Print edition: 
Wichita is logical choice for charities
Regarding “Which county should benefit from casino?” (Dec. 22 Local & State): The Operation Freedom Memorial Foundation is a Kansas-based nonprofit established to raise funds for and build a Kansas memorial that will include, among other things, the names of all Kansas veterans who have lost their lives while serving in the war against terrorism. Currently, two of 82 names to be inscribed on the walls of the memorial are from Sumner County.
Sherry Hoffman, the artisan contracted to sculpt the life-size bronze soldier and battlefield cross for the memorial, grew up in Mulvane and has been a teacher for the Maize school system for 34 years. Additionally, SI Memorials, the company contracted for the stone and construction of the memorial, is based in Parsons.
I wonder why someone would complain about some of the other charities listed as being Wichita-based. Wichita is the closest major city to Sumner County, a logical choice to base a business or nonprofit.
As a final note, the donations to Kansas nonprofits from the Kansas Star Casino were generated from profits of the controlled demonstration. I’m sure that a lot of the players at that event were from Sedgwick County, whose population is 18 times greater than that of Sumner County.
JOHN WILSON
Executive vice president
Operation Freedom Memorial Foundation
Wichita
Why complaining?
Why are the people in Sumner County complaining that they are not getting the money and recognition from the Mulvane casino? Many of us tried to tell them from the beginning that if it was built in Mulvane, it would be a Sedgwick County casino. If they wanted the recognition, they should have made sure that it was built in Wellington.
JEANNE HALL
Derby
Revote on slots
I read about a grassroots push to hold a clean vote on reopening the Wichita Greyhound Park. I believe Wichita would benefit greatly from seizing this opportunity.
As a young person in the Wichita community, I am acutely aware of the ever-tightening economy. Currently, there are few job prospects on the horizon for Wichitans. According to the articles I have read, the park would bring in 500 new jobs. That is an opportunity Wichita must take advantage of.
Additionally, I believe our communities will benefit from the investment of $100 million that the park will provide. When the park was in operation, local schools received increased funds from its operation, and the county received revenue to fund roads, sewers, law enforcement and other important services. As our government tightens its belt and tries to conserve resources, it is vital that we take advantage of opportunities to increase revenue, such as the park.
I encourage the community to support this proposal, and I hope that our state legislators will allow the people of Sedgwick County to vote on this matter.
PAUL McGUIRE
Wichita
Deplorable policies
The policies being pursued by Gov. Sam Brownback are deplorable. After using the current economic downturn as an opportunity to slash funding for public education, he now wishes to add salt to the wounds by cutting the state income tax and possibly replacing it with an increase to the sales tax, leaving education to slowly die on the vine. Certainly we will be able to keep the doors open to the schools, but to what end?
Sales tax is the most regressive and cruelest tax our state could use. But apparently what comes first is the well-being of a very few wealthy supporters and their growing fortunes. Our children and their futures are a distant second.
Reducing voting rights (to correct a problem that never existed in the first place), shifting the tax burden from those who are reaping the benefits in such a big way, choking off the funding for schools – it is becoming painfully obvious for whom our governor and his staff are working. It certainly is not the vast majority of Kansas citizens.
MICHAEL G. NICHOLS
Wichita
Vanishing art form
All through 2011 we have heard about the dire straits of the U.S. Postal Service. There are many factors that have brought the Postal Service to the brink of multiple closings, reduced standards and financial debt.
In my more than 31 years as a letter carrier, I have seen the demise of the handwritten letter. Yes, e-mail is faster; so are Facebook and Twitter. However, shortly after my mother passed away I went through her strong box where she kept her valuables. In the box I found what was precious to her. There was a lengthy handwritten letter from my father to my mom. There was no mistaking the bold strokes of my father’s pen.
The personalization of something written by hand is priceless. E-mail cards are cute, but a card with a brief handwritten note is something I will keep. I challenge each Eagle reader to take the time to write, by hand, 10 people. No, this won’t solve the Postal Service’s financial problems, but it will help preserve an art form that is quickly vanishing.
RON PAGE
Derby
