July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Inmates still have their rights (11/10/05)
Letters to the editor
To the editor:
As to the Oct. 25 letter to the editor from Jason Roessner, there are 48 inmates in this (Jay County) jail today.
As for you being a taxpayer, each and every inmate in this jail has, have, or had families. And even though we are in jail, we still live by the American way, eat, sleep, pay taxes, and then die.
We are still humans, and we still have constitutional rights. And furthermore, who are you to judge us? We are incarcerated; we didn’t ask to be put in jail. Do you think everybody in here is guilty? That is yet to be proved.
Have you ever heard of the Bible? You should refer to Matthew Chapter 7 verses 1-6.
And as far as being a burden to the rest of us, you should check my tax-paying records from 1979 to 2000. I dare you to pull up all my tax records and take a look at the thousands and thousands of dollars I’ve paid in taxes. I think you’d be shocked.
We, as taxpayers, shouldn’t have to sit in jail being cold or told to ration our “toiletries.” Also, as taxpayers, we shouldn’t have to feel lucky to eat or have a place to sleep. We, like you, pay taxes.
This is our home. It may not be where we want to be, so we make the best of it.
And, if you don’t know, I’ll let you in on a law: We are required to have one hour each day for recreation. Recreation is not a luxury, it’s a form of exercise.
And, last but not least, yes, I’ve heard of “don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” But the hand that feeds you is not by any means above any one of us.
Last night on channel 8, there was — I believe in Columbus — a police chief who turned himself in for drinking and driving a police car while on duty. Another police officer in Alexandria was accused of using his police job to solicit sex.
Proven fact: We are not perfect.
Also, do you recall right here in our own backyard, the three police officers while serving a search warrant where a certain something was stolen during the search? I believe one officer resigned and the other two were relieved of their duties for three days without pay.
Have you ever heard of my good friend Larry Hilbert? I am sure Larry will talk to you about how your tax dollar is spent.
Enough said.
Dennis Boolman
Jay County Jail Inmate
They agree
To the editor:
We would like to state our agreement to the letter last week about the barking dogs, and also add that there is another element to this animal ownership that irritates us. Dog owners seem to think they have the right to walk their dogs past our yards to leave their deposits wherever they stop with no thought to cleaning up the mess.
We don’t want it in our yard, on the street in front or on the alley behind our house for someone to step in and walk it into the house.
An animal on a long leash can urinate on our white vinyl fence without any sign of control by the owner. When our flowers on the inside of our fence start dying, we will certainly know the cause.
We do not have animals for a reason. We do not want the noise. We do not want the mess. Keep your animals at home and quiet.
Mike and Susie Martin
Portland
Missed
To the editor:
It has been almost a month since Barb Wilkinson passed away, but her memory is still strong with me and I'm sure many people in the Jay County area.
I worked under Barb at The Commercial Review for about three years as a reporter. There were times when her standards were very tough to meet, but it was all in the spirit of teaching me what I needed to know to become a good reporter.
Barb also took the pictures at my wedding when I got married and left the area.
She was working, but I still think she enjoyed herself. She then went above and beyond and put all the photos in albums for me.
Without Barb I would not have improved my writing to the point of winning a Hoosier State Press Association award my third year with the paper. I also might not have achieved the title of news editor at my current paper, the Peru Tribune.
I was very saddened to hear of her passing, as she had such an impact on my life and career. Barb, I'm sure, touched many more people than anyone knows.
May her soul rest in peace after the health problems she suffered.
Laurie (Chen) Kiefaber
Wabash[[In-content Ad]]
As to the Oct. 25 letter to the editor from Jason Roessner, there are 48 inmates in this (Jay County) jail today.
As for you being a taxpayer, each and every inmate in this jail has, have, or had families. And even though we are in jail, we still live by the American way, eat, sleep, pay taxes, and then die.
We are still humans, and we still have constitutional rights. And furthermore, who are you to judge us? We are incarcerated; we didn’t ask to be put in jail. Do you think everybody in here is guilty? That is yet to be proved.
Have you ever heard of the Bible? You should refer to Matthew Chapter 7 verses 1-6.
And as far as being a burden to the rest of us, you should check my tax-paying records from 1979 to 2000. I dare you to pull up all my tax records and take a look at the thousands and thousands of dollars I’ve paid in taxes. I think you’d be shocked.
We, as taxpayers, shouldn’t have to sit in jail being cold or told to ration our “toiletries.” Also, as taxpayers, we shouldn’t have to feel lucky to eat or have a place to sleep. We, like you, pay taxes.
This is our home. It may not be where we want to be, so we make the best of it.
And, if you don’t know, I’ll let you in on a law: We are required to have one hour each day for recreation. Recreation is not a luxury, it’s a form of exercise.
And, last but not least, yes, I’ve heard of “don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” But the hand that feeds you is not by any means above any one of us.
Last night on channel 8, there was — I believe in Columbus — a police chief who turned himself in for drinking and driving a police car while on duty. Another police officer in Alexandria was accused of using his police job to solicit sex.
Proven fact: We are not perfect.
Also, do you recall right here in our own backyard, the three police officers while serving a search warrant where a certain something was stolen during the search? I believe one officer resigned and the other two were relieved of their duties for three days without pay.
Have you ever heard of my good friend Larry Hilbert? I am sure Larry will talk to you about how your tax dollar is spent.
Enough said.
Dennis Boolman
Jay County Jail Inmate
They agree
To the editor:
We would like to state our agreement to the letter last week about the barking dogs, and also add that there is another element to this animal ownership that irritates us. Dog owners seem to think they have the right to walk their dogs past our yards to leave their deposits wherever they stop with no thought to cleaning up the mess.
We don’t want it in our yard, on the street in front or on the alley behind our house for someone to step in and walk it into the house.
An animal on a long leash can urinate on our white vinyl fence without any sign of control by the owner. When our flowers on the inside of our fence start dying, we will certainly know the cause.
We do not have animals for a reason. We do not want the noise. We do not want the mess. Keep your animals at home and quiet.
Mike and Susie Martin
Portland
Missed
To the editor:
It has been almost a month since Barb Wilkinson passed away, but her memory is still strong with me and I'm sure many people in the Jay County area.
I worked under Barb at The Commercial Review for about three years as a reporter. There were times when her standards were very tough to meet, but it was all in the spirit of teaching me what I needed to know to become a good reporter.
Barb also took the pictures at my wedding when I got married and left the area.
She was working, but I still think she enjoyed herself. She then went above and beyond and put all the photos in albums for me.
Without Barb I would not have improved my writing to the point of winning a Hoosier State Press Association award my third year with the paper. I also might not have achieved the title of news editor at my current paper, the Peru Tribune.
I was very saddened to hear of her passing, as she had such an impact on my life and career. Barb, I'm sure, touched many more people than anyone knows.
May her soul rest in peace after the health problems she suffered.
Laurie (Chen) Kiefaber
Wabash[[In-content Ad]]
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