Protecting children everyone’s job
Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries said in an interview on WOWO radio that crimes like that of Michael Plumadore are progressive. He said that more than likely there was a progression of criminal acts that led to Plumadore’s accused attack on Aliahna Lemmon. There were probably signs which close associates could have recognized.
We should attempt to know our neighbors and associates at work so we can possibly help prevent such crimes. There is a difference between just being a nosy neighbor and being a good neighbor. We need to look at all of our leaders, from coaches and church elders, to all elected officials, from our township trustee to president. They all have friends and associates who have the responsibility to address potential problems they may suspect.
If these crimes truly become progressive, we must join together and take the responsible and proper action to stop these crimes before they produce another Aliahna.
JOSEPH M. HILGER Fort Wayne
County cries same old story
Wow, $4 million: That’s what the County Council “miraculously” found as left over from 2011. I’m shocked, but I really shouldn’t be. I’ve worked for county government for more than 40 years and, with few exceptions, during the yearly budget hearings County Council contends it has no money for things like raises, insurance or the retirement fund. Why, they barely have enough money to keep the county afloat!
Well, they did it again this year when they said the $4 million they found came from the difference between revenue taken in by the county and expenses paid out. Man, I’m so tired of hearing we have no money; that is, until the budget is submitted to the State Board of Accounts. Then, lo and behold, we have money.
See y’all next January.
SCOTT HUFFINE Fort Wayne
New Haven right on smoking
My girlfriend and I operate a bar in New Haven. We are strongly against a smoking ban. It’s all about not wanting to lose any business because of a government-imposed ban.
A very large percentage of our customers smoke. That’s what they want to do, and we don’t want to lose them because in this economy we can’t take any more hits.
New Haven has some wise councilmen who believe businessmen should have the right to make their own choices, especially when that choice could very well put them out of business. They believe there are rights involved here on both sides of the fence. They also believe that as elected officials, they are obligated to find a way not to trample the businesspeople’s rights, but yet protect the non-smokers from being exposed to secondhand smoke. I believe they did that by making the businesses post on their door “smoking establishment” or “non smoking establishment.” That way, the patrons can also make their own choices of whether they want to be exposed to smoke or not.
We know smoking is not good for you. But it’s what our customers want to do, and we need to keep our customers. I wonder, if smoking is as bad as they say, why aren’t legislators passing laws to ban the manufacture of cigarettes?
Fast food is not good for you either. I can’t wait to see the letter Ronald McDonald writes when they try to outlaw Big Macs.
RON DOCTOR Fort Wayne
Representation without taxation
I have a great idea for a new state law. When we don’t like who has been elected or what they’ve done, we should be allowed to quit paying our state taxes. Let’s call it the “free citizen law.” Has a nice ring, doesn’t it? We still get the roads, education, etc. and don’t have to pay for it.
Let’s do the same thing in the workplace. We’ll call it “right to work.” I want to work in that place where the union has to represent all us workers and gets us good benefits. The workers did vote for those representatives, but I don’t like unions so I shouldn’t have to pay them anything.
Representation without taxation. Where have I heard that before?
DEAN BEERY Huntington
Can we designate our tax dollars?
Regarding right to work: I don’t want any of my state taxes to go toward paying lawmakers’ wages, but I want them still to represent me just like the people who pay their taxes toward their salaries.
JIM FRANKLE Columbia City
