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Sat, Jul 04 2009 

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Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, July 4, 2009
Church honors veterans
Gail Trammell of Greentown sends this Cheer:
“Kudos to First Church of the Nazarene for their outstanding Fourth of July celebration in their beautiful new sanctuary!

‘I want you back’
THE ISSUE: Michael Jackson
OUR VIEW: His music wasn’t bounded by race.

1st the crack, then the cry
If you own a home in Howard County, then you probably have a dog. (Based solely on observation, this part of north central Indiana likely ranks high in dog ownership.)

Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, June 27, 2009
Harris Bank paints rooms
Maj. David W. Moffitt of The Salvation Army of Kokomo sends this Cheer for Harris Bank:
“The Salvation Army of Kokomo and Howard County wishes to thank the employees of Harris Bank, including offices in Kokomo, Tipton and Indianapolis, for their excellent work in painting our former day care activity room and office.

Lawmakers prefer working without a safety net
THE ISSUE: State budget talks.
OUR VIEW: Public opinion ought to be enough to spur an agreement.

‘More than a Feeling’
THE ISSUE: Haynes Apperson Festival.
OUR VIEW: This community has a lot to celebrate.

Joining hands to offer help
THE ISSUE: The Cass County Resource Network.
OUR VIEW: Finding ways to communicate and to cooperate will help social service agencies ensure they are not duplicating efforts.

EDITORIAL: County officials rescue tax units
THE ISSUE: Chrysler’s non-payment of $6 million in personal property taxes.
OUR VIEW: Taxing units have a back-up plan because of the foresight of county officials.

People, they get wary
THE ISSUE: Public opinion of government intervention.
OUR VIEW: The president will have to slow his spending spree or risk losing favor.

Some tips on etiquette
THE ISSUE: Displaying the flag.
OUR VIEW: Treat it with respect.

Compromise might be key
THE ISSUE: Health care.
OUR VIEW: There has to be a better way, and it’s critical that lawmakers find it.

LADWIG: The inheritance tax: envy institutionalized
The cartoon in the New Yorker shows a well-heeled couple on a busy city street sitting behind a sign. “Save the Hamptons,” it says.
Cash-strapped Indiana legislators are in special session this week eyeing the most obvious sources of additional tax revenue. They should know, though, that although the poor will always be with us, not so the rich.

BENNETT: It’s tough out there this Father’s Day for dads
My dad worked at a power plant.
But for a kid fascinated by secret-agent shows like “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and “Mission Impossible,” it looked like a high-security compound.

EDITORIAL: Early Learning Center
THE ISSUE: The Early Learning Center’s closing.
OUR VIEW: City government is serious about bridging its $2.5 million estimated budget shortfall.

HECK: George Tiller and the ironies
Though predictable, it was no less despicable. Just a day following the heinous murder of the country’s foremost practitioner of infanticide, George Tiller, radical antihuman rights activists on the left were already condemning the entire pro-life movement for facilitating the incident.

Fans won’t stand for it
THE ISSUE: Tire testing for the July 26 running of the Allstate 400.
OUR VIEW: NASCAR, Goodyear and Speedway officials can’t afford for faulty tires to mar this year’s race.

Cheers & Jeers - Staurday, June 13, 2009
Cary Hiers of Russiaville sends this Cheer for a community leader:

This might take a while
THE ISSUE: The special session.
OUR VIEW: In case of a long fight, lawmakers should keep essential state services operating beyond the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.

When courts get involved
THE ISSUE: Court-ordered medical treatment of children.
OUR VIEW: If those who question medical science were in the majority, would you be willing to have their judgment imposed on you?

The blindfold vs. the balance
THE ISSUE: State Treasurer Richard Mourdock’s attempts to block Chrysler’s sale.
OUR VIEW: Mourdock should drop the case.

Hoosier drivers middle of pack
Indiana motorists rank 22nd in the nation in driving knowledge, according to the 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. Results were released last month.

Continue to complain
THE ISSUE: The Galveston Town Board.
OUR VIEW: Board members cannot dismiss residents’ grievances of unkempt property.

Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, June 6, 2009
Girls should be commended
Chris Lewis of Galveston sends this Cheer for Savannah Lewis and Jessica Varnell’s concern for the animals at the Kokomo Humane Society:

Time to get on with it
THE ISSUE: The state budget.
OUR VIEW: Lawmakers must work quickly to come up with a spending plan and get it approved.

Hauser outcome was for the best
Many people likely breathed a sigh of relief late last week upon finding out a 13-year-old Sleepy Eye, Minn., boy had finally gotten another round of chemotherapy.

‘The future is better today’
THE ISSUE: GM’s bankruptcy, Delphi’s sale and Chrysler-Fiat’s approval.

OUR VIEW: News out of Detroit, New York and Washington Monday gave Howard County hope.

Tribe earns recognition
Members of the Eel River Tribe of Indiana had every reason to smile over the Memorial Day weekend.

Tractor ahead
Hoosier farmers planted 5.7 million acres of corn and 5.45 million acres of soybeans in 2008, the National Agricultural Statistics Service reports.

Cheers - Saturday, May 30, 2009
‘What an awesome sight’
Jack McKinney of Midnight Riders Motorcycle Club sends this Cheer:
“Cheers to both the Kokomo Fire Department and the Kokomo Police Department.

Offering a few words of advice
THE ISSUE: Things high-school graduates need to know.
OUR VIEW: Most important: Don’t get so caught up in your pursuit of tomorrow that you forget to enjoy today.

Letters to the editor - Thursday, May 28, 2009
I am appalled, disgruntled and very disappointed in the decision that you, Mayor Goodnight, have made with the laying

An important lesson for kids
Accidents are an unfortunate byproduct of living and working on farms, so it’s important that kids begin to learn about safety at a young age.

Cheers - Saturday, May 23, 2009
‘What a wonderful town this is’
Diane Woodcock of Kokomo sends this Cheer:
“I moved to Kokomo just over eight months ago and it seemed a pretty good place to live.

Mayor must travel to Italy
THE ISSUE: A trip to Turin by Mayor Greg Goodnight.
OUR VIEW: Relationships are built only through face-to-face meetings.

Concept whose time has come
We were disappointed that Gov. Mitch Daniels vetoed what Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita described as the one local government reform to make its way through the Indiana General Assembly.

Message we should heed
President Barack Obama illustrated in his speech at the University of Notre Dame Sunday that even those with irreconcilable differences can communicate in a civil manner.

Counties seek child advocates
The future of our communities, our country and our world lies in the hands of children.
While every child needs education, support and mentoring to reach his or her full potential, there are those children who find themselves in situations not of their making.

Weekly wrap - Monday, May 18, 2009
Excerpts from recent Indiana editorials:
On Manny Ramirez suspension:
If Manny Ramirez was using performance-enhancing drugs, a 50-day suspension is a slap on the wrist.

Temporary layoffs
We were warned.

Be ready for action
THE ISSUE: Storm safety.
OUR VIEW: For the sake of your family, be prepared for severe weather.

EDITORIAL: ‘Be strong,’ Joshua says
THE ISSUE: The National Day of Prayer observance.
OUR VIEW: There’s encouragement in Scripture.

Lift up, inspire, Mr. President
Reader Pat Weaver of Galveston sent us a letter that demands your attention – not to mention that of President Obama and, in particular, the many opponents and supporters of this country’s abortion laws who plan to voice their opinions at the University of Notre Dame’s graduation ceremonies Saturday.

Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, May 9, 2009
Community supports Affair
The Carver Community Center board sends this Cheer:

Grads, make Howard home
Indiana University Kokomo will graduate 525 students Tuesday. The School of Nursing will graduate the most; 139 will receive bachelor’s degrees and 45 will earn a master’s.

Don’t ignore townspeople
More than 200 people attended a town council meeting in Galveston Monday.
The Census Bureau says 1,532 people live in the town. If nearly every meeting-goer was a resident, about 13 percent of the population was in attendance.

Special session disappointing
We were disappointed but not surprised that Indiana lawmakers failed to adopt a budget ahead of last week’s deadline.
Almost from the outset, legislators seemed to struggle to do much of anything this year. In the end, though, they did manage a few accomplishments.

Weekly wrap - Monday, May 4, 2009
The latest proposal to save General Motors marks yet another deep intrusion by the federal government into the marketplace to save a company considered too important to fail.

Think positive
THE ISSUE: The national
economy.
OUR VIEW: Changing public perceptions is a key to recovery.

Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, May 2, 2009
Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight sends this Cheer for some local business people:

‘The hard path is the right one’
THE ISSUE: Chapter 11 bankruptcy for Chrysler.
OUR VIEW: Like Haynes International in 2004, Chrysler is positioned to re-emerge stronger than before.

MAGERS: Ideas that could better education
Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Thanks for all the memories
THE ISSUE: The Haynes Apperson Sports Festival.
OUR VIEW: Dave Granson saw to fruition a really good idea.

Board right to move on
“If someone had told me in 2005, when I took office of president of the library board, that we still wouldn’t have a library built by the end of my presidency in 2006,” began a column we published by Susan Luttrell, “I would have laughed at their foolishness.”

Beginning of a new season
If there’s a flowering pear in your garden, then you know the tree’s blossoms were at their fragrant peak this past weekend. The pear is the first fruit tree to flower every spring. It’s a sure sign of a new season.

Jobless help
THE ISSUE: Purdue’s new two-year degree in supervision and organizational leadership at its
Kokomo campus.
OUR VIEW: Program will help make the area’s
unemployed more marketable.

Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, April 25, 2009
‘Whom do you represent’
Joyce Alpay of Greentown sends this Jeer to the Kokomo Tribune:
“On April 15th we had a Tax Day Tea Party in Kokomo. Over 300 Kokomo area denizens attended this function.

Encourage a donation
You may not need a reminder to consider donating your vital organs to those in need. Perhaps you’re among the 72 percent of Indiana drivers who have made arrangements to donate.

The process to progress
THE ISSUE: Taylor’s study of school uniforms and single-gender classrooms in the middle school.
OUR VIEW: All stakeholders at Taylor deserve praise for the reasoned and respectful approach they’re taking as they explore ideas to improve academic performance.

Just say no to uniforms
I am writing in protest of the possibility of uniforms for students of Taylor Community Schools.

Do your part to save the planet
Thirty-nine years ago, 20 million people across America gathered to celebrate the first Earth Day. The environment was in a state of crisis. Cities were buried in smog, and polluted rivers were catching fire.
We’ve come a long way since then.

Weekly wrap: Monday, April 20, 2009
Excerpts of recent editorials from Indiana newspapers:
On health fair benefits:
A record 352 people flocked to the Central Noble cafetorium in Albion April 4 for the free health fair hosted by Noble County Extension Services in partnership with Parkview Noble Hospital in Kendallville.

Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, April 18, 2009
Volunteers are dedicated
Brianne Boles sends this Cheer to Bona Vista volunteers:
On behalf of Bona Vista Programs, we are proud to recognize and thank all of the wonderful volunteers that serve throughout Howard County.

‘Puppy mills’ need regulation
IN SUMMARY: The Indiana Legislature must reach a compromise to regulate dog breeders.

Good news for ITP II
It seems bad news in the auto industry dominates national headlines.
Today’s headlines are no exception, with word of rough seas ahead in the negotiations between Fiat Group SpA and Chrysler LLC.

Keep tea out of the river
Organizers of a Lafayette tax protest really ought to rethink their plans to dump tea bags into the Wabash River.

Weekly wrap - Monday, April 13, 2009
Excerpts of recent editorials from Indiana newspapers:
On Wrigley Field:
Surely, he didn’t really mean it. There’s just no way that Carlos Zambrano, the Chicago Cubs ace pitcher, could really want the city of Chicago to replace Wrigley Field.

The race is on
The midterm Republican primary is shaping up to be an interesting one for the Kokomo area – and its still more than a year off.

Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, April 11, 2009
Blood drive collects 60 pints
Drasadria Hogan, Brian Hogan and Ahronda James send this Cheer for some special blood donors:

Galveston board should take action
Galveston officials should be lining up behind a group of local residents campaigning to clean up their town.

Extraordinary, newsworthy
We often are asked our definition of news.
It’s change. It’s what affects or interests readers. It’s an event, such as a summer festival, or an announcement, like a new employer moving to town.

True shrine of baseball
Surely, he didn’t really mean it.
He was overcome by the opulent surroundings at the new Yankee Stadium, and he just lost his head for a minute.

Use caution in work zones
THE ISSUE: Highway work zone safety.
OUR VIEW: Be alert. Motorists are much more likely to be injured in work zones than crewmen.

Tax plan has shot
At first glance, the plan seems almost too good to be true.
State lawmakers think they can generate $40 million to help Indiana’s cash-strapped cities by doubling the state’s tax on alcohol.

Weekly wrap - Monday, April 6, 2009
Excerpts of recent editorials from Indiana newspapers:
On the president’s speech at Notre Dame:

A new beginning for auto industry
One of the challenges we have confronted since the beginning of this administration is what to do about the state of our struggling auto industry. We simply cannot let our auto industry vanish.

Chrysler’s only hope
THE ISSUE: The auto task force’s rejection of Chrysler’s viability plan.
OUR VIEW: The U.S. automaker must forge an alliance with Fiat, or face bankruptcy.

Cheers&Jeers - Saturday, Apr. 4, 2009
Lane Robinson of City Hall sends this Cheer to three co-workers:

Make the call before you dig
THE ISSUE: Backyard safety.
OUR VIEW: Phone Indiana 811 and locate underground utilities before you dig.

Touting signs of progress
THE ISSUE: The president’s plans for economic recovery.
OUR VIEW: The administration seems to be making slow progress.

Making sausage
THE ISSUE: The City of Kokomo’s funding shortfalls.
OUR VIEW: We’re grateful city officials are discussing the problem in public so that surprises for city residents are avoided.

Unhappy taxpayers
Nearly 200 people gathered at the Statehouse last week to show lawmakers they were generally “fed up” with government. That’s not a huge surprise.

Weekly wrap - Monday, March 30, 2009
Excerpts of recent editorials from Indiana newspapers:
On property tax caps:
Indiana House Democrats should start making the comedy-club circuit, because the latest act they’ve been rehearsing is hilarious.

Personal foul
The quintessential high school coach demands from his players their best effort – during a game, at practice, in the classroom and out in public

Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, March 28, 2009
Nancy Snyder and her husband, Gary, send this Cheer:
“I would like to send a big Cheer to the Russiaville Volunteer Fire Department.

PUBLIC EYE: March 29, 2009
For years, the Howard County Council, as many others in the state do at budget time, made reductions in budget lines with the knowledge that additional funding will be needed in the future.

Legislators must set aside politics
Senate Republicans are proposing to rescue the state’s bankrupt unemployment system by cutting unemployment checks and making it harder for people to qualify for benefits.
That’s a bad idea.

Competition dominance
THE ISSUE: Science and technology education.
OUR VIEW: Howard County is pacing the state in such disciplines.

No sitting or wishing
THE ISSUE: Plans for a new pavilion in Foster Park.
OUR VIEW: The city continues to find partners for new amenities.

Weekly wrap - Monday, March 23, 2009
... The Pinelands Regional School District, like so many other districts, has a zero-tolerance policy barring any “illegal or dangerous item, product or commodity” from its schools.

Bailouts and bonuses
The House Financial Services Committee took Edward Liddy, CEO of insurance giant AIG, to the woodshed Wednesday. His backside must still smart.

Cheers and Jeers - Saturday, March 21, 2009
Believing in ‘Yesterday’, Thank you, officers, Home raises money for chairs, Chili supper helps gymnasts and MDA is the beneficiary

Lines need to be drawn
THE ISSUE: Regional planning.
OUR VIEW: Counties such as Cass, Howard and Tipton that find they really do have shared interests would do well to team up.

Slow-moving vehicles ahead
THE ISSUE: The approaching planting season.
OUR VIEW: Watch for farm vehicles on county roads in the next few months.

School board made right call
The Delphi Community School Board made the right decision last week when it rejected a challenge to three books assigned as part of a high school English class.

Weekly wrap: Monday, March 16, 2009
Excerpts of recent editorials from Indiana newspapers:
On Wall Street:
In December, Merrill Lynch & Co. announced it would be acquired by Bank of America, the same weekend that Lehman Brothers went under. The deal went through on Jan. 1.

Cheers and Jeers - Saturday, March 14, 2009
“This year’s seventh annual Chocolate Celebration was a frigid, snowy February day, which gave people even more reason to relieve stress by enjoying chocolate. Samaritan Caregivers would like to express sincere appreciation to sponsors Central Bank and Haynes International, in addition to everyone who exchanged their tickets for a total of 3,200 scrumptious chocolate morsels.

Warning warranted
Students and teachers throughout the state were caught off guard last week by the material on the written portion of Indiana’s first spring round of standardized testing.

Musical tradition
THE ISSUE: The Howard County Music Festival.
OUR VIEW: Plan to attend next March. You’ll be impressed by our children’s musicianship.

Prepare for storm season
THE ISSUE: Tornado season.
OUR VIEW: Ensure your family knows what to do if one touches down.

Man’s rescuers have admiration
THE ISSUE: The rescue of Peru’s Bruce Edgington.
OUR VIEW: The selflessness of Nolan Sturch and Michael Brooks renews our faith in humanity.

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