Letters to the Editor 12-06-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Church Arson - Class Basketball - Church Arson - Gun Law
Church Arson
Editor, Times Union:In late July 1997, our church building was burned to the ground in an act of arson. The events and the corresponding news story was well covered by not only the Times Union, but by a number of other news agencies and media. As I stood and watched the building burn early that morning, I had no idea of all the experiences that would be ahead for both the church and for me!Ê
The past two years since that time have been filled with just about every emotion and plain-down "real living" that could come from something like this. The congregation and I have covered the spectrum of everything from mourning to praise, from doubt to celebration, from great fatigue to real rest and from discouragement to true faith. Simply put, there were times when we needed to ask some really tough questions and had no fast and simple answers, and other times when we could see God working probably faster than we were prepared to see Him work! Yes, there were even a few times when we wondered if we could go on; we are a smaller church, and this act, at least initially, probably hurt us a lot more than we had imagined. Yet through it all, God has remained faithful, as has the congregation, and we are now ready to begin construction of a new building on a new property site! We have been through the suffering and trials that God so often uses to make stronger and spiritually healthier those He loves and wants to use for His service and glory. I wouldn't go back and re-live the past two years for anythingÊ (I am reasonably certain that none of the congregation would, either!), yet I can't begin to put a price on all the valuable lessons and experiences that God has brought to the congregation and me as a result of the fire! I say with no exaggeration that not only could I write a book on what all has happened, but also want to state emphatically that God was in every minute since July 1997, whether I saw Him or not. He never left.
We broke ground for our new building (Yes!!!) on Sunday,
I want to use this occasion to thank everyone who has prayed for us, asked about us, and who has encouraged us both now and in the past. You know who you are, and God will remember your acts of kindness to us! And I want to especially thank the congregation of LGBC, who never gave up! You are the greatest! To those in the Building Committee - your reward will be great, both in this life and the next. I am honored to see your hard work and dedication. Finally, to the Leesburg community and all our friends - thank you. God is still in control, and is greatly to be praised! He never gave up on us, and has made us more humble, grateful, stronger and aware of Him and His doings than we ever thought possible! I am truly humbled and honored to be the pastor of this great church, and to serve God in both the church He has given me and the community in which He has placed me.Ê
Jeff Hoffard, Leesburg Grace Brethren Church via e-mail
Class Basketball
Editor, Times-Union:Here we go again boys and girls... high school basketball. I get goosebumps, have ever since a little boy when my father would take me to games on Friday and Saturday nights. That has been many years, but the same excitement still exists, until tournament time. And why is that? It's called Class Basketball. How can such a strong honest tradition since 1911 be changed because of a lame committee and a large amount of cry babies or complainers from different size schools around the state trying to fix something that's not broken only because their school(s) are not very good. Get real, there are just as many big schools that are not effective as some small schools.
The problem to all this is very simple, (big or small schools) if you don't have a program or system and support from your community, you're not going to be successful. Sure, you might have a good year every now and then, but not consistent seasons. I've seen this from both spectrums. I was brought up in a 4A school and have experienced from a viewer's perspective the competition of other schools and their fans. I take it all in from the 1A school point of view now and have for several seasons. Guess what? There is no difference! You have good and bad (sports or fans).
People, listen up. I don't know how many times this has to be explained. You can have a great expensive gymnasium or the fanciest uniforms around or a gym without a roof or the school's 1925 outfits to wear. It doesn't matter! What does matter is how serious is the team, how dedicated with program systems and the community support and oneself. Hey you certain schools out there, give it a try. You might stop your complaining. Let the kids play! How dare you certain schools put basketball into this class crap. Every school from 4A to 1A or 1A to 4A. I don't want to get you certain schools upset because I put 4A before 1A so I reverse them around. Anyway you certain schools - because of your despised envy you have cheated the system.
I wish you could sit down with team members of the Shenandoah Raiders, Argos Dragons or Whitko Wildcats who made it to the final four when it was a one class system or state champion Plymouth Pilgrims and hear how it takes away from the game with this class basketball nonsense. The mystique of this is that Hoosier Hysteria has been stripped of its credibility as once proudly displayed and those are very special moments and memories. I pray they return someday.
Steve Pfefferkorn, Argos
Church Arson
Editor, Times-Union:It has been almost 13 years ago my baby brother died and my family and I would like to give a special thank you to the all the volunteers. They were the first people on the scene. Everyday my mom tells me to stop and pull over for them because they may save a life. They tried with everything to save him but he was already gone. They helped my mom feel safer and helped with me because I was only two at the time. If you were on the scene May 14,1985, thank you for helping try to save my baby brother. People, stop and pull over for them, what if it's one of your loved ones that they were going to help save?
The family of Brian Ray Neibert II, Warsaw, via e-mail
Gun Law
Editor, Times-Union:Someone steals a car and runs it at high speed into a crowd. Think the mayor will sue the car manufacturer? Highly unlikely.
Someone steals a Mini-14 and opens fire on the same crowd. Think the mayor will sue Ruger? Count on it!
Now Indiana State Senator Robert Meeks has introduced Senate Bill 45 to prohibit such suits. Thirteen states have approved such laws and another 12 are considering doing so.
Indiana State Representative Michael Smith plans to introduce similar legislation in the House but has not yet done so.
We need to let our State legislators know we support this legislation and stop this legalized extortion. Call 317-232-9400 to reach the State Senate and 317-232-9700 for the House. Let them know you strongly support Senator Meeks and Senate Bill 45.
Harold Kitson, Warsaw
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- Church Arson - Class Basketball - Church Arson - Gun Law
Church Arson
Editor, Times Union:In late July 1997, our church building was burned to the ground in an act of arson. The events and the corresponding news story was well covered by not only the Times Union, but by a number of other news agencies and media. As I stood and watched the building burn early that morning, I had no idea of all the experiences that would be ahead for both the church and for me!Ê
The past two years since that time have been filled with just about every emotion and plain-down "real living" that could come from something like this. The congregation and I have covered the spectrum of everything from mourning to praise, from doubt to celebration, from great fatigue to real rest and from discouragement to true faith. Simply put, there were times when we needed to ask some really tough questions and had no fast and simple answers, and other times when we could see God working probably faster than we were prepared to see Him work! Yes, there were even a few times when we wondered if we could go on; we are a smaller church, and this act, at least initially, probably hurt us a lot more than we had imagined. Yet through it all, God has remained faithful, as has the congregation, and we are now ready to begin construction of a new building on a new property site! We have been through the suffering and trials that God so often uses to make stronger and spiritually healthier those He loves and wants to use for His service and glory. I wouldn't go back and re-live the past two years for anythingÊ (I am reasonably certain that none of the congregation would, either!), yet I can't begin to put a price on all the valuable lessons and experiences that God has brought to the congregation and me as a result of the fire! I say with no exaggeration that not only could I write a book on what all has happened, but also want to state emphatically that God was in every minute since July 1997, whether I saw Him or not. He never left.
We broke ground for our new building (Yes!!!) on Sunday,
I want to use this occasion to thank everyone who has prayed for us, asked about us, and who has encouraged us both now and in the past. You know who you are, and God will remember your acts of kindness to us! And I want to especially thank the congregation of LGBC, who never gave up! You are the greatest! To those in the Building Committee - your reward will be great, both in this life and the next. I am honored to see your hard work and dedication. Finally, to the Leesburg community and all our friends - thank you. God is still in control, and is greatly to be praised! He never gave up on us, and has made us more humble, grateful, stronger and aware of Him and His doings than we ever thought possible! I am truly humbled and honored to be the pastor of this great church, and to serve God in both the church He has given me and the community in which He has placed me.Ê
Jeff Hoffard, Leesburg Grace Brethren Church via e-mail
Class Basketball
Editor, Times-Union:Here we go again boys and girls... high school basketball. I get goosebumps, have ever since a little boy when my father would take me to games on Friday and Saturday nights. That has been many years, but the same excitement still exists, until tournament time. And why is that? It's called Class Basketball. How can such a strong honest tradition since 1911 be changed because of a lame committee and a large amount of cry babies or complainers from different size schools around the state trying to fix something that's not broken only because their school(s) are not very good. Get real, there are just as many big schools that are not effective as some small schools.
The problem to all this is very simple, (big or small schools) if you don't have a program or system and support from your community, you're not going to be successful. Sure, you might have a good year every now and then, but not consistent seasons. I've seen this from both spectrums. I was brought up in a 4A school and have experienced from a viewer's perspective the competition of other schools and their fans. I take it all in from the 1A school point of view now and have for several seasons. Guess what? There is no difference! You have good and bad (sports or fans).
People, listen up. I don't know how many times this has to be explained. You can have a great expensive gymnasium or the fanciest uniforms around or a gym without a roof or the school's 1925 outfits to wear. It doesn't matter! What does matter is how serious is the team, how dedicated with program systems and the community support and oneself. Hey you certain schools out there, give it a try. You might stop your complaining. Let the kids play! How dare you certain schools put basketball into this class crap. Every school from 4A to 1A or 1A to 4A. I don't want to get you certain schools upset because I put 4A before 1A so I reverse them around. Anyway you certain schools - because of your despised envy you have cheated the system.
I wish you could sit down with team members of the Shenandoah Raiders, Argos Dragons or Whitko Wildcats who made it to the final four when it was a one class system or state champion Plymouth Pilgrims and hear how it takes away from the game with this class basketball nonsense. The mystique of this is that Hoosier Hysteria has been stripped of its credibility as once proudly displayed and those are very special moments and memories. I pray they return someday.
Steve Pfefferkorn, Argos
Church Arson
Editor, Times-Union:It has been almost 13 years ago my baby brother died and my family and I would like to give a special thank you to the all the volunteers. They were the first people on the scene. Everyday my mom tells me to stop and pull over for them because they may save a life. They tried with everything to save him but he was already gone. They helped my mom feel safer and helped with me because I was only two at the time. If you were on the scene May 14,1985, thank you for helping try to save my baby brother. People, stop and pull over for them, what if it's one of your loved ones that they were going to help save?
The family of Brian Ray Neibert II, Warsaw, via e-mail
Gun Law
Editor, Times-Union:Someone steals a car and runs it at high speed into a crowd. Think the mayor will sue the car manufacturer? Highly unlikely.
Someone steals a Mini-14 and opens fire on the same crowd. Think the mayor will sue Ruger? Count on it!
Now Indiana State Senator Robert Meeks has introduced Senate Bill 45 to prohibit such suits. Thirteen states have approved such laws and another 12 are considering doing so.
Indiana State Representative Michael Smith plans to introduce similar legislation in the House but has not yet done so.
We need to let our State legislators know we support this legislation and stop this legalized extortion. Call 317-232-9400 to reach the State Senate and 317-232-9700 for the House. Let them know you strongly support Senator Meeks and Senate Bill 45.
Harold Kitson, Warsaw
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