Editor, Times-Union: The efforts of Judge Huffer in revitalizing the juvenile detention study committee should be applauded.
We must encourage this committee to pursue its quest for a workable solution to our juvenile detention problems. It appears they are on the right track by spreading the costs and the risks associated in such an endeavor out to several counties, and at the same time, maintain some local control by virtue of its location.
According to a November 1997 study by the U.S. Department of Justice, juvenile arrests for violent crimes nationwide are down. This trend is predicted to continue, despite the increase in our juvenile population.
Bearing this in mind, it would make sense to commit only those resources needed to provide for this county's juvenile needs for the next several years. This would be a financially cautious move due to the uncertainty of the juvenile crime trend.
I have been to many different states performing extradition duties and have witnessed numerous adult and juvenile detention facilities. In the areas where the private sector provided those facilities they were top-rate.
Judging by the amount of time it has taken to study the need for a juvenile center, it should be very clear that this is an issue with no easy answer, especially since the commissioners have been looking into other building expansion projects. Would it not be prudent to pursue the idea of a joint multi-county venture, thereby spreading out the costs to a wider tax base, while utilizing the time-tested experience of the private sector, who have proven results that can be examined?
Maybe then, when you have a facility staffed with experts dedicated to juvenile detention, can you start other programs such as a juvenile boot camp. All of this without overtaxing the resources of a sheriff's department whose primary duties are to serve the citizens and courts of Kosciusko County.
Keep up the good work in reporting the facts on a very important issue to the taxpayers of this great county!
Lt. Steve Knispel Republican Candidate for Sheriff
Warsaw
Government Waste
Editor, Times-Union: We have just learned that the National Park Service built a non-flushing toilet facility at a price of $300,000 with other costs involved of approximately $180,000. This is absolutely not acceptable! The persons involved in this need to be fired. With this price one wonders if there is some pocket filling involved.
Most persons living in the United States reside in homes that do not come close to costing $300,000. And to have the government employees spend this kind of money on a facility that very few of us will ever use is a disgrace. With this kind of stupidity from our bureaucrats we will never get out of debt.
It is obvious that Congress is no longer in control and that we are at the mercy of the bureaucrats, who are obviously not concerned about the financial welfare of our country, either now or in the future. Congress needs to shrink the bureaus to a level where they can control them.
Fred R. Yohey Atwood
Restaurants
Editor, Times-Union: For those Times-Union readers and Blue Lion Coffeehouse customers who may have been confused by a letter written to the editor that appeared in the Jan. 27 paper, the letter was written by another member of our community with whom I have a name in common - we share both first names and surnames. As the co-owner of the Blue Lion Coffeehouse, an establishment that does not serve alcohol, I do happen to agree with the other JoAnn Kolbe's opinion; that is, that a restaurant can be very successful while also providing a smoke-free environment and without serving alcohol.
