Letters to the Editor 11-01-2002
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Save The Deer - Recycling Machine - Polston Says Thanks - Hoffman Lake Property
Save The Deer
Editor, Times-Union:I see in the paper Mr. Shenefield of Pam Street wants all the deer in town killed and even worse, he wants them poisoned. That would be a horrible way to die. I'm sure he wouldn't like that kind of treatment.
He could put up a fence or better yet, feed them. If he can buy $4000 worth of flowers, he could buy a little feed for them, and they probably wouldn't bother his flowers.
We keep taking all the land and woods to build houses, so where are they supposed to go? and as far as I know there are none of those diseases you are talking about in Indiana.
They are beautiful and God's creatures the same as you and me. Leave them alone.
Ruth Hammond
Warsaw
Recycling Machine
Editor, Times-Union:I am a Warsaw high school graduate currently attending university in California. Although I live 2,000 miles away, I can't seem to help continually feeling as though I am still an active part of my community in Indiana. (Once a Hoosier, always a Hoosier).
In true Roman spirit, I have a tendency to become extremely intrigued by things which may be of benefit to Kosciusko County, and could simply be absorbed.
In the process of shopping for groceries here in southern California, I have begun to use these ingenious machines that various grocery chains have located behind their buildings. One can take all of their recyclables to this machine and place them on a small conveyor belt, after which the machine runs them into its covered body, scanning each item as it passes through the small tunnel. Depending on the material the item is made out of, the machine keeps a tally of how much each thing is worth in terms of recyclable value. (Much like when you sell your aluminum to a salvage company.) After you are done dispensing your items there is a green button that you can push, immediately causing the machine to print out a reciept, which is redeemable much like a coupon when you are buying your groceries.
Please pardon my relative stupidity and novice ignorance in the matter, but having grown up in Warsaw and wishing that we had a more encouraging and effective way to ensure that our community is as efficient as possible, I was terribly excited.
I am sure that there are many people living in Warsaw that are much more experienced and well-informed than myself in such matters, however I did want to take the time to suggest that members of the community perhaps look into this. I am sure it is set up in such a way as to be profitable to both the supermarket and the salvage company that receives the bulk of the material after collection. I am also sure that as a community, and with the assistance of our myriad of fine nonprofit organizations, this simple concept could be incorporated into our town.
Just a suggestion. I wish I were there to more adequately push it with the fervor I feel it deserves. Thanks to the community for their time in reading the haphazard letter of a fond native.
Maha H.M. Ibrahim
Corona, Calif.
via e-mail
Polston Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:How do you thank hundreds of people all at one time? This is a problem I am now faced with. On July 1, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. On July 19 because I have never smoked the doctors were able to perform surgery and the upper left lobe of my lung was removed. From that point I underwent radiation treatments every day for five weeks.
From the first day I had people praying for my family and me. There were friends from Warsaw Community Church who brought meals over to help out. I received more than 250 cards before and after surgery, each one raising my spirits and letting me know there were people who cared. There were offers of transportation to Fort Wayne for radiation; there were those who made the trip with me. I need to thank my friends from the police department, Kemrad and Kuder Estates for their contributions that came in many different ways and meant so much to my family and me, and to all my students who in so many ways contributed so I could do what I love. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I want to thank Warsaw for being a town that cares. There is no way to mention everyone, so to all "Thank you" for whatever you did.
Terry Polston
Warsaw City Police, DARE Officer
Hoffman Lake Property
Editor, Times-Union:In May of this year my daughter deeded to me a piece of property on Hoffman Lake near Warsaw. At the time I tried to reject the offer. Warsaw is 90 miles east of my home. But, alas, to no avail and we drove to Warsaw and listed the property to be sold with Dave Creighton of Remax Rainbow Realty. The tax statement showed that the property was valued by the Kosciusko County Assessor at $30,000.
Blow #1: A private appraisal in May of 1999 of the lot on the water came in at $18,000. I thought that my asking $20,900 would be fair in the three years since the last appraisal. Land values have not gone down.
Immediately we had an offer for the full amount on the contingency that the buyer could get a permit to build. Mr. Creighton had told me that there was not enough frontage onto the road to get a building permit. He had inquired. However, this lot butts up against the semi-public access to the lake for the homeowners across the road.
Could I pay someone to give me a bit of right of way? Mr. C. asked and was told, "No."
The next door neighbor offered me $10,000 and I turned it down. My goodness, if the county thinks that it is worth $30,000, that is ridiculous.
The next offer we had was from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources for the state of Indiana). After talking to Mr. Creighton long-distance and making another trip to Warsaw, I decided to see what the state would pay. They would pay the full $20,900 if "their appraiser" deemed it worth it. I would know in 60 to 90 days.
Blow #2: Their appraiser said that it was worth only $11,500. Of course, I was disappointed.
Blow #3: The neighbors are up in arms, going to the county commissioners, even talking to the state representative, to the plan commission.
Being a landowner in Indiana myself, I put myself in the Hoffman Lake property owners' shoes. I called Mr. Creighton and told him to go ahead and sell it to the neighbor, one "George." I have never met the man.
On Monday of this week I got a letter from the Kosciusko County Plan Commission adding a little more to the situation. (My daughter had owned this property for 10 years and used it just for recreation purposes.)
It is too bad that the homeowners did not get together and buy this to make a green area, a park. Access to the lake is next door.
So, good people, I am soon to be out of it.
Joan A. Pass
Hebron
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
- Save The Deer - Recycling Machine - Polston Says Thanks - Hoffman Lake Property
Save The Deer
Editor, Times-Union:I see in the paper Mr. Shenefield of Pam Street wants all the deer in town killed and even worse, he wants them poisoned. That would be a horrible way to die. I'm sure he wouldn't like that kind of treatment.
He could put up a fence or better yet, feed them. If he can buy $4000 worth of flowers, he could buy a little feed for them, and they probably wouldn't bother his flowers.
We keep taking all the land and woods to build houses, so where are they supposed to go? and as far as I know there are none of those diseases you are talking about in Indiana.
They are beautiful and God's creatures the same as you and me. Leave them alone.
Ruth Hammond
Warsaw
Recycling Machine
Editor, Times-Union:I am a Warsaw high school graduate currently attending university in California. Although I live 2,000 miles away, I can't seem to help continually feeling as though I am still an active part of my community in Indiana. (Once a Hoosier, always a Hoosier).
In true Roman spirit, I have a tendency to become extremely intrigued by things which may be of benefit to Kosciusko County, and could simply be absorbed.
In the process of shopping for groceries here in southern California, I have begun to use these ingenious machines that various grocery chains have located behind their buildings. One can take all of their recyclables to this machine and place them on a small conveyor belt, after which the machine runs them into its covered body, scanning each item as it passes through the small tunnel. Depending on the material the item is made out of, the machine keeps a tally of how much each thing is worth in terms of recyclable value. (Much like when you sell your aluminum to a salvage company.) After you are done dispensing your items there is a green button that you can push, immediately causing the machine to print out a reciept, which is redeemable much like a coupon when you are buying your groceries.
Please pardon my relative stupidity and novice ignorance in the matter, but having grown up in Warsaw and wishing that we had a more encouraging and effective way to ensure that our community is as efficient as possible, I was terribly excited.
I am sure that there are many people living in Warsaw that are much more experienced and well-informed than myself in such matters, however I did want to take the time to suggest that members of the community perhaps look into this. I am sure it is set up in such a way as to be profitable to both the supermarket and the salvage company that receives the bulk of the material after collection. I am also sure that as a community, and with the assistance of our myriad of fine nonprofit organizations, this simple concept could be incorporated into our town.
Just a suggestion. I wish I were there to more adequately push it with the fervor I feel it deserves. Thanks to the community for their time in reading the haphazard letter of a fond native.
Maha H.M. Ibrahim
Corona, Calif.
via e-mail
Polston Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:How do you thank hundreds of people all at one time? This is a problem I am now faced with. On July 1, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. On July 19 because I have never smoked the doctors were able to perform surgery and the upper left lobe of my lung was removed. From that point I underwent radiation treatments every day for five weeks.
From the first day I had people praying for my family and me. There were friends from Warsaw Community Church who brought meals over to help out. I received more than 250 cards before and after surgery, each one raising my spirits and letting me know there were people who cared. There were offers of transportation to Fort Wayne for radiation; there were those who made the trip with me. I need to thank my friends from the police department, Kemrad and Kuder Estates for their contributions that came in many different ways and meant so much to my family and me, and to all my students who in so many ways contributed so I could do what I love. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I want to thank Warsaw for being a town that cares. There is no way to mention everyone, so to all "Thank you" for whatever you did.
Terry Polston
Warsaw City Police, DARE Officer
Hoffman Lake Property
Editor, Times-Union:In May of this year my daughter deeded to me a piece of property on Hoffman Lake near Warsaw. At the time I tried to reject the offer. Warsaw is 90 miles east of my home. But, alas, to no avail and we drove to Warsaw and listed the property to be sold with Dave Creighton of Remax Rainbow Realty. The tax statement showed that the property was valued by the Kosciusko County Assessor at $30,000.
Blow #1: A private appraisal in May of 1999 of the lot on the water came in at $18,000. I thought that my asking $20,900 would be fair in the three years since the last appraisal. Land values have not gone down.
Immediately we had an offer for the full amount on the contingency that the buyer could get a permit to build. Mr. Creighton had told me that there was not enough frontage onto the road to get a building permit. He had inquired. However, this lot butts up against the semi-public access to the lake for the homeowners across the road.
Could I pay someone to give me a bit of right of way? Mr. C. asked and was told, "No."
The next door neighbor offered me $10,000 and I turned it down. My goodness, if the county thinks that it is worth $30,000, that is ridiculous.
The next offer we had was from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources for the state of Indiana). After talking to Mr. Creighton long-distance and making another trip to Warsaw, I decided to see what the state would pay. They would pay the full $20,900 if "their appraiser" deemed it worth it. I would know in 60 to 90 days.
Blow #2: Their appraiser said that it was worth only $11,500. Of course, I was disappointed.
Blow #3: The neighbors are up in arms, going to the county commissioners, even talking to the state representative, to the plan commission.
Being a landowner in Indiana myself, I put myself in the Hoffman Lake property owners' shoes. I called Mr. Creighton and told him to go ahead and sell it to the neighbor, one "George." I have never met the man.
On Monday of this week I got a letter from the Kosciusko County Plan Commission adding a little more to the situation. (My daughter had owned this property for 10 years and used it just for recreation purposes.)
It is too bad that the homeowners did not get together and buy this to make a green area, a park. Access to the lake is next door.
So, good people, I am soon to be out of it.
Joan A. Pass
Hebron
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092