Bush Editorial Dave, your personal explanation
for the "unfortunate" WAR we are engaged in is thoughtful and expresses
a great many problems we all have in dealing with the continuing death
and maiming of Iraqi and most important young American servicemen. If
history is any guide, what ever gains or loses we make in Iraq, the
fact that we will win anything but OIL is an illusion. Yes President
Bush has trampled upon our basic freedoms which has been done in the
past by many public officials. Our form of government and the birth
right of its citizens is to investigate, understand, criticize, and
vote for policies they find important to their welfare. And finally,
it is a wonder how we went from The World Trade Centers destruction to
include the entire Arab world. It seems only yesterday that our hatred
included the Kaiser and Hitler's Germans, Italy's fascists, Stalin's
Russians, Mao's Chinese, The Japanese, North Koreans, Vietnam, and
sundry African and Central Americans dictators. Perhaps it is America's
destiny to raise our children to conquer the world's ills. God help my
grandchildren! Albie Johnson
Fieldcrest basketball schedule on Channel 13 Roanoke vs. Fieldcrest Girls Basketball game will play Thursday, Dec. 15 and Friday Dec. 16 at 7pm on Mediacom Channel 13!Fieldcrest Boys Basketball games will start playing next week on Wednesday Dec. 21 at 7pm on Mediacom Channel 13! Steve Allen
Congratulations to Valerie and Matt
I would also like to give my congratulations to Valerie and Matt. I
grew up with Matt. We were like brother and sister. Went on family
trips together and everything. Through it all we stayed friends. To
Valerie: I know Matt will treat you well and he deserves someone great
and special like you! Treat him good :) Good luck in airforce training!
To Matt: I am so proud of all your achievements in life and many more
to come.. Thanks for being a great friend and a great neighbor all our
lives! I know you will be a great husband and someday a great father :)
To both of you: Good luck in everything you two do and be good to each
other. And thank you for doing a great job serving our country!Love,
Lindsey Skaggs
Congratulations to Valerie and Matt Kalkwarf
I would like to say congratulations to Valerie and Matt Kalkwarf. I
went to school with both Valerie and Matt.. Valerie was always quiet
but very friendly and funny.. I remember being in Grease with Matt..
Fun times. But I am very happy to hear that they joined their lives
together.. And I'm very proud of both of them.. They are doing a great
job serving our country... I wish you both the best of luck and plenty
of happiness... Your schoolmate, Kristen Oakley
Response to Greg, Valerie and Matt
I want to say to Greg, Valerie and Matt how very proud Mike and I are
of all 3 of you. We have watched you 3 grow up to be fine young
citizens that any town would be proud to call their own.
Greg, what
a nice caring young man you are and have been since we have known you.
You and Valerie were very special siblings. You had your sibling
rivalries but much fewer than most kids and we saw how much you two
respected each other. Please come see us when your home, we would love
to see you.
Valerie, first I want to say how sorry I am we missed
yours and Matts wedding. I had the flu and had missed work also that
week so please forgive me for us not being there. I know you were a
beautiful bride and hope to see pictures soon. We are very proud of you
also for many things, not just for joining the service. You have always
been a very good girl and with a good head on your shoulders. We are
glad you were friends with our girls and Jessi really misses you. We
would love to see you and Matt also when you come home, especially so
we can give you your wedding gift. Click here for wedding picture.
So
good luck in your 2 new adventures in life and may God bless you all
for your sacrifices you are making for this country. Keep safe and we
will be watching and listening for and about you 3 fine adults.
Lisa and Mike Zimmerman
Good luck to airforce trainee Hello Dave;Just
a note to let everyone know that my sister Valerie Kalkwarf just left
for airforce basic training. I was hoping maybe you could post
something wishing her luck from me the family and her husband Matthew
Kalkwarf. My sister lived in Minonk for about 12 or 13 years. Like me
we both grew up together in this town. Thanks Gregory Strouse
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Fischer a dedicated advocate for veterans
I was saddened by the recent death of Gary Fischer of Carlock; he was 59 years of age.For the past 20 years, Gary served as a veterans administration counselor at the Peoria vets center in Peoria. He was a dedicated advocate of the veterans he provided for. An Army Vietnam veteran himself, Gary frequently spent hours driving several miles, often at his own expense, to assist the many veterans who required his expertise. I believe I speak for scores of fellow veterans in my assertion that our country is in dire need of more men like Gary. He will be remembered and missed by those whose lives he touched in his years of commitment to their cause as well as their needs. Daniel M. FitzGerald Normal Editor's note: This letter was taken from The Pantagraph in its Dec. 22 issue and refers to Minonk native Gary Fischer.
Security vs. Freedom Dave,
I find it strange that you and I can have the same input and arrive at
such a different result. I do not believe that the President did
anything secretive or unlawful concerning the event of the
authorization of the NSA to listen in on international phone calls and
e-mails. According to the information that I have seen he had the
proper permission from FISA and the members of congress required to
authorize such a measure. This information is included in the same
article that claims a secret authorization. On the one hand they say
that it was secretive yet they then go on to tell of the congressmen
that were briefed and the secret court giving their go-ahead.
I firmly believe that the President has our best interest in mind. I
believe that he waited plenty long and had just cause to go into Iraq.
I believe that we had a cause and that we have a plan. In fact I
believe that we have had a plan from day one and that the President
told us that plan. I heard it from his lips. The media has since
reported on lack of a plan for so long that people seem to have
forgotten what they have already heard. Over and over again I have
heard the president say that we need to help them get their government
started, help them rebuild infrastructure, and get their own people
trained enough to protect themselves. At each juncture we would be
assessing the situation and pulling troops out when possible. Anyone
who has spoken to those who have served or are currently serving in
Iraq knows that we are making great progress there. They will also tell
you that the media is not giving us the complete story of what is
happening in Iraq both physically and in the minds and hearts of the
Iraqi people.
Before we entered Iraq we spent 6-9 months with the U.N.
in
various capacities attempting to get Sadam to follow sanctions which
had been set up a decade earlier. Had these sanctions been enforced
previously Sadam would not have been a
concern. It has been proven publicly since the invasion that
Sadam
was in fact aiding international terrorism, had WMDs, and was willing
to use them. There is no doubt in my mind that he would have helped
deliver any number of them to the USA or any other free country.
Taking the terrorists out, showing them that we will not cower to them
is the only defense against the cowardly acts that they use to push
their agenda. We have effectively taken the battle to them instead of
allowing them to run the show.
There will be a free Iraq as long
as we do not quit. Were we to quit now then each life given would have
been a waste. Men and women alike are putting their lives on the line
for our security each and every second of each and every day. We will have to give up some freedoms to gain security.
Or, we can give up some security to gain more freedom. They
are inversely proportional and a good subject for debate. So
let
us debate it. But let us not put the very ones who are fighting for our
freedom into more danger while we do so. The point being that there is
a time and a place to air our opinions and to share our disagreements.
I do not believe that it was proper for the New York Times to run that
story on the phone taps. I do not believe that it was proper for
Newsweek to run the story on the prison abuse. I do not think it was
proper for John Kerry to call our troops Terrorists. I do not think it
was proper for Dick Durbin to compare our detention centers to German
prison camps. There are ways to voice these concerns that would be much
more productive.
I am very thankful that the President is praying for guidance. I
certainly do not want him going it on his own. I am thankful that we
can all pray for the Lord to guide him.
There is no comparison to the Muslims and suicide bombings.
Their
religion states that they have to do more good than bad to get to
heaven. They can not know until death weather or not they have achieved
this or not. The one way around that is to die in a Jihad. Death in a
Jihad will over ride any bad done in their lives and they are
guaranteed heaven. We need to pray for them that they will find the one
true God and believe before it is too late for them.
Our
president is guided by God and not just a god but the only true God. In
John 14:6 Jesus states "I am the way the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me." Our president follows Jesus and
that divine guidance is flawless. It is our humanity that keeps us from
always following it, but the guidance itself is flawless. Our president
needs our prayers to stay on track and I believe that he would be the
first to admit to that.
Merry Christmas,
David Barth Editor's
note: Dave, I want to re-emphasize that I support our troops in Iraq
and the war against terrorism. I just do not want the government to spy
on us in the process. Thank you for your input.
Expression of sympathy Dave..
I
would just like to extend my sympathies to the families of Richard C.
Jensen(Rick) and Edwin Gerdes. I grew up next door to the Gerdes
family. I remember playing at their house and running over to the
"cooler" to get milk and leaving a note saying how much we got. Mr. and
Mrs Gerdes were like a second family to me. And I also remember after I
grew up how much I hated (but liked it at the same time) when Lynn
would say "Hi Janie".. haha. I cannot be there to give you each a hug
at this time .. but please accept my deepest sympathies. I love you all.
Another
thing I have just found out is that Rick Jensen passed away at the end
of Sept. A few years ago while working at Lowe's in Bloomington this
man walked up to me and said "Hi Jane".. it took me a few moments to
realize it was Rick. He was in my class ('73) in high school. I quit
working at Lowe's but was amazed one day opening my email and finding a
letter from Rick. He joined classmates.com when he saw my name there
and we kept in touch. Could not figure out in past 2 months why my
emails were returned to me. I did a search on internet and found out
that God had taken him home..it broke my heart. Even after I had moved
away from Minonk,, I remember Rick being the guy in school would could
make us laugh and was a true friend. I will always remember you Rick
and love ya...May you always be that shining star and making all the
people up in heaven laugh as you did us here. Rest well my friend.
Thanks Dave,
Jane (Zivney) Amigoni
Parade of Lights on Channel 13
Now playing on Minonk Productions/Mediacom Channel 13 at 7pm, Weds Dec.
7 though Sunday Dec. 11 is the "Minonk Chrismas Parade of Lights" with
commentary by Bob Hakes and Jeff "The Colonel" Zivney!The
Fieldcrest Girls Roanoke and Fieldcrest Boys Heyworth Basketball games
will play next week! Check Minonk Talk for the dates and times the
programs will play! Thanks
Steve Allen
Update on Minonk Luminaria event Let’s LIGHT UP MINONK!! The Minonk Luminaria Event is scheduled for December 17, 2005 with a rain date of December 18th. If
you have not placed your order please feel free to contact me at
438-2605 or leaving a note that you want luminaries. Let me know the
amount of luminaries you want, your name, address and phone number. The
cost is as follows: 10 luminaries - $7.00; 20 luminaries - $14.00; 30
luminaries - $21.00. Make checks payable to Minonk Luminaria Display.
The price of the luminaries covers the complete kit, including the
candles, paper bags, limestone and instructions. An average lot will
use 10 luminaries, corner lots will use approximately 20 luminaries. Your
order should be picked up December 10th at the old Uftring Building,
corner of 4th and Chestnut Streets from 10 a.m. until noon. If
you cannot pickup your order please make arrangements for someone else
to do so during the designated time!! We cannot make any deliveries.
Thanks very much. Cathy McKay
Response to airforce trainee letter This is in response to Gregory Strouse's letter. We all wish Valerie the best! We
also want to recognize both her and Matt for serving in the American
forces. Matt has been in the Air Force for quite a while now but
Valerie is joining up and just left for basic training. We attended
their wedding a few weeks ago and they were a beautiful couple! Good
Luck to BOTH of these brave soldiers! We are VERY proud of both of
you!! Matt's great aunt, Jane (Kalkwarf) Diaz
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