Letters to the editor
To the Editor:
During the past couple of weeks there has been some discussion on the topic of Peabody news and the amount that is reported in the paper. With that being said, here is some Peabody news!
A small group of citizens have formed a task force. Their purpose is to raise money for a thermal imaging camera for Peabody Fire Department.
A thermal imaging camera is an important piece of equipment that allows firefighters to detect heat. For instance, after a house fire is put out to the best ability of the firefighters, they can use the thermal imaging camera to search the house for "hot spots" that may ignite if left untreated. Fires often rekindle due to hot spots that are undetected by the human eye.
More important, firefighters can utilize the thermal imaging camera to rescue individuals trapped or caught in a burning building. The camera detects heat from the human body making the device an important piece of life-saving equipment. (It would benefit citizens of surrounding areas as well as those in Peabody since Peabody Fire Department participates in a mutual aid program with other towns.)
The next question is how much does such a device cost? Camera costs begin at about $10,000. That is a lot of money to raise. But what dollar amount do we assign to a human life?
What are the plans to help raise money for this device? First of all, the "Peabody Fire Department Camera Fund" has been set up at Peabody State Bank for direct donations. The fire department appreciates any donation.
Second, a benefit dinner is being planned for June 10. You will see more information on this as the time draws near.
Third, a silent auction and bake sale also will be held in conjunction with the dinner. Make plans now to attend these events. For more information or if you would like to help out in any way, contact Cora Bloomer or Esther Brooks.
Peabody Fire Department is made up of volunteers who risk life and limb to protect you and your possessions when there is a fire. Not only that, they are there with the Jaws of Life if you have been involved in a car accident and are trapped.
They always are willing to help educate children and older residents alike. Often they can be seen with the fire truck at Sunshine Preschool, Peabody-Burns Elementary School, and other places teaching what to do in case of a fire, where to go, how to create a safety plan to account for everyone, and other facts of fire safety.
They also play an instrumental part in helping LifeTeam land to whisk you away by helicopter if needed.
We should consider ourselves VERY FORTUNATE! Our fire, police, and ambulance departments work together to keep us safe and they do an excellent job! Each member of these departments deserves a pat on the back and an "atta-boy" or "atta-girl." If you have ever been on the receiving end of their service, you know exactly what I am expressing.
We, as a community, need to come together and do our part to help our local fire department to ensure they have the equipment they need to keep us safe.
I hope you will all make a donation to the camera fund and I hope you will mark your calendars to attend the June 10 community fund-raiser.
In the meantime please keep our emergency service workers in your prayers
Cindy Harms
Peabody
To the Editor:
In reference to Don Dahl's defense of what he did, once you let the horse out of the barn, he's gone. You made your statement, Don. There's no use defending what you did. Whether it's $5, $100, or $1 million, it doesn't make any difference.
Why take contributions? If you're going to give it back, why take it in the first place?
And in my mind, do the children dictate to the parents?
A great leader doesn't have to defend what he does. He doesn't get exposed by his children for what he does. If politicians weren't politicians but leaders, we wouldn't have to expose them.
This is an exposure of the whole political process. Each one running for cover, defending his deeds.
It shows what all politics is about. It shows the utter falseness of its legitimacy. It would not be legitimate except for stealing the rights of the people and the rights of individuals to provide for themselves.
Without the people's rights, the government has no rights. It has no money, it has no legitimacy. In order to make itself appear legitimate, it has to use deceitful means to convince people of the right to take from them, whether it be for Social Security, Medicare, or any other reason, so that it can benefit itself and destroy the people's will to work and provide for themselves.
Why do we have a constitution if we are going to live as though government is all things to all people? Where are its resources? It's the people's resources, both physically and spiritually.
Our leaders have failed in teaching us our responsibilities. Does a leader teach the people or does a leader follow the people? And what are the leaders teaching the people? To trust in the government? And who is providing the government the means to do what it does? Are we so foolish to think that we can give away our earnings, whether it's to a casino, a lottery, or any other means and to expect it will benefit us?
It's not about whether or not to have a casino, but what a casino is. A legitimate business provides for my welfare. Why don't we get rid of poverty in our state? We have a lottery. Is that a legitimate business? How does that benefit me? That I might win a pot of $2 million? And what do I need $2 million for? Have I earned it? It was all the other people's foolish spending that gave it to me.
So we're going to make that a legitimate means of earning income? And if the governor gets her way, she wants to get another casino in Kansas. Why? To bring in more revenue. To give me more prosperity from the money I work for? If so, why go to work? Why not go to the state to give me money every month so I can go gamble and get rich?
So what's the end of it? Higher and higher costs, less and less benefits, and finally disaster, poverty for all. Besides higher property taxes every year in Marion County, other fees increase.
For example, it now costs $25 to renew a driver's license and $75 to get a marriage license. Isn't that what is the rise and fall of nations? The government's own folly, the thinking of robbing from the people in one way or another?
It's like making promises to our children but first taking it from the children.
Jerry Plett
Lincolnville
To The Editor:
In reference to Donna Bernhardt's mini-torial "Dirty Money" in the Jan. 25 Hillsboro Star-Journal, Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, and Marion County Record:
Don Dahl, like many other legislators, received unsolicited contributions from the casino interests. And, like a lot of these legislators, did not agree to do anything on behalf of the casino interests to earn it.
If the casino interests came to my door and handed me $1,600, and I don't have to do anything on their behalf to earn it, I would take it.
Donna Bernhardt, if the same were offered to you, wouldn't you take it, too?
Anton Epp
Goessel
