Letters to the Editor

Keep the counting going on census

Published by admin on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 1:40pm

To the editor:

President Donald Trump has just dramatically escalated his attacks on a fair and accurate census count. In early August, he announced that the census will end one month early. That’s right. They’re planning to stop the 2020 U.S. Census early, with the final count still incomplete and millions left uncounted.

Similar to Trump’s previous attacks — like trying to edit undocumented people out of the final count or impose a citizenship question, this will hit Black and Brown communities and young children the hardest.

County should speak on gerrymandering

Published by admin on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 1:39pm

To the editor:

The Shawano County Board should pass a resolution urging the Wisconsin Legislature to ban gerrymandering and establish a process of independent, nonpartisan redistricting.

We’re falling behind on this in Shawano County. Already, 52 other county boards have passed such a resolution — including our neighbors in Langlade, Marathon, Oconto, Outagamie and Waupaca counties.

It’s time we stepped up.

Rep. Tauchen called on to share views on COVID

Published by admin on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 1:30pm

To the editor:

Gov. Evers, in consultation with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued statewide stay-at-home guidelines to reduce the COVID-19 pandemic throughout our great state.

Union leader says Dems support farmers

Published by admin on Thu, 07/30/2020 - 5:09pm

To the editor:

Darin Von Ruden, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, has talked about the broken promises President Donald Trump made to farmers in Wisconsin and the destruction he has imposed on the agricultural industry.

Von Ruden makes it clear that the GOP and this administration have been disastrous for family farms for the last three years. These same families are struggling to educate their children from home as coronavirus threatens the education system at large, and who are facing an economy that demands more and more digitally focused work.

Native Americans in Wisconsin are more vulnerable to COVID-19

Published by admin on Fri, 07/24/2020 - 3:40pm

In Wisconsin, Native Americans are facing extremely high rates of coronavirus and are at higher risk for hospitalization. Because of historic injustices that have built upon each other, Native Americans have been particularly vulnerable to the systematic failure of the government response to the pandemic.

Fair is fair when it comes to mowing

Published by admin on Fri, 07/24/2020 - 3:39pm

To the editor:

Anyone driving on Waukechon Street may have observed tall plants, grass and weeds growing on the southwest corner property of Waukechon and Richmond Streets. According to City Ordinance 11.10: Control of week’s, grans and plants, this should not be allowed. The city ordinance reads:

100 days before the election

Published by admin on Fri, 07/24/2020 - 3:37pm

To the editor:

We are 100 days from the Nov. 3 election, and the stakes could not be higher. Our country suffers under the leadership of President Trump and his bungled response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has failed America and Americans. Trump has negatively affected other facets of our state. He has gutted Wisconsin industries, attacked its workers, forced farmers out of business, and attempted to strip us of our health care. We suffer due to his craven incompetence.

County board ignores impacts of COVID-19

Published by admin on Fri, 07/17/2020 - 10:03am

To the editor:

It was brought to my attention that a member was forced to resign from the Shawano County Board this week when the board members refused to grant his request to extend the provision allowing members to attend meetings virtually during the pandemic.

One might not immediately appreciate the reason for my duress and lest this incident be swept under the carpet, let me provide some background: Based solely upon their ages, the former member and his wife are both considered “high risk” in our current pandemic situation, as is their disabled daughter.

Bad police and bad public employees

Published by admin on Mon, 07/06/2020 - 5:23pm

Why is it we don’t hear about the reasons the police officer in Minneapolis wasn’t removed from the force when he had so many complaints against him?

Have you ever heard about the difficulty municipalities or government has to remove an employee who is not performing their duties or was abusing the public trust?

Defend, don’t defund, the police

Published by admin on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 10:35am

We have praiseworthy police officers in Shawano. They are willing, kind and thoughtful. When I call 911, the Shawano operator sends the proper responder to me.

As an old lady, caring for a husband with failing health, I did my best. In the past year, Ken could no longer get up if he fell, even with my help. We needed more help.

Each time I called for assistance, the officers showed up very quickly. They listened to my request and assessed the situation. Then they willingly took the action to resolve the problem.