Letters to the Editor

TheCometwelcomes letters totheeditor responding toarticlesandevents inthenews.Theymust includethe author'sname,addressandtelephonenumber.Theletter 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 theEditor,Comet,P.O.Box 26, Flora, IN 46929 or P.O. Box 179, Delphi, IN 46923; or fax574-967-3384or765-564-2010.By submittingaletter or opinion article, the author grants the Comet the right topublish,distribute,archiveorusetheworkinprint, electronic, on-line or other format.

Appreciates that Comet is online

I am just writing a short email to say thanks for having your publication online. I have been stationed overseas for many years working as a civilian for the Department of Defense, U.S. Army.

It is always good to have a resource to read about home and where you started from.

Home has been kind of nostalgic lately, with a recent visit here in Belgium of one of my cousins and also a former high school friend and his spouse. Plus, it is getting close to Thanksgiving and it is always tough when you are far away from home.
Clarence E. Hammond
Deputy to the Garrison
Commander
USAG Benelux
DSN 361-1310

County museum - worth preserving

How did Carroll County get into such a financial mess the past few years that we have to close/lose our county museum?

The County Council told the museum staff Sept. 18, they are going to have all the funds from the county taken away as of Jan. 1, 2008. Who or what was responsible for this? A lot of people would like a full explanation.

Phyllis Moore, the curator, has said she will work for nothing just to keep it open. They have good volunteers and grant monies for computer equipment and a staff person's salary designated for that. The county has furnished money in the past for Mrs. Moore's and a second staff person's salary and a little for running expenses. The county can't come up with money for running expenses? How long the Carroll County Historical Society can keep the museum going is a problem because they have very little money.

There are nearly 16,000 photographs in the museum's archives as well as many artifacts from county people. It's certain no one wants these lost or sold. The genealogy resources are excellent as evidenced by nationwide use. The photos themselves are a treasure. I urge everyone to log on to the museum's website www.carrollcountymuseum.org to view these while they still can.

The county's 2008 budget will be adopted today, Sept. 26.

The department heads met yesterday with the council to discuss and review the matter.

Joanne Ratcliff

Delphi

Believes Lohmiller sentencing unfair

Rebecca Lohmiller has a nursing degree from another state. She was a surgical nurse when she witnessed a crime and identified the person responsible.

The Federal Government put her in the witness protection program. She traveled with an FBI agent under aliases and in several states over the next eight years. She could not even phone her family. For her protection, the government stamped all her information with DNP (Do not publish), which never expires. Becky no longer existed.

When she married and moved to Indiana, she did not leave her brains or degree at the state line. When the Health Department wanted to hire her, she told them why she was afraid to transfer her license or register with the State of Indiana.

Yes, the Health Department doctors knew and said it was not necessary as she was covered under their umbrella.

She was an excellent nurse for the county, well liked and she genuinely cared about the people - from the smoking cessation programs she gave, to traveling the county giving flu shots. She wrote grants and succeeded in bringing $150,000 to the county - none of which went into her pocket.

Yet, you fined her $25,000 and want her salary returned.

The former prosecuting attorney reduced the counts against Becky to only one count in a plea agreement. She wouldn't accept it. Why? Because she was innocent, and believed the jury would find in her favor after hearing all the facts.

Carroll County has ruined her career, her health and her life.

Several people attended Becky's sentencing to speak on her behalf. The judge said if anyone said anything about the witness protection program, she would go straight to jail for four years. I ask why?

Where is the justice for this injustice?

Ro Lantz Monticello

Keep museum open for genealogists

The County Historical Society Museum is an asset that Carroll County would be remiss in not keeping alive.

This is an extremely important resource for genealogists, professional and amateur. It is also a historical resource for educators in the area. Carroll County has a rich and vital history, and has served as a keystone location for many pioneer families whose descendents moved on.

Over six generations of my family on both sides are buried in Carroll County, and it was the Historical Society Museum that unlocked many of the mysteries that I had not been able to otherwise solve. I meet cousins from all across the nation via the Internet as a result of the information I found there, and I have referenced them back to Phyllis Moore for more information. Just the other day, I was attending a funeral here in Texas, and met a previously unknown cousin from California who is a descendent of the Wingard family in Carroll County. People like him are frequently asking me how they can get in touch with someone in Carroll County to help them with their research.

The museum is not simply a place in the courthouse for local people - it is a nationwide (and probably international) service for people who want to learn about their roots. To jeopardize its existence by removing its funding is simply irresponsible and thoughtless.

The libraries have poor genealogical resources by comparison. I have been to the libraries in Camden, Flora, and Delphi on multiple occasions, and they all have far less to offer than the Historical Society Museum!

Carroll County owes it to its citizens and descendents of its founders and pioneers to keep a publicly available central repository of genealogical information alive and well. Keep Carroll County on the map!

Kris Brower Arlington, Texas

Walker shouldn't return

The way that Mr. Walker has screwed the community of DCSC, and now he is screwing the government, I, as well as many others, feel that Mr. Walker should not be allowed to return.

I would like to know if Mr. Walker would like to trade me wages, and we all know what his wage is since DCSC wages are printed in the paper annually. I could live very high on the hog with his wages. It takes me four years to match one year of his. Now he wants Social Security on top of his very high income. He either needs to give up his job or leave his Social Security with the government so they can pay people who really need it. I can't believe the school board is so dumb and stupid to approve such a move. Remember, school board, election is coming up and you can be replaced.

Mr. Walker is just like the oil companies. GREEDY. I realize this letter is a waste of time since everything is already cut and dried. Wake up, school board, and do what the people want - not what you want. The majority doesn't rule in this world anymore, and this is just another proof of action.

Gene Welk, Camden

Museum self-funding requires more time

I have struggled with my thoughts about the dilemma the County Council has imposed on the Carroll County Museum. Reducing the museum to a zero budget is a huge shock, especially with the end of funding coming within a mere three months.

Most of us have grown used to popping in at the museum and seeing Phyllis, the staff or volunteers working diligently in historical research, displaying records, or arranging artifacts. The museum also has a wideranging favorable reputation for its genealogy records. The staff has served thousands of people for 40 years now.

What if we didn't have this marvelous resource? Would we lose the tourism that brings people to our quaint town and county?

So what can we do? Can we restructure the Museum into a "pay as you go" venture, with those using it paying fees for the services they receive? Should visitors pay an admission fee?

Some county-wide museums do function without government help, although it is not easy. It requires not only a fee structure but major fundraising efforts and a big increase in memberships and donations. Getting that kind of support takes staff - and selfless, dedicated volunteers - to plan and carry out.

But the bottom line is that our museum cannot start paying its own way in three months. The ZERO budget on such short notice just cannot be justified. It immediately puts the burden of funding on the small Historical Society membership and those who use the museum. It might take several years to alleviate this dilemma. For the record, the Canal Association took 20 years to get its footing and begin to grow.

The Canal Board met last Tuesday. Having just heard the news of the Council's decision, we caucused and came to this supporting decision. We will offer free space in the Canal Center and the support of our volunteer staff to host a fundraiser for the County Historical Society. We would love to see this succeed and follow the pattern of most Historical Societies that do not derive any or much of their support from the county government.

I believe this can work BUT on a crash basis the monetary needs of the Museum cannot be met with only three months' notice.

Dan McCain, president of the

Wabash & Erie Canal

Association

Believes civil rights are violated

In last week's Comet, Ron Kleckner wrote a thoughtful and persuasive argument against wasting Carroll County funds in a lawsuit with Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District. I personally do not want to see precious funds wasted on a losing effort. I want to go to court only as a last resort and only with a reasonable chance for success.

The best option is a compromise with TLRSD to address the worst grievances, especially the Rattlesnake Creek dumping plan. Compromise with TLRSD is non-existent, believe me I've tried. The board stubbornly refuses to engage in any reasonable discussion. Make no mistake about who is to blame for this mess. Let me repeat, it is the lack of compromise by TLRSD's Board of Trustees that brings us to the brink of court action.

What we can do about this board is to prepare a strong case against them. I have studied this board's history and actions. In my opinion they are vulnerable to a multitude of legal actions. Many free resources exist to help with this kind of effort including, but not limited to, Hoosier Environmental Council grants and the Indiana Civil Liberties Union.

It is a matter of public record, the original pro-Conservancy petition filed with the court did not mention TLRSD or challenge the district's authority. The recent Anti-Conservancy letter and attached petition mailed by TLRSD exposes the trustees abuse of office. Art Anderson, TLRSD treasurer, stated publicly that the conservancy does not affect the district's right to build its sewer. The sewer board trustees voted to use public funds to disrupt and impede a strictly Jefferson Township political process.

It is my opinion the sewer district's actions in the conservancy matter, amount to a civil rights violation. I have lodged a complaint with USDA, the source of their Federal funding. It has strict codes regarding civil rights. I am also asking the Department of Justice to look into this matter. If the Federal Bureau of Investigation finds any illegal actions then a lawsuit would be infinitely easier to win.

Carroll County can build its own limited lakeside sewer system and at a significant cost reduction. I am all for saving money and accomplishing everyone's goals. I think we can do this without TLRSD.

Gregory R. Smith Jefferson Township