Editor, Times-Union: In the response to the letters written by Mrs. Ewell and Mr. Orlando, I want to make a point that there are always two sides to every story.
In reading the first letter by Mrs. Ewell, I find that her accusations are somewhat incorrect. I am the father of the 11-year-old boy and I have my side of the story to tell to the readers. The day in question did not happen as she stated. My son has been hunting with me for a year and he has successfully completed his hunter's education classes. We have been hunting the same property for 13 years. I feel the need to tell the readers the other side of the story. This might explain why the prosecutor has not taken action upon this matter.
I also feel the need to defend my son. The letter from Mr. Orlando made my son look like a monster. The first letter stated that the dog was shot on her property, the truth is that the dog was shot, but not on her property, her property borders the place where we hunt. The day this happened I dropped him off down the lane to the property where we have hunted for 13 years, the day was as always. The dog was running loose on the property where we hunt. In the evening when we were getting ready to get down from the stands, I heard a blood-curdling scream from my son's direction, then I heard a shot fired. I rushed to get to the area from where I heard the commotion. When I arrived, I found my son hysterical, crying and screaming that he had been attacked by the Ewells' dog. His face was dirty from being knocked in the dirt and his coveralls were torn from the attack. He stated to me that he shot the dog when the dog was on top of him, biting and dragging him. I immediately looked for the dog and saw him bleeding on the Ewells' porch. The Ewells were not at home at this time. I immediately reported the incident to the land owner that we hunt on and then to the Pierceton Police Department. They then directed me to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.
The facts have been reported and investigated by the prosecutor's office. The ineptitude does not lie within the prosecutor's office but with the facts that Mrs. Ewell has given the readers. I ask one question - Is the life of a dog more important than the life of an 11-year-old boy? I am sure that had my son been injured and the dog not shot the story would be different. My son is not a murderer. Murderers leave the dead to die. We reported it to all the necessary personnel and tried to get the dog medical attention right away. I am sorry for the injury to the animal and my son feels terrible for shooting it. But in his defense, I think he did the right thing. Is it not the law that all dogs be under control at all times? I feel that Mrs. Ewell has a responsibility to keep her animal under control. Thank you.
Terry Elliott Etna Green via e-mail
Jail Museum Honorees
Editor, Times-Union: I'm not sure who arranged the dedication of the Historic Marker for the Old Jail Museum or who issued the invitations for those who were honored at that ceremony. In the Times-Union dated Monday, May 5, there were pictures and captions about the dedication. The honorees are in one picture, the guests/observers are in another picture. Judy (Andrews) Truex and her brother, David Andrews are with the "observers," not with the "honorees." These two young people spent eight years with their parents, Dave and Billi Andrews, in the living quarters of the jail. At that time the wife and family were required to live there. I think I would be correct in saying they were the last family required to live there. Billi Andrews, who now lives in Florida, was unable to attend the ceremony, but why were her children not recognized along with the other honorees?
While the Andrews lived at the jail, I was a visitor quite a number of times as a good friend of Billi Andrews and her family. They endured a great deal because their entire lives were lived in public view. In addition to that, there was always possible danger to the children.
Perhaps I am very sensitive to this because they were good friends and they endured so much during that time. I saw them live through many trying times because they were required to live in the jail facility and feel that someone should send an apology to Billi Andrews and to her two children (Judy and David) for not recognizing them along with the other honorees.
Vera Clark Warsaw via e-mail
Wawasee FFA
Editor, Times-Union: On April 24 I attended the 2003 Wawasee awards banquet. I know this letter is a little late, but I have been out of town for three weeks, but I just had to write to let you know what a wonderful program you had. I attended with my daughter and grandson, Scott Gerke, who is a member of FFA.
I was really impressed with this group of young people, from the way they dressed to the way they conducted themselves and the awards they received. It is so nice in this world today to see such a large group of young people who are an inspiration to other young people.
I would also like to acknowledge Mr. Warren for teaching these young people how to act and for all they know.
Eileen Ames Pierceton
Impeach George W. Bush
Editor, Times-Union: Yesterday (5-19-03) an opinion was printed by Ellen Goodman regarding the Iraq war. It recalled how a congressional aide didn't think the fact that WMD weren't discovered would sway public opinion much. After all "everyone loves to be on the winning side." According to the article, Americans know no WMD was found, and two-thirds of those believe the White House overestimated the WMD threat deliberately. January's State of the Union address talked about tons and vast supplies of toxins, etc., and that was what the war was about. No smoking gun or solid evidence was found. "W" also connected this war with 9-11-01, but no verified link has been made with the hijackers and Iraqis.
All this has built a foundation for my personal beliefs. I do not know why "W" pursued as he did. Was it for his father? Was it to boost the economy (it did well with the prior president)? Was it to improve his chances of re-election? I do not know. What I do know is that several weeks ago Tom Brokaw reported on national television. One of his statements is set steadfast in my mind. He said that although we found no WMD, that the fact Iraq had the capability of producing WMD was enough to warrant the war. I just keep wondering who we will go to war with next. Canada, England, Ireland, China, Denmark, Australia ... ? If we can impeach a president for his morals only, not that he did anything against our country, why can't we impeach a president for putting our people and country in harm's way?
