Published: September 02, 2009 05:53 pm      

Letters to the editor - Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009

Motorcycle ride was a welcomed present

Pauline Myers, a resident of southern Miami County and a member of the Howard-Miami Mennonite Church on the Howard and Miami county line, was celebrating a birthday. Jim and Janice Grossman, friends of the family and clients of Pauline’s daughter, Carolyn, couldn’t come to the party.

But they wanted to do something nice for Pauline, and so they asked Carolyn if her mother would be interested in taking a ride on their motorcycle. Carolyn broached the subject with Pauline, and though she had never been on a motorcycle before, she accepted the offer.

So on an August Saturday a few weeks ago, the Grossmans rode their new Harley-Davidson out to Pauline Myers’ rural home, put a helmet on her and positioned her on the bike and away they went.

They didn’t ride very fast, 30 or 35 mph, and they went several miles up and down the roads, even stopping at former pastor Lee and Marty Miller’s home.

Was Pauline scared of being on a motorcycle? No, not in the least. And she was all smiles when she waved at Carolyn and Janice as the ride took her and Jim by the Myers’ home!

Pauline was very pleased to have the opportunity to ride the motorcycle, but doesn’t plan on getting one herself. For her next birthday, she would like to take a ride in a golf cart.

And by the way, that next birthday will be her 91st. The motorcycle ride was on her 90th birthday, and never mind the “little old lady from Pasadena,” because we’ve got her right here in Miami County’s Pauline Myers!

Jeff Hatton, Greentown

D.C. must mnake firms pay benefits

If members of Congress and the White House institute a sweeping change in the country’s health-care system, they need to guarantee the benefits that retirees who already spent a lifetime earning and pre-paying are protected.

The Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act (H.R. 1322), which would make corporations live up to the financial commitments they made to their employees during their working years, should be a part of any health-care reform legislation. Now pending in Congress, it would make companies live up to the commitments made to their employees and retirees. Those who had their health benefits canceled by their former employer would get their earned benefits restored.

Currently, due to the Supreme Court case Sprague vs. GM, it is perfectly legal to take away a retiree’s health-care benefit.

I worked for GM/Delphi for 32 years and was consistently told that my health-care benefits in retirement would be taken care of by the company.

During my career, I accepted less in wages and paid time off with the understanding that I would receive a retirement package that would include health insurance. That has all changed since February 2009, when Delphi and the bankruptcy court took away my health care.

Over the years, I have seen my benefits diminished, while executive bonuses became larger and in some cases excessive. I stayed with my employer because it promised that my health care would be taken care of in retirement. I depended on these benefits as a primary financial and medical support. It is unethical for companies to break this financial commitment.

I support health-care reform that protects American retirees’ earned benefits. I support H.R. 1322. We retirees should not become this Congress’ doughnut hole.

Michael Williams, Kokomo

Windmill Grill helps kids with supplies

The counselors from Western would like to give a Cheer to the folks at the Windmill Grill and the patrons of Western School Corp. for their participation in the recent Stuff the Bus campaign.

Their generous donations ensure that all of our students will have the supplies that they need to complete the school year successfully.

Thank you so much.

Judy Sand, Western Elementary