Print edition: 
'Improvements' made roads worse
Over the past year, busy streets such as East Harry and East Central have undergone major improvement and repair. Unfortunately, the design of the so-called improvements eludes the sensibilities of the locals, while the resultant surface of the streets provides a daily rough-ride commute.
East Harry between Greenwich and 127th Street East went from a friendly two-lane rural road to a two-lane rural road with spotty medians; the rest were removed after construction. A year's construction yielded the same two lanes, only rougher.
About the same result is evident on East Central just east of Rock Road. Significant repairs yielded a really rough ride until you escape onto the old surface. School crosswalks at Kapaun Mount Carmel High School are a joke.
The designs are questionable, but the execution is even worse. Aren't the contractors accountable for the quality of the final product?
MARK CARTER
Wichita
Blocking jobs
Regarding "Bill hurt Kansas" (Oct. 17 Letters to the Editor): The proposed elimination of oil tax breaks was not to punish anyone but to provide money to pay for the plan, which was to provide 11,500 jobs for Kansas. It would have put teachers back to work and helped pay for law enforcement.
Republicans are always the first to say that the government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. But in this case, they think we should pick a winner — one that they chose.
GOP senators voted against President Obama's jobs bill because it would be good for the economy and would create jobs, which would mean Obama would win a second term. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., already has said that he would do anything to prevent a second term for Obama. That seems to include not doing anything to create jobs.
EDWARD EVERHART
Bel Aire
Wrong to fire
When I think of what happened to Hank Williams Jr. —for comparing President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to Adolf Hitler and Benjamin Netanyahu — flashbacks of mock pictures of President Bush with a Hitler mustache come to mind, and I am shocked and disheartened.
As we all know, nothing happened to the Bush bashers (and nothing should have, as it was their right to criticize the president). Likewise, nothing should have happened to Williams, especially since there was no criticism of Obama.
Williams was only trying to express how outrageously foolish Boehner was for playing golf with his political opponent when there was so much at stake. Yet for this, ESPN fired him.
If "we the people" turn a blind eye to this, the freedoms we hold so dear might be taken away. Whose job is next?
JAMES E. SULLIVAN
Augusta
Out of line
ESPN did the right thing firing country star Hank Williams Jr. for his ludicrous comment comparing President Obama to Adolf Hitler and also calling him the enemy. Williams showed how ignorant he is by making his un-American, racist comment on a Fox News show.
Williams is not a political analyst, nor should he be treated like one. More companies should do just what ESPN did when an entertainer who works for them says things only to be controversial and for the shock value.
Williams has no one to blame for his firing but himself. He was out of line.
REGINALD S. NULAN
Wichita
Teaching evolution
It is wrong to teach our children the religion of naturalism as reality and not allow them to look at the evidence and choose for themselves. Teach both sides.
A rational look at all the evidence and facts without assuming either presupposition will make it evident which is true. But the issue is one of cultural power and intimidation, not truth. Because the evidence is so strong against evolution, evolutionists will no longer debate creationists but have resorted to marginalizing, mocking and expelling them from academic and "scientific" organizations.
Our children are being indoctrinated into a godless religion and not allowed to consider scientific creationism.
TOM BILLINGS
McPherson
Theater an asset
For the third year in a row, Wichita Community Theatre will open its doors to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. That night we will see about a thousand trick-or-treaters, plus parents and siblings.
Every year we meet people who are absolutely amazed that Wichita has a community theater right in College Hill.
WCT is in its 66th season, and if last season is any indication, we will break attendance records again. There is still room to grow, though. Currently, we present eight shows in our year-round season, all on a completely volunteer basis.
I believe WCT is one of the most important arts organizations in our city and more people should know about it.
BEN BLANKLEY
Wichita
Thanks for greeting
I wish to thank all who greeted the Central Prairie Honor Flight at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport on our return trip from Washington, D.C., on Oct. 7. I was impressed, as I had no greeting when I returned from the war in 1946.
ARKY REYEZ
Arkansas City
