Letters to the Editor 11-04-1998
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Don't Drink Or Smoke - Wednesday Activities - Dogs - Caught Stealing
Don't Drink Or Smoke
Editor, Times-Union:This week is drug free week. Our school is trying to give a message to the people who might smoke or drink and other things. We have been making things like bookmarks and other things. The things that we have been making could save someone's life. I hope our message gets out to people. So they can stop what they have been doing.
Scott Perry, Claypool Elementary - Third grade
Wednesday Activities
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to share a concern of there not being a consistent night of the week that there is a decrease in the number of extracurricular school events. I recently sent a letter to Dr. Harman sharing this concern. I received a letter back from him and I have added a copy of both letters so you can review each side of the issue.
I have contacted several churches in our area to get a consensus of when our churches are meeting for mid-week services. There are churches that meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, but Wednesday evening was the overwhelming majority. After talking with many people on this issue, I found that conflicting schedules has been an ongoing issue and concern, with others as well.
First, I would like to appeal to the church as a whole to please reevaluate the night of our mid-week services. I feel if we could all be consistent in the same night of the week, that maybe the Warsaw Community School System would also reevaluate the scheduling of the events on that night.
Secondly, I would like to appeal once more to the school system to please take another look at the scheduling of school events; that there may be some way to cut out a practice or move a sports game or to arrange one of the meetings into a different time frame. I realize how important school events are and I also realize how challenging the scheduling of such a large number of events must be. But I also hope you realize how important having family time together is, along with making sure that these children are being taught Christian values and the Bible.
I'm also appealing to pastors, youth workers, teachers, coaches and especially parents. Let's work together to assure that our children have a night a week to come home, have supper, get homework completed, and allow for quality time to fellowship together as a body of Christ.
My Lord, Jesus has recently laid the verse on my heart that "A child shall lead them." I know that we all agree that the children are our future, I need to know that when I stand before Him, that I worked to share Him with as many as I could.
I would love to hear how others feel about this issue. Please respond via letters to the Editor to show our children how truly important this issue is.
Marie Holt, Silver Lake
Dogs
Editor, Times-Union:Good luck, Ms. Sharon Galloway. I have a neighbor who moved in next door and lets his dogs bark at all hours of the day and night.
I also called Mike Miner, the Sheriff's Office and most anyone else that would listen. The answers were the same. I live in the county, there's not much anyone can do about it.
Oh, yes I can hire a lawyer, file a complaint, have a jury trial etc... But wait a minute. Have a jury trial with jurors coming from a community that tolerates a foundry that emits smoke you can taste on the roof of your mouth, that lets builders sell housing additions that have no county inspectors, that also allow construction of residences so close that most occupants will be drinking from each others septic tanks, with utility wires above the ground.
I don't believe any juror coming from Kosciusko County could recognize inconsideration. Inconsideration already comes from too many directions. When you live in a community that seems to adjust to inconsiderations or is completely oblivious to them, a dogs bark is trivial, even on a quiet night.
I believe you should best live with the barking dogs, recognize the neighbors as being who they are (inconsiderate) and do everything you can to make adjustments.
1. Pray the dogs have a long life. If they come up dead soon, your the number one suspect.
2. Also wish for the dog owner's longevity, so you can deliver a daily remembrance of their inconsiderations. To anyone who will listen.
3. Paying a fine for a barking dog is wrong. The dog owner in his infinite stupidity will only think the fine will be a fee to allow his dog to bark. Barking dogs should be sent to school at the owners expense.
For those who say "my dogs breed barks" I say fine. Just consider that when you purchase the animal and its overall consideration with other residents ... live in the country, way out in the country with no neighbors (yea) or get a pet snake.
Al McClelland, Warsaw
P.S. Big snakes do eat dogs ...
Caught Stealing
Editor, Times-Union:What a good deal for Jalaine Brumfield. After getting caught stealing thousands of dollars, she gets to plead guilty and not spend a minute in jail. And even though it probably took her a long time to accomplish, I suppose her crime was still considered a first offense kind of thing. And even though other people may have been arrested or jailed because of her actions, well hey. I guess if they were decent people they wouldn't have been paying fines in the clerk's office anyway. And even though she might still be stealing had she not been caught, surely clemency is in order. After all, she's an admitted felon and a felony is a serious crime. It's not like she committed a misdemeanor which is a less serious crime and in Kosciusko County, carries a mandatory jail sentence.
Yes, you read right. According to the prosecutor's office, in Superior Court I, Judge Jarrette always and without exception sentences shoplifters to 10 days in jail. Even if you are a first time offender, even if you are mentally incompetent, even if you accidentally walk out with a pack of gum: 365 days in jail, 345 days suspended with credit, which translates to 10 days in jail.
I know of a family who is dealing with this nightmare. A teenager who was caught and charged with conversion has already spent a night in jail. He posted bond out of which his fines and court costs will be paid. He has been banned from the store. He bore the humiliation of his crime when he admitted his behavior to his employer. He has paid consultation fees for legal advice. Most importantly, he has learned his lesson. A very expensive lesson considering the amount of stolen merchandise was under $20.
While his punishment has already been harsher than that received in the felony crime mentioned above, it's not over. The prosecutor's office insists he either sign a plea agreement and spend 10 days in jail or go to trial because Judge Jarrette mandates it. An experienced attorney's opinion is essentially the same: Judge Jarrette always sentences jail time for a misdemeanor case like this one. The young man will likely have no choice but to sign the plea agreement and serve 10 days in jail. In addition to losing 10 days wages he may even lose his job.
I am not saying that he should not be punished, just that the punishment should fit the crime. If stealing thousands of dollars doesn't merit jail time, less that $20 worth certainly shouldn't. Yet as I said, he's already spent time in jail. The lesson the addlepated judge is teaching is clear. If you're going to steal, steal a lot.
Why can't a first time offender charged with a misdemeanor be shown leniency? Community service is an option that could be considered. Deferred sentencing seems like a good alternative, too. It's no wonder the county is being sued for jail overcrowding when unreasoned, arbitrary sentences are being handed down for non-violent misdemeanor offenses.
I call on Judge Jarrette to immediately cease this type of sentencing. The taxpayers of Kosciusko would be better served if jail sentences were reserved for felony cases and/or repeat offenders. We deserve a judge who will use mind, heart, and soul in sentencing. Starting today.
What do you say, Your Honor? Do you still even have your mind, or your heart, or your soul?
Monica Druilliard, Warsaw
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- Don't Drink Or Smoke - Wednesday Activities - Dogs - Caught Stealing
Don't Drink Or Smoke
Editor, Times-Union:This week is drug free week. Our school is trying to give a message to the people who might smoke or drink and other things. We have been making things like bookmarks and other things. The things that we have been making could save someone's life. I hope our message gets out to people. So they can stop what they have been doing.
Scott Perry, Claypool Elementary - Third grade
Wednesday Activities
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to share a concern of there not being a consistent night of the week that there is a decrease in the number of extracurricular school events. I recently sent a letter to Dr. Harman sharing this concern. I received a letter back from him and I have added a copy of both letters so you can review each side of the issue.
I have contacted several churches in our area to get a consensus of when our churches are meeting for mid-week services. There are churches that meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, but Wednesday evening was the overwhelming majority. After talking with many people on this issue, I found that conflicting schedules has been an ongoing issue and concern, with others as well.
First, I would like to appeal to the church as a whole to please reevaluate the night of our mid-week services. I feel if we could all be consistent in the same night of the week, that maybe the Warsaw Community School System would also reevaluate the scheduling of the events on that night.
Secondly, I would like to appeal once more to the school system to please take another look at the scheduling of school events; that there may be some way to cut out a practice or move a sports game or to arrange one of the meetings into a different time frame. I realize how important school events are and I also realize how challenging the scheduling of such a large number of events must be. But I also hope you realize how important having family time together is, along with making sure that these children are being taught Christian values and the Bible.
I'm also appealing to pastors, youth workers, teachers, coaches and especially parents. Let's work together to assure that our children have a night a week to come home, have supper, get homework completed, and allow for quality time to fellowship together as a body of Christ.
My Lord, Jesus has recently laid the verse on my heart that "A child shall lead them." I know that we all agree that the children are our future, I need to know that when I stand before Him, that I worked to share Him with as many as I could.
I would love to hear how others feel about this issue. Please respond via letters to the Editor to show our children how truly important this issue is.
Marie Holt, Silver Lake
Dogs
Editor, Times-Union:Good luck, Ms. Sharon Galloway. I have a neighbor who moved in next door and lets his dogs bark at all hours of the day and night.
I also called Mike Miner, the Sheriff's Office and most anyone else that would listen. The answers were the same. I live in the county, there's not much anyone can do about it.
Oh, yes I can hire a lawyer, file a complaint, have a jury trial etc... But wait a minute. Have a jury trial with jurors coming from a community that tolerates a foundry that emits smoke you can taste on the roof of your mouth, that lets builders sell housing additions that have no county inspectors, that also allow construction of residences so close that most occupants will be drinking from each others septic tanks, with utility wires above the ground.
I don't believe any juror coming from Kosciusko County could recognize inconsideration. Inconsideration already comes from too many directions. When you live in a community that seems to adjust to inconsiderations or is completely oblivious to them, a dogs bark is trivial, even on a quiet night.
I believe you should best live with the barking dogs, recognize the neighbors as being who they are (inconsiderate) and do everything you can to make adjustments.
1. Pray the dogs have a long life. If they come up dead soon, your the number one suspect.
2. Also wish for the dog owner's longevity, so you can deliver a daily remembrance of their inconsiderations. To anyone who will listen.
3. Paying a fine for a barking dog is wrong. The dog owner in his infinite stupidity will only think the fine will be a fee to allow his dog to bark. Barking dogs should be sent to school at the owners expense.
For those who say "my dogs breed barks" I say fine. Just consider that when you purchase the animal and its overall consideration with other residents ... live in the country, way out in the country with no neighbors (yea) or get a pet snake.
Al McClelland, Warsaw
P.S. Big snakes do eat dogs ...
Caught Stealing
Editor, Times-Union:What a good deal for Jalaine Brumfield. After getting caught stealing thousands of dollars, she gets to plead guilty and not spend a minute in jail. And even though it probably took her a long time to accomplish, I suppose her crime was still considered a first offense kind of thing. And even though other people may have been arrested or jailed because of her actions, well hey. I guess if they were decent people they wouldn't have been paying fines in the clerk's office anyway. And even though she might still be stealing had she not been caught, surely clemency is in order. After all, she's an admitted felon and a felony is a serious crime. It's not like she committed a misdemeanor which is a less serious crime and in Kosciusko County, carries a mandatory jail sentence.
Yes, you read right. According to the prosecutor's office, in Superior Court I, Judge Jarrette always and without exception sentences shoplifters to 10 days in jail. Even if you are a first time offender, even if you are mentally incompetent, even if you accidentally walk out with a pack of gum: 365 days in jail, 345 days suspended with credit, which translates to 10 days in jail.
I know of a family who is dealing with this nightmare. A teenager who was caught and charged with conversion has already spent a night in jail. He posted bond out of which his fines and court costs will be paid. He has been banned from the store. He bore the humiliation of his crime when he admitted his behavior to his employer. He has paid consultation fees for legal advice. Most importantly, he has learned his lesson. A very expensive lesson considering the amount of stolen merchandise was under $20.
While his punishment has already been harsher than that received in the felony crime mentioned above, it's not over. The prosecutor's office insists he either sign a plea agreement and spend 10 days in jail or go to trial because Judge Jarrette mandates it. An experienced attorney's opinion is essentially the same: Judge Jarrette always sentences jail time for a misdemeanor case like this one. The young man will likely have no choice but to sign the plea agreement and serve 10 days in jail. In addition to losing 10 days wages he may even lose his job.
I am not saying that he should not be punished, just that the punishment should fit the crime. If stealing thousands of dollars doesn't merit jail time, less that $20 worth certainly shouldn't. Yet as I said, he's already spent time in jail. The lesson the addlepated judge is teaching is clear. If you're going to steal, steal a lot.
Why can't a first time offender charged with a misdemeanor be shown leniency? Community service is an option that could be considered. Deferred sentencing seems like a good alternative, too. It's no wonder the county is being sued for jail overcrowding when unreasoned, arbitrary sentences are being handed down for non-violent misdemeanor offenses.
I call on Judge Jarrette to immediately cease this type of sentencing. The taxpayers of Kosciusko would be better served if jail sentences were reserved for felony cases and/or repeat offenders. We deserve a judge who will use mind, heart, and soul in sentencing. Starting today.
What do you say, Your Honor? Do you still even have your mind, or your heart, or your soul?
Monica Druilliard, Warsaw
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