Editor, Times Union: On Feb. 14, 2002, I and my seven brothers and sisters lost someone very dear to us, our mother Ethel Jackson. At approximately 2:30 p.m. on that day, the car she was driving was struck broadside by a county highway truck at the intersection of Indiana Hwy. 25 at CR 900W, one-fourth mile East of Mentone, and she was killed instantly. Although the police report states that there were no eyewitnesses to the incident, we all find it hard to believe that on a fairly busy highway at that time of day that no one but the driver of the highway truck saw this.
There are facts about this incident that just do not make sense to us, thus the reason for this letter to the editor. We are searching for anyone who may have witnessed this incident, but for some reason did not go forth at the scene on that day.
We are all still grieving over our loss just like anyone else would that lost their mother, so please, if you have any information at all that might help us, we would appreciate a phone call.
Here are several numbers that you can call: 269-9950, 574-223-4170, 574-893-7370, 574-353-1301, 574-224-4006.
John Bellamy Warsaw via e-mail
Freedom
Editor, Times-Union: In light of the celebration of patriotism and freedom in our country, I would like to give the local citizens of this community something to ponder.
I had been in an accident in Indianapolis on Aug. 24, 2001; an older couple rear-ended me off of I-465, resulting in a broken taillight. At 2 a.m. in Kokomo, I was on my way home to Leesburg when a state police officer pulled me over for the tail light. I explained what had happened, he gave me a warning and told me in case I get pulled over again, just show the warning ticket to the next officer and he should send me on my way. At 3 a.m. on Ind. 16, I got pulled over by a young officer who is an officer for Miami County. He ignored the ticket and did not care I had been in an accident and he wrote me a traffic violation ticket that required me to pay fines and appear in court on Sept. 24. I was very upset that my right to drive home from an accident had been violated. I wrote the judge a letter and sent the actual tickets asking for a dismissal. I received no reply. I did get a notice from BMV that my license was suspended as of Jan. 3 due to failure to appear.
For a month I spent much time talking with the prosecutor, the judge's secretary and the supervisor of the Miami police and the defense attorney. Unfortunately I could not get anywhere and was given no choice but to pay the fines of $104.50 and a loss of two days work. During this same time, the Times-Union headlines revealed that the murder suspect who murdered the lady in Milford was released on bail due to his right to a speedy trial being violated. What about innocent drivers' right to drive home from an accident? What about this lady who was murdered? What about her rights?
As a nation, we need to get back to the basics! True freedom cannot exist without morality. God's laws are just! And protect the innocent, man's laws are crooked and protect the guilty.
Under our current laws the murderer was released and the Miami County police officer stole $104.50 out of my pocket.
This is wrong! You decide, do we really have freedom? True freedom is not the right to do wrong. We need to be protected by the law from evildoers and true lawbreakers. Instead, the guilty go free and the innocent are punished.
