Fines are all about the $$ (07/06/06)

To the editor:

While driving home from a fun-filled evening at the Portland baseball diamonds, my son and I were enjoying a DQ treat. We were traveling approximately 25 mph and heading out of town. I saw a city police vehicle on a side street and politely waved. He pulled out and followed me a short distance before turning on his flashing lights with an arrogant, authoritative attitude he ticketed me for a seat belt violation.

In Indiana one can drive a truck without wearing a seat belt. I’m not sure, but that appears to be discrimination against car owners. I believe ticketing a driver merely for not using a seat belt violates the United States Constitution, and where do motorcycles fit in?

As a registered nurse for 20 years and a CPR instructor, I have helped save many lives. I agree that seat belts can and do save lives, but so does: 1. Leading a tobacco-free life, 2. avoiding a diet consistently high in fats and sugars, 3. having a single sexual partner and 4. avoiding unnecessary use of firearms.

Whatever politicians passed the law allowing police officers to ticket civilians just for not clicking their seat belt did so not for safety reasons, but merely for the revenue. If the government is truly concerned about the welfare of the American people, tobacco would not be allowed in any public setting, abortions would not be permitted (except in a few rare cases, not for convenience), doctors would have to be educated in nutrition and holistic care and the list could go on and on.

The next time I see a police officer eating a Big Mac and drinking a Coke, maybe I should reprimand him — for his safety of course, about the potentially fatal affects of choosing such a poor nutritional meal. Sounds ludicrous? So is pulling someone over solely for not choosing to click his/her seat belt. (Someone in a car, but not a truck, though.)

My point being if the police are going to ticket me strictly for my well being and safety because I didn’t have a seat belt on, tell me it’s for the revenue. It’s all about the money.

Lisa Wood

Portland

Thanks

To the editor:

Maybe you worked the concession stand or registration area, maybe you donated money or walked, maybe you lit luminaries or volunteered, maybe you displayed a yard sign, maybe you thought about use at the Walk, or maybe you were on the Walk committee. Whatever you did that day was more than just your time or money. You touched the life of someone you may not know- someone who is battling cancer.

This cancer patient is someone’s mother or father, someone’s child, someone’s friend, someone’s co-worker. A person who knows the emotional, spiritual and financial devastation that cancer brings to life. Thanks to the Walk a cancer patient will be able to afford their medication, their treatment, or supplies to help them win their battle. Your contribution, whatever it was, not only provided financial assistance- it touched their hearts. What an awesome feeling during the luminary ceremony to know that over 600 people raised over $17,000, lit 1,000 candles, and gave of themselves for cancer patients in Jay County!

Thanks to all our sponsors who entrusted us with their donations to host the 2006 Walk Against Cancer:

Gold: Hartzell Fan, Delta Theta Tau, Alphabet, Jay County Hospital, Jay County Knights of Columbus.

Silver: MainSource Bank, Alpha Delta Gamma Nu, Portland Eye Center, Immaculate Conception Altar Rosary Society, Burkhart Advertising, Moser Engineering.

Bronze: Cool Cayene, Tyson Foods, Venture Printing, Mike’s RentAll, Display Craft, WPGW, Progressive Office Products.

Without your generosity, the Walk would not be possible.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Carducci, chairperson, Walk Against Cancer and vice president, Jay County Cancer Society

Amazing

To the editor:

Wow, what a Fourth of July celebration at Redkey.

No one should have gone home Saturday night without being entertained and without plenty to eat. The baseball tourney was great; beautiful trophies. A big thank you to Redkey Little League for putting this on this year, a lot of hard work and it showed.

Lots of thanks to Redkey Fireworks Committee, Redkey Fire Department and John Brooke.

What an awesome fireworks.

See you next year.

Dottie Quakenbush

Redkey[[In-content Ad]]