Zoning Points

• On November 7^th, the voters of Auglaize Township will be deciding whether to bring back zoning. According to the Old Testament, for everything there is a season, a time for every matter under heaven. There was a time for not supporting this issue, but changes in what is happening, makes it necessary to revisit this issue. A lot of misinformation has been put out to the public in the past months. Zoning has been framed as local government trying to take control. The negative narrative is not fact based. The truth is a citizen group was formed to design regulations to protect residents from “anything goes “land use and future development. 
• Looking around at unzoned townships, you can see that certain business activity have taken advantage of the lack of regulations and oversight of the township trustees. These businesses should not be in residential areas for safety and to maintain current values of our homes. We want our residential areas to be safe for us and our children. The increased traffic and noise can reduce safety and overall quality of living conditions. 
• It is the future we are concerned. There has been an effort to make residents feel their rights are being taken away. It is the opposite, protecting your future.

• Nine of the Twelve Townships in Paulding County currently have Zoning. Townships not Zoned have in the past been targeted by out of the area individuals and companies looking to exploit us. Looking to just make money with no regard to our community. A drive on St. Rt. 613 west of Melrose is one example. 

• The Ohio House passed a bill last fall allowing Townships that have zoning, to have build authority for smaller Solar or other Renewable Energy. Again, you should be able to use your land as you please. However not at your neighbors’ expense. We have out of the area land owners who are not always concerned about our quality of life. Zoning would allow Trustees the ability to negotiate setbacks, ensure a tree or other barrier. Ultimately Trustees could stop the development, if they were persuaded by residents. A drive on St. Rt. 613 east of Oakwood in Putnam County is an example. (this is considered a smaller development as it is under 50 megawatt) A Solar field that some feel a larger setback from the road and trees or Green barrier would have been better. There are large Federal Government Grant dollars incentivizing building of Solar and Wind farms. Corporations are soliciting landowners now. 

There is an acknowledgement that the previous Zoning in Auglaize Township had opportunities for improvement. Steps have been made for improvements in enforcement and the zoning regulations, so we can have the protection of a Zoned Community. Local Zoning can be amended by a process outlined in the Zoning Regulations. If something is not working as it was intended, it can be changed. With the acceptance of the Zoning Ordinance, everything as of that date are grandfathered in.

• We believe it is in our best interest to protect our community from Corporate and individuals who only want to make money, with no consideration of our quality of life. The majority of our residents are considerate and good neighbors. 

Homes are generally are our largest investment, we don’t want our homes to lose value due to development that is not appropriate.

• There are property owner rights that need to be balanced with neighbor rights. We believe you should be able to use your land as you please, but not at the expense of your neighbor.
• It has been stated falsely that we don’t need Zoning, the County has authority. This is not true. There is no County wide Zoning. This is why other Townships and Villages have Zoning ordinances. So local residents can decide what’s best for their community.

• You have the privilege to vote and make choices. A Yes Vote For Zoning on November 7^th ensures that our township is controlled by local residents and our elected Township Trustees. 

• Please Vote Yes for Zoning.

Laurie Lucas,

Auglaize Township, Paulding County Ohio

A Guest Editorial from State Representative Craig Riedel 

Now Is the Time to Put Business First

America is in a recession – a recession caused by overspending from the Biden Administration and the highest inflation rates in 40 years.

Despite what Congressional Democrats and the Biden Administration may be telling you, we are, by definition, in a recession. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters with negative GDP growth. This year GDP growth decreased 1.6% in the first quarter and 0.9% in the second quarter. President Biden and his team have remained consistent in their denial of a recession no matter what the data says. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said that “even if the [second-quarter GDP growth] is negative, we are not in a recession.”

Avoiding the concern for a recession, Congressional Democrats have created and passed a budget reconciliation bill. This bill raises taxes on America’s middle class, despite President Biden’s campaign promise not to increase taxes for Americans making less than $400,000. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), half of the new tax burden created by this “reconciliation bill” will fall on those making less than $200,000.

This bill will also drastically hurt businesses. The so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” implements a new minimum tax rate of 15% on businesses that make more than $1 billion a year. I spent 27 years working in the steel business. I have seen firsthand the impacts new or increased taxes can have on a business. It will be extremely difficult for any business to thrive in this economic environment.

The solution to a recession is not raising taxes. Americans just cannot afford to live like this and businesses will struggle to thrive with the addition of the new tax. Democrats have dug themselves into a hole by increasing spending on energy and healthcare, but failed to pay attention to the dramatic effects this would have on hardworking Americans.

While these misguided decisions continue to happen at the federal level, I owe it to Ohioans to help combat the measures taken by Congress. Throughout my tenure as a state representative, I have been a firm advocate in reducing income taxes for Ohioans. In 2021, I supported HB 110, the operating budget for FY 2022-2023, which reduced income tax rates for Ohioans by 3%. In 2019, I supported House Bill 166, the operating budget for FY 2020-2021, which reduced income tax rates by 4%.

As past co-chair of the Business-First Caucus, I understand the importance of prioritizing economic prosperity moving forward and we must put business first in Ohio. This will trickle down and give Ohioans an opportunity to prosper in spite of the chaos coming out of Washington.

Over the last year, I have worked on a variety of legislation to put business first and keep Ohioans from economic despair. Along with Representative Jim Hoops, I sponsored House Bill 515, which was signed by the Governor in June. This bill allows for Ohio residents to receive a business income deduction, incentivizing Ohioans to stay in Ohio before and after they sell their business. Additionally, Representative Bill Roemer and I introduced House Bill 115 in the 133rd General Assembly, a companion bill to Senate Bill 1, introduced by Senator Rob McColley and Senator Kristina Roegner. It was ultimately passed as Senate Bill 9 in the 134th General Assembly. The bill requires each state agency to reduce the regulatory restrictions contained in its rules by 30% by June 30, 2025. Beginning July 1, 2025, this bill also requires that an agency that does not achieve a reduction in regulatory restrictions, according to the required schedule, to eliminate two restrictions before enacting a new rule containing a restriction. These are just some of the steps that I have taken to ensure Ohioans will continue to prosper despite the state of the economy in the country.

It is extremely disappointing that the Biden Administration has led us down this path. We’ve been dealt a tough hand, but I will do everything in my power to ensure that Ohio, especially northwest Ohio, does not suffer because of the negligence of Democrats in Washington. I encourage my colleagues to take a long, hard look at the future of our country and our state. Now is the time to put business first. Now is the time to fight for our economy.

Responses need to be received by Friday at 5:00 pm to be considered for the next publication. We reserve the right to edit for length, content and worthiness. 

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USPS: West Bend News

PO Box 1008

Antwerp, OH 45813

LETTER TO THE  EDITOR

Our Country

What is happening to our country and the America that myself and others my age grew up in? 

America is the laughing stock of the world, a third world country anymore. It’s like a turtle shell without the turtle, what was a living breathing thing is just a shell. 

There has been several editorials the last few months telling it exactly what is happening. They have put Satan and his disciples of destruction in charge and they are continuing what Obama started. The bringing down of America, but they have done more damage since January 20 than he did in 8 years. 

 Gas prices out of sight and going up thanks to Biden killing the pipeline and putting thousands out of work. They are trying to take our rights and freedom of speech, take our guns while allowing endless numbers of illegal immigrants to come in and live off taxpayers money without doing anything for it, while veterans, seniors and homeless suffer and struggle to survive. And how many criminals and gang will come in with those people to prey on us and they want us to be unable to defend ourselves as responsible gun owners. 

They have taken God out of schools and public places but allow BLM and Antifa criminals to commit destructive and criminal acts and call it protesting. Statues and memorials to commemorate the history of our country are being torn down and replaced with statues and memorials to criminals, drug addicts and people who run afoul of the law and police do their jobs but get charged for doing it. 

They are using this virus sham to turn people into sheep and lab rats, yes something is going on but they are padding the numbers of sick and deaths to scare people by giving it some scary name. I was told by a person in the ER medical field that they didn’t believe it either and what was going on was political. Where did the flu that we get shots for go? You never hear anything about it anymore. This administration has no plans for our country other than bringing it down. Hitler did the same thing to the small European countries before he took them over. 

Even tv and movies are a joke anymore because someone is insulted or calls fun entertainment racist. All we have is boring computerized crime shows, but oh my, they still allow them to have guns!! Then those reality shows that do nothing but show how deceitful people will be to other people for money, and those so called talent shows where people with little talent prove it in front of the world. 

You can’t have entertaining comedy shows like Sanford and Son, The Jefferson’s, All in the Family, any of Mel Brooks movies because they are “racist.” We intelligent people just took them for what they were, comedy!! Everyone is insulted by everything, even white people are a minority now and being blamed for everything. These racist people even want us to pay them for things in our history that they don’t like. 

You can’t erase history, no matter what you do, it happened and our people and country learned from it and became stronger but these racist crybabies just don’t get it. 

I’m glad our father isn’t around to see what is happening to the country he and millions of others fought for and so many died for! They fought to keep what is happening now from happening. He would be sick. He didn’t like Obama although he did give him credit for playing golf. He would hate Biden and his bunch. And how did these people who are not natural born Americans even in there? Omar and Tlaib have ties to countries that we are fighting and just look pure evil and have nothing but plans of destruction for our country. Pelosi is a joke and Warren is a gun grabber and like the rest, surrounded by armed security while telling us we shouldn’t have the right to defend ourselves, our families and homes. 

That whole administration is a den of poisonous snakes. America can’t afford 4 years of these people. We will no longer have the country we know. It’s a shame what’s going on. Biden and his bunch need to be impeached and removed before it’s too late. 

Gregg Gorman 

Paulding Ohio.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I  believe most are aware America is in deep trouble, probably our most dangerous position ever. We’re not being destroyed by a foreign power as one would expect, but by a radical, internal foe much like Hitler when Germany was destroyed. He had them fooled also.

Don’t be afraid to speak against the evil in Washington. Most of them are greedy, power hungry individuals after position and money. They realize it’s the quickest and surest way of becoming a millionaire. Democrats attacked Trump because of his love of God and America.

Both sides attacked Trump because he wanted ‘term limits’. Their insurance of becoming multi-millionaires would be canceled. Democrats didn’t want God and morality to interfere with their anti-God beliefs or their lust for money and power. Trump was like a migraine to them.

Democrats and other liberals don’t want you knowing America was designed on the Bible and that Christian faith grew us. If you continue to support them, America will be like Russia and China in short time.

They are deathly afraid of God and morality, which is why they gave us ‘separation of church and state’ plus ‘censored pastors.’ Their fear also gave us: Forbid school prayer, remove Ten Commandments, dishonorable discharge of military Chaplins praying in Jesus’ name, abortion, gay marriage, perverted sex education, declaring America non- Christian, everyone prays to the same God and more. 

The Obama-Biden administration even proclaimed us Christians as radicals. They often said they were going to change America. Why didn’t you ask how? We were already the most advanced and sought after nation on earth. How could they change us, other than lower us?

How could any reasonable person have voted for this president and vice-president who didn’t campaign in public. The little I got to see of them said neither was up to task. One often got lost in thought while the other was selected based only for being female.

Neither our president or vice-president are doing their jobs and should be impeached. The Speaker of the House needs removed for negligence in office. Had republicans acted so disgracefully, this speaker would have filed charges ten months ago, but being they are democrats they are automatically exempt in her mind.

Socialist take over can be stopped by asking your governor to join a convention of states. He’ll know what you mean. Prayer is your best weapon – use it!

Richard Mastin

Hicksville, OH

This letter is responding to Larry Copsey’s letter to the editor last week regarding the Bad Boys Toys Car Show on July 17th, 2021.

First, I’d like to thank everyone who came out to see all the cars and helped make this year’s show a huge success! We had 134 registered vehicles. Just two short of last year’s number. If you didn’t make it to the show you sure missed out! We got to see cars ranging from a Yugo to a Studebaker and everything in between. There was even a coffin car. What a great event to host in our little town. Hats off to the Boy Scouts, volunteers, and parents of Troop 143 for making it happen.

Larry, we want to especially thank you for all you’ve done to help us make this event part of our annual schedule. Last year you held our hands and even allowed us to use the Big Boy$ Toy$ name for the show. We value your input and will work diligently to make necessary changes so our new show, Bad Boys Toys, will run annually for years to come. We truly couldn’t have done it without the help of you and your group.

Thanks again Larry! We hope to continue your legacy and make you proud.

If you have a boy aged 11 to 17 who would love to be a part of something much bigger than himself please stop and see us. We meet every Tuesday at the VFW hall in Antwerp from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

—Albert Manella,

Scout Master,

Boy Scout Troop 143,

Antwerp, Ohio

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USPS: West Bend News

PO Box 1008

Antwerp, OH 45813

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

THANK-YOU PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP….. .for all of your programs designed and implemented to ‘Make America Great Again’ and keep ‘America First’….. to exposing the scum in our Federal Government (Washington, DC) that has for decades put the interests of those who are supposed to be serving us to selfishly serving their own personal interests. They are all in it for their own personal power and wealth rather than making good on promises that would have helped make our Country greater than it has ever been before. 

I will always speak positively of and defend your unselfish efforts to promote capitalism, free enterprise, free speech, the right to keep and bear arms, religious freedom, less government, and volunteerism, while at the same time exposing corruption and wastefulness.  

To help me remind others of your accomplishments, I will recap some of the things that occurred during (and because of) your presidency that I applaud and have certainly made a long lasting, very positive impact on the people of our Country including me:  

1) Appointed three conservative Supreme Court Justices, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Barrett, each possessing outstanding judicial accomplishments and service.

2) Completed an additional 500 miles of border wall on our Nation’s southern border

3) Signed the biggest tax cuts and reforms in the history of our Country

4) Continued to bring home troops from foreign soil.

5) First President in recent history to not get us into another endless war

6) Engineered and spear headed ‘Operation Warp Speed’ resulting in the creation of a safe China virus vaccine in record time

7) Brought back to America tens of thousands of jobs resulting in the lowest unemployment rates for Blacks, Hispanics and Asians in the Country’s history

8) Lowered youth, women and veterans unemployment rates to the lowest in decades 

9) Reduced the number of people by 3.9 million on food stamps from an all-time high in 2016 (last year of the Obama administration) 

10) Oversaw the increase in the average household income to the highest ever recorded

11) Oversaw the creation of more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs and the manufacturing jobs growing at a faster rate in more than three decades

12) Negotiated with NATO members to pay their fair share of the NATO budget

13) Brokered four Arab country peace agreements with Israel and moved our embassy to Jerusalem, something that the last several presidents said they were going to do, but never followed through on their promises

14) Signed a prison reform act that ended minority discrimination by the court system.

15) Signed into law, ‘Right to Try’ legislation allowing gravely ill patients the opportunity to bypass the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) for experimental treatments.

16) Signed executive orders instructing HHS (Health and Human Services) to take steps to lower costs on prescription medication, including insulin & epinephrin (antihistamines)…earning you recognition for doing more than any other President to lower drug costs

17) Withdrew America from the Iran nuclear deal made during the Obama Presidency with the Supreme Ruler of Iran that continues to promote ‘death to America’ and the complete and total annihilation of Israel

18) Withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord, a very damaging agreement to our American economy, penalizing into submission American businesses involved in the oil and coal industries, including fracking….. driving up the cost of these fuels for the American consumer while allowing China and India to continue spewing out pollution into the air unabated and without consequence.  I sure did like our low gas prices at the pump!!!

19) Worked to promote school choice, giving students and families options in K-12 education

20) Standing as thee most pro-life president in our Nation’s history working tiressly to prevent tax payer dollars from flowing to Planned Parenthood, the Nation’s largest abortion provider

21) Pressured the Mexican government to take a more aggressive approach to slowing the flow of migrants north to America overwhelming the state and local governments along our southern border

22) You were thee most transparent president ever…under investigation for and harassed by the Democrats, the media, tech giants and ‘RINOs’ (Republican In Name Only) from before your election through this very day …. (remember the phony Russian hoax that cost this Country millions of dollars and sowed so many seeds of discord only to conclude that there was no collusion on your part, but rather by Hillary Clinton instead?).   And what about the lack of reporting on the Hunter Biden ‘pay to play’ scandal that involved our new President Joe, referred to in Hunter’s emails as the ‘BIG GUY’?

23) It is my opinion and the opinion of millions of other Americans, that the ‘swamp dwellers’ are so afraid of being discovered or found out what their own selfish motives are (especially as it pertains to their own personal interests in China) that they were compelled to impeach you, not once, but twice, for uncovering all of the filth, scum, and excrement that here to for has called Washington, DC its home! 

Thank-you President Trump, for doing an outstanding job while you served America as its President.  Millions upon millions of its citizenry appreciate you and will certainly, like me defend your record of accomplishments that ocurred during your four years of service…. and we will most certainly vote for you the next time you run for President!!!  

With appreciation and sincere gratitude, 

James M. Hooker, Mesa, Arizona /Payne, OH

Responses need to be received by Friday at 5:00 pm to be considered for the next publication. We reserve the right to edit for length, content and worthiness. 

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USPS: West Bend News

PO Box 1008

Antwerp, OH 45813

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Another republican character assassin has stepped forward. I won’t address him personally, as that’s not how I roll. yes, I have time, and I am an informed voter. and no I don’t “hate” trump. I hate the divisiveness he’s reigned over the best nation in the world! I despise his self-en-richening him and his family have done since squatting in the White House! I can’t stand how he’s disparaged our military heroes, and spit on their service! i don’t trust him with my Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid funds! I paid into these funds for 44+ years, and for trump to stop putting funds into these really pisses me off! I am scared that trump/bill barr will turn our nation into a dictatorship, and anyone who doubts this, look at trump’s trying to blame Joe Biden for all the criminal acts that trump himself has committed! no president has EVER used the department of Justice for his own lawyer! Nixon tried, and he was caught before going as far as trump! since he can’t win on his broken-promise record, trump tries to smear the competition for crimes his companies, family and his cabinet has committed the past 4 years! now it comes out trump didn’t disclose bank account and loan funds in China, Britain and Europe! why hide them? if you all trumpees are OK with theft, lies and trashing the constitution of the United states, by all means, vote for this crime syndicate! I will hand you the ballot on election day if you’re in my precinct at the polls! for the decent, compassionate, reasonable republicans who are my friends, they will still be my friends, and no, I didn’t vote a straight ticket! our sheriff has done a good job, and even if he’d been opposed, he got my vote! my hope is to return to normalcy after November 3rd. then my hope is the current covid19 cover-up is dealt with quickly and get as many healthy fast, not double the 220,000+ needless deaths the trump failed policies caused! go and vote, it’s time to stop the hate-filled rhetoric of this regime of squatters in the White House! with that, I now take my ball home. not to another country! bahahah!

— Mike Porter,

Antwerp, OH

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

November is Lung Cancer Awareness month and as a 35 year old newly diagnosed warrior, I wanted to bring awareness to non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) positive gene. The ALK positive gene mutation is so rare, it only affects 4% of NSCLC warriors worldwide, 65% of them being women. 

This gene is developed in embryo to help develop our guts and nervous system and usually shuts itself off before birth, but in rare cases, fuses with another gene causing cancer down the line. It is unpreventable! This ALK positive mutation is not well known and because it can affect any adult with lungs, as early as their 20s, I wanted to get the knowledge out there. It is extremely important to request to be tested for the ALK gene following diagnosis of NSCLC and always get a second opinion. Because of its rarity, it usually does not get diagnosed until the cancer has already advanced or has become stage 4, especially in smaller areas like around here. The bigger hospitals have more capabilities and resources to test for the ALK gene mutation in the 4% of carriers. Which leads to me to my story.

  I am a 35 year old wife, mother, daughter, sister who has a long history of cancer in my family line. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC 3 years ago and after receiving 2 years of treatment at Ohio State University, she was declared to be in remission 1 year ago this Thanksgiving. Almost 3 years to the day of her diagnosis, I got the shocking call that I have cancer in my right lung. I set up for all of my care to be done at OSU where they determined I had stage 4 NSCLC with the ALK positive gene mutation. I had never heard of this, but thankfully OSU had and they assured me it was treatable, not curable, but treatable and with target therapies I can add years to my life. Hopefully with all of the advancements in science and research, it will be easier to diagnose the ALK gene earlier and manage it longer. 

  I plan on being around for many years to come and hope that all cancers, no matter the stage, can and will be treatable and curable in my lifetime. To all of my fellow warriors out there, just remember that everyday you wake up and breathe in that fresh air, is another day God is giving you to conquer. Please help me bring awareness not only to lung cancer, but the ALK positive mutation, by putting a white ribbon around your trees for the month of November. If you have any questions, please reach out me through email at jenniferrpoor07@yahoo.com. I may not have all the answers, as I too am still learning, but I can offer support and hope.   

  —Jennifer (Herber) Poor,

Antwerp, OH

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Why Your Vote Matters in the 2020 Election:

Living in the Midwest offers so many advantages. The conservative values relating to our love of God, family, country, are cultivated and shared in our own homes and in our communities. At this time of year, I pause and remind myself why those values are so important to me, and why I should do my part to encourage fellow Americans to vote for those who stand for and protect those values. So, that’s why I’m writing this letter today. We need to find out where the candidates and their platforms stand on the issues that matter the most to us as individuals, and that matter the most for the greater good of all Americans.

*Legislatively and morally, the right to life is a fundamental issue, because all other rights are based on the right to life. Biden supports legislation which supports the right of unlimited abortion, funded by the taxpayers, up until the moment of birth. In fact, a US government accountability office report, https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-18-204R shows that  Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, received over $1.5 billion in taxpayer funds from 2013 to 2015, while Biden was vice president. Should we be forced to pay for abortions with our tax dollars? No, we should not. In contrast, President Trump has enacted pro-life policies and has appointed Supreme Court Justices and Federal Judges who have made an impact for the protection and dignity of human life. The Trump administration has worked to defund abortions at Planned Parenthood and has restricted the use of human fetal tissue procured from abortions in medical research and has restricted funding abortion in the US and abroad. President Trump stopped funding the United Nations Population Fund by witholding $32.5 million, because it supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. President Trump also reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which prevents approximately $9 billion of foreign aid from being used to fund abortions internationally.

*Financially, before the pandemic hit, the economy was thriving, the stock market hit new highs, and businesses were flourishing. President Trump has come through on his promises of tax cuts, deregulation, energy development, and peace through strength.

*Militarily, President Trump has rebuilt our military and installed a capable defense team to correct the military deficiencies left from the previous administration.

*Constitutionally, if we want to protect our First Amendment rights of the free exercise of religion, the freedom of speech and the press, or the right to peaceably assemble, then we need to look around and see what is happening all around us and vote accordingly. The judges that rule on these issues and the legislators who write and vote on legislation to make our laws are elected by all of us, “we, the people”. It is unfortunate that big tech censors us, yet what guidelines are being used and are we allowed to fact check the fact checkers? The network news media do not always accurately report all of the facts. For example, Democratically run cities have been engaged in violent riots and yet President Trump is blamed. Regarding the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, Biden supports gun control, while the Trump Administration fought back against state closures of gun stores, shooting ranges, and government permitting offices during the corona virus pandemic, saying that they were essential businesses.

While the Constitution of the United States established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens, it’s up to us, the ordinary citizens, to take a stand, to run for office, to teach our children the truth, and to vote for candidates and issues that uphold our values. We need to take stock of our lives, our freedoms,  and our values and try to make a difference in the world. President Trump has a proven record  over the last four years, and has shown us that he is a capable leader who seeks to protect and defend our rights. Please vote for Trump.

—Kelly Shininger,

Sherwood OH 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I ask that you support the Permanent Improvement Levy in this upcoming ballot for Vantage Career Center. As a Vantage graduate, the need and understanding for skills trades is in a tremendous demand. I graduated in 1983 from Autobody, worked 2 years as a welder, had an opportunity to go through a 4 year Tool Maker apprenticeship. From there I started my own company, APT Manufacturing Solutions, in 1996. We now employ over 100 skilled labor, from Tool maker, welding, robotics, engineering and marketing. The skills gap is real and the employees are needed. Vantage Career Center is truly a top notch school that is producing graduates that are ready for the workforce. Vantage prepares the student for both the workforce or higher education. In a lot of cases students that graduate from Vantage land jobs at companies that pay for their higher education through work/school or apprenticeship programs. What we have right here in our area is very special. Please support the upcoming levy.

—Anthony R
Nighswander;

President APT
Manufacturing Solutions,

Hicksville OH

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USPS: West Bend News

PO Box 1008

Antwerp, OH 45813

*RESPONSES/COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT CIVILIZED. If people are attacked rather than the topic at hand, the individual(s) will be removed and the thread will be brought down. To be heard, respect is required.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Stan, I can’t sit back and stay quiet after reading your letter to the editor from last week. I don’t understand your anger about George Floyd. This man was mercilessly and slowly killed on video by a cop. This happens so often that it seemed to have become normal until protests started to get radical changes made.

Now I understand that you’re white and grew up in an almost all-white town because I grew up in the same town, so you may not understand what’s really happening. But for you to be angry enough to call the Governor out and send a letter to the newspaper for everyone to see makes me wonder why? It seems that you are showing an example of ‘white privilege’. You’ve never had to worry about walking out of your house and jogging, driving, or shopping because of your skin color.

No, George Floyd was not a war hero and yes, he had made some mistakes in the past. Does that make it ok that he was killed? He had come to terms and had made changes in his life. George Floyd did not come up with a cure for cancer. Is it ok that he seems to be targeted and was murdered for trying to use a counterfeit bill? There is counterfeit money in circulation and we would never know if we had one. It is said that it was most likely a bill that he unintentionally was given and tried to use. No, George Floyd was not a Sunday School teacher. Is that the bar you hold up for good people? I don’t know many people that are; I’m certainly not and some ‘Christians’ have been the biggest hypocrites I know.

You called him a ‘meatball’ and called ‘a spade a spade’. This is an unfortunate term and I don’t know if you realize its racist history but as a ‘wordsmith’ I would hope you will think twice before using it again. You didn’t know George Floyd, but friends, family, and co-workers have called him gentle, kind, and he was a father to a loving 6-year-old daughter.

George Floyd IS a martyr. I’m sure he’d rather be living than be a martyr. Black families are enduring this reality every day and shouldn’t be. His name is now forever tied to a new global civil rights act. Just because someone’s skin isn’t the same color as yours doesn’t mean they’re not a human being. Just because someone’s hair style isn’t your style doesn’t mean they’re not a person. Just because someone doesn’t have the same abilities as you doesn’t mean they’re not someone’s child, mother, uncle, or friend.

I could not stay quiet after reading your letter because I am, quite frankly, disgusted by your anger, and silence is complicity.  If you ever have to endure something as life-changing as losing a loved one to violence for matters that a white person would never bat an eye at, maybe you’d change your mind. You have an entitled attitude, saying that we ‘have our goals and marks a lot higher’. I guess you mean that anyone that has ever done anything wrong should not be held up as an example or doesn’t have a life that matters. Well, George Floyd is an example of the oppression of non-white people and the story needs told. George Floyd’s murder was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I beg of you to do some reading on the subject of black history, watch a documentary+, or anything else that informs you, as your letter made you look ignorant of the truth. Please look deep inside your soul to see why this has made you so angry and find some empathy and peace.

As an aside, I can imagine a lot of people in this area probably share the same ideals as Stan. I implore you to stop being angry about the protests and the idea that black, brown, yellow, red, and white people should all be treated the same. “Black Lives Matter” really means “Black Lives ALSO Matter As Much As Other Lives”. Please live your life; go spread kindness, not hate.

—Denise Reeb,

Antwerp, OH

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I have always asked the younger generation to stand tall for their beliefs- be proud of who you are and stand up for the things you believe in. In writing this response, I am practicing what I preach and I wish I had done so earlier. 

I sat silent when an employee of the West Bend News, Stan Jordan, wrote on October 2, 2018, that he didn’t “care if they [addicts] die of infection, overdose, or any drug related usage.” This was not long after my husband’s cousin died of an overdose and our family was reeling in pain. Watching a loved one suffer through addiction is a pain I wish on no one. Each death represents a loss for someone. To have the paper and its employee publish such insensitive material is jaw-dropping. Yet it was printed and there are people following the paper who believe in the printed word. Is this really the example we want to set for future generations? Should they be taught that some lives aren’t worth fighting for?

As Mr. Jordan added about a habitual addict on December 24, 2018, “Look at all the families that went out of their usual life and helped him live. He didn’t give a hoot, he just wanted more drugs. Now, I didn’t know that man, but I just assume that he didn’t do too much for society in his way of life.” Mr. Jordan said in his own words that he DID NOT KNOW THAT PERSON. Every human has a backstory and we should have the grace and wisdom to realize life is not fair nor easy for everyone. My husband’s cousin was a father, a brother, a beautiful artist and musician, someone who always had a smile on his face. Yet according to Mr. Jordan, an addict can be reduced down to someone who just wants more drugs. To brush off a death due to addiction not only forgets that person is human but also loses sight of the love and pain that a person’s family has felt.

And yet, here we are again with the June 9th edition of the West Bend News and an open letter by the same Mr. Jordan. This time he targets George Floyd, who was killed after almost nine minutes of having a knee applied to his throat. Mr. Floyd could have been the most angelic person ever, or someone who lived a life full of regrets;  either way, he did not deserve to die in the way that he did. Even if you do not agree with Governor DeWine’s moment of silence in George Floyd’s honor, calling someone less than a “pimple on a good Buckeye’s butt” is extremely heartless and disrespectful.

 Yes, George Floyd served time in the past. Yes, George Floyd used drugs. George Floyd was not perfect (no person IS perfect), but according to his family members, he was trying to be a better man. Following the Golden Rule, we should try to treat one another the way we want to be treated. That includes those who are gone. Calling Mr. Floyd a “meatball” and “hoodlum” is cruel; I wouldn’t let my own children speak that way. Mr. Jordan wrote of our “triangle” as having high “goals and marks,” but I do not consider insensitivity to be a character trait worth following. I have personally found our communities to be filled with people always willing to help those in need. Mr. Jordan’s article would convince an unaware outsider that we do not care for other’s pain. We do and always have.

I will end by saying I did not want to write this letter. I know that Mr. Jordan has done many positive things for our community and he truly loves Antwerp. His articles about the history of Antwerp are interesting and often enlightening. However, his writings as mentioned above do not fall into the category of “Good News for Good Communities” (The West Bend News motto).  I want us all to treat one another with respect and dignity. But if we stay silent in instances like this, those who speak will be the only voices heard. Yes, we have freedom of speech and freedom of the press, but those freedoms are not without consequences. I would hope that we Americans realize that America is hurting and that each American citizen matters, or none of us matter. 

A concerned citizen,

—Jassmine Reyes,

Antwerp, OH

PLEASE READ THIS

By: Stan Jordan

In last week’s issue of West Bend News I wrote a Letter To The Editor about the people’s choice of a hero, now that is their choice of a hero, but it is my right to say I don’t agree with their choice.

For those to call that criminal a hero is their right, but I think that is a bad choice. There are thousands of black men who could be called heroes. Let’s name a few. Back in WWII, America supplied all the food, gasoline and armament to the troops in Europe. Well, after it got to Europe those supplies had to get to the front and right now. That was call The Red Ball Express and most of those boys were black. They had to drive day and night with little or no lights with a truck loaded with gasoline on a road full of shell and bomb holes. Everyone of those boys were heroes. 

Then you had those Turkey airmen – all good pilots, and there are hundreds of good athletes that are black. I am proud of them because they use their God-given ability and went to college, got an education and some a lifetime profession. Basketball, baseball, football and other sports.

I just can’t accept that George Floyd as a hero, a martyr and I also think that a lot of other people don’t accept him as a hero, people of all races. I have known and heard of Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammed Ali, George Foreman, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Chase Young, JK Dobbins, Kobe Bryant,  Ezekiel Elliott, Tyreek Hill, Michael Jordan. Some went from Ohio State to the NFL. Jordan was a stand out in basketball… a fine fellow.

See ya!

A CRITIQUE ON MY COLUMN

By: Stan Jordan

This is Friday, the 12th of June and about my column on Mike DeWine’s issue of all Buckeyes have a moment of silence for George Floyd, the “hero”. The returns are 7-1 that they agree with me.

I have not changed my mind, to me he is no hero, he is still a criminal. In my generation just because a man dies it does not change anything. He is still guilty and probably stepped on some people’s rights.

I have a letter from an Antwerp lady who certainly does not agree with me, but she wrote her name and that tells me she is real. She wrote a page telling me about my anger with Governor Mike DeWine, but doesn’t she realize it shows her anger over my anger on Mike’s suggestion?

She tore me apart on a couple of other things that she said I was wrong about. She said that term to “call a spade a spade” is racist. If she would look it up, it is from an old English term and I didn’t use anything, ever, as racist.

My forte is history and wild life, well, this is history right now, day and night. We will always remember these last couple of weeks and yes, it is mostly bad.  Please look back to January 1st, 2020. This land was as close to utopia as it ever was or will be. I will never see it again, and maybe you won’t either.

People are demanding and getting a lot of changes, but to me this degrading of a policeman and their power is very wrong. Where you don’t have police protection and discipline, you have a mob. People are going stir-crazy and blame it on the police and ask for  and demand…that to me is the wrong way.

There will be a trial on those policemen that went too far and killed George Floyd and that is what should be, but if I was the presiding judge at that trial, I would level a fine of millions on the news networks. They constantly showed those boys killing George over, and over and over, day and night and people soon got sick of it. To me the news people made George Floyd a hero, sorrow and sympathy because of the news.

Yes, another old saying, “The more you stir a bucket of crap, the more it is going to stink” and that is what we got here.

The lady has a right to disagree with me, but I won’t lower my standards to a lower degree.

That is one good thing about this great country, we can all say what we want.

See ya!

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To Those Who Would Stand Against Liberty:

Recently, the West Bend News received a letter to the editor criticizing the paper for an opinion that has appeared in its pages. This person felt that it had abandoned its motto of “Good News for Good Communities”. I would like to remind everybody that opinion pieces are neither news nor reflect the views of the West Bend News, its owners or employees. In the same way that this person’s letter was not the opinion of the organization, however it will be published anyways, because the West Bend News believes in protecting the freedom of speech for all citizens. That doesn’t mean you have to like somebody’s opinion. But, if we all resort to oppressing other people’s views because we don’t like them, you will only create resentment. 

If an opinion is so obviously incorrect, then sunlight is the best disinfectant. Only by exposing the bad opinions can we show that they are wrong. To attack the West Bend News for allowing that forum for discussion to take place is simply foolish. If somebody makes a post on Facebook, you don’t assume that their post reflects the views of Facebook. In the same way, the West Bend News is providing a place for the community discussion of ideas. 

In summarization, please continue to share ideas with one another. Let’s all talk more and have better and healthier discussions. To attack the paper for allowing somebody to have a voice is silly. Simply provide your counter-opinion. The only way to get rid of bad ideas is to defeat them with good ideas, not suppress them, only tyrants suppress ideas. 

—Jarrison W. Steiner

New Haven, IN

Responses need to be received by Friday at 5:00 pm to be considered for the next publication. We reserve the right to edit for length, content and worthiness. 

email: info@westbendnews.net

fax: 419-728-1322

USPS: West Bend News

PO Box 1008

Antwerp, OH 45813

AN OPEN LETTER

By: Stan Jordan

An open letter to His Honor Mike DeWine, the governor of the great state of Ohio.

Mike, you won’t remember me, but I had the pleasure of  meeting you in Paulding when they were celebrating 200 years as a county. I had that picture of you and me and I hung it on the wall at my little corner of the West Bend News.

Mike, I took that picture down! I understand that you wanted the whole 11.6 million people of Ohio to observe a moment of silence to honor the memory of George Floyd.

 Mike, I can’t do that. I don’t approve of that at all. I’m sure that a lot more of the 11.6 million people don’t approve either.

Mike, I know you have a hard job and these are turbulent times, brings to mind the story of “The Sword of Damocles.” 

I have sorrow and sympathy for that meatball’s family, but let’s call a spade a spade. He was not a Sunday School teacher, a lot less.

He was a hoodlum, a crook, a thief, a fugitive, a felon and many other things…too numerous to mention. He would not make a pimple on a good Buckeye’s butt.

Mike I just can’t go on with you. I can’t give him a bit of honor or as a martyr. 

We here in the triangle area , we have our goals and marks a lot higher than that.

Maybe you didn’t know about his rap sheet before you asked for an honor and make him a hero.

Please send me a note that you were not aware of his past and I will be able to hang our picture on the wall again.

Letter to the Editor

As most of you are aware, the John Paulding Historical Society will be publishing the Paulding County Pictorial History book, Volume III, Bi-centennial Commemorative Edition. Things basically came to a standstill due to the Covid-19 virus, but we are now gearing up to get back to work.  We have extended our photo submission deadline to June 30, 2020. Submitting a photo for consideration is free. If you would like to submit a photo, please contact Bob Iler at 419-399-5698 or ethanm@twc.com; Melinda Krick at tmekrick@yahoo.com, or me (Kim Sutton) at 419-399-2388 or dkmax@windstream.net. 

I would also like to let you know that the history book will feature a PATRON section for Paulding County businesses, families, churches and organizations. Patron pages can be purchased either in full page or half page. A complimentary copy of the book is included with a full page purchase. By purchasing a patron page, you have the opportunity to document your Paulding County history – tell your story. It is so important to preserve the history of your family, business, church or organization for future generations. I can’t think of a better way to be included in Paulding County’s permanent history. 

The Paulding Chamber of Commerce published Vol. I in 2003 and Vol. II in 2009.  Unfortunately, Vol. I was completely sold out. There are a few copies of Vol. II available for purchase at the museum and at the Paulding Chamber of Commerce office.   

Lastly, as President of the John Paulding Historical Society and on behalf of its board members, I would like to thank Bob Iler, Melinda Krick, Sue LaFountain and Walter Lang for all of their help and hard work in putting this book together. All proceeds from the history book will benefit the museum.  It’s been a great honor and a lot of fun working with this committee, in spite of the Covid-19 virus that threw us a curve.      

Sincerely,

Kim K. Sutton, President,

John Paulding Historical Society

Responses need to be received by Friday at 5:00 pm to be considered for the next publication. We reserve the right to edit for length, content and worthiness. 

email: info@westbendnews.net

fax: 419-728-1322

USPS: West Bend News

PO Box 1008

Antwerp, OH 45813

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

4-H Camp Palmer needs our help

During the summers of 1963-1967 I worked as a conservation educator at 4-H Camp Palmer in Fulton County. Thousands of campers explored the woods, fields, streams, and Harrison Lake. Many memories are indelible form those years, but one stands out: the wonderful relationshiop the staff and campers had with teh late Donald Hoblet (1924-2009) of ARchbold, then camp manager.

4-H Camp Palmer helped many college students then with great summer jobs; now we need to help the Camp with a donation. All Ohio 4-H camps are closed this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Camp finances – that depend on caper fees – have been devastated.

The Ohio State University has launced a fund-raising campaign to help Camp Palmer and all 4-H camps in Ohio The campaingn ends on Thursday June 18 and may be accessed at http://give.osu.edu/4camps.

I hope former camp staff, counselors, campers and 4-H members and families respond now with generous donations.

Please know, also, that under the America CARES Act – with 2020 tax returns – taxpayers may claim up to $300 in contributions to not-for-profit organizations as a deduction without itemizing.

—Dr. Lynn E. Elfner,

member,

Board of Directors

Ohio 4-H Foundation

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor:

Five years ago I wrote the following paragraph as part of a Letter to the Editor:  

“Take a walk around the Live Oak Cemetery in the Village of Paulding and it becomes apparent the grounds are in serious need of maintenance.  A toppled headstone of a husband and wife long deceased, weeds and saplings growing in unwanted places, rainwater that has collected sits and stagnates on top of graves are some of the problems you will see.  As decades pass, family members move or pass on themselves and the care of these gravesites decline and are left abandoned.  What was once the responsibility of the family now falls upon the village which can be costly and the money is hard to find.  The village struggles with funding just the basic maintenance such as mowing.  The cemetery no longer (and has not for long while) brought in enough money to support itself.  Maintenance is a continuing problem and has been, not just locally, but across the United States, since cemeteries began”…  

Today, I am writing to say THANK YOU to the citizens of Paulding for passing the cemetery maintenance levy! You heard the call and saw the need and stepped forward… even in these hard times.  That’s what I love about my hometown; we step forward when the need arises.   

I would also like to take this time to acknowledge and thank Lori Clark for her years of service as a Trustee on the Cemetery Board.  This is a volunteer position, appointed by the Mayor. Lori (and her husband) devoted many hours and a lot of hard work for the Village’s cemeteries. There were several times she and her granddaughters would remove the old flowers from the graves by themselves! Never asking for help or waiting until “tomorrow” to get it done. When she sees the need, she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work.  

Lori has completed her term and stepped down. Heather Miller has been appointed to fill her position. I know I can speak for Jon Snodgrass and myself that it has been a pleasure working with Lori and we are going to miss her.  We also welcome Heather and look forward to working with her. 

The Paulding Board of Cemetery Trustees will continue to devote our time and efforts to the maintenance and improvements of Live Oak and Memorial Cemeteries.  

Sincerely,

—Kim K. Sutton;

Board of Cemetery

Trustees,

Village of Paulding

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Paulding County Parks Board and the Friends of the Paulding County Parks want to acknowledge everyone who has been so generous with their donations of time, material, equipment and money. We appreciate everyone for collecting bottle caps. A bench constructed with your caps will be at Five Span Park soon. A picnic table will be at New Rochester. We will continue to collect caps for more benches and picnic tables.

Check out the Cecil Bridge Canoe and Kayak Launch, New Rochester Park, Five Span Park and the Miami Erie Canal Corridor. You have made improvements at these parks possible.

A workday will be held at New Rochester Park June 13th beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Bring tools and a sack lunch. The park is large enough for us to maintain social distance.

This summer we have a need at Fort Brown, our newest acquisition. We are grateful to the family who maintains so beautifully the west side where the monument stands. However, we need volunteers to mow the east side between Rd 171 and the river. If you would be able to mow that area just one time this summer, please call Linda Hodges at 419-594-3659. Thanks for your help.

—Linda Hodges

How hard it must be to stand and protect when you are being pounded in front and sabotaged from behind by elected officials. The greatest threat to the strength and peace of the community is that Law Enforcement and First Responders cannot do their jobs knowing they did the right thing.

These brave women and men, whether white, black, something in between, or maybe even with handicaps are given a mission by God to serve and protect and I don’t know one that does not serve their community.

These times of uncertainty prove you are more invaluable than ever and probably feel the least under appreciated. You may even be afraid to speak out as everyone is so easily offended whether online or in public, for there are a very few who make police look bad. Though, that does not apply to you, the public should know. The scrutiny that you face everyday is more than most people will ever bear.

At one time the public was proud of this profession. It was a job that many parents were pleased with that their child stood tall in their community as the next Andy Griffith, keeping sense and order when it seems there is none. They have to make split second decisions and sometimes it does not turn out out as expected, but continue to serve they do.

There is not a perfect officer out there as they are only human just like you and I. John Q Public, however, not only expects god-like perfection but, of course, always in their favor. The way the media has swayed the public, and even corporations are demonizing the occupation, I apologize for them.

These men and women have families too. Their children pray that their mom or dad won’t be harmed that day when they go to work so they can come home and be with them. They have the same struggles you do with an even heavier burden. Each time they go home they question if something was done right or if it was wrong and they harmed an innocent person. They live and they die while trying to serve and protect you–no matter who you are.

To all of the Law Enforcement and First Responders you are loved and your service is appreciated much more than you will ever know. You are prayed for by us here! May God bless you!

–Bryce Steiner,
A person who was wrongfully arrested yet still
appreciates these people who give so much to keep their people safe.