Retired state employees should be alert to danger

Retired state employees should be alert to danger
EDITOR:
There is pending legislation that could greatly affect the pension funds of the State Teacher Retirement System (STRS), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), School Employees Retirement System (SERS), and the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC). Rep. Charles Calvert, R-Medina, had introduced legislation -- House Bill 173 -- which would direct the above pension funds to invest $60 million dollars annually, into the Ohio Technology Fund (OTF). Money from this fund would be used for venture capital investments in Ohio high technology businesses that are in the early developmental stages.
As a member of the STRS, I strongly object to this attempt to access public pension funds. This bill is expected to come before the House and Senate very soon. If you object to the passage of this bill, write to Rep. Calvert, and your own representative and senator.
KELLY GIALOUSIS
Campbell
Driver who hit cat should know the rest of the story
EDITOR:
I would like to address the person who hit my cat with their car. I've had her since she was a tiny baby kitten. She was a gift from my mother. She turned 5 years old in August. She was a beautiful calico with orange eyes. When she looked up at you, her face looked like Gizmo. Her name was Z-28. My husband and I called her Z.
She comforted me when I was sad and she was always playful. I loved her. And now, she's dead. You killed her. I just got done burying her in my backyard. You paralyzed her and broke her. Her spine was twisted and her leg was bleeding profusely. She had a puncture mark in her head; her tail and her pelvic bones were smashed. I didn't want her to suffer. If I could've afforded to fix her, she'd never be the same and the pain would've been unbearable. I had to make the decision for her. She had to be put to sleep. She should've had 10 or more years on earth.
Whether or not she was crossing the road is beside the point. You fly down the road and run stop signs. The speed limit is 25 mph or less. If you were going slower and paying attention, you would've been able to stop in time. There's no snow on the road. You can't use that excuse. Did you stop to help her? Probably not, because I saw the trail of blood where she most likely had to drag herself to the front yard. We found her laying by the trash cans. She was still breathing. We carried her into the garage and she couldn't even move.
I don't want an apology. I hope you never have to find your pet bleeding to death on your front lawn by your garbage cans where it collapsed. I hope you never have to make that decision. I just want you to live with the guilt for the rest of your life. Now, maybe you'll stop or at least try to help any animal you kill from now on.
RACHEL MARSHALL
Campbell
Be alert when shopping, or you could be sorry
EDITOR:
I am writing to inform the readers of a scam that can occur in broad daylight and with many people nearby. My husband was in the Doral Drive Giant Eagle in Boardman recently, and had his entire cart of groceries taken while he was checking out.
As you know, Giant Eagle has a self-service grocery checkout system in place. When using the self-service checkout, the customer scans his own groceries, weighs his own produce, and pays the bill also. The customer needs to concentrate when doing this. Someone came up to my husband and asked if he needed help when doing this. He did not realize that this person was not a store employee. When he turned around after paying the bill, the grocery cart was gone.
The store security happened to stop the person who was taking the cart of stolen groceries out of the store. However, an ensuing loud verbal altercation diverted the attention of the security and management personnel, and no arrests were made. Bottom line here is that, with the holidays coming up, the grocery stores will get very busy. Be aware of your surroundings inside as well as outside the store.
PATTI DALLESKE
Boardman