Editor’s Note: We here at the West Bend News print all “Letters to the Editor” because we believe that everyone has a Constitutional right to freedom of the speech and press. In saying that, we do not hold agreement with the content that is printed. We are just the messengers. However, any letters that attack a person rather than the discussion will not be printed. The name of the person who wrote the letter is placed at the end of each article. To be considered for publication, letters must be no longer than 1000 words, and you must provide a name along with a phone number and address to confirm validity of content for our readership area. You can respond or submit a new letter by email, USPS or fax.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Another republican character assassin has stepped forward. I won’t address him personally, as that’s not how I roll. yes, I have time, and I am an informed voter. and no I don’t “hate” trump. I hate the divisiveness he’s reigned over the best nation in the world! I despise his self-en-richening him and his family have done since squatting in the White House! I can’t stand how he’s disparaged our military heroes, and spit on their service! i don’t trust him with my Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid funds! I paid into these funds for 44+ years, and for trump to stop putting funds into these really pisses me off! I am scared that trump/bill barr will turn our nation into a dictatorship, and anyone who doubts this, look at trump’s trying to blame Joe Biden for all the criminal acts that trump himself has committed! no president has EVER used the department of Justice for his own lawyer! Nixon tried, and he was caught before going as far as trump! since he can’t win on his broken-promise record, trump tries to smear the competition for crimes his companies, family and his cabinet has committed the past 4 years! now it comes out trump didn’t disclose bank account and loan funds in China, Britain and Europe! why hide them? if you all trumpees are OK with theft, lies and trashing the constitution of the United states, by all means, vote for this crime syndicate! I will hand you the ballot on election day if you’re in my precinct at the polls! for the decent, compassionate, reasonable republicans who are my friends, they will still be my friends, and no, I didn’t vote a straight ticket! our sheriff has done a good job, and even if he’d been opposed, he got my vote! my hope is to return to normalcy after November 3rd. then my hope is the current covid19 cover-up is dealt with quickly and get as many healthy fast, not double the 220,000+ needless deaths the trump failed policies caused! go and vote, it’s time to stop the hate-filled rhetoric of this regime of squatters in the White House! with that, I now take my ball home. not to another country! bahahah!
— Mike Porter,
Antwerp, OH
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
November is Lung Cancer Awareness month and as a 35 year old newly diagnosed warrior, I wanted to bring awareness to non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) positive gene. The ALK positive gene mutation is so rare, it only affects 4% of NSCLC warriors worldwide, 65% of them being women.
This gene is developed in embryo to help develop our guts and nervous system and usually shuts itself off before birth, but in rare cases, fuses with another gene causing cancer down the line. It is unpreventable! This ALK positive mutation is not well known and because it can affect any adult with lungs, as early as their 20s, I wanted to get the knowledge out there. It is extremely important to request to be tested for the ALK gene following diagnosis of NSCLC and always get a second opinion. Because of its rarity, it usually does not get diagnosed until the cancer has already advanced or has become stage 4, especially in smaller areas like around here. The bigger hospitals have more capabilities and resources to test for the ALK gene mutation in the 4% of carriers. Which leads to me to my story.
I am a 35 year old wife, mother, daughter, sister who has a long history of cancer in my family line. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC 3 years ago and after receiving 2 years of treatment at Ohio State University, she was declared to be in remission 1 year ago this Thanksgiving. Almost 3 years to the day of her diagnosis, I got the shocking call that I have cancer in my right lung. I set up for all of my care to be done at OSU where they determined I had stage 4 NSCLC with the ALK positive gene mutation. I had never heard of this, but thankfully OSU had and they assured me it was treatable, not curable, but treatable and with target therapies I can add years to my life. Hopefully with all of the advancements in science and research, it will be easier to diagnose the ALK gene earlier and manage it longer.
I plan on being around for many years to come and hope that all cancers, no matter the stage, can and will be treatable and curable in my lifetime. To all of my fellow warriors out there, just remember that everyday you wake up and breathe in that fresh air, is another day God is giving you to conquer. Please help me bring awareness not only to lung cancer, but the ALK positive mutation, by putting a white ribbon around your trees for the month of November. If you have any questions, please reach out me through email at jenniferrpoor07@yahoo.com. I may not have all the answers, as I too am still learning, but I can offer support and hope.
—Jennifer (Herber) Poor,
Antwerp, OH
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Why Your Vote Matters in the 2020 Election:
Living in the Midwest offers so many advantages. The conservative values relating to our love of God, family, country, are cultivated and shared in our own homes and in our communities. At this time of year, I pause and remind myself why those values are so important to me, and why I should do my part to encourage fellow Americans to vote for those who stand for and protect those values. So, that’s why I’m writing this letter today. We need to find out where the candidates and their platforms stand on the issues that matter the most to us as individuals, and that matter the most for the greater good of all Americans.
*Legislatively and morally, the right to life is a fundamental issue, because all other rights are based on the right to life. Biden supports legislation which supports the right of unlimited abortion, funded by the taxpayers, up until the moment of birth. In fact, a US government accountability office report, https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-18-204R shows that Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, received over $1.5 billion in taxpayer funds from 2013 to 2015, while Biden was vice president. Should we be forced to pay for abortions with our tax dollars? No, we should not. In contrast, President Trump has enacted pro-life policies and has appointed Supreme Court Justices and Federal Judges who have made an impact for the protection and dignity of human life. The Trump administration has worked to defund abortions at Planned Parenthood and has restricted the use of human fetal tissue procured from abortions in medical research and has restricted funding abortion in the US and abroad. President Trump stopped funding the United Nations Population Fund by witholding $32.5 million, because it supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. President Trump also reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which prevents approximately $9 billion of foreign aid from being used to fund abortions internationally.
*Financially, before the pandemic hit, the economy was thriving, the stock market hit new highs, and businesses were flourishing. President Trump has come through on his promises of tax cuts, deregulation, energy development, and peace through strength.
*Militarily, President Trump has rebuilt our military and installed a capable defense team to correct the military deficiencies left from the previous administration.
*Constitutionally, if we want to protect our First Amendment rights of the free exercise of religion, the freedom of speech and the press, or the right to peaceably assemble, then we need to look around and see what is happening all around us and vote accordingly. The judges that rule on these issues and the legislators who write and vote on legislation to make our laws are elected by all of us, “we, the people”. It is unfortunate that big tech censors us, yet what guidelines are being used and are we allowed to fact check the fact checkers? The network news media do not always accurately report all of the facts. For example, Democratically run cities have been engaged in violent riots and yet President Trump is blamed. Regarding the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, Biden supports gun control, while the Trump Administration fought back against state closures of gun stores, shooting ranges, and government permitting offices during the corona virus pandemic, saying that they were essential businesses.
While the Constitution of the United States established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens, it’s up to us, the ordinary citizens, to take a stand, to run for office, to teach our children the truth, and to vote for candidates and issues that uphold our values. We need to take stock of our lives, our freedoms, and our values and try to make a difference in the world. President Trump has a proven record over the last four years, and has shown us that he is a capable leader who seeks to protect and defend our rights. Please vote for Trump.
—Kelly Shininger,
Sherwood OH
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I ask that you support the Permanent Improvement Levy in this upcoming ballot for Vantage Career Center. As a Vantage graduate, the need and understanding for skills trades is in a tremendous demand. I graduated in 1983 from Autobody, worked 2 years as a welder, had an opportunity to go through a 4 year Tool Maker apprenticeship. From there I started my own company, APT Manufacturing Solutions, in 1996. We now employ over 100 skilled labor, from Tool maker, welding, robotics, engineering and marketing. The skills gap is real and the employees are needed. Vantage Career Center is truly a top notch school that is producing graduates that are ready for the workforce. Vantage prepares the student for both the workforce or higher education. In a lot of cases students that graduate from Vantage land jobs at companies that pay for their higher education through work/school or apprenticeship programs. What we have right here in our area is very special. Please support the upcoming levy.
—Anthony R
Nighswander;
President APT
Manufacturing Solutions,
Hicksville OH
