Published: August 25, 2008 05:11 pm            

Readers' Forum: Aug. 26, 2008

Great season ahead for ISU football

My husband and I have had the pleasure of attending most of ISU’s football pre-season practices and scrimmages. Granted, I know very little about the technical aspects of football and my husband doesn’t seem to want to explain the subtleties and nuances of every play, but I am astonished at what my untrained eye has noticed.

The organization and execution of a practice is simply amazing! Coach Miles and his staff work efficiently when conducting practice. There is no wasted time. Even the trainers are in constant motion taking water to players and tending to their needs.

The players understand Coach Miles will accept nothing but their best effort each time they hit the field. He and his coaching staff are clear in their expectations of these young athletes. He always ends practice with a meeting in the middle of the field where players are reminded to show respect to the coaching staff and each other. I personally like the part where he tells each player to watch out for his teammates, not only on the field but in all situations.

I am looking forward to a great season of football at ISU. It may or may not be a winning season, but one thing is for sure, the pride and respect the players have shown so far certainly indicates the presence of integrity in leadership.

The community has a “winner” with this coaching staff.

— Kelly Dumas

Terre Haute



Getting attention of rail company

Concerning trains blocking street traffic:

Many complain and tickets are written, but FEW are the elected officials in a position to really do anything about it. The state laws were made for the railroads years ago, and, yes, they’d be fined, even arrested, but the fine is so small the railroads can pay it (If and when they want to) out of their coffee money.

This was an extremely dangerous situation occurring repeatedly in the City of Brook Park, Ohio. This city has a busy railroad crossing running between the hospital and emergency services such as ambulances and fire engines.

Ideas of an overpass, underpass and re-routing the train tracks were proposed as well. This was in the 1960s.

At that time they had a very voter-inspired mayor by the name of Angelo Wedo. Mayor Wedo was aware of the almost do-nothing laws already in existence for only the railroad’s benefit. What he did do was hit the railroads where it really hurt, their revenue!

In Ohio at the time, a railroad could not by law block a road more than five minutes or they could be arrested, charged and eventually fined a very minimal fine. When a train blocked a major road Mayor Wedo had his police board the train, order the engineer to move the train OFF the roadway, and arrested all concerned to the jail.

A call by the arrested engineer to the terminal got the railroad moving. It took over three hours before the railroad could find a licensed operator to move the train, and that was merely to a close-by siding. What this delay did was to tie up hundreds of other trains and railroads of personnel, their customers and freight loss of time, and delay for hours of further traffic.

Stop and arrest the engineers a few times. Delaying the movement of railroad trains will cost the railroads thousands of dollars in delays and that will catch their attention very quickly, at least top management who will more deal with the local railroad’s tiny “big shots”.

Now you know a very effective measure within the law. All we need now is a mayor with guts to implement it.

— Ray McCreary

Terre Haute



Support led to event success

We at the Vigo County Education Foundation are happy to inform the community that we have just concluded our 16th annual “Force the Kids” golf scramble.

It took place Friday, Aug. 1, at Rea Park, with a full field of 144 golfers participating, and although it was hot and humid, the play went well.

Fifty-four sponsors and other financial supporters, plus major contributors Clifton Gunderson Financial Services, Energy Systems Group, HP Products Corp., Lee Co., Indiana Business Equipment, Forrest Sherer, B&B Foods, Martin Riley, Crown Electric, C. H. Garmong and Sons, VCTA and Sycamore Engineering were the major reasons we shattered the record of income for this event. Perennial boosters Baesler’s and MIC’s Pics contributed to our success. We are so grateful for such outstanding participation.

Granting opportunities for enhanced learning is being made possible because of the efforts of so many at this yearly function.

We are both pleased and thankful for the hard work of our executive director, Jenny Thomas, our board of directors and the educational community for making this endeavor so successful.

— Charles E. Uhl

Golf Committee Chairman

Vigo County Educational Foundation

Terre Haute

        

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