Letters to the Editor (Nov. 18)

No to Tyson near Clearwater

I live in rural Sedgwick County, in a housing development of 64 homes that sits one mile from one of the rumored Tyson Foods processing sites, 71st Street South and Tyler Road.

The majority of residents in Sedgwick County do not want Tyson here. There is a reason Tonganoxie didn’t want it, and we feel the same way.

We as a county can do better than Tyson. Do not throw away the pride that has been spreading through Wichita and Sedgwick County by making the county the chicken slaughter capital of the world. Don’t drive away tourism and companies that can actually benefit and sustain our county. Don’t wash our pride downstream with Tyson’s gray water.

Listen to your constituents who fear for their water supply, fear their property values will plummet, fear their children will no longer be able to play in their rural neighborhoods due to the smell of nearby chicken farms, and the waste from hundreds of thousands of chickens.

Common-sense guide to health

In Thursday’s Eagle article about new blood-pressure guidelines, several statements caught my eye: People can drop their blood pressure by a point for every 2.2 pounds of weight lost; and the DASH diet has been shown to lower blood pressure by as much as 11 points.

However, the next paragraph was, “I hate dieting and exercise. What about the drugs?” It appears this person loves drugs — drugs that are costly to the individual and to taxpayers, have unpleasant or medical side effects, and, as the article stated, one-quarter of prescriptions aren’t taken.

Health can be long-term vigor versus short-term fixes. While compassion is always necessary in medical care, responsible self-care should also always be expected over medical miracles. Forget those words “diet and exercise.” Use, as Consumer Reports did in its January 2017 issue on hypertension, the words “lifestyle changes.”

Carrots and beans and walking around the block may be absurdly cheap, but call those choices “lifestyle changes” and help your own health.

Wind industry remains important

The Kansas wind industry has become an important economic driver for our state, thanks in part to supportive policies at the state and federal levels. With the support of the wind industry two years ago, state and federal legislation was enacted that is currently providing the industry a stable transition to a future without government support.

Unlike some other energy industries also receiving special federal tax breaks or loopholes, wind was tax reformed in 2015 with legislation that set up a five-year phase-out of the Production Tax Credit.

Unfortunately, the U.S. House’s version of tax reform alters the 2015 deal which halts some midstream projects risking $50 billion in new wind development, including a sizable amount in Kansas, and jeopardizing 60,000 American jobs.

Three Republican Senators from strong renewable energy states have become outspoken regarding the House plan stating they intend for the Senate to keep their end of their commitment.

Kansans should encourage Sens. Roberts and Moran to actively support their GOP colleagues working to keep the five-year phase-out to avoid impeding the progress of an important industry to Kansas and the nation.

This story was originally published November 18, 2017 at 4:56 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (Nov. 18)."