The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Letters To The Editor
PUBLISHED: April 7, 2005
Police agencies deserve 'thanks'
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Sometimes things happen that show why we really do have a great place to live and do business. Preeminent among them is having a feeling that we are respected for being a safe and well-protected community.
Recently this was most dramatically brought to light when our own fast-reacting Saline Police Department, working in tandem with the equally-alert Pittsfield Police Department, took action resulting in the apprehension of two individuals fleeing with stolen goods taken from one of our local merchants (March 24 article "Police nab pair after high speed van chase").
Great job guys and great professional police teamwork. Also, compliments to the other police agencies that helped apprehend the perpetrators, namely the Monroe County Sheriff's Department and the Michigan State Police.
Two things are worth noting with this incident that speak well for our community. First, the crime was thwarted despite having occurred late in the evening (11 p.m.)—a time when under cover of dark anything out of the ordinary would not be easily discovered by the untrained eye. Second, both of the apprehended individuals were not from the local area and they were undoubtedly passing through, "testing the water" in our area.
Well, they tested and now they're arrested. It's a good sign for us, the police protection of our area, and a warning to anyone else with larcenous thoughts to stay away! Maybe too, it's something we shouldn't always take for granted. Instead, let's take note and be thankful for the kind of police, fire, and emergency protection we have that's such an asset to maintaining a safe and a great community.
Larry Osterling
Executive Director
Saline Area Chamber
of Commerce
Stakes are high in upcoming election
As a candidate for the Saline School Board, I second Chuck Brooks' call for voter turnout in the election May 3.
Much needs to done to look towards the future and not the past in order to manage a wide range of issues. I also second Chuck's call to "focus our finite time and energy on preparing our children for the next level of their education … and not be distracted by diversions."
However, the devil is always in the details. The solution is not for parents to just keep their concerns to themselves and then for the board to resent those who express those opinions. The solution is to have a "vision" that wishes to correct the problems that lead to these "diversions." During the course of the campaign, I will present to the community clear ways to prevent them.
For example, I would not call the troubling conclusions reached by the Beekman Report to be a "diversion" as some might. I call the report a window of opportunity to honestly address those very real issues that affect the quality of experience for our children. Unfortunately, even one year after the fact, that has still not been done. I believe a school board has a responsibility to not only look at the big picture, but to ensure all our policies have a human face. That approach alone will minimize the occurrence of "diversions." As will a true dialog between the board and the community of parents, something that does not happen now.
I am running for school board because I am an idealist and an optimist who really believes that with just minor adjustments as to how the board and the schools approach their mission we can achieve real oversight by the board and true accountability from the administration. Nothing radical here, but something a little different than what Saline is used to.
A respect for parental rights and student civil rights will go a long way to minimize future diversionary episodes. We must return a sense of trust between the administration and the community. One thing every single parent and student in this school district can count on should I be elected to the school board: I will be in their corner. I will be an advocate for the people who elected me. I will not be a defender of the status quo. I will not be part of the blank uncommunicative wall as happens now. When a parent addresses the school board, I will listen and I will believe them. I will believe them because I know. I will speak to them afterwards to get more details. And I will encourage the board to work with the administration to solve the problem.
Please, all of you, especially parents of school-age children, the stakes are high, please vote at your local precinct location on Tuesday, May 3.
Michael Petraszko
Saline
Pet brought family companionship, joy
I have a broken heart because I have lost my dearest friend. He and I were together for 17 years, and we met in Saline.
All those years ago I was working for Dr. Voss and Dr. Daldin at the Animal Medical Center when a woman walked in with a small buff colored kitten with an injured eye. "Just put him down," she said as she handed him across the desk to me.
Throughout the day I kept coming back to this kitten with the hideous, bulbous, weeping and bloody eye. We had an obvious connection. So I announced, "I will take this kitten home!"
The eye was removed surgically, and we gave him a permanent wink. I learned alot about eyes that day. After much consideration, it was decided that the kitten would be named Uno.
In his prime He grew into a mammoth 17-pound cat and was most definitely the king around the house. He was the only cat of many ever allowed to lounge on the kitchen table. And, of course, my bed was his bed.
We have always been a family of many pets. Because we board and provide foster and rescue services for animals of all kinds, Uno had to be pretty accomodating to others and usually was, without too much complaint. That is as long as they weren't in any of his favorite comfy spots. His best trick was to wait until the kids weren't looking and stick his paw in a glass of milk or cereal bowl. How quick he was about it.
It was fortunate that after such a shaky start, Uno went through his years with no other health problems. Oh, some of the usual stuff that comes along with a cat like a runny nose and some feline acne.
There are three cats in my bed right now, and many other animals milling around in and out of the house, but I still feel a tremendous loss, as do our kids, who are 13 and 14 years old.
As we came to know that Uno's kidneys just were not working anymore, and it was time to make a very difficult decision, we did so with much love and respect for a family member that we so adored and brought us such joy.
We had taken many pictures throughout his life, and we have them set out. We have also decided we would plant a memory tree. There have been many tears and will be many more but we know we were so blessed to have him to love for so long.
Many people do not understand the deep affection that some of us feel for special pets and that is a true loss for them. My hopes are that another buff colored cat will come along someday and steal my heart. I suppose I'll name it Dos!
Right now though I have a new St. Bernard coming from a shelter in Detroit. He was not been treated well and will need my full attention.
Connie Osbron
Formerly of Saline
Intervention in Shiavo case should give pause
I've come to the conclusion that among the people pressing the "choose life" position in the highly publicized case of Terri Shiavo (a Florida woman in a vegetative state whose feeding tube has been removed) were those who weren't really concerned about her as a person.
To give her parents, the Schindlers, the benefit of the doubt, I will say that their concern for their daughter seems to have been hijacked by a radical segment of the right. I don't know whether they understood that their appeals to the U.S. Congress and the president would play into an agenda over which they would have no control.
One visible and vocal spokesperson for the Shindlers was Randall Terry. Over the years, Randall Terry's words and personal life have stirred controversy. As the Fort Wayne News Sentinel in Indiana reported Aug. 16, 1993, at an anti-abortion rally in Fort Wayne, Randall Terry said "Our goal is a Christian nation. ... We have a biblical duty, we are called by God to conquer this country. We don't want equal time. We don't want pluralism. ... Theocracy means God rules."
Randall Terry is well known for stoking feelings of anger and hatred among those who share his goals, some of whom are picketing in front of the hospice where Terri Shiavo has been receiving care.
I think many Americans instinctively knew that it was a bad idea for Congress and the president to get involved in a family's dispute over end-of-life decisions, to force the courts to look again at the dispute between the parents and husband even though it had been reviewed many times. The court system provides a way of resolving disputes based on the rule of law and the evidence.
Disagreeing with a decision is not grounds for doing away with the system that produced it. Already we are hearing complaints about "judicial activists" being responsible for "murdering" Terri Shiavo.
And certain Republican politicians are poised to urge that she be avenged by sweeping away the constitutional protection of the Senate filibuster, so that the president will not face opposition in his attempt to fill the federal courts with nominees some of whose thinking is as extreme as Randall Terry's.
According to these politicians, judicial activists equal Democratic appointees. They conveniently gloss over the fact that the Supreme Court, Republican appointees included, turned away the Schindlers' appeal, thus endorsing the findings of their colleagues — Republican and Democratic appointees — in the lower courts.
This segment of the Republican Party seems to be saying, "We don't want pluralism. We don't want an independent judiciary. We want what we want. There can be no disagreement with our views."
If the majority of us don't want to see our country hijacked in the way that Terri Shiavo's case has been, we need to let our elected leaders know what we think.
Bernadette Malinoski
Check the facts before signing online petition
I read with interest Sen. Debbie Stabenow's views in which she states the reasons she is against the president's plan for Social Security reform and that personal retirement accounts are not the answer.
She urges everyone who wants Social Security protected to go to her Web site and sign an online petition against the president's proposal. She states that all of Congress, including herself, pays into Social Security. This is true, but not until the 1983 amendment to the Social Security Act, which required all federal employees hired after 1983 to pay into Social Security.
The amendment also required all of Congress to participate in Social Security as of Jan. 1, 1984. Until then, they had a retirement plan called the Civil Service Retirement System. Congress then directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal workers the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986.
Members of Congress first elected in 1984 or later were automatically covered under the FERS. Those who were in Congress already when Social Security coverage went into effect could either remain in CSRS or change to FERS.
Congress now is covered by one of four different retirement arrangements. Full coverage under both CSRS and Social Security, FERS plus Social Security, CSRS offset plan, which includes both CSRS and Social Security, but with CSRS contributions and benefits reduced by Social Security contributions and benefits, or Social Security alone.
That's right, they have four different choices. The president's proposal is voluntary. It gives you a choice. Regardless whether you chose to participate in personal retirement accounts, you will still receive a Social Security check every month when you retire. And, most importantly, with personal retirement accounts, should you die, the money will go to your family.
As it stands now, if you die, your benefits are terminated. Even if you die a year after you retire, no matter how much you have paid into Social Security, your benefits are terminated.
So, before signing any on-line petition, inform yourselves so that you can make the right decision, not only for yourself but, more importantly, for your children and grand children.
Maria Vaughan
Help show support for platoon in Iraq
As a show of support for troops serving in Iraq, the Scouts of Boy Scout Troop 457 have "adopted" the soldiers of 2nd Platoon, B Company, 2-7 Infantry.
The Scouts chose this unit because one of their own is serving in that unit. The Troop is collecting items to ship to the men that will make their time spent in the field more comfortable. Items such as toothbrushes, Chap Stick, powdered drink mix, hard candy, etc., are being collected. Also small toys and stuffed animals are being sent so the soldiers can befriend the Iraqi children. Encouraging letters to the men are also appreciated. The Troop'sfirst box is expected to be shipped the week of April 11.
Anyone wishing to donate items to this projectcan contact Scoutmaster Gary Marquardt at Marquard@umich.edu for a complete list of items and drop off points.
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