Editor, Times-Union: I would like to say something to J. Miller: if you wonder who the Animal Welfare League is, then why don't you call them or go out and visit the shelter? Then maybe you can understand the problem that is going on inside those four walls. I worked at the shelter for a little under two years, and I have seen hundreds of animals come in and out of that building.
This community does not realize how bad the shelter is in need of care, money and support. If there was a new shelter built then there would be more room for the stray and abused animals that people do not care about. The shelter could have the proper materials to clean, they would have medication and have enough people to clean and love the animals.
In regards to the burning of animals and the lost employees, maybe you should ask the leaders in our conservative community why the shelter had to resort to burning the carcasses, instead of the proper disposal. Maybe instead of pointing fingers at each other and trying to put the blame on someone else, people should get out of their homes and volunteer. Go out to the shelter, clean, play with the animals, walk the dogs, donate food or litter. Do something, do not simply complain about the situation, make a stand and help those in need.
If this community is going to get their panties in a knot every time something happens at the shelter, or whenever someone writes about it, then maybe you all should go see the evidence for yourself. There are only a select few volunteers and workers out there that take on the stress and heartache of that job. If you want something to change, then go out to the shelter, I beg of you. Take a look around. They need assistance, and no one is helping them.
Once there you will see what I and so few others are talking about. You tell them to make do with what they have, but they have very little.
They need more space, new buildings and equipment, and even new volunteers. So, J. Miller and all the other Millers out there, I challenge you to go out to the shelter and talk to the workers. Find out what they need and lend a helping hand. Thank you all for your letters, and I will look forward to the responses.
Kara Choate Leesburg via e-mail
Thanks For Helping
Editor, Times-Union: My name is Josey Bickel. On July 5, I was in a bicycle accident on the corner of Detroit and Fort Wayne streets. I busted my head open on a fire hydrant.
This letter is to tell all the people that came to help me THANK YOU. The nice people that got out of their cars; the MTEMS for getting me to the hospital, where my mom was waiting for me; and Officer Richardson for going to get my mom. I had eight stitches and they are out now and I'm doing great.
Editor, Times-Union: In response to John Kozon's letter: You should get your facts straight before sending letters to the editor. There are port-a-potties at all public access sites. Look out your window and you will see the one at Dewart Lake sitting behind the public access sign. How do you put your boat in the water? Do you have a private ramp? I would be willing to bet you use that access site right beside you. You know, the one that was just paved. Give the DNR guys a break. You do not own the lake. They are public. If it were up to people like you to run the lakes, they would be putrid cesspools by now.
David B. Willard Warsaw via e-mail
More AWL
Editor, Times-Union: "J", Karen is one of the most dedicated volunteers that the AWL has been fortunate to have for the past four years. If you were to have dropped by the AWL booth at the Kosciusko County Fair, you would have seen Karen selling raffle tickets for items given to the shelter at a significant discount by area businesses so that the AWL can raise money for a variety of programs. The Hope Fund, the Spay-Neuter Fund and the Building Fund are some programs where the AWL is trying to improve the lives of pets in our county. The Hope Fund is used to provide emergency veterinary care for sick or injured pets. The Spay-Neuter Fund is used to spay-neuter pets in an attempt to control the number of pets that would otherwise end up in the shelter. The Building Fund will be used to acquire land and buildings for a modern facility.
Second, you asked about the make-up of the AWL. The AWL is not just an organization. The AWL is not just a board of directors. The AWL is not just a membership of people from all walks of life who share a common belief that animals deserve to be treated humanely. No, the AWL is not any one of the above, but a blend of all of the above.
Another issue concerned humane euthanasia. The AWL employees who perform the euthanasia are trained by professionals. Much of the training is directed toward the people who actually perform the euthanasia in order to help them deal with the emotional stress brought on by having to end the lives of the same cats and dogs for which they have been feeding, caring and loving.
The AWL is a not-for-profit organization governed by a board of directors. The board positions pay well - but not in the usual sense, because board members receive no money for themselves. They just feel really good about the service they are providing for the community and for the animals.
"J", our next membership meeting will be Thursday July 26th at the Warsaw Community Public Library. Please join us as we discuss various items on the agenda. You strike me as someone who potentially who could become another great volunteer and work side-by-side with Karen and the rest of us. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. sharp. Hope to see you there.
Frank Scalet, AWL board member
Warsaw via e-mail
Damaged Motorcycle
Editor, Times-Union: To Mr. Brennan: It is very unfortunate that your motorcycle was damaged. You have a right to be angry. What I find hard to believe is that you're not even sure where you were hit at. The damage must have not been that noticeable if you got all they way to your next destination without noticing it. It is very sad that in this day and age people are not truthful when they damage others' property. But what worries me more is your reaction. Your editorial to the paper is no better than what was done to you. This is the problem in our country today, anger, hate and revenge. Be the bigger person and don't stoop to their level.
Stacy Leeper Warsaw via e-mail
No Complaints
Editor, Times-Union: The County Fair board has managed the County Fair into a sucessful event. The Chicago Cubs are on their way to a pennant. The gasoline prices are on their way down. I find myself with almost nothing to complain about. Am I still alive?
Bob Plummer Warsaw via e-mail
Stem Cell Research
Editor, Times Union: Some researchers and the media are leading the public to believe that embryonic stem cell research is full of potential and does not take the life of a human being. Some Republican senators (including Senator Lugar) and congressmen are also beginning to support embryonic stem cell research. Our Representatives are either choosing to ignore the facts or are acting out of ignorance.
There are several issues involved. The first is that the taking of stem cells from an embryo does kill a human life. After the sperm fertilizes the egg, a new, unique, individual single-cell human being is in existence. The single cell rapidly divides to the 8, 16, 32 cell stage and so on, as the process of human development continues toward birth. When the stem cells are removed from the developing embryo, he or she dies. All of us have gone through the process of human development, including the embryonic stage. Every one of the embryos in question is a tiny person.
The second issue is that many "experts" claim that embryonic stem cells will be the answer to many diseases. In fact, proponents of this type of research have created an impression that these cells have a proven therapeutic use. Ted Koppel, on Nightline on June 20, claimed that, while adult stem cells have some uses, embryonic stem cells are "the most successful to date." In fact, embryonic stem cells have never helped a human patient.
But, adult stem cells have shown proven benefits, and new uses are constantly being found. Current clinical use of adult stem cells to help human patients include: anemia, Epstein-Barr virus infection, blood and liver diseases, stroke, and cancer, just to name a few. Embryonic stem cell research has no comparable record of success, even in animal studies. For more information about adult stem cell research go to http://stemcellresearch.org/ and click on "current applications of adult stem cells."
If adult stem cells are more beneficial, then why all the pressure to have the government fund embryonic stem cell research? Because a number of scientists want to eventually begin cloning human beings. And what better way to do the research than with federal money. There are biotech companies that want to use human cloning to mass-produce human embryos so that they can be used - and killed - in medical research. A bill that may be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives as early as July 30 is the Weldon-Stupak bill that would prohibit the use of cloning to create human beings, including human embryos. In addition to the human cloning issue, a congressional battle is brewing over the question of whether the federal government should provide funds for stem-cell research in which human embryos are killed.
Please let your representatives know where you stand on this important issue. For more information regarding stem cell research and how to contact our representatives, go to the Kosciusko County Right to Life Web site at www.kcrtl.org
Dave Koontz Executive Director Kosciusko County Right to Life
via e-mail
Paving Problems
Editor, Times-Union: I am contacting you concerning the Kosciusko County Highway Department. The reason being that I am unable to garner a response from them.
Last fall, the department paved the road on which I reside, CR 550S. The job was done in a convenient and timely manner. They did an outstanding job in all areas except one.
Once they finished the job, they neglected to fill in the large rut between the road and my property.
My drive was an informal circle, which I am now unable to use. The condition of the drive I am able to use has caused damage to my car, causing me to be forced to purchase a new exhaust. It has also caused damage to my riding mower. Due to chunks of asphalt in the grass, I already have had to replace my blades this season.
I and several members of my family have made repeated attempts to contact Rob Ladson and his crew in an attempt to rectify this situation, which I was assured at the time of the original repaving would be taken care of in a timely manner.
I feel that contacting you is the measure that I must take in order to gain satisfaction to something that is the responsibility of people whose salaries my taxes assist in paying.
When I hear of people complaining of high taxes, I come to the defense of taxes. I say that our public service people have to get paid for the fine job they perform. Now I am not so sure I will be as quick to defend.
Jim R. Smith Warsaw
Tax Refund
Editor, Times-Union: Today, we received our letter from the IRS that we were going to receive our ballyhooed $600. Oops, the amount they reported to us is much less than $600. The publicity put out by our politicians that the amount was to be $600 was only a partial truth, which makes it truly a lie. But then, we had a president for eight years which was good at lying and he got away with it, so obviously all the politicians and much of the general public approve of not being fully truthful.
Fred R. Yohey Atwood
Jeffords Saga Continues
Editor, Times-Union: In regards to Alberta Wamsley's reply to my letter: As a lifelong resident of Kosciusko County and just recently moving to New Orleans for a job, I feel I have a pretty good feel of the county's politics. First off, on the only point Ms. Wamsley and I agree: the Times-Union does have a far-reaching influence. It began my career in journalism eight years ago, which now has me at one of the largest newspapers in the country.
On Ms. Wamsley's first point: "In past elections that same commonality of the voters has sent clear majorities of one party or the other to Congress. That would seem to indicate people do think in a like manner on some issues," I must disagree. If she truly means what she writes, the fact here would be that the people of America wanted more Democrats than Republicans. Before the election, Republicans controlled the Senate with 53 members; after the 2000 vote, it was 50-50. In addition, Democrats received more popular votes in the Senate races than Republicans did, as well as more popular votes in the presidential race.
On a subpoint made by Wamsley: "To assume that an equal division of the Senate 'just happened' would ignore the fact that it was the commonality of the vote that resulted in an equal division," again it's asinine to think that when voters went to the election they were voting for an equal senate. One can pray and wish for whatever they want, but to believe in the destiny of 100 million voters as a "sign" is ludicrous.
Wamsley falls into the same trap she accuses me of in generalizing or misunderstanding my views when she says, "Mr. Perry injected much of his political bias into his reply that it would seem he sees me as the enemy because of preconceived ideas of my political views." Speaking one's views publicly means that one must accept that someone might respond with other views, Ms. Wamsley. I see no one as the enemy, I just disagree. I see this dialogue between us, however misguided I think yours to be, to be a positive.
Wamsley adds, "I see a Senator who had established a public image of himself to the voters and his backers as a member of his political party for 26 years, and in a short six months after re-election, switched parties."
I see a senator who watched his party swing to the far right, and he had to respond as best he could. The Republican Party he knew and embraced in his early days is not the Republican Party of today, Jeffords has said. He voted on party lines around 60 percent of the time, thus his "maverick" label by Newsweek. And from a state that prides itself on its independence ("Freedom and Unity"), Jeffords carries that torch well.
It's my opinion that Wamsley doesn't have nearly as much of a problem with Jeffords' decision to switch as she does with the effect it had - tipping the balance of power to the party that had the most popular support in both the senatorial and presidential elections, but governed neither.
Matt Perry New Orleans, La. (and formerly of Warsaw) via e-mail
Editor's note: This letter was edited to make it more closely conform to the Times-Union's 500-word policy.
