Concerns justified
Perhaps justifiable, editorial criticism over the intense public health interest in swine flu deserves some comment.
Influenza has been around for centuries; occasional "pandemics" destroy millions of lives. In 1918, an attack rate of 30 percent and a case fatality rate of 2 percent resulted in more than 100 million deaths worldwide.
H5N1 flu had an astounding case fatality rate of more than 50 percent, justifying the concerns regarding its potential impact.
H1N1 does seem to have a lower fatality rate associated with it but also spreads more easily among people than H5N1 did ... and affects younger age groups than seasonal flu, so concerns remain justified.
Neill D Varner, DO,
Master of Public Health
Traverse City
Indictment a travesty
The Grand Traverse County Prosecutor's office and jury during the trial of Judy McManus should be ashamed of themselves. Judy McManus, as Garfield Township treasurer, did nothing wrong. She had served her community as an outstanding treasurer. The community should be proud to have had her in this position.
Judy used a third-party collection agency to assist her in collecting the delinquent property taxes that had been previously uncollectable. She was able to collect $96,000 out of $180,000 in delinquent taxes. Without Judy's effort to do this our schools, college, county and other local agencies would not have received any of this money.
The fact that an indictment was even brought against Judy McManus is a travesty. More than $100,000 of taxpayer money was spent by Garfield Township and the county spent as much in this investigation. Since when is it OK to railroad and punish a decent, law-abiding person?
I hope that Judy considers an appeal. I know that Judy wants this whole ordeal to be over with but, as a resident of the county, I applaud her courage and hope that she fights for the truth to come out.
Barbara Worm
Kingsley
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