Police response after crisis did not inspire confidence

Police response after crisis did not inspire confidence
EDITOR:
I am a senior citizen -- handicapped, confined to a wheelchair and recovering from recent surgery. I was told to leave my home due to the fugitives loose around my property at 1 p.m. July 1. A neighbor drove me and my granddaughter out of the area. We drove around until 4 p.m., when I had to have my medication. We pulled about two blocks from my home and asked an officer how we could get the medication. We came upon Detective Jose Morales and Sen. Bob Hagan, they both found a way to get in and get the meds.
We rode around with no place to go, no money or credit cards to get a motel room. We could not go to any friends as there was no one who had wheelchair accessibility. We called the police station at 10 p.m. to find out if they caught the fugitives. They told us no, but they were not in this area any longer. If they weren't caught, how did they know they were no longer around here?
In my condition I was not taking any chances. I asked for someone to escort me into my home. They told me someone would be sent out. At 10:12, a cruiser pulled into Tiny's Drive-Thru. We asked him if he was sent to help me, he replied that he was on another call. Another cruiser pulled up and they both went to the side of the drive through and parked. A third cruise joined the other two and they talked until 10:29, when all three drove off.
After nine hours sitting in a van with no access to a bathroom, I was becoming enraged. My neighbor decided he would walk to my home and check it out. He did so and then took me home, staying there until I calmed down.
No police came by to check. I called the police department and talked to the captain, who said a cruiser was out at 10:45 and cleared at 10:57 p.m. to my address.
Is this what we senior citizens have to look forward to -- no protection for our well being? One of the three cruisers talking for 20 minutes could have escorted me to my home to see if it was clear.
I thank the police for getting me and my granddaughter out of there, but I disagree on their not sending an officer out to ease our minds that we were in the clear and safe to enter.
EMILY GARCIA
Youngstown
UCC pastors respond to same-sex marriage decision
EDITOR:
The General Synod of The United Church of Christ (UCC) has been getting a lot of publicity regarding its recent decision in support of same-sex marriages.
As pastors of local member churches of the UCC, we'd like the public to understand how this recent decision relates to our local churches.
The United Church of Christ came into existence in 1957 by a merger of The Evangelical and Reformed Church (our German immigrant heritage) and The Congregational Christian Church (our Pilgrim and homegrown American heritage). Each of these traditions contributed to the mix, both theologically and structurally.
The merger of such contrasting theological beliefs may be referred to as & quot;theological ferment. & quot; To produce good wine, grapes must ferment, that is: be subjected to outside forces, and with time produce a substance better than the original grape, yet the grape taste must be preserved.
The fermentation process (in this case General Synod) has acted according to outside forces in our world today, thus they have made a statement regarding gay/lesbian marriages. It is important to note that no group, not even the General Synod, can speak FOR our local churches. It can only speak TO us. UCC churches are autonomous; the General Synod does not create policy for any of our congregations.
In an attempt to preserve the grape taste in the fermentation process, another major force at work within the UCC from the opposite end of the spectrum is the Biblical Witness Fellowship, which gets little or no attention by the media.
Each local church is free to decide where they wish to be in the fermentation process. They may choose to be on the more progressive cutting edge of society, they may choose to be on the more traditional edge, or anywhere in between. Regardless, we are bound together in a covenantal relationship, wherein we agree to support one another and respect each other's decisions, without necessarily being subjected to the decisions.
The bottom line is that we as ministers of The United Church of Christ want the public to know that even though we have the name "United Church of Christ" on our billboards, the General Synod does not and cannot speak for us.
Each of us will carefully consider, with our own church members, this most recent decision of the General Synod regarding same-sex marriages, and then prayerfully decide where we stand on the issue and how we will respond. Our own stances will no doubt range from strong agreement and support of the General Synod resolution to vehement opposition against it. Regardless, we all intend to continue to act in Christian love toward everyone and toward each other.
Rev. MARTIN B. HARDY
First United Church of Christ, Warren
Rev. DAVID B. ROBERTS
Austintown Community Church (UCC)
Rev. MELINDA QUELLHORST LACEFIELD
Mt. Olivet United Church of Christ, North Lima
Rev. GARY H. MARCY
Faith Community Church (UCC), Youngstown
Only the monopoly wins
EDITOR:
The other day, I caught a brief news announcement that really amused me. The news report was that the price of oil had exceeded $60 a barrel. The reporter went on to say that gasoline pricing had recently been examined and that no price gouging was evident. He claimed that the price is absolutely driven by availability and demand and that users are willing to pay the current price.
He forgot to mention that the oil industry is a monopoly where availability and demand play no part in the pricing. My car will not run on anything other than gasoline and if I plan to use the car I have to pay whatever the rate is for gasoline. I drive much less than I used to because the price is so high but my gasoline bill is no less. When demand goes down the energy companies just raise the price to maintain their exorbitant profit levels.
Our congresspersons (notice political correctness) spend their time fretting over Terry Shiavo, steroids in baseball, how to keep decent judges off the bench, and other mundane issues. I am sure the energy lobbies pay them well to not look into their monopoly. Mark my word: The energy companies will eventually destroy our economy because they cannot continue to take an unfair share out of it.
GEORGE GRIM
Boardman
What about the babies?
EDITOR:
In response to the July 3 letter from the president of Planned Parenthood, I say that babies, whether born or unborn, have the constitutional protection of life also. She is right to call this a pivotal moment for the future of our country. If we continue to go down the road of immorality we'll have no country fit to live in.
She writes that the new justice should demonstrate a resolve to protect our health and safety. What about the health and safety of our unborn?
If babies are not wanted by some women, I suggest they either keep their legs together or use birth control. There's no excuse in this day and age to have an unwanted pregnancy. Here's another novel idea. Abstain from sex until you're married.
MARGARET HENNING
Poland