Honey Creek honored many on Veterans Day



Honey Creek Middle School presented its annual Veterans Day program on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, to honor our nation’s veterans, current military personnel, law enforcement officers, emergency rescue workers and firefighters. The 181st Intel Wing Honor Guard presented the colors. Honey Creek student Katherine Senseman welcomed our guests. Mr. Tryon directed the Honey Creek Middle School Girls Choir in singing the National Anthem and “Wind Beneath My Wings.” Students and guests recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Honey Creek students wrote essays focused on the theme of “The Value of Sacrifice.” One student from each grade level was chosen to receive a plaque for winning the essay contest. Megan Mauriello was the sixth grade winner, Mariah Stout was chosen for seventh grade, and Saagarika Coleman not only won for the eighth grade, but also was chosen to read her essay as it won the overall school contest.

Brittany Vancil and Shannon McPike of the Honey Creek Dance Team performed to the theme song from the movie Armageddon. The Honey Creek Middle School Band, led by Mr. Humphrey, played the “American Celebration.” All veterans, law enforcement officers, emergency rescue workers, and firefighters in attendance were recognized for their devotion and service.

Guest speaker First Sgt. Michael Taylor, U.S. Marine Corps, delivered the Veterans Day message. First Sgt. Taylor is an INI First Sergeant Kilo Company Third Battalion 24th Marine Corps. He is also the father of 8th grade student Charlie Taylor. Mrs. Padan spoke in honor of former Honey Creek student and U.S. Army Sgt. Dale Griffin who recently lost his life in Afghanistan. The 181st Intel Honor Guard retired the colors. Mrs. Conde and her students in the Media Center concluded the program with a video and music presentation.

Special guests included veterans from all branches of the U.S. military, representatives from the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Terre Haute Police Department and ISU police. Local fire departments represented were from Honey Creek, Terre Haute, Prairie Creek, Prairieton, Pierson, Riley and Linton. Other emergency agencies represented were Lifeline and Transcare. In attendance from the Vigo County School Corp. were Alpa Patel, Daniel Tanoos, Karen Goeller, John Orr and Holly Pies. Parents, grandparents, and relatives of our students and staff also attended the program.

A very special thanks and congratulations to Mr. Dale Brown, eighth grade social studies teacher at Honey Creek Middle School, for all the time and effort he puts into our outstanding Veterans Day Program year after year.

— Patrick J. Sheehan, Principal, Honey Creek Middle School



Union Hospital needs to work on parking



I am grateful for the expansion of Union Hospital and the additional services it will provide but I have a real concern in regards as to parking facilities for visitors to the hospital.

Although hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent for these improvements the same old parking problem still exists, particularly during the day time. On a good day, parking is no closer than 2 blocks away (all up hill). If a visitor makes two trips a day that really adds up in walking. This is really bad when the weather is bad.

It seems to me that with all that money spent on the expansion some of it should have been spent for visitor parking facilities. I have some friends who work at the hospital and they estimate that at least 30 percent of the lots are taken by hospital employees.

Presently they operate a shuttle bus during the day. That is a real blessing and those people operating the shuttle are doing an outstanding job but if there is nothing left in the budget for a parking facility then they should look at the possibility of adding another shuttle. Working together they could better serve the needs of visitors to the hospital.

— Tom Stiffey, Terre Haute



Utilities should be commended for assistance



I would like to publicly thank Indiana’s three largest natural gas utilities for accepting the terms of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s recent order that reinstated universal service low-income assistance programs, and for proceeding with the programs during this heating season.

These programs will provide much-needed assistance to families who are struggling during these difficult economic times. Furthermore, all customers of these utilities will benefit through the reduction of related costs that might otherwise be recovered through utility rates.

When Citizens Gas, NIPSCO and Vectren sought reinstatement of these programs this year, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor recommended that the utilities be required to make greater financial contributions to enhance the programs. I am pleased that the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission order strikes a better balance between the utilities and their customers in regard to funding the programs.

Under the terms of the order, these programs will proceed in a fair, responsible manner. I commend the utilities for moving forward, while also acknowledging the contributions and hard work of the other organizations that participated in this case to achieve a beneficial outcome.

— A. David Stippler

Indiana Utility

Consumer Counselor