Editor, Times-Union: Hats off to Ronnie Sams and "What Millennium!"
There IS someone else that understands arithmetic. While I wondered if I was counting wrong, if I was ignorant; there just may be more stupid people out there than I (wanted to) give credit to.
I obtained a building permit today, number one for the year 2000. Maybe the newspaper and TV will show up and hype me as the first in the county for the new century?
Dennis Lundgren Warsaw
Salvation Army Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union: The Salvation Army would like to extend a warm thank you to the people of Kosciusko County for all the support given to us this Christmas season. To those who volunteered to ring at a kettle site, to those who gave money, to those who bought toys, clothes or food for a needy family, we want to express our deepest appreciation for allowing us to continue the work of The Salvation Army, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year. We could not provide the services we do without the wonderful support of our community. A special thank you is extended to Biomet, DePuy and K-Mart for their participation in our Angel Tree program, to the Rotary Club, Marcus Cable and Toys for Tots for providing us with toys, and to The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary for their help with distributing toys. We feel truly blessed to see how the work of these groups, and countless individuals, can make a difference in people's lives.
Lts. Mike and Audrey Schneider
The Salvation Army
Memories Of The Tree
Editor, Times-Union: The tree was so small, no more than a yardstick tall. The year was 1958 and we had just moved to Warsaw. My family moved into a big house with a nice yard and no inside bathroom. We had neighbors living all around us. There was a small house that stood next door and an older couple lived there with no children.
In our house, there were eight of us and with Mom and Dad, 10 living there. Our neighbors, the Brindies, needed help in planting a blue spruce. Their house stood on the corner of Cook and Garfield streets. The tree grew and watched all of us grow up.
In 1968, the big house burned. My mom and dad bought and moved into the little house and my twin was the only child left at home. Then he left for college. The tree has watched us come and go from the little house with the grandchildren, now 22 of them.
The year is 1985, my father is gone and my mom has lived there alone. The tree has watched over my mom and the little house and sheltered them from the weather.
The year is 1992 and the tree has now watched us come and go with my mom and dad's great-grandchildren, 47 - with more yet to come. My mom has since moved, but the tree still watches me come and go, taking care of the little house and yard.
The tree has grown so straight and tall - 32 feet. One day while in the garden, I noticed the tree was so tall and I should have it topped out. I thought I really didn't want to cut it, but it did need to be done. I had a vision. I will wait for Christmas and have it for my tree. It made not only a beautiful Christmas tree, but the leftover branches made a beautiful grave blanket for my dad's grave at Oakwood Cemetery. My dad would be happy to know that the little tree that was so small in 1958 and now in 1999 has grown and is still watching over us and the little house. It has made our Christmas very special. I love you, dad. Merry Christmas.
