Editor, Times-Union: Something stinks at Tippecanoe Valley and it's not the nearby hog complex! When we first learned that Burket Elementary was in danger of being closed, we were told by Karen Boling that we could still have Burket teachers for our children at Mentone if we wanted. If you will notice at the bottom of the teacher request form (the one we have to go to the school to pick up) it notes that even if we request a specific teacher, there is no guarantee our kids will have that teacher. What happened to the one-year guarantee from our superintendent? When this was brought to her attention, she denied she made such a remark! Now, I know I can't be the only person who heard her make that statement. This whole ordeal has been mishandled from the very beginning. Parents, we are on our own on this, the school board will not help. I urge all Burket parents to call Karen Boling at her office 353-7741 or fax her at 353-7743 and let her know we expect her to keep her promise to us. She needs to be held accountable. Teacher request forms need to be turned in by May 16. Do it soon!
Brenda Engle Claypool via e-mail
Unfair Drug Bust
Editor, Times-Union: This letter is concerning the drug bust that took place on April 25.
From what we understand, there were three mobile home parks involved: Merrywood, Shamrock and Hide-Away Hills. When the law enforcement and drug task force came into Hide-Away Hills they were looking for one individual, Vincente Muniz. They thought he might be at one of two places, and he was found at Lot 35.
Let me inform the public this person is not a resident of Hide-Away Hills and does not live there. Rather than pick him up at his home elsewhere, they proceeded to bring in the ATF and drug task force to Hide-Away Hills.
We at Hide-Away Hills believe we were treated unfairly by the authorities and the Times-Union by the unwelcome publicity. We do not to our knowledge have a drug problem at Hide-Away Hills, and are very offended that this was brought to our community. We feel at Hide-Away that an apology is in order.
Denny and Becky Satterfield, Resident Managers
Mike Andon, Owner Residents of Hide-Away Hills
Warsaw
Heifer International
Editor, Times-Union: The North Manchester area's annual meeting of Heifer International will occur on Monday evening, May19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Assembly Room at the Timbercrest Retirement Community in North Manchester.
Agenda items include a report of the 2002 gifts and a program consisting of Heifer International Midwest Region Director David Boothby presenting a video about Beatrice Biira.
Anyone interested in learning about Beatrice's journey of faith and hope, and how the gift of a goat to her family, from Heifer International, affected that journey are encouraged to attend.
Beatrice is the subject in the book, "Beatrice's Goat," by Page McBrier and Lori Lohstoeter. In April 2001 it climbed to No. 3 on the New York Times Children's Picture Books Best Seller List, and the overwhelming success of the book was beyond the highest expectations of publisher Simon & Schuster.
Beatrice was able to achieve her lifelong dream of going to school at the age of 9 because of a goat named Mugisa (which means luck), a gift from Heifer International.
The sale of the goat's milk and offspring gave Beatrice's mother enough money to send all of her children to school. And like all members of Heifer International's projects, she passed on the gift of the first female offspring to another family in need, continuing the benefits of income and nutrition.
Beatrice's story reveals the devastating reality of poverty, and that the smallest contribution toward the purchase of a gift animal can drastically improve the lives of the less fortunate all over the world. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of "Beatrice's Goat" goes to Heifer International to continue the work of alleviating world hunger. Beatrice is indeed on a clear mission to be a part of Heifer International's dedication to the work of justice and peace in her country.
"Beatrice's Goat" also received the Award of Excellence from the Religion Communicators Council and the DeRose-Hinkhouse Foundation. Beatrice appeared on "Good Morning America" and talk shows across the country, most recently on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
For more information about Heifer International, please call 800-696-1918, visit the Heifer Web site at www.heifer.org/, or locally, contact Don Myer, 260-982-8198, or John Hartsough, 260-982-6131.
John Hartsough North Manchester via e-mail
Coyote Problem
Editor, Times-Union: Just a few weeks ago my grandson's pet dog came up missing. My family and I searched for the dog to no avail. I ran an ad in the paper, and I contacted our vet.
We live in the country and our property backs up to a woods. At night you can hear the coyotes and in the morning they are so brazen they come up near the house. I had three the size of a 70-pound German shepherd in my backyard; they were not afraid of me and I had to chase them off. We left our grandson's dog out in the evening, never to see him again.
Two days later I found the dog in the woods - he had been killed by the coyotes (without doubt) and his body had been dragged under some rubble and covered with leaves. He weighed 40 pounds so he was good-sized himself. He was left by the coyotes for food for their pups.
These wild dogs have crossed with the domestic dogs and are dangerous. First they kill our pets, next they will attack our children. Something needs to be done now.
