City workers did great job (02/20/2009)

To the editor:

Often we are too quick to complain about public services while, at the same time, failing to speak up when a job is well done. In that sense, I want to publicly compliment the employees of the Portland Street Department for their prompt and efficient clean-up of a large spruce tree which blew down late Feb. 11, blocking South Meridian Street and interrupting utility service to several homes.

During the night the tree was cut apart and pushed aside to re-open the street and restore utility services, leaving a large amount of debris in my front yard and across the street.

Much to my amazement, the crew from the city was on the scene shortly after 9 a.m. on Thursday (Feb. 12) and cleaned up the entire mess and hauled it away by 10 a.m.

Furthermore, it is my understanding that this was the last of four downed trees to be cleaned up that morning.

My personal thanks and compliments to these workers and the city of Portland on a difficult job well done.

Joe Louks

Portland

Remember

To the editor:

Many of us see the sign of the Red Cross each day and take it for granted. When disaster victims need blankets to keep warm, a cot to sleep on, toiletry items, groceries or clean clothes, the Red Cross is there.

When a veteran needs a ride to a VA hospital, he/she can count on the Red Cross to pick them up.

If a loved one of yours or mine is serving in the military and has an emergency, the communication pipeline is the Red Cross.

What most don't realize is the Red Cross operates strictly on public donations and they always need help.

Here's what a $1,000 donation could do for our community in a time of need:

•198 blankets or 37 cots for disaster victims.

•Provide groceries to 20 disaster victims.

•Buy clothes and shoes for two families of four.

•Provide bedding and linens for four families of four who have lost homes in a fire.

•Repair the roof of two damaged homes.

Please remember these needs of the Red Cross. They might be there for you someday.

Manfred Beck, Red

Cross volunteer

Portland

Good choice

To the editor:

Public schools are not immune to the effects of our current economic state. Public school administrators have the daunting task of budgeting in tough economic times. Here at Northern Wells Community Schools we too are facing economic issues.

Our local teachers' association, Norwell Classroom Teachers' Association (NCTA) has been discussing for some time now with our central office and building level administration how best to allocate our resources while doing what is best for students.

Because we have quality communication with these administrators, NCTA not only supports our teachers, but we also support our administration and school board; they continually communicate with the teachers' association and ask for our input. For more information on these requirements, please research P.L. 217.

Our superintendent and board of education recently cut several administrative and non-teaching positions within our corporation. NCTA is impressed that the very first cuts made were those that did not directly impact students.

Furthermore, our classroom teachers' association is legally bound by our contract with administration. We have no desire to violate this contract or Indiana Code.

We believe our superintendent and board of education will continue to remain student-centered in these tough economic times.

Anna Murphy and

Deb Shumaker, co-presidents, Norwell Classroom Teachers' Association[[In-content Ad]]