Editor, Times-Union: I have worked for three different sheriffs in my career with the department and those three have all come from within the ranks of the department. While I will not dispute the fact officers whom serve or have served with other law enforcement agencies are well-trained members of the law enforcement community, this does not mean they are qualified to be sheriff.
While all candidates for sheriff are well-respected law enforcement officers, only one has the qualifications to be our next sheriff. That person is Sam Whitaker, a man of experience, proven leadership skills and a well-rounded law enforcement career within the sheriff's department. I feel strongly that Sam has more than proven himself over his 26 years of service to the citizens of this community. The sheriff's department has many of the same responsibilities as other law enforcement agencies but is also given additional duties as prescribed by law, responsibilities that Sam is well aware of and has been involved with in his career.
Sam has been involved in the war on drugs since he started the drug task force, of which I was a part of in the beginning and am still involved with today. As head of the task force, I feel, like Sam, that drugs are a top priority in law enforcement. Sam, as sheriff, and I will continue to work together to bring drug dealers to justice and keep drugs out of the hands of our youth.
Sam Whitaker is a dedicated police officer, a leader among his peers, a man with a plan to continue to provide the best police protection to you, your family and friends. May 2 is a very important day as is it the day that we get the opportunity to cast our vote for the next sheriff of Kosciusko County. I urge you to vote for Sam Whitaker.
Joe R. Mooney Etna Green
Supports Goshert
Editor, Times-Union: As a 51-year resident of Warsaw, I have had the chance to observe and vote in every sheriff's race since the late '60s. In my 33-year postal career I have always tired to serve my friends and customers with honesty, integrity, courtesy and humility, so I feel I know a little bit about being a public servant. I have also been fortunate to get to know in excess of 3,000 people by name, address and physical appearance.
All of the five generations of the Goshert family I have been privileged to know are the caliber of people that have helped make this area the great place it is today. If you want a sheriff with unquestionable character, integrity, honesty and devotion to family, then I urge you to vote for who I know is the best possible candidate, William "Rocky" Goshert.
Also, having known Sam Whitaker since our boys club basketball years in the late '60s, I would ask of him a simple question. Did you really think all of us voters would forget all of the "shenanigans" that went on when your very talented son was cut from the varsity basketball team a few years back? It was a very public story printed in this very newspaper in case anyone would care to look it up and decide for yourself.
Roger L. Gaff Warsaw
Gas Prices
Editor, Times-Union: In 1938, I worked at the Schult Trailer Factory in Elkhart. I had a good-paying job for that time. It took two hours of my pay to buy seven gallons of gas. At that time some were complaining about the high price of gas. Today, how many gallons of gas can you buy for two hours pay?
Wallace W. Huffman Warsaw
Freedom Of Religion
Editor, Times-Union: This is the fourth part of my letter dealing with the subject of freedom of religion. The previous three parts were printed in the Times-Union Sept. 8, Oct. 14 and Jan 3. Three more books/sources of information can be added to the 27 sources listed in those letters.
28. "Never Before In History: America's Inspired Birth"
29. "The Evolving Constitution: How The Supreme Court has Ruled On Issues From Abortion To Zoning"
30. The April 10 Newsweek Magazine article, "God and the Founders", pages 52-54
Most of the 30 books/sources used for these letters are available at the Warsaw Community Public Library.
Based on these sources of information, I came up with three definitions for the following concepts/principles: Freedom of religion, separation of church and state and merger of church and state.
1. Freedom of religion - The inalienable right of each person whether alone or with others to peacefully, openly and freely practice a religion of one's own choosing or to practice no religion at all and for each person to be free from having persecution, forced conversion and the establishment of a universal state church/state religion or militant state atheism inflicted upon them by any part or whole of any local, state, national, continental or world government.
In order to keep this part of the letter brief, the other two concepts of separation of church and state and merger of church and state will follow shortly in another letter to the editor.
Alexander Houze Leesburg
Goshert For Sheriff
Editor, Times-Union: As a former sheriff of Whitley County and current captain of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Rocky Goshert receives my highest recommendation for sheriff. I've had the pleasure to work with Rocky as a state trooper for 15 years and again with the sheriff's department for the last five years. He is an outstanding police officer. He is a strong leader who is not afraid to take on a challenge. Rocky has demonstrated a pattern of excellence throughout his career that will continue as sheriff.
I have known Rocky now for more than 25 years. He has been a good friend and is a man of integrity. Rocky has strong Christian and family values. He is a good father of twins and is very active in his children's lives. Rocky also displays his leadership capabilities through coaching Upward Basketball, middle school football, softball and high school basketball. He has been a positive role model to many young people.
I have had the unique opportunity to serve as a law enforcement officer in three different arenas. The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department has a long tradition of running efficiently and I have found it to be the best. The citizens of Kosciusko County should be very proud of the sheriff's department. Rocky Goshert will continue this high level of service to the community. I am proud to endorse him for sheriff.
Jim Springer Warsaw
Elect Slone
Editor, Times-Union: I think Dan Slone should be re-elected for trustee. He is a good person and has done a lot for this community. Like starting the workfare program. He has been a great trustee. We haven't had any problems with him. So Dan should be re-elected.
