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Published: July 23, 2008 07:18 pm
Readers' Forum: July 24, 2008
Serious concern heating up over natural gas prices
Consumers should expect dramatically higher natural gas prices this winter. While it is too early for Indiana natural gas utilities to predict the exact impact on heating bills, the trend in the competitive national market is cause for serious concern.
National wholesale natural gas prices are very close to the all-time records set in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. In addition, current NYMEX futures costs are substantially higher than previous records for July — the time most gas utilities throughout the nation are filling winter storage supplies.
Useful tips at www.IN.gov/OUCC and energy audit tools on various utility Web sites can help consumers reduce consumption and better manage their bills. Natural gas and electric utilities offer budget billing options that can provide consumers with greater predictability when planning ahead.
Most importantly, I encourage consumers to keep the communication lines open with their utilities — especially if facing a financial hardship. If a particular bill cannot be paid in full and on time, it is crucial that the consumer contact the utility immediately to make payment arrangements to ensure costs are managed during the heating season.
— A. David Stippler
Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor
Urge your rep to yes on drilling
The purpose of this letter is to ask your readers to urge Rep. Brad Ellsworth to take action in Congress to reduce gasoline prices before the one-month congressional recess scheduled for Aug. 9.
Everyone who is tired of paying unnessarily high prices at the gas pump should call Ellsworth and suggest that he read Reggie McConnell’s letter in the July 20 Tribune-Star. This letter is one of the finest I’ve ever read. Thank you, Reggie, for so clearly stating the facts and rationale for expanding domestic oil production as well as the construction of nuclear power plants.
All Tribune-Star readers should call Ellsworth and tell him to turn a deaf ear to the environmental extremists and make extraction of domestic oil the number one priority in Congress. And also add, “Don’t come home until you get it done.”
— Thomas B. Tucker
Terre Haute
Huge success for festival
On May 31, United Methodist Temple conducted it first annual “Spring Into Summer Fest” on the church grounds. It was a huge success beyond all our expectations.
The success of this event was due to many factors including the assistance of area businesses and individuals. We offer a sincere thank you to them. These include:
Lincoln Trail Ford-Mercury, Eston Fuson, Pizza Hut, McCord Tire and Auto Service, PetCo, Salon Secrets, Hair At Home, Starbucks, Menards, Dr. Gregory Jennings, DDS, First Financial Bank, Terre Haute Savings Bank, Old National Insurance, All American Tent and Awning, Express Employment Professionals, Pepsi, Pampered Chef, CozyNest Farm and Apiary, Saturn of Terre Haute, Gander Mountain, Howie Johnson, Temple Preschool, Soul’d Out, Flooring America, Boot City, Chapman’s Doll Accessories, Jerry and Debbie Wence, Brad Kesler, Chef, Terre Haute Bowling Center, City of Terre Haute, Vigo County Highway Department, Honey Creek Fire Department, Wabash Valley Mustang Club and various other cruise-in presenters, and Wal-Mart, parking privileges.
Besides the aforementioned, a big thank you also needs to go to the more than 125 individuals in our congregation whose volunteer help was invaluable.
— George Bakker
Publicity chair
Festival Committee
United Methodist Temple
Thanks to special help during flood
It was beyond belief — June 7, 2008 — the day the rains came. So many lives have been changed, some forever.
We have left our beloved Maryland Subdivision. To thank everyone who helped is impossible. But a special “thank you for above and beyond the call of duty” goes to Ryan for getting us out of our house; and Jeff and Scott for true muscle power. Neighbors, who were under stress for their own loss, offered to help us.
Forty-three years was a long time in our little house, but it will be the people we will truly miss.
Alan and Angie, your help was massive. Also, a special “God bless you” to FEMA, Red Cross and Family Services.
— Darrell and Julie Moody
Terre Haute
Dem candidate a disappointment
I am disappointed with Jill Long-Thompson’s campaign games. While Indiana’s economic situation is clearly an important political issue, she fails to list her positions on social issues like abortion and gay marriage on her Web site.
Could it be because she wants to avoid advertising that large portions of her campaign funding come from Emily’s List, an organization that supports candidates who favor abortion-friendly policies?
Thompson’s runningmate, Dennie Oxley, has been called pro-life and voted in favor of an amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman. He should be ashamed of himself, having compromised his own values to jump onto the ticket of a candidate who refuses to stand against gay marriage and who will be looking for ways to return the monetary favors from Emily’s List in the form of pro-abortion political action.
— Carly Robbins
Terre Haute
Wonderful job on handicap ramp
I would like to give a great big special thank you to Paul Elkins and the men from the West Terre Haute/New Goshen Lions Club for the wonderful job they did in building a handicap ramp for my family.
My husband is 87 and cannot climb stars very well and often falls and gets hurt.
My daughter has degenerative disc disease in her back and other ailments that make stair-climbing painful. With the steps cracking and falling apart, something needed to be done to prevent more injuries.
The height of the front porch was a problem but you came up with a solution. It has been a blessing. I don’t have to worry every time they leave the house.
With the costs of everyday living going up there is no way we could have afforded to build the ramp, so my family and I say “thank you” and God bless you for your time and labor.
— Geneva Boles
West Terre Haute
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