A few did a lot of harm

A few did a lot of harm
EDITOR:
In a recent interview, our new bishop said that it was only a small percentage of priests that were caught molesting children. True. However, does anyone care about the large percentage of children and families that hurt from that small percentage of priests who caused this to happen -- and the bishops who allowed it to continue for so long?
I feel sorry for all the good bishops, priests and teachers who kept quiet so to keep their jobs while they let our boys and girls become victims of priest pedophiles.
I hope Bishop Murry can help us here, and help victims restore the faith they have lost. Yes, the poor need him and the priests need him, but the victims and families of priest pedophiles need him, too.
CAROLE SER
Girard
Taxpayer still unhappy with loss of convenient program
EDITOR:
Mahoning County Administrator George Tablack spoke at a Boardman Township meeting for the permanent sales tax.
I would like to give an example of how the county is spending your taxes. John Reardon in 2005 discontinued the monthly prepaying of your property taxes because he did not have the money to spend on the program because of the sales tax failure in 2004. What was not said, the program brought in close to 40,000 of investment income during the year. I suggested that the investment money be used to pay two YSU accounting students 15,000 a piece to do the job. This would leave enough money to pay for the other expenses.
Mr. Reardon said he could not do that because of the union and its contract. This made no sense to me. Hiring the two students would not affect the current workers. And by ending the program, you loose the 40,000. Only the approximate 6,000 people who used the program were punished for the sales tax failure.
DAVID R. PIPER
Boardman
Cemetery has duty to address water problems
EDITOR:
Recently my family members visited my parents' grave site at Green Haven Memorial Gardens in Canfield. The condition of the cemetery is deplorable. Headstone after headstone is sunken and under water as deep as 8 inches in some areas. After using a small branch to push away the leaves and muck, we were able to read the names on one of the stones dated 1991. I can only begin to imagine how devastating it must be for a family member who rarely has the opportunity to visit a loved one's grave to discover it in this unspeakable condition.
After visiting my parent's grave, we immediately drove to Lake Park Cemetery. Even after the rainy weather and thawing snow, there were no flooded areas or sunken headstones. When Green Haven opened in the '70s, drainage problems were reported. It's very obvious the problem still exists.
The next day I phoned Green Haven and spoke to a representative in their Canfield office. I was told that the corporate office is in Wisconsin. The rep said that the Canfield office is aware of the wet condition of the cemetery, but he knew of no immediate plans to correct the situation. He said that "legally & quot; the plot is owned by the family, so if a family member calls to complain, every attempt will be made to correct the problem. But why does a family member need to call to request the "Perpetual care & quot; that they legally contracted Green Haven to maintain? I am still waiting for someone from the corporate headquarters to call me.
I urge anyone who has a loved one buried in Green Haven Memorial Gardens to visit the grave soon. At least, call and inquire what is being done to correct this problem once and for all.
DIANE GESACION
Poland