Against CAFO

What are you all thinking up there in Carroll County? Didn't you all get burned the first time with Indiana Packers? Do you think this outfit from Europe is locating there out of the goodness of their hearts? It isn't just because they need the land, they can't afford the labor costs in Europe either.

Do you think flies and pesticide run-off will be the only legacy you'll be left with? Think again. An illegal alien work force will soon follow. This corporation has probably already littered the Mexican border with maps to Carroll County. Does the old movie line, "If you build it, they will come," ring a bell?

At one time, I thought about retiring back home, but why bother? By that time, Carroll County will look just like Laredo or El Paso.

Joe Justice

(former Delphi resident)

Kerrville, Texas

Pesticide exposure linked to Parkinson's disease

During this week of Parkinson disease awareness, I think it behooves all of us in this area to take a serious look at new research into the cause of Parkinson's disease. Evidence since 1982 links pesticide use to Parkinson's disease, and recently suspicions that pesticides could cause Parkinson disease have been strengthened. Here in this agricultural community, farmers are exposed to pesticides and other toxic chemicals frequently. Scientists recently studying the disease have found that the more pesticide you are exposed to, the higher your risk of developing the disease. It has been shown that the combination of two widely used agricultural pesticides, the herbicide paraquat and the fungicide maneb, creates in mice the exact pattern of brain damage that doctors see in patients with Parkinson's disease. This research gives us the strongest evidence yet that everyday environmental factors may play a role in the development of the disease.

People with Parkinson's disease were more likely to have used pesticides regularly. Users with low exposure, such as amateur gardeners, were nine percent more likely than non-users to develop the disease, and high-exposure users, such as farmers, were 43 percent more likely. The results reinforce the need for amateur gardeners and farmers alike to wear protective equipment when spraying pesticides.

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive disorder of the central nervous system that belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders. Parkinson's is the direct result of the loss of cells in a section of the brain called the substantia nigra. Those cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals within the brain. Loss of dopamine causes critical nerve cells in the brain, or neurons, to fire out of control, leaving patients unable to direct or control their movement in a normal manner.

Much study is yet to be done, so please support the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (www.pdf.org) and insist on more comprehensive study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1-800-6218431).

Melverine Hufty

Burlington

The Comet welcomes letters to the editor responding to articles and events in the news. They must include the author's name, address and telephone number. The letter writer's name and city/town will appear in the paper no exceptions. Letters must be 400 words or less in length. Please send your letters to: editor@ carrollcountycomet.com; Letters to the Editor, Comet, P.O. Box 26, Flora, IN 46929 or P.O. Box 179, Delphi, IN 46923; or fax 574-967-3384 or 765-564-2010. By submitting a letter or opinion article, the author grants the Comet the right to publish, distribute, archive or use the work in print, electronic, on-line or other format. Supports Delphi Youth Baseball

I am writing in response to the letter from the Delphi Youth Baseball board of directors.

I applaud their decision to respond to the anonymous letter, it would have been easy to ignore. These board members are a dedicated, service oriented group that puts their time into the league's well being before self-serving springtime activities. Their goal is to maintain a top rate facility that is capable of hosting a state tournament.

Paul Goyer field was completely destroyed by the flood three years ago. The league received some donations for recovery but most of the repairs have been accomplished by their own hard work. The financial ramifications of these repairs will carry on for some time before they enjoy the financial freedom that had been achieved before the flood. Rebuilding the field was not planned, yet it was accomplished and turned around before the next season as a fantastic playing field. Mayor Hoard and the parks department are certainly friends of the league and have helped many times on a when needed basis. But as mentioned in the board's letter, Paul Goyer field is independent of the city parks department and does not fall under their umbrella of protection and assistance.

I am no longer involved in Delphi Youth Baseball. I am however, the commissioner of Town & Country Baseball, of which Delphi's league is a member. In this role I have traveled all over the northern half of Indiana visiting ballparks during the state tournament. There are better parks and complexes, but for the size of the Delphi League, they 'own' a fantastic park.

I write this in support of Delphi Youth Baseball and their board of directors. Running a not for profit youth organization on a shoestring budget is not an easy feat. Doing so and completing a major rebuild is simply remarkable. I have always believed that the registration fee that is paid is a bargain for the facilities that the league has to offer and for the product that is put on the field. Parents, please be proud of the facilities that your kids are able to use, and support your board of directors. Nelson Smith, commissioner

Town & Country Baseball

Delphi

Drug addict tells his story

I am 20 and would like to tell you why you should be concerned about youth. I did my first drug when I was in the second grade. It made me feel like I was cool and belonged. It made me feel good to hang out with an older crowd. When you're young, you're vulnerable to peer pressure and more willing to try things that aren't as good as they seem at first. A lot of times, all it takes is one try.

The first drug I tried was marijuana. From that day on I was addicted and spent most of my money on buying it. As I got older I began to use harder drugs. At first it was just all for fun. Quickly it was an addiction.

Now drugs are what I turn to for every problem. I have a best friend, drugs. I choose the drugs over my family, my friends and my very own life. About half of my 20 years has been spent locked up in jail or on probation. Nothing seems to be able to separate me from my best friend - not my family, not jail, not counseling, or even death.

My first overdose was on over the counter medication. I flat lined and was revived. My second overdose was on medication. I again flat lined and was revived. The doctors told my family I would probably be a vegetable. Still, after flat lining twice, that wasn't enough to keep me from drugs. A few days later, lucky to be alive, I used meth again. After awhile, it owns you.

I used to have dreams and goals and things that made me happy. After awhile they all disappeared. This is why peer pressure is important. After I gave in, all my friends looked up to me and wanted to do it, too. This can happen anywhere, even in your schools. It becomes a cycle. At first it's fun and makes you feel you're someone. I turned my friends into what I had become.

We use to do well in school. I had goals, dreams and ambitions. My grades fell to straight F's and through middle school and high school I spent most of my time in detention or expelled. I only have about a ninth grade education. The drugs began to make me mean and change my moods. They weren't enough anymore and I needed even more to control my anger.

I am a drug addict. I could have been anything I wanted. But I feel blessed to be alive and would like to help others with the same problem. I know I could reach out to many kids, teens and even adults because of all that I have done. I want to help them before they hit bottom and are too weak to get back up. I still see younger kids starting out the same way I did. They don't understand that it becomes more than an addiction, it becomes their life and world. It is very lonely when you find yourself there.

I believe my sole purpose is to help our youth and show them a better way, to help them understand that it's not a chance worth taking. Every choice we make will affect us in some way or another. I have hit rock bottom and don't want to see it happen to anyone else. Saying "no" is really okay. Saying "no" could save your life. I'm one of the lucky ones even though my years are shortened. I hope parents will talk to their kids more.

Tom Robeson

Delphi