Published: June 24, 2008 09:10 pm            

Letters to the Editor - Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Community will miss Ruth Person

The city of Kokomo is losing a great representative as Dr. Ruth Person, chancellor of Indiana University Kokomo, is moving on to the University of Michigan-Flint.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dr. Person since 1999, serving on the United Way board together. Since that time, our paths have crossed in a number of arenas including serving on the Kokomo Howard County Library board and Umbrella Committee for the economic development reorganization. During that time, Dr. Person always exhibited a very personable and approachable style that was a pleasure to work with.

Dr. Person has always been the consummate professional and dedicated to Kokomo and Howard County. Her contributions to this area are immeasurable, and I wish her nothing but success as she approaches the University of Michigan-Flint with the same fervor as she displayed here.

Many thanks to Dr. Person for her time and contribution to the community. The community has greatly benefited from her knowledge and efforts.

Stan Ortman

Library board

Big Oil hurting the United States

Is there a possibility that there is terrorism active in the U.S. today? Our big oil companies have done more damage to the people and economy of our country than the tragedy of 9-11 ever did. Is there a possibility our oil companies are in bed with the Saudis?

After all, 14 of the 19 terrorists who destroyed the Twin Towers on 9-11 were from Saudi Arabia.

Bin Laden, the chief architect of the terrorist movement, is also a Saudi. The Saudis continue to rain havoc on America and our people. Yet we’re seeing our young men die and billions of dollars wasted fighting in a small country that was never a threat to the U.S. Maybe the voters should accept responsibility for some of today’s problems by sending these do-nothing freeloaders to Washington to represent us.

Donna Webb

Galveston

City should continue serving county seniors

For your consideration. Recently I paused to chat with a guy whom I have seen on the Spirit senior bus. I never did get his name, however he related a curious incident.

He mentioned that the Spirit bus will no longer pick up or drop off in the county areas adjacent to city territory, even though they have been doing so for years.

What is so curious is that Mayor Goodnight apparently commented, and I paraphrase, if they don’t want to live in our city, they don’t need to ride our bus – an apparent reference to annexation remonstration.

Personally, I refuse to believe that our new mayor could be so petty and childish that he would deliberately inconvenience many who have used the bus service for years. I would expect better from an elected official.

Kenneth Crockett

Kokomo

Cigarette tax hike makes a difference

What a difference a 44-cent-a-pack cigarette tax increase can make.

As the Howard County Tobacco Coordinator, I am excited for all of Indiana that tobacco consumption is down 17.8 percent for the first nine months following the cigarette tax increase. Even though the change does not necessarily mean fewer people are smoking, this reduction reflects Hoosiers who have quit smoking and those who have cut back.

Ninety percent of Hoosier smokers want to quit and 30 percent are ready to quit now, and I am ready to help them. To encourage others to stop smoking, Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation and the Howard County Tobacco Coalition are offering the Quit 2 Win contest. The contest will offer a top prize of $2,500 in a random drawing for those who are 18 and over who successfully quit smoking between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. Regular tobacco users may register between now and the end of August by visiting inshape.in.gov or wherever a Quit 2 Win sign-up box is located. Those locations include Family Service Association, festivals and fairs in Howard County.

If I can be of help, please call me at 457-9313, Ext. 113 for more information. Smokers may also call the state’s free tobacco hotline at (800) QUIT-NOW to seek help.

Shirley J. Dubois

HCTC coordinator

        

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