will face higher premiums for late sign-up.
The banking industry was bestowed with "The Bankruptcy Reform Bill," at the expense of those facing a catastrophic illness, unemployment, divorce or any type of hardship. No excuses.
The Bush-Cheney folks in the energy business were treated especially favorably. Their benefactors allowed them to legislate their own secret policy of tax breaks and subsidies while recording record profits.
Our esteemed Congress also refused a minimum wage increase unless it was tied to $753 billion in estate tax cuts for millionaires.
I confess to not knowing a lot about the Bible, and I'm sure many will be quick to malign my interpretation. But this self-proclaimed party of God regime seems to view the Bible much as the President views the use of a signing statement. If there's a part we don't like, we'll ignore it.
I refer to a verse in Matthew that goes something like, "For I was hungry and you gave me ¼something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
These are my moral values. I intend to vote them.
Janet Collins
Etna Green
Elect Yeiter
Editor, Times-Union:I don't live in the first district, but if I did I would cast my vote for Ron Yeiter for school board.
Ron came into his presidency at a very turbulent time for our school system. He has managed to steer the board through those tough times and has us headed in the right direction. He has been able to do so by being very deliberate and open to all sides of the issue. Unlike in the past, he is willing to listen to his constituents and to make decisions accordingly. If there is an issue he doesn't have the background on, he does his research and acts in the best interest of us all. On top of all of that, he is a very nice guy. That's something you don't find very often these days for someone in his position.
Paul Sibray, via e-mail
Silver Lake
Voting Machines
Editor, Times-Union:I concur with Jeff Harding's concern about electronic voting machines that he expressed in his Oct. 25, 2006, letter.
My career was as a computer designer, manager of computer development projects, and as an information systems organization manager. The last seven years of my career, I spent running an information systems organization. In addition, I have had a fair amount of hands on programming experience.
I can attest to the ease with which technical staff members can manipulate these systems and then cover their tracks. There was nothing to prevent me from using my knowledge and security access to the systems that I was responsible for to steal large amounts of money from my employer and cover it up except for my own integrity.
I feel Jeff Harding has a valid concern. I believe that we are putting our democracy at risk with these machines.
Howard Woodward, via e-mail
Warsaw
Letters & Politicians
Editor, Times-Union:I enjoy reading the letters to the editor to find out what people are saying. The Oct. 13 issue was a classic. One letter was from a guy living in Oklahoma telling people from Milford to stop complaining about a refinery being built next to their town. The next letter was from a local banker praising the Republicans for selling the state. Another letter urging people to vote, saying that if the politician is doing a bad job, vote them out (Dave Wolkins is unopposed).
The two letters I did agree with were complaining about Bill Ruppel and Mitch Daniels. Dave Wolkins and Bill Ruppel deserve to be voted out. They have been feeding at the public trough far too long, they split the state in half with this ill conceived time mess. Remember the saying, politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often and for the same reason.
Tom Morehouse
Milford
Bush Approval
Editor, Times-Union:Ref: Democrat or Republican
First, let's be honest, and second, let's give credit to whom and when credit is due.
President Bush has said something like, "If and when a war must be fought, he preferred it be fought overseas, rather than on U.S. soil." He also said his aim is to protect our country.
Election is coming up soon. As I see it, the two most important issues are security and economy. We have had peace in our country since Sept. 11, 2001. I think we have much to thank God and all concerned.
Economy - employment is below 5 percent nationally. I think that also is much to be thankful for. How about the gas prices that has cropped considerably? Well that should make both parties happy.
I am sorry to have to say, but the only thing I have head from the Democrats are they want a change. I have not heard what to. I have not anything against the name, Democrat or Republican. It is what they stand or do not stand for, that bothers me.
Regarding the war - I don't think that many understand what the war is all about. It is not over land. As I see it, "We wrestle against powers, rules of darkness and against spiritual hosts of wickedness." It is between the true God and the false god. I have heard it called holy war.
I think it important that everyone gets behind our president and support him, so hopefully we have victory soon. That would be good for both parties alike. What do you think? "Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." Matthew 12:25.
Leslie E. Swanson
Winona Lake
Cholesterol Meds
Editor, Times-Union:A few weeks ago I wrote a letter concerning the statins in our cholesterol medications. I was truly amazed at the phone calls I received - many with problems, with phlegm such as mine, but even more with problems of muscle pain, ranging from mild to truly horrific pains.
The day following the appearance of my letter I was reading Dr. Gott's column, which appears in our Times-Union, in which a lady was telling Dr. Gott about her problem with phlegm and that her doctor had put her on Niacin which wasn't helping at all and asking for advice from Dr. Gott. He told her to try adding omega-3 fish oil and suggested she find another doctor.
I obtained a bottle of omega-3 from my favorite drug store and find it really helps my problem. I already take niacinamide daily (do not like the skin flush caused by niacin) and so, just with the addition of the omega-3, I now have very little trouble with phlegm and find life so much enjoyable with the simple addition to my diet.
I feel great sympathy though with the many callers who are having the muscle pains, and I have no idea whether this would help them or not, but I do think it would be worth a try. I was so pleased that our Dr. Gott came up with what is the solution for me and hopefully many of my callers. Now I appreciate Dr. Gott and those doctors who, like him, write columns in papers.
He suggested exercise, which I find very difficult due to arthritis, but I have found a lot of help with that by drinking 1/2 cup of Aloe Vera juice three times a day. I have also problems with balance due to a stroke so am limited as to the exercise he suggested, but it is a wonderful help to have little or no pain from my arthritis.
I hope the callers with the muscular problems will do as I have done - write a letter to the editor, and as I was pleased to see, as a retired newspaper women, that the power of the press still works and would urge anyone with any side effect from any medication to use this power to find help for their pain, not only from the side effects from any medication to use this power to find help for their pain, not only from the side effects of cholesterol medicine, but to try using Aloe Vera juice for their arthritis, which I am aware many people suffer. This herb has been around for many years and during the 20 years I lived in Florida, I found all my neighbors had their own Aloe Vera plant which helps in so many ways.
Donna Butche
Syracuse
More On Ethanol
Editor, Times-Union:While others would find that Mr. Fraley's letter on the 20th to be a personal attack against myself, I found it to be, to say the least, laughable. I mean, how a group can say that they are not anti-ethanol yet try to come up with every reason in the book on why Milford shouldn't have an ethanol plant. It's no different than any other type of energy that others came up with. Nobody questioned nuclear energy till the Three Mile Island incident and the Chernobyl accidents. It goes to show that when it comes down to it, we all want better energy sources, just not in our backyard. My question for Mr. Fraley is, if not here, then where? If everything you claim about ethanol production is in fact true, then where should it be produced? In the words of Bill O'Reilly, let's walk into the "No-Spin Zone," if you will, as I address the rest of Mr. Fraley's comments.
Mr. Fraley asks the question, how long will the company use local corn? Well, with fuel costs in agriculture on the rise, I would say it is guaranteed. I mean, why wouldn't the company use local corn? Its there, and it could be used without the high costs of transportation. Now, there will most likely be corn shipped in from all around northern Indiana to keep it running all year around, but it would certainly use local crops first.
Secondly, Mr. Fraley's comments on the high cost of feed for animal producers are absurd. Do you know what the major by-product of these plants is? Apparently you don't have a clue. The major by-product is distiller's grain. Distiller's grain is a high-protein corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, or corn germ meal depending on the type of fermentation process the plant uses. Looking at Verasun's Web site, they are very open to the selling of the DG for animal feeds, which is fairly cheap.
When it comes to the pollution issue, most of you still are not listening to what I am saying. I have searched numerous hours on EPA's Web site, along with other environmental databases, and could not find a direct linkage to increased pollution from ethanol plants. For the people of Kosciusko County, I will tell you what they are doing. They are looking at court cases from a few ethanol plants, which were some of the first ones to open, that had some emissions issues, and then taking information from the Lung Association on how air pollutions effects people and spinning it to make it look like the whole industry as a whole is to blame. My question for all of you is this, why does the EPA hail ethanol as being great for vehicle emissions and better for the environment? I highly doubt they are going to approve something that is bad for humans and the environment in the production stages, just for it to be great later on. Quite frankly, it doesn't make sense.
Finally, and the part that I got the biggest laugh from, was the accusation that the Web sites I used were non-partisan. The www.milfordethanol.com Web site has lots of different Web sites, I will give you that. However, most are just reports from newspapers and special interest groups. There is none from any source of creditable scientific research. Close to 75 percent of everything on the Internet is either false or opinions, not real actually information. While I must say Mr. Fraley made a valiant effort to discredit me, I must say you are going to have to try harder than that. When you find me some credible information to your claims, please come back to me.
Brad Clayton, via e-mail
Oklahoma State University-Stillwater undergrad
Plant and Soil Sciences - Crop Sciences
Oklahoma, formerly of Warsaw
Halloween Safety
Editor, Times-Union:Halloween is just around the corner and it can one of the most festive and entertaining holidays of the year for the entire family.
Trick-or-treating, costume parties and haunted houses all add to the fun of the Halloween weekend. However, the fun can quickly turn to disaster if parents and children choose to ignore dangerous people, places and situations. Before sending your children out to enjoy the holiday activities, take the time to talk them about possible scenarios they may be faced with and how to successfully resolve them.
Below is a list of general safety tips to help keep children safe this Halloween.
Always use common sense.
Young children should always go trick-or-treating with a parent or trusted adult.
Older children/teens should not trick-or-treat alone. They should have at least two buddies go with them, if not a parent or trusted adult.
Plan your child's entire route and make sure they stick to it.
Make sure that children are wearing flame-retardant costumes.
Make sure the costumes do not obstruct your child's vision.
Provide your children with snacks before they go out so they will be less tempted to eat candy before it's checked. Make sure to check out all candy before your children eat it.
Children should be very cautious of strangers or people displaying strange behavior.
Children should be taught how to respond to potentially dangerous people or situations. (Run, shout, and get help when they can.)
Children should accept treats only in the doorway. Never go inside a house, an apartment or car.
Teach your children to be polite, make sure they say thank you for their treats.
Children shouldn't play near lit jack-o-lanterns.
Children should visit only those houses where the lights are on and only in neighborhoods familiar to you.
They should walk, not run.
Children should walk only on sidewalks and driveways, and avoid shortcuts or secluded areas.
They should cross the street at the corner or in a crosswalk and obey traffic signals.
Older children/teens should take a cellular phone with them if possible.
They should carry a flashlight and other reflective items (treat bags, glowing bracelets, etc.).
Steve Zorn, via e-mail
Warsaw
Toll Road Response
Editor, Times-Union:I cannot sit idly by and let some of the absurd statements Mr. Rensberger made in his recent letter to the editor pass without a reality check.
First, he says regarding the toll road lease that the $3.8 billion is about "2.5 percent of what this road will generate in 75 years." He seems to be implying that the road will produce a profit of $152 billion over 75 years and that it was leased to cheaply. How ridiculous. The company is planning on an 11-14 percent return on their investment, but there is no way they can get to his numbers.
The second point he tries to make that is totally wrong is that for Indiana to be in the black that Gov. Daniels included the $3.8 billion lease payment in the budget. Absolutely false. That money is in a separate account and is not a part of the budget.
The third point has to do with the amount of interest being earned. He states "much of this money has already been spent. The amount that we have been promised not to be spent is $500 million. Five hundred million at 5 percent will generate about $68,500 per day. A far cry from the $500,000 we are continually told that is being earned." As of yesterday (10/18), Indiana has earned an average of $52,300 for each of the 105 days we have had the money. These numbers are a matter of public record and are easily obtained. Incidentally, at the end of this year there will still be more than $3 billion in the bank earning interest.
I was the Republican that voted against the lease. I did so not because it was a bad deal - financially it was a fantastic deal for Indiana - but because the opponents had put out so much disinformation that I felt needed to be addressed and corrected before we entered into the lease. I am confident the public acceptance of the lease will increase as the true facts come out. Obviously, as evidenced by Mr. Rensberger's letter, we still have a lot of work to do.
Dave Wolkins
State Rep.
Winona Lake
9/11 Profits
Editor, Times-Union:One reason why Mr. D.G. Lundgren might have suspicions abut complicity in the 9/11 tragedy is because of the unusual amount of "puts" that were ordered just before 9/11 for the very two airlines that struck the towers. The broker who handled it at the time thought it odd. It has never been investigated.
I know very little about the stock market, but I do know that millions of dollars were made by these traders. You would think it would have been the government's first priority since these traders obviously knew what was about to occur. Yet, it was swept under the rug and never heard of again. If anyone can get any answers on this I would certainly like to know. I'm not saying the government was complicit, but they were certainly grossly negligent.
Donna Trowbridge
Syracuse
Vote
Editor, Times-Union:The "American Voter Block" greatly outnumbers the "Leftist/Liberal Voting Block." Therefore, if there was ever a greater time to "show the flag," it is this coming Nov. 7 election day. For God's sake, if you love your "Home of the Brave!"
Americans - vote American!
Charles W. Todd Sr.
Ligonier
Kole
Editor, Times-Union:If you want to keep your options open for the 2008 presidential election it is important the Libertarian Party receive at least 2 percent in the upcoming election for the secretary of state race. Make sure you have a choice in 2008, vote for Mike Kole, Libertarian, for secretary of state.
Charles Carnes
Warsaw
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- Congress - Elect Yeiter - Voting Machines - Letters & Politicians - Bush Approval - Cholesterol Meds - More On Ethanol - Halloween Safety - Toll Road Response - 9/11 Profits - Vote - Kole
Congress
Editor, Times-Union:This congress has often been referred to as the "Do Nothing" congress. This harsh criticism seems undeserved. They have indeed accomplished quite a lot.
They have given the wealthy a $70 billion tax cut. In order to make this a reality, they have cut funding for various social programs including student aid, Head Start, job training and child care. I guess we don't need job training and a strong labor force to be a nation of waiters, maids and sales clerks.
They have given their friends in the pharmaceutical industry as yet undetermined billions at the expense of seniors. Millions of seniors face thousands of dollars of out-of-pocket expenses via the "Donut Hole," and many more will face higher premiums for late sign-up.
The banking industry was bestowed with "The Bankruptcy Reform Bill," at the expense of those facing a catastrophic illness, unemployment, divorce or any type of hardship. No excuses.
The Bush-Cheney folks in the energy business were treated especially favorably. Their benefactors allowed them to legislate their own secret policy of tax breaks and subsidies while recording record profits.
Our esteemed Congress also refused a minimum wage increase unless it was tied to $753 billion in estate tax cuts for millionaires.
I confess to not knowing a lot about the Bible, and I'm sure many will be quick to malign my interpretation. But this self-proclaimed party of God regime seems to view the Bible much as the President views the use of a signing statement. If there's a part we don't like, we'll ignore it.
I refer to a verse in Matthew that goes something like, "For I was hungry and you gave me ¼something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
These are my moral values. I intend to vote them.
Janet Collins
Etna Green
Elect Yeiter
Editor, Times-Union:I don't live in the first district, but if I did I would cast my vote for Ron Yeiter for school board.
Ron came into his presidency at a very turbulent time for our school system. He has managed to steer the board through those tough times and has us headed in the right direction. He has been able to do so by being very deliberate and open to all sides of the issue. Unlike in the past, he is willing to listen to his constituents and to make decisions accordingly. If there is an issue he doesn't have the background on, he does his research and acts in the best interest of us all. On top of all of that, he is a very nice guy. That's something you don't find very often these days for someone in his position.
Paul Sibray, via e-mail
Silver Lake
Voting Machines
Editor, Times-Union:I concur with Jeff Harding's concern about electronic voting machines that he expressed in his Oct. 25, 2006, letter.
My career was as a computer designer, manager of computer development projects, and as an information systems organization manager. The last seven years of my career, I spent running an information systems organization. In addition, I have had a fair amount of hands on programming experience.
I can attest to the ease with which technical staff members can manipulate these systems and then cover their tracks. There was nothing to prevent me from using my knowledge and security access to the systems that I was responsible for to steal large amounts of money from my employer and cover it up except for my own integrity.
I feel Jeff Harding has a valid concern. I believe that we are putting our democracy at risk with these machines.
Howard Woodward, via e-mail
Warsaw
Letters & Politicians
Editor, Times-Union:I enjoy reading the letters to the editor to find out what people are saying. The Oct. 13 issue was a classic. One letter was from a guy living in Oklahoma telling people from Milford to stop complaining about a refinery being built next to their town. The next letter was from a local banker praising the Republicans for selling the state. Another letter urging people to vote, saying that if the politician is doing a bad job, vote them out (Dave Wolkins is unopposed).
The two letters I did agree with were complaining about Bill Ruppel and Mitch Daniels. Dave Wolkins and Bill Ruppel deserve to be voted out. They have been feeding at the public trough far too long, they split the state in half with this ill conceived time mess. Remember the saying, politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often and for the same reason.
Tom Morehouse
Milford
Bush Approval
Editor, Times-Union:Ref: Democrat or Republican
First, let's be honest, and second, let's give credit to whom and when credit is due.
President Bush has said something like, "If and when a war must be fought, he preferred it be fought overseas, rather than on U.S. soil." He also said his aim is to protect our country.
Election is coming up soon. As I see it, the two most important issues are security and economy. We have had peace in our country since Sept. 11, 2001. I think we have much to thank God and all concerned.
Economy - employment is below 5 percent nationally. I think that also is much to be thankful for. How about the gas prices that has cropped considerably? Well that should make both parties happy.
I am sorry to have to say, but the only thing I have head from the Democrats are they want a change. I have not heard what to. I have not anything against the name, Democrat or Republican. It is what they stand or do not stand for, that bothers me.
Regarding the war - I don't think that many understand what the war is all about. It is not over land. As I see it, "We wrestle against powers, rules of darkness and against spiritual hosts of wickedness." It is between the true God and the false god. I have heard it called holy war.
I think it important that everyone gets behind our president and support him, so hopefully we have victory soon. That would be good for both parties alike. What do you think? "Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." Matthew 12:25.
Leslie E. Swanson
Winona Lake
Cholesterol Meds
Editor, Times-Union:A few weeks ago I wrote a letter concerning the statins in our cholesterol medications. I was truly amazed at the phone calls I received - many with problems, with phlegm such as mine, but even more with problems of muscle pain, ranging from mild to truly horrific pains.
The day following the appearance of my letter I was reading Dr. Gott's column, which appears in our Times-Union, in which a lady was telling Dr. Gott about her problem with phlegm and that her doctor had put her on Niacin which wasn't helping at all and asking for advice from Dr. Gott. He told her to try adding omega-3 fish oil and suggested she find another doctor.
I obtained a bottle of omega-3 from my favorite drug store and find it really helps my problem. I already take niacinamide daily (do not like the skin flush caused by niacin) and so, just with the addition of the omega-3, I now have very little trouble with phlegm and find life so much enjoyable with the simple addition to my diet.
I feel great sympathy though with the many callers who are having the muscle pains, and I have no idea whether this would help them or not, but I do think it would be worth a try. I was so pleased that our Dr. Gott came up with what is the solution for me and hopefully many of my callers. Now I appreciate Dr. Gott and those doctors who, like him, write columns in papers.
He suggested exercise, which I find very difficult due to arthritis, but I have found a lot of help with that by drinking 1/2 cup of Aloe Vera juice three times a day. I have also problems with balance due to a stroke so am limited as to the exercise he suggested, but it is a wonderful help to have little or no pain from my arthritis.
I hope the callers with the muscular problems will do as I have done - write a letter to the editor, and as I was pleased to see, as a retired newspaper women, that the power of the press still works and would urge anyone with any side effect from any medication to use this power to find help for their pain, not only from the side effects from any medication to use this power to find help for their pain, not only from the side effects of cholesterol medicine, but to try using Aloe Vera juice for their arthritis, which I am aware many people suffer. This herb has been around for many years and during the 20 years I lived in Florida, I found all my neighbors had their own Aloe Vera plant which helps in so many ways.
Donna Butche
Syracuse
More On Ethanol
Editor, Times-Union:While others would find that Mr. Fraley's letter on the 20th to be a personal attack against myself, I found it to be, to say the least, laughable. I mean, how a group can say that they are not anti-ethanol yet try to come up with every reason in the book on why Milford shouldn't have an ethanol plant. It's no different than any other type of energy that others came up with. Nobody questioned nuclear energy till the Three Mile Island incident and the Chernobyl accidents. It goes to show that when it comes down to it, we all want better energy sources, just not in our backyard. My question for Mr. Fraley is, if not here, then where? If everything you claim about ethanol production is in fact true, then where should it be produced? In the words of Bill O'Reilly, let's walk into the "No-Spin Zone," if you will, as I address the rest of Mr. Fraley's comments.
Mr. Fraley asks the question, how long will the company use local corn? Well, with fuel costs in agriculture on the rise, I would say it is guaranteed. I mean, why wouldn't the company use local corn? Its there, and it could be used without the high costs of transportation. Now, there will most likely be corn shipped in from all around northern Indiana to keep it running all year around, but it would certainly use local crops first.
Secondly, Mr. Fraley's comments on the high cost of feed for animal producers are absurd. Do you know what the major by-product of these plants is? Apparently you don't have a clue. The major by-product is distiller's grain. Distiller's grain is a high-protein corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, or corn germ meal depending on the type of fermentation process the plant uses. Looking at Verasun's Web site, they are very open to the selling of the DG for animal feeds, which is fairly cheap.
When it comes to the pollution issue, most of you still are not listening to what I am saying. I have searched numerous hours on EPA's Web site, along with other environmental databases, and could not find a direct linkage to increased pollution from ethanol plants. For the people of Kosciusko County, I will tell you what they are doing. They are looking at court cases from a few ethanol plants, which were some of the first ones to open, that had some emissions issues, and then taking information from the Lung Association on how air pollutions effects people and spinning it to make it look like the whole industry as a whole is to blame. My question for all of you is this, why does the EPA hail ethanol as being great for vehicle emissions and better for the environment? I highly doubt they are going to approve something that is bad for humans and the environment in the production stages, just for it to be great later on. Quite frankly, it doesn't make sense.
Finally, and the part that I got the biggest laugh from, was the accusation that the Web sites I used were non-partisan. The www.milfordethanol.com Web site has lots of different Web sites, I will give you that. However, most are just reports from newspapers and special interest groups. There is none from any source of creditable scientific research. Close to 75 percent of everything on the Internet is either false or opinions, not real actually information. While I must say Mr. Fraley made a valiant effort to discredit me, I must say you are going to have to try harder than that. When you find me some credible information to your claims, please come back to me.
Brad Clayton, via e-mail
Oklahoma State University-Stillwater undergrad
Plant and Soil Sciences - Crop Sciences
Oklahoma, formerly of Warsaw
Halloween Safety
Editor, Times-Union:Halloween is just around the corner and it can one of the most festive and entertaining holidays of the year for the entire family.
Trick-or-treating, costume parties and haunted houses all add to the fun of the Halloween weekend. However, the fun can quickly turn to disaster if parents and children choose to ignore dangerous people, places and situations. Before sending your children out to enjoy the holiday activities, take the time to talk them about possible scenarios they may be faced with and how to successfully resolve them.
Below is a list of general safety tips to help keep children safe this Halloween.
Always use common sense.
Young children should always go trick-or-treating with a parent or trusted adult.
Older children/teens should not trick-or-treat alone. They should have at least two buddies go with them, if not a parent or trusted adult.
Plan your child's entire route and make sure they stick to it.
Make sure that children are wearing flame-retardant costumes.
Make sure the costumes do not obstruct your child's vision.
Provide your children with snacks before they go out so they will be less tempted to eat candy before it's checked. Make sure to check out all candy before your children eat it.
Children should be very cautious of strangers or people displaying strange behavior.
Children should be taught how to respond to potentially dangerous people or situations. (Run, shout, and get help when they can.)
Children should accept treats only in the doorway. Never go inside a house, an apartment or car.
Teach your children to be polite, make sure they say thank you for their treats.
Children shouldn't play near lit jack-o-lanterns.
Children should visit only those houses where the lights are on and only in neighborhoods familiar to you.
They should walk, not run.
Children should walk only on sidewalks and driveways, and avoid shortcuts or secluded areas.
They should cross the street at the corner or in a crosswalk and obey traffic signals.
Older children/teens should take a cellular phone with them if possible.
They should carry a flashlight and other reflective items (treat bags, glowing bracelets, etc.).
Steve Zorn, via e-mail
Warsaw
Toll Road Response
Editor, Times-Union:I cannot sit idly by and let some of the absurd statements Mr. Rensberger made in his recent letter to the editor pass without a reality check.
First, he says regarding the toll road lease that the $3.8 billion is about "2.5 percent of what this road will generate in 75 years." He seems to be implying that the road will produce a profit of $152 billion over 75 years and that it was leased to cheaply. How ridiculous. The company is planning on an 11-14 percent return on their investment, but there is no way they can get to his numbers.
The second point he tries to make that is totally wrong is that for Indiana to be in the black that Gov. Daniels included the $3.8 billion lease payment in the budget. Absolutely false. That money is in a separate account and is not a part of the budget.
The third point has to do with the amount of interest being earned. He states "much of this money has already been spent. The amount that we have been promised not to be spent is $500 million. Five hundred million at 5 percent will generate about $68,500 per day. A far cry from the $500,000 we are continually told that is being earned." As of yesterday (10/18), Indiana has earned an average of $52,300 for each of the 105 days we have had the money. These numbers are a matter of public record and are easily obtained. Incidentally, at the end of this year there will still be more than $3 billion in the bank earning interest.
I was the Republican that voted against the lease. I did so not because it was a bad deal - financially it was a fantastic deal for Indiana - but because the opponents had put out so much disinformation that I felt needed to be addressed and corrected before we entered into the lease. I am confident the public acceptance of the lease will increase as the true facts come out. Obviously, as evidenced by Mr. Rensberger's letter, we still have a lot of work to do.
Dave Wolkins
State Rep.
Winona Lake
9/11 Profits
Editor, Times-Union:One reason why Mr. D.G. Lundgren might have suspicions abut complicity in the 9/11 tragedy is because of the unusual amount of "puts" that were ordered just before 9/11 for the very two airlines that struck the towers. The broker who handled it at the time thought it odd. It has never been investigated.
I know very little about the stock market, but I do know that millions of dollars were made by these traders. You would think it would have been the government's first priority since these traders obviously knew what was about to occur. Yet, it was swept under the rug and never heard of again. If anyone can get any answers on this I would certainly like to know. I'm not saying the government was complicit, but they were certainly grossly negligent.
Donna Trowbridge
Syracuse
Vote
Editor, Times-Union:The "American Voter Block" greatly outnumbers the "Leftist/Liberal Voting Block." Therefore, if there was ever a greater time to "show the flag," it is this coming Nov. 7 election day. For God's sake, if you love your "Home of the Brave!"
Americans - vote American!
Charles W. Todd Sr.
Ligonier
Kole
Editor, Times-Union:If you want to keep your options open for the 2008 presidential election it is important the Libertarian Party receive at least 2 percent in the upcoming election for the secretary of state race. Make sure you have a choice in 2008, vote for Mike Kole, Libertarian, for secretary of state.
Charles Carnes
Warsaw
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