Editor, Times-Union: Regarding the alcohol at Winona Lake issue:
To debate the merits of an additional liquor license(s) is pointless because the problems consumption of alcohol bring should be obvious to us all:
1) Alcohol has proven to be America's number one drug problem.
2) Medical science has determined a genetic "predisposition" toward alcoholism as high as 30 percent (Why would anyone want to play this version of Russian Roulette?).
3) Alcohol consumption is the direct and indirect cause of many serious family problems., such as spouse abuse, incest, bankruptcy, divorce, etc.
4) It is right up near the top of the list as the cause of most traffic accidents and fatalities.
5) It is a deceitful drug, because of its legal status, and the lack of ability of its victims to discern its dangers until it is too late.
6) Ask any local AA group. Results of this disease caused by alcohol are terminal.
7) It is just as dangerous when wine or beer has been consumed, as these are still alcoholic. Much of my own experience with counseling of alcoholics has been with chronic drinkers of beer only. It's just as deadly!
The list could go on and on. Then we could also cite the biblical evidence on the deceitfulness of alcohol, and many warnings, which I believe Pastor Dave Halyaman has already made a good case for in previous articles.
The point is, alcohol presents a potential problem everywhere it is sold or used. This is not "alcohol hysteria" as one person accused me of spreading, because it is well known to be an enormous problem in this country, as well as around the world. Other than the great profit in the alcohol industry, one would be hard pressed to say anything good about alcohol, even if a person could enjoy the taste of a good wine, and not ever abuse himself or anyone else through the use of the beverage. If we are truly honest with ourselves the majority of us cannot make this claim.
Now we are taking about selling this dangerous beverage at, of all places, Winona Lake, previously dry town, home of Billy Sunday (greatest prohibitionist of all time), home of the Bible Conference, home of Winona Lake Christian Assembly, home of Grace College and Seminary. And how did Stonehenge get in with its license anyway? And why? Was getting a business with a liquor license into a dry town a key to phase two or three of this project?
The concern I have is that there is no current local ordinance prohibiting additional liquor licenses in this town. There is no local ordinance limiting the number of such businesses. Without such, additional licenses allowing beer-wine sales in town can be purchased. We could end up with several, or even many. It is my understanding that once a liquor license is granted by the ABC, it cannot be taken away by the town. Barring violations of the law or bankruptcy of the business, its issuance is permanent.
I believe that contrary to Mr. Wilcoxson's claim that the town board has nothing to do with this issue in the Winona Hotel-Restaurant, it is the town board's responsibility to enact a local limitation ordinance. Such an ordinance can be made to limit alcohol licenses in the town of Winona Lake to one, namely Stonehenge.
I ask you, Mr. Wilcoxson and Mr. Miller, poll the people of Winona Lake (please, not Kosciusko County or Warsaw). The 4,000 residents of Winona Lake have to live with the permanent results of this serious decision. Why wouldn't you want to ask them their opinion on the matter? This was a democracy the last time I looked. And it should be an easy matter for you to win Mr. Wilcoxson. You were quoted in a recent article as saying that the ones in opposition to the Winona Lake Restoration project you could easily count on two hands. See if the people really want you to bring another liquor license into Winona.
I will live with the results of such a poll in Winona Lake: to have additional liquor license(s), yes or no. Can you live with those results? If you at least ask the people, either way the results come out, you and Mr. Miller will come out on top, as statesmen who want to do what is right by the people. And if 50 percent- plus of the residents want additional liquor sold in Winona Lake, I will no longer fight the issue (even though I have a personal opposition to alcohol, and believe little good can come out of selling it at Winona Lake).
Rev. David J. Bauer Winona Lake
He's Sorry
Editor, Times-Union: I'm sorry myself and an older boy of 16 years old, staying at the Frontier, broke through the house alarm system three times to go for a joyride with their big Dodge van that they used for transportation.
I'm sorry we wrecked the van and I'm sorry I lied and told the first police at the accident I was driving so my older friend might not get in trouble.
I'm sorry I believed the older boy that if I lied about it he wouldn't get into much trouble. I'm sorry my mom has $1,000 hospital bill for the no insured van.
I'm sorry I got mad at school all the time when other kids called me names. I'm sorry I got mad when Lincoln Elementary School punished me and put me in the small, walls-carpeted room.
I'm sorry for being mean at the Boys Club. I'm sorry for being involved with Champs thief. I played the lookout because I didn't want to go in the building. I'm sorry the law accused me of Champs thief that I was not involved in.
I'm sorry the government has paid for my last year of lockup, and I'm sorry for all the people and me that have put my mom through heartache.
All I ever wanted was to go to school and be like other kids and be home and not be called names and judged by some teachers and laws. But I'm not sorry I'm black, and I'm not sorry I'm white. I'm not a clone of this world, I'm a gift of God. So it's O.K.
I want people to know I'm a new kid with new ways. If only now I need a chance. I have told my mom to help me write this. Please print in paper, whether they take me away or not.
