Letters to the Editor

Overpass is not worth the cost

Written by Lois M. Stanton, Gothenburg Thursday, 02 September 2010 20:31

It would be nice to have a bypass around the city for trucks. That being said, I’d like to express why any of the proposed overpass plans are lousy ideas.

First and foremost, the necessity of closing our two in-town crossings. The negative ramifications of that are so stupendous I question whether the steering committee was not remiss in allowing the study to continue once that fact was known. Whatever interests might be served are far outweighed by the negative impact on the community as a whole.

Neither east proposals can by virtue of proximity to the airport be accepted. And except to account for funds used, I question why they were even presented.

The current crossings alleviate some of the traffic on the existent overpass, which brings us to the west proposals. Fourth Street—that intersection is messy enough as is with Fourth Street, Lake Avenue and Highway 47 all converging, plus whatever traffic would be added by the closings.

So, we’re left with First Street—a fine way for anyone who wants to bypass the city entirely.

In the meantime, whoever is on one side of the tracks and wants/needs to get to the other side has two choices. To take the scenic route on West 30—how many miles? Or use the existent overpass with its increased traffic. Want to walk or ride a bicycle, or push a pram or use a motorized chair? Get in line to use the one pedestrian walkway on the current overpass, unless a skywalk like in Brady is erected—useful perhaps a few months of the year, because the current crossings will be barricaded and unusable.

I’ve heard people speak as if it’s a “done deal.” Others say it won’t go through because of the money involved—that hasn’t stemmed the expenditure of an already tidy sum. “It’ll go because they want it,” say some. I’m not sure who the “they” are, but can’t feel that “they” are concerned with what’s good for the town as a whole. The railroad would like to not maintain the crossings, and as a carrot say that then they wouldn’t have to blow their horns. The sound of the trains, even their horns, is a sometimes welcome relief from the incessant roar from the grain dryers.

Just because some funds are available toward this project does not make it desirable, and those funds aren’t manna—we’ve already contributed to them. Why should we assume an additional fiscal burden just to “get our share,” when to do so is detrimental to the community as an entity?

I suggest we staunch this flow of city treasure, cut our losses and put our capital to use in maintenance and repair of what we’ve already got. For instance, why couldn’t Lake Avenue south of the tracks have been repaired and resurfaced this year? We found the money for a concrete monolith and landscaping but no place to park or sit near it.

With the opening of Avenue G overpass, the Gothenburg Times ran the headline, “City skyline changed forever.” It is my fervent hope that they will not have to note, “City effectively and forever cut in half.”

Perhaps I’m beating a dead horse and this truly rotten idea has been laid to rest. As long as sacrificing our ground crossings is a condition, it certainly should be.

Family business disrupted

Written by Brent Block, Gothenburg; Lyman Anderson, Johnson Lake Thursday, 02 September 2010 20:31

If you have been a client/customer of Jerry Jorgensen, State Farm Insurance, as of Sept. 1 you will no longer be able to call Brad, Rana or Marlene and have them answer your questions or concerns about your policies. They will not have your insurance policy information on their computer screens.

All of Jerry’s paper files have been removed from his office, along with your private information, and will be given to another agent. Mr. Mike Fergn, from Grand Island, along with some other State Farm executives will give Jerry’s files to whomever you select. If you do not take any action your file will go to the new agent in town, located at the Gateway Building.

We feel that this family business, established in Gothenburg in April 1963, has been a constant source of honesty and community service and the clients/customers should remain in the capable hands of the Jorgensen family. We feel in the past Jerry exhibited and Brad, Rana and Marlene continue to display the utmost in integrity to their customers and loyalty to the community and deserve to be treated with the same respect.

If you were a State Farm client/customer of Jerry’s and agree with the above, you need to call Mike Fergn, 308-389-6552 and tell him that you want to stay with Brad as your agent. At this time you may prefer to ask that you be switched to a State Farm agent somewhere else in a city more convenient to your location. The choice is yours. If you do not make this call you will not have a choice.

Public servants need reminder

Written by Neil A. Davis Wednesday, 01 September 2010 21:53

A man has a sick grandmother. He steals money from another man, to pay medical bills. He is arrested for theft and thrown in jail.

Sixty liberal senators have 35 million friends with sick grandmothers. Those friends take money from others to pay their bills. Is that theft? No, it is a liberal entitlement program (Obamacare).

When creating a mass voter block, the end justifies the means. The individual’s role is exploitation. When President Obama wants to make a point, he has welfare recipients stand behind him wearing lab coats or hard hats or some other ridiculousness. If it’s health care, he’ll drag out Tiny Tim Cratchit. This is supposed to make you think that others actually agree with what he is going to say.

I have written that President Obama and I are idealogues. The president is also an ideologue. This is where we part company. I simply do not have that much influence. But, his actions affect the lives of hundreds of millions worldwide. His agenda is the redistribution of wealth, but only through government. He penalizes charitable giving, in an effort to remove involvement by the individual.

The president and I also claim to be Christians. I’ll be the first to say that I am not a very good one (judgmental). But, one thing I have going for me is the belief that Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for my sins (my salvation through faith). What does President Obama believe?

When speaking to college students, he has said that his salvation depends on the salvation of others (collective salvation). Individuals don’t have the ability to save themselves? I don’t have any particular association with the Catholic Church (other than the Apostles Creed), but I find it interesting that the pope has referred to collective salvation as demonic.

It appears to me that the president’s socialist ideology trumps his religious beliefs. Since when is it his job to push theology on college students?

Liberals think the Constitution is open to interpretation because the Founders couldn’t possibly anticipate every future circumstance. I agree, in the context that they could never have imagined the rotting corpse we have allowed progressivism to make of our institutions. Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are the current faces of that degradation.

In the big picture though, it’s not really about them. Obama’s arrogance is bringing him down and Republicans are set to clean house in November. Even with that, we will only see new faces in the same corrupt system.

Our “public servants” need to be reminded that they work for us. I think the only way we will ever effect real change, is for each of us (as individuals) to make the commitment to speak up for what we think is right.

That doesn’t have to be what I say. Be of your own mind, but have the courage to stand up and say, that’s wrong and I’m not going to allow you to do that to my country anymore.

Photo use questioned

Written by Lori A. Edwards, Lexington Wednesday, 01 September 2010 21:51

How could you—front page, four boys, big picture! “Summer Fun” was caption. About four-five young 12-13 year-olds having a blast, normal summer activity jumping off bridge, south Cottonwood, Gothenburg, into a canal. Second photo showed all boys back floating in same canal—after the drowning this May of an 18-year-old jumping into the canal off a bridge near Lexington with friends?

He actually was a friend’s son; he reached out and touched a foot of a female friend as he was pulled down to drown in the canal, right near all his friends. And now, another young man, Mr. Martin, drowned in a canal.

So why run a story and promote swimming in a canal without life jackets, without parents, and tell everyone why it’s cool to do it?

Maybe you could call Aracely Hernandez who lost her son in May and explain why it’s a good thing for more kids to jump in and play in canals? Her oldest son is dead. Would you change your story idea and promote fun in the sun at the pool where the bottom is seen, and stable and controlled depths, and lifeguards and flotation devices are available to throw in to save a person’s life or one parent present? That would be responsible reporting. Just because everyone has done it doesn’t make it right to promote dangerous activity.

Did you know a canal is cone-shaped, wider at the top where water flow is very slow, and a very narrow bottom where it flows three-four times faster? Even if you throw a dog out a bone—my ex-husband did—the dog won’t survive.

I was supposed to meet a North Platte fire, search and rescue man. He never showed up. He left for work and that morning, his pickup blew a tire and went into a canal he lived near. He was a strong swimmer—did this all the time with ropes—but the pickup was still floating when co-workers looked for him. He had been drug under and found a few days later.

So, please promote safe play for young people, not another funeral service.

We must stand up to invaders

Written by Glade A. Smith, Cozad Thursday, 12 August 2010 21:24

In a land far away and long ago two armies met in mortal combat in front of a city. The local army being badly beaten retreated into their city. Unfortunately they didn1t get the city gate closed. The army of their adversary stormed through the gate.

The United States of America is a mirror of that city. The pagans have stormed through our gates. They are the humanists, pornographers, prostitutes, adulterers, abortionists, atheists, homosexuals-pedophiles, holding to a form of propriety and civility while exhibiting none. We have given them our children, our money, our land, our possessions. Like a leach they have not been satisfied. The Jihadist Moslems are pouring through the gate hard at their heels.

We are in a terrible state. The government is not the solution. They are more of the problem than the solution. However, I am very proud of our men and women in uniform who are bravely holding back the Jihadist Moslem horde, overseas.

In the land far away and long ago it looked very bad for that city. However the streets were narrow and the residents were on the roofs of their homes and they had piles of rocks up there with them. Each family protected their home, together they totally destroyed the invading army.

We are Americans. We live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Modern society wants us to give up our old tired values, to reject our old time religion, to trade our blood-bought freedoms for a pack of lies. When we are silenced by the press of society or overwhelmed by the cacophony of sin and perversion all about us, when terrorists so horrify us that we cower in fear then slavery and death will overtake us.

God is not shook, “He is an ever present help in a time of trial.” Our Nation is founded on God, when we turn to Him, He is there.

Paul the Apostle (Philippians 1:27-28), “I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This will be a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.” When the world says, bow, kneel, sin, submit, shut up, put on this turban our answer must be “I don’t think so.”

We live in the 21st century, the battle still rages intensely. Our futures, the futures of our children and grandchildren hang in the balance. Like in the city of old, we must not let them invade our homes. When we stand as one the invaders will be driven out and our city will be spared.