Letters (Feb. 24, 2010)

Goessel schools are not going to close

?

I am not someone who usually gets into political discussions, but there are times when I get charged up and need to get involved. This is one of those times. So let me just say thanks to the Legislative Division of Post Audit for doing a study on which schools in Kansas should consolidate and how much money could be saved.

This study only shows possible savings and doesn?t take into account the cost of new buildings or renovations to existing buildings to make those consolidations feasible. It doesn?t consider the costs for transporting students to other towns to attend classes. And most importantly, it doesn?t seem to care whether these consolidations are in the best interests of the students involved or the communities they come from.

The bottom line for this study is money saved, not community pride.

Also, let me thank the Wichita Eagle for publishing maps and other information from the Post Audit study. On the surface, the article that accompanies the maps and lists of possible school closings seems well written and states the facts quite well.

But some people have seen writing between the lines that says certain schools on the list are closing. I don?t see that writing and choose not to get sucked into the hype, hysteria and pessimistic thinking of those on the outside, and some on the inside, of this debate have chosen.

The study is just a study and not the final decision. Maybe you missed the comment in the article by Rep. John Grange, where he states the audit study does not show enough money could be saved by consolidation.

Maybe you missed the words ?potential,? ?possible? or ?voluntary.? These are not words of closure, but words of work that still needs to be done, words that mean discussion still needs to take place, and legislation still needs to be passed.

So, again, I say thank-you to the Legislative Division of Post Audit and the Wichita Eagle for giving me the courage to speak out. Thank you for giving me the desire and drive to contact my legislators and to encourage all of you to do the same, and ask them to cautiously, diligently, and to the best of their abilities, provide the necessary funding for school districts in Kansas.

Last of all, let me say that the Goessel school district does not have plans to consolidate with any other district. Furthermore, the Goessel community has homes and land available for you to come and be part of what U.S. News & World Report calls one of the ?Best High Schools for 2009.?

This distinction has been given to Goessel High School for two years in a row, along with 34 other schools in Kansas. Some of those other schools could be in the list of ?potential candidates for voluntary consolidation.?

Please support your local schools and communities.

Arlen Goertzen

Goessel

?

Chief?s dismissal is hard to understand

?

On behalf of the Miller family of Florence, including former Chief of Police C. Miller and former part-time officer J. Miller, we extend a heartfelt thank-you to the residents and community of Florence for allowing us to serve and protect in the previous years.

To those who continue to show their support and share our feelings of shock and dismay after this unexpected turn of events, we thank you. Though there has been mixed reactions, some mild and some blatantly aggravated, we were not fully prepared for the amount of support we have been privileged enough to receive.

Former Chief C. Miller would also like to wish the youth of Florence the best of luck in their future endeavors and urges that any young people who wish to continue to turn to him for a listening ear should please do so.

I, J. Miller, have served the community of Florence since 2007, both volunteer and part-time. Former Chief C. Miller has served the community of Florence since 2005, both part time and full time.

From that point on, until the request for his immediate resignation Feb. 17, he has dedicated immeasurable amounts of time to make Florence a better and safer place to live.

He took it upon himself to maintain police department vehicles, buy police department clothing, safety apparel and supplies, weapons, as well as enrolling in extra law-enforcement training classes to better serve his community on his own time and with his own funds.

There were no ?favorites,? only those who did or did not violate the law. He believed he could not secure a community without having the community itself involved. He was knowledgeable, honest, personable in a way that most people aren?t and, most of all, was dedicated to justice and his community.

The thought is heartening that someone such as this could be expendable, after so many sacrifices made on behalf of others.

Former Chief C. Miller averaged 13 to 15 misdemeanor drug cases annually, as well as five to seven felony drug cases annually in the five years he was employed with the Florence Police Department.

The explanation for the request of immediate resignation was ?inability to contact,? as well as complaints. Unfortun?ately, further explanation or information of those complaints were not specified when inquired.

I urge the community of Florence and those who may disagree with the decision to remove former Chief C. Miller or myself from office, to voice their thoughts to their city leaders via phone calls, letters or in person.

Caring for our community as we do, we want your opinions to be heard as well.

J. Miller, C. Miller

Florence

?

?Purple Night Out? a show of support

?

Thanks to all the athletes, coaches, students and school officials at Marion and Hillsboro for their support of ?Purple Night Out.? A special thanks to the sponsors who made it possible.

?Purple Night Out? was an event to promote Relay For Life, an American Cancer Society Fundraiser. Funds from RFL are used for cancer research, education and cancer patient services, such as Road to Recovery and stays at Hope Lodge?for out-of-town patients undergoing cancer treatments in the Kansas City area.

We hope to see many of you at Relay for Life Marion County June 18 and 19 at the Tabor College track. Team registration is next Wednesday, March 3, at Hillsboro Community Hospital.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to register a team, contact Jo Hett or Becky Hulett at 382-2177 or e-mail them at jo.hett@slhmarion.org or bhul05@yahoo.com.

Marsha Setzkorn-Meyer

Relay for Life Committee

?

HCF grant will be used to feed people

?

Main Street Ministries is delighted with the gift of $2,250 from the Hillsboro Community Foundation. This money will give the food bank a huge boost.

With more and more people needing assistance, a donation of this size is a great encouragement and will go a long way to providing much needed help with food.

Thanks so much!

Lillian Bookless,

MSM director, Hillsboro

?

? On behalf of Main Street Ministries, I would like to thank the Hillsboro Community Foundation for the recent grant we received. The grant money will be used only to purchase food for our food bank.

Main Street Ministries intends to purchase locally whenever possible so that most of the money will spent here in the community. The only exception will be purchases made from the Kansas Food Bank Warehouse.

The number of families served from Main Street Ministries food bank continues to grow, so the cost of keeping the shelves stocked increases as well. Local food drives and food donations are much appreciated and are always helpful but they are not enough.

Again, thank-you to the Hillsboro Community Founda?tion, whose generous grant will help Main Street Ministries to continue to fulfill our mission statement: ?To provide physical and spiritual resources in the name of Jesus.?

Dale Nuss, board chair

Main Street Ministries

Hillsboro

More from Hillsboro Free Press
Tabor Music Prep School in 10th year for piano lessons
The Tabor College Music Preparatory School will begin piano lessons for the...
Read More