Forces should be pooled to save ‘Green Cathedral’

Forces should be pooled to save ‘Green Cathedral’

When driving through Mill Creek Park recently, we did not see or smell any dead fish as we drove past Newport Lake. We know the problem has not been resolved, and we’re afraid it has once again been put on hold.

We all know the water problem is not something new. About four years ago, a friend was fishing in Mill Creek when a park officer suggested he leave the area as raw sewage flows into the lake. This situation has continued to deteriorate since that time.

We have a suggestion: How about the Sanitary District for Youngstown and Mill Creek stand up together and pool their resources, experts, and monies (no new hiring or new programs) during the next seven years if that’s how long it will take to solve the problem.

We would like our children and grandchildren to remember the park as something other than polluted lakes with dead smelly fish floating around.

What would Volney Rogers think?

We are a group of concerned women and families that love Mill Creek Park and want it to become once again the “Green Cathedral” that was our pride and joy. Please join with us to make sure this issue remains as a top priority for Mill Creek Park and the sanitary district.

J. Doyle, Boardman

Six others also signed this letter.

Johnson’s views put him on wrong side of history

Regarding the recent column by U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson: I never completely understood how important it was to be married, truly married by the laws of our state. I was long in favor of rights being given to same-sex couples by civil unions. But my opinion has evolved as has the opinion of many. This distinction came home to me, literally, during my husband’s last illness, his death and my period of grieving.

Our love and life partnership grew over our 40 years of marriage. I cared for him as he battled cancer. He lost that battle, but with great dignity and with kindness to all of his friends, family, and caretakers. Living without my husband for just over a year now is the most difficult experience I ever had.

He is my forever love, my soulmate, my life partner, my husband. That one word, “husband” incorporates it all. I could not express and live with my grief for a live-in boyfriend as I do for my life partner, my husband. I need our wedding pictures, the wedding ring I wear on a chain around my neck and close to my heart, the American flag our government gave me for his service to our country, love letters written on anniversary cards and so many things that proclaimed our marriage. These afford me comfort and happier memories. We were husband and wife, one flesh. I pray for the day we will be reunited in heaven.

It saddens me to think of other couples, just as loving as Guy and I, being deprived of this special bond. I really understand how important it is for same-sex partners to have the vows and bonds of marriage. Rep. Johnson’s op-ed may help his political career, but he is on the wrong side of history, and on the wrong side of the extraordinary bonds of genuine marriage. Two people, devoted to each other, deserve the special bond of marriage.

Chris Ann Hanousek, Salem

Editorial gave short shrift to Portman’s support for base

Your July 26 editorial titled “Portman should lead fight to keep Valley’s base open” overlooks several aspects of Sen. Rob Portman’s record.

You seem to only give passing reference to the long record of work by our congressional delegation, including Portman, to help the Youngstown Air Reserve Station. Instead you give the impression that some members only “say” the right things, but have yet to “do” the right things. Sen. Portman has done more than just “say” the right things as you contend – he has been “doing” the right things since elected to the U.S. Senate.

In 2013, the 910th Airlift Wing’s important spray mission was threatened to end due to Pentagon bureaucratic red tape. Portman led the charge in Congress to fix thatby urging the Air Force to use a new authority to fund the mission. The Air Force agreed, and to this day the 910th is flying its missions based on this fix.

Portman also has been at the forefront of seeing that the Air Force funds upgrades to the C-130 fleet. Most importantly, Sen. Portman has been a strong advocate for construction on the base. The harsh reality of previous BRAC rounds is that missions and planes can easily leave a base in an afternoon, but it’s more difficult for the Pentagon to justify closing a base with modern infrastructure that can’t be relocated. To that end, last year Portman pressed the Air Force to include funding for a new firing range on the base. Several months later, the Pentagon did just that.

We are thankful to have leaders like Congressman Tim Ryan, Sen. Portman and the other members of our delegation representing this base. In support of the state’s defense priorities and in preserving our air base, the Ohio delegation has been a model for bipartisan effort and cooperation.

J.D. Williams, Liberty

Both parties share blame for fleecing middle class

The pump and dump of the Washington machine is alive and well. After six plus years of hearing lies, one would think that people would become more savvy, but that just is not the case in our society today. Somehow, people believe that government is the cure-all for our society when in reality, government is the problem when it continues to overreach its authority and remove the liberties from the people. The real question is this: When are people going to wake up?

For those baffled about what I am saying, here are some of the lies told to us over the past few years: Fast and Furious program that put guns in the hands of criminals; continuation and expansion of the Patriot Act in which our personal freedoms are lost; increasing the national debt and the list goes on.

The blame for all of this falls on both parties because they mutually failed to look out for the best interest of the people. And by not opposing it or defunding it, they are complicit in these actions.

Those who think that the Democratic Party is for the middle class are naive to say the least. They say they don’t believe in trickle- down theory, so please explain the Wall Street bailout?

The last thing we need is another politician touting that they are for the middle class.

Tim Santell, Kinsman