Ellis diverts us from real issue
Give the Ellis brothers credit for a magnificent show of hubris. Not too many local citizens would consider demanding sainthood for “spraying weed killer.”
Like many caught with their hands in the cookie jar, Mike Ellis has tried to divert attention from the facts. Gosh, if Mike is prevented from breaking the law, police will arrive at YOUR house with purple paint. If Mike is prevented from breaking the law, the elderly and YOUR child will be killed by marauding trees. If Mike is prevented from breaking the law, distracted police will not be able to stop heinous crimes being committed against YOU.
The main fact of the case is that the police and city forester told Mike Ellis on Saturday (Aug. 21) that “trimming” city trees requires a permit and the use of a licensed contractor. Mike did not have a permit, and the tree topping speaks to the qualifications of the contractor. An unambiguous “no” clearly means nothing to Mike, because he brought the same crew back on Sunday (Aug. 22). Hence, Mike’s claims about believing that it was OK to take off the “flower boxes” is just “smoke.”
The media did not hover over the tree issue. Indeed, there were no media present on Saturday. There were no fines on Saturday. Mike was treated with kid gloves. The media only appeared with Councilman Nation on Sunday when Mike decided to ignore police warnings and the law. Mike’s whining about the media may indicate that he finds it more difficult to ignore public opinion than police warnings.
Mike’s statement that “just because a legislative body passes legislation doesn’t make it legal” seems a little odd considering that he ran for Vigo County Prosecutor. Some laws may not be practical or wise, but they are laws until they are changed or overturned. And, not allowing individuals to butcher or remove trees purchased by the taxpayers seems like a reasonable law.
Perhaps the best take-home message for Mike is that purchasing a bench and a bottle of weed killer does not exempt one from laws that apply to others.
— Jim Hughes
Terre Haute
Generosity made event happen
The folks from the Happiness Bag Adult Day Service were recently provided with the opportunity to ride the airboats, courtesy of Joe’s Airboats and a very, very generous donor. However, this event almost did not occur due to the theft of the organization’s 15-passenger van.
Our participants thought that whoever had taken our van would most definitely bring it back to them, just so they could go ride the airboats. However extremely forgiving and caring our folks are, they don’t understand that whoever had taken our van probably had no intention of ever returning their van. Obviously, we are dealing with insurance issues and police investigations, not to mention a very limited budget from which to work with, so replacing the vehicle will happen, just not right away.
The possibilities of making this event happen were looking very slim until a phone call was placed to Turner Coaches. Mr. Charles Beckwith at Turner came through for our folks and provided them with the transportation they needed to get to Fairbanks Park for their outing. You would have thought that a Trump limo had arrived to pick everyone up — they were all so very, very excited. Not only were they going to ride on the airboats, but they were riding there in the “awesome” Turner Coach.
What an amazing afternoon each one of our folks were able to experience, from the opportunity given to them by generous donors paying for the airboat; to the fantastic guys from Joe’s Airboats and all of their assistance; to Mr. Beckwith and his driver for getting us there, making it all possible.
Yet again, another example of the Wabash Valley community showing its true spirit by helping us out and providing our folks with an opportunity that others may take for granted.
It is truly unfortunate that someone would stoop to stealing from our folks. However, the real loser in all of this isn’t our folks — it’s the fool that thought they would break our spirit. And quite honestly, no one will ever steal our spirit because no one will ever understand anything like our folks do.
— Jodi Moan
Terre Haute
Have we adopted a new ‘normal’?
Is the acceptance of over-government on citizens and on businesses becoming the new norm for our society? Is the acceptance of unconstitutional abuses by our government regardless of the political party in power becoming the new norm for our society? Is our acceptance of growing and maintained unemployment, business closings in this country and unconstitutional government solutions becoming the new norm for our society?
Is accepting “saved or created jobs,” “read my lips,” “subsidizing bad mortgages,” “pork barrel stimulus,” “I can spend your money better than you can,” expressions given to Americans allowing our government to bankrupt our nation becoming the new accepted norm for our society? Are the American people, the United States Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights becoming strangers in this land of America the new norm for our society? What do each one of you as Americans think about Americas present and future?
These new norms in America are a new force of change by our political representatives on the American society. Whether or not these new norms are accepted by the majority population is immaterial, because they are being forced on all Americans. The new norm for America is becoming an un-Americanized and bankrupt America.
— Charles Bean
Terre Haute
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