DEAR EDITOR:

And we wonder why

A local supplier with the ability to supply the Canal Days with portable restrooms was not considered by the Canal Days Committee or the City of Delphos or the Chamber of Commerce but an out-of-town supplier was.
I am a taxpayer to the City of Delphos and therefore I have the right to explain to the public how their tax dollars are being spent.
The City of Delphos pays for this service along with the cleanup after the venue is over.
The local supplier is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and should have had a chance to at least quote the service. There may have been a considerable savings in the cost of the local supplier given a chance to quote the service.
The local supplier was going to and would have made a considerable donation to the local cancer drive by being able to supply the service to the community.
This issue was addressed by the city council without much debate and voted on along with several other issues packed in to one issue and rammed through to not show up as an individual vote concerning the portable restroom contract for the out-of-town supplier.
This is what different out-of-town businesses looking to relocate look for in a community — the ability to work together and support the local businesses.
And maybe this is one reason why so many people spend their money in Lima and Van Wert.
A city tax payer,
Edward A. Klaus

DEAR EDITOR AND CITIZENS OF DELPHOS:

The primary election is quickly approaching and sadly we have no contested races in the City of Delphos for our governing body, we do have one contested race that can dramatically affect our well being.

The contested race for Judge of the Van Wert Municipal Court, which has jurisdiction over the City of Delphos is up for grabs.

Judge Jill Leatherman was appointed to fill the position after the previous judge was suspended and then retired.

I have personally worked with her, and have seen a total turn around in the system since she was appointed to the position. The atmosphere of the legal community has totally change since her appointment.

Judge Leatherman has brought to the court the dignity and professionalism that was sorely needed.

Judge Leatherman has the qualifications to carry on the duties, expand the operations as she has already displayed, and will make us all proud to have a court that serves us professionally.

You don’t fix something that isn’t broke, the court is now working well, we don’t need a fix. Vote for Judge Jill Leatherman, let her continue the good job she is doing; let us keep the community moving forward.

Execute your Constitutional right and vote May 3, vote for Jill Leatherman, Judge of Van Wert Municipal Court.

Sincerely,

Dennis M. Kimmet

Delphos

DEAR EDITOR:
Dear Fellow Delphos Residents,
I am writing to commend Mike Birkemeier for addressing council on what seems to be a deterioration of the neighborhoods and houses in our city. I would like to address another contributing factor to the decline of our neighborhoods, the overabundance of feral and domestic cats. Unfortunately, this situation is not unique to Delphos, and many municipalities find themselves dealing with the problem. I know there are many dissenting opinions about how to handle these cats. Almost every solution proposed has its detractors and its advocates. Licensing requirements and leashing recommendations for cats can prove to be unsafe for the animals, and difficult to enforce. I would like to suggest the implementation of a Trap, Neuter, and Release program for feral cats, and a cost assisted spay and neuter option for domesticated cats. These programs have at least proven to be effective in other places.  
As far as I could determine, there are no such programs like these in our city. Cost of sterilization surgery is prohibitive for many people, especially those dealing with more than one cat. Feral cats need to be humanely trapped before they can be spayed or neutered. That’s where the appointment issue gets problematic. It would be immensely helpful if there was a same day surgery option, or at least a place to take trapped feral cats until surgery. Our local vets would be a valuable asset in our efforts to sterilize both feral and domestic cats. Corporate sponsorship and fundraisers could offset the financial costs of such a program.
To fix the cat problem in our town, we have to stop this profuse production of kittens. There are too many kittens, and not enough homes. According to one estimate, the average number of litters a fertile cat can have in one year is three. The average number of kittens in a feline litter is 4-6. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats. Only 1 in 12 of those 420,000 cats born finds a home. More conservative estimates conclude the offspring of one female cat could be 400 by the end of 7 years. Even 400 is 400 too many. There are no place for these cats to go.
I can think of so many examples of times when our community came together for the greater good. It is one of the best features of Delphos, and I know if we join together we can make a profound difference in our community concerning the forgotten cats.

Thank you,
Bev Jettinghoff

DEAR EDITOR:
Most people who know me know I have been donating blood for 53 years and I have a total of 215 pints donated so far.
I stopped for a short time because I had tumors on my bladder that had to be removed. When I completed the last of my follow-up treatments, I asked if would be OK if I donated blood again. They said it would so I called the Red Cross in Fort Wayne and set up my appointment to donate the next week at the Eagles.
I was glad to be able to give blood and help people in need again. It has always been very important to me to be able to help save lives.
This next pint will be 27 gallons for me. I only hope that I will be around to give a lot more.
My son and sister are also blood donors.
Paul H. Feathers Sr.

DEAR EDITOR:
Congratulations to Dulton Moore, winner of the Lima area “Youth of the Year,” and our God, Flag and Country winners. And congratulations to our schools and churches for providing the teachers and classes to help all these young people grow and care.