Thanks given to pull helpers

To the editor:

The Redkey Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank those in Redkey and the surrounding communities for their support of our recent truck and tractor pull.

We would also like to thank the Darke County Tractor Pullers Association for putting on a great show.

A special thank you goes out to the following local businesses and individuals for their help in sponsoring and providing equipment for our event this year: Bear Creek Crossing, Bell Aquaculture, Rex Caldwell, Carquest Auto Parts of Dunkirk, Cochran and Sons Stump Removal & Tree Service, Como Service, Devoss Mulch, FCC Indiana, Finnerty Farms, Fisher Meats, Jay County Pawn Brokers, Jay Emergency Medical Service, Key Palace Theater, Knisely Farms, Knisely Home Improvement, Louck Farms, Miller's Construction, NAPA Auto Parts, Pak-A-Sak of Redkey, Redkey Fun For Kids, Redkey Veterinary Clinic, John Reynolds, Shawn's Auto & Farm Repair, Stu's Garage, Tires and More, Tressler Backhoe & Trenching, V2 Motus, Wal-Mart, Wendel's Carpet & Upholstery & Floor Cleaning, and Young Builder's Construction.

We would also like to thank all of our family members and other individuals that help to make this event a success.

Due to the large number of people that help with this event, we apologize if we failed to mention anyone, but all of the help appreciated.

We depend on these fundraisers and donations for equipment and operating expenses for our department, and greatly appreciate the ongoing support of our community.

Mark Leavell, for the

officers and members

of the Redkey Volunteer

Fire Department

A bargain

To the editor:

With all the money being thrown around to huge Wall Street investment banks, insurance companies and even private industry, that question is indeed a good one these days. Some of this aforementioned so called "stimulus money" (more like corporate welfare, but stimulus has replaced the word welfare in our vocabulary these days) totals way up in the many hundreds of billions of dollars.

It simply boggles the mind and makes one wonder just what a mere measly sum of $800 million will buy these days.

If one wants to see something real and tangible that this comparatively miniscule sum of money will buy these days, make the trip to New Orleans.

The city's many troubles are far from over, but last Thursday as I left the city, the I-10 corridor exiting the city across the Lake Ponchatrain Basin to the east was quite the sight to behold.

The eastbound side of the new "bridge" opened to traffic on Thursday at 10 a.m.

Calling this engineering marvel a mere bridge is woefully inadequate. Down there a bridge can be many miles in length and involve much more than simply spanning a river or creek as they do here.

The signs in 2006 claimed the project was a $600 million federally funded project.

As the new structure opened to eastbound traffic, the sign has been "updated" to reflect a price of a tad over $800 million.

Undoubtedly, by the time the westbound side going into the city has been completed and opens to traffic, this number may indeed rise again.

Yep, $800 million builds a bridge, and a very nice one that is stronger, wider, larger, heavier and, most importantly in the hurricane storm surge prone mouth of the inlet, higher.

Quite a bargain in this day and age eh?

Sincerely,

James D. Fulks III

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