Judging from the picture, prisoner enjoys good life

Judging from the picture, prisoner enjoys good life
EDITOR:
I was curious to read a feature story Oct. 9 about a new prison training program in the Trumbull Correctional Institution that reads, "With good behavior dogs get out in nine weeks." As I read further, unaware of who was in the accompanying picture, to my surprise I realized it was Terrance Lighting.
Now, to anyone else this would just be another prisoner, no big deal. How nice he looks training a dog to be adopted by a local family. Well, the big deal is that Terrance Lightning robbed my brother, John "Jay Jay" Kovachik of $10 while he was driving for the Independent Taxi Company on Feb. 2, 1992, and then shot him in the head and then drove him to a dead end street where he died.
Trumbull Correctional Institution, aren't there better programs you could offer than training a dog through a prisoner who took a person's life at age 35? Doesn't the Trumbull Correctional Institution have any compassion for the families who are left in sorrow than to flash a big picture of a prisoner who took the life of a brother, uncle, cousin and friend? It may have been 10 years that have gone by, but when I saw the picture of Terrance Lightning training a dog, it sickened me. I suggest that your prisoners be screened first to see just what they are in for before exposing that picture in front of loved ones who have been left behind.
I also suggest that you have prisoners participate in a more productive program without so much glorification and honor! My title of the article would have been "Terrance Lighting treats dogs better than people."
LINDA KOVACHIK
Boardman
Preserve excellence with Boardman schools vote
EDITOR:
We have a message to all those who are honored to be Boardman grandparents.
Sixty years ago we began our schooling, and 28 years later we watched our oldest child begin her schooling. Within seven more years, her sister and brother joined her. This past September we stood at the bus stop with our second grandchild as he joined his brother as a student at Market Street School.
Over the years we have watched our children and their friends explore the wonders of the world through the encouragement of teachers and friends. As a guest recently at Special Persons Day, we were again reminded of how great good teachers and excellent schools can be. What an amazing influence they have on the lives of the young people they are called to teach.
The scores of special persons who joined us at Market Street School reminded us of the great cloud of witnesses who surrounded those schools our children and we attended. Moms and dads, uncles and aunts, single persons and grandpas and grandmas who paid taxes, joined PTAs, attended special events and, in thousands of ways big and small, made possible the education we and our children received, and upon which our grandchildren now embark.
While we are no longer parents of school-aged children, we are grandparents of two, and invite all grandparents to please join us in voting "yes" for the Boardman Local Schools' 5.9-mill operating levy. Our grandchildren need and deserve the excellence that our children and we experienced. We must be part of the cloud of witnesses that now supports the Boardman schools. Your vote will help preserve the excellence for generations of young people to come.
DAVID AND MARILYN RUFFER
Boardman
School district resorts to threats to promote levy
EDITOR:
From all of the pre-election hype being thrust at us through the news media, the Canfield Board of Education and the school superintendent are up to their old tricks, i.e. intimidation tactics, in order to induce voters to pass the school levy they rejected last May.
The unthinkable alternative of getting costs under control before approaching the voters again is lost in the rhetoric once more. Instead, if the levy fails school bus transportation will be severely curtailed, parents will have to pay for sports activity participation, as well as other measures reduced or eliminated.
Strange, but we have yet to hear of reopening labor contracts for negotiations in order for the system to survive within its means. Rather, the local news media dutifully reports the heart-wrenching results should the levy go down to defeat -- again.
Within the last year or so many of us have had our property valuations increased, somewhat arbitrarily, which also impacts on our school tax liability. My property value was increased some 12.5 percent by county authorities and my attempts to have them realistically adjusted fell on deaf ears. This included an offer to sell them the property for the reassessed value. There were no takers.
Granted the state of Ohio has failed to act appropriately in accordance with finding of the Ohio Supreme Court, so state legislators must share the blame for these deplorable circumstances.
It is becoming obvious that many of us on relatively fixed incomes no longer will be able to afford living in the Canfield School District. Less compassionate citizens undoubtedly will express opinions we did not belong here in the first place.
Until those organizations and individuals involved in public services are forced to live within their means like companies and individuals in the private sector, responsible voters should continue to reject any and all attempts to destroy our standard of living.
E.E. BYERS
Boardman Township
(Canfield school district)
Some issues merit study by outside experts
EDITOR:
We read in The Vindicator of Oct. 7 on page B3 that "Archbishop deals in sexuality in book."
This is one person who expounds on the idea of sexuality in the Roman Catholic Church. He believes in retaining the requirement of celibacy for priests.
It would seem that when an important issue is put before the people -- an issue in any group, religious, medical, legal, manufacturing, stock market you name it -- it would seem that such a study of a particular issue should be done by many people outside the group. They would be completely objective, having degrees in the subject, having done extensive research on the subject and having considerable experience in that particular field of endeavor.
Then the findings would be placed before the public.
MARGARET M. HAMROCK
Youngstown
Austintown and Findlay aren't a good match
EDITOR:
The industrial park being proposed in Austintown is fashioned after a park in Findley, Ohio, built in the country. At the zoning commission meeting it was said that the closest residence to that park was about 1,000 yards away. That's 3,000 feet, which is over a half mile! The only thing affected were cows! We are real people, not cows! This park would be right next to our homes and a quiet dead end street would be opened to allow the traffic to flow through single family neighborhoods!
Zoning is supposed to protect residential areas from the sounds of diesel trucks and the smell and sight of black diesel fumes al day and night!.Not to mention thousands of cars and smaller trucks everyday. There are hundreds of households, not just a few, that would be affected by all of these pollutants. We're not cows.
The price to be paid would be paid by all of Austintown. Any tax dollars recognized after tax abatements and the cost to build the road, road maintenance, increased police and fire protection, and jobs that will go mostly to people living outside of Austintown won't be enough to offset the damage. I really believe the only ones to gain would be the investors, at the expense of Austintown's residents and businesses! Say no to this park.
JACK KUMIK
Austintown
Refine the parking system
EDITOR:
I may have a solution to some of the problems experienced by those in need of handicap parking. We have all witnessed many people hop out of their cars parked in handicap spaces and quite easily walk into the store, even those with the blue handicap tags hanging from their mirrors.
I think we should use a two color system: Keep the blue tags for those who are mildly handicapped who may or may not need walkers, and have dedicated red parking spaces for those who are wheelchair only bound. I get angry when I see so many people abuse the system, (yes mostly elderly people who are too lazy to walk the extra distance), taking up a space, only to see a van with a wheelchair driving around looking for a space. Our law enforcement should come down especially hard on any abuser who uses the special red zones without the appropriate need or tag.
The blue tags are currently handed out to just about anybody who states a need or walks in with even a fake limp. Let's work together to free up the parking for those who truly need it, by writing our area representatives to ask them to sponser a bill establishing two tiers.
LARRY SCHULER
Canfield