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July 30, 2008 05:37 pm
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Reader sadly disappointed by ruling
I usually support most high-profile cases the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office handles, but this Stephen Westerfield case is like something out of a bad movie.
How on earth can the state of Indiana possibly approve of a former police officer, who has admittedly molested his own foster children, serving less than a year in prison for the crime?
I’ve met people who have served twice as much time for being a habitual traffic offender.
What type of message does that send to the community?
It is never a good day when the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office gets ridiculed on both sides of the razor-wire fence. It is a sad disappointment really.
— Matthew Chinn, Jeffersonville
Indiana prepares for future
“The state is on firm ground,” said State Auditor TIm Barry.
Indiana is in better financial shape than many states. You may have read the news recently that the state ended the year with a balanced budget due to cutbacks and delayed projects, which helped overspending. State officials announced July 17 that this year, when other surrounding states struggled with deficits and massive spending cuts, Indiana closed out fiscal 2008 with its budget in balance and money in the bank.
The state government spent about $321 million less than it received in revenue, thanks in part to Gov. Mitch Daniels’ order that state agencies curtail costs.
I don’t know about you, but with all the wasteful government spending in Washington, the leadership being initiated by Gov. Daniels is very refreshing regarding a balanced budget and the financial standing of our state.
After reading the update on the state’s balanced budget, it was reported that Gov. Mitch Daniels had transferred $83 million to schools in an effort to avoid what many states with huge budget deficits are doing — cutting funding to education. There is now $400 million in the school reserve account that could be tapped into to help fund public schools.
Gov. Daniels is sure leading the way and is not only “talking his walk,” but “walking his talk!”
— Ronald Schad, New Albany
Silver school savers are ready for battle
“We probably could have saved ourselves, but we were too damned lazy to try very hard . . . and too cheap.” — Kurt Vonnegut
And so it goes for Superintendent of Schools Dennis Brooks and his band of merry miscreants, who are convinced that they can put lipstick on the “closing neighborhood schools will help the corporation” pig. Fortunately, we mere peasants of Silver Grove aren’t in the mood to drink their Kool-Aid.
Perhaps what is most troubling is the bigger message this misguided attempt is sending to those kids whose schools are on the chopping block. Brooks and company appear to live by the “It’s OK to drive past the local baker or butcher if you can save a nickel at Wal-Mart” and “Why not build bigger, newer and better while downtown falls in on itself” mantras that have helped both our economy and sense of community unravel.
I’m very proud to see that ordinary citizens are making the effort to organize and resist rather than being dictated to by the powers-that-be, who clearly aren’t concerned with the best interests of our community or the children who attend Silver Street Elementary and other neighborhood schools.
School board members and other elected officials close to this issue should recognize that yard signs and letters to newspapers are only a precursor to the most important way we will be communicating our opinions on this matter, which will be with our votes. Because in this country, if the people we elect to represent us don’t — or won’t — represent us, we have the right to fire them and find someone who will.
— Justin Combs, New Albany
Open letter to New Albany
I have many friends who cross the river to be able to smoke indoors. When seeking a restaurant or bar for a relaxing meal or drinks, we come to New Albany.
I eat out less often in Louisville than I ever did before their smoking ban. I never go to Louisville bars anymore, nor do my friends.
Individual businesses should be able to operate as they see fit without regulation of a substance that is legal. Ask Louisville bar owners. I know of restaurants that have closed or are struggling in Louisville, because they lost their smoking loyal bar customers.
— Sandy Davidson, Louisville
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