Voices of calm, reason needed to resolve disputes

People with voices of calm and reason need to step forward in Furnas County to resolve the differences which have arisen in the area during the past several years.

The need for reconciliation became even more apparent Saturday when Oxford Village Administrator Dennis Wolzen sent a letter to Furnas County Attorney Tom Patterson. In the letter, Wolzen accused the Furnas County Sheriff, Joel "Hank" Pulley, of using harsh, vulgar language during a verbal exchange with Wolzen at approximately 9:50 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, in the Oxford village office.

As a result of the verbal confrontation, Wolzen told the county attorney he has decided "to prefer charges of Intimidation, Verbal Threats, Official Misconduct, the use of Vulgar (sexually implicit) Language in the presence of a female Village of Oxford employee, and the Disruption/Disturbance of the Peace" against Sheriff Pulley.

In a telephone conversation with the Gazette this morning, Sheriff Pulley said there was a confrontation, which he described as the culmination of five years of differences with Wolzen. "My complaint," Pulley said, "is that he (Wolzen) is using city time to run down the sheriff's department and me personally."

As a result of the verbal exchange and the letter, two different things are happening. First, County Attorney Patterson this morning selected Tim Hoeft of Phelps County as Special Counsel to investigate Wolzen's allegations. Patterson told the Gazette by telephone that he is taking this action because, as county attorney, he has a working relationship with Sheriff Pulley, which poses the possibility of conflict of interest.

The second result of the verbal confrontation and the letter is that Sheriff Pulley said he, County Attorney Patterson and the deputy from Oxford, Lee Lozo, will meet in executive session with the Oxford City Council at the council's next meeting to discuss Mr. Wolzen's conduct.

The county attorney's selection of Special Counsel is a proper step, because, hopefully, the Special Counsel will not only look into the Pulley-Wolzen exchange, but also be empowered to consider other aspects of the differences dividing Furnas County citizens.

The animosity has gone on long enough. It's time for the name-calling to end and for the area's differences to be resolved calmly, reasonably and as justly as is humanly possible.