Editor, Times-Union: Lake access - Edd Habegger, let's tell the whole story. You are missing the issue. The Lake Access Development Ordinance is not about keeping people off the lakes! And, it does not exclude people, their children and grandchildren from being able to purchase lake property as you say it would. This ordinance is about protecting the lakes from overdevelopment. It is a proven fact that overdevelopment of lake shoreline and lands surrounding a lake (the lake watershed) has a detrimental impact on lakes. Elimination of green areas (vegetative buffer zones) resulting from overdevelopment is one of the biggest threats to lake ecology, as well as the natural beauty of lakes. Overdevelopment causes excessive soil erosion and excessive surface water run off, which carry pollutants into the lakes because the natural filtration provided by green areas that remove pollutants have been destroyed.
You stated, "Urgent! The vast majority of the residents of Kosciusko County are about to be kept from using the lakes." You are misleading people by yelling "fire" when there is no fire. This ordinance in no way limits access. There are public access points on the lakes in Kosciusko County for all citizens of the county and state to freely use. That does not change, even though you want people to think it does.
Now let's consider what you want. As a real estate appraiser, your interests are in real estate. Where does real estate development stop as it pertains to lake access? Is it 1 mile from the lake, 5 miles, 10 miles, etc.? And, lake access as it pertains to real estate development is exclusionary no matter how you look at it. However, it is only exclusionary as it pertains to a person's ability to purchase lake property. It is not exclusionary as it pertains to all citizens having access to the lakes. Some people can afford lake property and some can't. It has been and always will be that way. This is a function of market supply and demand, and a person's ability to purchase. There are only so may lakes and only so much lake property that can be responsibly developed. It should be noted that responsible development is something that has not always been practiced by real estate developers in the past, thus the need for this ordinance exists.
Yes, the lake homeowners associations are the catalyst behind this ordinance, but isn't that because they understand the issue more that non-lake residents? After all, it is the lake associations who have spent millions of their own dollars to restore the lakes from damage that has already occurred from over development. So Edd, before you are too critical of the lake associations, let's remember that without any ordinance that limits overdevelopment, the lakes associations have been and will continue to be the caretakers of the lakes (along with the county and the state) that make it possible for all citizens to continue to enjoy the lakes. And that includes their children and grandchildren.
Dave Doctor, via e-mail Warsaw
Fair And Balanced?
Editor, Times-Union: Sir H (as in "W" for President Bush)
About a year ago my wife and I became residents of this friendly city. We were impressed by its conservative reflection in virtually every aspect of good living. After leaving the influence of the liberal, big city press, we anticipated what we thought would be, as in Fox News, a fair-and-balanced small-town newspaper.
Several times as I read your editorials I was incensed by your reference to our President as "W" rather than Mr. President or President Bush. Are the few spaces in your column so limited you cannot address the man who leads the most powerful government in the world by a dignified title?
But even more important - do you read your editorial pages, the "journalists" you choose to whom is devoted excessive space? Yesterday's page was a vivid example. You do not claim to be "fair and balanced" so for that I cannot fault you; however, both pages, 4A & 5A, were dominated by the most blatant anti-administration haranguing possible. Even the cartoon was a slap - hardly "tongue in cheek" stuff.
Goldberg has an excellent piece. At least, it was a positive reflection on a hated nation. (Also to your credit, H, was your article on Israel a few days ago. I commend you and so expressed to several persons.)
In no way am I soliciting your exclusion of the liberal "journalists" but will you please make a concerted effort to provide us who want "fair and balanced" reading to be granted a few more lines each day.
George B. Scripture, via e-mail
Warsaw Note: In no way attempting to assuage the letter writer, I thought this might be a good opportunity to run down our columnist lineup, which, frankly, is quite comprehensive for a newspaper our size. Our 4A columnists are Ann Coulter, Michael Reagan, Cal Thomas, Jonah Goldberg, Kathleen Parker, Deroy Murdoch, Clifford May, Star Parker, Martin Schram, Paul Campos, Dick Morris and David Broder. All of those are decidedly conservative, except for Morris and Broder, who as moderates provide a bit of "balance" to our editorial page. The cartoon and left hand editorial on page 4A also trend conservative. On page 5A, known as the op-ed, or opposite editorial page, we run Marie Cocco, Richard Reeves, Cynthia Tucker, Ellen Goodman and Andy Rooney. All of those are liberal, except for Rooney, who is more moderate and somewhat humor based. Generally, opinions on 5A trend liberal and opinions on page 4A trend conservative.
G (Gary Gerard, Managing Editor)
Traffic Lights
Editor, Times-Union: While attending functions at Warsaw Community High School, I have become aware of a very dangerous situation. On exiting to Ind. 15, there is no traffic light to get on to it. After an event there are many cars waiting to exit. It is not only at events but anytime exiting. I would like to see the city of Warsaw put up traffic lights for everyone's safety.
Lil Mauro South Bend
On A Roll
Editor, Times-Union: Indiana is on an economic roll. That's good for Warsaw, Kosciusko County and the entire state.
The long-term success of our major orthopedic companies - Biomet, DePuy, Medtronic and Zimmer - as well as their suppliers has insulated our area from some of the job losses that have impacted so many others. While our efforts close to home will always remain important, a boost from a rejuvenated state economy may lead to even greater local success.
Our state political leaders have made some courageous decisions in the last two years. Why? Because they had to. The old saying is that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Indiana needed new results - and innovative approaches are helping it get there.
A series of job attraction and retention announcements is likely to continue. A Honda facility in Greensburg in southeastern Indiana and a Nestle plant in Anderson are good news for all Hoosiers. Continued investment - whether from within Indiana, other states or foreign countries - is needed to compete in today's global economy.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has been proactively working with existing companies, as well as those interested in moving to the state.
State and local officials have more tools available for these businesses, state agencies are working with companies instead of against them and continued infrastructure improvements are on the way. And state government has a balanced budget, no small feat.
Other states are looking at what's taking place in Indiana. It's been a while since that has been the case.
My family's business of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are in numerous communities throughout the state. The economic revival and the optimism for an even brighter future are long overdue. Those same positive developments will also assist the orthopedic companies and other businesses and organizations that help make our area a great place to work and live.
Let's encourage our government leaders in Indianapolis to continue the strong partnerships and innovative decisions that have set the stage for Indiana's surge to prominence. While much work remains to be accomplished, I am confident that we are on the right track.
V. Richard (Dick) Miller President and CEO MMM-Invest, Inc. Warsaw
Business Safety
Editor, Times-Union: I am writing in regards to the robbery that recently occurred outside National City Bank.
My understanding is that this happened to an employee of McDonald's who was apparently making a nightly deposit all alone. This brings to mind a couple of similar cases. Late last year an employee of the North Webster Pizza King was robbed while making a routine delivery. Earlier that same year an employee of the Warsaw Pizza King was robbed while making a "suspicious" delivery. I am aware of many other area employees that have fallen victim to similar incidents. This seems to be an increasing problem in what was once a fairly safe community. The problem is that very few businesses offer their employees any type of safety training. Such training is usually thought of as unnecessary or even too costly. However, a simple analysis will prove otherwise. In most cases, the cost of a safety training program would be significantly less than the losses incurred during just one robbery.
All businesses should care enough about their employees to offer them training in robbery reduction and general personal safety, to include workplace violence. They should require that at least two employees, in separate vehicles, make the nightly deposits. The deposit schedule should vary nightly. There should be a cash handling policy in place and every employee should thoroughly understand it. All employees who are required to deliver services or goods should be taught how to recognize and deal with potentially dangerous situations. While there are no guarantees that this will reduce crime or robbery, it will at the very least improve moral and increase awareness of the potential dangers that exist.
Steve Zorn, via e-mail Warsaw
Bad Reviewer
Editor, Times-Union: If David Slone can't review theater productions without comparing them to Hollywood high budget films, then perhaps it is time for the Times-Union to hire another reviewer.
Michael C. Mahan, via e-mail
Warsaw
Funneling
Editor, Times-Union: In response to the letter to the editor regarding funneling, I am offering some thoughts.
The concept that lake use is restricted to lake property owners is untrue. Being a lake dweller does offer convenience and easy access to the water, but in no way prohibits or restricts the use of the lake by anyone, area resident or non-area resident.
The Department of Natural Resources, whom all of us support with our taxes, has provided launching ramps for use by anyone regardless of where they live at most, if not all, of the sizeable bodies of water. True, one has to transport their watercraft to the launch site, which is less convenient. Those for whom water activities are a priority might consider a purchase of lake property and be fully aware of the accompanying galloping taxes.
As an example of a similar situation, those who want to have convenient and easy access to the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and world renowned museums might choose to live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with its accompanying price tag; otherwise, as most of us do, they take the subway, bus or taxi to get there. That's the way things work.
Tam Vogel, via e-mail Winona Lake
Postal Jobs Ad
Editor, Times-Union: I noticed an ad in the help wanted column of the Time-Union the last couple of days touting U.S. Postal Service jobs. The site appears to be one of those trying to get money out of an individual for something that is free. If you are interested in applying for a postal job go to www.usps.com, look at the jobs link at the bottom of the page and follow it to get all the information you need free. In fact it costs nothing to become an employee of the federal government. Just go to www.opm.gov and look for links to jobs. To be sure there are rules on who can apply and how to apply etc. but it does not cost you a fee to get the information or to apply for the job.
Ronnie Prater, via e-mail Claypool
Rude
Editor, Times-Union: I am 20 years old, which is pretty young, and my father recently passed away in a house fire. Which naturally is unexpected so you could only imagine that I may be having a hard time dealing with this.
So many people have made rude comments to me since then. The No. 1 rude comment is how people insist on telling me how my dad was screaming for help while his house was burning down and he couldn't get out. So I want everyone to know that being his daughter I've probably read all the police reports and already know this. Common sense would tell people that's probably not something appropriate to say to someone who is grieving.
The question is are that many people in this world stupid or just cold-hearted? I hope everyone that has mentioned that to me sleeps better at night because I don't every day I have to be reminded that he was in pain when he died (and you all should know who you are).
If you could please keep your comments like that to yourself it would be greatly appreciated.
