Our readers write...

Kind words for dad

To the editor:

I would like to give a round of applause to my dad, Pete Sauerwein, for his 18 1/2 years of dedication and hard work that he gave to our city's parks before retiring his position as the parks foreman this past March.

I always felt that the parks were kept neat, well-maintained, and appealing to the eye of those who used them or drove by them. I also know that, due to lack of funds, there were a lot of great ideas that just could not be fulfilled. But, he did what he could with what he had!

Recently, while joining my dad on his "early morning retirement" walk, I have discovered just how great the nature trail in Memorial Park is. For those of you who enjoy a nice, quiet, and peaceful walk, this would be the place to go.

So, thumbs up to my dad, his right-hand man, Dave Adams, and the rest of the crew in the Salem Parks Department for a job well done for the last 18 1/2 years!

SHANNON SAUERWEIN,

Salem

Unhappy with recorder

To the editor:

Each week I see something from County Recorder Craig Brown that reminds me more and more of what a politician he is rather than a public official. He has been in office for three and a half years now and we don't see hide nor hair of him, but now that he's in an election year he's trying to get his name in the paper for just about everything - only thing is that it is all fluff and no substance.

Last week I read an article of how Mr. Brown was supposed to go to Columbus this past Saturday to partake in the State Central Committee proceedings to replace a candidate for state attorney general.

He made sure to issue a press release and get his name in the paper talking about how he supported the candidate and he was looking forward to going to Columbus to fulfill his obligation to the committee. He didn't even go! I saw him Saturday in Salem being a politician, campaigning and bothering the spectators in the show lot across from the Timberlanes! That's another thing - he parked his car in the show lot which was supposed to be closed to hot rods and classic cars, and here I see him with his car that had magnets on it politicking!

The audacity.

I think it's time for Mr. Brown to start focusing on being what he was elected to do - a county recorder - not a politician! We always hear about his dealings on the state committee, about being on the Electoral College, about being a college instructor, about wanting to serve on government committees at the state level etc. etc. etc.

It's time for Mr. Brown to stop trying to be a big time state politician, and rather focus on doing his job that we the taxpayers are paying him to do. I'm sick of seeing his name in the paper about all of these "fluff" PR stunts that don't mean anything to us - the taxpayers!

We need more substance, and less double-talk of someone in this government position.

GEORGE PIROCK,

New Waterford

Bemoans loss of Fish Tank

We, the staff of the Lepper Public Library, in Lisbon, were surprised and dismayed to hear that the "Fish Tank," the low-income after-school and summer child care program will be discontinued at the end of June.

David Guy, who has directed this very successful and much needed program for the last three and a half years, has done a terrific job of supervising as many as 35 students.

Under his direction the program provided area children, who might otherwise be home alone, with a safe place to stay as well as help with homework, socialization, healthy food, and frequent trips to the library.

Due to the loss of a grant, which came from the Jobs and Family Services Agency, this excellent program can no longer provide a service that is greatly needed by many area families.

We will miss Mr. Guy and his many well-behaved students. We sincerely hope the Fish Tank will obtain funding again in the near future.

SHARON COPE PARRISH,

Children's librarian,

Lisbon

Appreciated article

Thank you for the wonderful article about our local Marine recruiters. I want to say thank you to all of them for doing a great job. Isn't it wonderful that we live in a town where these young men are treated with respect? Not like the places where they are picketed or yelled at or have obscene gestures shown to them.

I don't know about the rest of the citizens of Salem but I like going to bed at night knowing we are guarded by the world's finest doing what they were hired to do. Thank you Marines ... Semper Fi ... ooohrahhhh Parris Island Class of 58.

I would like to add a note to the poolies though ... once they finish Parris Island they will never be the same and will belong to a brotherhood that is like no other. If they are out and have on a ball cap, a shirt, a tattoo or anything that shows they are Marines, I can guarantee that if there is another Marine in the area he will make himself known. We are Marines forever .

DIANE HERGENRODER,

Opposes legislation

I am writing in response to an article about Rep. Bolon, in which she is sponsoring a bill to the state house seeking to create an office at the Attorney general's to enforce consumer recalls.

This is the most irresponsible legislation I can think of.

First and foremost, this is already required under federal law.

It is also in the best interest of the retailers to comply with recall notices in a timely and efficient manor to prevent civil lawsuits.

Secondly, she has proposed this legislation without supporting how this effort was to be paid for.

Do we really need another redundant state program that costs us tax dollars, but provides no tangible benefit to us taxpayers?

The irresponsibility doesn't end there. This proposed bill was inspired by Rep. Bolon's daughter after she read an article. Is this how our state government works? Because of an article, we now may have to pay for this redundant program?

I know the sensational stories regarding tainted toys from China scares all of us parents, but a state recall agency wouldn't prevent an Ohio child from being exposed or cause an Ohio retailer to pull the item any sooner.

I hope that this sensationally scare tactic can be seen as what it is, an attempt to increase the size of government at our expense without giving us any real benefit.

CHRISTOPHER

M. WALTERS,

On behalf of fireworks

The fireworks-related injuries dropped more than 15 percent from 2005 to 2006, bringing the rate of injuries per 100,000 pounds of fireworks used to an all-time low according to information released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Consumer. Since 1992, the actual number of fireworks-related injuries has been reduced by over 26 percent.

This becomes an amazing statistic when you consider that in 2006 the amount of fireworks used in America as measured by the volume of imported fireworks was more than three times what was used in 1992, rising from 87.1 million pounds to over 278 million pounds.

From 1992 to 2006, the raw number of estimated fireworks-related injuries dropped from 12,500 to 9,200. Based on injuries per 100,000 pounds of fireworks used, the rate of injuries has dropped over 76 percent during this period from 14.3 per 100,000 pounds to 3.3 per 100,000 pounds.

Add to this information the fact that some 35 percent of the reported injuries are from products other than consumer fireworks (illegal explosives, unspecified devices, professional fireworks and homemade or altered devices), and the statistics are even more dramatic.

There is no other industry involving products with some risk associated with them that can boast of such astounding success in controlling and reducing the product-related injuries. It is an accepted fact that with most products when use increases, there is a corresponding increase in associated product injuries.

From 1989 to 2006 when there was a 437 percent increase in use of All-Terrain Vehicles, there was a 457 percent increase in ATV-related injuries.

From 1989 to 1998 when there was a 350 percent increase in trampoline sales, there was a 98 percent increase in trampoline-related injuries.

The best most industries can hope for when product use rises is a reduction in the rate of increase of the product-related injuries, but there is still a significant increase in injuries. Only with fireworks when there is a major increase in use is there an actual decrease in injuries, and a very substantial decrease at that.

Fireworks opponents try to undermine the public's confidence in consumer fireworks by citing the single-year number of fireworks-related injuries, but fail to put the injuries in the context of the increase in use of the products or the year-to-year reduction in the number of injuries.

The tradition of celebrating Independence Day and freedom with fireworks is ingrained in the very soul of our country. There is nothing more strongly associated with the tradition of Independence Day than fireworks, and this has been the case since the founding of our nation.

Former President John Adams predicted in 1776 in a letter to his wife, Abigail, that Independence Day "ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade...bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of this continent to the other, from this day forward forevermore."

Fireworks provide the citizens of this state and this nation a means to demonstrate their freedoms. We celebrate Independence Day today as John Adams predicted, with illuminations or fireworks and the modern day equivalent of bonfires-family cook-outs. America loves her fireworks.

Please enjoy Independence Day with your family and celebrate safely.

WILLIAM A. WEIMER,

Vice President,

Phantom Fireworks,

Youngstown