Letter to the Editor:
Last week I noted articles that talked about the MAPS Administration recommending combining all 5th graders and putting them together in the old section of the PRMS. I served as chair of the MAPS BOE Facilities Committee for the last two years. After finding that the 5th graders at Jefferson were in the temporary buildings, which didn’t give the district the best security and meant they would have to be outside to get to the cafeteria and gym. The committee looked into options available and decided to recommend this option near the end of the school year last year.
The 5th graders can be separate from the 6-8th graders most of the time. They can all be together except for those attending Maple Grove Charter. When all options were weighed, it makes the most sense to use this option. It gives the students, teachers, administration, board of education, custodians, the best use of facilities and district resources. All other options would be much more costly to all concerned.
Thought it appropriate for me to speak up on this issue.
Thanks for your time.
Respectfully,
Chuck Bolder
Merrill
Dear Editor,
Here are a few items from the energy industry that the liberal media missed reporting. I apologize in advance for getting into the weeds on these numbers, but not everything is a sound-bit.
This year the US is expected to pass Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest producer of oil when natural gas liquids and biofuels are added to the total. This is a huge accomplishment considering how anti-domestic energy the federal government is under the democrats and Obama (i.e. a 40% reduction in drilling permits on Federal lands). Our total output includes 7.4 million bpd (barrels per day) of crude and condensates, 2.5 million bpd of natural gas liquids, and 1 million bpd of biofuels. It also includes 1.3 million bpd of “refinery gain” which is how the fuel volume swells during the processing that occurs in advanced oil refineries.
There are some items of note within these numbers. First the refinery gain of 1.3 million bpd compared to 1 million bpd of total biofuels. All the usage mandates and money the government has thrown at biofuels and it is still less than what the refineries can create just by virtue of their processing! Secondly, the biofuels industry seem pretty pathetic when you consider their embarrassing total output compared to shale oil which has grown 3.2 million bpd in just the last four years despite Obama, the Democrats, the federal government, and all the environmental wackos fighting it every step of the way. Maybe we shouldn’t be wasting 40% of our corn crop on ethanol when food stamp roles have grown 70% under Obama.
Finally there is one other piece of news relating to Washington’s insane fascination (and political pandering) with ethanol. The EPA recently admitting they are considering reducing their usage mandate for the new magic elixir “cellulose ethanol.” Their estimate was the industry would produce 1.75 billion gallons of fuel by 2014. In reality it is going to be 23 million gallons – a miss of 98.7%! A fine example of how the government is clueless regarding the energy market place and science in general.
Too bad the clowns in Washington couldn’t have found a way to stay permanently shut down.
Dean D. Diagostine
Merrill
Mr. Duffy & Mr. Johnson,
I would personally like to say thanks but no thanks to you and your Republican colleagues for shutting down the United States government. As a direct result we (the American taxpayers) were unable to utilize government offices and services during the shutdown. But the Republicans decided that the furloughed federal workers should get back pay during this shutdown, so the taxpayers are required to pay the federal workers for an additional paid vacation without being able to utilize any services. Very generous of you. Also, because if the length of the shutdown getting very close to a United States default it will cost our country additional funds to get investors to buy government securities in order to run our country. Your shutdown will raise our debt, not decrease it. The USA will have to raise the interest paid on securities because now investors do not feel that America is a safe investment.
In closing I would like to say that I do not want you to consider using Social Security or Medicare funds in any future budget negotiations to reduce the national debt. You might try cutting congressional pay and/or benefits to offset some of the debt.
Patrick Hommerding
Merrill
Mining in Wisconsin:
This is an invitation for the public to join in a special presentation, hosted by the Merrill Peace Studies Group and the local Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the T. B. Scott Library Community Room. Our guest speaker will be Susan Sommer, an attorney from the Rhinelander area. Susan presents “Mining for Truth” which examines the 2013 Wisconsin Ferrous Mining Law. Ms. Sommer’s extensive research over the past two years focuses on the proposed taconite mine on the Penokee Range: a look at whether a profitable ore body exists and the influence of mining interests in our legislative process. This is an opportunity and a challenge for us- steward of the earth that we are – to assess the problems and examine solutions that will protect our natural resources and maintain social justice in our community and state.
Irene Mehlos
Judy Weaver
Merrill
Dear Editor,
I recently read an article in the Feb. 6, 2013 Foto News titled “City taking notice of poorly maintained properties.” We seem to have to opposite problem with our property in the city.
We recently purchased a lot with a 900 sq. ft. garage on it located at 2707 Crescent Drive in Merrill. We only owned it for a few months when we received a letter from the city of Merrill on Dec. 21, 2012, that it recently came to their attention that you cannot have an accessory building on a lot without a residence in the city. The Zoning Board voted against our variance request to keep the garage.
So we have until March 1, 2013 to either remove this beautiful, well-maintained garage, sell it to one of the neighbors so one property tax bill can be created, build a house, or go to court. Keep in mind that we have already made improvements to the garage and the lot with the city inspection office’s knowledge.
This garage was built in 2000. It has been alone on this lot since 2011. But did the city or the 31 neighbors complain about it before? No! They waited until we purchased it, removed trees to make a very nice driveway, made nice improvements to the garage and then the 31 neighbors signed a petition against us and brought it to the city’s attention. This garage has already been in the neighborhood since 2000. So if anyone is even considering buying any property on Crescent Drive or Glen Drive, I would think again. This decision will cause a lot of stress not only on us, but also to the employees of the realty company, the title company and the previous owner. It is really a shame.
So even if your property is in bad condition or great condition, it can and may have to be removed. And according to one of the zoning board members, the law is the law. So if you own a garage without a home in the city of Merrill, it should be removed.
Sherry Heath
Merrill