Editor, Times-Union I would like to respond to Mike Lewis' suggestion about our contract with the Solid Waste District of Kosciusko County that was published in the Times-Union, Wednesday, April 10.
$150,000 per year sounds like a lot of money but let me break it down a little: $7,800 per year is returned back to the district for the building we lease per year; in 2001 we hauled away 3,239,470 pounds of recycled material to Elkhart to be processed so it can be reused again.
Sure it's cheaper to landfill the material but that's not what solid waste districts are for, remember, we only have one landfill.
Our great employees, who service the drop-off sites, physically load up, by hand, over an average of 45 tons of newspaper per month, sweep all sites when finished loading, pick up trash all year long left by people who think sites are a Transfer Station for garbage (couches, tires, paints, dead animals, carpet and regular garbage).
We plow snow if drop-off sites need it, maintain all building stations, we have bought and hauled in stone for our leased building grounds, lent a hand to our district, bobcat work, donating a roll-off box on Sunday to haul off a wind-destroyed station at Big Lots and pay $200 to have a new one brought down, or hauling donated shelves to put material on at the district office or any other way they need help.
We are not the bad guys here. When we first bid on recycling for our county over four years ago, our bid was over $2,000 per month cheaper than the nearest competitor and the next bidder was over $4,000 per month higher. Two years ago no one else bid. (Maybe they know more than we do.) I will never forget our first day four years ago. We worked 14 hours in the rain on seven sites just to catch up. I thought to myself, "What did we get into?"
So, in closing, we would like to think we have saved our county lots of money over the years and have not been a burden to them.
We love our country and are proud to be born and raised here.
Oh, by the way, starting Jan. 1, 2002, we now haul aluminum and steel cans to Myer Levin & Sons Metals.
Jim H. Stafford Warsaw
Endicott Murder
Editor, Times-Union: This is in response to the letter written on April 4 regarding Heather Endicott. Heather was my daughter and when I found out Heather was missing 3-1/2 months ago, I was so worried we went up right away, me and Heather's sister, and I filed a missing persons report. Then after we filed, my wife (Heather's stepmother) and I started working with detectives on the case. We made fliers and posted them all over. We went looking for her everywhere, six different towns and every bar in those towns, putting out posters there and at every gas station we could. Her stepmother called the missing kids' association and had them looking for her nationwide. As far as we are concerned, the detectives did all they could during this time, followed every lead they had. They let us know where they were at on the case every week, and this was comforting just knowing they were still on it. They are still doing all they can to find whoever did this to Heather.
My point is, it is not the police we blame for not finding Heather sooner, it's the people who knew Heather who claim to be her friends, but were they out trying to find her during these times? NO! All they can do is complain about how long it took the police to find her. Maybe it wouldn't have taken so long if her so-called friends and others would have helped us to look for her. People who saw Heather that night, did they go to the police and tell them what they knew? There are still people out there who know something. Please let the police know so we can get whoever this is off the streets before this happens to anyone else's daughter. So please, if anyone knows anything, let the detectives know. And before blaiming the police, think about what you did yourself to help find Heather!
Billy Stambaugh Bourbon via e-mail
Zoning
Editor, Times-Union: I am writing in response to some recent letters to the editor and some news reports from the Area Planning Commission meetings. I don't think some of their views represent the feelings of the majority of the agricultural land owners in Kosciusko County.
Today I see farmers willing to put their whole farm to residential homes on sale that five years ago would not even consider it. That is saying something and that is their right.
I see farmers sell farm ground around Warsaw to commercial businesses and orthopedic companies. They could keep it to farm and sell corn for $2 a bushel and beans for $4 a bushel. Again that is their right. It is just good business to reap the best return on your investment.
Let's look at a scenario of an elderly couple reaching the golden years. They have lived all their years on an 80-acre farm and now it is time for long-term health care. The first thing they are told is that it will cost $50,000 a year for their care per person. Do you think that they are going to sell their farm to the good farmer down the road or to an investor for future residential housing for more money? You know the answer and so do I.
It would be interesting to see if every person on the Area Planning Commission owned farm land. What would their decision be on sale day?
I don't think the agricultural zoning ordinances are broken, they just need some fine tuning, but a minimum of an 80-acre sell-off is not fine tuning.
It is good to see at least one county commissioner that is approaching this topic with an open mind. It is a land owner's right to sell to the highest bidder. I have never seen a public auction of farm ground where farmers were banned from bidding. If the farm next to you comes up for sale and you don't want housing next to you, then buy it.
I am not opposed to zoning and I have supported agriculture in Kosciusko County for many years, but the bottom line is: It's everyone's right to sell their own property to the highest bidder.
James A. Craig Pierceton
Prosecutor
Editor, Times-Union: I read where the charge of murder was dismissed against Jason Fisher. I couldn't believe that our prosecutor who initially had enough probable cause to arrest Fisher on a charge of murder then let him walk free. Jason gave a statement that his father Ralph Fisher shot and killed Kathy Vroman, by doing this Jason knew that they would go free. This should have never been considered. Mr. Wagner should have seen this coming.
I served Kosciusko for over 23 years as a law enforcement officer. Never have I seen such poor judgment coming from our prosecutor. There are good people that do work in the Prosecutor's Office but the buck stops at the top!
I worked with Mr. Steven Hearn for six years as our prosecutor. In that period of time I have been in several trials, having never lost a trial with Mr Hearn. Good record. I hear people complain about the judicial system, "criminals go free," "victims don't get their just due in cour.t"
I strongly urge this county to make a change so our community can and will become a safer one for us and our loved ones. We in the public and the law enforcement community need Steven Hearn as our prosecutor.
Remember Kathy Vroman. Sgt. Gerry Moser Kosciusko County Sheriff Department (Retired)
North Webster
Supports Jarrette
Editor, Times-Union: Working in victim assistance has given me the opportunity to get an up-close view of the criminal justice system. I have seen justice prevail and fail and have watched those responsible in action. In response to what I have seen, I am strongly supporting Judge Jarrette in the upcoming election. Not only is he a man of great integrity, but he also has a true desire for justice and a compassion for those victimized by violence. He has sought education in such areas as domestic violence, helping him handle these cases with greater knowledge and empathy. I admire his willingness to seek this education and his desire to do the right thing. I also admire his professionalism and honesty. With the failures I have seen in the system, I am comforted to know that Judge Jarrette is doing his part to ensure that justice is served and that perpetrators of violent crime are held accountable for their actions.
