Dear Editor: I’d like top take the time to thank Hamilton County and surrounding counties for their support of the Hamilton Manor and Rehabilitation Center. It is my home away from home and has been for many years. I love my co-workers, the residents and their families. The therapy department is first class. The special care unit is my safe haven. The remodeled rooms are beautiful. The facility, as a whole, has given me and my family so much pleasure. What a rewarding job I’ve been blessed with. Your continued support is appreciated. Anna Shaneyfelt Aurora
Great example of sportsmanship
Dear Editor:
I wanted to express my sincere appreciation to one of your track coaches who was helping with the Adams Central Junior High track meet yesterday. Unfortunately, I do not know her name, only that she was helping with the long jump. My daughter, an Adams Central 8th grader, was competing in long jump. Apparently our coach and the coach for St. Cecelia’s decided to attend another event and leave these two students to “fend for themselves.” Your very gracious and kind coach spent extra time with our daughter and the St. Cecelia athlete, helping them and guiding them with their long jump; giving them pointers and advice that a parent would expect and hope for in a coach. I was so impressed with her initially, with the way she coached her own athletes, but then giving her time and knowledge to another teams’ kids was so impressive. At that point in the track meet, she did not care who was winning or losing, but simply showed two other schools athletes and parents what the true meaning of teamwork is all about. I, unfortunately, was not able to get her name, but know that she had long hair and was a thin, pretty gal. I hope you are able to thank her for us. I was not able to in person. I have always been very impressed with your school and your athletes on many occasions, but this time I wanted to be sure you knew! You have a wonderful school system and are a true example for other schools!
Angie Buhr
Hastings
Iowa student seeks Nebraska info
Dear Editor:
Hello! My name is Samuel H. I am a fifth grade student at Harlan Intermediate school in Harlan, Iowa. My social studies class is studying the history and geography of the United States. I’m jubilant I got Nebraska because I can learn more about this wonderful state and your football team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers! I would appreciate it if you’d send me a souvenir, postcards and information on Nebraska. My social studies teacher, Mrs. Newlin, would like a car license plate if possible. I appreciate your time. Thank you!
Samuel H.
Mrs. Newlin’s S.S. class
Harlan Intermediate School
1409 19th Street
Harlan, IA, 51537
Progress being made at Manor
Dear Editor:
First and foremost, the Hamilton Manor Board expresses appreciation to the county board and county officials working with us to help resolve the financial difficulties at the Manor. We hold fast to the knowledge of the needs of our community’s aging population that are being met by the operation of the Hamilton Manor’s skilled care nursing home facility. The board stands firmly committed to our residents, their families and to the qualified staff who care for our residents. For many years the Hamilton Manor operated successfully without the support of property tax dollars. Unfortunately, after 45 years, that is no longer feasible. Revenues and savings were eaten up by decade-old generators, boilers, sewer systems and out-dated kitchen and laundry equipment. Consequently, the Manor could not afford building or resident room updates of the magnitude needed to compete with brand new facilities. While much publicity surrounds the Manor’s difficulties, it is important to also look at the progress made. Our management team focuses on compliance with ever-changing and increased federal and state regulations, which strictly govern the operation of skilled care nursing homes. And, thanks to the generosity of some, the bathing facilities have received major renovations and we can proudly say the Hamilton Manor is the first skilled care facility in the county to offer suites to residents. We are dedicated to working with county officials, community leaders and benefactors to insure residents and faithful employees that the Hamilton Manor continue to be a vital asset in Hamilton County. The road will not be easy. The county commissioners and county taxpayers will be asked to guide us and help us through budget appropriations or bond issues. Let your representative know your opinion. We hope you will support these efforts. Roger Bamesberger, chairman on behalf of the Hamilton Manor Board of Trustees
Tar sands a nasty source of oil
Dear Editor:
This is a letter I have sent to President Obama about the tar sands XL Pipeline. I realized the issues of tar sand extraction when Ken Ilgunas was walking by our family farm. He is on a trek to walk the entire route of the proposed XL pipeline. You can follow him on his blog: kenilgunas.com. Ken showed my family a video he took while flying over the tar sands in Alberta Canada. I suddenly realized this wasn’t only my families issue but a global issue. To watch his video go to YouTube: goons 11111 –Tar Sands Alberta.
The tar sand extraction is an environmentally devastating process. If the whole tar sand area is developed, it will destroy an area larger than the state of Florida. This part of the Boreal Forest will never be reclaimed.
The bigger issue of tar sand extraction is that it is the dirtiest oil in the world with the highest carbon emissions. It will be sold on the world market and bought by developing countries like China and South America. Oil companies are blocked going west because of the protected Prince William Sound and blocked to the east because of First Nation’s Actions. I believe this is an export pipeline; not for America.
Dear President Obama,
Mr. President, please draw the line in the sand. There can’t be a more powerful message to the world, than if the United States of American stops supporting dirty energy. Say no to the XL Pipeline.
The tar sand development is a nasty business at so many levels. Canada is waging a huge war against the environment in the boreal forest, polluting the fresh water of that area, and razing millions of acres of boreal forest. When we, as humans, choose to sin against nature the cost is always high.
I feel saying no to this pipeline will certainly be marked in history as a turning point for humanity. Generations to come will know when people started to stand up for the climate and that we needed to start to look for renewable energy. I feel the wind and the sun couldn’t be calling to us any louder! Instead we keep on this path of destruction in using the dirtiest of fuel sources, the tar sands.
I feel this fuel will be sold on the world market and won’t be used in the United States, because of its extremely high carbon emissions. If this is true, then why would we ever take the chance to run this toxic oil over the great Ogallala Aquifer?
Fresh water is our greatest natural resource. When there is already a shortage, why would we ever want to risk polluting one of the greatest aquifers in the world? It makes no sense to me.
I am a 49-year-old farmer and horticulturalist. I live on my family’s farm in York County in eastern Nebraska. My husband, Mike, raises corn and soybeans and I have landscaping business. Our love of the land is great. Something stirred in my heart this spring and I became very concerned about the climate. I have always been very awed by nature and tied to it. Our farm was homesteaded by my great-great grandfather who came from England to homestead in 1864. It has been cherished and cared for by each generation. My father, who is deceased, cared much about water conservation. The land was left to me and my three sisters. The water that peacefully lies under our ground is what makes farming in this area so very valuable. We are very aware we need to protect it. We had record crops this summer with the drought where we were able to irrigate.
The proposed pipeline route will cut through my family farm, one mile from my home and nursery business. We have neighbors that the proposed pipeline route will go 300 feet from their house well.
If the tar sands were ever leaked into the aquifer, life as we know it would be changed forever. There would be no getting them out of the aquifer. There are many stories such as ours on how the proposed pipeline would change lives. It will devalue our land and present a great risk to the Ogallala Aquifer when it leaks. It will leak, they plan on leaks, but they don’t know what will happen when it gets into the aquifer. There are many places along the route that the water table is very high! As you know tar sands are another beast, they sink when they get into water. What would clean up look like? No one can answer that. They don’t know.
I heard what you said in your inauguration address about climate change and protecting the environment. Yes the time is NOW. We have no time to waste. When one barrel of tar sand produces two barrels of toxins, please say no to this nasty, dirty source of oil. Let it lie in the earth where it belongs!
When making your decision please hear our hearts calling for a change in the direction of our energy resources.
