July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Residents remided to support local businesses (10/29/05)
To the editor:
Being a graduate of Jay County High School and most recently Indiana University, I could not agree more about not leaving Portland's historic downtown out of the big plans that are currently primarily focused on attracting large scale big box stores such as Wal-Mart.
While I have been out of the loop in regard to "official" development plans on the city level, it is obvious where most of the work is being concentrated. I would be the first to admit that as a teenager living in Portland, I often found the town stiflingly small at times, but now after having the opportunity to travel around the country I have seen just how great the town really is.
Assets such as the Jay County Public Library, The Arts Place, WPGW Radio, and even The Commercial Review that I am now submitting this letter to have shaped who I am now as a young adult. Sure, corporate monsters like Wal-Mart provide a great place to shop for items such as underwear or alarm clocks, not to mention at suspiciously cheap prices, but sometimes I wonder at what cost to small communities like Portland.
We, as citizens, need to be careful who we let shape the future of our community. After all, every cent that huge corporations like Wal-Mart unknowingly pull from the community we live in could be spent at local businesses owned by hard working individuals like you and me.
Additionally, we as a community need to question the long term intentions of the large scale corporation that target small rural communities. Will the jobs still exist after these huge corporations leave without notice?
Who will we go to for the little things like a new DVD or a lawn tractor when the big box stores leave us high and dry? I would hope that we all seek out the local businesses now that provide the services and products we want and need everyday because in the end if we choose not to support them they will slowly disappear. Who do you trust more with your community, the childhood friend next door or the big-box CEO who has no intention of ever visiting your community?
Progress is a great thing, but not at the expense of people like you and me. Please support your local businesses and continue to make Portland a great place to live.
Zachary Widman
Bloomington
Where’s the justice?
This is in regards to the letter Roger Stone wrote to your paper. About the only thing he got correct was about the justice in Jay County.
The two men went to the young man’s camper to talk to a girl who was allegedly staying there, about a gun that she allegedly took from one of the men’s home without permission, not to harm the young man.
It was also said they kicked the door in. Camper doors open out, not in. And that both men were armed with guns. That, I know for a fact, is not true because I am the only one in our house with guns, and a permit to carry them. Not one of those guns left our home on that night or any other night without me.
The two men were trying to get the gun back without getting the police involved because the girl allegedly already had warrants out on her and the one man did not want to add to her poClice problems.
Allegedly, the young man had been up for several days and allegedly the young man kept a gun in his couch. Maybe the two things together clouded his judgment on that day or he thought that he was protecting the young lady. But in my opinion, that did not warrant those two men getting shot!
So, if anyone should be in jail, for at the very least harboring a fugitive, possession of a handgun by a felon, and attempted murder, it should be, how did you say it Mr. Stone, the young victimized man of Portland who is not facing over $5,000 in medical bills.
Amy L. Rickner
Portland[[In-content Ad]]
Being a graduate of Jay County High School and most recently Indiana University, I could not agree more about not leaving Portland's historic downtown out of the big plans that are currently primarily focused on attracting large scale big box stores such as Wal-Mart.
While I have been out of the loop in regard to "official" development plans on the city level, it is obvious where most of the work is being concentrated. I would be the first to admit that as a teenager living in Portland, I often found the town stiflingly small at times, but now after having the opportunity to travel around the country I have seen just how great the town really is.
Assets such as the Jay County Public Library, The Arts Place, WPGW Radio, and even The Commercial Review that I am now submitting this letter to have shaped who I am now as a young adult. Sure, corporate monsters like Wal-Mart provide a great place to shop for items such as underwear or alarm clocks, not to mention at suspiciously cheap prices, but sometimes I wonder at what cost to small communities like Portland.
We, as citizens, need to be careful who we let shape the future of our community. After all, every cent that huge corporations like Wal-Mart unknowingly pull from the community we live in could be spent at local businesses owned by hard working individuals like you and me.
Additionally, we as a community need to question the long term intentions of the large scale corporation that target small rural communities. Will the jobs still exist after these huge corporations leave without notice?
Who will we go to for the little things like a new DVD or a lawn tractor when the big box stores leave us high and dry? I would hope that we all seek out the local businesses now that provide the services and products we want and need everyday because in the end if we choose not to support them they will slowly disappear. Who do you trust more with your community, the childhood friend next door or the big-box CEO who has no intention of ever visiting your community?
Progress is a great thing, but not at the expense of people like you and me. Please support your local businesses and continue to make Portland a great place to live.
Zachary Widman
Bloomington
Where’s the justice?
This is in regards to the letter Roger Stone wrote to your paper. About the only thing he got correct was about the justice in Jay County.
The two men went to the young man’s camper to talk to a girl who was allegedly staying there, about a gun that she allegedly took from one of the men’s home without permission, not to harm the young man.
It was also said they kicked the door in. Camper doors open out, not in. And that both men were armed with guns. That, I know for a fact, is not true because I am the only one in our house with guns, and a permit to carry them. Not one of those guns left our home on that night or any other night without me.
The two men were trying to get the gun back without getting the police involved because the girl allegedly already had warrants out on her and the one man did not want to add to her poClice problems.
Allegedly, the young man had been up for several days and allegedly the young man kept a gun in his couch. Maybe the two things together clouded his judgment on that day or he thought that he was protecting the young lady. But in my opinion, that did not warrant those two men getting shot!
So, if anyone should be in jail, for at the very least harboring a fugitive, possession of a handgun by a felon, and attempted murder, it should be, how did you say it Mr. Stone, the young victimized man of Portland who is not facing over $5,000 in medical bills.
Amy L. Rickner
Portland[[In-content Ad]]
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