If not Cornwell, who?

If not Cornwell, who?

I was living and working on the North Side of Youngstown in June 1996. The recent pardon of Sydney Cornwell brought back a flood of suppressed memories. The cold-blooded killing of Jessica Ballew by Sydney Cornwell truly paralyzed the North Side. I was working as a flower-delivery driver, and there was really a feeling that we were living in a war zone. As one drove down Elm Street every day, there was a feeling that a shootout was about to begin on every corner.

The need to bring justice to Jessica Ballew’s family is obvious, but the people who were living on the North Side at that time also deserve justice. Now that I have a 3-year-old daughter, the murder resonates even more with me, but there is no way to describe the helpless feeling North Side residents had. We felt we were living in a immoral and lawless world where a man could kill a child in response to his target not being at the house. “Well, tell Boom this” tells us everything we need to know about this cold-blooded killer.

As a society, we have to ask ourselves if we should continue the death penalty. If Sydney Cornwell does not deserve to die, then who does?

Jesse F. Blasier, Pepper Pike

Immunization is less of a hassle

The outbreak of the swine flu last year at this time prompted panic among many Americans, forcing them to seek out vaccines to protect themselves from the virus, as well as the many other viruses often common during the winter months of the year. The limited availability of these vaccinations made it difficult for almost anyone in any area to get one.

Since the swine-flu virus was impervious to all regular flu vaccines, and the demand for it had skyrocketed, manufacturers developed a vaccine to successfully protect people from both swine flu and influenza. Many people – including those in the Mahoning Valley – sought out the vaccine, only to be directed to another local clinic or store due to the production problems and small quantities.

What a difference a year makes. Luckily this year, the government insists that immunization will be much less of a hassle, and it is believed that there will be enough of the dual vaccine to satisfy the public demand. It is expected that there will be up to 165 million doses produced for this flu season. I join health officials in urging all people over 6 months of age to receive the vaccine.

Melissa Sewell, Girard