06-17-2020 Letters and Commentary

Not peaceful protestors Dear Karl, I think a large number of people in this country are losing their minds, or at least their common sense. These riots with burning buildings, cars being destroyed, people hurt and killed, people want to say it’s all right because the Constitution gives us the right to protest. The Constitution says PEACEFUL PROTEST. I would not call these peaceful. I can’t believe a retired U.S. Major is condemning the President for using force and the military against the rioters. He states American towns are our homes not battle fields. These so called “protestors” turned our towns into battlefields. I would like to know how this retired Major would feel if the buildings being burned, the cars being destroyed and the people being hurt and killed were his house, car and his neighbors. Hitler destroyed statues; sound familiar? What is next? Burning books? Next week I’ll vent on the unbelievable way some politicians and main stream media has led us down the path of fear and control with this so called pandemic. Respectfully, Dennis Bachman, Benton Harbor

Hagar votes on tax cut Editor, The August 4 Primary Election will give our Hagar Township residents the opportunity to lower their taxes. The Fire Truck millage request has been cut by 50%, from .5 mills to .25 mills. The 10 year previous millage expires this year, and with this reduced millage, we will still have sufficient funds to purchase the required fire trucks for the next 10 years. An analysis was provided to the Hagar Township Board and to our representatives to the Fire Board which gained their support and approval. This analysis shows that with the current Fund Balance, plus the revenue from the .25 mills received each year, this tax cut will still leave a sufficient balance after we meet the needs of the replacement fire trucks. A yes vote on this millage request will not only reduce this portion of your property taxes, but will also provide the finest, up to date equipment for our outstanding women and men of our North Berrien Fire and Rescue Department. Thank you for your support. Izzy DiMaggio, Supervisor Hagar Township

Reelect Ken Parrigin for Coloma Charter Twp. Supervisor To the Editor, I support Ken Parrigin for reelection as Coloma Charter Township Supervisor. I have attended the Coloma Township meetings for many years and have seen first-hand the dedication and commitment Ken has for his position as Supervisor. He is caring and thoughtful in his responses to anyone that has questions or concerns during a meeting or calls him outside of the meetings. If contentious issues arise, he keeps meetings on track and makes sure everyone is heard and listens to both sides of the issue. Ken’s knowledge of day to day operations of the Township is what makes him such a wonderful person for the job and another reason I would vote for his reelection. He is always willing to give a helping hand and goes out of his way to make sure that things are done and keeps up to date on meetings that he needs to attend and knows the importance of being present and informed on what is going on not only in the Township but in the surrounding communities. Ken also makes every effort to attend new business openings, ribbon cuttings and other community celebrations and festivals. There is no better or more experienced person for Township Supervisor and I encourage voters to cast their vote for Ken and feel confident that he will continue to do the great job he has already done for the Township and its residents. Sincerely, Chana Kniebes

Sheila Hickmott is solid choice for Coloma Charter Twp. Clerk To the Editor, I had the pleasure of working with Sheila Hickmott for an approximate five years within the banking industry. Throughout this time frame, Sheila consistently demonstrated an unwavering sense of integrity, ethics and an overall appreciation for the community in which she both worked and lived. Day in and day out, Sheila would provide sound financial advice to each and every client – helping both residents and businesses alike. It is because of these traits that I believe Sheila Hickmott would be a solid choice for Coloma Township Clerk. Sincerely, Brad Cook

A major victory for the Great American Outdoors Next week, I’ll be back in Washington for legislative business, and the House will be voting on a number of bills, including the Great American Outdoors Act. The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, of which I am a vice-chair, recently endorsed this critical legislation, and I am proud to be a cosponsor as we look to move it through Congress. The Great American Outdoors Act, which passed the Senate by a vote of 73 to 25, is a major victory for our public lands as well as the local economies and natural ecosystems that they sustain. This widely bipartisan bill would provide $900 million a year to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address our $20 billion maintenance backlog on federal lands. Since its creation in 1964, the LWCF has assisted with more than 41,000 preservation and recreation projects nationwide. Michigan alone has received over $322 million to protect and improve public access to places such as the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the Keweenaw National Historic Park, and our Great Lakes. Our public lands are real treasures, and we must always work together to conserve their beauty and protect the great American outdoors that we all cherish for generations to come. To learn more about important legislative issues, follow me on Twitter at @RepFredUpton or by visiting my website: upton.house.gov. You can also call my offices in Kalamazoo (269-385-0039), St. Joseph/ Benton Harbor (269-982-1986), or Washington, D.C. (202-225-3761).

COVID-19 cancels county fairs, but not the spirit of SWMI to overcome Another unfortunate result of the coronavirus is the cancellation and postponement of various local county fairs and animal auctions. These summer staples have for generations brought our communities together for family fun and food, to honor the hard work and dedication of youngsters raising, showing and selling livestock, and to celebrate Michigan’s great agricultural heritage. As a proud former member of 4-H — I enjoyed cake decorating and sewing — I know how much participants look forward to attending and competing at local fairs each summer. As an adult, I have also long enjoyed buying at auction various livestock, including chicken, turkey, pigs, lamb and beef. While it is incredibly disappointing for all who love county fairs and are involved in making them a success, it is understandable under the current circumstances why so many of Michigan’s fairs have been canceled or postponed. Despite the temporary setbacks, efforts are still being made to provide opportunities to showcase the efforts of these young people safely, as well as to offer livestock auctions online. The 75th Annual Berrien County Youth Fair, which was postponed until 2021, is planning on hosting a unique youth showcase event from August 15 – 23. The showcase will not be open to the public and only exhibitors and their parents or guardians will be allowed to attend. For more information, visit bcyf.us. The Cass County Fair also announced its postponement until 2021. In lieu of a traditional fair experience this summer, fair officials announced drive-in livestock shows during the scheduled 2020 fair dates. Attendance will be limited to exhibitors and their parents or guardians, but organizers were exploring livestreaming the events. The traditional livestock auction will also not be held. For more information, visit mycasscountyfair.com. The St. Joseph County Grange Fair has also canceled its September fair. However, plans are being made to accommodate 4-H exhibitors. For the latest information, check out www.facebook.com/CentrevilleFair. Lastly, while in-person livestock auctions are being canceled, the Michigan Farm Bureau, Ag Community Relief and other partners have joined to organize online livestock auctions for large animals, including cattle, sheep and pigs. Interested 4-H and FFA members can find more information to sell their livestock on the ‘Current Efforts’ page on Ag Community Relief’s website.

It is great to see our communities sticking together to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 to make the best of a tough situation in celebrating our youth in lieu of traditional county fairs. As always, residents can contact my office with any state or local issues by calling (517) 373-6960 or emailing senklasata@senate.michigan.gov.

Hope for a future I recently read a couple of stories about how new hope made a huge difference for some people’s futures. One was about a young boy who had suffered serious burns. He was very discouraged about his painful condition. He felt that he was dying. But when a tutor was sent to help him keep up with his school studies, the fact that someone took the time to invest in his future changed his whole outlook. He thought, why would they send at tutor to a dying boy? With hope for the future, he decided he would live. His response to his treatments immediately changed for the better and he was on his way to recovery. Hope made the difference. Another account concerned a group of sixth-graders whose class was addressed by a successful businessman about finishing school. He wanted to help motivate them to stick with it. He decided to make an offer. He would help them pay for college if they would graduate. That class became energized! Most of them had little hope of higher education because of their families’ financial situations, but this opened up their future in new, unexpected ways. It is reported that 90% of that class graduated. They endured because they were given a promise for the future. David explained where he found hope. Psalm 146:5-6 reads, “How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and Who keeps faith forever.” To feel “blessed” is the opposite of feeling despair. The same faithful God once told Israel, “I know the plans that I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Find hope in Him. Hope for a future overcomes despair.

Fair is fair As Michiganders begin to resume their lives in a safe and smart manner, I believe it’s important for state government to do everything it can to help our economy recover after the devastation of COVID-19 and the governor’s unilateral actions that sent Michigan’s unemployment rate skyrocketing. As I searched for actions I could take to help the people of our community, I began looking at all of Michigan’s licensed professionals like realtors, barbers and stylists, and landscape architects that were forced to shut down because of Governor Whitmer’s executive orders. To earn a living in Michigan, the state requires these individuals to pay to hold a license. It isn’t fair for the state to require payment for a product you can’t use, so I introduced legislation to provide a credit to Michigan license holders that were forced to cease operations.

House Bill 5892 requires the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to provide a credit or prorate a fee on the renewal of a license if the holder of the license was forced to stop their practice because of a state mandate. For example, if I hold a license that costs $120 per year, and Governor Whitmer shut me down for three months, I would receive a $30 credit on the renewal of my license in 2021. My license would only cost $90 instead of the full $120.

This in no way makes up for the drastic loss of income for license holders, but it’s a small measure I can take as a legislator to provide relief for these hardworking Michiganders who were shut down through no fault of their own. I look forward to seeing this common-sense legislation passed and signed into law.

If I can ever be of assistance to you, you can reach me via email at PaulineWendzel@house.mi.gov or by phone at 517-373-1403. You can also visit my website at www.RepWendzel.com.

WHEN IS TOO SOON, REALLY TOO SOON? All of us second guessers have jumped on the criticizers bandwagon finding fault with Gov. Whitmer for relaxing COVID-19 restrictions. We were all howling that the measures, designed to protect us from ourselves as the pandemic wreaks havoc on the planet’s population, were no longer necessary. Now we have to pay the price for not joining in to respect the restrictions as the Governor rolled back the measures to tougher rules. Tougher rules that now include penalties for ignoring them. So, stay home, stay safe and wear your face mask everywhere when out and about. This pandemic is serious and not to be taken lightly. Here I am exhorting us happy and healthy citizens to wear an antivirus mask while this evil malady is ripping the hearts out of families around the globe. Pray for them and help where you can. Then give thanks that you and your family has been spared.

Coronavirus-related Medicare scam alert Since older Americans are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to remind Medicare beneficiaries to be vigilant and take precautions to avoid falling victim to healthcare fraud during this pandemic. We’re warning Medicare beneficiaries that scammers may try to use this pandemic to steal their Medicare number, banking information, or other personal data. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of the most vulnerable people during times of uncertainty and change. You must protect yourself by making sure you only give your Medicare number to your doctor, pharmacist, hospital, health insurer, or other trusted healthcare provider. If someone calls you on the phone, saying they’re from Medicare, and asks for your Medicare number or other personal information – just hang up. Medicare representatives will never: Call beneficiaries to ask for or to “verify” Medicare numbers; call to sell you anything; promise you things if you give them a Medicare number; visit you at your home; call you to enroll you in a Medicare program over the phone, unless you called us first. Medicare cards no longer have Social Security numbers on them to reduce fraud and protect beneficiaries from identity theft. Even with this change, you should guard your Medicare card like you would a credit card. Be sure to check your Medicare claim summaries for errors and questionable bills. If you suspect Medicare fraud, please report it by calling Medicare’s toll-free customer service center at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can also visit Medicare online at www.medicare.gov/forms-help-resources/help-fight-medicare-fraud. Please help inform others by sharing this message with family and friends. Vonda VanTil is the Public Affairs Specialist for West Michigan. You can write her c/o Social Security Administration, 3045 Knapp NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525 or via email at vonda.vantil@ssa.gov.