For full Letters to the Editor, please see our E-edition

2/5/10 - DJFS worker did not like series
Dear Editor,
This is my outcry to your six part salary series of Union County employees. Your publication is focused on politics and controversy as usual. You are not following your own motto, “If it’s for the good of Marysville and Union County … We’re for it!” Your spotlight solely on salary and years of service as numbers is an unfair display of expenditures to the Union County community.
Donna Bryant
Eligibility & Referral Specialist II
Union County Department of Job and Family Services
Richwood
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Appreciated show of respect
Dear Editor
My name is Ralph Miller and I have been a resident of Marysville almost my entire life. I have been involved in sports in the Marysville area for a very long time, about 20 years now.
The reason is I am writing this letter is to commend the Marysville High School Lady Monarch Basketball team. My daughter and I went to a recent game at Marysville to watch them play against Westerville South. We were actually there to watch a senior from Westerville South who will be playing on our Heart of Ohio Heartbreakers 18/U softball team this summer.
Ralph Miller
Marysville

1/29/10 - Series is unfair to county workers
Dear Editor,
This letter is in response to the so-called “wage study” series being run by the Marysville Journal-Tribune. A real wage study would compare Union County to other counties with similar profiles, including comparables to sister agencies, their average salaries for like job titles, employee and employer Healthcare costs, etc.
It seems to me that the Marysville Journal-Tribune posted county employee names and salaries in the hopes of exposing some big AIG-type scandal. But Union County Department of Job and Family Services is not AIG, and the Journal-Tribune’s publication of names, titles, and salaries is not a wage study.
Kim Fisher, training officer
Union County DJFS
Marysville
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Citizens have voiced opinion
Dear Editor,
We have now had two meetings to discuss the proposed income tax increase.
Two things are abundantly clear. One, the people of Marysville are still, by and large, against this increase. And two, the city council and mayor do not care what you think.
Ray Clifford
Marysville

1/22/10 - Why should our community be saddled with egg farm issues?
Dear Editor,
The land in which the new chicken farm will occupy is surrounded by rich farm lands and fine family homes that have stood for generations. My grandparents, father and now, cousins live on this land. They are, and continue to be, hardworking farmers who have toiled for over 100 years to supply our community with crops and livestock.
If you think that we, as a community, are going to sit by quietly and watch the degradation of our properties, you are sadly mistaken. What gives them the right to destroy our property values, health and heritage?
Shelley Knapp
Elwood Avenue
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Appreciates efforts of teacher
Dear Editor:
This is about a lady that just happens to be a school teacher for the Marysville School system. She tutors kids at the library, for which my granddaughter happens to be one of them.
Oh, by  the way, her name is Jackie Underwood. We really appreciate you being her teacher.
Elizabeth Dunlap
Marysville

1/15/10 - Deputies deserve raises
Dear editor,
The current contract the Union County deputies are under was put into place more than two years ago. They were offered annual 7 percent raises over three years by the commissioners. This was not through back and forth negotiations; it is what simply was offered to the deputies by the commissioners. 
Carey Rose
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Did not like editorial
Dear editor,
I was disappointed with the editorial in Friday’s paper that was headlined as a countywide budget issue but was in truth a thinly veiled challenge of integrity aimed at the sheriff’s office.  There was no mention of deputies foregoing their contracted raise last year to help prevent more layoffs. There was also no mention of the deputies already earning considerably less than area counterparts and thus justifying raises. 
Joe Stritmatter 
Dove Street
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Appreciated kind act of strangers
Dear editor,
I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge a couple of very special people who were in Marysville on Wednesday, shopping at Walmart. 
On Wednesday, I accidentally left my purse in a shopping cart in the parking lot of Wal-mart. I got home and immediately realized what I had done and panicked. All the way back to the store I prayed that it would still be there or that someone honest would  turn it in. 
I was just about to ask an employee who was collecting carts when a man got out of his car and asked if I was looking for my purse. He said his wife had just taken it into the store to turn it in.
I found his wife waiting in line at the customer service area and was able to get my purse back.  She proceeded to apologize for looking in my purse to get my name. She was hoping to be able to reach me by phone to tell me she had my purse.
 April Ellington
Buerger Street
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Enough chickens
Dear editor,
When is enough - enough?
I received a notice from our friendly watch dogs the NNA that Topaz Real Estate, Inc Farm 2 (Formerly known as Daylay Farm 2) is in the permit process of expanding its facility on Storms Road in West Mansfield. This facility is a cage free structure.
Topaz is proposing in adding three buildings 80 feet by 480 feet with 70,000 birds per building. They will be adding 210,000 additional birds to the 213,000 already existing and enlarging the waste water lagoon dramatically. Our neighborhood has taken a huge hit with the proposed Chicken Factory going in off of Davis Road that will be adding six million birds.
These locations are within five miles of each other. At what point does the community have a say in our neighbors. We moved here nine years ago because I wanted to give my children a good, clean, country living. I do not look forward to the stench, and have to worry that our wells could dry up, or the possibly of my children and grandchild getting sick from the water.
Please write our State Representatives, call our Governor and let them know enough is enough.
Amanda Pease
West Mansfield
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Appreciates Kilroy’s efforts
Dear editor,
Last week it was announced that Ohio will receive over $100 million in federal defense funds to upgrade and expand Ohio’s National Guard facilities.
I would like to acknowledge congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy for her efforts to secure $2 million to expand the Joint Operations Center along with Senators Brown and Voinovich. The facility monitors troop and equipment movements as well as the deployment and return home of thousands of servicemen and women every year.
Cheryl Johncox
East Blagrove Street
Richwood

12/18/09 - Care Train support was overwhelming
Dear Editor,
Dec. 12, 2009 was a great day in Union County. Over $127,000 was raised for Union County families and seniors experiencing economic difficulties. On Sunday, volunteers will distribute gifts and food vouchers to these families in an effort to bring them a sense of joy during this holiday season.
Pam Klaus, Executive Director
Care Train of Union County
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Support for troops needed
Dear Editor,
I am writing to you to comment on the article “Area supports troops over holidays” by Karlyn Byers, in the Nov. 24, 2009 issue of the Marysville Journal-Tribune.
I find that this article is very supportive of helping the troops. I think that this is excellent. Whenever a soldier recieves one of these gifts, I am sure that he will be thankful to know that people who love him and support him are looking after him.
Dylan Wildman
Weldon Road

12/4/09 - Writer supports health care reform, but not what’s proposed
Dear Editor,
Recent TV ads are unfair when they accuse Pat Tiberi of not caring about our health and the cost of insurance. In fact, Tiberi should be commended for listening and hearing the voices of the people they represent.
I am one of millions who are Jim Mitchell
Plain City
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Federal government out of line
Dear Editor,
I do not claim to be a Bible scholar, but I have read the last chapter and Christians have strong reasons to be confident and hopeful. However, to get to that point, there are many difficult situations predicted for the world. I believe that some of those predictions are being fulfilled before our eyes.
Dan Fogt
Marysville
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Dislikes cemetery decision
Dear Editor,
I was very disappointed when I read in the newspaper city council news that they plan to let the Oakdale Cemetery workers go and contract out the work to be done at the cemetery.
Myron Rausch


11/27/09 - Incarcerated pair offer opinions
Dear Editor:
With pounding on our doors, guns waving and law enforcement officers screaming our lives suddenly and without warning changed forever.
To be in that position is frightening, scary and confusing. But the “addiction” to “heroin” is even a worse nightmare. If you were to ask us, not one of us made a conscience decision to become “heroin addicts,” but like alcoholism, you wake up one morning and realize that you are an addict. The road to “heroin addict” begins because of the low cost, a $10 high. But the need for more and the longer you use, you suddenly, like that knock on the door, find yourself with a $200 habit. It takes over all aspects of your life.
Ben Cook
Dustin Ford
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Editor’s note: because of certain allegations in the above letter, the Journal-Tribune sought a comment from the Union County Prosecuor’s office.
Mr. Cook and Mr. Ford are wrong to assume that the investigation into heroin trafficking was “abandoned” or stopped with their arrest. This investigation has also led to arrests of others who are major sources of the heroin coming into our community. The investigation by the Marysville Police Department led directly to the seizure of 90 balloons of heroin, over $5,000 in cash and five firearms in one series of arrests; and 70 grams of heroin, 28 grams of cocaine and over $10,000 in cash in another series of arrests. Those arrests were made outside our jurisdiction by federal D.E.A. agents, but have a direct impact upon the supply of heroin to Union County.
David W. Phillips
Union County Prosecuting Attorney

11/20/09 - Shows good will towards man
Dear Editor,
We all were raised or heard at one point in our lives, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
It isn’t too often in this world of confusion and hustle-bustle that one sees a shining example in this complex business world of giving assistance to a brother in need.
Bill Franke
Franke’s Wood Products

11/13/09 - Candidate found greatness in community
Dear Editor,
I’m writing to share my experience with you. It is an experience that will explain one of the reasons I’m proud to live in Marysville. My name is Tracy Richardson and 11 years ago I moved to Marysville with my husband Chris and our children. We came because my husband was offered employment here, but we never dreamed how grateful we would be to live in Marysville.
Tracy Richardson
Marysville
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Editor’s note: This letter came in prior to the election but in the issue interest of fairness the Journal-Tribune chose not to run it until after residents had cast their ballots.
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Community was well informed on tax issue
Dear Editor,
I read the comments from our mayor since the people of Marysville rejected her tax request. She has implied that she was unable to get her message out to all the people and that is why the issue lost. Is she kidding? After the non-stop barrage on our mailboxes, the almost daily stories/ads in this, and other, newspapers, the flyers jammed in our door and the signs placed all over this town. How could anyone in this town not have gotten her message?
Ray Clifford
Marysville
––––
Program deserves help
Dear Editor,
Our little girl, Leah, is turning 5. How she went from being a baby to being our “big girl” in such a seemingly short period of time I’ll never know. Along with her brother, Noah, who is approaching 8, we often say they’ll never be younger than they are today, and we take heed of what everyone has told us about how fast they grow up and how fast time flies by.
 It hit me recently that Leah Derric Brown
United Way of Union County Board Member

10/30/09 - Writers do not support Marysville’s income tax
Dear Editor,
Recently the mayor stated there has not been an increase in the city income tax in 40 years. This is simply not true for some.
Four years ago city council voted to double the income tax paid by thousands of city residents who pay to Marysville as well as, by law, to the municipality where they work. No city official has ever publicly even acknowledged that tax increase.
Larry Young
Marysville
––––
Dear Editor,
I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about the Marysville tax issue. This mayor and her scare tactics are very upsetting to me. It seems like her agenda is spend, spend, spend. It’s time to budget, not raise taxes.
In the past, this town has spent in excess. Look at how many traffic lights there are. We need about half of them. Look at your water bill. Look at the size of this town and how many police officers there are. We have the state highway patrol, the sheriff’s department and the Marysville police. We could even cut some of the police here and save money.
A concerned citizen
Charles Henley
––––
Dear Editor,
In a severe recession, a permanent 50 percent increase in the city income tax is not the answer to raising revenue for a new municipal court, police and fire stations. Here are three other options:
The state legislature can create a Union County Municipal Court, just like Franklin and Madison counties. Since the judge is elected by all the voters in the county, it only makes sense to distribute all costs evenly.
David Creviston
––––
Dear Editor,
I encourage people to vote no for the city income tax hike. The city states the income tax hasn’t increased in 40 years. The city of Marysville raised my tax by .5 percent a few years ago.
I work in Dublin but reside in Marysville. Therefore, I pay Dublin and Marysville taxes. So all of the residents that work out of town also gave Marysville .5 percent more of their money. Now, a few years later, they want another .5 percent.
Nancy Cowgill

City needs tax money
Dear Editor,
On Tuesday, the voting residents of Marysville will have an opportunity to decide the future safety and well being of our community. Marysville has been my home for 31 years. I drove daily to Columbus for 22 years but knew at the end of each day I would be returning to my safe little community in Union County.
Our little community isn’t little anymore... we’ve quadrupled in size and populaiton...why? Is it because people wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the larger cities? Is it because we are a caring community and people feel welcome? Or do people feel safe and protected not only by professional safety service personnel, but by their friends and neighbors as well?
John Gore
––––
Dear Editor,
The need for additional operating revenue for the city has been known years before the financial crisis. The last time the city asked for more funds was 40 years ago. That 1 percent has been stretched as far as it can and there is never a good time to request additional funding.
Year after year the administrations find ways to avoid going to taxpayers by responsibly stretching the dollar while retaining essentials for quality lifestyle. More reductions will eventually cut deeper and effect the quality of services.
Marysville.
Alan Seymour

Mental health levy deserves support
Dear Editor,
Statistics show that one in four Union County residents will have a mental health disorder this year. Any of us, your spouse or child, your friend or neighbor, yourself, could be affected by the brain disorders that cause mental problems or addiction.
Bob Ahern, Ph.D.
––––
Dear Editor,
Consider voting “yes” for the mental health levy next Tuesday. Mental health services within Union County have been reduced by $600,000 due to state funding cuts. These cuts have created a huge hole in the $3 million county mental health budget, thereby producing a significant loss of services for people with mental illness.
Noreen Runyan
National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI)
Union County affiliat

Board urges passage of county DD issue
Dear Editor,
During these days of economic uncertainty, it is very rare to hear about a tax supported entity saving money; specifically, saving the voters of Union County $5 million! Since the fall of 2006, the Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities (UCBDD) has done just that.
Bruce Davis for all members of UCBDD board

Issue 2 is a vote for big agribusiness
Dear Editor,
Proponents of Issue 2 would like to think that by supporting it you are ensuring safe local food and excellent livestock treatment. In reality, Issue 2 is nothing more that an attempt by powerful agribusiness interest groups to place a politically appointed board into the state constitution.
Cheryl Johncox
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Dear Editor,
Some proponents of Issue 2 are making ridiculous claims that a no vote on Issue 2 will be the end of farming in Ohio and will force everyone to become a vegetarian. Statements like this are an insult to the intelligence of the citizens of Ohio.
George Ondick
Raymond

Take time to research candidates
Dear Editor,
I write to acknowledge you for the information you have provided concerning the Marysville Board of Education candidates. I urge your readers to continue to delve deep into the ideals of each candidate.
Bob Schwyn

10/23/09 - Writers urge support for city tax levy
Dear Editor,
I encourage my fellow Marysville residents to support the city’s income tax plan by voting “year” on Nov. 3.
Consider this: Since 1980, our community’s population has grown by leaps and bounds, a 155 percent increase to nearly 19,000 residents. Marysville now covers 16.2 square miles compared to about four square miles in 1980. Its no wonder that more than one-third of the time, emergency response time exceeds the national standard of five minutes.
Bill Franke
Hinton Mill Road
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 Dear Editor,
Marysville’s income tax rate hasn’t changed in 40 years. The rate was 1 percent 40 years ago. It’s still 1 percent today.
In the last 40 years, our population has tripled.
Marysville’s police and fire facilities have not kept pace with that growth or with those changes. We need a larger police station. We need to upgrade the existing fire station and build a second fire station  to reduce current response times. We need to improve our Municipal Court facilities.
Steve Stolte
West Eighth Street
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Dear Editor,
I want to take this opportunity and ask that all Marysville residents vote on Nov. 3. Included in the ballot is a very important issue regarding providing the necessary financial support for the City’s safety forces.
In 1968 residents of Marysville passed a 1 percent income tax to support the operations of the city. Since that time our city has grown and the services that the residences demand from the city have expanded. However, today this 1 percent does not allow the city to properly support our police, fire and emergency medical services.
John Morehart
City Finance Director

Reader doesn’t like scare tactics
Dear Editor,
It is clear from the mountain of propaganda burying the residents of Marysville these days that the city has taken a page directly from our school superintendent’s book on how to scare and intimidate people to vote for this tax issue.
Now our mayor, the police and fire department have joined forces to let us know it is all about our safety. She has been quoted as saying she just wants to “promote the facts....while avoiding scare tactics.” Really? So the fact that a fire truck might get delayed responding to a call wasn’t bad enough, she adds that a child or your mother or father might lose their life! That’s not too extreme! An independent study showed they average five minutes response time since 2005, not too bad!
Ray Clifford
Marysville

Board members support renewal levy
Dear Editor,
The Marysville School District renewal levy will not raise taxes for our homeowners. Passing this renewal will ensure the money to continue to operate the classrooms and provide educational services within the district. If it fails, we will permanently lose $1.3 million in state reimbursement funds that can never be regained.
How is this possible? In 2005 the Ohio tax code changed and eliminated the tax on Tangible Personal Property (inventory, equipment, etc.) for businesses. At that time tangible property represented 33 percent of all taxable property in our school district. As a method to ensure that school districts were not immediately bankrupted by this new law, the state moved to reimburse the district the loss of that money for all levies that were currently on the books at the 2004 rate. The renewal levy on the ballot in November is one of those levies and the $1.3 million loss represents our payment from the state for those lost dollars. If the renewal levy is no longer being collected the state will no longer be required to provide the funds that the change in tax code took away.
Jeff Mabee - President
Scott Johnson - VP
Marysville Board of Education

10/9/09 - Local pharmacy went the extra mile
Dear Editor,
We have been customers at Dave’s Pharmacy for the past several years. We switched to our locally owned pharmacy for several reasons. We love the customer care that we receive from them. When Dave ran for public office we voted for him not because of what he stood for (because we really didn’t know) but because we knew him from being a customer of his.
About a month ago my husband was diagnosed with having pancreatic cancer. He was given several medications to start taking. We dropped them off at Dave’s and when we went back to pick them up we were blown away by the cost after our insurance had paid there part. Donna was going to break the prescriptions down into two week prescriptions so we could afford them. We were still going to have to wait until payday to pick them up.
Carl and Diane Tackett
Marysville
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Local military support group planning drive
Dear Editor,
Union County Military Family Support Group (UCMFSG) members will be at Community Market, K-Mart, Kroger, Richwood Cardinal and Lovejoy's Market in Plain City on Saturday, Oct. 24.
(Ret.) Army Major General Oscar Decker
Co-Chair UCMFSG
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Sodom was birthplace of giant
Dear Editor,
Noah Orr was born in Sodom. At one time you didn’t have to explain to people where Sodom was.
Lois Gruenbaum,
Fladt Road

10/2/09 - Asks prayers for business
Dear Editor,
When I moved to Marysville in August of 1976, the first people I met were Carl and Helen Troesch, the owners of the Lighthouse Christian bookstore. I taught at the high school for 22 years, and in that time the Lighthouse was the hub of much Christian activity, friendships, and influence in the Marysville area.
Mark Junker
Plain City

9/18/09 - Healthcare reform must preserve quality care for Ohio’s seniors
Dear Eidotr,
America’s caregivers know firsthand how important it is for Congress to reform the current healthcare system. But as the administrator of a long term care facility in Marysville I also know that we can and must increase access for all Americans to affordable, quality healthcare without burdening our seniors and losing valuable local jobs. Congress should stop and revise its current reform proposal which makes deep cuts to Medicare funding of nursing home care – a move that will eliminate many local jobs and negatively impact the quality of care.
As our representatives return toJulie Michael
Marysville
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Has MEVSD lost its moral compass?
Dear Editor:
It’s fund raising time again. At Bunsold, the reward for selling two magazine subscriptions is: Get out of classes, watch a movie, and eat junk food. Something is wrong when schools pay kids not to go to class. Schools discourage academic achievement in other ways. Rather than send misbehaving children to detention, Creekview sends them to “Noon Time Academy.”  Membership in the academy is an honor, a humbling, sacred responsibility to pass down knowledge and wisdom to the next generation. Parents in foreign countries struggle to send their children to America for an education. Here in America, being sent to the “academy”  is a punishment.
Before OSU/Michigan gJerome F. Shapiro
West Fifth Street
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Citing audit does not tell whole story
Dear editor,
I am responding to the "Good, Bad and the Ugly" letter to the editor about the Marysville school district in the Sept.11 edition of the Journal-Tribune. In particular, the comments focusing on the state auditor’s office performance report.
First I would like to join in eLoni Gordon
Marysville school parent
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Writer was able to tour ship
Dear editor,
 Daniel Behrens,
The article in the Thursday, Sept. 3 edition about the 64th anniversary of the signing of the Peace Treaty on board the battleship Missouri brought back memories. At that time I was 18 and was on the USS Osberg D.E. 538. We came into Norfolk Va. and tied up alongside the Missouri.
Harlow Beightler
Fourth Street.
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Does not agree with writer
Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to Mrs. Valentino’s letter regarding our schools which your paper printed last week. The main thread of Mrs. Valentino’s comments focused on the performance report from the state auditor’s office and how, in her opinion and that of Stronger Marysville, the school district is overspending. However, she first complimented the district on attaining an excellent rating on the recent state report card; something she referred to as a “remarkable achievement” given all the turmoil and cuts that were put into place. If you are amazed they achieved this result with these reductions in place, how do you expect them to perform if all of the reductions from the performance audit are enacted?
Carol N. Reed
Marysville
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Socialism is not the answer
Dear editor,
The Beginning of the End?
The idea of nationalized health care has refueled the very old capitalism vs. socialism debate. This is an issue of great concern. The results of Scott Resmussen's recently released poll seem disturbing to us. A very simple question was asked to American adults “Which is a better system– socialism or capitalism.”  Only 53 percent of American adults said capitalism. Could 47 percent of the U.S. adult population have no historic grasp on what has happen to countries that have actually turned to socialism?  
Jack and Shirley Purdy
Irwin Road

9/11/09 - Report contains interesting school data
ugly again.
The good is the recently released state “report card” that puts the Marysville district with an excellent academic rating that had been missing in recent years. Considering all the turmoil of cuts real and imaginary as well as a community deeply divided it is a remarkable accomplishment.
Karen Valentino
Marysville
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Appreciated coverage
Dear editor,
Miss Moxie The Amazing Honeybee and I want to acknowledge Karlyn Byers and the staff of The Marysville Journal-Tribune for the outstanding article they presented to the public on the front page of the paper on Aug. 24.
Dale Benedict
Marysville