Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, Following is a letter to Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green): RE:  Our Democratic Way of Life Dear Senator Marklein,  Your failure to condemn outgoing President Trump›s words and actions on the validity of our national election for president of the United States is reprehensible. Don›t you SEE that your failure to affirm/accept the election results undermines our trust in the election, including  Republicans who were elected as well? Your November 20th weekly newsletter included the invitation for your readers to submit any complaints or allegations to the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections.  Please only ask for complaints or allegations that have some basis, and not the unfounded allegations without proof that have been thrown out by courts all over the country.  Our elections are safeguarded by our clerks and poll workers and voters following the processes set forth in our Wisconsin Constitution and the Wisconsin Election Commission. Put something in your weekly newsletter and issue a press release affirming your confidence in our citizens who have spent many hours working the polls, counting and certifying the vote. My goodness, urge Assembly Speaker Vos and your Senate colleagues to get busy governing and stop wasting my tax dollars on frivolous probes. We must support our democratic system of government.  Sincerely, Linda Donnelly Spring Green   Dear editor, With the holidays approaching I know many families will be missing “loved ones” who will not be seated at their tables nor close enough to even give them call or send greetings in the mail. The year 2020 will be a sad reminder of loved ones lost, not only because of the coronavirus but other illnesses.  There are way too many people walking around this world with holes in their hearts and missing loved one! I, myself, have lost a dear brother, other friends and my best friend this year and I know there are many in the River Valley area who know what loss truly means. My best friend’s name is Rosie Layton.  Sadly Rosie passed away this past September 12, just hours after my birthday, the next day. Rosie’s journey in life was enriched in many ways.  She has always been a fun loving and caring person, always reaching out to brighten the days of others and sometimes forgoing her own needs. She believed in “the good of people” and would try to help them if she could.  Rosie always told me that she enjoyed meeting new people.  She’d strike up a conversation with others and once their visit had ended, they would part as friends.  Yes, Rosie was a very thoughtful and caring person - she was an adventure seeker and had hoped to skydive before her illness.  She was a true George Jones fan and she loved to dance as many of your readers can attest to.  We shared that joy together.  We would feed off one another’s dance moves and have a blast on the dance floor.  One of Rosie’s favorite songs to dance to was “Do you Wanna Dance” which has been recorded by several artists but she loved to hear it played by her favorite local band, Better Daze.  She was electric on the dance floor.  One could not help but smile and enjoy the moments with her. Though this chapter of life on earth has ended for Rosie, the story continues through Christ and in the hearts and memories of those who are left to complete their own journeys.   Like the song says: It’s not what you take with you when you leave, it’s what you leave when you go - Rosie has left deep imprints on our hearts and will always be remembered. It’s love without end, Amen Karen (Pletzer) Fowler Wisconsin Rapid Dear editor, It has come to my attention that Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), representing Scott Jensen, filed a petition to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a rule change regarding future redistricting litigation. It is my understanding that this rule change will limit the review of maps, rush the process, and deter public comment. I believe that this rule change will politicize our state’s Supreme Court and will further damage the credibility of this once-grand institution. By jumping over the lower courts, the people’s voice will be further shunned from the process. The people of Wisconsin have spoken loudly of their support for fair maps to be drawn in our state. Check the results of the recent anti-gerrymandering referenda! In Iowa County, where I worked hard with the Iowa County Fair Maps Team, the support for the anti-gerrymandering referendum on the November ballot was a resounding 73.8 percent. Overall statewide support is similar. The people have spoken. The people are organized. The people are watching. Claudia Looze Highland   Dear editor, The Lone Rock Community Food Pantry is again partnering with “Buckets for Hunger, Incorporated” to obtain funding which will assist with our ability to continue to provide assistance for needy families in our area.  The program will match 35¢ for every $1 that you donate up to a maximum of $3,000.  Every dollar contributed helps to buy about 10 pounds of food for the needy through this matching funds program.  Over the last 20 years, Buckets for Hunger has sent out over $2,300, 000 in grants to food pantries.  Buckets for Hunger has no paid staff and 100 percent of the funds raised go to food pantries.  Thank you to those who took part in this program to assist the Lone Rock Community Food Pantry in the past.  If you wish to make a donation to this matching funds program this year, CHECKS MUST BE MADE PAYABLE TO “BUCKETS FOR HUNGER” and mailed in care of the Lone Rock Community Food Pantry - P.O. Box 195, Lone Rock WI 53556.  Checks to be considered for the program are due by December  17th. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts. Sincerely, Kathy Rossing LRCFP director Lone Rock   Dear editor, What’s up with the Valley Sentinel?  We have some questions about the recently arrived paper. The Lower Wisconsin River Valley Sentinel claims it “Cares More.” More than what? More than who?  Are they trying to displace the Home News as the “only newspaper in whole wide world that cares about the River Valley area”? Is there room for another paper?  The big question is “Who are they”? They claim decades of experience in the River Valley area but the only familiar person was David Giffey, who withdrew after the first issue. It turns out that the main players are not using their real names.  One reason the editor “Conlon” gives is that she has non-compete agreement with her full-time news employer and that they are moonlighting. And why a “legal editor,” who uses “esq,” but isn’t a registered Wisconsin lawyer?   We are baffled and also amused by their motto “Forged in Fire.” We are slightly concerned by the choice of the name “Sentinel” for its political and religious overtones. The logic suggests that the VS is positioning itself as the guardian of the river valley, armed and dangerous. Pretty much the opposite feeling we get from the Home News. Is that the point? Then there’s the content. It duplicates the reporting of the Home News. It is a serial offender when it comes to printing puffy political press releases. It is filled with somewhat more useful public service releases, big color pictures, and overblown, sometimes confused graphics.   There is little transparency in general. The owner of their LLC is hidden as is ownership of their website and domain name.  For us, community journalism depends on trust, so we wonder what they really care more about. Paula Schiller Barbara Morford Spring Green   Dear editor, Note to columnist Bob Charlie:  THANK YOU for the best belly laugh I’ve had in a loooong time! Had to stop reading at one point because of the tears of laughter in my eyes.  It felt so so good!!   Jan Swenson Arena   Dear editor, IT’S A FACT JACK! FACT: Trump’s lying will no longer have a national pulpit as of January 20. FACT: Now we finally have a national leader who takes COVID-19 seriously and we can begin to get past it. FACT: Getting past COVID-19  means putting up with masks, social distancing, and perhaps business and school closures, until we have all been vaccinated. FACT: Not taking all this seriously will lengthen the time it takes to get past COVID-19 . Trump’s not having done much of anything is why we still have it so much worse than any other country in the world. FACT: President Joe Biden’s cabinet will consist of experts in their respective fields, not family members and cronies with little or no national or international experience. FACT: Making America great again means Building Back Better through expert teamwork, working with our allies and becoming the international leader we once were. It never was paying homage to a false idol with dyed orange hair and makeup to match. FACT: The nightmare is over, let’s work on improving all our lives, not just those of the rich. Kay Ziegahn Richland Center