Editor, Times-Union: Cameras at traffic lights? Big Brother is back on the job. They obviously think we are incapable of taking care of ourselves. I have an old trick that has worked for me for years. I call it the "Look both ways before entering an intersection." It even works at intersections without lights. Call or write your state representatives right now and put a stop to this nonsense.
Charles Carnes Warsaw
Government Excellence
Editor, Times-Union: I wish to thank the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce Government Issues Committee and Biomet Inc. for honoring me with the 2002 Government Excellence Award.
I have had the good fortune to serve with many dedicated elected officials, as well as all of the city employees who, through their service, demonstrate the pride they take in serving our community. These individuals have provided an important added dimension to the leadership of this community. It is both a privilege and a joy to serve a community like Warsaw, my hometown and now home to many new residents who have discovered what wonderful opportunities Warsaw has to offer as a place to live and raise a family.
It is a true honor to serve this community.
With respect and appreciation,
Ernie Wiggins, Mayor City of Warsaw
Give A Kid A Chance
Editor, Times-Union: Monday night we attended an elementary basketball tournament. Our sons are team members. We are not writing this to slam the boys that did play. They did a great job and should hold their heads up.
It is our philosophy that a student who has been to all practices and games and has given his 100 percent at each of these and kept up his academics is entitled to play during these tournaments. We sat and watched our coach play the same 7-8 individuals the whole game, where the rest of the hardworking sixth-grade boys sat on the bench. This was their last time to play as an elementary team. No matter what the skills of those team members are, every one of them should have been given the opportunity to be on that gym floor other than being introduced at the beginning of the evening.
I know there are a lot of things in life that don't seem to be fair, but we try to instill in our children that if you give it your all and do your best, you will succeed.
These team members did that and they were ignored and not given the opportunity to shine. Coach - you extinguished our sons' fire and now it is up to us as parents to rekindle that spark of ambition so they don't feel like failures.
Carl and Laura Sowers Jeff and Lori Head Warsaw
Pen Pals
Editor, Times-Union: For the last few months, our seventh-grade class from Wawasee Middle School has been writing to a second-grade class at Eisenhower Elementary School. We got a chance to meet them.
When we got our pen pals from second grade, we thought that we would be their mentors and that this would be nothing to us really. When we got a chance to write them and really got to know them, it really took us by surprise. We found out how cool it was to be with them and not only could we teach something, but they could teach us as well. It is so amazing to just take a look at the younger group of children and see their outlook on life. How careless and worry-free their lives are.
They were more mature than we ever thought that 7- and 8-year-olds could be. We always thought that younger children were the ones who were the aggravators and the ones who couldn't control themselves. No matter how much we realize it, the younger generations can impact us in various ways. We know that ours did.
Thank you to Mrs. Schumaker's second-grade class for giving us a wonderful time on our field trip and sharing your great personalities with us. The impact you had on us will stay with us for a long time. We can't wait to get your next letters because we would love to keep in touch.
Ali Ross Catherine Giltner Victoria Likens Alisha Henry Jenny Everts Wawasee Middle School via e-mail
Tour
Editor, Times-Union: Have you ever thought about how this very newspaper in your hands was made? Well, our seventh-grade language class from Wawasee Middle School went to the Times-Union on a field trip with our second-grade pen pals. We learned a lot about the papers and how the staff gets all their information and pictures for the paper. We thought it was really neat how they have a huge satellite connected to all the staffs' computers that gives them hundreds of pictures and stories by the hour.
To make the paper, they first burn huge plates just like photo negatives, but a lot bigger. Then they take the plates to the press and put them where the paper runs through and make impressions with the ink. The paper comes in 900-pound rolls, then the mechanics hook three to the start of the press then goes through the four major colors; black, yellow, red and blue to make any color you can imagine. The last step is for the paper to be cut and folded, after that the paper comes out in how you buy it and the workers stack them up and put them on a cart to be sent out to people like you.
Our class now knows a lot more about the paper. We also really want to thank the Times-Union for letting us come. Another BIG thanks to Mr. Gerard for being a wonderful tour guide and dealing with us. Thank you very much.
Kristin Lemaitre Tyler Wear via e-mail
Playing Time
Editor, Times-Union: After attending the girls game between Tippecanoe Valley and Manchester Saturday night, I think Coach Teel needs to learn some basketball etiquette. I didn't think it was necessary to keep his starters in when ahead by 30 points at halftime. How would he feel if one of them would have gotten injured? There are other players on the bench who put in as much practice time as the starters and they might like a little extra playing time too. Just remember, what goes around comes around, and someday you'll get yours.
Jeni Adams Akron via e-mail
McDonald's Patience
Editor, Times-Union: We are three students from Wawasee Middle School. We want to thank McDonald's for letting our seventh-grade Adv. Language class and our second-grade pen pals eat at their restaurant. The reason we wanted to thank them is because it must take a lot of patience to deal with 40 kids trying to make up their minds on what they want. We also want to think them for good service and food. Their service was very quick and the employees were very polite. We would also thank the customers that had to wait in line behind us. In some restaurants, customers get angry when schools come in and there are very long lines. The customers that were in line waited patiently and didn't say anything mean. We also want to thank McDonald's for putting up with us for so long because we were in there for at least an hour. Thanks again for letting us eat at McDonald's.
Anthony Willard Madison Miller Brittany Bushong via e-mail
Recycling
Editor, Times-Union: Could someone please explain how recycling works with curbside recycling? I have recycled for years in the bins where items are separated. However, I have observed in Winona Lake, where they have curbside recycling, that the green recycle bins are just dumped into one hopper, no separation. I have heard that it just goes to the dump. If that is the case, why recycle?
In Jan. 24 Times-Union, I read where the city is considering purchasing either a "no sort" bin or a "two sort" bin for paper in one and everything else in the other. Does this go somewhere else and is then sorted or what?
I am very concerned about our environment and the way our landfills are filling up rapidly. I try to do my part by recycling everything I can. It is very disheartening to think it is all for nothing. I would appreciate some clarification on this subject.
Sharon A. Dustin Warsaw
Field Trip
Editor, Times-Union: On Jan. 29, 2003, the seventh grade Wawasee Middle School went to McDonald's and Times-Union for a field trip. We went with our pen pals that we have been writing back and forth with. Some people we would like to thank are Mrs. Schumaker and Mrs. Ayres for planning this field trip, the volunteers for taking time to help and the pen pals for making things easier on us by being on their best behavior. We would also like to thank our class for also being on their best behavior, the bus driver, Christie Davenport, for chauffeuring us around all day, and both principals for letting us go. It was very fun, exciting and interesting for us.
Elizabeth Combs Nicki Whitehead via e-mail
Election Basics
Editor, Times-Union: As the 2004 elections rapidly approach, Americans need to be reminded of some basic facts about elections and politics.
Elections are not opinion polls about who looks good on TV, who makes the best speeches or even who writes the best policies. No elections are about people choosing who will have the power of a government office to use in forcing their particular agenda on everyone including opponents, non-voters and even themselves. Even if that particular agenda is immoral and impractical.
That's right, when you go to the polling booth you are selecting imperfect and sometimes way beyond imperfect people to decide how much of your freedoms, property, relationships, pocketbook and even your life, you should control. You also do your part in deciding for other people what they should or should not have and if so how much. So just remember this before you vote next time. Is this the right or wrong thing to do?
Alex Houze Warsaw
Role Models
Editor, Times-Union: Have you ever been with a second-grader before? Just recently, Wawasee Middle School seventh-graders advanced language went on a very inspirational field trip to The Times-Union. We met up with our second-grade pen pals who we have been writing to for the past few months. We think it was educational for the most part, but seeing how small those second-graders were and how young they were, made us and our fellow classmates realize how we were more than just pen pals to them. We were their role models. Whatever we did, they did. How we behaved is how they behaved. We realized that if we wanted them to be quiet, we had to be quiet. Knowing that you are someone's role model is really a very cool feeling. Then again, it can also be kind of scary. Knowing if we didn't set a good example for these kids they weren't going to behave, be quiet or settle down. Being a role model is very important.
Brandon Geiger Andrea Whealy Kayla Schrock Charlie Ballantine Zach Turner via e-mail
Outdoor Scene
Editor, Times-Union: Once again I thank the Times-Union for being a nice local, hometown, informative, sports-orientated newspaper. The Potpourri section this past week was very informative, having more fishing related stories therein than I can remember "The Outdoor Scene" having in the last five years! Koskiusko County leads all counties for fish of the year winners! Great! Suppose we ever read about any of those exciting events in "The Outdoor Scene"? I don't remember so. But of course we all know about the local downtown eating establishments and all the elbows that are rubbed therein.
Getting to the point, "The Outdoor Scene" has been a disappointment about as long as I can remember. Kind of like a restaurant that has the same old same old on its menu all the time, you read it,accept it for what it is, but always kind of yearn for more! Still yearning for more in North Webster.
Don Evilsizor North Webster via e-mail
'Tired Of' Responds
Editor, Times-Union: Hello, Pollyanna. I wish I could live my life oblivious to all the junk that bombards us each day - that is why things are the way they are. We have taken an "I don't want to believe or be involved" attitude about everything. Someone needs to speak out and since obviously I can't keep my mouth shut ...
And if you think I'm "unhappy," I am, about the total lack of care people have for wanting to be involved and changing things. I can't tell you how many people have called or approached me and said, "You hit the nail on the head." There are so many things that could be added to the "tired of" list and Polly, you are one of them.
Also, to the young lady who responded about blaming parents for children's clothing and things they do. Well, I've been a parent for a long time and I am responsible. If I'm not responsible for my children, who is? I'm not saying we can have total control. We can't. But we make a choice to have children and along with that comes a lifetime of responsibility.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Gary Gerard for his "Views" column each week. We are so lucky to have an editor who speaks his mind and holds life precious ... His Feb. 1 view on Roe v. Wade was excellent. I know he gets lambasted for his conservative stance, but thank goodness there are newspaper people who still hold the conservative line. For the lives of the 39 million babies destroyed, we will be held accountable.
I'll be real honest - I once believed in abortion for cases of rape and acts of violence. But then some 23 years ago my sister was raped by a man she knew. She chose the hard way and kept her child. It was not an easy road to follow. But she had the support of a great church and her family. My nephew just graduated this past summer from IU with honors. He has been a blessing to our lives. The whole situation of my sister made me re-evaluate my stance. All life is precious. If you choose not to keep your baby there are thousands of couples who would give a wonderful life for the child. "Choice" should not be a life or death decision. "Choice" should be giving life and giving that life to someone who truly wants a child. There are numerous organizations to help young women in this situation. Here in Warsaw - Right to Life, Heartline. Before you make such a crucial decision seek wise counsel.
Anyway, still planning on the "Things I like" letter someday soon.
Phyllis Barger Warsaw
More On Zolman
Editor, Times-Union: I realize that there are many sport stories to cover each day, but was really disappointed that the Times-Union failed to mention the women's Tennessee/Vanderbilt basketball game played on Feb. 2. Even with the late hour it was played, Shanna Zolman's performance made big headlines in a Fort Wayne paper, yet I could find nothing in the Warsaw paper. Wondering why? This is an area athlete playing in a high-profile NCAA program, and this athlete had an extremely successful career in high school and is becoming a very important member of a tradition-rich basketball program at Tennessee.
Before anyone thinks that I am a disgruntled Wawasee fan, let me state that I am from South Whitley and am not particularly a fan of Tennessee, but am proud of our area athletes being successful wherever they choose to play, and thoroughly enjoyed watching Miss Zolman. Who's to say that Miss Zolman might not reach the same acclaim in the WNBA as a former area athlete Rick Fox has in the NBA.
I realize that you can't print every sports story that is on the wire, but wonder why "special" attention can't be paid to local athletes as they progress in their careers.
Thank you for listening to me.
D. Sarge Bouse South Whitley via e-mail
Pierceton Building
Editor, Times-Union: On Dec. 30th, we asked to rent the Pierceton Community Building for Dec. 31st to hold a noon luncheon after the funeral of our mother, Mabel Smith. We were informed it had already been rented for that day. After checking from noon till 10 p.m. of that day, we found no one using the building! After inquiring at the clerk's office on Thursday, Jan. 2nd, we were told it had not been rented for that day. We were given a few reasons why, but having rented it several times in past years, the reasons did not hold true to form.
We had no problem whatsoever being told it was rented, but to be specifically lied to is another issue and one very hard to accept. A special thanks to Mr. Kreger for looking into this matter and for returning our call, but after much thought and consideration to let this incident drop, we decided to write this letter. We are wondering how many other families in our great community have not been told the truth in the past. Sure something to think about when voting in the next coming election!
