Wind farm could cost us our health, safety

I understand that our schools have suffered in recent years. Households have suffered even worse. Don’t even want to compare the two.

Households have already lost substantial property values. The Prairie Breeze Wind Farm could put even more homes underwater, and create more empty homes.

There is no easy answer how to raise more revenue for education to cover the cuts from the state level. Tipton County taxpayers will suffer no matter what. Most importantly, leaders should look into avenues that do not restrict future growth of our community while raising income.

How can enrollment numbers increase when all the available land for growth is covered in windmills? It is not possible to do both with this plan.

The current restrictions in place for a 5-acre minimum building site needs changed. At the current value of land, that site would cost $42,500. It would be a completely different story if the farmers could sell 1-acre lots for $15,000 to $20,000. Then we may see some growth in Tipton County.

Chrysler has hired 1,000 people since bankruptcy, and Tri-Central’s enrollment numbers are going down. Maybe we should look at the policies in place that are keeping them from choosing Tipton County.

Another way to generate more income for the schools would be to utilize the 1 percent property tax cap. This raises more income for schools and doesn’t restrict growth. It will not negatively affect home values either.

Our schools superintendent has picked a side, and I understand his concern for Tri-Central. He is retiring though, and I’m not sure he should be the one discussing the next 30 years. He doesn’t live out here nor does he pay property taxes. He can voice his political stance with his position but won’t allow concerned citizens to use the school to reach out to the community politically.

It is definitely an emotional subject and will be for years to come after seeing the future plans for Tipton, Madison, Grant and Howard counties. Several areas, if not all, will see and feel an impact. It will be felt monetarily, emotionally, stressfully and negatively.

Your health and safety, and your children’s health and safety, may be the worst loss of all.

Brian Key Sharpsville

President can’t admit we’re fighting a war

At 7:50 a.m. Sunday of Dec. 7, 1941, in the sky over Oahu ... wait, let’s back it up a little.

On Nov. 24, 1941, American naval authorities sent out warnings of war with Japan to the commanders at Pearl Harbor and Manila. On Nov. 27, these bases were again warned that an aggressive move by Japan was expected within the next few days. The strike against Pearl was only one part of Japan’s grand plan to destroy British, Dutch and American power in the Western Pacific.

Next, they attacked the Philippines, Hong Kong, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula and the American island outpost of Guam.

I had only turned 5 years old the next week, but as I review the history of what followed I try to imagine how the president was then planning to respond. Chief of staff? Secretary of State? Secretary of War? Secretary of Navy? Majority leaders of Congress? Probably all of them.

Regardless, history tells us THE DAY AFTER the attack, at the president’s request, Congress voted for war with Japan. Back then, they weren’t watching the action in “real time”!

Our present-day president didn’t do Osama bin Laden all by himself. He had help from people who knew who our enemy is.

Quite a comparison to 1941 is our Peter-Principled, laissez-faire leader, who can’t bring himself to admit we are in a war, since he can’t seem to figure it out even with all the help around him.

Thomas F. Hayes, Kokomo

We’ll do with our land what we want

I was born and raised in Tipton County, Prairie Township. Now it seems some city people want to move in and tell us what to do with our land.

Mr. Brian Key wants to build subdivisions. If I wanted to live in a subdivision, I wouldn’t be living in the country.

Mr. Key also accuses farmers of wanting to make a fast buck. REALLY? He doesn’t make money on his subdivisions?

Mr. Key obviously doesn’t understand, when you have wind turbines you can still farm the land, not so with subdivisions. I’m very offended that Mr. Key has such a high regard for the “upscale homes” at Chippendale, Howard County, and such little regard for the farmers of Tipton County and Prairie Township.

My land, my vote is for the wind turbines!

Gloria Maxwell, Russiaville