April 21, 2008 04:00 am Too few female officers Regarding "Sarah's Story" by Art Bukowski, I think that Sarah Clark would still be alive today if the Grand Traverse County Jail had more than four female corrections officers. Of those four, the jail has one female sergeant and one female population coordinator, but they have other duties and do not shower out the females. I don't see how two female corrections officers are enough to cover three shifts per day, seven days a week. Sarah should never have been left alone for 30 minutes in the shower. Why does the jail have so few female corrections officers? Jalene Moore Prevention imperative Just recently we learned through an article published in your newspaper that a significant amount of sewage spilled into our local waters and will end up polluting the Great Lakes, which is to say, 25 percent of the world's fresh water supply. I doubt very seriously that I am the only one who is greatly disturbed by incidents such as this, and it has happened before. I am certain that a great many feel as I do that this kind of thing should never be allowed to occur, regardless of what it takes in the way of installing preventive measures. Somewhere, someone is responsible for this kind of disaster, whether it's the engineering firm that designed the treatment facility or whomever. It seems to me that the responsibility should be focused where it belongs and heads should roll wherever it is deemed appropriate. Provisions should be made to preclude such disasters in the future. F.B. Harrison Stealth legislation House Bill 4254, the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, has been introduced for the exclusive benefit of private wind farm developers. The bill disenfranchises townships, villages and cities of the right to establish lawful and enforceable zoning laws with respect to the placement, configuration and construction of commercial wind turbines, transmission towers and lines within their community. The people will no longer have a right to either approve or object to the establishment of wind turbine farms through their local zoning board or planning commission. The bill will disenfranchise local government units from exercising zoning jurisdiction over 90 percent of the land within the territorial boundaries of a township, village or city when a question pertains to the right to use land for a wind energy system. In summary, 90 percent of the land in a township, village or city is fair game for wind turbine development regardless of a township's zoning laws and the interests of its residents. Adjacent landowners could have their property confiscated by eminent domain proceedings to acquire easement rights for high voltage transmission towers and lines. Citizen rights are being disenfranchised in the name of global warming, renewable energy and illusory economic development. Jim Fuscaldo Leave well enough alone In the recent forum headlined "Payouts saved taxpayers money," before casting judgment on the benefits of the eliminated deputy administrator, resource recovery and construction code positions, taxpayers in Grand Traverse County should consider: 1. All three of the people in those positions were working and adding value to the county according to their respective job descriptions. The value of their efforts in those roles needs to be incorporated into any cost/benefit analysis conducted by the county. To do otherwise is to demean the value of their work. Further, if following that logic is the objective, eliminating any and all county positions provides net savings to taxpayers, and should be pursued. 2. I would presume that in addition to the county administrator's stated responsibilities of "evaluating programs, determining effectiveness and efficiencies and making recommendations for changing," there is also a responsibility to leave alone those programs that are performing in an optimal fashion and are adding net value to the county according to the expressed needs of taxpayers. Howard Rose Some vets do care I would like to answer Stephanie Kelly's April 8 letter "Sick dog needs help." She is partially correct in the fact many vets seem to be in business for the money, but not all veterinarians are like that. She is incorrect in assuming that East Bay Animal Hospital is an uncaring facility. That's where Shortcake was taken by PetSafe Rescue. Dr. Kevin Reabe, of East Bay Animal Hospital, was treating Shortcake days before the article was in the paper. The rescue group was the one asking for donations to offset what bills they had incurred. Dr. Reabe does a lot of work with rescue groups and does a lot of it without pay. Obviously, Dr. Reabe can't treat all patients for free, but he charges much less than most of the local doctors in the area. He has bills to pay, such as continuing to upgrade his knowledge in the medical field, the upkeep of the office and equipment, and paying his wonderful caring staff. Dr. Reabe never refuses an animal in need, and Shortcake is certainly one of them. Shortcake is now recovering in a foster home. Sarah Navarro Animals in good hands In reply to Stephanie Kelly's April 8 letter, we would like to explain that Shamrock-Clover has been receiving excellent care at East Bay Animal Hospital. It was never a case of "pay up or no treatment." Dr. Kevin Reabe, as in many cases in the past, has treated animals in situations like this in good faith that he will be compensated for his skillful intervention. As "adoptive parents" of one such dog, we can testify that Shamrock-Clover could not be in better hands. Lynne and Bill Watson Dog did not suffer This is about the April 8 letter, "Sick dog needs help." On behalf of PetSafe, East Bay Animal Hospital and Shamrock, I would like to clear the air. Stephanie Kelly made it sound like the vet let Shamrock suffer while PetSafe sent out a plea for help. That was not the case. Dr. Reabe had already started treatment when our plea went out. The dog would have been helped whether PetSafe could have afforded it or not. The ask for help was only to help with the expense that would be accrued. PetSafe is a nonprofit, and the cost, even though it's at a great discount for us, would have put us in great debt. Thus we would not be able to help as many animals as we possibly could. Dr. Reabe and his staff have been nothing but wonderful, now and in all cases in the past, as with all the vets that work with us. I'm happy to say Shamrock is now doing great and with some physical therapy will be running around in no time. We appreciate everyone who could help out; please remember there are always pets in need of your help. Patti Goudey
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Traverse City
Traverse City
Cedar
Traverse City
Williamsburg
Traverse City
The writers have done domestic animal rescue for 20 years in the Grand Traverse area.
Traverse City
The writer is a volunteer with PetSafe Rescue Alliance Inc.
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