USDA took the easy way out with removal of starlings

USDA took the easy way outwith removal of starlings
EDITOR:
Shame on the USDA and the farmers for using pesticides to kill European starlings in Trumbull County last weekend.
What a sneaky way to go about this. The public didn't know anything until the 11 o'clock news Friday night, Jan. 23, only hours before this dirty deed was to take place. Then, when people started to raise questions and concerns about the use of pesticides, the USDA could not be reached to comment. What cowards! I understand the farmers' concerns. I don't want the cows to get sick and the milk to be contaminated, but there were ways for this to be accomplished without pesticides.
All you had to do was go to the bookstore and get a book on birds or get on the Internet to find ways for the European starlings to leave. One of the easiest ways is to cut a lawn and leaf plastic bag into strips and hang the strips wherever the birds are. The movement will keep them away. But that was too much trouble. Let's do it the easy way. Let's kill them.
One question I have is, did you put signs up that said "For Starlings Only?" I think not. The cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, sparrows -- the list goes on and on -- are going to get sick and die. The hawks are protected under federal law to not be harmed or killed in ANY way. It is a known fact that hawks prey on, capture and eat weak or sick birds. If a hawk dies because of this, who will be held responsible? They are protected under the law! Didn't anyone do their homework before they decided on this course of action? It's very easy to see the answer is NO!
West Nile virus and the cold weather kill birds. Cats that are let outside by irresponsible owners kill birds. The hawks kill birds. Let's think what else can we do to kill them? What about pesticides? That's it. That will kill them.
What is wrong with the USDA and the farmers for wanting to take this course of action? So many unanswered questions. But the USDA and the farmers came up with one answer -- kill them!
How very sad.
PATTY TOWNSEND
Girard
Celebrate Township Dayby becoming a volunteer
EDITOR:
Today is Ohio Township Day. It is celebrated to recognize township government as the first government in Ohio. The Pilgrims brought this form of government to American in 1620.
Ohio has 1,309 townships that elect three trustees and a clerk. Ohio townships serve 45 percent of Ohio's population by providing services like road maintenance, fire protection, zoning/land use planning; parks and recreation. In Mahoning County there are 14 townships with 133,145 residents.
Township government is local government that is closest to the people. Like anything it is what the residents make of it. In 2003, as a township citizen or business owner, consider becoming involved in your local government. Volunteer to serve on a township board or community committee. Your active participation is important for you and the future of township government.
KATHY MILLER
Boardman Township trustee
Story about repeat offenderhighlights common problem
EDITOR:
Patricia Meade's article, & quot;Man is jailed on 3rd driving charge, & quot; (Vindicator, Jan. 24) was very interesting. I also believe the case that she describes is a perfect example of what is wrong with the criminal justice system in Youngstown and Mahoning County.
Meade reported that Demetrus Rogers was arrested the week before in Youngstown for driving under suspension (DUS), expired license plates, carrying a concealed weapon (a loaded, .357 magnum revolver), and possession of a weapon under disability (due to a prior felony conviction for cocaine possession). What's so disturbing about this case, and all too common in Mahoning County, is that at the time of his arrest, Rogers had two prior DUS cases pending in municipal court. He was released without having to post bond after arrests on Dec. 9 and Dec. 29, 2003. Rogers should not have been able to drive without a license or carry a loaded gun in his pocket. He should have been in jail.
Obviously, people like Rogers have no respect for the law. According to Meade, records show that he has had nine license suspensions, as well as an extensive record in municipal court for multiple DUS, gun and drug convictions. Of particular interest, is a 1999 felony conviction for cocaine possession, where Rogers was sentenced to 18 months in prison. However, the entire sentence was suspended, and he was placed on two years of community control with drug rehabilitation. Records show that he violated his probation twice and that only after the second violation, was he sentenced to one year in the county jail. Yet, after just two months, Rogers was released!
Why was an 18-month suspended sentence given for a felony conviction? Why was Rogers not sent to prison after violating his probation twice? And why, after being sent to the county jail for one year, was he released after just two months?
Convicted criminals who continually show no respect for the law, the courts and law abiding citizens, need to be removed from our streets. Repeat offenders need to be dealt with aggressively in our courts. And, if a convicted criminal is given a suspended sentence and placed on probation, and then violates that probation, or gets arrested again while on probation, they should automatically serve the entire original sentence. Anything less is not justice.
CHUCK HILLMAN
Boardman
Mathews school officials fellshort on a recent cold day
EDITOR
On the morning of Jan. 28, Mother Nature greeted us with unusually harsh weather, with temperatures well below freezing and a coating of ice on the streets and vehicles. Not a pleasant day to be out and about, but thanks to the incompetence of the Mathews Local School District administration, my 12-year-old had the displeasure of standing out in this mess waiting for a bus that was 30 minutes late. I watched the local news and checked the Internet, but the district did not take the time to notify the parents or students of the delay, like other responsible school districts. My son walked 500 feet to the end of my drive and waited until he could no longer stand the cold and then had to plod back the same distance. I had to drive him to school.
We have a very responsible driver who extends my kids a courtesy of waiting when they are late, due to the length of my drive, and my complaint is not registered against her. She advised me that the buses were covered with ice when she got to the garage and she was unable to leave on time.
If the school board hires individuals to be responsible for the health and safety of my kids during the school day, then the party in charge of transportation should have been aware of the ice that encapsulated the buses and taken measures the night before or earlier that morning to ensure no delays. And once the responsible party arrived at the garage and assessed the situation, a simple phone call or e-mail to the TV station advising of the delay would have been a prudent action.
I am in favor of limiting snow days for students, because I know that it can be a hardship for a single mother to scramble for a sitter, and the kids would be better served going now than in nice weather. But if the people in charge make decisions to limit off days, then they should have a plan for carrying out same without endangering kids or inconveniencing parents. There is no excuse for this incompetence.
JOHN F. MINTUS
Brookfield