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Letters to the editor, Nov. 7, 2006
Pet overpopulation
Across the United States, animal shelters are filled with millions of dogs and cats in need of loving, permanent homes. These are beautiful, healthy animals that have been cast away by previous individuals who were not prepared to make a life-long commitment to them. They once lived in homes, but now live behind bars. Many face certain death because of the serious dog and cat overpopulation problem. Each day, shelters receive more and more animals and the caring shelter personnel who care for these wonderful animals must kill them to make room for the new arrivals.
Pet overpopulation is a societal problem which calls for immediate public attention. Even those who do not have pets are affected by this crisis, because millions of tax dollars are spent annually to care for the lost, abandoned and unwanted pets, and millions more to destroy those that find no homes.
There are two main ways to end this vicious cycle of pet overpopulation and death. The most important is spaying and neutering all dogs and cats.
Mary Lou Vandenburg
1110 Coronada Drive, Racine
The religious bigotry of David Nelson is again evident in his letter to the editor. He calls Christians frauds and criminals. He says religion is destroying civilization and repeats a previous claim of his that Jesus is a myth. If Jesus is a myth, then he is correct in saying that Christians are frauds.
But why would Nelson doubt the Biblical and historical accounts of Jesus?
Does he also doubt the existence of Socrates who lived some 400 years before Christ and about whom we have less information? Does he doubt the existence of Herod the Great or Caesar Augustus or Pontius Pilate who lived at the same time as Christ? Does he doubt the writings of the New Testament authors and non-Biblical documentary evidence of Roman authors Cornelius Tacitus, Gaius, and Pliny the Younger as well as that in the Jewish rabbinical traditions? Does he doubt the Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus? Josephus twice referred to Jesus. If his accounts about Jesus are in err, is all of the information Josephus supplied on Herod also in err? If Nelson wants to doubt that Jesus was Lord and Savior, he does so at his peril. But to doubt that Jesus existed at all would be foolish.
David Kristopeit
Racine
A jewel in health care
We would like to make your readers aware of what a treasure the residents of Racine County have with Ridgewood Care Center. We have had an up close and personal relationship with the staff at Ridgewood over the past 5 months due to a close friend who lived there.
My friend was treated with compassion, dignity, and respect during his stay. We were everyday visitors and always found warmth and kindness from everyone who worked there. We can honestly say, from the administra tor down to those who keep the place looking so spotless "job well done." Special thanks go to the nurses and attendants on I East.
During a time when budget cuts and concessions are expected, we should not allow those cuts to be made in an area that is vital to the families who live in Racine County.
We believe Ridgewood provides a service that is essential to our community. It is our responsibility as neighbors, voters, and citizens to make sure that the quality services provided by Ridgewood are not eliminated.
Bob Bradley and Ann Batikis
Racine
Ignoring the majority
Once again the Waterford Town Board has chosen to ignore the wishes of the majority in favor of one of their own.
Planning Commissioner member, Karen Sohr, was allowed to erect a pier engulfing a resident access in the Buena Park subdivision despite a petition from dozens of residents. The Waterford Town Board went further by ignoring a letter from DNR water specialist, Jennifer Jerich, which raised serious concerns about riparian rights of the public. The letter also questioned whether or not the Sohrs' pier was the best solution to the problem in light of the fact that the Sohrs also own property to their north that could afford many more equitable solutions.
Buena Park residents created a couple of plans, in the spirit of compromise, that would allow the Sohrs to have a pier without infringing on the park. However, at the last town board meeting, in an undemocratic fashion and contrary to the concerns of the majority and an expert in the field, the board did not allow any discussion by Buena Park residents and unanimously refused to reconsider their previous decision. I find it very disappointing that the ability to consider a fair compromise is not a quality necessary to becoming an elected official in the town of Waterford. I would hope that voters consider the unfair treatment we received when the next election takes place. Chairman Langmesser made a point at the last town meeting to let people know that he has been on the board for 16 years. Perhaps that is part of the problem.
Paul and Sheila Hasler
Waterford
Kids get thanks
Many thanks to the wonderful kids from Walden who worked in the Uptown for Make A Difference Day. You truly did make a difference great job! Wally Madsen, President
Uptown Improvement Organization
Nielsen Madsen & Barber, S.C.
Food bank help
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Journal Times and Dustin Block for the front page article on October 16th highlighting the challenges that we are facing trying to keep up with the recent heavy demand for food.
I am happy to report that as a result of that article, the outpouring of help from individuals and our corporate neighbors throughout Racine has been absolutely wonderful and thanks to that support and the upcoming holiday food drives, I believe that we will be able to meet the increased demand throughout at least the holiday season.
I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to mention and thank who is by far our biggest financial supporter, United Way of Racine County.
Without them the Racine County Food Bank would not exist. Their financial support covers all of our overhead costs so that all of the additional help that we get from the generous folks in our community, we are able to use for food. As we see our resources taxed by more families and individuals in need, it becomes even more important for our community to make sure that United Way is successful in reaching their campaign goal of $5.1 million.
This will ensure that United Way has the resources available to help not only the Racine County Food Bank, but the thousands of children, families and individuals they help throughout the county.
Dan Taivalkoski
Executive Director, Food Bank
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