Thanks from Elkhart Thank you very much for your article on our fair little town [see “The view from Elkhart hill,” by Rick Wade, IT, March 19]. I thought the article was very well written and the pictures did us
justice.
Publicity like this is what we and other small towns need to help us thrive.
Publications like yours are greatly appreciated. You and your whole staff are
welcome anytime!
Teri McGee, director
Elkhart Public Library District
Smith: “Enthusiasm has
gone underground” My recent move to revive the Evening Republican Club was not an act of defiance
to the party I love [see “Smith revives GOP club,” by Dusty Rhodes, IT, March 12]. Nor was it meant to create controversy with the current leadership
with which I have spent the better part of a lifetime. I personally stand by my
claim that I brought them to the party.
I want to make it very clear that I stand by my party, and by the current
leadership. As a retiree, but one who has not lost once ounce of Republican
verve, I have attended and supported endeavors through these lean years. Yes, I
have suffered and still suffer greatly as I watch the current bankrupting of
America. But, having been born in 1929 and grown up as part of the “Greatest Generation,” I only know how to voice my concern and live by the code, “Death before dishonor.”
I still believe that leaders should get out in front and lead! At this point, it
has become difficult. Chairman Tony Libri is currently in Afghanistan and
Rosemarie Long is at the helm with her hands full, making all efforts to keep
the ship right. My intent was not to do harm.
It’s just that in these past few years, enthusiasm has gone underground. I could
not stand it. As I saw things change with some deletions from the organization,
I could only think of better times. I wanted strong Republican input and output
everywhere. The only place I saw it was the strong Northenders Club, led by
Rosemarie. Once, we had 10 such organizations. The powerful Evening Republican
Club, started by my predecessor, John Short, had disbanded. The Prairie
Republican Club, started by Scott Crown, merged with East County. The South
County Club waned. In my travels, I talked with people who could no longer
participate, and had no place to go and no one to share with anymore.
Thus I felt that the right thing to do was to call for the revival of the
Evening Republican Club. And yes, to them it means supporting Republican causes
and candidates that they help select. That I can proudly say I have always
lived by. I urge Republicans everywhere to support and vote for our township
candidates. They are the best.
Irv Smith
Springfield
Smith, a former city alderman, is former chairman of the Sangamon County
Republican Party.
The dumpster approach Why, if the police know of drug activity, do they simply try to move it and not
stop it via arrests? This dumpster approach seems to only exacerbate the
situation without bringing it to an end [see “When the Crime Stoppers dumpster came to my street,” by Fletcher Farrar, IT, March 19].
I find this procedure confusing at best and certainly not much of a solution. In
fact, it appears to simply make the superficial policing seem effective without
truly resolving the issue.
John Paul
Springfield
Electricity revenues As Springfield’s new power plant gets closer to completion, the surplus electricity that it is
going to generate will be sold and the revenue is going to balance the city
budget.
Being a ratepayer, I have a real problem with that. The “Crown Jewel” belongs to the ratepayers, not the politicians. Pay off the construction debt
first, then reduce the cost of electricity to the ratepayers.
If you need to balance the budget, cut services, cut salaries, lay off as needed
and do it across the board.
Greg Kruger
Springfield
This article appears in Mar 19-25, 2009.
