Letters to the Editor, April 15

| Thursday, April 19, 2007

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The definition of an average Joe

An average Joe is any normal, everyday person you'd see in the course of your day.

The person making coffee at the restaurant, the mom and dad out with their kids, or the older fellow that holds the door for you when you leave the store, arms full of groceries.

He might be the guy who lets you into traffic, he might also be the one in the bank window, with two kids bouncing around, just coming home from school.

He might be a neighbor, a perfect stranger, new to this area, or lived here all his life.

I feel, that as an average Joe, I've had a good experience working in the private sector. I've been a sandwich preparer, a fry cook, a cashier, a cleaner, a closer, concessions worker, santa claus, a small business owner, a day-care provider, a telephone sales specialist, a customer service specialist, and even a trainer.

My latest profession, is as domestic engineer, as a stay-at-home dad.

When I was making my latest rounds to get signatures, time and again, I heard people mention, it would be nice to see someone from the outside of politics get elected.

Let's talk, North Rapid. 791-1064. No calls after 11 p.m., please.

If I don't respond, I'm changing a diaper.

JOSEPH BUDD

Rapid City

Can't defend yourself if gun's in the cabinet

I just read Roy Kinghorn's letter (Letters, April 6) stating that guns should be used for hunting and self-defense.

He said he was upset about some people carrying guns and that they should be used only for hunting and self-defense. Perhaps he don't know this, but you actually have to be carrying a gun to use it for hunting or self-defense. It seems to me it would be very hard to defend yourself with a gun if you didn't have one. Maybe he knows a way to shoot a deer or protect yourself when your gun is at home in the gun cabinet. Perhaps he can tell us how he does this.

CHARLES A. CURRY

Rapid City

Bush poster child for those who hid in Guard

I have to take exception to Dana Call's letter (Letters, April 8) where he stated that President Bush "served" in the National Guard. According to pay records the president himself released (Journal, Feb. 11, 2004) from May through December 1972 he was paid for six days duty. Had he attended all scheduled drills he would have been paid for 32 days (47 if summer camp were included in that time period) or even more to remain proficient as a pilot.

Regulations require a general discharge for anyone missing only nine in a one-year period (he missed 26 or 41 in eight months) and, at that time, he would have been transferred to active duty. Many other aspects of his "service" indicate special treatment. He is the poster boy for those who hid in the Guard.

Only 30 percent of Americans meet the minimum requirements for membership in the military without a moral or medical waiver of some kind. Only six percent ever serve. There are no such stringent requirements to serve in Congress or the presidency. And most don't know the first rule of leadership, "Don't ask or order anyone to do anything you wouldn't do yourself!"

DEAN FLAGE

Sturgis

Fond memories of Benedictine sisters

I am very happy for the sisters at St. Martin Monastery, and glad that they will still be able to live on part of the property.

My husband was taught by Benedictine sisters at St. John's Grade School.

Several of them were my teachers at St. John's McNamara School of Nursing. I have always been so proud of graduating from there.

I received my nursing cap in a ceremony in that exquisite chapel in about 1962-63 right after it was built. What an honor!

My mother, who died in 2000 at age 88, boarded and was schooled for a year at Sturgis St. Martin's with the Benedictine nuns when she was about 7 or 8 years old. She valued her friendship with her old teacher until Sister Calista died.

So many fond memories...

I will grieve with them when they leave their home.

Thank you for all your years of service to our community, Sisters.

PATRICIA ANNE CANFIELD HAMM

Rapid City

Thune's spending bill vote commendable

I usually take David Nickel's letters with a grain of salt, but this time (Letters, April 9) his biased ramblings were too blatant to ignore.

Nickel reported how Herseth Sandlin and Tim Johnson supported the war-spending bill, but "non-veteran" John Thune voted against it. None of South Dakota's representatives are veterans, Mr. Nickel, but that's beside the point.

The 2007 Supplemental Spending Bill was written to fund our troops in Iraq. Democrats then loaded it up with billions of dollars of pork, and inserted a plan that mandated a military withdrawal ("re-deployment") from Iraq on a designated timetable. Our troops became pawns; they only got funding if Congress acquiesced and gave the Democrats what they demanded.

The Bill passed in the House and Senate with a Democrat majority. Sen. Thune voted no. He knows that if our troops are forced to leave at a predetermined time, all hell will break loose in Iraq. The terrorists will decimate the new Democratic government - and any advances in civility and prosperity.

John Thune voted against the Supplemental Spending Bill because it wasn't the same bill. It became a Democrat vehicle that held our troops hostage and encouraged an Iraqi bloodbath. Thune is to be commended.

ED HERR

Rapid City

Johnson demonstrates that he is a real leader

Looking at the candidates for mayor (eight of them) I see only one candidate who should be elected and that is Tom Johnson. Tom Johnson is currently the president of the Rapid City Council, having been on the council for 13 years.

Tom has held every leadership position on the council, including acting mayor when the mayor was out for an extended period of time due to illness. Tom has always demonstrated that he is a real leader, always keeping the interests of the people in the forefront. Tom Johnson has always been a champion of the hardworking people of Rapid City not to special interests.

The race is narrowed down to only one candidate, the best qualified out of seven running, and that is Tom Johnson.

MICHAEL L. HOWE

Rapid City

Response to mayor on property tax decrease

State law, Mayor Shaw, (Letters, April 8) allows a property tax increase of three percent or the rate of inflation, plus growth. Even with growth, property taxes will increase at the rate of inflation. Property taxes do not decrease because of growth.

Rapid City receives the property taxes on growth, in addition to the 3 percent increase allowed on the "non-growth." The mill levy only decreased because our assessed values are rising faster than inflation, not because of fairy tale campaign rhetoric. Rapid City property tax revenue increased about 50 percent between 1998 and 2005, increasing over six percent per year. This happened because of the inflation plus growth language in the law. If the property taxes for Rapid City are decreasing, as you claim, please explain the average six percent increase per year?

Allow me: Inflation was about two percent during this time, growth was about four percent. These two facts combined yield about a six-percent increase in property tax revenue. The increasing assessments from growth cause an even greater disparity on the k-12 taxes paid. Your misleading response, assumed the value of the home remained unchanged, was another fairy tale.

RICK KRIEBEL

Rapid City

Cornerstone banquet a successful event

Thanks to the businesses and individuals who supported the Cornerstone Rescue Mission during the annual Bird & Bison Banquet held March 3. We are very grateful to food/beverage manager Steve Ramsdell of Spearfish Holiday Inn and manager Carrie Cisle of Canyon Lake Resort and friends for the delicious food. Thanks also goes out to Simpson's Printing and the Rapid City Journal for their help in promoting our event.

Attendees were able to hear how the Cornerstone helps those in need in our community. Thanks again to everyone who made this a successful event.

DEBBIE KETEL

Rapid City

Now they rethink the no-left-turn idea?

If the police officers really wanted to stop people from turning left they would park out in plain sight, not hidden behind Payless Auto. Now they are rethinking the no left turn idea?

What is this? Make it no left turn for a few weeks, write a few hundred tickets at $94 each, then change it back? I realize there were a lot of wrecks (37 in five years). How many were caused by speed or cell phone use? I have turned there for more years than I care to remember and have never had a wreck. I have a friend who has taken that way to and from work for seven years and he has never had a wreck.

Maybe if the police officers would slow some of these speeders down, there would be fewer wrecks in town! Every day I go through town at the speed limit, people are passing me at 10 to 15 miles over the speed limit. Where are their tickets?

Since Bill Janklow made it OK to speed (no points against you) everyone thinks it is OK. The police don't enforce speeding. I would like to know how many speeding tickets were given out in the same time period as the no left turn tickets.

LONALD R. MEISTER

Rapid City

Re-elect Deb Hadcock to Ward 2

With several hot issues encompassing the Rapid City area, I feel it is important for its citizens to be aware of those intending to represent them in the upcoming municipal election.

I am saddened to say that as a resident of Ward 1, I am tempted to write in "Bugs Bunny" for city council, as no candidate has come forward to speak on the issues or their plans for the city. I truly wish that I were still a resident of Ward 2, so that I could cast my ballot to re-elect city Councilwoman Deb Hadcock. During her initial term on city council, she has focused on such issues as Rapid City beautification, park presentation and safety, and infrastructure improvement.

As a working mother of four, I need a representative who understands the importance of safe parks and clean water for my children, while assisting the city with its economic growth. So when considering who to vote for in the upcoming election in Ward 2 consider this, Deb Hadcock represents and works for the people, because she truly is one of the people.

CHRISTINA SAILORS

Rapid City

Don't drop unwanted animals on a street

My beloved cat passed away at 21 years and 7 months and I wasn't planning on getting another.

Someone dropped off a young male cat on my street in Rapid City and he came over my fence and sat in my lap purring. I gave him something to eat, and he's been here ever since. We have adopted him, and he is a joy to have around.

Thank you to the Rapid City Journal for running a lost and found ad at no cost to us, and also the Humane Society, which put us in touch with the Spay Neuter Society, which helped us get him neutered and a rabies shot for a small amount at the West Wind Vets.

If you do not want your animals, please take them to the Humane Society. Do not drop them off on a street. This cat was lucky, but how many are not?

BEVERLY TAYLOR

Rapid City