Letters to Editor
Pro-Fracking Slant
On Thursday evening, Jan. 17, I attended a forum hosted by the Sisters of Notre Dame. Thank you to the Sisters.
The way I understand it, the forum was meant to be informative and it was, but was strictly slanted toward pro-fracking.
A table with pro-fracking literature was available and the speakers were all pro-fracking. This was the same scenario when the forum was held at The West Woods. I believe for the public to become well informed both pro- and anti-fracking literature should be available.
There were two anti-fracking ladies outside in the parking lot passing out informative literature. One lady from Portage County had two Channel 3 press releases concerning two families in Portage County that had been harmed by wells that have recently been drilled. The other lady from Geauga County handed out an informative flyer entitled Your Most Precious Commodity Clean Drinking Water.
As moderator, Judge Forrest Burt took a few really quick questions, but was rather short with those asking. More latitude and courtesy on his part was certainly needed.
When expressing my view point, to Sen. John Eklund, which is, I dont honestly believe nor feel comfortable that horizontal fracking can be done safely, he immediately turned toward the next person waiting to speak with him. Rude? Yes, of course. Why, because our viewpoints are different?
In Geauga County, there is the frackfreegeauga@gmail.com for those who would like to know the rest of the story.
Our next meeting will be held in the log cabin on Chardon Square at 7 p.m. Jan. 29.
Linda Zmek
Auburn Township
Kudos to Chester Park
I want to voice my appreciation to our Chester Township workers who very diligently provide upkeep and beautify our township and our Chester Park.
After heavy rains and flooding, they work on cleaning up debris. And during the summer they keep up with the park maintenance. (One worker in particular whom I notice is very conscientious and detail oriented and his work ethic brings joy to my heart.)
I also appreciate the yearly efforts from those residents who are responsible for making the gazebo and intersection such an attractive feature. The ladies who plant flowers and the crews who install the holiday lighting are a wonderful gift to all Chester Township.
My grandson and I enjoy using the park and appreciate the opportunity to meet with other residents and children within the confines of our township park that is so well maintained.
Kudos to our trustees and all our township workers.
Marie Jagodnik
Chester Township
Follow the Money
The Jan. 10 letter of Elliot Berenson about gun control and the NRA begs a response.
While it is true the men who drew up the original Bill of Rights could not foresee the type of weaponry that is now extent in society, does Mr. Berenson think it is necessary for the law to permit only muskets and single shot pistols?
Perhaps he never served his country in the Armed Forces and is unaware that a semi-automatic weapon, whether rifle or handgun, is one that discharges one bullet every time the trigger is pulled. This is apparent from his reference to semi-automatic assault rifles and handguns. An automatic weapon is one that keeps on firing once the trigger is pulled until the magazine of ammo is empty.
Try to envision a homeowner loading up his musket with an intruder already in his house, an intruder who disobeys the law and has a semi-automatic handgun. In that battle, Id put my money on the felon every time.
The liberal mass media, Congress and Mr. Berenson are missing the bigger problem; namely, the drug industry and its far-reaching hand in all these mass shootings.
Here is a fact as documented by writer David Kupelian in his book How Evil Works: most perpetrators of school shootings and similar mass murders in our modern era were either on or just recently coming off of psychiatric medications.
In just three examples of many such incidents, Eric Harris of the Columbine killings, was taking Luvox, an anti-depressant like Prozac. In 1989, Joe Wesbecker shot 20 people, killing nine, at a company in Louisville, Ken., one month after starting on Prozac. In 1998, Kip Kinkel, age 15, murdered his parents and went to school the next day and killed two while wounding 22 others. He was taking Prozac and Ritalin.
Drug companies provide big financial support to members of Congress so you will not see our corrupt legislative body going after them. As always, just follow the money trail.
Or, if you prefer, like Mr. Berenson, just round up the usual suspects, i.e., those who make guns and the NRA.
John C. Gorka
Chester Township
After the Boom?
Some of the lessons I learned from the Oil & Gas Information Night sponsored by the Geauga Coounty Commissioners and Munson Township.
The bucolic lifestyle which attracts most of us to this region is very likely to soon be subverted by highly industrial shale gas production and our elected officials are not doing much to protect us.
We rely an awful lot on the oil and gas industry to self regulate.
Most of the information available about the economic impact of this boom is based on projections made by the industry rather than actual data.
Spills, well failures, parts failures, gas leaks and other accidents are certain to occur but the oil and gas industry and the folks who are supposed to regulate the industry think these are acceptable risks.
There is no discussion with the people who stand to be displaced or harmed by this industrialization of our region if we want to take these risks.
Nobody seems to want to talk about what will happen after the boom.
When money talks, it seems our elected officials believe that we the people should just sit down and shut up.
I do not want to sit idle while the way of life I have worked hard to build is destroyed around me. No amount of money is worth damaging the air we breathe and the water we drink. I am not going to sit down and shut up.
If you want to join others who feel this way, come to the Frack Free Geauga meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the Log Cabin on Chardon Square.
Kathryn Hanratty
Chardon Township
Report Only Facts
I am confused by the intent of your reporter Diane Ryder in her report on the recent Chester trustees meeting.
First, she speculates on what she thought Mr. Radtke was referring to when he made a comment about public discourse in the audience. I am not interested your reporters perceptions, only the facts. The reader should determine to what Mr. Radtke was referring.
Singling out the Cotmans and their supporters is disingenuous, as there are many people in the audience that have pertinent questions and comments. She makes it sound as if anyone that agrees with the Cotmans are members of a cult.
Then she ended her story with “Neither Cotman made a comment.” Is that news worthy of printing?
If you are going to report that, then report every other audience member by name who didn’t make a comment. The job of a reporter is to report facts and leave the editorial comments to the editorial section.
Gary Thomas
Chester Township
