Voice readerssound off onstories

Voice readers have hadplenty to say about the storieswe have published lately.Their comments have beencomplimentary and critical,relating to feature and newscoverage. A sampling of theseinclude:

St. Clair officer lauded forlife-saving actions, March 30:

From City Resident:“Thank you Corporal Bishopfor always patrolling ourroads and keeping us safe!”

Ira Township’s considera-tion of police options

From Taxpayer: “Whywould Ira think that contract-ing with anyone else otherthan the sheriff’s office wouldbe the best value for their dol-lar? More and more commu-nities should contract with

their local sheriff’s officerather than trying to start uptheir own department or con-tracting with a smaller policeagency.”

Northern Macomb commu-nities discuss regional policecoverage:

From Ugh-WashingtonTwp.: “There are only 2 north-ern Macomb townships thatpay for their own policepatrols, Washington andLenox townships. They bothcontract with the MacombSheriff’s Office, and get excel-lent police coverage. Thedeputies assigned to thetownships are 100 percentdedicated to making life saferfor the residents, and theywork their butts off, doing thejob of three times the person-nel that they have.

The Bruce, Ray, Armadaand Richmond townshipsupervisors have actuallybragged about gettingWashington’s and Lenox’sdeputies to answer calls intheir townships without pay-ing a cent. Yes, when lives areat stake, deputies will gowherever necessary to help,but these townships don’tdeserve the deputies thatother township taxpayers payfor.

Shame on the supervisorsfor rubbing that in our faces!”

From Harrison Taxpayer:“Ray, Bruce, Armada, andRichmond townships do notpay for road patrols thru thesheriff. Everyone pays countytaxes to run the county jailbut not for road patrols. Mytownship, Harrison,Washington, Lenox, andMacomb pay extra to havecounty road patrols. I do notwant to see contracted countypatrols going into these town-ships who are not paying forcontracted patrol cars. No

more free rides.”

Len: “I fail to see how con-tracting with Macomb CountySheriff’s Office is more expen-sive than starting up a policedepartment from scratch.With that $500,000 dollars ayear each individual commu-nity would get a dedicateddeputy and the support serv-ices that the sheriff provides.

Sounds more like thesupervisors of these town-ships are mad that the oldsheriff came to them yearsago and asked them to con-tract or he will pull the northend deputies out. Well, thetownships called his bluff andthe sheriff wasn’t playinggames, the county came tohim and told him to cut coststhat were being funded by thecounty taxpayers and he did.Right through the bone. Nowit’s up to those north endcommunities to pay for thecoverage that they get just likeMacomb Twp., Harrisontownships, Mt. Clemens etc.does.”

Closure of the MichiganState Police post in Richmond:

From Resident ofRichmond: “This is very badnews for the city ofRichmond. Most MSPTroopers are in fact useless,however that is $207,000 thatthe city cannot depend onnow. Now what doesRichmond have to do? Wherewill that money come from?This is tragic news for the cityof Richmond.”

Macomb knitting groupassists infants

Evi: “I am so happy to readthis story. When I became afirst-time grandmother, ourlittle one was born very pre-mature - when they finallyallowed us to hold him, hewas all wrapped up and wear-ing a gorgeous hand-knit hat.It fit his little head perfectlyand was just beautifully done.We would’ve loved to havekept it for his book, but theyhave so few they sterilizethem for the next baby. More

hats, more memories! Thanksto all of you who do this.”

Ruth Andrew: “I’ve discov-ered this year that I live amuch calmer life if I have aknitting project going. I knitprayer shawls for friends, andtheir family members who areundergoing surgeries, and mychildren’s friends who mightneed a prayer shawl. Then Ifinally knitted one for myself.My grandchildren and daugh-ter (grown) all want reallyspiffy leg warmers for thisnext Christmas and thinkGrandma should knit them.I’m getting ready for this proj-ect, too.”

To have your say about aVoice story, go to our website,voicenews.com, click on thestory and chat away.

Be sure you can care for your puppy in the future

To all who are out therebreeding more and moredogs; keeping the puppies,giving them away, or sellingthem - making room to dosome more breeding - sothat hopefully you can makea few bucks. In a year or twothe owner of the puppy youwere glad to get rid of says tohimself: Whoa, that puppy Ibought a year ago weighstwice as much as when Ibrought it home; it’s not ascute any more; it has growntoo large for the kids in thefamily; it requires more foodthan we can afford or wantto buy; and, frankly, it hasbecome a downright nui-sance.

Now, of course, thecheapest way to get rid ofany dog - young or old - is todeclare it a stray when takingit to the St. Clair CountySheriff’s Animal ControlShelter on 3378 GriswoldAve., Port Huron; they haveto take everything, as long asyou tell them it is a stray -even a young female withnine young puppies wasbrought in and dumped offas a stray. Right now, March21, there are six young dogs,including the one with thepuppies that are beingoffered to rescue groups; ifnot taken today they willthen be euthanized.

It is important to knowthat all of the services rela-tive to “dogs” are providedwith the funding realizedfrom dog license sales - themonies paid by those of uswho honor the law by havingour dogs rabies vaccinatedand who purchase county

dog licenses. Very rarely is adog captured as a stray - andnot claimed - or a dogbrought in to animal control,as a stray, accompanied by arabies vaccination certificateor a dog license tag.

Somebody said: “A societyis judged by the way it treatsits animals.” By animalabuse - and that’s what Ihave just described - you asan adult are probably longlost, but how about yourchildren? What are you andthis society, in which we areliving, teaching the childrenwho, without your goodexample, will be the nextgeneration to carry on abuseto animals? These are thechildren, some of whom,when grown up, might bemanaging the nursinghomes, one of which youmight some day be a resi-dent.DOROTHEA J. KNIGHTSt. Clair

Pay more attention to whatyour dog does

In response to DanBiland’s letter in the March30 edition of The Voice. I livein the city limits of MarineCity. I purchased my house afew years ago, and I am theproud owner of a dog. I havea fenced in yard that keepsher in the yard most of thetime, but as a puppy she didescape occasionally. Some ofmy neighbors have morethan one dog, and I neversee these dogs out of theiryards. Thank you, myresponsible neighbors! Theproblem is that other animalowners in my neighborhooddo not keep their animals intheir back yards, and this isbecoming a real problem forme. My yard apparently hasbeen the “neighborhoodpotty” for years, and no onethinks twice about it. Wellthat is except me; I can’t tellyou how many times mygrandsons have come intothe house with little surpris-es on the bottom of their

feet! I purchased a new ruglast fall and it has had a fewdroppings on it, and they arenot from my animal or theanimals that I watch occa-sionally for friends and fami-ly. It was not a cheap rug norwill it be inexpensive to havecleaned. Please, just becausethe person who lived in myhouse before didn’t care thatyou allowed your dogs todump in this yard doesn’tmean I don’t. It is not onlydisrespectful and un-neigh-borly it is down right rude,especially when I know thatyou know I see you lettingthe dog out and watching itdo its business in my yard.Hopefully this will get thepoint across; I walk my dogaround town and alwaysbring a few bags with me incase she feels the need.Please give your neighborsthe same respect! No onelikes a foot-full trackedthrough their home!CARRIE STERNMarine City

Memphis policiesa step in the right direction

After reading the article“Memphis sets studentdance guidelines,” written byJeanne Kniaz, I, as a teen andin high school, could nothelp but to agree with poli-cies and standards being setat Memphis High School.Measures to prevent alcoholand drugs on school groundshave been overdue for manyyears in high schools acrossAmerica. It is reassuring tosee that restrictions havebeen put into effect to pro-tect our generation fromourselves even though theactions should not be neces-sary.LORI SCHWARKLenox

Miller right in supporting NPRdefunding

I applaud Candice Miller’ssupport in the defunding of

NPR. If they are a viablesource of news and enter-tainment as many liberalsclaim they are, the market-place will determine whetheror not they stay viable. Forcethem to sell on-the-airadvertising just like all theother stations across thedial, or increase the numberof on-air fundraisers. Theydon’t deserve the unfairadvantage of my tax dollarssupporting their leftwingpropaganda or programmingthat I never listen to.

And for all the liberalwhiners ruing the potentiallayoff of Big Bird and hisbuddies - they’re employedby PBS and are NOT affiliat-

ed with NPR though theyshould be defunded also.DON RUEDISUELIMacomb Township

Remember current state of AB schoolswhen voting

The Anchor Bay SchoolBoard election is importantto the whole community.And while it may be the onlyitem on the ballot, every votecounts.

A quick look at thestatewide test scores and thefact that the Anchor Bay

school budget shows a $2.4million rainy day fund bal-ance indicates that incum-bents Steve Mittelstadt andHeather Bade should bereturned to the board.

There are few measure-ments by which the citizensof the Anchor Bay SchoolDistrict can judge boardmember performance.However, student perform-ance and fiscal responsibilityare preeminent - and experi-enced board members cankeep it that way.

Make YOUR vote count onTuesday, May 3.RALPH MUSILLI and LYNNEHOOVER MUSILLIChesterfield

Disney trip a success becauseof Richmond community

My name is GeorgeHamblin, and I am a teacherand wrestling coach atRichmond CommunitySchools. My daughter, Leigh,was born with a congenitalheart defect called TricuspidAtresia. The right side of herheart never developed; andthrough a series of three

open heart surgeries at theUniversity of Michigan, doc-tors were successfully able toby-pass the side of her heartthat did not develop. Leighturned 8 years old inDecember.

My wife, Millie, and Iplanned a trip to DisneyWorld for our children to cel-ebrate Leigh’s 8th birthday.With the help of so manyparents and people withinand outside of the Richmondcommunity, we were able tokeep our promise for ourchild. We want to publiclyexpress our sincere gratitudeto everyone for the generousfinancial gift that allowedour family to enjoy this trip.With your help, you mademy children’s experiencetruly memorable. We specifi-cally want to thank the fol-lowing people:

Dennis and Amy LaFore,

Pat and Donna Schweigerand family, DeborahLeonard, Kristina and JoshKaltz, Ed Henry, Mary andEd Henry, Dave and DeanneYounk, Chris and LisaIreland, Tom and CindiGreenia, Ed and Kim Burg,Dennis and Sue Boyd, Garyand Dawn Baruth, Scott andArlene Barton, Mike andPatty Jones, Dr. Brian andSandy Pradko, Bob, Debbie,Eric and Jason Garlick,Bernie and Ginny Ritter,Gary and Theresa Ranger,Tony and Diane Russo, Ronand Denise Pinskey, Grahamand Kelly Cattera, DominicCattera, Dave and BarbGaffney, Dennis and MelanieYore, Carol Clancy, Rob andJeanne Treend, VillageFamily Pharmacy (Shane),Larry and Marlene Kuzdal,Mike and Von Kratt, Daleand Janet Morang, Bob and

Pam Fraley, Jeff and KarenRivard, Joel and SandyNuckles, Mike and SharonJurcak, Doug Pentzien, Jerryand Lucy Sebastian, GaryEdwards, Kim Ed and SherryVannatter, Ron and DebbieBehem, Gary Edwards, andKim Selonke.GEORGE and MILLIE HAM-BLINAvoca

Spaghetti dinner was enjoyable for all

We enjoyed deliciousspaghetti and homemadebreadsticks on Saturday,April 2 as we gave our sup-port to the Piarist FathersCatholic School in Kentucky.Many thanks to the tremen-dous efforts of GarnetWrightner, Theresa Kopsonand the kids of Anchor BayHigh School Culinary Arts

Department for preparingthe meal. Assisting in St.Mary’s kitchen was our hard-working Christian ServiceCommission, who generous-ly gave of their time to helpprepare, serve and clean-up.

Thanks also to everyonethat supplied a deliciousdessert for the meal.

Joe Kozlowski once againentertained the kids andadults alike all evening withhis magic tricks and ballooncreations. Joe is so talentedand graciously shares thatwith us!

And lastly, thanks to allthat patronized this event.Thanks to Barb PertTempleton and The Voice;this event was well adver-tised.DEBBIE WARRENChristian ServiceCoordinatorSt. Mary Queen of CreationNew Baltimore

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