Editor, Times-Union: If someone was disturbed by reading the details of the "minister" who molested a young boy, imagine how the victim felt having those things done to him.
Thanks to news coverage, more potential victims have come forward. People may know what molestation is but sometimes it's important for people to know details. I commend the Times-Union for having the article on the front page. I believe that it's important for people to know that some people who call themselves a "pastor" are sometimes wolves in sheeps' clothing.
The only complaint that I have with the Times-Union is I wish they would print an update article since there have been some developments to this case and a couple of things were omitted from the article. One development is that Mark is out on bail. It is really sad that these days children and parents cannot trust their pastors. I hope that parents are being more careful about who they trust their children with. Sadly very few people can be trusted.
Debbie Robertson Warsaw, via e-mail
NASA Spending
Editor, Times-Union: I hear by the news that NASA wants to spend billions of our tax dollars to make a spacecraft so that they can send four people to the moon, and then on to Mars. Baloney! We have real needs right here on earth in the good old USA. Federal dollars need to be spent on our needs and not on something that four people can beat on their chest and say, "Look at us, we've been to the moon."
A major thing needed is to get our automobiles and trucks to run on something besides a product derived from oil. If the Middle East would cut us off from oil, we would be dead. I am sure the terrorists know this. We need to get away from this. Spend federal money on this rather than on something to go to the moon.
Fred R. Yohey Warsaw
Seniors Need Rides
Editor, Times-Union: Because of the high price of gas, our entire nation has felt its impact. None have felt it more than our senior citizens.
Many senior citizens come to the nutrition sites in our country, where they get a hot meal. But more than that, they get out of their homes for a few hours and have a social life with people their own age. They also benefit from our many programs. We have many exercise classes, diet programs and blood pressure screenings.
Kosciusko Community Senior Services van transportation will no longer pick up senior citizens as of Sept. 1. Many seniors have severe health conditions, such as Macular Degeneration, which make them dependent on others for their transportation.
We hope that our state government will find the needed funds to get our transportation running once again.
Marcinda Trammel Syracuse
Red Light Cameras
Editor, Times-Union: Mr. Winsley, I visited Phoenix in September 2003 as the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running spokesperson. I was graciously received by a city statistics showed as No. 1 in red light running fatalities.
A new camera program had been implemented there; red light running crashes had decreased significantly. Other Arizona cities - Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa and Chandler recorded similar results. Media events this month again highlighted the effectiveness of photo enforcement - events led by your Mayor Phil Gordon who credited the Phoenix photo enforcement program with reducing red light running across the city.
INDOT has engineered U.S. 30 intersections so that drivers can pass safely - if they so choose. Police officers can not control the number of violations there, and the cost would be astronomical to put an officer at each light 24 hours per day. Police Chief Foster and Lt. Shuter have observed the Toledo photo enforcement program, believe in its effectiveness and petition for its use in Warsaw - not as Big Brother (these cameras are triggered to take pictures only while the light is red - of vehicles breaking the law), but as a tool - their eyes - as officers in 130 other U.S. cities are doing. Talk to them.
Ann Sweet, Survivor Spokesperson
National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running
Warsaw, via e-mail
Life Chain
Editor, Times-Union: As a teenager involved with Teens for Life and Kosciusko County Right to Life, I would like to make both teens and adults aware of the upcoming "life chain," which will take place Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. along Center Street. The life chain allows us to promote alternatives to abortion using hand-held signs. I would like to encourage as many people as possible to participate in this silent, yet powerful support of life. Signs may be picked up at First Brethren Church upon arrival. Thank you!
