SDI deal disregarded neighbors
Earlier this year many upset citizens from east of New Haven met numerous times with officials representing SDI concerning the building of the SDI-La Farga copper plant. That plant is near SDI’s Superior Aluminum plant, which has been the source of much pollution.
At these meetings we were promised many things by SDI officials, including retired CEO Keith Busse and new CEO Mark Millett. One of these promises was that no raw or processed materials would be stored outside. Why then do I see these materials stockpiled outside? This leaves me with no other choice but to consider all statements made by SDI to be lies or at best very questionable.
This project was pushed through by our county commissioners with a tax abatement and even a land swap, all at taxpayer expense. This was a done deal without the knowledge of, concern for or input by the people in this area – people these commissioners are supposed to represent.
Logistically, the old Phelps Dodge copper plant area would have been a much better site for this plant as much of the raw material used comes from SDI-owned OmniSource, a short distance away.
As our county commissioners come up for re-election, let’s throw the sneaky bums out and elect someone who will truly represent all the people.
MARLIN CULY New Haven
Tourists spending some big bucks
The Sept. 10 paper had a story about the “Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown” event. There was a statement in it that caught my eye. In speaking of the free tours, it said the “local sites that attract thousands of out-of-the-area visitors every year, (bring) the city and county about $450 million in revenue.”
There were thousands of people who brought in $450 million in revenue? Man, talk about big spenders!
DAN DRAKE Roanoke
Freedom highest American ideal
We should always remember the words of Abraham Lincoln, “Surely God could not have created such a being as man to exist for a day or two. No, no, man was made for eternity.” It seems that everyone today is living for their own pleasure.
In the future, we should seek four essential freedoms.
1. Freedom of every person to worship God in his own way.
2. Freedom of speech and expression.
3. Freedom from want.
4. Freedom from fear.
As for the enemies of freedom, those who are potential adversaries, they will be reminded that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will not negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will not surrender for it, now or ever.
TOM HEINY Fort Wayne
Carefully monitor school races
With the political conventions in the rearview mirror, the presidential debates straight ahead, and the election less than two months away, expect the passion and volume with which we debate our presidential choice to become even more intense.
But as we debate the merits of our presidential candidates, we ignore the elections that matter most in our daily lives. Voters concerned with their communities’ health will invest equal time and energy learning about and debating the merits of their school board candidates.
Healthy communities pay a lot of attention to their schools, and for good reason: The quality of a public school education is the most reliable predictor of a community’s health and prosperity, vibrancy, and property value trends.
Up to 125 million voters will cast ballots for president in an election decided in a state-by-state, winner-take-all, Electoral College system in which each state’s electoral votes are tallied from 51 separate U.S. jurisdictional elections.
School board races will be decided by you and your neighbors. And this outcome will matter a lot more to your community’s – and your own – well-being.
RICHARD HEUPEL Ball State University Muncie
