Published: June 25, 2008 09:09 pm            

Letters to the Editor - Thursday, June 26, 2008

Annexation plan much too broad

Dear Kokomo Common Council member,

First, let me say how much I respect the fact that you are willing to serve as an elected official. You do a sometimes thankless job that requires you to make tough decisions which can affect all of us. Yes, you and I know that you serve on the “city” council, but the decisions you make can and often do have an effect on everyone living in the entire county. With that in mind, I would like to address the two annexation proposals that the council is currently contemplating.

To date, there have been several public and private meetings dealing with this issue. In order to get a better understanding of the proposals, the facts, and the will of the people, I have attended each and every meeting. At these meetings I watched the city present the proposals and I listened to the citizens respond to the proposals. By speaking directly one on one with those is attendance this is what I know. There were a few that believe both proposals should be accepted exactly as presented, and there were a few that believe that not a single home or business should be annexed for any reason. However, the vast majority I have spoken with believe that although some parts of the proposals are acceptable, the entire overall annexation is too big as it is currently being presented.

Therefore, I am asking that you listen to the citizens of Howard County and vote no to both proposals as they are currently written.

Bill Thompson

Commissioner candidate



July 5 busiest day at shelters

Many thanks to the Kokomo Tribune editorial staff for their June 24 editorial about pets and the Fourth of July. This is good information, and we at the Kokomo Humane Society hope pet owners in Howard County take to heart these simple suggestions.

July 5 is the busiest day at animal shelters throughout the United States. Frightened, disoriented dogs and cats find their way to humane societies and rescue organizations after an evening of fireworks causes panic and terror. We do our best to calm them, and make sure they are fed and comfortable. But they really need to be back with their families.

If, after all precautions, your pet disappears on July 4, please call the Kokomo Humane Society at 452-6224 to report your lost best friend. If your animal isn’t at the shelter, we may have information from a Good Samaritan who has found him or her. We can help you and your companion find each other again.

Jean L. McGroarty

Humane Society



Point-of-origin stickers needed

There has been a lot of talk on the network shows about the recent salmonella outbreak.

Several hosts have mentioned the fact that we have had a point-of-origin law in effect for quite some time, but the FDA has done little to enforce it. They claim this is part of the problem in determining where the salmonella came from. It seems to me that the American consumer could do a lot to get this law implemented.

All that is necessary is for the public to refuse to buy any produce that does not have a point-of-origin sticker on it. And when the markets start throwing stuff out the back door due to the lack of sales, all this would change in a hurry.

Produce has a shelf life, and it would not take long to get some traceable tags on perishables that are sold in the marketplace.

Neil Farr Sr.

Marion

        

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