Cash for clunkers ‘CARS program’

From: Bob Belbeck, Delano

My wife and I were very excited about the CARS program. Not only could we get a new car, but we would get a gas guzzler off the road and help the economy at the same time. This sounded like a win-win for everyone.

We did our research, found a car, and we were ready to trade in our truck, that got 16 mpg, for a new car rated at 34 mpg.

Unfortunately, the greed of the car manufacturers and dealerships blocked our purchase.

As soon as the CARS program became effective, all of the manufacturers stopped their incentive programs. This meant that we would pay almost exactly the same for a new car by taking advantage of the $4,500 CARS program as we would have with the incentives that they ended and no CARS program (selling our truck to a private party for a small amount of money plus incentives).

No thanks. This was exactly what we expected when we first heard about the finalized version of the CARS program. Auto manufacturers are too greedy to honor the integrity of the program and the spirit of what the government was trying to do.

Well, it looks like we aren’t buying a new car now, either.

Ask to keep our libraries at full staff

From: Mike Day, Delano

The July 13, 2009 issue of the Delano Herald Journal offered the letter by Darcy Sjomeling regarding the proposal by the Great River Regional Library to eliminate some 16 current librarians and reduce management staff as well.

She asked that we all let Vince Schaefer, library board president, know that we value our branch librarian and do not want to see her position change or be eliminated.

OK, here I am telling you Mr. Schaefer that the Delano Library personnel are just too valuable to the community to reduce the staff. And I’ll bet that is true of the other branches, too.

Our libraries are one of the most important civic functions that the community can ever hope to have. The skill of our local library staff is superb.

Many times I have ordered distant and obscure items that were only available through inter-library loans. They have always been successful. Now, that is real service. And we should appreciate that.

The local library has always served the public well with many local exhibits, children’s stories, daily and local newspapers, a myriad of popular magazines, tax forms and assistance, and many other contributions too. In fact, I should say thanks more often than I do. So keep them at full staff, because we the people truly need them.

And if you need money for that you should see the Wright County Board and the Wright County Highway Department.

They have been splashing a lot of money around on unnecessary road rebuild projects that no one needs. They just spent over $10 million on Wright County Road 17, to rebuild where none was needed, complete with a bicycle path that bicyclists do not use.

That was a truly unconscionable misuse of public funds. I think they should be able to spare some for the libraries, a valuable asset, instead of blowing it on back scratching each other for empire building and other self-servings.

So hear us Mr. Schaefer, keep our libraries at full staff. They are irreplaceable.

Officials need to be held accountable

From: Jason Simmons, Montrose

In my country, it is not only allowed, but it is my responsibility to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. We need to hold our elected officials accountable.

I, first off, would like to publicly express appreciation for people like Evan Siljander and Bob Chantland for their never-ending attempts to hold our local government accountable. Although their actions are not always the most popular, and are often twisted by some to be interpreted as rude. I commend them on their actions to keep honest people honest.

Yes, I believe in my heart that most of our locals elected officials are good people. I also understand that even good people can at times make decisions that they may otherwise not make when they think no one is watching. In many cases adults are no different than kids who will try to sneak that extra piece of candy when they think no one is watching.

In many situations in life, perception is very important. What you do may very well be legal, but when perceived by others, how will it be viewed? Is it legal – perhaps, but more importantly is it the right way to handle the situation?

Do to the thankless job of investigating and receiving many rude comments, people like Evan have uncovered many questionable actions from the distant and recent past. Perhaps not all these decisions were made by some of our current officials, but because they have been brought to people’s attention they have now been changed or current officials run the risk of doing questionable things. You see, it is the people’s responsibility to hold our elected officials accountable.

One hundred and twenty-nine years ago, President James Garfield brilliantly predicted the situation we now find ourselves in: “The people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption.”

We need to hold our elected officials accountable for their actions. Are we a country that stands for greed and corruption, or do we still believe in antiquated ideas like honesty and integrity?

Many times those who have done research and asked questions have been made out to be troublemakers. The council has even gone so far as blaming them for wracking up city legal costs. I believe this was a setup from the get go.

Rather than want to answer the tough questions, they tried to pawn them off on a paid-by-the-hour city attorney; then blamed the rising costs on people who were putting the pressure on to keep the honest people honest.

They have even gone so far as to publish data requests – a list of which I am proud to say I am on, but disappointed to see that more people’s names are not on.

When campaigning, I ran into hundreds of people who second-guessed many decisions by the local leaders. I heard from many citizens who wondered how this or that could be possible. The sad part is that there are only a few who ever did anything about it.

Remember your council has said that they want to 1. Share council meetings, 2. Be accessible to citizens, and 3. That they are a government servicing citizens. Remember the mission is supported by values? And leadership? Oh yeah, and they are citizen focused.

Yes, I know I write this putting myself at risk for more ridicule like I have received in recent e-mails from council members and members of their family and even “men of the cloth.”

People telling me that for questioning employees constant overtime, and for questioning council members setting records for monthly income from our city, that I am wrong, but as I stated before, it is not only allowed, it is my responsibility.

Searching for Krause family members

From: Ronda Krause Sissom, Delano native

I am trying to find members of my father’s family to inform them of his death May 12, 2009.

My father’s name is Frederick A. Krause, born Sept. 25, 1934 to Herman F. Krause and Freda Martha (Topel) Krause.

At the time of his birth, according to his birth certificate, the family was living in Franklin Township. He was the youngest of 12 children and I believe most of the family and their descendants still live in the Delano/Minnesota area. My parents divorced when I was four, and I have never had any contact with my father’s family due to their ugly separation.

Freda passed away Dec. 1, 1945 in Wright County and Herman passed away Aug. 21, 1959, also in Wright County.

Of the 12 children, I believe two may still be living. Lydia Krause Wandersee, Buffalo area and George Krause of Howard Lake or Montrose. I have found death announcements for Viola Krause O’Borski (?) as well as for Willard Herman Krause, whose announcement listed previously deceased brothers: Alfred, Edwin, Roger, Gordon, Richard and Melvin.

I am assuming I have a whole slew of cousins out there that probably do not know of my and my brother and sister’s existence since our father moved away from the area when he joined the Air Force. He finally settled in Bath, Maine where he married and divorced our mother.

Do you know who I might contact to get this information to the Krause family? I appreciate any help you may give me.

Demand change for health care reform

From: John Deitering

Buffalo

There is a battle raging in America that needs the attention of every citizen. Seventy-six percent of the American people want health care reform, and corporate health care is spending $1.4 million dollars per day to make sure that we don’t get it.

The system we have now – dominated by insurance companies – has given us health care that excludes 47 million Americans, has doubled our insurance premiums in the past eight years, costs us more per capita than any other country in the world, limits our choice of doctors, creates profits by denying treatment, delivers a health care that ranks 37th in the world, and blocks consumers from buying cheaper name-brand drugs from countries like Canada.

Health care reform will not be freely given to you; you must take power away from corporate health care, and give it to the American people.

We must demand a universally available public healthcare option that will compete with private insurance.

Call your senators and representatives. We have been waiting a lifetime for health care reform. Now is the time to demand real change.