The following article was presented to Iron
County Doings for publication by Mare and
Tom Peterson, its authors.
-------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF FACTS (REQUEST FOR
INVESTIGATION OF AN ATTORNEY/BROUILETTE)
I think that the Iron County (MI)
Prosecutor’s office, staffed by Prosecutor
Melissa Powell Weston (P57048) and Assistant
Prosecutor Lisa Brouilette (P42717) caused
an area resident, Roger Barrette, to be
placed under false arrest, criminally charged,
tried and convicted for acts for which he
could not be held culpable pursuant to Michigan
Statute. Court records for case number 09-5265
can be obtained through the Clerk of the Court,
95B District Court, Iron County Courthouse,
2 South 6th Street, Crystal Falls MI 49920. I
base this complaint on my understanding of
Michigan’s Dog Law of 1919, Act 313 of 1919.
On March 9, 2010, my husband and I were in
the Iron County Courthouse for a hearing on
a civil matter before Iron County’s Unified
Trial Court Judge Joe Schwedler (P26055).
That hearing ended just before the Barrette
trial was to begin. Interested in learning
more about state and county law concerning
animal control, we decided to observe the
trial. What we saw and heard for two days
was a demonstration of malicious prosecution,
replete with what would prove to be
unsubstantiated assertions made by prosecutor
Brouilette as though she and she alone had
seen the defendant commit a crime on October 9,
2009. In fact, it can be said that only
Mr. Barrette and his neighbor’s dog “know” what
happened between them, as there were no other
witnesses identified at trial. We are
embarrassed to be represented by a prosecution
who affords a presumption of innocence to an
Iron County co-worker’s untagged dog running at
large but flagrantly denies a human being the
same presumption of innocence—particularly when
the untagged dog running at large is trespassing
on the human being’s private property.
Equally egregious is the fact that the
prosecution, having misapplied the law to begin
with, went on to misrepresent the law itself,
both to the judge and to the jury—in a two day
trial, no less—at considerable taxpayers expense.
It is clear to us that Mr. Barrette committed no
crime as defined under the law, had the incident
been appreciated correctly. Also, when Judge
Schwedler permitted the prosecutor to bring the
dog into the courtroom, he allowed the dog’s
reputation to have standing more favorable than
that of the defendant whom prosecutor Brouilette
said was lying. After all, how absurd would it
have been for Mr. Barrette’s attorney, John Berry
(P34268), to challenge the dog’s honesty!
Shortly after Mr. Barrette’s trial, I had a chance
encounter with the jury foreman who told me things
about the jury’s deliberation and the reasons for
the verdict. I have reported, in writing, the
nature of his remarks to the Iron County
prosecutor’s office and have been told that I
would have to bring my concerns to the defense
attorney Berry since the prosecution had won and
would not pursue mistrial. Believing that this
is a case of prosecutorial misconduct causing
a miscarriage of justice, I have given the same
writing to Mr. Barrette for his information and
use. My husband and I had no previous relationship
with Roger Barrette prior to this trial. Yet so
unrighteous was the prosecutor’s attack on his
character and so outrageously specious was her
closing argument, we have decided to bring this
matter to the Attorney Grievance Commission with
a request for investigation with the hopes of
ensuring the future integrity of the Iron County
system of justice and possibly mitigating the
damage already suffered by Mr. Barrette and his
family.
We wish it were possible for us to provide the
Commission with transcripts of the proceedings
but we do not have the means to pay for copies
of what we understand are almost 400 pages.
However they can be obtained from the Clerk of
the Court whose address is listed above. The
date of the incident was 10-10-2009. The dates
of the trial are 3-9 and 3-10-2010. The date
of sentencing is 03-29-2010.
s- Mare Peterson and Tom Peterson
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
For Eyes Only
For some time we've had two eye doctors serving
folks in Iron River. Recently Dr. Bathje's
practice was closed and combined with that of
Dr. Atanasoff.
The history is just a bit more complicated.
Several years ago, Dr. Mark Stempihar, an
ophthalmologist who does eye surgery, had an
arrangement with the hospital here in Iron
River. He did surgeries here, locally, for
those folks for who needed it.
Then for some reason no one is talking about,
a typical Iron County unofficial secret, the
good doctor and the hospital had some sort
of falling out, after which Stempihar's
practice was only available at Grand View
Hospital, at Ironwood.
Dr. Stempihar continued to visit Iron River
and took referrals for surgery from both
Bathje and Atanasoff.
The two local eye doctors tried for several
years to cut a deal with Iron County
Healthcare, and its successor Northstar, to
combine practices under the hospital's
umbrella. Alas it was all to no avail.
But the merger did eventually take place
under the auspices of Grand View Hospital.
Their sign is not on the door. But we are
led to wonder why it is that a hospital
some 90 miles away saw the need for complete
eye care for our aging population, and found
it economically advantageous to get into the
business here in Iron County, while our local
hospital, underwritten through municipal
bonding of the City of Iron River (both alleging
to serve the public)failed to seize the
advantage of being local and take charge of
businesses offering themselves to being taken
over.
Properly operated, the eye business here in
Iron County offers a positive cash flow in
an economic climate that doesn't have much
to offer, and Northstar Health Systems is in
financial trouble and need. But true to the
local paradigm favoring failures the hospital
passed up yet another opportunity leading to
success.
I am pleased to hear that Grand View has hired
a retinologist, the first in Michigan's entire
Upper Peninsula, and that he will be accepting
appointments right here in Iron River. That
will save those who need these services from
traveling to Wausau or Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
As I mentioned in an earlier article, I spent
a few hours at Rhinelander in a retinologist's
waiting room that held at that moment 6
individuals from Iron River
We are an aging population here in Iron
County. One wonders why so little is locally
attuned to that fact.
Bill Vajk
folks in Iron River. Recently Dr. Bathje's
practice was closed and combined with that of
Dr. Atanasoff.
The history is just a bit more complicated.
Several years ago, Dr. Mark Stempihar, an
ophthalmologist who does eye surgery, had an
arrangement with the hospital here in Iron
River. He did surgeries here, locally, for
those folks for who needed it.
Then for some reason no one is talking about,
a typical Iron County unofficial secret, the
good doctor and the hospital had some sort
of falling out, after which Stempihar's
practice was only available at Grand View
Hospital, at Ironwood.
Dr. Stempihar continued to visit Iron River
and took referrals for surgery from both
Bathje and Atanasoff.
The two local eye doctors tried for several
years to cut a deal with Iron County
Healthcare, and its successor Northstar, to
combine practices under the hospital's
umbrella. Alas it was all to no avail.
But the merger did eventually take place
under the auspices of Grand View Hospital.
Their sign is not on the door. But we are
led to wonder why it is that a hospital
some 90 miles away saw the need for complete
eye care for our aging population, and found
it economically advantageous to get into the
business here in Iron County, while our local
hospital, underwritten through municipal
bonding of the City of Iron River (both alleging
to serve the public)failed to seize the
advantage of being local and take charge of
businesses offering themselves to being taken
over.
Properly operated, the eye business here in
Iron County offers a positive cash flow in
an economic climate that doesn't have much
to offer, and Northstar Health Systems is in
financial trouble and need. But true to the
local paradigm favoring failures the hospital
passed up yet another opportunity leading to
success.
I am pleased to hear that Grand View has hired
a retinologist, the first in Michigan's entire
Upper Peninsula, and that he will be accepting
appointments right here in Iron River. That
will save those who need these services from
traveling to Wausau or Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
As I mentioned in an earlier article, I spent
a few hours at Rhinelander in a retinologist's
waiting room that held at that moment 6
individuals from Iron River
We are an aging population here in Iron
County. One wonders why so little is locally
attuned to that fact.
Bill Vajk
Sunday, July 18, 2010
A Lesson From The Roman Empire
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned
to repeat it. Well that’s an adage from George
Santayana (1863-1952) that has been proved many
times over. The only miracle is that it took so
long for someone to formalize the idea.
In my lifetime, very little has been discussed
about the economic impacts of slavery. One of the
books I acquired along the way is “Our Nation’s
Heritage” (1925, American Book Company, New York)
which was a school textbook at one time at Fence.
As a common teaching of facts in the 1920’s, the
book discusses the fact that as the Roman Empire
was winding down, the “free” labor of the slaves,
that had for a couple of hundred years replaced
paid labor, was shrinking because the Empire was
not so much at war as it had been in earlier times,
and warfare was the main source for slaves.
As the economy was contracting, the ruling class
became aware that they were headed into a period
where necessary goods, from food to clothing, would
become impossible to buy because as the slaves were
dying off there was no one to replace them.
Rome then passed laws, and provided oversight
throughout the empire, to assure that if a man were
a farmer, that’s the only career permitted for his
sons. Shoemakers, and tradesmen of all sorts, found
that their children were not permitted to better
themselves.
Much has been made in the 20th century about the
evils inherent in slavery. Nevertheless, it is an
institution that has been around for most of the
history of mankind. While slavery is generally
thought of as the outright ownership of one human
being by another, over time mankind has discovered
and created a different form of slavery best
described as economic enslavement.
In economic enslavement, the “owner” has no actual
investment in the slave, but reaps all the benefits
without acquiring any of the liabilities. If an
employer pays minimum wage (and in the case of
illegal immigrants they often pay less) and it
takes all 10 members of a family to earn a poverty
level of living for the group, that’s no skin off
the employer’s nose.
What has happened in the US is that inexpensive
shipping has brought even cheaper labor on the
Pacific rim into our economic sphere. While our
southern border brings us more illegal immigrants
every day, all of our significant manufacturing has
moved overseas, leaving us with millions of people
who are now partly entitled, and after the next
round of amnesty for illegal immigrants will become
100% entitled to government handout programs.
We have a growing number of individuals with no
possible way remaining to support their eventual
entitlements. Heck, we can’t afford the entitlements
we already have. Look at California and Michigan!
Rome solved her economic problems by creating a
working class. The demand for the locally produced
goods was already there and no entitlement programs
existed, making their problems far simpler.
The problems in the US could be similarly solved
by the imposition of protective tariffs, bringing
manufacturing home once more and removing the
Pacific rim from our economic sphere. Similarly we
could exempt Mexico from protective tariffs,
thereby encouraging investment in manufacturing
there, and encouraging low wage illegal immigrant
workers in the USA to return home before shutting
the southern border.
Once those things are achieved, we could impose
protective tariffs on Mexican goods, and bring all
manufacturing work home to the US if that’s what
our population and economy require for best
functioning.
Being “the nice guy” in a world that marches to the
beat of a different drummer is what has brought the
US, and the world economy, to the edge of economic
ruin. There are only two choices available. 1) Take
control of our own economy before world economic
collapse, or 2) take control of our own economy
after world economic collapse.
Wake up! Wake up America and smell the coffee!
Bill Vajk
to repeat it. Well that’s an adage from George
Santayana (1863-1952) that has been proved many
times over. The only miracle is that it took so
long for someone to formalize the idea.
In my lifetime, very little has been discussed
about the economic impacts of slavery. One of the
books I acquired along the way is “Our Nation’s
Heritage” (1925, American Book Company, New York)
which was a school textbook at one time at Fence.
As a common teaching of facts in the 1920’s, the
book discusses the fact that as the Roman Empire
was winding down, the “free” labor of the slaves,
that had for a couple of hundred years replaced
paid labor, was shrinking because the Empire was
not so much at war as it had been in earlier times,
and warfare was the main source for slaves.
As the economy was contracting, the ruling class
became aware that they were headed into a period
where necessary goods, from food to clothing, would
become impossible to buy because as the slaves were
dying off there was no one to replace them.
Rome then passed laws, and provided oversight
throughout the empire, to assure that if a man were
a farmer, that’s the only career permitted for his
sons. Shoemakers, and tradesmen of all sorts, found
that their children were not permitted to better
themselves.
Much has been made in the 20th century about the
evils inherent in slavery. Nevertheless, it is an
institution that has been around for most of the
history of mankind. While slavery is generally
thought of as the outright ownership of one human
being by another, over time mankind has discovered
and created a different form of slavery best
described as economic enslavement.
In economic enslavement, the “owner” has no actual
investment in the slave, but reaps all the benefits
without acquiring any of the liabilities. If an
employer pays minimum wage (and in the case of
illegal immigrants they often pay less) and it
takes all 10 members of a family to earn a poverty
level of living for the group, that’s no skin off
the employer’s nose.
What has happened in the US is that inexpensive
shipping has brought even cheaper labor on the
Pacific rim into our economic sphere. While our
southern border brings us more illegal immigrants
every day, all of our significant manufacturing has
moved overseas, leaving us with millions of people
who are now partly entitled, and after the next
round of amnesty for illegal immigrants will become
100% entitled to government handout programs.
We have a growing number of individuals with no
possible way remaining to support their eventual
entitlements. Heck, we can’t afford the entitlements
we already have. Look at California and Michigan!
Rome solved her economic problems by creating a
working class. The demand for the locally produced
goods was already there and no entitlement programs
existed, making their problems far simpler.
The problems in the US could be similarly solved
by the imposition of protective tariffs, bringing
manufacturing home once more and removing the
Pacific rim from our economic sphere. Similarly we
could exempt Mexico from protective tariffs,
thereby encouraging investment in manufacturing
there, and encouraging low wage illegal immigrant
workers in the USA to return home before shutting
the southern border.
Once those things are achieved, we could impose
protective tariffs on Mexican goods, and bring all
manufacturing work home to the US if that’s what
our population and economy require for best
functioning.
Being “the nice guy” in a world that marches to the
beat of a different drummer is what has brought the
US, and the world economy, to the edge of economic
ruin. There are only two choices available. 1) Take
control of our own economy before world economic
collapse, or 2) take control of our own economy
after world economic collapse.
Wake up! Wake up America and smell the coffee!
Bill Vajk
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
ObamaCare Report from Cato Institute
The first report I've seen published about the
Health Care law is available on the Cato
Institute web page. Please copy the link into
your web browser in order to read it.
http://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/BadMedicineWP.pdf
Bill Vajk
Health Care law is available on the Cato
Institute web page. Please copy the link into
your web browser in order to read it.
http://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/BadMedicineWP.pdf
Bill Vajk
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Need a Doctor?
June 5, 2010
I have cardiac rehab exercises at the
Northstar Health System (the renamed
hospital at Iron River) three times a
week. It’s a pleasurable exercise, but
necessary, on the tread mill and
stationary bike. Heartbeat during
exercise is monitored to determine that
all is well. After the workout, I go
to the café for coffee and then down
the hall to exit through the lobby. As
I passed by the “first impression”
position (i.e., the receptionist) I
heard her say something very disturbing.
An older lady had come in and told the
receptionist that she needed a doctor.
The reply was “there are no doctors here
today.” The lady looked frail and
slightly bent over the counter and seemed,
even to a layman like me to be in need of
medical attention, but the answer was still
the same, no doctors here. She was told to
look somewhere (I couldn’t hear where) to
find an M.D. As I listened it seemed that
she was out of luck today but tomorrow she
could come back.
My sympathy for the lady tool over and I
spoke to a few people in the lobby about
what was taking place. They agreed with
me that it was a terrible injustice and
that the $18 million renovations did
nothing but enhance the looks of the
facility in Iron River. If you find you
are in need of a doctor, please make sure
it’s on a regular work day, not a day
after a holiday or on some weekends. You
may be left as this poor lady was.
I wish I had stayed longer and had
gotten the lady’s name so that I could
keep track of how she finally got the
treatment she needed.
Gloria Vajk
(Editor’s Notes: The hospital has
experienced a loss from operations of
$ 463,000 for the three months ending
March 31, 2010. The hospital has a
municipal bond relying on the City of
Iron River in the amount of $ 23,150,000
(that’s 23 million dollars, folks) yet
almost every measurement like patient
admissions and so forth have been
dropping for the duration of the reports
filed as required of all those who have
a municipal bond. This community has a
hospital and we need a regional hospital,
but offhand it looks like we have a
financial disaster in the making. How
much money did the Hospital spend this
year giving the employees gratuities
during “Hospital Week?” How much has
the hospital spent on frillish outdoor
décor this year? Have the “city fathers”
been paying attention to what’s going on
here? Are we in for another of the sorts
of surprises that the City of Crystal
Falls recently experienced? Do we like
the fact that the chairman of the hospital
board of directors is also the City of
Iron River’s attorney? What of the recent
ethics ordinance passed by the city council?
I was asked to write a favorable piece
about the hospital’s foundation that seeks
contributions, but under the current
circumstances of apparent mismanagement I
sincerely regret I am unable to do so.
http://tinyurl.com/2ajhgfd and
http://tinyurl.com/32blmp8 – Bill Vajk)
I have cardiac rehab exercises at the
Northstar Health System (the renamed
hospital at Iron River) three times a
week. It’s a pleasurable exercise, but
necessary, on the tread mill and
stationary bike. Heartbeat during
exercise is monitored to determine that
all is well. After the workout, I go
to the café for coffee and then down
the hall to exit through the lobby. As
I passed by the “first impression”
position (i.e., the receptionist) I
heard her say something very disturbing.
An older lady had come in and told the
receptionist that she needed a doctor.
The reply was “there are no doctors here
today.” The lady looked frail and
slightly bent over the counter and seemed,
even to a layman like me to be in need of
medical attention, but the answer was still
the same, no doctors here. She was told to
look somewhere (I couldn’t hear where) to
find an M.D. As I listened it seemed that
she was out of luck today but tomorrow she
could come back.
My sympathy for the lady tool over and I
spoke to a few people in the lobby about
what was taking place. They agreed with
me that it was a terrible injustice and
that the $18 million renovations did
nothing but enhance the looks of the
facility in Iron River. If you find you
are in need of a doctor, please make sure
it’s on a regular work day, not a day
after a holiday or on some weekends. You
may be left as this poor lady was.
I wish I had stayed longer and had
gotten the lady’s name so that I could
keep track of how she finally got the
treatment she needed.
Gloria Vajk
(Editor’s Notes: The hospital has
experienced a loss from operations of
$ 463,000 for the three months ending
March 31, 2010. The hospital has a
municipal bond relying on the City of
Iron River in the amount of $ 23,150,000
(that’s 23 million dollars, folks) yet
almost every measurement like patient
admissions and so forth have been
dropping for the duration of the reports
filed as required of all those who have
a municipal bond. This community has a
hospital and we need a regional hospital,
but offhand it looks like we have a
financial disaster in the making. How
much money did the Hospital spend this
year giving the employees gratuities
during “Hospital Week?” How much has
the hospital spent on frillish outdoor
décor this year? Have the “city fathers”
been paying attention to what’s going on
here? Are we in for another of the sorts
of surprises that the City of Crystal
Falls recently experienced? Do we like
the fact that the chairman of the hospital
board of directors is also the City of
Iron River’s attorney? What of the recent
ethics ordinance passed by the city council?
I was asked to write a favorable piece
about the hospital’s foundation that seeks
contributions, but under the current
circumstances of apparent mismanagement I
sincerely regret I am unable to do so.
http://tinyurl.com/2ajhgfd and
http://tinyurl.com/32blmp8 – Bill Vajk)
Sunday, July 4, 2010
More City of Iron River Nastiness
The summer tax bills have been issued.
MCL 211.44a(5) says, in part, "Interest shall
be added to taxes collected after September 14
at that rate imposed by section 78a on
delinquent property tax levies that became a
lien in the same year."
With the intention of causing confusion among
taxpayers, the following statement is printed on
the tax bills sent out to property owners by the
City of Iron River:
"TAX & 1% ADM FEE DUE JULY 1-31. FROM
AUGUST 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
PAY TAX, 1% ADM. FEE & 1% PENALTY. FROM
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 THRU FEBRUARY 28,
2011 PAY TAX, 1% ADM. FEE & 2% PENALTY.
AFTER MARCH 1, 2011 PAY IRON COUNTY
TREASURER, 2 SOUTH 6TH STREET, CRYSTAL
FALLS, MI 49920."
Under the state statute, the tax money is due to the
city on July 1, but no penalties are imposed until
September 15. The City of Iron River clearly is
willfully in violation of the state law. This,
unfortunately, is not the only time and place
they're violating state law.
You can find the statute on the internet at:
http://tinyurl.com/35phna9
Bill Vajk
MCL 211.44a(5) says, in part, "Interest shall
be added to taxes collected after September 14
at that rate imposed by section 78a on
delinquent property tax levies that became a
lien in the same year."
With the intention of causing confusion among
taxpayers, the following statement is printed on
the tax bills sent out to property owners by the
City of Iron River:
"TAX & 1% ADM FEE DUE JULY 1-31. FROM
AUGUST 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
PAY TAX, 1% ADM. FEE & 1% PENALTY. FROM
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 THRU FEBRUARY 28,
2011 PAY TAX, 1% ADM. FEE & 2% PENALTY.
AFTER MARCH 1, 2011 PAY IRON COUNTY
TREASURER, 2 SOUTH 6TH STREET, CRYSTAL
FALLS, MI 49920."
Under the state statute, the tax money is due to the
city on July 1, but no penalties are imposed until
September 15. The City of Iron River clearly is
willfully in violation of the state law. This,
unfortunately, is not the only time and place
they're violating state law.
You can find the statute on the internet at:
http://tinyurl.com/35phna9
Bill Vajk
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Iron County Social Reporter
The Iron County Social Reporter
That's what the name of the local newspaper
ought to be based on its content. To be sure
there are reports from some of the official
board and council meetings. The June 23rd
issue held information about the June 8 County
Board meeting, and even at that the article
ends in mid-sentence on page 5, the layout
was so poorly designed.
The county board thinks it will take a year
to create and pass a new solid waste disposal
ordinance. Guess what folks, except for the
favoritism showed to favored disposal firms
in the past, this county doesn't have any real
need for a solid waste ordinance. Just revoke
the thing and let state laws, which supersede
local mandates in every important way, control
what happens. The only reason for creating a
new ordinance is political without any real
benefit to the people of Iron County.
The Adeline Hazel article that graces page 1,
a story about a woman who lived in Iron River
for a while, mentions that "she became an avid
gardener, better known as the 'flower lady' on
the local radio station." Heaven forbid that
the rag mention the radio station by name!
Anyway, this was such an important story that
it graces page 1 complete with a color photo
of Adeline. But there wasn't enough room to
finish the story about the county board meeting!
Another page 1 story is about seeking Miss IC
contestants. "Application must be submitted
along with a $75 sponsor fee, to the Michigan
State University extension office." That smells
wrong to me, doesn't it bother you? It seems to
me that any single woman in the county ought to
be able to enter without paying a fee of any sort
if the winner is going to represent Iron County
officially for a year! The rodeo beauty pageant
doesn't have an entrance fee, why should the
county one? I'm certain that if asked, some
local business would gladly underwrite the
scholarship if only they were asked!
Last but not least, Marian Volek's "Opinion"
piece is another disaster of muddy thinking and
political correctness, heaven forbid any of the
monied friends be upset. A strong part of the
reason that roads in Iron County are in such bad
shape is the fact that the residents purchase
gasoline, as they are able, in other areas,
because usually the local prices have been as
much as 15 cents per gallon higher in Iron County
than they were at Iron Mountain. And why do the
local petroleum retailers charge more? Ask Krist
Oil to explain it. Nobody has ever officially asked
and reported! The problem isn't as Volek claims,
a federal and state issue.
Next Volek justifies the abandonment of segments
of township water systems, saying "but the reality
is, they probably shouldn't have been there in the
first place."
Ms. Volek needs to get facts in place before she
starts writing, sort of like the old admonition
to "engage brain before opening mouth." The reason
that municipal water systems were initiated is that
the mines, by pumping ever deeper and deeper shafts
dry, lowered the regional water tables such that
the people living in the region, all with wells,
ran dry. That's why the mines provided the materials
for the water systems in the first place, and the
reason why the townships gladly provided water service
to the people who lived in such far flung locations.
To voice a judgment of past behavior based on not
knowing, understanding, or caring about the reasons
for water systems being as they are speaks very badly
of our local paper and is a strong part of the reason
it should promptly be renamed the Iron County Social
Reporter.
Bill Vajk
That's what the name of the local newspaper
ought to be based on its content. To be sure
there are reports from some of the official
board and council meetings. The June 23rd
issue held information about the June 8 County
Board meeting, and even at that the article
ends in mid-sentence on page 5, the layout
was so poorly designed.
The county board thinks it will take a year
to create and pass a new solid waste disposal
ordinance. Guess what folks, except for the
favoritism showed to favored disposal firms
in the past, this county doesn't have any real
need for a solid waste ordinance. Just revoke
the thing and let state laws, which supersede
local mandates in every important way, control
what happens. The only reason for creating a
new ordinance is political without any real
benefit to the people of Iron County.
The Adeline Hazel article that graces page 1,
a story about a woman who lived in Iron River
for a while, mentions that "she became an avid
gardener, better known as the 'flower lady' on
the local radio station." Heaven forbid that
the rag mention the radio station by name!
Anyway, this was such an important story that
it graces page 1 complete with a color photo
of Adeline. But there wasn't enough room to
finish the story about the county board meeting!
Another page 1 story is about seeking Miss IC
contestants. "Application must be submitted
along with a $75 sponsor fee, to the Michigan
State University extension office." That smells
wrong to me, doesn't it bother you? It seems to
me that any single woman in the county ought to
be able to enter without paying a fee of any sort
if the winner is going to represent Iron County
officially for a year! The rodeo beauty pageant
doesn't have an entrance fee, why should the
county one? I'm certain that if asked, some
local business would gladly underwrite the
scholarship if only they were asked!
Last but not least, Marian Volek's "Opinion"
piece is another disaster of muddy thinking and
political correctness, heaven forbid any of the
monied friends be upset. A strong part of the
reason that roads in Iron County are in such bad
shape is the fact that the residents purchase
gasoline, as they are able, in other areas,
because usually the local prices have been as
much as 15 cents per gallon higher in Iron County
than they were at Iron Mountain. And why do the
local petroleum retailers charge more? Ask Krist
Oil to explain it. Nobody has ever officially asked
and reported! The problem isn't as Volek claims,
a federal and state issue.
Next Volek justifies the abandonment of segments
of township water systems, saying "but the reality
is, they probably shouldn't have been there in the
first place."
Ms. Volek needs to get facts in place before she
starts writing, sort of like the old admonition
to "engage brain before opening mouth." The reason
that municipal water systems were initiated is that
the mines, by pumping ever deeper and deeper shafts
dry, lowered the regional water tables such that
the people living in the region, all with wells,
ran dry. That's why the mines provided the materials
for the water systems in the first place, and the
reason why the townships gladly provided water service
to the people who lived in such far flung locations.
To voice a judgment of past behavior based on not
knowing, understanding, or caring about the reasons
for water systems being as they are speaks very badly
of our local paper and is a strong part of the reason
it should promptly be renamed the Iron County Social
Reporter.
Bill Vajk
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Iron River sued in Federal Court
I have filed a civil rights lawsuit in the
U.S District Court at Marquette, Michigan.
The defendants are:
City of Iron River, Michigan
Roger Zanon, city councilman
Thomas King, city councilman
Ray Coates, city councilman
Edward Marcell, city councilman
Michael Brozack, city councilman
Suzanne A. Johnson, city treasurer
Richard Anderson, manager of public works
County of Iron, Michigan
Marcia Cornelia, Iron County Treasurer
Michigan Municipal League
The City of Iron River has known for the
better part of two years that this
lawsuit was coming.
A lightly modified copy of the complaint is
available at:
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/iron-river/complaint.doc
The case number is 2:10-cv-114 and the
judge assigned to the case is
Robert Holmes Bell. The date of filing
is June 15, 2010.
Bill Vajk
U.S District Court at Marquette, Michigan.
The defendants are:
City of Iron River, Michigan
Roger Zanon, city councilman
Thomas King, city councilman
Ray Coates, city councilman
Edward Marcell, city councilman
Michael Brozack, city councilman
Suzanne A. Johnson, city treasurer
Richard Anderson, manager of public works
County of Iron, Michigan
Marcia Cornelia, Iron County Treasurer
Michigan Municipal League
The City of Iron River has known for the
better part of two years that this
lawsuit was coming.
A lightly modified copy of the complaint is
available at:
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/iron-river/complaint.doc
The case number is 2:10-cv-114 and the
judge assigned to the case is
Robert Holmes Bell. The date of filing
is June 15, 2010.
Bill Vajk
No Certification
On June 1st I published a story about a FOIA
request I submitted to the county about the
dog catcher/animal control officer for Iron
County. I closed with the question:
"Is our dogcatcher in his position legally, or
did the county illegally waive the requirements
imposed on them by state law in order to hire
the son of the chairman of the county board of
commissioners?"
The answer arrived dated June 15th. There are no
documents laying out the county's hiring policy,
"physical, educational, mental, and moral fitness
minimum standards" for hiring a dogcatcher. Also
there is no documentation of Mr. Tom King ever
having completed a 100 hour instructional course
as prescribed by the Michigan Department of
Agriculture.
These are requirements specified in a state
statute, and our dogcatcher doesn't meet those
minimum standards.
So what? Does this really matter? Who cares that
the chairman of the County Board gets her son
hired to the job.
I care, as we all should. This, it tuns out, is
much more than another little bit of corruption
and nepotism. Beside that, Thomas King has not
demonstrated in any way that he is qualified for
the job of animal control officer. Is Mr. King
actually able to qualify by passing a prescribed
course of study?
Earlier this year, the state, through the
prosecutor's office, ran a case through district
court in front of Judge Schwedler, and prosecuted
a man who was bitten by a dog and then stabbed the
dog with an arrow to stop the attack. It is the
case of People vs. Barrette, and a case you'll
be hearing a lot more about in coming months.
Today's report concerns only the simple fact that
Tom King was called by the prosecutor as an
expert witness.
Mr. King does not qualify as the county animal
control officer, and putting him on the stand as
an expert witness, using some presumed but non-
existent credentials to bolster his testimony
constitutes a fraud upon the court by the
prosecutor.
That's a fraud upon all of us, because the case
was brought in the name of the people!
Since out illustrious judge sits to advise the
County Board, he either knew or should have known
that presenting King as the animal control officer
was yet another sham, one of many, in the state's
case. He sat silent and permitted the county
prosecutor's office to proceed. What disgusting
conduct on the bench!
I'm sad to say that this speaks ill of the County
Board, Judge Schwedler, Tom King, the Iron County
Sheriff's department, Melissa Powell Weston, the
person I supported for the job of prosecutor some
months back, and Lisa Brouilette, the assistant
prosecutor who conducted the actual case in court.
This is not a case of simply overlooking a requirement
for someone to be hired as animal control officer, it
is the usual case, in Iron County Michigan, of the
collusion of a number of individuals who have been
given a public trust throwing every semblance of
honesty and decency to the winds, because a county
employee's dog, running loose with no license, was
injured.
As if that's not enough, there's more to come on this
story which continues to unfold.
Bill Vajk
request I submitted to the county about the
dog catcher/animal control officer for Iron
County. I closed with the question:
"Is our dogcatcher in his position legally, or
did the county illegally waive the requirements
imposed on them by state law in order to hire
the son of the chairman of the county board of
commissioners?"
The answer arrived dated June 15th. There are no
documents laying out the county's hiring policy,
"physical, educational, mental, and moral fitness
minimum standards" for hiring a dogcatcher. Also
there is no documentation of Mr. Tom King ever
having completed a 100 hour instructional course
as prescribed by the Michigan Department of
Agriculture.
These are requirements specified in a state
statute, and our dogcatcher doesn't meet those
minimum standards.
So what? Does this really matter? Who cares that
the chairman of the County Board gets her son
hired to the job.
I care, as we all should. This, it tuns out, is
much more than another little bit of corruption
and nepotism. Beside that, Thomas King has not
demonstrated in any way that he is qualified for
the job of animal control officer. Is Mr. King
actually able to qualify by passing a prescribed
course of study?
Earlier this year, the state, through the
prosecutor's office, ran a case through district
court in front of Judge Schwedler, and prosecuted
a man who was bitten by a dog and then stabbed the
dog with an arrow to stop the attack. It is the
case of People vs. Barrette, and a case you'll
be hearing a lot more about in coming months.
Today's report concerns only the simple fact that
Tom King was called by the prosecutor as an
expert witness.
Mr. King does not qualify as the county animal
control officer, and putting him on the stand as
an expert witness, using some presumed but non-
existent credentials to bolster his testimony
constitutes a fraud upon the court by the
prosecutor.
That's a fraud upon all of us, because the case
was brought in the name of the people!
Since out illustrious judge sits to advise the
County Board, he either knew or should have known
that presenting King as the animal control officer
was yet another sham, one of many, in the state's
case. He sat silent and permitted the county
prosecutor's office to proceed. What disgusting
conduct on the bench!
I'm sad to say that this speaks ill of the County
Board, Judge Schwedler, Tom King, the Iron County
Sheriff's department, Melissa Powell Weston, the
person I supported for the job of prosecutor some
months back, and Lisa Brouilette, the assistant
prosecutor who conducted the actual case in court.
This is not a case of simply overlooking a requirement
for someone to be hired as animal control officer, it
is the usual case, in Iron County Michigan, of the
collusion of a number of individuals who have been
given a public trust throwing every semblance of
honesty and decency to the winds, because a county
employee's dog, running loose with no license, was
injured.
As if that's not enough, there's more to come on this
story which continues to unfold.
Bill Vajk
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
MEDC and Iron County Economic Development
Our Iron County Economic Development Corporation
relies heavily on the state's MEDC. This author's
experiences with Iron County's EDC is that
they're particularly transparent.
The following paragraph was most telling about MEDC.
"A 2005 study by the Mackinac Center showed that
MEGA (ed:Michigan Economic Growth Authority) had no
impact on per-capita personal income or job creation.
We did find that for every $123,000 in tax credits
offered, one construction job was created, but 100
percent of those jobs disappeared within two years."
http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/12906
Additional information that reflects poorly on the
MEDC clearly depicts why the state is in trouble
where it comes to jobs:
"Last year, we used a different modeling technique
to isolate MEGA's effects from the larger economy
and found that for every $1 million in tax credits
earned in a county there was an associated loss of
95 manufacturing jobs.
"The Anderson Economic Group study, published in
March and funded by the Michigan Education
Association, found that MEGA and two similar state
programs cost the state 25,000 jobs and $85 million
in tax revenue annually.
"The Upjohn study, published in April, was by far the
most favorable study done. Even so, the authors'
claim that MEGA has created 18,000 jobs since 1996
totals just 1,600 a year on average. If this is the
MEDC's idea of success, we would hate to see their
definition of failure."
The trouble with employment in Michigan has for
decades been that this state married the automobile
business, and everything else fell by the wayside.
Nobody involved with Michigan government has any
idea about how to grow away from the car biz and get
geared up into dealing with a variety. In short one
might say that Michigan was ruined by Henry Ford's
success and the state becoming a hanger on.
I've discussed a feature called "corporate culture"
in this publication before. It is that immovability
in ways of thinking that brings the state to the
current employment debacle, along with the huge
vacant tracts of abandoned homes in the auto
manufacturing districts.
The only solution is to import, and listen to,
development experts from outside the this region.
Give them authority!
This lack of entrepreneurial vision extends from
local city councils, township, and county boards,
upwards. Local governments became accustomed to
suckling at the state's teat, and the state has
run dry.
Bill Vajk
relies heavily on the state's MEDC. This author's
experiences with Iron County's EDC is that
they're particularly transparent.
The following paragraph was most telling about MEDC.
"A 2005 study by the Mackinac Center showed that
MEGA (ed:Michigan Economic Growth Authority) had no
impact on per-capita personal income or job creation.
We did find that for every $123,000 in tax credits
offered, one construction job was created, but 100
percent of those jobs disappeared within two years."
http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/12906
Additional information that reflects poorly on the
MEDC clearly depicts why the state is in trouble
where it comes to jobs:
"Last year, we used a different modeling technique
to isolate MEGA's effects from the larger economy
and found that for every $1 million in tax credits
earned in a county there was an associated loss of
95 manufacturing jobs.
"The Anderson Economic Group study, published in
March and funded by the Michigan Education
Association, found that MEGA and two similar state
programs cost the state 25,000 jobs and $85 million
in tax revenue annually.
"The Upjohn study, published in April, was by far the
most favorable study done. Even so, the authors'
claim that MEGA has created 18,000 jobs since 1996
totals just 1,600 a year on average. If this is the
MEDC's idea of success, we would hate to see their
definition of failure."
The trouble with employment in Michigan has for
decades been that this state married the automobile
business, and everything else fell by the wayside.
Nobody involved with Michigan government has any
idea about how to grow away from the car biz and get
geared up into dealing with a variety. In short one
might say that Michigan was ruined by Henry Ford's
success and the state becoming a hanger on.
I've discussed a feature called "corporate culture"
in this publication before. It is that immovability
in ways of thinking that brings the state to the
current employment debacle, along with the huge
vacant tracts of abandoned homes in the auto
manufacturing districts.
The only solution is to import, and listen to,
development experts from outside the this region.
Give them authority!
This lack of entrepreneurial vision extends from
local city councils, township, and county boards,
upwards. Local governments became accustomed to
suckling at the state's teat, and the state has
run dry.
Bill Vajk
Monday, June 7, 2010
The 'Ick' Test
Newsweek had an article about the Charles Dean
Hood case and suggested that it didn't meet the
"ick' test. The New York Times also discussed it
in an article at that can be found http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/us/23bar.html.
Hood was tried and convicted in Texas of murder,
and sentenced to death. Without commenting on the
validity of the case itself, the fact that the judge
and the prosecutor had slept together, despite being
married to other partners, throws such a taint over
the entire process that it should be thrown out and
the entire process started from scratch. The case is
well over 20 years old.
There's a certain arrogance about judges and their
misconduct that runs rampant in this country. Even
the US Supreme Court isn't above such arrogance as
they refused to consider the Hood case. Some 21 former
judges and prosecutors filed briefs, along with some
30 experts in legal ethics, all supporting a retrial.
But the Supreme Court didn't want to get involved
despite Hood's previous close calls with the
executioner.
I was still living in Illinois when a review by the
governor's office of all the death penalty inmates on
death row demonstrated clearly that each had been
wrongfully convicted. DNA evidence played a large role
in a number of cases. There were, at that time, 13
individuals on death row. The next day, death row was
empty, and all 13 had been released to the street
because it was clear that they were innocent. It wasn't
that the conviction was questionable, it was a case
of wrongful conviction in every case. When Blagojevich
took office in Illinois one of his announced priorities
was to fix the broken judicial system such that Illinois
could reinstate the death penalty. He took office in
2003. During the six year period during which he was
governor he was unable to achieve that goal.
The problem, of course, is that when a legal system
gets too efficient it also becomes too easily
corruptible, whether the judge is sleeping with the
prosecutor or not. And at the same time the system,
as a whole, becomes arrogant, unwilling to admit
that errors in judgment can, and do, happen at every
stage of the process.
If we were only dealing with these issues in capital
cases the correction might be easier, but the simple
fact is that we have the same system at work in all
cases, even down to a case as simple and straight
forward as a dog bite, the topic of a multi-part
series of articles that will be appearing here soon.
The only reason that Michigan has not had a drastic
review and revision to the judicial system is that
Michigan has banned capital punishment since 1846 which
itself is a good thing considering how screwed up our
legal system is, but the net result is that corruption
grew quietly and out of the mind and sight of the
majority of our citizens.
It is time. It is past time for a thorough overhaul.
Bill Vajk
Hood case and suggested that it didn't meet the
"ick' test. The New York Times also discussed it
in an article at that can be found http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/us/23bar.html.
Hood was tried and convicted in Texas of murder,
and sentenced to death. Without commenting on the
validity of the case itself, the fact that the judge
and the prosecutor had slept together, despite being
married to other partners, throws such a taint over
the entire process that it should be thrown out and
the entire process started from scratch. The case is
well over 20 years old.
There's a certain arrogance about judges and their
misconduct that runs rampant in this country. Even
the US Supreme Court isn't above such arrogance as
they refused to consider the Hood case. Some 21 former
judges and prosecutors filed briefs, along with some
30 experts in legal ethics, all supporting a retrial.
But the Supreme Court didn't want to get involved
despite Hood's previous close calls with the
executioner.
I was still living in Illinois when a review by the
governor's office of all the death penalty inmates on
death row demonstrated clearly that each had been
wrongfully convicted. DNA evidence played a large role
in a number of cases. There were, at that time, 13
individuals on death row. The next day, death row was
empty, and all 13 had been released to the street
because it was clear that they were innocent. It wasn't
that the conviction was questionable, it was a case
of wrongful conviction in every case. When Blagojevich
took office in Illinois one of his announced priorities
was to fix the broken judicial system such that Illinois
could reinstate the death penalty. He took office in
2003. During the six year period during which he was
governor he was unable to achieve that goal.
The problem, of course, is that when a legal system
gets too efficient it also becomes too easily
corruptible, whether the judge is sleeping with the
prosecutor or not. And at the same time the system,
as a whole, becomes arrogant, unwilling to admit
that errors in judgment can, and do, happen at every
stage of the process.
If we were only dealing with these issues in capital
cases the correction might be easier, but the simple
fact is that we have the same system at work in all
cases, even down to a case as simple and straight
forward as a dog bite, the topic of a multi-part
series of articles that will be appearing here soon.
The only reason that Michigan has not had a drastic
review and revision to the judicial system is that
Michigan has banned capital punishment since 1846 which
itself is a good thing considering how screwed up our
legal system is, but the net result is that corruption
grew quietly and out of the mind and sight of the
majority of our citizens.
It is time. It is past time for a thorough overhaul.
Bill Vajk
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Certification?
The Iron County Animal Control Officer is the
subject of several upcoming stories. This
article is another example of how the county
works.
I originally sent a Freedom of Information request
to Sue Clisch, the county FOIA officer, by email.
A couple of weeks went by with no response, so I
telephoned. The result of the phone call was a
statement that the request had not been received.
That's the last time I'll count on email to deliver
anything to Iron County
On May 20th I sent a copy through the US Postal
Service. You can read all the documents relevant
to this story in one spot by clicking here.
The text for my FOIA comes directly from Michigan
statute MCL 287.289b which you can read in the third
page in the link above.
On May 28th I received a reply that it would take
more time to provide the answers. It seems to me
that if the county is in compliance with the statute
the county should know it, and should have all the
information at their fingertips. It shouldn't take
research by a number of people and the associated
expense of such a search. It is the business of the
county to comply with the law and to know how and
when the law was complied with.
Is our dogcatcher in his position legally, or did
the county illegally waive the requirements imposed
on them by state law in order to hire the son of
the chairman of the county board of commissioners?
I await the answer to all these questions with baited
breath.
Bill Vajk
subject of several upcoming stories. This
article is another example of how the county
works.
I originally sent a Freedom of Information request
to Sue Clisch, the county FOIA officer, by email.
A couple of weeks went by with no response, so I
telephoned. The result of the phone call was a
statement that the request had not been received.
That's the last time I'll count on email to deliver
anything to Iron County
On May 20th I sent a copy through the US Postal
Service. You can read all the documents relevant
to this story in one spot by clicking here.
The text for my FOIA comes directly from Michigan
statute MCL 287.289b which you can read in the third
page in the link above.
On May 28th I received a reply that it would take
more time to provide the answers. It seems to me
that if the county is in compliance with the statute
the county should know it, and should have all the
information at their fingertips. It shouldn't take
research by a number of people and the associated
expense of such a search. It is the business of the
county to comply with the law and to know how and
when the law was complied with.
Is our dogcatcher in his position legally, or did
the county illegally waive the requirements imposed
on them by state law in order to hire the son of
the chairman of the county board of commissioners?
I await the answer to all these questions with baited
breath.
Bill Vajk
Thursday, May 27, 2010
A Brief View on Propaganda
While the following is a national and international
issue, it is also going to have very strong effects
locally.
Propaganda has been running some of what passes
as news in the USA for a while. The case that brought
this debacle to my attention again has to do with global
warming. There was a small article on the first page of
the Iron Mountain Daily News of Tuesday, May 25, 2010
that was headlined, "Scientists urge coal, oil use penalties."
It was an Associated Press (AP) article.
A quick look on the internet at AP and "global warming"
brings up tons of references to the contents of the
article with varying lengths. They all refer to a
statement issued by the National Academy of Sciences
where that group has crossed over from scientific
findings into giving political advice.
So the first thing I did was to search out who funds the
National Academy. You guessed it, of course it is funded
by the US Government.
The second thing was to look at who the members are. That
is discoverable at click here.
If you take a look at the credentials of the folks there,
all working on the various projects for free, but also
for the prestige that comes with being appointed to the
academy, we find virtually no one who is associated with
climate studies in the real, non-political, world. In
fact a review of the people demonstrates that most of
them have advanced degrees in everything but climate
related studies.
In short, we have an organization that gives the pretense
of being composed of brilliant folks who are in effect
nothing more than a rubber stamp for whatever the executive
branch of the federal government decides they must tell
you, the public, in order to add apparent credibility to
whatever the president is pushing this term.
Think about it a little. Legitimate science has never
had anything at all to say about penalties. Science is
the study of nature, pure and simple. The Obama
administration has destroyed whatever credibility the
National Academies have had in the past. And there are
other National Academies besides the one on science. It
is not a legitimate function of the Academy of Science
to decide what possible political solutions may be,
only to give opinions on what science determines cause
and effect to be after qualifying the results by
providing a legitimate double blind study.
In the case of climate, we don't know what causes the
climate to behave as it does, and as it has, even before
humans were on the scene possibly causing some of
the changes. But we don't know with any certainty. The
erratic long term history of climate, facts we have
discerned by studying ice samples from the polar
regions, has been subject to extreme changes long
before man was on earth.
The realities of factors other than fuel consumption do
not play well where the "cap N tax" bunch is concerned.
Yes, the CO2 levels are rising at a rate not seen in the
last 650,000 years. But then the rate of deforestation
has taken off too.
http://news.mongabay.com/2005/1124-climate.html
http://www.mongabay.com/brazil.html
It seems to me that before our government proclaims by
fiat that humanity is to blame for rising temperatures, a
real study that clearly demonstrates cause and effect
should be funded and undertaken. The problem with
that is, of course, that the agenda of the "cap N tax"
bunch might take more time, and the underlying
reasons for what amounts to an effective government
takeover of energy, and consequently the entire world
economy, might be thwarted.
So the government, wishing to fool as much of the public
as possible into believing an urgent need to pay more to
our government for energy, spreads propaganda in every
conceivable way in order to support their agenda. Here's
the sad fact. The administration doesn't want to save the
planet. The administration is seeking unbridled political
power. And it looks like we're well on out way to handing
it over to them.
As I've said before, if you want to understand what's going
on in Washington, you have only to look at the political
antics of the European communists during the last century.
Those who keep saying that it can't happen here are going
to wake up one day with the realization that yes, dangit,
it can.
Bill Vajk
issue, it is also going to have very strong effects
locally.
Propaganda has been running some of what passes
as news in the USA for a while. The case that brought
this debacle to my attention again has to do with global
warming. There was a small article on the first page of
the Iron Mountain Daily News of Tuesday, May 25, 2010
that was headlined, "Scientists urge coal, oil use penalties."
It was an Associated Press (AP) article.
A quick look on the internet at AP and "global warming"
brings up tons of references to the contents of the
article with varying lengths. They all refer to a
statement issued by the National Academy of Sciences
where that group has crossed over from scientific
findings into giving political advice.
So the first thing I did was to search out who funds the
National Academy. You guessed it, of course it is funded
by the US Government.
The second thing was to look at who the members are. That
is discoverable at click here.
If you take a look at the credentials of the folks there,
all working on the various projects for free, but also
for the prestige that comes with being appointed to the
academy, we find virtually no one who is associated with
climate studies in the real, non-political, world. In
fact a review of the people demonstrates that most of
them have advanced degrees in everything but climate
related studies.
In short, we have an organization that gives the pretense
of being composed of brilliant folks who are in effect
nothing more than a rubber stamp for whatever the executive
branch of the federal government decides they must tell
you, the public, in order to add apparent credibility to
whatever the president is pushing this term.
Think about it a little. Legitimate science has never
had anything at all to say about penalties. Science is
the study of nature, pure and simple. The Obama
administration has destroyed whatever credibility the
National Academies have had in the past. And there are
other National Academies besides the one on science. It
is not a legitimate function of the Academy of Science
to decide what possible political solutions may be,
only to give opinions on what science determines cause
and effect to be after qualifying the results by
providing a legitimate double blind study.
In the case of climate, we don't know what causes the
climate to behave as it does, and as it has, even before
humans were on the scene possibly causing some of
the changes. But we don't know with any certainty. The
erratic long term history of climate, facts we have
discerned by studying ice samples from the polar
regions, has been subject to extreme changes long
before man was on earth.
The realities of factors other than fuel consumption do
not play well where the "cap N tax" bunch is concerned.
Yes, the CO2 levels are rising at a rate not seen in the
last 650,000 years. But then the rate of deforestation
has taken off too.
http://news.mongabay.com/2005/1124-climate.html
http://www.mongabay.com/brazil.html
It seems to me that before our government proclaims by
fiat that humanity is to blame for rising temperatures, a
real study that clearly demonstrates cause and effect
should be funded and undertaken. The problem with
that is, of course, that the agenda of the "cap N tax"
bunch might take more time, and the underlying
reasons for what amounts to an effective government
takeover of energy, and consequently the entire world
economy, might be thwarted.
So the government, wishing to fool as much of the public
as possible into believing an urgent need to pay more to
our government for energy, spreads propaganda in every
conceivable way in order to support their agenda. Here's
the sad fact. The administration doesn't want to save the
planet. The administration is seeking unbridled political
power. And it looks like we're well on out way to handing
it over to them.
As I've said before, if you want to understand what's going
on in Washington, you have only to look at the political
antics of the European communists during the last century.
Those who keep saying that it can't happen here are going
to wake up one day with the realization that yes, dangit,
it can.
Bill Vajk
Monday, May 24, 2010
Another Form of Identity Theft
I got an email over the weekend designed to steal
information about me. Please never answer an email
like this.
===================================================
Subject: Alert: Finalization
We are shutting down some email accounts and your
account was automatically chosen to be deleted. If
you are still interested in using our email service
please fill in the space below for verification
purpose by clicking the reply button:
User Name:
Pass word:
Birth date:
Country:
Verification code: 59cd2e83-7597dce9-741ef4fb5
Warning!!!! Account details not received within
72hours will be automatically shut down and closed
permanently.
==================================================
Some people use the same password for everything.
That's not a good idea. If you've answered any
requests similar to the above you have a problem.
Bill Vajk
information about me. Please never answer an email
like this.
===================================================
Subject: Alert: Finalization
We are shutting down some email accounts and your
account was automatically chosen to be deleted. If
you are still interested in using our email service
please fill in the space below for verification
purpose by clicking the reply button:
User Name:
Pass word:
Birth date:
Country:
Verification code: 59cd2e83-7597dce9-741ef4fb5
Warning!!!! Account details not received within
72hours will be automatically shut down and closed
permanently.
==================================================
Some people use the same password for everything.
That's not a good idea. If you've answered any
requests similar to the above you have a problem.
Bill Vajk
Friday, May 21, 2010
The Local News (again)
If we had a comprehensive and active local
news media in place, doing what they are
supposed to be doing, this publication would
not be necessary. What follows is an example
of the shortfalls.
On May 11, 2010, Iron River Township had two
meetings. The first one had a tremendous
attendance (for this township) of an estimated
100 people. It was the planning and zoning board
meeting attended by citizens who were apparently
as mad as hornets whose nest had been disturbed.
The discussion was about the proposed Blight
Ordinance that was proposed to the township
board by planning and zoning. The people who
were present had all seen copies of the proposed
ordinance. We published it and you can read a
copy by clicking here.
The news media, although the Iron County Reporter
had been tipped about the earlier meeting, didn't
show up till the 6PM Township Board meeting.
The WIKB report restated the things, the smooth
over of the events that had happened earlier, as
told in the Township Board Meeting by trustee
Ken Piwarski, Planning chair Bob Battye, and
attorney Steve Polich. The core test of the
WIKB report that was delivered on air on
May 17th is published here.
The Iron County Reporter dated May 12th reported
on the township meeting of April 13th, a month
after the meeting. We expect that sometime next
month they might get around to the reporting the
whitewash from May.
In the meanwhile we recommend that you read the
radio station's report and compare it to the
transmittal letter of 3/22/2010 from Bob Battye
to the Iron River Township Board and decide for
yourself the veracity of statements made to the
local news media by Piwarski, Battye, and Polich.
"The Planning Committee has reviewed and approved
the above two subject items for review and approval
by the Township Board. We would like to get a
written response to these documents and hopefully
get these approved and in place as soon as possible."
A careful reading of Polich's comments shows there's
something along the lines of concealment of the facts
in his comments. His comments appear to indicate
that he had reviewed the proposed ordinances, and had
rejected them.
I have asked several people who were present at both
meetings to write detailed reports about them but
nothing has been forthcoming. For the moment what
is before you for consideration is all that exists.
If you were there and are willing to write up what
you heard, please feel free to send it to me. I'll
publish it using your name if you'll give permission
but no anonymously submitted reports will be
considered for publication here under any
circumstances.
Additional commentary in the WIKB report has to do
with the "sewer availability fees" that are already
being billed to some township land owners, even
where the land is vacant. The WIKB report mentions
that the revised water ordinance is supposed to cover
the issues. But the plain fact is that the charge is
already being imposed before any ordinance is in
place.
This issue is far from being resolved.
It seems that the township has surplus funds in the
treasury at this time. We wonder why Iron River
Township doesn't simply absorb the shortfall
occasioned by lousy contract negotiations on the
part of the township officials and the township
attorney at the time the contract was accepted
and executed.
Bill Vajk
news media in place, doing what they are
supposed to be doing, this publication would
not be necessary. What follows is an example
of the shortfalls.
On May 11, 2010, Iron River Township had two
meetings. The first one had a tremendous
attendance (for this township) of an estimated
100 people. It was the planning and zoning board
meeting attended by citizens who were apparently
as mad as hornets whose nest had been disturbed.
The discussion was about the proposed Blight
Ordinance that was proposed to the township
board by planning and zoning. The people who
were present had all seen copies of the proposed
ordinance. We published it and you can read a
copy by clicking here.
The news media, although the Iron County Reporter
had been tipped about the earlier meeting, didn't
show up till the 6PM Township Board meeting.
The WIKB report restated the things, the smooth
over of the events that had happened earlier, as
told in the Township Board Meeting by trustee
Ken Piwarski, Planning chair Bob Battye, and
attorney Steve Polich. The core test of the
WIKB report that was delivered on air on
May 17th is published here.
The Iron County Reporter dated May 12th reported
on the township meeting of April 13th, a month
after the meeting. We expect that sometime next
month they might get around to the reporting the
whitewash from May.
In the meanwhile we recommend that you read the
radio station's report and compare it to the
transmittal letter of 3/22/2010 from Bob Battye
to the Iron River Township Board and decide for
yourself the veracity of statements made to the
local news media by Piwarski, Battye, and Polich.
"The Planning Committee has reviewed and approved
the above two subject items for review and approval
by the Township Board. We would like to get a
written response to these documents and hopefully
get these approved and in place as soon as possible."
A careful reading of Polich's comments shows there's
something along the lines of concealment of the facts
in his comments. His comments appear to indicate
that he had reviewed the proposed ordinances, and had
rejected them.
I have asked several people who were present at both
meetings to write detailed reports about them but
nothing has been forthcoming. For the moment what
is before you for consideration is all that exists.
If you were there and are willing to write up what
you heard, please feel free to send it to me. I'll
publish it using your name if you'll give permission
but no anonymously submitted reports will be
considered for publication here under any
circumstances.
Additional commentary in the WIKB report has to do
with the "sewer availability fees" that are already
being billed to some township land owners, even
where the land is vacant. The WIKB report mentions
that the revised water ordinance is supposed to cover
the issues. But the plain fact is that the charge is
already being imposed before any ordinance is in
place.
This issue is far from being resolved.
It seems that the township has surplus funds in the
treasury at this time. We wonder why Iron River
Township doesn't simply absorb the shortfall
occasioned by lousy contract negotiations on the
part of the township officials and the township
attorney at the time the contract was accepted
and executed.
Bill Vajk
Straight Talk 2 - continuing the saga
I forwarded a copy of John Menghini's article
to Mike Lahti's office. I was promised a
response by them once the individual charged
with the Iron River prison at the Department
of Corrections returned from vacation. That
response arrived this morning and is
published below.
======================================
Dear Mr. Vajk:
I received a response from the Dept. of
Corrections on the sewer situation in
Iron River Township. Below is the response:
"There is a Sanitary Sewer Agreement between
the MDOC and Iron River Township. The
contract period is from September 9, 1990 to
September 9, 2010. Per Section 16 of the
agreement, the Department can cancel the
contract in whole by giving 30 days notice
to Iron River Township. A letter was sent
to the township on August 6, 2009, giving
the 30 days notice. Staff from our Bureau
of Fiscal Management have spoken with the
township's Treasurer and Supervisor. The
Township Supervisor admitted having received
the letter from the MDOC giving them the
required 30 days notice, but said the township
charter superceded the contract, and that the
township had the authority to continue to
invoice the MDOC. Staff asked for a copy of
the township charter and gave him the
appropriate fax number, but have received
nothing to date."
"The August 2009 invoice amount was $5,500
(the monthly rate at that point), and was
paid."
"The Department's position is that we properly
canceled the service contract as outlined in
the agreement, and have no further financial
obligation for these fees."
Rep. Mike Lahti's Office
==============================================
I want to thank Mike Lahti, his staff, and the
Department of Corrections for their response.
It turns out that whoever negotiated the sewer
contract with the Department of Corrections
made a really bad deal, and now some, or all,
of the township residents will have to pay for
that mistake for a long time.
This is what happens when the electorate is
careless in who they put into public office.
The Iron River Township Board should have hired
someone specializing in contract negotiations
before approving the sewer contract with the
state. Indeed they should already have retained
a lawyer specializing in such contracts to
study all the current possibilities. And by
that I don't mean the current township attorney.
The time to press subsequent claims, if indeed
there can be any, is limited.
Bill Vajk
to Mike Lahti's office. I was promised a
response by them once the individual charged
with the Iron River prison at the Department
of Corrections returned from vacation. That
response arrived this morning and is
published below.
======================================
Dear Mr. Vajk:
I received a response from the Dept. of
Corrections on the sewer situation in
Iron River Township. Below is the response:
"There is a Sanitary Sewer Agreement between
the MDOC and Iron River Township. The
contract period is from September 9, 1990 to
September 9, 2010. Per Section 16 of the
agreement, the Department can cancel the
contract in whole by giving 30 days notice
to Iron River Township. A letter was sent
to the township on August 6, 2009, giving
the 30 days notice. Staff from our Bureau
of Fiscal Management have spoken with the
township's Treasurer and Supervisor. The
Township Supervisor admitted having received
the letter from the MDOC giving them the
required 30 days notice, but said the township
charter superceded the contract, and that the
township had the authority to continue to
invoice the MDOC. Staff asked for a copy of
the township charter and gave him the
appropriate fax number, but have received
nothing to date."
"The August 2009 invoice amount was $5,500
(the monthly rate at that point), and was
paid."
"The Department's position is that we properly
canceled the service contract as outlined in
the agreement, and have no further financial
obligation for these fees."
Rep. Mike Lahti's Office
==============================================
I want to thank Mike Lahti, his staff, and the
Department of Corrections for their response.
It turns out that whoever negotiated the sewer
contract with the Department of Corrections
made a really bad deal, and now some, or all,
of the township residents will have to pay for
that mistake for a long time.
This is what happens when the electorate is
careless in who they put into public office.
The Iron River Township Board should have hired
someone specializing in contract negotiations
before approving the sewer contract with the
state. Indeed they should already have retained
a lawyer specializing in such contracts to
study all the current possibilities. And by
that I don't mean the current township attorney.
The time to press subsequent claims, if indeed
there can be any, is limited.
Bill Vajk
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Arizona Law
The Arizona immigration law has taken center stage
in American politics, distracting many of us from the
things that are going on in Washington and in state
capitals around the nation.
For those who are interested in knowing what the
statute actually says, I have made it available by
clicking here.
You have a citizen's right to disagree with this statute and
to criticize it if you have actually read and understand it.
Bill Vajk
in American politics, distracting many of us from the
things that are going on in Washington and in state
capitals around the nation.
For those who are interested in knowing what the
statute actually says, I have made it available by
clicking here.
You have a citizen's right to disagree with this statute and
to criticize it if you have actually read and understand it.
Bill Vajk
Friday, May 14, 2010
Reply to Straight Talk #2 by Mike Lahti's Office
I received the following email reply from
Mike Lahti's office this morning.
Dear Mr. Vajk: Thank you for the email. We are working
with DMB & Dept. of Corrections to try and get the township
their money from Camp Ottawa Property.
We'll be in touch when we hear back. I individual I need to
hear from in Dept. of Corrections is on vacation this week.
Thank you,
Rep. Lahti's Office
Kim Whitely, Legislative Aide
Bill Vajk
Mike Lahti's office this morning.
Dear Mr. Vajk: Thank you for the email. We are working
with DMB & Dept. of Corrections to try and get the township
their money from Camp Ottawa Property.
We'll be in touch when we hear back. I individual I need to
hear from in Dept. of Corrections is on vacation this week.
Thank you,
Rep. Lahti's Office
Kim Whitely, Legislative Aide
Bill Vajk
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Straight Talk 2 by John Menghini: the Sewer Situation
Straight Talk 2 by John Menghini: the Sewer Situation.
A few weeks ago I was made aware of a situation in
the township that needs some attention. It seems that
our board snuck a so called "resolution" through that
allows the township to charge for sewer usage for people
who are not even hooked up to the sewer system.
To give a little history lesson, back around 1990 or so,
it was decided that a low security prison was to be
built in the township, on Gendron Road. The plans
called for a self contained septic system to be installed
for the prison. For some strange reason, AFTER
construction had begun, it was found that a septic
system could not be used there. And so it was that the
township ended up with a new sewer line going down
Gibbs City Rd and to the prison. When it was installed,
the story was that anyone over 200' from the line did
not have to hook up. If you were within 200' you were
required to connect to it.
Now, with the prison closed down, and the state no
longer paying for the sewer usage, the board decides
that the residents should take up the slack. Residents
who own even VACANT land are being charged an
"availability fee".
In "straight talk" that means that since the prison closed
down, the residents are being squeezed for the money
that the state no longer pays. I contacted the township
supervisor, Mark Polley, and he told me outright that
the township is after money. He also said that he knows
it is not fair to everyone.
I have researched this matter quite a bit and I firmly
believe that it is illegal. At least as far as those who
are over 200' away from the line. The State of Michigan
defines sewer availability as being within 200' from the
closest part of a structure in which sewage originates.
This is STATE law. How can the township charge a
person for the availability of something that the state
says is not available?
In "straight talk" they can't ! Not legally anyway. Mark
told me that the township attorney says it is legal. I
disagree. The state Attorney General is looking into the
matter at my request.
At the township meeting last night there were a few points
made that I would like to comment on.
The township says they need to charge residents who are not
hooked up to the sewer service, an availability charge. Because
the township needs the money. Why then, are they at this very
time, installing even MORE sewer and water lines. They (WE)
have to borrow money to do this. Borrowed money has to be
repaid. That means more charges. The water rate has been rising
steadily and is slated for two more increases this year alone.
So, let's recap this. The township is low on money, so, let's take
out some loans and put in more lines. Then we can raise the
sewer/water rates some more to pay for it. Hmmmmm........
Does that make sense to you?
Mark Polley said that he contacted state representative Mike
Lahti's office about this sewer matter. Uh, sorry Mark. It wasn't
quite like that. In fact, it was I who brought the matter to their
attention and it was THEY who contacted Mark. And I have
email proof of that.
Mark Polley also asked advice from township attorney Steven
Polich concerning supposed death threats to himself and other
board members. I do not advocate violence at all, but maybe
the board members should give that some thought. If they are
doing such a bad job that someone wants to KILL them,
maybe they should re-think their policies?
It has become quite apparent that this board has violated the
trust of the residents, in more than one instance. Now, it seems
to me that since these folks are ELECTED to the board that they
should look after the best interests of the residents. It surely
seems that they are not doing as good a job as they should,
especially since they are now receiving death threats.
Remember this folks.
We live in the United States of America.
Not Nazi Germany.
Not communist China.
Not dictatorship North Korea.
Our government is formed
BY the people
OF the people,
and most importantly
FOR the people.
We made our voices heard on the bogus blight ordinance
proposal, now we have to make our voice be heard on this
sewer matter.
s- John Menghini
Editor's note: We have no way of knowing how much of this
expansion of sewer charges is caused by the fact that the
township has become accustomed to the additional income
from the state prison, and how much of it is the result
of lousy deal making by the township with the state when
the contract to provide service was made. There have to
be better solutions than the one imposed by the board.
One thing is for certain, the township board does not
know how to spend less. In this time of economic stress,
and a time when those of us on Social Security have a
year with no cost of living increase because the cost
of living did not increase, the township board has
voted itself an increase in pay, despite the fact that
it isn't costing them more today than it did last year.
Aren't there any reasonable people living in Iron River
Township who would be willing to run for office and
stop these unreasonable actions by the existing elected
officials? If no one else is willing to step up, they
can continue to do whatever they want.
Bill Vajk
A few weeks ago I was made aware of a situation in
the township that needs some attention. It seems that
our board snuck a so called "resolution" through that
allows the township to charge for sewer usage for people
who are not even hooked up to the sewer system.
To give a little history lesson, back around 1990 or so,
it was decided that a low security prison was to be
built in the township, on Gendron Road. The plans
called for a self contained septic system to be installed
for the prison. For some strange reason, AFTER
construction had begun, it was found that a septic
system could not be used there. And so it was that the
township ended up with a new sewer line going down
Gibbs City Rd and to the prison. When it was installed,
the story was that anyone over 200' from the line did
not have to hook up. If you were within 200' you were
required to connect to it.
Now, with the prison closed down, and the state no
longer paying for the sewer usage, the board decides
that the residents should take up the slack. Residents
who own even VACANT land are being charged an
"availability fee".
In "straight talk" that means that since the prison closed
down, the residents are being squeezed for the money
that the state no longer pays. I contacted the township
supervisor, Mark Polley, and he told me outright that
the township is after money. He also said that he knows
it is not fair to everyone.
I have researched this matter quite a bit and I firmly
believe that it is illegal. At least as far as those who
are over 200' away from the line. The State of Michigan
defines sewer availability as being within 200' from the
closest part of a structure in which sewage originates.
This is STATE law. How can the township charge a
person for the availability of something that the state
says is not available?
In "straight talk" they can't ! Not legally anyway. Mark
told me that the township attorney says it is legal. I
disagree. The state Attorney General is looking into the
matter at my request.
At the township meeting last night there were a few points
made that I would like to comment on.
The township says they need to charge residents who are not
hooked up to the sewer service, an availability charge. Because
the township needs the money. Why then, are they at this very
time, installing even MORE sewer and water lines. They (WE)
have to borrow money to do this. Borrowed money has to be
repaid. That means more charges. The water rate has been rising
steadily and is slated for two more increases this year alone.
So, let's recap this. The township is low on money, so, let's take
out some loans and put in more lines. Then we can raise the
sewer/water rates some more to pay for it. Hmmmmm........
Does that make sense to you?
Mark Polley said that he contacted state representative Mike
Lahti's office about this sewer matter. Uh, sorry Mark. It wasn't
quite like that. In fact, it was I who brought the matter to their
attention and it was THEY who contacted Mark. And I have
email proof of that.
Mark Polley also asked advice from township attorney Steven
Polich concerning supposed death threats to himself and other
board members. I do not advocate violence at all, but maybe
the board members should give that some thought. If they are
doing such a bad job that someone wants to KILL them,
maybe they should re-think their policies?
It has become quite apparent that this board has violated the
trust of the residents, in more than one instance. Now, it seems
to me that since these folks are ELECTED to the board that they
should look after the best interests of the residents. It surely
seems that they are not doing as good a job as they should,
especially since they are now receiving death threats.
Remember this folks.
We live in the United States of America.
Not Nazi Germany.
Not communist China.
Not dictatorship North Korea.
Our government is formed
BY the people
OF the people,
and most importantly
FOR the people.
We made our voices heard on the bogus blight ordinance
proposal, now we have to make our voice be heard on this
sewer matter.
s- John Menghini
Editor's note: We have no way of knowing how much of this
expansion of sewer charges is caused by the fact that the
township has become accustomed to the additional income
from the state prison, and how much of it is the result
of lousy deal making by the township with the state when
the contract to provide service was made. There have to
be better solutions than the one imposed by the board.
One thing is for certain, the township board does not
know how to spend less. In this time of economic stress,
and a time when those of us on Social Security have a
year with no cost of living increase because the cost
of living did not increase, the township board has
voted itself an increase in pay, despite the fact that
it isn't costing them more today than it did last year.
Aren't there any reasonable people living in Iron River
Township who would be willing to run for office and
stop these unreasonable actions by the existing elected
officials? If no one else is willing to step up, they
can continue to do whatever they want.
Bill Vajk
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
What sort of elected officials do you want?
I received a reply from Mr Kenneth Nelson regarding
my May 1 article entitled "What Will It Take."
Bear in mind that Mr. Nelson had the opportunity to
set the record straight if my article misunderstood
what he is about, but all he sent was the following:
From: Kenneth Nelson
To:
Subject: Iron County Doings
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 11:34:52 -0400
"FYI - the quote you referenced from the Reporter
article (in your May 1 blog titled "What Will it
Take?") was a "sound bite" pulled from a 40 minute
conversation I had with the journalist. You cannot
possibly know or understand in what context that
comment was made. Maybe your rush to attribute a
characteristic to someone without knowing or even
speaking to them is a sign of your "laissez faire
attitude". Incidentally, I intended to cast my
vote for you for school board (as it seems you
would be the best possible candidate) but was
unable to find your name on the ballot."
s-Kenneth Nelson
Either I got Mr. Nelson's attitude towards education
and the community right, or he really doesn't care
and simply wasted this opportunity given to him. It
seems likely that we know as much about Mr. Nelson
as is necessary. I'm already serving this community
by creating and running this publication. At my age
of 70, I have no inclination to run for any public
office.
I hasten to add that Iron County Doings associate
editor Ben Smith, under the sponsorship of this
publication, attempted to set up a Meet the
Candidates" session at the Bates Township Hall but
he was unable to raise enough interest among the
West Iron School Board candidates he contacted
during his efforts. Ben went so far as to discuss
the event on telephone time until it became apparent
that there wasn't much interest this election and
in an event to find out what the candidates have
to offer. Ben and I do what we can to promote a
positive future for Iron County, but we seem alone
in such efforts. I hear a lot of talk, but see very
little by way of action.
As I've said in the past, the community deserves the
people it elects, otherwise more people would run for
office, and there would be more of a spark and debate
over local issues. But we have far too many like the
ladies in that Rhinelander waiting room who have
lived here all their lives and have no idea who their
elected officials are let alone what is planned for
our future.
Is anyone else willing to step up and the force
changes necessary to improve out lives in Iron
County? The banner at the top of this publication
states: "We need better roads, to throw some reins
on local government. Things people are doing to
help our situation will appear here if they submit
the information to me." I was pleased to publish
"Straight Talk by John Menghini." Where's the next
article like that coming from? Come on, people!
Bill Vajk
my May 1 article entitled "What Will It Take."
Bear in mind that Mr. Nelson had the opportunity to
set the record straight if my article misunderstood
what he is about, but all he sent was the following:
From: Kenneth Nelson
To:
Subject: Iron County Doings
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 11:34:52 -0400
"FYI - the quote you referenced from the Reporter
article (in your May 1 blog titled "What Will it
Take?") was a "sound bite" pulled from a 40 minute
conversation I had with the journalist. You cannot
possibly know or understand in what context that
comment was made. Maybe your rush to attribute a
characteristic to someone without knowing or even
speaking to them is a sign of your "laissez faire
attitude". Incidentally, I intended to cast my
vote for you for school board (as it seems you
would be the best possible candidate) but was
unable to find your name on the ballot."
s-Kenneth Nelson
Either I got Mr. Nelson's attitude towards education
and the community right, or he really doesn't care
and simply wasted this opportunity given to him. It
seems likely that we know as much about Mr. Nelson
as is necessary. I'm already serving this community
by creating and running this publication. At my age
of 70, I have no inclination to run for any public
office.
I hasten to add that Iron County Doings associate
editor Ben Smith, under the sponsorship of this
publication, attempted to set up a Meet the
Candidates" session at the Bates Township Hall but
he was unable to raise enough interest among the
West Iron School Board candidates he contacted
during his efforts. Ben went so far as to discuss
the event on telephone time until it became apparent
that there wasn't much interest this election and
in an event to find out what the candidates have
to offer. Ben and I do what we can to promote a
positive future for Iron County, but we seem alone
in such efforts. I hear a lot of talk, but see very
little by way of action.
As I've said in the past, the community deserves the
people it elects, otherwise more people would run for
office, and there would be more of a spark and debate
over local issues. But we have far too many like the
ladies in that Rhinelander waiting room who have
lived here all their lives and have no idea who their
elected officials are let alone what is planned for
our future.
Is anyone else willing to step up and the force
changes necessary to improve out lives in Iron
County? The banner at the top of this publication
states: "We need better roads, to throw some reins
on local government. Things people are doing to
help our situation will appear here if they submit
the information to me." I was pleased to publish
"Straight Talk by John Menghini." Where's the next
article like that coming from? Come on, people!
Bill Vajk
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