Published: November 20, 2008 01:00 am            

LETTERS: Nov. 20, 2008

Reader: Roudenbush has wrong idea of Steve Bush



As I read Mr. Dennis Roudenbush’s random thoughts in the Friday paper, I found myself going from shock to confusion to anger over his comments regarding Commissioner Steve Bush. I found Mr. Roudenbush’s flight of ideas to be absurd.

I have the honor and very distinct pleasure to know Steve and Danna Bush personally and was appalled that people may read the ludicrous comments from Mr. Roudenbush and not know the truth.

Steve Bush is a man of integrity and honor. Having been witness to both pleasant, happy times with their family, as well as their handling of horrific circumstances in their own neighborhood almost two years ago, I remain in awe of Steve’s faith, selfless spirit, and commitment to our community. I have watched Steve give of his time and talents to mentor children in our community, whether it be speaking to area classrooms, teaching children at church, or volunteer coach elementary and middle school cross-country teams. He has made himself available to discuss issues with county residents even when the time was not convenient to him personally. Steve does not just give lip-service, but true service. Floyd County is blessed to have such a fine individual working for us, a man who is passionate about where our community is and where it can be.

— Shanda Kurk, Georgetown



Reader: Don’t blame W for Floyd County’s mess



Boy! talk about quick action. Why didn’t the County Council vote to raise taxes before the election?

I think it’s time to control spending. Floyd County was not controlled by the president, so don’t blame him. By the way how about the city paying back the loan from the sewer department?

— Bob Sullivan, New Albany



G’town resident not happy with tax votes



I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Democratic members of the Floyd County Council for barely waiting for the ink to dry on the ballots before they voted to increase my taxes! I have taken note of the “yes” votes, and I will remmber those next time you are up for election.

I understand the need for more money. However, in my household, if the money is running low, I must make cuts. I can not make my employer pay me more so I can continue to live in a way I am used to. Maybe we should have waited to see what areas we could have made cuts in before deciding to pass yet another tax onto the people.

I thank the Republican members of the council for their vote to look out for the citizens of this county.

— Matthew Wray, Georgetown



Reader: Average students need help too



This letter is directed to the leaders of the West Clark School System: To the teachers, principals and assistant principals of all the Silver Creek Schools, to the West Clark School Board and to the parents who have children that attend the Silver Creek Schools.

These schools that have been mentioned are a huge disappointment. No one in these schools cares about what kind of education their students are getting. They don’t care how the students act and treat each other. The teachers and leaders in the three Silver Creek schools are totally oblivious to what their students are doing. The teachers offer no help whatsoever.

I have realized that if you are an honors student, then you are great. But if you are an average student or a less then average student, then you are seen but not heard. I realized that back when my child was in the fourth grade.

My child had a teacher at Silver Creek Elementary that offered nothing other then telling me how bad my child was doing. Now, as a teacher, they are supposed to put forth an effort to help their students or talk to the parents and leaders within the school to get them some help. But that never happened. And it doesn’t help to take it to the teacher yourself or to the principal because they don’t care either.

Then on to middle school, your child struggles through everything but is there anything that the school will do as far as helping your child to exceed or to just get the help that they need? No, not even when the parent goes and talks to the counselors, teachers or principals. Again, they do not care. On to high school, you are hoping that it will be different and your child will be seen and noticed that there is an issue. But once again, nothing is being done. What a disappointment. I believe that these people just want to pass the entire student body and get them out of their school. Who cares if they get an education or not?

This school system has the policy that there is “No Child Left Behind.” That is the biggest joke I have ever heard. They are being pushed through education or not.

I have been to several meetings for the Silver Creek High School, and on the first one, all I heard from Mr. Rieger was about honors classes, honor students and college classes. There was nothing mentioned about the average students or the students that may need that little push. Every time I attend something at school, that is all you hear from him. As far as Mrs. Stoffregen, I don’t know ... you never hear anything from her.

For those of you who are leaders within this school system, here is some advice: You have more average students then you do honors students. You have students that have been placed in AP classes and are failing; they have no business being there. Then you have students that need help, need some little push. Or just some teachers that care but they don’t get anything. They are overlooked and ignored. Every student needs to be treated equally, every student is entitled to the same treatment and they are entitled to the best education they can get. For the teachers and leaders of all three Silver Creek schools, you need to sit back and look at Borden and Henryville. Now they know how to teach and to treat their students.

— Teresa Johnson, Sellersburg



Thanks Scouts for food drive help



I would like the community to know it contributed close to a ton and a half of food, or 3,231 pounds, during the Boy Scout food drive that ended last Saturday.

The Center for Lay Ministries annually gives out approximately 200,000 pounds of food in response to approximately 12,000 visits to our pantry. Our Center is a 38-year-old organization serving Clark County, supported by individuals such as those who gave this past weekend, by area churches and is affiliated with Dare to Care and Metro United Way.

The Boy Scouts are to be commended for coming out and working hard on a cold, rainy day to help those in need in such a significant way. This is a very good example of how we all work together to help those in need.

— Mark Porter, executive director, Center for Lay Ministries, Jeffersonville



Farr responds to Wendelin column



In Rev. Wendelin’s Nov. 15, 2008, column headlined “Choose this day,” she uses three verses from Matthew portraying Jesus as a peacemaker: She forgot Matthew 10:34, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Most of her column discussed the Old Testament patriarch Joshua claiming, “ ... Joshua’s election comes from God.”

I will close with some verses concerning Joshua’s “Godly leadership.”

Joshua 6:21, “Then they utterly destroyed all in the city, both men and women, young and old, sheep and asses ...”

Joshua 11:12-15, “... He totally destroyed them ... The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock ... all the people ... they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed ...”

Joshua 7:24-25, “... took Achan ... his sons and daughters, his cattle ... Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.”

— Larry E. Farr, Jeffersonville

        

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