Editor, Times-Union: I'm writing this letter to inform all parents that have children in Burket Elementary and also the people in the Burket community that there is a strong possibility the elementary school will be closed starting with the fall 2003 school year. Unfortunately, Burket Elementary is being considered to house the Alternative Education Program for Tippecanoe Valley.
I think Alternative Education is a good program, but what this means to us is that our children will be put in the Mentone Elementary School. This means our kids will not only have to be uprooted this fall, but the fifth-graders will be uprooted again the following year going into the middle school. There are other options for housing the Alternative Education Program.
There is going to be a community meeting before the next school board meeting (March 10 at 7 p.m. at Mentone Elementary) to discuss what Alternative Education is about and the other housing options. This decision is going to be made very soon. The parents and the community must pull together and voice their opinions if we want Burket Elementary School to stay open. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions, at 491-3081.
Terry Rockhill Claypool
Relay For Life
Editor, Times-Union: The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life for Kosciusko County will be holding a Committee Organizational meeting on at 6 p.m., Monday, March 3 at the Warsaw Community Public Library with a team leader meeting directly following at approximately 7 p.m. Please come if you would like to lead a team, become a team member or just to see how exciting the relay will be on May 2 - 3 from 6 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday at the Center Lake Park.
At this time, orders are also being accepted for luminaria bags. This is a great way to support a cancer survivor or remember a lost loved one. The cost is $5 per luminaria or $25 for six. If you have any questions regarding luminaria, please contact Rita Rider c/o Dekko HeatingTechnologies, 8645 E. Backwater Road, North Webster, IN 46555.
For further information, contact ACS at 866-522-2111 or the publicity chairwoman, Deb Johnson, at 574-566-3500.
Bradly A. Johnson President/Controls Engineer, BDI Engineering Inc.
Claypool, via e-mail
Wrong Argument
Editor, Times-Union: While I disagree with many of Airman Evan Fish's ("Price Of Freedom" Feb. 13) assertions regarding the Pentagon budget, the assertion I wish to address in this space is his assumption and assertion that Jeffrey Garrett ("Military Spending" Jan. 31), of North Manchester, too easily criticizes his government without giving of himself to his community. This assumption bothers me for two reasons.
First, most of his argument is of an Ad hominem nature. Meaning, he tries to strengthen his argument by attacking the presenter of the argument (Garrett) rather than the actual argument (Pentagon budget). Fish stated in his letter, "I noticed how you were quick to point out what the government wasn't doing for you, but you neglected to point out what you were doing for yourself and your community." The question of whether or not the Pentagon's budget is appropriate has nothing to do with what Garrett is doing for himself or his community.
The second reason the assumption bothers me is that it is grossly inaccurate. In the years that I have known Jeffrey Garrett, I have not known him for anything other than a dedicated community servant. He has spent the last several years serving in his church, helping small businesses prosper and helping not-for-profit agencies throughout northern Indiana secure grants and funding to provide a variety of services to his local and Hoosier community.
Attacking the character of Jeffrey Garrett does not help make Fish's argument, nor does it accurately portray a man who is deeply devoted to his community.
