From our readers

Editor:

Over the years we have witnessed first hand our greatest natural resource, the Peshtigo River, losing the battle to the sedimentation process. The longer this process continues to thrive, the greater the battle to get it back. I feel very strongly we have a responsibility for present and future generations to preserve this waterway.

These last couple of months have been quite stressful. As we waited anxiously to hear if we would receive funding through a grant, the clock was ticking as Aug. 15 was fast approaching and Wisconsin Public Service would start refilling the river.

I can’t express how disappointed I was when we received word we weren’t selected to receive Federal funding for the dredging project.

With the replacement of the bridge and the drawdown of the water, we had an opportunity to maximize our funding for a dredging project. The decision was made to support two dredging projects with the total amount of $195,000. I wish we had the resources to do the entire area, but unfortunately at this time we couldn’t.

To give you an idea how important it was to dredge without water, I spoke with the contractor and asked him with the water out how much it would cost if we would have dredged the entire area. He stated between $900,000 and $1 million with the water out as opposed to tripling that amount with the water in.

The dredging area starts by the small pavilion to the beach and continues to proximity of the 20 yard line on the football field. At that point a channel will be made to go back out in the main channel of the river, increasing water flow. It will be an asset for residents, campers and visitors to our city having a beach for summer enjoyment.

I hope this is just the beginning of improvements to our waterway, taking back our natural resource for future generations to enjoy.

I would like to thank Wisconsin DNR, WPS for helping the city secure an extension for the drawdown, and our city engineer, George Cowell, for the incredible amount of time he has put into making this project a reality.

Cathi Malke,

Parks & Recreation

Committee Chairman,

City of Peshtigo

To the Editor:

I want to thank your paper and your reporters for exposing the Zoning Ordinance in the Town of Stephenson. It is unbelievable. It’s un-American! I think the Town Board is missing the point when it comes to “Progress.” I am relatively a newcomer in town and live in the Twin Bridge area. I come from the congested Northern Virginia and Washington, DC area and I’ve seen “Progress” and it is not pretty.

Since, I’ve been here I’ve seen Highway 141 by-pass the quaint little towns of Coleman and Lena and how they have all but dried up, family business closed, jobs lost for the sake of “Progress”. Now, it seems this zoning ordinance “Progress” is about to consume the Town of Stephenson.

The Town of Stephenson is irreplaceable; it is not a cookie cutter town like rest of America is becoming - no fast food restaurants on every corner, no traffic lights, strip malls, no Wal-Mart’s or other big box stores. Instead of a strip malls or business districts people work out of their homes and garages. A lot of folks have been living this way for generations, and some like me who came here to retire and earn extra income through home businesses, greenhouses, arts/crafts, yard sales, mechanics, salvage yards, excavators, stump diggers, construction companies and rental cabins. My point is, people are making a living and they are at home. That is the ideal American dream for most people. It is like America used to be. Why should we and our children have to pay the town a fee to make a living on our own property? This is un-American. Our forefathers are rolling over in their graves.

The Town Board should be looking at our lifestyle as a positive step backwards in time, where the people from the big progressive cities come to see by star light and not street lights; hunt; fish; drive their snowmobile/ATVs, and enjoy uncongested rustic roads, parks and clean lakes, native vegetation/wildlife, our picture postcard agricultural vistas, and our 100-year-old resorts. Places like this, these days, are very rare. This is our niche. We want to preserve our way of life.

The Town Board and the Planning Commission should be looking at ways to preserve our Town and not bring “Progress” from large urban communities to us. They should support our Tavern League and small business owners, and to promote tourism not stamp it out — with ordinance fees, water patrols, tickets to tourist and now this zoning ordinance. The majority of citizens of Town of Stephenson will not accept this Zoning Ordinance that robs us of our individual freedom, property rights and our pursuit of happiness. It’s unbelievable!

Thank you,

Barbara Dale Kikulski

Crivitz

To the Editor:

To those who wonder why I haven’t been on the sidelines of Wausaukee Ranger football games doing stats, or at any Ranger volleyball games, here are my reasons.

For over 40 years I’ve done things for the school (stats, scorebook, clock, chain gang, P.T. report, etc.). I did them because I loved being around the kids and my loyalty to the Wausaukee school. I’ve given my heart to the school. It was like home to me.

But in the past two years some current and past school board members have slandered and made accusations against me, because I’ve disagreed with some of their actions and spoke my mind. Their campaign against me was to show their power and control, and that arrogance really turned me off.

The final straw was when a school board member approached me a month ago and told me I was no longer needed at school. I never even got a thank you for all I’ve done. It showed me their ingratitude and lack of respect for others.

I had to make the difficult decision to end my involvement at school. I love all the kids but the politics, arrogance, accusations and slander I’ve been subjected to by some on the school board has become too much to take, and I’m tired of it all. You might as well talk to a wall than to some of them, but that would be putting the wall down for walls may have a conscience. Some people do not.

I’ve made many acquaintances over the years doing stats and the scorebook for the Rangers. I especially liked doing the scorebook for both the boys and girls basketball teams when the Rangers visited Coleman. Libby and Jean, the scorekeeper and clock operator for Coleman, always had cookies for me. It seems I was respected more in other schools than in my own hometown.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Ranger coaches over the years, but most of all I’d like to thank all the student athletes who treated me like a friend. I wish all the Ranger teams the best of luck. I will miss you but I’ll always be a Wausaukee Ranger.

I would also like to thank the kids I read to in kindergarten and third grade two years ago, which the school board also took away from me. To see your smiles when I walked into your room, and to get hugs, what could be better? Reading to these kids was the most rewarding thing I ever did. Remember the Purple Dragon, kids, and something I always said when I was done reading, “be nice to each other.”

It was difficult missing that first Ranger football game Aug. 24 at Crandon and the second game Aug. 30 at Florence, but the hardest was the first home game last Friday night against Gillett. I hadn’t missed a Ranger home football game in 45 years.

The following day I drove to Amberg and walked to the Aberdeen Quarry to reflect. I sat on the rocks reminiscing about the hundreds of memories and stories I have stored inside my heart. The beauty of my surroundings at the quarry engrossed me as the sun reflected off the water, and I realized all things must pass. I am at peace.

Roger Lanich,

Wausaukee

Editor:

The Democrats have denied opportunity to the poor and underprivileged. Democrats refused to give the poor and underprivileged a voice. The Democrats created undue hardship and denied the poor and underprivileged access to the political system.

Democrats use comparable slurs to denigrate those who support voter ID but see a necessity in requiring an ID for those attending the Democratic Convention.

What hypocrites!

Kathleen Roux,

Rice Lake

To the Editor:

Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan took time out of his busy schedule to visit Barron County and to support Congressman Duffy and State Representative Rivard. All three of these men have served the citizens of northern Wisconsin well.

When I attended the county fair, Congressman Duffy and Representative Rivard were walking among the crowd, answering questions and defining their political goals for their next term in office. Those goals include continuing to improve the business environment and to lower the unemployment rate below its current 6.7 percent. Fiscal responsibility for both the state and federal government while assuring each child has access to a quality education are just a few of the promises made to their constituents.

My questions, my concerns and my opinions have always been accepted graciously. If I call their offices, either they answer the phone or they return my call promptly.

Never have I heard Congressman Duffy or Representative Rivard say a disparaging word about another citizen, their talents or their personal goals. These two legislators always convey a respect for the ability of every able-bodied citizen to become a contributing member of society.

Diane Bartschenfeld,

Rural Rice Lake

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