Monday, October 27, 2003
Fire at Lincoln Place signals that something's wrong
EDITOR:
I am writing in regard to an article about Lincoln Place, a residential home for youths who are placed there by children services and juvenile courts, that was in the Oct. 8 Vindicator.
It stated a 14-year-old girl from Toledo, who was placed there by Toledo's Children Services, set off the sprinkler systems causing an evacuation of this place and $15,000 in water damage with a lighter Oct. 7 at 10:30 p.m. She told police that she wanted to get attention. She is facing charges on inducing panic and false alarm. Where was the supervision? Are the youths in the custody of children services and juvenile courts permitted to have potential weapons like a lighter at Lincoln? If not, then either the staff did not properly check her or the staff left a lighter lying around for easy accessibility by her and the other youth there. The facility and the staff failed her! Shouldn't the staff be charged with negligence or something else?
And it's sad that this girl had to resort to setting off the sprinkler systems to get attention. I hope that all children services and juvenile courts from each county would demand an efficient, safe and supervised environment by well-trained staff for their children! Does Lincoln Place meet this criteria? This was not the first time Lincoln has been in the news!
JEANNE DAY
Boardman
Continued support for coachin Lowellville is shocking
EDITOR:
I, like many others were shocked at the article that appeared on the front page of The Vindicator on Oct. 17 regarding Anthony Panici, former Lowellville football coach.
What on earth are these individuals, the mayor, village administrator, and councilmen thinking when they support someone in authority who takes advantage of a 14-year-old student sexually? Most of us don't know the details that led up to this horrific act, and they really don't matter. The only thing that really matters is that a man of the "highest ethical standards, with values and beliefs" selfishly thought only of himself and his needs.
I really wonder if the above-mentioned individuals would support this man if indeed this was their daughter. I am sorry for the townspeople that have leaders in their community that not only tolerate this behavior but support those that commit it.
KATHLEEN MATTOZZI
Youngstown
Time for Austintown voters to just say 'no' to tax issues
EDITOR:
Citizens of Austintown: Once more I must urge you to vote NO on not one bond issue, but on three issues.
First let me start out with the school board. Last year you told them NO on a new school, but they can't understand the word NO and they never will. Do you want to put yourselves in a large debt for 27 years with the financial shape we are in? We are the ones who in the long run are going to have to pay for Bush's war. Can you afford that plus what the electrical companies are going to charge us to fix the electrical grid? I say NO to their bond issue.
May I go on to the operating levy? Why do we send our children to school? To be students or play sports? If the school board is in such bad financial position, then it is time for you to make the tough decision. Do away with all sports. For years we were in the Steel Valley Conference. The teams we played were within a 20 to 25 mile radius. The federal conference teams are up to 50 miles away. Look at the extra fuel, wear and tear on the buses, and the added pay for the drivers. I say it is time to say NO. It is time to live within their income.
And now to the third issue, the so-called operating levy for the trustees. Do you realize they have three levies they get money from and that they actually get more than the amount of the original levy? Any time they want more money, they figure the dumb citizens will give them what they want. Say NO.
For years we had a volunteer fire department and a good one. I know. I was honored to have been a member of that department for 22 years. Now all of a sudden they have to have a full-time department, and what has happened? They have closed one station and are threatening to close another one. Another thing that bothers me is that when police or fire unions can't come to terms on a new contract, they have to go to binding arbitration. But have you ever heard of arbitration siding with the departments? I sure haven't.
In closing, I urge the people of Austintown to say NO to the school board and the trustees. They should live within their budgets.
ROBERT E. O'MARA
Youngstown
Senior citizen urges supportfor Austintown ballot issues
EDITOR:
I am a senior citizen of Austintown. The generation before me helped to educate my children by supporting our schools in Austintown. I believe it is the responsibility of my generation to reciprocate.
I think all Austintown residents should make an effort to visit Austintown Middle School and see its condition. It is 87 years old, and like many things that age, it needs to be replaced. Many other local districts have already replaced their aging buildings and stepped into the 20th century. It is now time for Austintown to do the same by passing its bond issue.
It takes a lot of money to teach thousands of children. Just as with any business, operating expenses, utilities, supplies and insurance rates rise. The same increases apply to educating our children. The cost of teaching one child to read outweighs the small price we pay. Our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren deserve the best education.
Let's keep up the excellence in Austintown schools and give our children the opportunity to attend school in a secure, safe, up-to-date facility, so they can successfully enter the working world. Support them. Please vote yes on the bond issue and operating levy on the November ballot. You're making a fine investment in Austintown's future.
MARY JANE LESNAK
Austintown
Liberal, and proud of it
EDITOR:
To most conservatives, being a liberal is akin to being the devil himself. We are blamed for everything that is wrong with this country. My opinion is that since conservatives now control the White House, the Congress, and the Supreme Court, things could not get much worse!
Unprecedented deficits. Unemployment. Jobless recovery. Jobs going overseas faster than the Concord. The only countries that like us are the ones we have bought off. The rest just plain hate us. OUR tax dollars going to a country that will revert back to it's original status a year after we leave. A war we had no business fighting and can not win. Losing constitutional rights and protections faster than the the jobs going overseas. And a President that in my opinion is the biggest danger to this country.
To all conservatives, I say (with a great deal of sarcasm): & quot;Keep up the good work! & quot;
TOM HALL
Lisbon