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Moore Gives Liberals A Bad Name

Michael Moore, the "documentary" director from Michigan, is all in the news these days because of the his new movie "Farenhate 9/11." (Note to copy editor - That's not a typo.) Moore is an award-winning filmmaker.His "documentaries" (I thought documentaries were supposed to be non-fiction) have won Oscars, Emmys, Writers' Guild Awards and jury prizes at Cannes. He's sold more books than Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Coulter and Hannity combined, too, by the way.(Sometimes I think these people give conservatives a bad name.Like when Coulter called Ted Kennedy an "adulterous drunk.") But even some of my liberal friends say they have had enough of Michael Moore. Certainly there is nothing wrong with having opinions.Lots of people make a decent living doing just that. And there is nothing wrong with a liberal point of view.Certainly, liberals can make principled arguments against policies of the Bush administration.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Animal Welfare Has To Be About The Animals

Circumstances surrounding the Kosciusko Animal Shelter are unfortunate. First of all, I want to make it clear that at the Gerard house, we like animals.We own a couple dogs.One is a Norwegian elkhound.The other is a Yorkshire terrier.(Have you ever heard that you don't really own a Yorkie, a Yorkie owns you? It's true.) Over the years, we've had cats, hamsters, a rabbit or two, guinea pigs, hermit crabs and fish.So I am no stranger to the bond between pets and their owners. That's why I fully understand that all those involved in the issue surrounding the shelter are dedicated and well-meaning. But for whatever reason, some folks have gotten a little out of control. I am referring to a letter to the editor that appeared in this newspaper this week.The letter writers all but accused the board of directors of the now-disbanded Humane Society of lining their pockets with money meant to go to animals.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Teen Drinking Problem Needs Attention

I hate it when teenagers die or ruin their lives over booze. It seems so unnecessary and preventable. But it happened again last weekend.A 19-year-old victim this time.His friend, another 19-year-old, facing prison. It would be easy to write about pointing fingers or argue about who is to blame or who needs to be arrested and who doesn't. My guess is that everybody who needs to be held accountable will be.I am fairly confident about that. But what about the future? As a community, what is our view of last weekend's tragedy? Is it acceptable to us? Do we just shrug our shoulders and resolve ourselves to the notion that every other year or so a teenager will die in a drunk driving accident? Or is it time we get proactive and take some positive steps? I think parents need to take control.School officials need to crack down.There have been rumors for years about parents, cops and school officials looking the other way when certain teens drink.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Indiana Tops Some Pretty Dubious Lists

Indiana has made a name for itself many times over the years by being at the top of this list or that list. Like just recently our proud state showed up at the top of the list of states with the most high school dropouts. Nice. And we have eight of the 10 largest high school gymnasiums in the world, so we certainly top that list. But the list we top that came out this week was the most bizarre yet. Yes, Indiana tops the list of states with the most terrorist targets. That's right.We have more terror targets right here in the Hoosier State than they do in New York, California, Illinois or Washington, D.C.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Town Employees to Receive Raises

NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊNorth Manchester's town employees will be reimbursed the annual 3 percent raise that was put on hold due to financial concerns, North Manchester Town Council President Don Rinearson said Thursday. An uncertain financial forecast stayed the employees' raises until the year's end.The council now has a clearer read on the state of the finances. The town needed at least $40,000 to cover the pay increases, Rinearson said.With departments' savings and other unencumbered money, the town now has $80,000 left over, he said. Department heads kept their spending down.Throughout the year, no special fund appropriations were needed, Rinearson said. He called the surprise amount a "highlight of the year." Employees will receive the money in a special check due Monday, clerk-treasurer Nancy Reed said. Most employees will get more than $200.Several department heads will receive more than $1,000, according to records.
MATTEW WEIGELT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Some Days Are Better Than Others

Well, Tuesday turned out to be quite the unusual, eventful day for me. On Monday, I got a call from somebody who said there was a really big, fast-looking boat in town. He gave me a number.I called it. I spoke to a very friendly gentleman, Jim Franklin from Rowlett, Texas, who offered to take me for a boat ride on Lake Wawasee. I met him at the ramp and went for a ride in an Eliminator 33 Daytona with around 1,140 horsepower. We reached a speed of 107.5 mph. It was quite exhilarating, I must say.Our family boat goes about 40. Forty in this boat seemed as if you could jump out and go for a swim. He let me drive the boat, too.That was really nice of him.Of course I drove the boat a great deal slower than he did.I mean, after all, it wasn't my boat. So I got some basic information from him and decided to run a couple pictures in the newspaper because it was, after all, a really cool boat.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Red Alerts Causing Overreactions

Ever since the 9/11 tragedy, we seem to have this penchant for overreaction. A couple things reminded me of that this week. First, there was the evacuation of Fort Wayne International Airport. A suspicious metal case was found in a bathroom at the airport. Airport security staff was told there was an aluminum case in a restroom in the boarding area. An X-ray showed the case had numerous electric wires inside. Security staff called the Fort Wayne PD's bomb squad and evacuated people in the boarding area and passengers in two planes. The bomb squad determined the device inside the case was a handheld video game. The passengers were allowed to return to the planes after about a 40-minute delay.Other passengers were kept out of the boarding area until police thoroughly checked out the area. No word on whether the kid came back to claim his Gameboy¨.I wonder if he flew off and left it or if he was on the way home.Either way, I bet he (or she) is bummed.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Manchester To Demolish Historic Gymnasium

NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester College's historic gymnasium/auditorium, built in 1926, will be demolished due to safety concerns and many years of disuse.Demolition cost is approximately $100,000 and is slated to begin this month.
LAURA SLOOP, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Valley Girls Knock Off Northfield

AKRON - The Northfield Lady Norse traveled to Tippecanoe Valley Friday evening to take on the Lady Vikings in a Three Rivers Conference game. Tippecanoe Valley held off the Lady Norse 64-45. The Lady Vikings outscored Northfield 6-1 to start the first quarter.After a bucket by Northfield, the Lady Vikings went on a 13-2 run to finish the quarter with a 19-5 lead.Chelsy Rhoades led the Vikings with 4-of-4 shooting, including a three-point goal.She finished with nine points. "We came out with a new and different defensive strategy in the first quarter to add to their confusion.Our goal was to contain (Courtney) Reed.She is one of their better players," Viking Coach Gary Teel said. Jennifer Hathaway was 2 of 2 from the floor and 1 of 1 from the line to add five points.Hannah Krueger also added four points on 2-of-4 shooting.The Lady Vikings held Northfield to just 2-of-11 shooting from the floor in the quarter.
Cliff Tanner, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Politics, Special Interests In Charge

I am not some anti-government wacko or anything, but sometimes I can't help but think our system of government is functionally flawed. I mean really.It's broken. Politics drives everything.It's all about staying in power and getting re-elected. It's all about stroking your biggest contributors, whether it's corporate interests, trial lawyers, doctors or insurers. Every bit of legislation that is passed is driven by someone's special interest. The U.S.tax code.It's an odious, ridiculously complex system of loopholes driven by the special interest lobbies. Any talk of simplifying - which everybody knows would be a good thing for all parties concerned, including the U.S.Treasury - is met with disdain or outright hostility. Any incremental step toward legislative sanity gets shouted or voted down. It's getting a little hard to take.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Executive Sessions and A Right To Know

This week the Kosciusko County Commissioners proposed holding an executive session to talk to architects about building a new jail. The commissioners are trying to decide which architect will get the contract for the jail.It's a pretty significant chunk of county dollars. The commissioners wanted to meet with the architects individually, in private to discuss these matters. From a bargaining standpoint, that makes sense. Let's think about this for a moment.Say you want to buy a new Porsche 911 turbo slantnose cabriolet.You go to one dealer and negotiate your best deal.Then you go to a second dealer armed with the very useful information you got from the first and try to get an even better deal. Maybe you even fudge a little on what the first dealer offered you.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Lifeline Hosts Open House At Blue Lion

PIERCETON - Lifeline Youth and Family Services is hosting an open house for the Kosciusko County community Thursday from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m.in the Blue Lion Coffeehouse, 105 W.Market St., Pierceton. The organization plans to build a juvenile housing facility and school in the town's industrial park, north of U.S.30 off CR 250S.In January, 60 acres in that area were rezoned from industrial 2 to a public use district. Lifeline operates juvenile facilities, providing living space and schooling for children ages 8-18.Lifeline does not accept children who need to be medicated to modify their behavior, although they may be on medication.Length of stay is from 90 days to nine months, as ordered by a judge. The proposed facility initially will house 60 to 70 male juveniles in three group homes.Future plans include two more group homes, a school, a chapel and recreational facilities.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

In January, Syracuse To Start Curbside Recycling; Glass Collection To Resume

Syracuse residents will have curbside recycling services beginning in January, according to a report given by Syracuse town manager Jeff Noffsinger.Noffsinger attended the joint citizens advisory committee and Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District meeting Tuesday.As town manager he is a CAC member. Noffsinger said plans and approval for the program began a few months before he became town manager. The formal signing of a recycling contract with Stafford's Solid Waste also took place during the meeting.Last month the Stafford bid was awarded over that of Ameri-Waste. Stafford owner Jim Stafford said the recycling stations will be replaced with separate color-coded containers. Glass containers will be accepted at the district's recycling stations beginning in January.The board voted to initiate the glass collection option.The five-year contract is based on costs per ton, about 120 per month at a rate of $58.63 with glass.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

New Library An Asset To Community

I had a tour of the Warsaw Community Public Library this week. It is really quite an impressive facility. Even more impressive is the fact that it was a true community effort that pulled it together. Those who have been around awhile will remember that it has been a rocky road for the library over the past several years. There was a proposal back in 1992 for the library to move to the fairgrounds. But the local Taxpayers Action Network petitioned against it.They thought the price tag was too high. The TAN group won.They were successful in the remonstrance against the library's fairgrounds building plan. The debate caused a bit of a rift in the community.There were those who thought the library should move out of the aging Carnegie building. Others thought the library should stay downtown and renovate the existing facility. In the end, the stay-downtown crowd won and the library is here to stay.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Utah, Lippo And A Little Quid Pro Coal

For those who think the flap over the Democratic National Committee's fund-raising and ties to Indonesia are muchado about nothing, I offer the following: Last September, President Clinton issued an executive order designating 1.7 million acres in Southwest Utah a national monument.It is called the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.At the time, Clinton talked about the stunning natural beauty of this very remote area. It has plenty of natural beauty.It is high desert country encompassing the Kaiparowits Plateau, the canyons of the Escalante River and the Grand Staircase - the Pink Cliffs, Gray Cliffs, White Cliffs, Vermillion Cliffs and Chocolate Cliffs.All together, the new national monument comprises 2,650 square miles of rock formations, desert creeks, springs, lava fields, slot canyons, natural bridges, arches, ancient Anasazi sites and historical sites of early pioneers. Clinton's executive order was a huge victory for environmentalists.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

U.S. Shows Compassion; Iraq Doesn't

I don't think anyone ever doubted that the U.S.coalition would prevail over the Iraqi army. I guess in most people's minds it was more a question of how long it would take. The more I watched the coverage on the television, the more apparent it became to me that our forces truly are well-trained and well-intentioned. I watched one of our soldiers carrying on his back an injured Iraqi soldier. The U.S.soldier was carrying the Iraqi away to receive medical treatment. I watched U.S.troops gingerly avoid destroying a mosque where a number of Iraqi soldiers had holed up.The Iraqis were firing at our soldiers. It would have been really easy for our boys to call for an air strike and level the place. Instead, they risked life and limb to secure the mosque without destroying it. I watched U.S.troops drop to one knee and point their weapons to the ground when confronted by angry civilians who thought the troops were going to storm a mosque.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

It's Always Tough When You Go To War

If there was ever any doubt in my mind - and there really wasn't - about how the Iraqis felt about 9/11, it was erased this week. You know how in Iraq there are all these giant portraits of Saddam and other mural-like displays all over the place? Well, this week while watching the war on TV I saw one of those murals.It was a depiction of the Twin Towers in New York with a jetliner streaking toward them. I really don't think the Iraqi who painted it intended it as a memorial for the victims. More like a tribute to the bombers. I suppose it's that kind of sentiment that worries me the most about the war in Iraq. I am afraid that there is the potential for us to underestimate just how much the Iraqis - and lots of other Arabs - really hate us. And how willing the Iraqis are to fight and prolong the war. We underestimate because I think it's difficult for us to understand that level of hatred.That level of fanaticism.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Charge For New Ambulance Service Fund Starts In January

NORTH MANCHESTER - General Ordinance No.7 passed unanimously Wednesday, and North Manchester residents will see the $2.50 monthly charge in January. The town council approved the law without dissent during the public hearing. The charge is based on a per-dwelling unit and will pay for the new ambulance service fund.Residents will see the increase on their water bills. In November, local business owners opposed the ordinance's initial wording.Commercial businesses were to be charged $30 per month per water meter.Industrial businesses could have seen a $75 monthly charge. The three tax-exempt organizations - Manchester College, Timbercrest Church of the Brethren Home Inc., and Peabody Retirement Community - stepped in and doubled their monthly contributions.That, in turn, lowered the cost for residents and businesses.
Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Responsibility Should Cut Both Ways

While I was on vacation, Congress passed legislation with regard to corporate responsibility. I think that may be the biggest, most blatant example of "do as I say, not as I do" in the history of mankind. Don't misunderstand.Corporate CEOs and CFOs need to be held accountable when they create debacles like Enron, WorldCom and Xerox. I have no problem with any of that.Corporate responsibility certainly is a worthy goal for American business and the economy. But how about a little congressional responsibility while we're at it? Congress has budget caps to guide them as they relentlessly spend our tax dollars. But Congress routinely passes what they call "supplemental spending bills" to get around the caps.Then they go a step further and call it an "emergency" bill or a "stopgap" bill.Then they say that the stopgap or emergency spending doesn't really count against the budget during the year when the "emergency" occurred.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

A Perfect Example Of Christmas Spirit

This being the Saturday before Christmas, I found it only appropriate to write about giving. After all, Christmas is the time for giving. I think giving is age relevant.The older you get, the more the "better to give than to receive" sentiment hits you. So I was trying to come up with a good example of how giving can make you feel good when along comes a letter from Lt.Jeffrey Horn, the local Salvation Army guy. In it, he talks about giving and how Christmas is for children. I decided I couldn't have said it better myself, so here is a story about giving, compliments of the Salvation Army. "On Christmas Eve last year, a group of Salvation Army volunteers gathered to wrap and distribute presents for needy families in their community.These families - parents and children included - were to pick up the gifts later that afternoon.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016
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