Congratulations (Gary Wickert) for your eloquent defense of the reality about the global warming scare (June 12 "As I See It" column). I too have been actively contradicting the (former Vice President Al) Gore hysteria, as I call it, and have uncovered some interesting data from a colleague in the Netherlands that has formed an amateur radio astronomy group using a 25-meter radio telescope discarded by the Dutch government.

They have about 50 years worth of data on solar activity from their telescope and some British radio astronomy data that are very closely correlated with the variation in the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere.

As you have stated, this is the primary cause of our temperature changes and will never be controlled by any amount of carbon emissions we decide to tax.

The British have prepared a rebuttal to Gore’s "Inconvenient Truth" (book and documentary movie) called the "Great Global Warming Swindle," which ought to be made mandatory viewing by any school or institution that decides to use Gore’s fiction.

Jim Ott, ex-meteorologist and now a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, is another expert with similarly objective views on global warming and is now viewed as the Republican’s best authority on global warming in the state legislature.

We need to generate more voices of reason like yours to help reverse the political acceptance of global warming, and I for one would like to suggest a statewide conference to generate a forum to publicize this political hoax.

As a nuclear power advocate, I would like to also bring the errors of its "political correctness" to light. The same political correct attitudes exist about nuclear power.

I recently served on a state Legislative Research Council Committee in 2007 to review the current state of nuclear power and make a recommendation to the legislature on whether to repeal the state moratorium on building new nuclear power plants.

The political polarization of the delegates regarding the findings we came up with was very discouraging. All of the Democratic legislature members of the committee voted against repealing the moratorium, even though some of them missed over half of the testimony or didn’t participate in site visits to existing power plants and the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site in Nevada.

This is another technology that has been vilified by Hollywood and Jane Fonda and has been perceived as an environmental risk ever since.

One of the cofounders of Green Peace recently has quit the organization to promote nuclear power as a better, environment-friendly power source.

It is actually the cleanest form of continuous electrical power we have and the newest plants being built now in Texas are more efficient than any coal- or gas-fired plants.

The recommendation of the committee to repeal the moratorium was passed by the assembly and won’t even get to a vote in the senate, and will doom Wisconsin to building more coal-fired, polluting power plants for at least 10 years.

If I can assist with any technical support on nuclear power for a future (column) I would be pleased to assist.

The new Discovery World Museum in Milwaukee is planning a new exhibit on nuclear power that will stress its safety and environmentally-friendly history.

Perhaps an article promoting the technology associated with the opening of this exhibit would be of interest.

For many years, our Washington County Humane Society provided a wonderful service in running periodic rabies clinics where pets were given the required shots at nominal cost. Unfortunately, pressure from county veterinarians won out over the welfare of the public. So today, as a result, we have thousands of animals mixing with us who do not have rabies protection.

Why is this true? Because your favorite vet got together with his fellow animal loving pet docs and decided they couldn't charge less than $75 to look at your cat or dog and stick a needle in his butt. Now in our society they say greed is good. But isn’t there a point where the possibility of the loss of human life dictates a less selfish action?

Apparently, there is no "doggy version" of the Hippocratic oath. We need to get back to the rabies clinics that got the job done.

Jim Rubenzer, West Bend

When asked at a forum at a college in Pennsylvania when human life begins, Barack Obama said he doesn't even presume to know. Here we have a man with several degrees from big fancy universities and he doesn't know when human life begins.

I learned the answer to that question in Kewaskum High School back in the 1950s. I'll bet that Abraham Lincoln, who had practically no formal education, knew that human life begins at fertilization, too. It was around his generation that that scientific discovery was made.

When pro-abortion Obama made that astonishing revelation, the news media was silent. But if pro-life President Bush mispronounces a word or Vice President Dan Quayle misspells potato, they make them a laughing stock. The news media even edited part of President Reagan's epitaph because of its anti-abortion connotation.

Even though the Roe v. Wade decision is based on the mother of all lies, Sen. Ted Kennedy said he will oppose any "Neanderthal" judges who do not support that decision. By extension, Kennedy is saying all anti-abortionists are Neanderthals. I wish to refute that labeling by graciously using myself for an example.

Now I just love classical music. My favorite piece is from the 1960s and is titled, "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose."

In art galleries and museums, you see art connoisseurs studying paintings and debating what the artist is trying to say or what the picture means. Like the "Mona Lisa," people have been trying to decipher her smile for centuries. Shoot, I had that one figured out in 10 seconds. That is the same expression a woman has on her face when she suspects her husband is telling her a lie.

So you see, it's just not true that we anti-abortionists have no culture or class.

Lyle W. Schacht, Rubicon

I feel a strong need to congratulate the thousands of patriotic people who attended the West Bend Memorial Day parade and dedication ceremony at the old Court House.

Aren’t you glad you took the time from a busy day to be part of a memorable and special event? We owe it to our past and present veterans, and their families, to be present every year. Isn’t it the very least we should do?’

It warms the heart to see small children clapping and waving their little flags.

Sincere thanks to all who helped plan and/or participated in this important day. We live in an "All-American City."

Vicki Tighe, West Bend

Obama has never crossed the aisle

Here in southeastern Wisconsin, the far-left group MoveOn.org is already running a TV election ad supporting Barack Obama for president. In it, a man claiming to be a life-long Republican says he is going to vote for Obama because he can bring Republicans and Democrats together.

I ask how? All you have to do is look at Obama’s record. He has voted the far-left liberal partisan position every time. He has never worked with anyone across the aisle (Republicans). He has never sponsored any legislation with or without a Republican sponsor. This group MoveOn.org once sponsored an ad that created a firestorm, smearing an honored and respected general of the Army. Now they are trying to fool the American people again.

Only one candidate has a record of working with both parties for the betterment of the American people. He worked with a group of 14 Democrats and Republicans to preserve the time-honored filibuster in the U.S. Senate (Gang of 14). He has sponsored legislation trying to bring the left and the right together (McCain-Kennedy and McCain-Feingold). He has voted for Supreme Court justices who were qualified (liberal Ruth Bader-Ginsburg), where Obama voted against Chief Justice John Roberts.

This TV ad is portraying Obama as something he is not. John McCain is the real uniter. But you don’t have to believe me. Their records in Congress speak for themselves.

Keith Best, Waukesha

Tragedy struck again with a person driving under the influence. Lives were lost and families were changed forever. There have been many solutions to the problem of drunk driving talked about, and most include tougher legal penalties. I agree that legislators need to look hard at our laws and use research to guide these public policy decisions.

As a matter of personal responsibility though, there would be no drunk driving if people didn’t get drunk. People do not get a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of over .08 (the legal limit) with one standard glass of wine with dinner. Use the example of a couple attending a baseball game. They both drink alcohol for five hours. The 200-pound man would have to drink seven 12-ounce cans of beer to reach a .075 BAC. The 130-pound woman would need to drink four 12-ounce cans of beer to have a .08 BAC.

This is when many Wisconsinites say, "That’s not that much!" and this is when we need to check our perceptions. We know that drinking a six-pack of soda a day isn’t good, and soda doesn’t affect driving skills ike alcohol. So, why is it "nothing" to drink seven cans of beer in five hours?

In Washington County, one out of every three people seen at the Council because of a drunk driving-related conviction used alcohol irresponsibly - they drank too much and drove. In Wisconsin, first-time offenders cause 92 percent of the alcohol related crashes. The majority of these tragedies don’t happen with your standard glass of wine at dinner or a can of beer on a summer day.

Reasons aside, the bottom line is you can’t drive drunk, if you don’t get drunk. If drinking interferes with your work, family, health or causes legal problems, consider seeking help.

Mary S. Simon, Executive Director
The Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse of Washington County

Cheers to you, the Mother’s Day tribute is a true heart-warmer. I’m referring to your article published May 15. I pray I will leave incredible memories for my children and grandchildren.

I truly enjoy your meaningful, thought-provoking articles.

Margie Goeden-Chapman, West Bend

Salvage yard passes 2 exams

We are nearing the end of the conditional use permit marathon for Don’s Auto Salvage. The Kewaskum Town Board required that we contract a certified geologist to conduct an investigation as to whether or not contaminants infiltrated the soil and groundwater as a result of historic land use on the site of Don’s Auto Salvage.

The investigation consisted of sampling 12 bore holes and installing and sampling five temporary groundwater monitoring wells. The conditional use permit also required that private potable water supply wells within 1,000 feet of the site be sampled and laboratory analyzed. Six private wells were tested.

In a finalized report presented to the town of Kewaskum dated May 12, Jonathan Lewis, senior registered geologist of Northern Environmental Technologies Inc., concluded that the "investigation is complete and we successfully document that the previous salvage and recycling activities have not significantly affected soil or groundwater quality at the Site. No further investigation is warranted." The state Department of Natural Resources concurred by issuing a "No Action Required" status through its Bureau of Remediation and Redevelopment tracking system.

The final stretch has become a test of patience. We are in the process of re-submitting a storm water management and erosion control plan to the town. Upon the approval of this last link, we will begin the installation of screening and the construction of roadways and a pole building at Don’s Auto Salvage.

Don and Sandy Stern, Town of Kewaskum

Include K-8 in upcoming survey

I find common ground with West Bend School Board member Kris Beaver when he said in his letter of May 1, "The research shows that the grade configuration (K-4, K-5, K-6 or K-8) is not as important as the quality of instruction."

The purpose of K-8 programming was to provide a means to address the facility problems by building three new less-expensive schools, not remodel old schools. The cost estimate is $25 million per school.

In any event, the $107 million cited by the board for K-8 is still considerably less than the three options currently offered. By their own admission, options 1, 2 or 3 could go as high as $131 to $144 million over two referendums. According to the Daily News, totally, 50 out of 114 problem solving meeting attendees refused to choose option 1, 2 or 3. Clearly, the general public is not behind these options.

I fail to see why the board refuses to allow the public to decide for themselves if they want K-8 neighborhood schools.The spring survey in which only 3 percent of respondents indicated interest in the K-8 model did not in itself even mention K-8. I wonder what percentage it would have shown if K-8 actually had been an option to choose?

Perhaps the upcoming general public survey including the K-8 model would provide guidance to the board as to what type of referendum has a chance of passing, rather than waiting another year with failed referendums.

Elaine Shutes, West Bend

I was spending a nice day with my family, my husband and 7-year-old son, on Saturday. We were on our way to lunch when we passed a group of abortion protesters on Main and Paradise.

I think that it is great that they were standing up for something that they believe in. But I do not like the fact that they are holding huge signs with pictures of aborted fetuses.

My son does not need to look at those pictures and, in reality, neither do any of us. Luckily, I saw them first and he looked down and didn’t see the disturbing pictures. I wonder how many other innocent children saw those pictures.

If the protesters want to share their point of view, have at it. We live in a great place where you are free to express your feelings about causes. But to display those photos where any one can see them is not right.

So please protesters, please think of others when you are protesting. Young children do not need to be exposed to the pictures you displayed.

Ronda Stowers, West Bend

In response to the question about whether we’d be more likely to visit a restaurant that bans smoking - absolutely! As has been said, a nonsmoking section in a restaurant is like a no-peeing section in a pool. Smoke permeates everything - the facility, the food and the people.

Fuzzy Duenkel, Town of Barton

Schilke’s whiny, fringe group

Columnist Tim Schilke wrote on May 9 that a whiny, fringe group is responsible for American TV pulling its support from the upcoming Bill Maher show at the Riverside Theatre. Schilke is certainly entitled to his opinion, just as Maher is, but Schilke neglects to provide the readers with factual information concerning his point of view.

First, Schilke states that Maher treats all religions with a fair and balanced approach. What he does not say is that Maher considers all religion to be corrupt, and that only the weak-minded among us require such guidance. Along with that, Maher has openly stated that the Bible and Jesus Christ are the best science fiction story ever written.

Second, what makes a whiny, fringe group, as Schilke calls the support and actions of American TV? Approximately 90 percent of Americans believe in God. If American TV is bending to the wishes of a fringe group, it may be the biggest group of people to ever be called "fringe."

In addition, I find his description of how a business should respond to customer complaints to be ridiculous. He states that a business should just smile, do nothing, and call a customer with a complaint a right-wing nut job, while losing a percentage of its business. I can only assume that Schilke must have a great deal of experience in running a business that has a large amount of customer contact on a daily basis.

So I hope Schilke enjoys his front row seat to the Maher experience, while I somehow miss that show with the rest of the whiny, fringe group he talks about.

Gregg Schroeder, Richfield

I am writing in response to the May 3 column by Jessica McBride regarding repeat drunk drivers.

I have a family member who was convicted of DUI three times, twice in Washington County and once in Waukesha County, so I have personal experience with the way DUI cases are handled. The way that Waukesha County handles its DUI cases is to be commended and copied throughout the state.

Even though Mr. Benson was not monitored between sentencing and his report date, I can assure you that he was monitored during the time between his offense and his sentencing. I disagree that the case dragged on too long.

In my opinion, the longer it takes, the better - at least in Waukesha County. My family member was intensely monitored, from the time he made his initial appearance, through his sentencing - more than regular state probation would have provided, after sentencing. That monitoring had the most impact and made the biggest difference in our particular situation and I believe it to be the most effective tool I’ve seen in dealing with drunk drivers, particularly repeat offenders. It forces them to stop their behavior and clears their mind to make better decisions. At least that's the effect it had in our particular case. Nothing before that seemed to have any effect - including jail time.

Obviously, people who offend repeatedly are dealing with substance addiction issues. There are no simple answers to that problem. Locking them up works for a while, but unless you plan to give them all life sentences, they will be out on the street (and road) again at some point. If you don't at least try to address the underlying problem, the cycle will most assuredly repeat itself.

I would really like to see Waukesha County’s pre-sentence program emulated throughout the state and strongly urge all counties to investigate implementing such a program. It’s the most effective tool I’ve seen in dealing with drunk drivers.

Vicci Hubbard, Allenton

I don’t know which is worse, the Daily News one-sided reporting or the list of stormwater myths being peddled by West Bend’s city engineer.

You would think that allowing rainwater to slowly seep into the soil will lead to the demise of city life as we know it.

Never mind that it is nature’s way of cleansing the water, replenishing the shallow aquifer and providing base flows to our local lakes and streams. Or the fact that conventional urban landscapes have a long history of trashing our water resources.

Of course, to find this out would have required a phone call to the authors of the proposed county ordinance updates - far too much to ask from a reporter.

Congratulations to the county for their continued leadership in managing stormwater runoff. As for Judy Neu’s list of concerns - send them to "Myth Busters."

Perry Lindquist, Slinger

I want to say just how appalled I am at the people who live in the city of West Bend. I would like to know just where their compassion is for their fellow neighbor.

My son and I were stranded in front of Silverbrook School; my car died. I had the hood of my truck up and stood outside the truck.

Do you know how many people drove by me and didn’t so much as look at me or pretended I was not even there?

There was even a guy who pulled up behind me and parked his truck. I thought he was going to be a good Samaritan, but he just stayed in his truck, then left. I am just so amazed at the rudeness of people in this town.

The worst part was that a city of West Bend police officer drove by, looked at me and kept going. Glad to see the people’s tax dollars at work.

Nobody even bothered to ask if I had help on the way. And you all know who you are. I just hope that the one day you are stranded and the same does not happen to you.

The society has become all about "me, me, me!" Their lives are too busy to stop and help anyone.

I’m glad I no longer live in that town, which I did for 35 years.

Linda McDonald, Campbellsport

What happened on Day of Silence

There have been questions raised by members of the community regarding the Day of Silence, and some previous letters to the editor have shared information that was inaccurate. We are sharing the information below to provide accurate information.

The students choosing to participate in this exercise participated under the protection of Freedom of Speech of the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This was not a school event.

East and West High Schools have approximately 2,400 students enrolled. There were seven students whose parents excused them from school due to the Day of Silence. These absences were recorded as excused.

On that day, two students reported student comments made in the cafeteria and these students were addressed by administration. Outside of this referral, the day passed without incident or disruption to instruction. There were no fights or additional disciplinary incidents reported. No staff reported any disruption to the day’s instruction or any loss of curricular time due to the Day of Silence.

Pat Gardon and Cassandra Schug
Principals of West Bend West and East High Schools

I was one of about 35 people who attended the National Day of Prayer, which was celebrated Thursday, May 1, on the side of City Hall.

It was great to see people on their lunch hour coming out to join with others in prayer for our nation. I also was very pleased to see state Sen. Glenn Grothman, state Rep. Pat Strachota and West Bend’s newly appointed mayor, Kristine Deiss, come away from their busy schedules to pray for our nation.

What did surprise me as well as perplex me is that there was not one minister of faith from the West Bend community present. If we can’t get the clergy interested in coming together in unity at a day of national prayer, then where is our "one nation, under God" going to see a change for the better?

I think this is something all people of faith must ponder and hopefully lead you to prayer for your individual pastors in this community.

Hope M. Dalzin, West Bend

Would Jesus have been silent?

Being a Christian, it is encouraging to see how many people have been sharing their position on the "Day of Silence" based upon their Christian beliefs. It is discouraging, however, that there can be such a varied response from a group of people who all profess to be Christians. So who is right?

It is easy for emotions and opinions to get intermingled with truth, so we need to make sure that what we profess to believe is indeed, biblical. There have been many people throwing out words such as tolerance, acceptance, love, etc.

As Christians, we are commanded to "Love God" and "Love our neighbors." Loving God is the first and most important commandment. Therefore, the way we love our neighbor cannot contradict the way we love God.

The Gospel of John says that to love God is to obey His commands. The Bible teaches us that all sexual immorality (sex before marriage, homosexuality, adultery, etc.) is sin, and that we need to turn away from sin.

So the question is, would Jesus have been silent? I don’t think Jesus would have been silent. Just like when Jesus sent the adulterer away after saving her from being stoned, he said, "Go now, and leave your life of sin." Jesus was always about teaching people truth and getting them on the "narrow path that leads to eternal life." Jesus said, "It was not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Jesus hung out with the sinners not with the idea of accepting or tolerating their lifestyle, but with the ultimate goal of making them healthy. We all are in need of being made healthy.

My encouragement is to love your fellow neighbor and help steer them on a path that leads to a Christ-like lifestyle.

Todd Wolff, West Bend

We receive the Daily News in Florida, usually seven days after print. I read with interest the story about Lithia Beer. In the early 1950s, while a student at Marquette University, I worked at the West Bend Lithia Company in the summer. Tom Heiff, master brewer, hired me to do the jobs of employees as they took their vacations.

Chuck Walter, his dad, uncle and Ernie Pawahoc were the office staff.

The Walter family was very much involved in the community, their church, basketball team, West Bend Lithia baseball, etc. They were great employers. I was proud to work for them.

As I recall, Lithia was bottled in clear bottles and Old Timers beer in brown bottles. I recall Old Timers as being the more sold beer. In fact, there was a ditty played on the West Bend radio station:

Old Timers Beer, Old Timers Beer,

Old Timers Beer, the beer for you, for you.

You’ve tried the rest, now try the best,

The best of the better brews.

I still sing that song to my grandkids. I can appreciate Dorothy Walter making a statement about the use of their family beer’s name. That was a fantastic company, good people and a great beer. I don’t think it can be duplicated.

Dale Hafeman, West Bend

Foundation great for Badger Middle

When the end of the school year approaches, the halls of a middle school get a little anxious, students get a little restless and everyone looks forward to summer break. However, this year that has changed because a large amount of cutting edge technology showed up in our science and social studies classrooms as a result of the generosity and vision of the West Bend Public Schools Foundation.

I am writing to thank the Foundation for its generous donation to the historic classrooms of Badger Middle School. Recently, the Foundation donated digital overhead projectors (ELMO) and digital projection systems for our science and social studies classes. The new technology brought our school further into the 21st century, and excited our end-of-the-year learners. The new technology immediately made an impact on the learning environment of our students, and allowed the staff to extend their teaching methods.

I am grateful for the Foundation’s willingness to support the learning of middle school students. Our staff and school community appreciate the commitment of the Foundation and are excited that our school has such new and "cool" technology.

Ted Neitzke
Principal, Badger Middle School

Go beyond Jackson Elementary

I recently attended the "Community Problem Solving" session presented by the West Bend School Board at the Jackson Village Hall. I wanted to find out the options being considered and weigh in on them, too.

I found the meeting informative with options that the board has developed to try to address all the needs, while also "appeasing" a majority of the citizens.

I was, however, disenchanted by many of my peers’ fixation on only the "fixing" of Jackson Elementary School. Yes, anyone who has been in, or simply driven by the school knows that it needs to be rebuilt. But, the focus should also be beyond just one elementary school.

For example, it is the middle school level where our children will be introduced to more technologies, sciences and, in two of the options considered for the next referendum, a possibility of foreign languages at an even earlier age. These three items are what our children need to compete in the world marketplace.

We need adequate facilities at the middle school to do this! (The two fastest growing economies in the world already beat the United States in technologies and sciences, and their students come out of school fluent in more than one language.)

Although no option is perfect, there is a need to think of the West Bend School District as a whole community. What is best for children of all ages, what option will be liked by the most citizens, and what will make the majority of voters vote "yes" in November?

We need to look beyond just the neighborhood school, onto the middle school and high schools, and forward to our children’s futures. Ultimately, they will be the ones using their education to make decisions that impact us many years from now. New/remodeled facilities are needed to continue to give the children of our area a quality education and improve upon it.

Erin Dove, Jackson
(West Bend schools alumna)

I found columnist Tim Schilke’s slamming of "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" to be quite ironic. He claims the movie "encourages the careful selection of facts that match a predetermined conclusion." Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Without the benefit of scientific observation or experimentation, Darwinists insist that billions of years ago, nonlife became intelligent life all by itself. Then they work backwards to find evidence to support their predetermined belief.

For years, the scientific and academic communities have held a stranglehold on the truth and persecuted anyone who dares to claim that the evolutionary emperor "has no clothes." But more and more people, including nonChristian scientists, are beginning to speak up to expose not merely the holes in Darwinism, but the absurdity of the concept to begin with.

Millions of Christian children are brought up being taught that an all-powerful God created this entire universe and everything in it in six days by his almighty power. They have been taught from the Bible that God, the intelligent designer, made everything to reproduce after its kind. There is plenty of room for variation, adaptation, mutations and survival of the fittest within a kind, but no transforming from one kind to another.

Our observations and experiments today tell us that life only comes from life, that no mutation has ever resulted in an increase of genetic information, that microbes don’t become monkeys and monkeys don’t become men. And yet, every science textbook insists we are to accept these ideas as true, and never consider an alternate explanation for the origin of the universe.

It is true that Christians cannot scientifically prove that God created the world out of nothing. That is a matter of faith. However, the model we observe agrees beautifully with what the Bible teaches. But let’s be honest, the evolutionary origin of the universe by random chance is also based on faith, a faith in which "no intelligence is allowed."

Robert Hein, West Bend

I’m using my right of freedom of speech and speaking out loud to say, I believe that it’s not fair to not allow students to take a world language, a music class and an art class.

In the years that I’ve been at Badger Middle School, I have participated in the 2007 Fine Arts Festival (sixth grade), I placed second in a Spanish speaking contest (seventh grade), and sang in the sixth- and seventh-grade choir concerts. I have an amazing drawing ability (Mrs. Judd would agree with me on this subject), I love to sing and enjoy being in Mrs. Sayers’ class, and Miss Bull has taught me a ton of Spanish, and I want to continue learning how to speak this language.

But, unfortunately, I have been forced to choose between my dream (to become a worldwide-known artist) and my needs. What I mean by needs is that most colleges require four years of any world language.

I am only a student who probably has less power than everyone on the School Board. I do understand that money is something that doesn’t grow on trees, and the West Bend School District can’t afford the family living, tech ed., and business classes next year.

So, why did you decide that we (students) should only have three options to choose from and that’s it? Why can’t I take choir, Spanish and art?

I had no help writing this. This is my opinion and I’m glad that I’ve had a chance to express it with you. I thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope that I have made my point as to why I wrote this.

In response to the letter recently submitted by Elaine Shuttes about the idea of K-8 in the West Bend School District, the intent of my letter is to correct information about the community input we have to date on the K-8 option.

In the full community survey last spring, 3 percent of respondents asked the board to review a K-8 school. It was mentioned at the Jackson listening session.

When we began discussing new options, we asked Dr. Herdrich, "What does education research tell us about student achievement in K-8 school?" and "How much would it cost?"

Here’s what I learned as a board member.

At a minimum it would cost $107 million to create the eight K-8 schools that we would need to house our student population. This does not include deferred maintenance.

Naturally it is more expensive annually to provide duplicated programs and services, such as band, choir, orchestra and foreign language, to sixth- through eighth-graders at eight schools as compared to two middle schools.

The research shows that the grade configuration (K-4, K-5, K-6 or K-8) is not as important as the quality of instruction.

We considered many things and will consider many more before a final decision is made, but be assured our main considerations will always involve quality of programming, cost and how we can best fiscally manage the schools now and in the future.

Kris Beaver, West Bend School Board

This is a correction to my letter in the paper last week.

I said that the only alderman I saw at the opening ceremony for the Eisenbahn Trail was Dave Krochalk.

I was informed that aldermen Nick Dobberstein and Michael Schlotfeldt were also there. Sorry Nick and Michael.

Mary Jane Spaeth, West Bend

Clearing the park air

I was asked to serve another three-year, volunteer term on the West Bend Park and Recreation Commission after serving 24 years.

When it came time to approve the mayor’s appointments to the various boards and commissions at the organization meeting on Tuesday, April 15, Alderman Scott Frederick made a motion to remove my name from the list, with Alderman Jerry Vrana seconding it. Alderman Nick Dobberstein asked for an exlanation and reason for his motion. Frederick stated I was a pariah (or something like that) and I didn’t have the city’s best interest in mind because I sued the city.

I have never sued anyone. Vrana stated I pursued other people to add to a list to sue the city. That’s an outright lie. The list of 45 part-time officers was given to Officer Bateman by the city’s personnel director. I was asked to assist with getting addresses and phone numbers. The aldermen had this explained to them on at least three different open sessions.

The vote was 6-2 to remove my name with Aldermen Dave Krochalk and Dobberstein against removing my name from the list.

The truth is Vrana and Frederick have been treating the Park and Recreation Department unfairly for years.

As an example, several years ago the Park and Recreation Department did an in-depth survey of the citizens of West Bend for their input into what they would like to see in our parks and what direction we should take. After gathering and compiling the information, we wanted to present it to the council. When Mayor Doug Bade introduced our item for presentation, Frederick immediately made a motion to deny our presentation, with Vrana seconding it. We were denied an opportunity to present the citizen’s input to the council. And these dictatorial aldermen have the gall to say I don’t have the best interest of the city in mind.

These false character assassinations and name calling by these aldermen must stop.

Tony Spaeth, West Bend

Throughout the contention for the Democratic nomination for president, we’ve heard how about the need for change. Carl Sandburg wrote "shovel them under and let me work. I am the grass." The point being this is the one thing which year in/out never does.

Unfortunately for West Bend, certain changes haven’t been desirable. Hard to believe it’s three decades since I worked in the city. Back then, it was an employee’s market. You could quit any job at random and get another rather quickly.

Gehl, Amity Leather, Enger Kress, the list of potential places for gainful employment seemed unlimited if not actually endless. I traveled 50 files round trip to West Bend Co.’s east plant where I toiled as a buffer.

West Bend Company had 2,000 laborers spread across three shifts, a vital, thriving business with no slowdown in sight. Boy, how wrong could we be? A drive down Main Street shows the sad truth, both West Bend Company and Amity’s once formidable facilities converted into apartment complexes.

I too wonder why the city would reward Gehl for pulling up their roots and moving on? We know here as elsewhere, jobs were outsourced. The high costs of labor or production in general cited as cause for these departures.

Politicians talk how we’ll have to retrain, forced into constant flux as technology forges forever ahead. Not every entry level worker may be able to keep pace.

What about those hapless souls? Will they be demoted from the middle class to the ranks of the working poor? Consigned to the indentured servitide of the service industry?

Thomas Wolfe said you can’t go home again. Similarly, we cannot reverse the clock, only the future lies ahead. But just how, or where did we go woefully awry on the way to that destination?

G. A. Scheinoha, Eden

Call a sin a sin

We are all sinful people. If not be deed then by our thoughts and words. Christians attempt to follow Jesus’ commands. Christians are not perfect, but when Christians falter, they repent and ask God’s forgiveness.

Is homosexuality a sin? Joy Schroeder (Lesson of Day of Silence, Your Views April 23) would have us believe that is a matter of Biblical interpretation. I wonder how Joy would interpret these verses: "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable."

Jesus stated in the book of Matthew, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." (There is no question that homosexuality was considered sexually immoral in Jesus' day.) The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans, "Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for this perversion." There is no question the Bible condemns homosexuality as sinful.

So how should the Christian react? Ann and Jim Fowler (When fear overtakes faith, Your Views April 23) would have us embrace the "love-everybody-no-matter-what Jesus." We "must not cast the first stone," "... it is a Christ-like action to take ..." to not discriminate, and we should not hate but "rather love, as was Christ’s way."

Jesus hates sin. Jesus frequently condemned sin and spoke of its consequences in the Bible. But Jesus also desires that all are saved. The apostle Paul wrote, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." The word of Christ can be heard in a Bible-believing church. There are many in our area.

As for the West Bend School District, it should not be embracing a day in support of sinful activity.

And we as Christians should not remain silent.

Bill Gordon, Town of Jackson

Lost Samaritan jobs a shame

I am a resident at River Way Place Assisted Living. I am writing about the article that headlined in the Daily News on Friday about outsourcing of the laundry and housekeeping departments at the Samaritan, a county facility. I was appalled that local residents lost their jobs and a company from Green Bay is now running these departments to cut expenses.

It was indicated that the previous workers were offered to be taught how to be a CNA, but several wanted to continue working at the jobs they were so good at in the laundry and housekeeping. The article also indicated that most of the people that left were unable to get jobs and the ones who did were unhappy.

I can tell you that the ones who worked and work here are very happy.

I understand we were one of the few places where over residents did not get the flu outbreak. I’m sure its due to the thorough cleaning the housekeepers do here, and they live in the county.

We are so blessed they are with us.

Gail Hathaway, West Bend

‘Silence’: a real education

As a senior at West High School, I am writing in response to the letter written by Christine Burt about the "Day of Silence" hosted by the Gay Straight Alliance group at the High Schools this past Friday.

I agree wholeheartedly with her that parents are ultimately responsible for their children’s education, and that it should be the parents’ job to teach their children things like right versus wrong. I also agree that too much emphasis is put toward appeasing a small minority who have decided not to act maturely, thus forcing the powers that be to legislate common sense.

However when someone says that the "Day of Silence" was a day of education down the drain, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Ms. Burt claims that the event was "a distraction," and that people who support the cause should simply "stay at home." Was Ms. Burt at school on Friday? How does she know that the day was wasted?

As it turns out, the event did not distract anyone from learning; probably there was less noisy chatter because some individuals were not speaking (they could choose to anyway for class purposes and when necessary).

True, it is increasingly hard for teachers to earn respect from both students and the community, but the Day of Silence did nothing to hinder this. Its intent was to show others the persecution felt by many who are not considered "acceptable" by their peers or society. This is not something that could have been done before, after, or outside of school.

Also, it cost nothing. The event is not a class or school-sponsored program. No taxpayer money was used in any way by letting this event go on.

One should know the truth before they go about criticizing the actions of others.

Jake Schroeder, West Bend

What a surprise to the Walter family to read that Lithia Beer is coming back to West Bend. Not only is the name Lithia important to the history of West Bend, but it is also important to the history of the Walter family.

In 1911, the Walter family bought into the West Bend Brewing Company. In 1919 Charles W. Walter Sr. and Martin F. Walter changed the name to the West Bend Lithia Company due to the element of lithium found in the artesian well water located inside the brewery. West Bend Lithia Beer was brewed from 1919 until the closing of the West Bend Lithia Company in 1972. The authentic Lithia Beer was never brewed after the closing of the brewery.

The West Bend Lithia Company had a long business history in West Bend and was a strong supporter of various community non-profit organizations. Charles Walter Jr. was quoted in the West Bend News in 1969 as saying, "We at the brewery will always use our best talents, resources and facilities to produce, if possible, a better product. Our success will be measured not by the volume of our sales, but rather by the quality of our product and the service that we give to our customers."

The Walter family is wondering how the recipe to make Lithia Beer could be used since the original recipe is unavailable. The Walter family was also astonished to learn that someone else now has the rights to the Lithia Beer trademark.

The Lithia Beer that will be brewed in 2008 has nothing to do with the history of the West Bend Lithia Company and the Lithia Beer brewed there for 53 years. The new Lithia Beer brewed in 2008 will need to make its own history.

Mrs. Charles Walter Jr., Eau Claire

Over the past few years we have seen many changes in Washington County and one close to our hearts was the incorporation of Richfield. Many residents and elected officials in and outside Richfield supported that process.

We want to publicly thank Rep. Sue Jeskewitz, Sen. Alberta Darling, Sen. Ted Kanavas and Rep. Don Pridemore for their support. Thank you also to the many officials of Washington County cities, villages and towns who supported Richfield’s incorporation.

It is also important that we thank the Washington County Board of Supervisors for passing the Countywide Smart Growth Plan. While we understand there are a few items that need to be completed, there is time to do that. This plan is a good beginning for future planning of Washington County and as with any plan what we envision today may need revision in the future.

Richfield completed its Smart Growth plan in 2004 to guide future planning. Richfield’s plan was included in the county plan and we look forward to continued partnerships with Washington County.

Diane Pedersen ,President, Richfield
John Jeffords, Chuck Kugel, Dan Neu and Rock Brandner
Trustees, Richfield

Riverwalk grant excuse a joke

When I read Tuesday’s article on the West Bend Common Council voting against applying for a grant for Riverwalk improvements, I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. Their reasoning for voting against it - that first the (downtown) businesses need to clean up their backyards - was outrageous.

First, the Riverwalk was not designed to enhance the businesses. It was designed to enhance the city, provide recreation and attract visitors.

The city Web site describes it as a meandering path that hugs the river and showcases modern art sculptures. Why is the council asking how the businesses are "going to use this thing?"

Second, how can the city accuse the businesses of being in a state of disrepair? I work in a downtown building. Every time we go out the back door, we look at the slab left from the Fields building and the huge pile of rubble next to it, the rusted footbridge that goes nowhere and the overgrowth of bushes along the riverside that pretty much obscures the view of the river from the Riverwalk. Who needs to clean up first?

Third, this is the oldest section of the Riverwalk. If the section needs repair, including stabilizing the riverbank (a preservation issue), repairing the path (a safety issue) and improving access to the river (a recreation issue), why should it be dependent on businesses in a couple block area to "clean up their backyards first?"

I have to wonder what the real reason is for the negative vote. Most of the repairs are ones that will need to be made anyway.

Next year the grant may be unavailable or have other projects take precedence. Then the total cost will fall on the city and its taxpayers instead of just half. Talk about missed opportunities!

Mary Gamerdinger, West Bend

A day of education wasted

What are the responsibilities of the school? What are the responsibilities of the parents? Parents seem to be allowing the schools to raise their kids. Parents should be teaching their kids moral convictions, truths and faith.

If parents would step up to their duties and raise kids with a conscience of what is right and what is wrong, there would not be any prejudice. The school’s job was founded on the principals of educating kids for jobs. The schools are suppose to teach our children the fundamentals for being employed, not teaching them about sex and other health issues.

About 98 percent of our kids have parents who teach them about their moral convictions, truths and faith. Why do we allow the remaining 2 percent (on our taxpayers’ dollars) to have the majority and have the schools spend our money on these health and sex programs? What is wrong with this picture?

The day of silence is nothing but another distraction away from education. This type of action should be held before or after school. Yes, we do have the right for free speech, so the people who want to participate in this type of activity should stay at home. I am paying the schools to educate my children.

It is hard enough for teachers to get respect, participation and focus in the classroom. My kids are in class to learn, get a great education and be productive members in society.

Is this day of silence helping our kids in the future? Do you not realize we need to stop all this fluff and start getting down to the nitty gritty of education?

Our jobs are going overseas. These people who want to promote such a day, must not realize this country's future is at stake. Think about it, do adults at the workplace have such a day?

This day of silence is wasting away another day of learning.

Christine Burt, West Bend

A recent letter conveys the impression that the 11th annual National Day of Silence advances a homosexual agenda or lifestyle and should be opposed by pastors, parents, and educa-tors/administrators.

In fact, it is a protest, in the form of silence, against bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools. Those types of attitudes and behaviors occur in every school, and we should all care about working toward eradicating them.

Christianity doesn't need to be interjected, but since it has been, Jesus Christ in his teachings was vocal about tolerance and love. Students who vow silence in support of tolerance follow the tenets of Christ more closely than many Christians might believe.

I admire young people who have the courage to oppose disrespect and discrimination. I don't fear them.

D. Duncan, West Bend

Tattoo business of no benefit

A. Goebel, West Bend

Spaeth repeatedly serves community

This letter is directed toward some West Bend aldermen.

I think saying that Tony Spaeth "does not represent the best interest of the community," is not correct. He has worked many hours at the Parks and Recreation Department to make our parks what they are.

The Eisenbahn Trail is a great addition to our city. At the opening ceremony for the trail, I saw one alderman, Dave Krochalk. Where were the other aldermen? It is a great trail to walk, bike, roller blade, walk dogs and also for young families. I invite Alderman Vrana to join me on the trail. Last evening I sat on one of the many benches, reading and watching and talking to many people who passed. What a great place to meet people from our great city.

Tony has spent many, many hours remodeling that house at Lac Lawrann. It looks great. He has also worked at St. Agnes House in Barton.

He has helped at the YMCA and Holy Angels fund drives. He helps at the K.C. Hall - he helped remodel the building years ago.

Tony helps and builds many things for his family and others. He works at German Fest, and not only the fun part, but has also helped at times to tear down on Sunday evening.

The council seems to think he does not represent the best interests of the community. I do.

Thanks Tony.

Mary Jane Spaeth, West Bend

I am responding to the fear in the editorial written by Mary Weigand. As a parent of adolescents, I, too, am anxious about the health and safety of relationships our children form. That is why I teach about sexuality at our church and am proud that our daughter is a member of Gay Straight Alliance at West Bend High Schools. I am glad our church is one of several in Wisconsin that welcomes people of diverse colors, abilities and sexual orientations.

I do not think I could change your interpretation of what the Bible says about homosexuality. I do believe homosexuals when they say they don’t have a choice about which gender to whom they are attracted. I know they are disrespectd, distrusted and hurt daily, verbally, if not physically.

I wonder how Mary Weigand or I would respond if one of our children came to us revealing that he or she was gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender (GLBT). I am sure we would have to fear for his safety and quality of life. I would hope our developing youth could get help understanding her sexuality. I hope we would not label him/her evil, crazy or stupid, but leave the judging to God.

GLSEN does not have an agenda to exploit youth. The purpose of GSA groups on college and high school campuses is to provide education, support and foster safety for GLBT individuals. This year’s Day of Silence is in memory of a 15-year-old California boy who was shot and killed at school this February by a classmate because of his gender expression.

May more parents encourage youth to get accurate information and discuss values. May more of us allow ourselves the richness of getting to know people who appear different, but share the same need for respect and fulfilling relationships.

Joy Schroeder, Town of Trenton

Prevent airport tax drain

Our elected and city officials are giving the West Bend Municipal Airport thousands of our property tax dollars. Our tax money is to be used to benefit everyone, not just those who own planes.

These officials also want to enlarge the airport and destroy all kinds of wetlands. They say wetlands can be re-established, but it has taken Mother Nature many years to make the wetlands we have now. This is like telling us you can take a branch off of a fruit tree, plant it in the ground and a year later it will start bearing fruit.

What is more important: a bigger airport that a few people can use or wetlands that everyone can enjoy?

Close the airport and put it in a TIF District or, better yet, turn it into something that "may" (the word "may" is used a lot in West Bend) pay for itself.

Our property values are going down - so should our taxes, right?

Roger Rusch, West Bend

Parents can keep their kids home

West Bend taxpayers and parents of public school children take heed. The Board of Instruction decided that parents need not be made aware of the Day of Silence to be held this Friday.

By their silence, the board denies informing parents that they have the option to opt their children out of school that day. Rather than having their children exposed to the promotion of homosexuality in the classroom, many parents from across the state and nation are responding by keeping their children home on Friday.

How can a teacher succeed in his/her daily routine when a number of students are allowed to simply sit and refuse participation due to "personal convictions?" Imagine how awkward the Day of Silence must be for conscientious teachers, if students refuse to correspond or answer questions. Will the Day of Silence turn into a virtual eight-hour study hall?

How should traditional-minded students and families respond to the Day of Silence? What will happen to those students who are not in agreement with the agenda of this entire day? As a parent, I am fearful of the retaliation that may be visited upon traditional students choosing not to go along with the Day of Silence agenda.

Fellow parents and taxpayers, do you want your tax dollars to be used to respect the rights of parents, or should schools use their authority to usurp your rights? What other information does the West Bend School District think they should withhold from parents and the community?

Parents, are you aware of what is happening in local schools? Did you know about the Day of Silence? Did you know you have the authority to keep your children home on April 25? Since the board is not telling you, I am. Remind school officials of their responsibility to respect your parental authority and their duty to communicate with you.

After all, since you pay their wages, it’s the least they can do.

Ginny Maziarka, Town of West Bend

When fear overtakes faith

We were saddened to read the letter on April 18 warning about the upcoming Day of Silence at West Bend High Schools. Saddened by fear overtaking faith and reason, anger replacing prayer and peace, and hate "in the name of Christ" rather than loving as was and is Christ’s way.

Our faith tradition tells us that Christ welcomed and accepted everyone; and that we are to love one another as God loves us. In addition, with faith in Christ there is no need for fear. Ultimately, since we are all sinners, must not all of us "not cast the first stone" - "judge not less you be judged"?

The Day of Silence is an appropriate exercise of free speech. The student group behind it calls themselves the Gay Straight Alliance. Its objective in this peaceful non-violent action is to highlight the cultural and verbal harassment that pervades our society - and specifically their society inside the school walls. Those who encounter any of the students being silent will be reminded to think about what they say. Does it injure, show disrespect or hate?

There is no hidden agenda here, no proselytizing of adolescents, and no outside group imposing their will or ways. Yet discrimination is very much alive and well - toward people who don’t look like us, who don’t think like us or don’t act like us. Being silent in support of those who have been marginalized and discriminated against isn’t hurting anyone. Indeed, it is the Christ-like action to take.

Our daughter is a sophomore at West Bend East and will be participating in the Day of Silence with our blessing. We will keep Ms. Weigand and others who feel as she does in our prayers - prayers for peace not violence, for understanding not fear, for love not hate.

Ann and Jim Fowler, West Bend

Parents take heed, for the sake of your children. There is an aggressive group, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) that is exploiting America’s youth to expand their agenda.

According to their Web site: "The Day of Silence, a project of GLSEN, is a nationwide, student-led event during which thousands of high schools and colleges protest the (alleged) oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth."

They are using our taxpayer-funded schools to gather more youth for their cause. The West Bend High Schools has such a group, and they are planning a "Day of Silence" during school on Friday April 25.

GLSEN even has sample lesson plans on their Web site, hoping to bring discussion into the classroom, with most if not all parents unaware of what is going on. How many 14-year-olds are prepared to discuss/debate homosexuality? How many parents want someone else’s morals leading such a discussion?

Currently, the School Board is hoping to raise our taxes to secure the entrances at our schools, but refuse to protect our kids from GLSEN, as they use our kids to sneak in the back door of school with their perverse agenda. This Day of Silence will take place during regular classes.

Some kids will refuse to speak in class, which will draw attention to their cause. In past years, some teachers have worn ribbons of support for them.

We will be keeping our daughter home from class that day. I hope many more parents will do the same.

I would guess that most people in West Bend consider themselves Christians. As such, we know that God made us to be make and female in order to build families by a physical union.

May we in West Bend not abandon our youth as this goes on in our schools year after year. Let’s offer truth, hope and freedom for our kids. Bible-believing pastors and concerned parents, are you out there?

Mary Weigand, Town of Trenton

Smoking should definitely be banned in all bars, work places and restaurants.

Most people who smoke have no consideration for others. If they're with another person, they don't blow the smoke at them, but blow it in the other direction at other people.

The long range effect of smoking is horrendous and very seldom easy to overcome. The diseases that smoking spawns are not a fun thing to live with.

Let's protect the non-smokers, instead of the smokers who don't seem to care about themselves or others that they're hurting.

Val Strobel, Kewaskum

Coulter’s view askew

Ann Coulter’s April 7 article that contained excerpts from Sen. Obama’s book "Dreams From My Father" was so misleading. She did an amazing job of twisting phrases to match her personal opinions.

She obviously has two physical defects - tunnel vision and a narrow mind. Both conditions should disqualify her as a journalist.

I read Barack Obama’s book two months ago and find it to be very enlightening and informative. It helped me see what a caring, capable and intelligent man he really is. Those are some of the qualities I would like to see in our president.

Please remove Ms. Coulter’s column from the Daily News. We deserve accurate reporting - not twisted and erroneous statements.

Read the book and form your own ideas.

Caroline Jacobs, West Bend

We find it curious that the West Bend School Board holds listening sessions to determine the wishes of the people.

The people overwhelmingly state that they want K-8 neighborhood schools with less programming and the board responds by saying that that will not even be an option.

The reason given? A survey of newcomers indicated past programming to be the No. 1 "draw." Excuse me, isn’t overcrowding our No. 1 problem?

Now the board is surveying more targeted audiences - parents and staff only. Interesting, last time we checked the schools belong to all of us, taxpayers as well as parents and staff.

The purpose of K-8 programming was to provide a way to solve the problems of overcrowding, safety and handicapped access by building three brand-new, less-expensive schools. K-8 schools are estimated to cost $25 million to build as opposed to $39 million for middle schools.

K-8 neighborhood schools would provide very adequate education just as our parochial schools do and would also save vast transportation costs.

Let the electorate decide which option they prefer.

Elaine and Jim Shutes, West Bend

I have 12 tattoos. My whole back is covered, but I am a "professional." I work at a bank.

I have to go to Madison to get my tattoos (Renee Pastorius in Kewaskum at Alter Ego is always too busy!). It would be excellent to have at least one tattoo shop in West Bend, and not just to go and get "tatted up," but to have more variety locally.

Let’s get some local business for tattoos in West Bend!

JoAnn Furka, West Bend

Celebrating 30 years of service to Washington County, Friends of Abused Families strives to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault by providing community leadership, expertise in crisis intervention and community education.

On March 26 the Safe Housing Act was unanimously approved by the state Assembly and Senate, and signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle. Supported by the Wisconsin Rental Housing Legislative Council, the Safe Housing Act will do three things to address housing barriers for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

First, it will allow victims to terminate a lease with written notice, if they can demonstrate imminent threat of physical harm if the tenant or the tenant’s child remains on the premises and the victim has an injunction, no contact bail condition, or a criminal complaint alleging assault, stalking or domestic abuse.

Second, it will make void and unenforceable a written or oral agreement or regulation imposed by a landlord in a residential tenancy that allows a landlord to increase rent, decrease services, bring an action for possession of the premises, refuse to renew a lease or threaten any of the foregoing because a tenant has contacted any public or private entity for law enforcement, health services, or safety services.

Finally, it will prohibit localities from enacting ordinances, or enforcing existing ordinances, that impose a fee on the owner or occupant of a property for a call for assistance that is made by the owner or occupant requesting law enforcement services that relate domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

The largest cause of homelessness among women and children is domestic violence. This law is critical to helping those in danger obtain something many of us take for granted; safety in our own homes.

If you are a landlord and would like to learn more about the dynamics of domestic and/or sexual assault or this new law, please contact Friends at 334-5598. If you or someone you know is in danger, please contact our 24 Hour Crisis Line at 334-7298.

Lisa Krenke, Executive Director
Friends of Abused Families, Inc., West Bend

Horrified by Coulter

I was truly horrified at Ann Coulter’s characterization of Barack Obama’s memoir, "Dreams from My Father" as a "dime store Mein Kampf" in the April 7 Daily News.

I have read Obama’s book and, after reading it, greatly admired the young man whose experiences it shared. His intelligence and concern for the people he served in Chicago were particularly impressive.

I regret that the Daily News chooses to share the hate and intolerance that Ann Coulter brings each Monday. Surely there are other columns that would edify the Daily News readers rather than bring them misrepresentations and misinformation.

Carol Broman, West Bend

In 2004, when I first ran for the office of your state representative, I stated that I did not support the proposed expansion of Highway 164. I still do not support expanding Highway 164 to four lanes, and will do what I can to prevent such expansion.

However, as your state representative, it is part of my duty to do my best to work with all of my constituents. This means that I must work with all elected officials from each county, village, town and township, among other groups. Therefore, I cannot endorse local candidates, referenda or policies, for I must be able to work with whom-ever is elected.

On Feb. 13, the office of the Secretary of State held a ceremony to officially certify Richfield as a village. It has come to my attention that some residents have mistakenly assumed that my attendance at this ceremony reflects a change in my position regarding Highway 164. Let me take this opportunity to assure you that it does not.

As your state representative, I was invited to and did attend this ceremony. I hope that you can see that I did not do this with the purpose of reneging on my campaign promise to oppose Highway 164 expansion. I attended the certification ceremony as part of my duties as the state representative for this area. When I was asked to speak at the Richfield village celebration, I accepted and attended; if Richfield residents had voted to remain a town and had held a ceremony, I would have attended as well.

Note: As you may already be aware, the expansion of Highway 164 has remained on the Washington County Land Use Plan. This has occurred because the city of Hartford and the village of Slinger have not passed resolutions opposing such expansion.

I would like to invite each and every one of you to feel free to contact my office with any concerns you may have regarding Highway 164 or any other issue that may concern you.

Rep. Don Pridemore
99th Assembly District

Rev. Jeremiah Wright (aspiring crucifier of the Jews) couldn’t be more objective to his cultural stature and untroubled by any reprisals of his words by the Obamas. The reverend and his political programmed droids Barrack and Michelle, march on with their gaffes for laughs agenda. Their headliner: pouting perspectives of racially grim inequities.

Mrs. Obama’s recent statement to university students calling for some kind of rapprochement among ethnicities while inferring student ignorance on stereotyping is her tactless nature.

I didn’t receive Michelle’s memo that I was supposed to regress into a delusionary gully of rival ethnicities; where a man named Jackie can’t play ball. Michelle and Rev. Wright have opined rampant, racist allusions as if slavery is yet entrenched in America’s backyard.

Barrack’s majorly coddled liberalisms (not just ending war), poor candidate options, and being a minority front runner puts him above Hillary (basically McCain in a wig) especially among his own minority allegiance. Campaigning based on racial injustice of the past like nothing has changed is Michelle’s sad message.

Civil Rights was a great realization; but Michelle Obama has lowered her standards to ethnocentrism with her "first time proud American" statement. This remark wasn’t nasty envy spoken by a drunken rube, but by a sober Ivy League lawyer slapdash asserting racist embitterment.

Why wasn’t Michelle Obama a proud American during the Clinton residency of her party choice when Democrats were forever enchanted by the Clintons? Michelle Obama’s festering resentment was quite evident despite her attempts to invalidate such an angle.

I’ve always been a proud American regardless of what goofball (Clinton) was in the house or what sex/color could hold office. Give me African-Americans Thomas Sowell or Condoleezza Rice any day over McCain, Hillary and Obama.

Bob Glodowski, West Bend

This is a new concept for me - to see Gehl Company being generously rewarded for closing a manufacturing plant, one of a few left in West Bend.

In addition, the city is forcing another business, West Bend Transit, to find another location, and paying Gehl more cash for the Water Street property that is bound to be heavily contaminated. Taxpayers are getting TIF’d or WHIFFED on this deal.

Charlie Henke, Kewaskum

A president not just for the rich

Our country is in very troubling times. With the factories pulling out of Wisconsin, the jobs for the blue-collar workers are getting fewer. Those workers need a good wage to support home and family. Good health care is getting more costly all the time.

We need a candidate who will represent all the people, not just the rich, which is happening with this president. Our country is very divided, the rich keep getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.

Betty Strohmeyer, Kewaskum

Too tight on school facility spending

Once again, Washington County taxpayers have revealed where their priorities are, and are not. The failure of citizens in Hartford and Germantown to provide much needed funding for their school districts is hardly surprising, but is disgusting nonetheless.

Do these citizens even realize that passing the referendum would have cost the owner of a $200,000 home only $56 a year? That is less than the cost of one fill-up of their giant SUV!

It is folly of the worst kind when school districts are continually being asked by taxpayers to do more with less, and being vilified for it, to boot.

Yet, these conservative Washington County taxpayers are presumably the same ones who, through their elected officials in Congress, persist in giving the president one blank check after another for his ill-begotten invasion of Iraq.

If we want to arm our children for the future with higher-level thinking skills and the ability to critically analyze issues in our world, then our money better follow closely behind our rhetoric. Otherwise, we fate our children to growing up to be as short-sighted and foolish as we, their predecessors.

Angie Rodenkirch, Town of Polk

Once again, Washington County taxpayers have revealed where their priorities are, and are not. The failure of citizens in Hartford and Germantown to provide much needed funding for their school districts is hardly surprising, but is disgusting nonetheless.

Do these citizens even realize that passing the referendum would have cost the owner of a $200,000 home only $56 a year? That is less than the cost of one fill-up of their giant SUV!

It is folly of the worst kind when school districts are continually being asked by taxpayers to do more with less, and being vilified for it, to boot.

Yet, these conservative Washington County taxpayers are presumably the same ones who, through their elected officials in Congress, persist in giving the president one blank check after another for his ill-begotten invasion of Iraq.

If we want to arm our children for the future with higher-level thinking skills and the ability to critically analyze issues in our world, then our money better follow closely behind our rhetoric. Otherwise, we fate our children to growing up to be as short-sighted and foolish as we, their predecessors.

Angie Rodenkirch
Town of Polk

The war in Iraq has been going on for five years and 4,000 Americans were killed as a result of that war. During those same five years almost 4,000 Americans were killed as a result of car crashes in Wisconsin alone. In our nation we have killed almost 200,000 Americans as a result of car crashes during those same five years.

The loss of 4,000 American lives in Iraq is a tragedy. The loss of 200,000 American lives on our nation’s highways is too.

Kenneth M. Pesch
Washington County highway commissioner

‘Education and politics’

"Politics as usual" brings to mind negative thoughts of special interest groups, division along party lines, and self interest. I experienced "politics as usual" recently in Madison.

The Senate Education Committee had hammered out a bi-partisan bill pertaining to virtual education in Wisconsin. After much work and research, both sides were satisfied with the bill and it passed out of committee unanimously with Democrats and Republicans in support. Virtual schooling would continue to be a viable option for families.

This bill, SB396, came up for a vote before the full Senate session last month. At the last minute, under the pressure of Gov. Doyle, an amendment was added that blew up the compromise and would lock-out new families from enrollment in these schools. What could possibly be the motive to limit the number of children eligible to attend a school where the test scores are excellent and the cost is less than traditional brick-and-mortar schools? The answer is: pressure from WEAC, the teacher’s union, which hates change and innovation in education.

One senator, who was on the education committee, yet later voted for the amendment, commented, "I will hold my nose and vote." We need leaders with backbones who will do what they know to be right and not just vote along party lines. We need a governor who governs and not legislates.

In the interest of children and education, call or write your senator and tell them you favor virtual education without a lock-out of new families. And call the governor (608-266-1212) and tell him to sign the bill.

Judy Gilboy, Campbellsport

In the study of our world humans have never observed matter or energy either being created from nothing or destroyed totally. This truth is embodied in the first law of thermodynamics also known as the law of conservation of energy.

The second law tells us that with time all things degenerate.

A believer in the Creator has no problem with these two awesome laws of science. Humans have never witnessed the creation of matter because creation happened at the beginning. Also, we do witness and feel the relentless principle of disorder in the decay and destruction that goes on around us every day.

Jim Marshall (Daily News, March 14) ended his letter with these words, "I’m open to theories that have some evidence to back them up."

How about laws? A law of physics is a much more trustworthy foundation block than a theory. We don’t expect to find new life forms bud into life and we haven’t (first law). We expect to witness a relentless loss of existing life and we do (second law).

Jim states that "In Earth’s 4.5 billion year history many different life forms have come and gone and more of the same is sure to happen." Has anyone been a witness to this marvel? If it were true, both the first and second law of thermodynamics would have to be declared untrue. But this won’t happen. We wait in vain for new creatures. Extinction is real. Some researchers estimate it takes place at a rate of one a day. Others estimate thousands per year. It matters little which number is correct. Extinction is real and is a one-way street to a less beautiful world.

This is one reason why we Christians are concerned that our children be safe on another one-way street. It is the road to the eternal new world awaiting us. Having our children taught falsehood whether in science class or any other class offends. May our prayer be that this threat be reduced and that more and more people learn to know their maker.

Cleone H. Weigand, West Bend