Oil pipeline fight stalls

transportation bill

Friends of Big Oil have been making a habit in this session of Congress of holding essential legislation hostage in order to hasten construction of the dangerous Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline.

It’s happening again now as Congress takes one more stab at passing a bipartisan transportation bill — a critical piece of infrastructure legislation that is important to our future economic growth and is conservatively estimated to create one million jobs.

Keystone XL is fraught with flaws, from the destruction of pristine boreal forest ecosystems, to the potential leaks into the Ogallala aquifer along its route. This measure is a poison pill, a gift to Big Oil that threatens the transportation bill, and could hold up road and transit projects and squash much-needed jobs.

Instead of encouraging the production of one of the dirtiest, most polluting fuels and sending it through America’s heartland, Congress should be promoting clean energy solutions. Keystone XL is a devious dagger in the transportation bill that will not bring us closer to energy self-sufficiency, but further line the already bulging pockets of Big Oil.

— Michelle Davis

Terre Haute

Why not tax

what hurts us?

New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s decision to ban supersized sugary sodas has resurrected the age-old debate over the role of the state in protecting the public health.  In recent years, this debate involved bicycle helmets, car seat belts, tobacco, trans fats, saturated fats in meat and dairy products, and sugar (or more aptly, high-fructose corn syrup). Public subsidies for tobacco, meat and dairy, and corn production added fuel to the debate.

I would argue that society has a right to regulate activities that impose a heavy burden on the public treasury. National medical costs of dealing with our obesity epidemic, associated with consumption of meat, dairy, and sugars, are estimated at $190 billion. Eliminating subsidies for these products, as well as judicious taxation to reduce their use and recoup public costs should be supported by health advocates and fiscal conservatives alike.

Benjamin Franklin claimed that nothing is certain except death and taxes. Ironically, death can be deferred substantially by taxing products that make us sick.

— Theo Mattson

Terre Haute

Change comes, but heart

and soul remains

As we think about the closure of St. Ann’s Church and Chauncey Rose Middle School, the old piano duet tune “Heart and Soul” keeps running through our minds. Heart and soul, that is what they provided us. Heart and soul when no one else understood us. Heart and soul when solace was needed, meals were desired, and minds required education. The hearts of generations have prayed in St. Ann’s sanctuary. Their souls have attended classes at Gerstmeyer or at Chauncey Rose. The Chauncey Rose neighborhoods have always been a special place.

The vision that Mr. Chauncey Rose had for education was answered here. In the beginning, Rose Poly, now Rose-Hulman, occupied this landscape. After that, Gerstmeyer students walked the halls, climbed the staircases, slid down the fire escape, and cheered the famous Black Cat teams. When the new high schools were built, Gerstmeyer was torn down and Chauncey Rose was built. At first, it served as a junior high, then changed to a middle school. It is appropriate, and very gratifying that Mr. Greg Gauer was the Chauncey Rose principal for the final years. His family is steeped in the history of the neighborhoods. I congratulate my former student, the Chauncey Rose faculty, and the CR staff for providing their dedicated leadership.

While the educational needs were being met, St. Ann’s Church was providing guidance. It was my honor to be a fellow Chauncey Rose faculty member with John E. Etling. John established the Catholic Charities. Recreational programs were also developed. Many marriages were conducted at St. Ann’s Church, including my sister Nancy Geiger, and many residents belonged to the parish. St. Ann’s has always answered the call, and has served as a beating heart for generations. St. Ann’s parishioners have had the honor to donate to a church in need. Remember that a heart transplant provides a renewal of life. God bless those who have ministered here, and those who continue to serve.

As you travel past the homes in the CR neighborhoods, you must remember that a book is more than its cover. Doctors, lawyers, bank executives, ministers, teachers, nurses, musicians, poets, business leaders, professional athletes, and many others in our work community have lived in one of these houses at some point in time. The transposed Chauncey Rose students should not fear leaving but should remember that the past generations are cheering for your success. A strong soul will carry on in new surroundings.

So, as the heart and soul of the neighborhood changes, the future looks bright. The Boys and Girls Club will continue to provide recreational and social activities. St. Ann’s is being converted to answer the continuing needs, and the Catholic Charities will be a watch dog for the families. “Heart and Soul” is the duet that remains the ever-pulsating rhythm for the surrounding neighborhoods.

Remember to keep your goals high, to remain flexible, and to meet every challenge. May the future bring success to all.

— Jacquelyn  Seddelmeyer

CR faculty 1973-1974,

1979-1986

THN faculty 1984-2010

— Nancy Geiger

Gerstmeyer, 1969

Married at St. Ann’s, 1973

Valley rallies to

teach its youth

More than 300 young Terre Haute entrepreneurs hit the streets and learned a valuable lesson for business success. For the first time, on May 19, 2012, Terre Haute participated in Lemonade Day, a free, nationwide program dedicated to teaching children how to start, own and operate their own business through the time-honored tradition of building and running a lemonade stand. This year more than 160,000 children registered in 36 cities around the country.

On behalf of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, I thank the Wabash Valley for embracing the program and investing in our children. Through the program, youth learned valuable life skills by developing every aspect of their own business, from planning to pouring. They also gained the opportunity to “spend a little, save a little and share a little,” by donating a portion of their profits to a local charity of their choice. The American Cancer Society, Catholic Charities, Terre Haute Humane Society and many others benefited from their generosity.

I offer a special thank you to Frontier Communications and Marc Evans for their level of sponsorship and leadership in our community. I am grateful for the many community sponsors who shared our vision to create the foundation for success.

The children’s commitment impressed and inspired me. They attended workshops on selling strategies, developed business plans, set goals, scoped out prime location spots and perfected their recipes. Their willingness to give back a portion of their earnings is a lesson to us all.

Finally, I thank everyone who supported our young people. Whether you are a parent who assisted and mentored your child in this endeavor, a teacher of the Vigo County School Corp. who used this as part of the curriculum or one of the many thirsty citizens who bought a glass of homemade lemonade, I thank you.

I am proud to live in a community that welcomes opportunities for families, businesses, community organizations and schools to unite for a common purpose — to educate the next generation of entrepreneurs.

— Dottie L. King, Ph.D.

President

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College

Accolades for

a news carrier

If your eyes drift to more exciting topics as you read these words, I understand. This is not an account of a great athlete’s heroics on the field. It is not a flowering eulogy of a politician. It is not a contentious article that embroils readers and fans the flames of controversy.

No, maybe, just maybe, it is more meaningful. It is a letter of thanks and appreciation to a man who has done his job and done it right for almost four decades.

The job of a newspaper carrier could be described as routine, mundane and uneventful. That is, routine like getting up at 3 a.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year. Mundane, like checking the weather forecast for fog, ice or torrential rain. And an uneventful drive, like the courier who escapes the swerving of an early morning Sunday drunk driver.

Of course the job is much appreciated. That is, like unwittingly being blamed for late papers, omitting a section of the paper, or delivering a newspaper with an unreadable sentence.

In truth, the job of the Tribune-Star carrier is not glamorous. It often goes unnoticed except when there is a problem. And it can be difficult. Yet, there has been one man that for 36 years has been unsurpassed in his ability to get the job done.

Always, always, always, George Wolfe got the paper to the subscriber as soon as possible. In the more than 20 years I’ve lived in Youngstown, if there was one person you could count on, it was Mr. Wolfe. As an independent contractor for the Tribune-Star his work ethic was phenomenal and his concern for his customers immeasurable.

Accolades are often expressed for rich and powerful people. I’d like to recognize the equally important contribution of George Wolfe and his 36 years of unwavering commitment to his customers.

Thank you so much for a job well done, George. I know I write for so many in expressing my heartfelt appreciation for your faithful service. You are a man of great integrity and your contribution to Vigo County has been truly remarkable. May you enjoy your retirement to the fullest.

— Bill Youman

Terre Haute

Disgusting display

goes way too far

I just finished reading the Tribune-Star article about a yard display that borders on too much of a good thing, which is being free to express your opinion in any fashion without regard to how this affects those around you.

I have not seen this display which Mr. Willis is so proud of, nor do I want to. Anyone who would display President Obama on the cross is either stupid or out of touch with reality.

I am surprised the neighbors don’t insist that this display be removed as I am sure it has to offend any person who is religious, not to mention anyone who has a sense of democracy.

Mr. Willis is entitled to his opinion about executive orders, but he is not entitled to disrespect Jesus Christ. Crucifixion is a death sentence. Is he suggesting that President Obama should be put to death for his supposed socialist crimes? This is a prime example of why the right to express oneself should be limited by what is socially acceptable.

Easter is one of the holiest times for Christans because it is the time that Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world. I find the very idea of comparing the death of Christ with the hoped-for death of President Obama at the ballot box disgusting. Mr. Willis has had his 15 minutes of fame. Doesn’t Terre Haute have any zoning laws which could force the removal of this disgusting display? Where are the neighbors of this man? Do you want your children to see this display and assume that it is OK to suggest we kill a president if we do not like his executive orders?

Where does the unwritten law of what is respectful or disrespectful come into play? Are there no limits on what a person can display in his yard? I’m just glad Mr. Willis doesn’t live in my neighborhood. I would be ashamed to admit it if he did. I would tell people he was just another far right “nut” who should be ignored. I can just see him now sitting in his yard saying things like, “I showed them Secret Service gents a thing or two about my rights. I can say anything I like and nobody is going to stop me.”

What a sad level we have sunk to if an individual can suggest killing a president and get away with it.

— Shirley A. Thomas

Brazil

Thanks for making

time for the kids

My granddaughter recently finished playing soccer with the VCYS teams. She is only 6 years old and had never seen a soccer ball, let alone play soccer.

She had a blast and this was all due to her coach, Steve Butwin. This man hadn’t coached in over 25 years but my granddaughter was lucky enough to be on his team. He had three goals for his team of six 5-6 year olds, the main one being to have fun, which they did.

These six children respected Mr. Butwin (called grandpa by the team) more than I’ve seen most adults. He never yelled at his team but praised each one, as each one did a good play. My granddaughter had surgery during this time Mr. Butwin checked on her, sent her a card signed by her teammates, and when she returned to play, he greeted her enthusiastically and made her feel welcome on returning.

Mr. Butwin, I personally want to thank you for being a great coach, a caring person, and to let you know that we appreciate you taking your time out of your busy schedule, playing in hot weather and giving your Tuesday evening and Sunday afternoons for these children. Thank you.

— Marilyn Anders

Terre Haute