LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
There are truly good peopleDear Editor,
On Monday, July 1, we drove from Elk Rapids to the Costco Store in Traverse City for our monthly grocery-shopping trip. Somehow, after arriving there the bank envelope containing $200.00 in $10.00 bills fell from my wife’s backpack that also contained her necessary oxygen equipment. After shopping, we headed back to Elk Rapids never realizing that the bank envelope was gone until we got home. We searched and worried most of the night but could not locate the missing money. The next day we headed back to Costco with the hope that just maybe some kind person might have found the envelope and returned it to the store. Much to our delight, that was exactly what happened. Unfortunately, the gentleman who found it in the parking lot and returned it to the Costco office did not leave his name. There is no way to tell him how thankful we are. There are truly good people out there and he is one of them. May God bless his kindness. We will pay it forward. Tom MacGregor Elk Rapids Consider voting against this proposalDear Editor,
There is a proposal on the August 6 ballot to purchase agricultural conservation easements. This is a scam for the public to pay for the current specified property usage. This proposal was “offered” to us about 15 years ago and was only accepted by Acme Twp. We assume that this is similar to the previous one. It offered to pay the landowner a specified amount of money to give the conservationists control of the property in a certain way. I do not have a problem with conservatory property as such, however, this should only be done as a donation by an individual or a private group. Our tax dollars should not be used in this manner as it limits the use of property for the future. If any of this property might be available for private usage, then it would be severely limited. Please consider voting against this proposal. Tom Sommerfeldt, Elk Rapids Letters to the Editor:
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Justice delayed is justice deniedDear Editor,
I have known Terry Starr since the day he and his family moved to Elk Rapids in 1999. I know him to be an honorable man of exceptional character and unshakable faith. A critical foundational pillar of our legal system, “Justice delayed is justice denied,” is playing out, in real time, in his life. Continual hearing delays have put Kalkaska Schools in a financial conundrum, forced Terry to take unpaid administrative leave, compounded legal fees, and have the Starrs facing financial ruin. These injustices are being caused by what appears to be an unwillingness on the part of the powers-that-be to follow through on their original claims of certain conviction with a swift, fair, fact-driven trial. My hope is the often-voiced undercurrents of personal vendetta and vindictive collusion by individuals in our community prove false. I urge, and hope others will urge Prosecuting Attorney Rossiter (prosecutor@antrimcounty.org) and Judge Cooney to move with all diligence and speed to bring this case to trial — before the damage done to Terry and his family becomes irreparable and to enable both Elk Rapids and Kalkaska Schools to move forward with clarity. Craig Mosher Elk Rapids Appreciation for help building Festival floatDear Editor,
The parents of Harper O’Malley and Andrew Domagalski would like to express our appreciation for all of the help and support in building this year’s Mill Creek Elementary Cherry Festival Float. The theme was “Chess in Cherryland” and would not have been as successful and rewarding without the help of Mill Creek PTO, Travis and Erin Bratschi, Nichole Agruda, Eli Kapala, Amber Voice, Craig Barnhart, Danielle Okma, Mark and Dee Hudson, Pam Caldwell, Shannon Petaja, Jim Rautio and Traverse Bay Marine. We would also like to thank all those who rode on the float during the parades; we hope you had fun. Thank you for a great Cherry Festival, Lindsey Agruda, James and Mary Domagalski Williamsburg The ouch of dog collarsDear Editor,
Dog lovers rejoice as you are guardians to the god of frolic. Me? Oh. Well I am staff for a cat. Anyway . . . Please, if you are the guardian of a dog that is young and frisky, or inquisitive, or rambunctious, or just simply must sniff every flower (etc.) then please use a harness instead of a collar. That jerking on a leash attached to a collar can be damaging and woofie may develop thyroid problems, whiplash, or nerve damage. Occasionally though there is a jerk on both ends of the leash. So... Be kind to the little guy, the old guy, the energy plus guy and do a bit research (ASPCA; PETA; Humane Society). The simple buckle collar is great for an i.d. tag but can be harmful if used to pull Fluffy or Cujo. Two of the pluses of a harness – besides the fun of putting it on – are the easing off of neck pressure and the ease of keeping him out of harm’s way. Finally, please be wary of anyone who supports pain as a training tool. Carl Semczak Elk Rapids |