Disappointed

Disappointed Dear Editor, I've been reading the Open Forum section throughout the week, and I happened to notice a letter sent in by Mr. Bain. I'm very disappointed by the situation that this man has been put in. It is obvious that the city is responsible for the damage to Mr. Bain's property and there should be no reason for delay in paying the cost for repairs.

To our "wonderful" city manager I say this: If it is policy to wait to be sued before paying any type of settlement for these sort of issues, then who's policy is it? It must just be YOUR policy, because I've talked to several people about this and we all agree that this matter should have a swift resolution. Mr. Bain is an innocent man who shouldn't have to wait any longer than necessary to get this matter resolved. This could have happened to any of us, and I'm certain if it happened to you it would probably already be taken care of.

People of McCook, how much longer are we going to let our city be run this way? First our City Council buys land that can't even be used for its intended purpose, and now it looks like they'll be buying land just because our officials can't step up and take care of their responsibilities. And let's not forget our tax dollars are paying for all of this.

I've been reading about how several communities are lowering the age at which their citizens can vote to 16. Maybe we should try this.  Let's just hold a special election and let the younger kids who couldn't vote before elect a new City Council. Maybe then we could have a group of people who could actually hire a City Manager who works for OUR city. It certainly couldn't make things any worse than they are.

After all look at how well we've all done at choosing who we put into office. In closing I say this: Mr. Bain, do us all a favor and pursue your lawsuit until the end. Although I'd rather not have my money go towards buying your house, I feel the city has already crossed the boundary for reasonable negotiations. I wish you the best of luck.

Kevin Wilson McCook

Group grateful

Dear Editor, Alzheimer's disease robs people of their memories, one of our most prized possessions. It eventually robs them of the ability to care for themselves in any way.

The Alzheimer's Association, privately funded and nonprofit, is the only volunteer health organization dedicated to research, education and support services for Alzheimer's disease. Memory walks across the nation are the only national fund-raiser for the association.

The McCook 2003 Alzheimer's Memory Walk Sept. 7 raised $4,500 to help fight this disease.

The top fund-raising team at the McCook walk represented Hillcrest Nursing Home. The top individual was Anne Barger. Monies raised will remain in our local chapter area, with 15 percent always going for research.

The memory walk would not have been possible and successful without our fund-raisers; the corporate sponsors; the area businesses for their support of money, prizes and gift certificates; St. Theresa's Circle for the cookies; Culligan for the water and Pepsi for the pop; KICX Radio for radio coverage; the McCook Daily Gazette for the news stories; and Runza Rex for his visit.

Thank you all.

Margie Grimm, McCook Alzheimer's Memory Walk volunteer

Californian writes

Dear Editor, David Franke writes that the "Ten Commandments are more than the law," inferring that they ARE the law! It's ludicrous to think that the Ten Commandments are laws of any standing in any part of our country. Far from it.

There are no laws prohibiting the free speech right to use any god's name in vain, nor is there a law that insists that we believe in a certain jealous god. There ARE laws, instead, that allows Americans to believe in any god or gods they so choose, or to not believe in any gods. Franke then says the Ten Commandments are "instructions for a set of ethics and morality." Oh, really? For whom? For Bible-believing people maybe, but certainly not to those of us who think the Bible to be so much fiction. There are plenty of Americans who believe ethics and morality come from the human mind and social and cultural interaction.

Also, ethics and morality will never be removed from the courthouse, the legislature, etc., as Franke fears, because human beings with their innate ethics and morality will always be a part of them. People who subvert the American ideal of the separation of state and church will forever be banging their heads against a certain wall.

Joe Mercado Jr. San Jose, Calif.