The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/103825
The Press-Dispatch H Rolling in regulations Continued from page 2 and hike costs. • In April, the National Labor Relations Board issued rules that shorten the time allowed for union-organizing elections to between 10 and 21 days. This hardly gives employees time to make an informed decision. • States also can issue ill-conceived regulations. In September, the New York City Board of Health listened to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and banned the sale of soda and other sweetened drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces. "New Yorkers are apparently still allowed refills, at least for now." Gattuso and Katz write. "No word on how many New York City cops will be moved from crime prevention to monitor the city's soda fountains." • Last February, the Department of Health and Human Services released its mandate requiring that all health insurance plans include coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraceptives. There are no exceptions for church-affiliated schools, hospitals and charities whose religious beliefs forbid them to comply with this mandate. No wonder 42 cases with more than 110 plaintiffs are challenging this restriction on religious liberty as a violation of the First Amendment. How can lawmakers help? They can start by requiring congressional approval of any new major regulations. And they can demand that these regulations have an expiration ("sunset") date. "As government expands," President Reagan once said, "liberty contracts." Keeping regulations under control is a very good way to ensure that doesn't happen. Ed Feulner is president of The Heritage Foundation (www.heritage.org). H The role of 'educators' Continued from page 2 notions. The history that is taught in too many of our schools is a history that emphasizes everything that has gone bad, or can be made to look bad, in America—and that gives little, if any, attention to the great achievements of this country. If you think that is an exaggeration, get a copy of "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn and read it. As someone who used to read translations of official Communist newspapers in the days of the Soviet Union, I know that those papers' attempts to degrade the United States did not sink quite as low as Howard Zinn's book. That book has sold millions of copies, poisoning the minds of millions of students in schools and colleges against their own country. But this book is one of many things that enable teachers to think of themselves as "agents of change," without having the slightest accountability for whether that change turns out to be for the better or for the worse—or, indeed, utterly catastrophic. This misuse of schools to undermine one's own society is not something confined to the United States or even to our own time. It is common in Western countries for educators, the media and the intelligentsia in general, to single out Western civilization for special condemnation for sins that have been common to the human race, in all parts of the world, for thousands of years. Meanwhile, all sorts of fictitious virtues are attributed to non-Western societies, and their worst crimes are often passed over in silence, or at least shrugged off by saying some such thing as "Who are we to judge?" Even in the face of mortal dangers, political correctness forbids us to use words like "terrorist" when the approved euphemism is "militant." Milder terms such as "illegal alien" likewise cannot pass the political correctness test, so it must be replaced by another euphemism, "undocumented worker." Some think that we must tiptoe around in our own country, lest some foreigners living here or visiting here be offended by the sight of an American flag or a Christmas tree in some institutions. In France between the two World Wars, the teachers' union decided that schools should replace patriotism with internationalism and pacifism. Books that told the story of the heroic defense of French soldiers against the German invaders at Verdun in 1916, despite suffering massive casualties, were replaced by books that spoke impartially about the suffering of all soldiers—both French and German—at Verdun. Germany invaded France again in 1940, and this time the world was shocked when the French surrendered after just 6 weeks of fighting— especially since military experts expected France to win. But two decades of undermining French patriotism and morale had done their work. American schools today are similarly undermining American society as one unworthy of defending, either domestically or internationally. If there were nuclear attacks on American cities, how long would it take for us to surrender, even if we had nuclear superiority—but were not as willing to die as our enemies were? H Points to ponder Continued from page 2 rest, and you still might be arrested if a police officer believes you have entered a place to injure another person (Prevention of Crime Act 1953). Then the question remains, "What then is the gun control debate all about?" I would answer gun control advocates want to disarm the populace. This demand has been heard before and is a continuation of progressivism (government can solve all problems). Though their demands seem extreme and over the top, in reality the goal is to just get their foot in the door; then slowly over time put teeth in legis- lation restricting more types of weapons or ammunition until a sympathetic Supreme Court will revisit the Second Amendment and limit possession to whomever they define as the militia. This is a thorny issue, and I will look at how the church has responded over the centuries in the next column. Until then, I suggest we all take a step back and realize evil is a part of life, and wishing it away will not make it so. Paul reminded the Church at Rome: "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). Think about it! Wednesday, January 16, 2013 C-3 Court report Criminal Docket Pike Circuit Court In re: search warrant. In re: search warrant. Jon A. Robling charged with count I, dealing meth, a class B felony; count II, conspiracy to deal meth, a class B felony and count III, possession of paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor. Heather L. Wilson charged with count I, dealing meth, a class B felony; count II, conspiracy to deal meth, a class B felony; and count III, possession of paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor. Traffic and misdemeanor Pike Circuit Court Amber T. Ott charged with battery, a class B misdemeanor. Eddie Elliott charged with two counts of illegal taking of a deer, a class B misdemeanor. Jeramie S. Bass charged with two counts of check deception, a class A misdemeanor. Phillip J. Kern charged with domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor; and count II, disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor. Angela A. Kern charged with domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor; and count II, disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor. Civil Docket Pike Circuit Court Tim D. Nelson sues Carrie S. Nelson for dissolution of marriage. Melissa Jean Davis sues Michael James Davis for dissolution of marriage. Accounts Recovery Bureau Inc. sues Roger D. Willis on complaint. Accounts Recovery Bureau Inc. sues Christopher J. Willis and Misty D. Willis on complaint. Small Claims Pike Circuit Court Hoosier Accounts Service sues Rhonda S. Welp on complaint for accounts plus costs. Hoosier Accounts Service sues Ashley L. Phillips and William Phillips on complaint for accounts plus costs. Medical and Professional Collection Services sues Kendall K. Simmons on complaint for accounts plus costs. Medical and Professional Collection Services sues Nancy E. Leighty on complaint for accounts plus costs. Medical and Professional Collection Services sues Marchia L. Watson and William E. Watson on complaint for accounts plus costs. Medical and Professional Collection Services sues Paul E. Jansen and Elizabeth A. Jansen on complaint for accounts plus costs. Infractions Pike Circuit Court Dakota S. Armfield charged with speeding, 81 mph in a 70 zone. Kevin A. Bassett charged with speeding, 65 mph in a 55 zone. Nicholas K. Beasley charged with speeding, 80 mph in a 70 zone. Melissa A. Bittle charged with speeding, 85 mph in a 70 zone. Julie M. Collings charged with speeding, 52 mph in a 30 zone. Forest H. Chesnut charged with seat belt violation. Lee K. Goodman charged with speeding, 70 mph in a 55 zone. C. W. Hughes charged with speeding, 58 mph in a 45 zone. Kathy D. Kixmiller charged with speeding, 44 mph in a 25 zone. Shelby L. Krodel charged with speeding, 54 mph in a 35 zone. Cohn H. Miller charged with speeding, 83 mph in a 70 zone. Brenda M. Mora charged with speeding, 56 mph in a 35 zone. Bronzella Morris charged with seat belt violation. Travis B. Morgan charged with speeding, 70 mph in a 55 zone. Susan M. Merkley charged with speeding, 71 mph in a 55 zone. Jay C. Ramsey charged with speeding, 80 mph in a 70 zone. Emilio Rodriguiez charged with speeding, 43 mph in a 30 zone. Jacob T. Shreffler charged with operating an ATV without consent on property. Seth W. Skelton charged with speeding, 80 mph in a 70 zone. Dana R. Strohmeyer charged with speeding, 44 mph in a 25 zone. Jana L. Traylor charged with speeding, 82 mph in a 70 zone. Wayne R. Wedding charged with expired registration. Duane E. Wegner charged with speeding, 66 mph in a 55 zone. Terry R. Welch charged with seat belt violation. Leonard D. Yoder charged with speeding, 54 mph in a 35 zone. Gerald L. Farris charged with seat belt violation. Laiceee E. Blackwell charged with speeding, 90 mph in a 70 zone. Michele A. Bruce charged with speeding, 64 mph in a 55 zone. Brooklyn N. Cates charged with seat belt violation. Dustin R. Davis charged with speeding, 64 mph in a 55 zone. Letters to the Editor Visiting the elderly makes a difference Dear Editor, Each Christmas, I take a look at the people who are spending much of their Christmas season with me and others who work where they live. I can plan a month full of a great variety of things for them to do, to enjoy, laugh, or even just kill time. But no matter how exciting, how reverent, or how fun these events may be, one of the most appreciative occurrences are when the regular people of Pike County come to visit. It does not matter whether we know them or not. We have been blessed again this Christmas season with many carolers from a variety of churches and groups. Gifts and/or cards were given by Play 'n' Learn preschool, school clubs, Salvation Army, individuals, churches. People came in to visit their loved ones with special treats and often brought enough for their friends. Even today, a gentleman came to visit a relative and shared his time (and cakes) with her friends. He told me he feels he is blessed more than they are, that he really hasn't done much. As the Recreation Director, I am usually contacted and am aware of these visits and certainly try to express my appreciation to these people; but if I were to mention just those I know of for certain, I would definitely be missing several acts of Christmas kindness by others. So even if my Residents, their families, or I don't know who you are or what you did, I wish to offer my heartfelt appreciation for the love you have shown some of my favorite people in the world. Maybe they don't remember you came. But I can guarantee you, that while you were there, those moments were more precious than remembering it later would have been. You know who you are; and, better yet, God knows. Matthew 6:3-4 explains that the rewards for such unselfishness are great: "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret ; and your Father Who sees what is done in secret will reward you." Poor doesn't always mean lacking in money; but in my world, may mean more lacking in feeling that someone cares enough to think of them and come visit. If you had thoughts of coming this Christmas season, but it just didn't work out, please remember that there are 11 other months in the year that you would be very much appreciated for your visits. You don't have to be able to sing, play, preach, dance, juggle, or stand on your head. Just the thought of a pair of ears, warm hands and kindness in your eyes will be more than enough to give a person a reason to look forward to a special time that they know you are coming. These may not be good times financially; you may be having difficulties with families, i.e, empty nests, moving away from home. But you may find that the blessing is just as great to yourself if you keep your head high and offer someone what you yourself are needing-a friend. I thank God for all the volunteers who continue to visit and give of themselves to my friends, and pray that this year may keep them healthy and blessed. Sincerely, Gail M. Daniel, ADC Recreation Services Director Golden Living Center 'What has happened to Community Corrections?' To the Editor: What has happened to Community Corrections? I have become aware that the Community Corrections program is dwindling or almost non-existent. As a volunteer in this community, I know that nonprofit organizations depend on Community Correction workers. At PAWS animal shelter correction personnel would scrub out and disin- Pregnant... or think you are? Call:1-877-257-1084 or Locally Call: 1-812-354-2814 • Free pregnancy testing • Free counseling and info. on pregnancy options. • Confidential counseling for women & men who are suffering from post-abortion syndrome. • Residential Care • Health and assistance referrals. • Training and education. • Assistance in getting baby and maternity clothes washpcc@sbcglobal.net www.washingtonpregnancycenter.com fect kennels, wash out water buckets and feeding dishes and scrub walls. Men were asked to unload 50 pound bags of feed into containers so they may be accessed for feeding. Men were also used for mowing, lifting, small repairs and landscaping. Women were utilized to scrub out cat kennels and clean the many litter boxes, clean the office and scrub floors, bathroom and walls. PAWS is sorely in need of volunteers and this program was invaluable. I understand that they were valuable assistance at Somebody's place, filling shelves, loading boxes in vehicles of clients and unloading the trucks. They mowed grass and cleaned the roadways. Now those services are paid for by taxpayers, which as you can see the roadways are cluttered and empty lots and parks are not mowed. I have been told that the prosecutor does not like the program as it stands now, so he does not send Community Correction workers out. Perhaps he could meet with non-profit representatives to iron out the differences and set some definite rules so that Pike County does not lose this valuable service. Glenna M. Russo M Z netedition yeah, it' that fast! s The Press-Dispatch. No matter where you live. www.PressDispatch.net/Subscribe Would you like NETedition with that? netedition pressdispatch.net/edition Web, Smartphone, Tablet Add $ 5 $5/year No matter when your paper subscription expires, you get a full one-year subscription to NETedition for just $5. NETedition only subscriptions are also available at just $35 per year.