Letters to the editor

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Aug 23, 2008

Justice seems lacking

I was deeply saddened to see Topekan Tommy Kent sentenced to 32 months in prison. He is a local businessman, an employer and a taxpayer. He has beautified Topeka and secured many of our landscapes and surroundings.

I don't know Mr. Kent personally. I don't understand hunting as a sport. I just know something that is so unfair.

I moved here in 1989 and have read The Capital-Journal every day. There is a local family whose members get arrested frequently for murder, aggravated assault, burglary and drugs. They have spent years in and out of jail. We constantly let them out and again they get arrested and end up in jail. Not even knowing these people, I have watched their careers in crime for years, and so have all of you.

Mr. Kent is no threat to society. I really don't understand our judicial system. We incarcerate a man for an accident while we let other men free who over and over again deliberately kill and steal.

This is in no way a reflection on or meant to hurt the family who lost their son. It was a tragedy of the worst kind and should never have happened. My heart and prayers go out to the family.

Justice, though, I am not sure was served in this case.

RIKI COBLER,Topeka

School fair a success

On behalf of the Community Action Inc. board of directors, staff and volunteers, I wish to thank everyone who assisted with the Back- to-School Fair Aug. 2 at the Kansas Expocentre.

We wish to thank our co-sponsors and partners, Security Benefit Group, Kansas Housing Resources Corp., the 190th Air Guard, Wal- Mart, Payless ShoeSource, Children's Mercy Family Partners, UniCare, Topeka Public Schools, Kansas Department of Corrections, Best Buy, Frito-Lay, KMAJ and WIBW. Their generosity included financial and media support, as well as assistance with assembling backpacks and numerous details associated with the event. We also wish to thank the many agencies that helped with planning this year's Back-to- School Fair.

We are grateful to the dozens of exhibitors who informed families about their services and to the numerous volunteers who assisted with the distribution of school supplies and supervision of games, as well as providing hospitality. Finally, we want to thank the Kansas Expocentre's staff for its cooperation and expert help with arrangements.

We look forward to the 18th anniversary Back-to-School Fair in August 2009. We especially look forward to continuing our close partnerships with the many organizations and individuals who are pledged to assist families with school-age children.

SUSAN WHEATLEY, executive director,Community Action Inc.,Topeka

GOP had the chance

I recently took note of a letter to the editor indicating an individual's belief that the Democrats were responsible for the economic and energy situation this country now finds itself in. I believe there is more than enough blame for everyone to share.

First, we must remember the Republican Party was in control of Congress from 1996 through 2005. From 2001 to 2005, we had a Republican Congress and a Republican president. In 2006, the Democrats gained control of both houses of Congress by a slim margin, not with enough votes to pass legislation without some Republican support.

During this time, the energy, economy and abortion issues could easily have been addressed and passed with a presidential signature. This didn't happen. Instead, we went to war, jobs were outsourced, the wealthy were given tax breaks, large corporations were no longer held responsible for the way they treated their employees, and so on.

Are we better off than we were 12 years ago?

R.A. BARBEE,Auburn

Be vigilant on streets

In the middle of June, I witnessed an accident in front of Oakland Presbyterian Church, where I am the pastor. A garbage truck and an older pickup collided at the intersection of S.E. Winfield and Thomas. I did not see what actually happened but looked up when I heard screeching brakes and then the impact.

When I went to the location I saw that the blade from front of the refuse truck had entered the passenger side of the pickup and exited the windshield. I am also an emergency room nurse, so as I approached the scene I was mentally preparing for the worst. Fortunately there was no passenger in the pickup. If there had been, easily that person would have been gravely injured. Also fortunately, neither driver was hurt in this potentially tragic incident.

Since then I have witnessed two near misses at that location and was nearly sideswiped myself.

In conversation with neighbors and members of my congregation, I have heard that frequent accidents happen in the Oakland area, some with tragic consequences. The largest contributing factor seems to be the lack of stop signs. This inadequate signage is even more untenable in that Oakland Presbyterian Church is three blocks from Lundgren Elementary School. I wonder if Oakland is the forgotten neighborhood for public safety in the city of Topeka.

With school back in session, I ask those driving in our Oakland neighborhood to drive safely, looking out for our children in these unsafe intersections.