A dose of 'Reality'

To the editor:
Eighth graders at East Jay and West Jay middle schools experienced Reality Store recently. As “28-year-olds” for the day, they were given a salary based on the career they had chosen. After paying their taxes and setting up checking and savings accounts, each student made choices about housing, transportation, utilities, insurance, food, child care, clothing, entertainment and other budget items.
All of this was possible because of the following volunteers who guided them in their choices: Jeanna Ford, Beverly Huntsman, Pam Schemenaur, Tressie Monore, Toneta Bailey, Kathy Carpenter, Tracy Muhlenkamp, Amy Barrett, Mel Smitley, Laci Smitley, Kim Loy, Kay LeMaster, Duane Starr, Mike Smith, Steve Arnold, Jon Funk, Kathy Subler, Laurinda Shope, Cindy Denney, Missy May, Phil Cowan, Debbie Harmon, Samantha Williams, Cortland Simsic, Korrie Stump, Susan Kohler, Jan Hurst, Shuana Runkle, Judy and Neil Medler, Debbie Shreeve, Linda Leonhard, Jane Ann Runyon, Jessica Cook, Kendra Fennig, Roger Prescott, Karin Somers, Angie Schlechty, Angie Bentz, Brooks Weitzel, Sharon Newman, Jacob Durham, Vicki Delzeith, Nathan Springer, Michael Brewster, Debbie Howell, Tammy Lyons, Rebecca Kunkler and Claudia Thornburg.
We want to thank all of these good people, as well as the East Jay and West Jay teachers, secretaries, custodians and food service personnel.
Thanks again,
Counselors Tammy Velasco (East Jay) and Laura McConnell (West Jay), along with retired East Jay counselor Ned Stucky

Wondering
To the editor:
Oh my God why hast thou forsaken us?
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Really?
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy will be done . . . thy will be done . . . thy will be done?
The words roll in my head, over and over and over, again and again and again.
Why?
How do we comprehend the incomprehensible?
Please God our Father; this cannot be thy will . . . not our babies!
Suffer the little Children, to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven . . . words of our Father’s precious love of our Children.
How, pray tell, can we continue to pray this ecumenical paen with conviction?
Where were the trumpets of Jericho, where was the God of the Israelites who parted then unparted the Red Sea, the God who stayed the hand of Abraham?
Where?
They were just learning to color, to paste, to sing and play together. Making choices had not yet entered their life, they trusted everyone and everything, so they followed instructions as they learned and waited for Christmas, dead in a blood spattered room. A room of horror filled with babies who had not yet learned to hate, who knew only love.
This year, 20 unopened presents will remain under the tree as the 20 murdered children gather under the tree of life where they and their classmates will “grow old in the spirit”!
And on the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring and even a mouse.
“Their stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.”
Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm?
Holy infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace!
They were not yet in the flower of their youth, no, only tiny buds yet to bloom.
Why does a loving God not intervene as his Children are being executed, torn apart by bullets deemed too savage for combat by NATO.
As their bodies are ripped apart, their flesh falling to the floor in the mayhem of madness, Jesus observes!
Not my will but thy will be done?
I submit that there isn’t an earthly Father who would have stood idly by as his babies were being executed.
The tortured statements of the clergy are ringing hollow as we wait for the annual celebration of baby Jesus in the safety of the manger.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Sometimes I wonder about Jesus and the mystery of his love and how he shows us his love. And how sometimes he doesn’t!
Oh and “Keep the Faith”!
 Phil Lutz
Bryant, Indiana

Thanks given
To the editor:
The Portland Citizens Police Academy Alumni would like to take this opportunity to thank those who donated their time, talents and donations for the Christmas tree at the Jay County Courthouse, the award-winning float in the Parade of Lights, and the Shop with a Cop program.
We would like to give a special thanks to Carl Walker for use of his farm wagon; Beyond the Gilded Willow, Gavin Lopez as McGruff; Myra Romine, Turee Stewart and Katelyn Kauffman. The citizens academy alumni are busy throughout the year raising money for the Jay County High School Scholarship Fund, Shop with a Cop and other events.
Thank you,
Jeff Westlake, president; Tom Kennedy, vice president; Betty Stone, secretary; and Myra Romine, treasurer

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