Editor, Times-Union: My name is Ryan Bumbaugh, I am a member of the Whitko Middle School seventh grade basketball team. I would like to thank our coach Phil Snep for our wonderful season. We finished the regular season 11 and 1 and finished with a combined season record of 16 and 2. We went to Peru for a tourney and we finished first place due to Phil's dedication to coaching us. We came in second place in the NELMSC tourney. We lost to Lakeview by one point. Phil has taught us so much this year about basketball and teamwork. Phil, thank you for the time you have spent with us. Thanks for making sure that we had rides back and forth to practice if our parents could not take us. Thanks for the phone calls to check up on us when you were sick during the first game of the NELMSC tourney.
Next I would like to thank Brenda Snep for making us snacks for after the game and between tourney games. Thank you for the words of encouragement. Thank you for allowing Phil to spend so much time with our basketball team.
Last I would like to thank our manager, Michael Gerard, for being part of the team. We all enjoyed having you as a manager. Thank you for doing the work that you had to do as a manager, really you had the hard job compared to us basketball players.
Ryan Bumbaugh Claypool via e-mail
Honoring Veterans
Editor, Times-Union: I had thought of writing many times, but decided not to. However, events have changed things, and I now feel it important to express my thoughts.
My Dad, Vassil "Curly" Cross, was a very proud American and WWII Air Force veteran, who never missed attending a Veterans Day ceremony. This year was a bit more difficult, as he was in a nursing home in failing health, but I was determined he would not miss the ceremony. Since the ceremony was moved, and he would be in a wheelchair to attend, there was a lot of last minute frenzy to assure we could get him there and would be able to find a place to park, etc. With the last minute changes, we forgot our camera. During the ceremony, the Times-Union took a picture of him, and it appeared the next day on the front page. I can't tell you how pleased he was, and thankful we were for that picture, as we had forgotten our camera. Sadly, Dad passed away on Dec. 20, 2003, so that is the last picture we have of him on Veterans Day - so thank you so much.
On a more frustrating note, I have decided to write so that maybe in the future the same thing won't happen to someone else. The band was there and, as always, did a nice job for the ceremony. When it was over, we were waiting in the hall for the elevator. There were already a couple of band members on the elevator, and another one crossed in front of my Dad in his wheelchair to assure they got on the elevator and left us waiting. My Dad said, "That really wasn't very nice," and holding back our tears and frustration, my daughter and I both said we were sorry. To the band members, stop and think before you act. You were there to honor veterans, and yet you dishonored a vet on the way out. Why didn't you get off (and not cross in front of him to enter the elevator) and hold the door and then walk down the stairs? It would have made all the difference in the world. You see, Dad was raised in a kinder, more disciplined generation than any of us. They survived the Depression, difficult wars and many hard times, but they always had respect for seniors and those that were disabled, so it is hard for them to understand how far some of us have come from that today.
So, next Veterans Day, when you are allowed to leave classes to attend this ceremony, please remember why you are there. And any day that you see a disabled person, please stop and open that door or allow them through first, for as much as they would like to open it themselves, they can't.
Thank you for listening! Sandy Dresch Warsaw via e-mail
Woman Of The Year
Editor, Times-Union: The annual meeting and recognition dinner of the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday evening at Restaurant 2517. It was an event that I will remember for many years. As the recipient of the 2003 Woman of the Year award, I am deeply honored to be the woman selected this year. Many people are deserving of such an award, so it is very humbling to have been chosen.
Warsaw/Winona Lake has meant much to me ever since I was a summer resident in my youth. My grandparents lived in Warsaw, and my mother was born here. When my husband Rudy and I decided to re-locate to the area in 1966 as permanent residents, it proved to be the right decision. After we moved from Chicago, Rudy was welcomed as a pharmacist at Brennan's Pharmacy, and later became a partner with Bob Brennan. What a blessing, and it certainly helped us become acquainted in the community.
Over the years I have served in many worthwhile area organizations. Kosciusko County has many opportunites for service and it has given me great pleasure to be a part of it. Many thanks to the Times-Union, WRSW 107.3, ESPN 1480 and to the Chamber of Commerce for presenting this honor to me.
Rita Schobert Warsaw via e-mail
Kosko Conservation
Editor, Times-Union: At the November meeting of the Kosko Conservation Club, the board of directors voted to create a memorial to Doug Raber for his years of service and contribution to the club. Thus was born the Doug Raber Memorial Plaque. It also was decided to recognize past and present members for their service and contributions.
In December, names were submitted to the board for consideration. Six names were submitted to the board for consideration. Six names were selected for the initial engraving. Three names will be added each year after.
The first names selected are as follows: True Kintzle, Ellis Hartman, Mike Metzger, Jim Houtz, Ed Kinsey, Dale Kindig.
Kosko Conservation Club would like to publicly thank these gentlemen for their unselfish contributions and time to further our club's growth, which now stands at more than 200 members.
Rob Askins, president Warsaw
Thanks For Ann Coulter
Editor, Times Union: Congratulations for your selection of Ann Coulter's column for your readers. Coulter's book, "Treason," a history of liberal treachery for the last 50-plus years, is must reading for anyone who desires to understand recent history.
Coulter concludes that conservatives believe that men were created in God's image, while liberals believe they are God. Hence they favor abortion, pornography, rights for criminals, no Bible in the schools, same sex marriages, etc. Thanks again.
Richard Ellison Warsaw
Voting For Socialism
Editor, Times-Union: What really amazes me is that people want to vote for people who espouse socialistic viewpoints. National health care is a socialistic viewpoint. Why is it that the world is running away from socialism but feel that we need it. Socialism has failed all across this world. Communism does not work. What works is free enterprise.
People in this country want to the federal government or the courts to fix their problems. People forget that the Revolutionary War was fought because of an intrusive government tried to regulate their lives.
National health will not solve the problem here in this country. National welfare will not cure the problem of the poor. There is an old saying, "Give a man a fish you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." What we need to is to build people up, but keep their individualism.
We need as country need to focus on what made this country great and it is the belief in God. People need to stop trying to make me tolerant of lifestyles or things that are wrong in this society. Why is that union picketer can block an entrance to a workplace, but right to life people can not stand with in 500 feet of an abortion clinic. Something is wrong here. Our country is all screwed up.
Come on, America, wake up and smell the coffee. Quit listening to Hollywood elite. I for one say that I wish every one of the actors and actresses that said that they are going to leave this country would just leave. This country would be better off.
God bless America. God bless George W. Bush. God bless the people who serve in the Armed Forces. God bless Boy Scouts. And God bless the Knights of Columbus.
Ed Waldschmidt Warsaw via e-mail
Blood Donations
Editor, Times-Union: The month of February has an extra day this year, so there is extra time for residents of Kosciusko County to donate blood! Your donation could provide the "gift of life" to several people who are in need of blood products as a result of an accident, illness or disease. Please consider making a donation during February at one of the following locations:
Feb. 10, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Center Lake Pavilion, Warsaw
Feb. 11, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at DePuy Corp., Warsaw*
Feb. 12, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at R.R. Donnelley & Sons Corp., Warsaw*
Feb. 17, 2 to 6 p.m., Mentone United Methodist Church, Mentone
*These blood donor sites are closed to the general public.
During the month of January, residents of our county donated a total of 190 units versus a goal of 190 units. A great effort by some very dedicated people, in spite of some inclement weather which occurred across our county! Please know that on behalf of our chapter, I am very grateful for the continued support and participation of so many donors!
Our national blood supply continues to remain well below the recommended safe level of five to seven days' supply. Please call 800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543) and schedule an appointment to donate during the month of February. Of course, you can always walk in at the Center Lake Pavilion and Mentone locations. Thank you for your generous support!
