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Former REMC director speaks out

I am very proud to have previously served on the board of directors of the Carroll County REMC for five terms. But, what is happening now bothers me tremendously.

I understand that we have a $2 million indebtedness now. Why, would we want to consolidate with White County REMC which has a $6 million indebtedness? Also, since the White County REMC thinks that the people of Carroll County do not have any business sense, why would we hire their manager to manage our REMC?

According to a recent article in the Comet, Tom Flora believes that the desires of the members are not important. Didn't the members vote against consolidation with White County? Evidently, what the members want is not what the directors want. So, if the directors are not working for the members, WHO ARE THEY WORKING FOR? Gordon Flora Delphi

Preserve Burnett's Creek Culvert

Please allow me to weigh in in favor of preserving the Burnett's Creek Culvert.

The culvert is a tidy piece of construction which allows a major watery means of transportation to be transported over a major neighborhood creek, and never the twain shall meet.

This was an engineering miracle in days prior to internal combustion engines.

According to Allen County Historian Tom Castaldi's website entitled "Lock 28 - Wabash and Erie Canal's forgotten Lock 28," the culvert was constructed during what was a rather nasty period of time in the state's history - the Trail of Death. It is generally acknowledged that the arch was built during 1839 and 1840 and the Canal opened to Delphi in August of 1840. A lifting lock was constructed west of the arch. Mercuric chloride was used to inhibit decay of the walnut planks, and there was no mortar used in the construction of the arch itself.

Earlier days saw two mills constructed by the Barnes family on the same body of water.

The road which passes over this masterpiece was probably constructed in 1887, according to bridge expert and professor of history Dr. James Cooper.

An artistic rendition accomplished by commercial artist Terry Lacy of this same piece of tangible history is visible in the Canal Interpretive Center at Canal Park at Delphi. Mark A. Smith Brookston Canal board member