DEAR EDITOR,
This past June, the Ohio General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 1 to ask Ohio voters whether the mandatory age of retirement for judges should be raised from 70 to 75. I voted for this resolution when it was in the House because I believe that no individual, through the muscle of the law, should be forced to retire simply because they have reached a certain age.
Should farmers be forced to stop harvesting their crops, or small business owners forced to shut their doors on their 70th birthdays?
Similarly, citizens should not be prevented from electing or reelecting a judge who just so happens to have reached the age limit of the law. Why should the government have the right to push a judge from the bench or block voters from deciding who should preside over their court cases?
Although HJR 1 does not eliminate the mandatory retirement age entirely, it does increase the age by five years and takes into account the fact that people are living and working longer into the twilight years of their lives. It will help to ensure that we have the best individuals presiding over our courtrooms and interpreting the law.
One of the criticisms that the Ohio General Assembly heard during the committee process was that there is no proof that an individual who reaches the age of 75 has the same mental capacity of a 70-year-old. However, there was no proof or evidence offered during the legislative debate that offered any counter argument that they are not the same mentally, physically or intellectually. I believe that whether someone is still capable of performing their judicial duties should be decided on a case-by-case basis, not a one-size-fits-all policy for everyone.
HJR 1 passed from the General Assembly and therefore was added to the November ballot for the voters to decide. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to lend my support to this resolution in the House and help maintain our most experienced and capable public servants’ right to continue working for the people of Ohio.
Sincerely,
State Representative Lynn Wachtmann

DEAR EDITOR:
It has been made clear that information provisions of the Senate Bill 5 (Issue 2) stating public employees (firefighters, police officers, school teachers and other organized public employees) have bargaining rights concerning wages and some other issues of employment is in fact false.
The supporters of Issue 2 would have you believe there are certain bargaining rights public employees retain under Senate Bill 5. Not true.
The right to strike is prohibited under Senate Bill 5. Firefighters and police officers are currently prohibited from striking and this is how it should be due to public safety concerns.
However, in lieu of strike, when agreements on wages, benefits and/or other conditions of employment cannot be reached, these issues can be submitted to binding arbitration for resolution. The right to arbitration is removed under Senate Bill 5.
Collective bargaining now becomes a conversation between the employees and the employer with the employer having the absolute final say on all issues and leaving no recourse ope to the employees. This is not collective bargaining.
The right to collective bargaining by all workers is an inherent freedom currently guaranteed by the laws of the land. Let them take that right away and what is next for the all the workers in Ohio, union and non-union.
Do not be misled by misinformation. Vote no in Issue 2.

Charles Sampson Jr.
Retired UAW International,
staff representative and former
chairman of the local Allied
Labor Council

Dear Editor,

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. A gold Ribbon in September stands for kids with cancer. An opportunity is available to you to raise awareness and support these special kids.
On September 18, an event called CureSearch Walk is being held in Columbus to raise funds for an organization called CureSearch. This is a nonprofit organization that funds life saving research through the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). There are more than 200 children’s cancer centers across the U.S. Some of these centers include Nationwide Children’s in Columbus, Toledo Children’s Hospital and St. Jude’s Hospital. CureSearch is a research organization that is strictly dedicated to research of children’s cancers. Ninety-six percent of all money raised goes directly to research. Several individuals who partner with CureSearch are the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation and major league baseball player Craig Breslow’s Strike 3 Foundation. The CureSearch spring 2011 newsletter contained the following information: “We just learned, however, that this year’s federal budget cuts to the COG will total nearly 10%. We must recognize that the resources needed to advance children’s cancer research will come largely from private fund raising.”
I will be attending the CureSearch Walk in Columbus on 9/18 in memory of my granddaughter, Alivia. She passed this year in May at the age of 3 from cancer. I have formed a team called Beanie’s Bunch. Please visit www.curesearch.org to register to walk or to donate. All walkers aged 16 and up sign up with a $10 registration fee. You can walk in person or be a “Virtual Walker.” I invite you to join my team or you can form your own.
The walk is at Franklin Park, 1755 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43203. Registration is from 10-11 a.m. with the opening ceremony and walk to follow from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
One of Alivia’s frequent statements to me was “I will help you.” In her memory, “I will help you” by raising money and by raising awareness for the need to find cures for children’s cancers.
Sincerely, Betty Shobe

DEAR EDITOR:
People sometimes say that my generation (I speak of the present youth) expects everything to be given to them. I would not disagree with that entirely. Lately I have seen a generation as well; a generation that is beginning to only care about themselves rather than the good of others. I am talking about the Jefferson schools ongoing levy crisis.
I am a recent graduate of St. John’s and a proud Blue Jay but I also have many friends that have graduated from Jefferson; ones that I still see on a day-to-day basis. I have sat around multiple times and talked about Jefferson’s levy problems with them. 
Lately, I have read some interesting opinions in the paper regarding this topic. Opinions such as how Jefferson will spend their money, why they need the money and even asking why they need so many school buildings? 
What is with the abundance of questioning? Why do people feel the need to make a simple issue suddenly complex?
I respect both sides’ views on this issue but my point is this: Education is the most powerful thing on earth and so is the youth of a nation. Truly, what is more important than gaining knowledge? Also, the youth are the future. Do you really want them to grow up in a town that is divided on an issue simply because of money (increase in taxes)? 
This entire levy debate has been taken way too far and should have been taken care of early on, in an adult fashion. So much has happened over this debate that it has put some people in very difficult situations as to which side to support. Jefferson and St. John’s should have no reason what so ever to be divided. 
To those that have provoked the outburst from this levy, I say this to you; “Get over yourselves.” People need to start and look at the big picture. What is good for the town? What is good for the public school that supports over half the town? What is good for others?!
To put it simply, as the famous Beatles hit goes; “Come together, right now, over me!”  
Support your neighbors — and support your schools!
Jay Clark

DEAR EDITOR,
The 2011 Summer Reading Program has drawn to a close and so I am taking this opportunity to give readers an overview of the events and fun we had this summer at the library.  254 K-5, 90 preschoolers and 17 tweens and teens joined the program this year. We held 38 events over the eight-week program with a total attendance of 1,830. The K-5 graders kept track of the minutes they read with their Reading Record and earned attendance to the pool party for reading at least 90 minutes a week. The total number of minutes reported was 156,028 or about 2,600 hours.
We had many special guests to our programs: storyteller Rita Thelan, naturalist Mark Mohr, professor and native of China Hui Shen and the preschooler’s favorite, Llama Llama. Families were entertained by comedian and magician Jason Abbott. My favorite part of his show was his escape from a strait jacket (after said strait jacket was strapped on by Mrs. Jester – she was a good sport).
I’d like to recognize and thank the library staff for doing lots of behind the scenes work from setting up tables and chairs, to decorating, to working the busy counter, to planning and making crafts. Cathy Hellman is an invaluable helper, often taking an idea and working out the ‘how to.’ Lots of small pieces go into making our program run smoothly and be fun.
Our volunteers were priceless: Sally Kiggins, Sharon Closson, Sue Wildermuth, Victoria Recker, Jessica Recker, Kathleen Wreede, Teresa Pohlman, Allison Gerberick, Madison Spring, Claire Sensabaugh, Tyler Shaeffer, and Caleb Lucas. I appreciate the way they do the unglamorous jobs with a smile and a large dose of patience.
And finally, thank you to the parents for letting us borrow your kids a little each week. I appreciate how they are always well behaved, how well they listen, and their enthusiasm. They are a testament to the families’ commitment in our community.
Sincerely
Denise Cressman
children’s librarian
Delphos Public Library