Treat addicts while in jail

On Sept. 30 I participated in a debate held at LBCC. During the debate I cited statistics about meth-related crime and child abuse. It was reported that I said that “we’ve got to fight it with drug treatment, not incarceration.” I don’t believe that is exactly what I said.

My position is, and I’ve said it repeatedly, every time I speak: We must treat offenders with effective drug treatment while they are serving their time. We would then produce a more-productive and less-dangerous person upon release. Drug dealers should always face the full measure of the law.

Dan Thackaberry, Lebanon

Thackaberry is a candidate for state representative in House District 17.

All we want: Follow the rules

After seeing the signs and reading the rebuttals given by Rick Alexander and Josh Wineteer to the Lebanon recall vote, I felt compelled to try to set the record straight.

At no time has it ever been suggested, or wanted, to have a “puppet” or “rubber-stamp” school board. At no time has the issue ever been whether or not to keep Dr. Robinson as school superintendent. The only things ever asked or expected of the school board members were to conduct business according to state law and existing school board policies, to consider all Lebanon students and schools in their decisions, to act courteously toward each other, and to set a good example of being adults for the students who periodically attended board meetings as a part of learning about government for their high school class.

Unfortunately, Alexander and Wineteer fell short in all categories. Their whole focus seems to have been “How can we get rid of Robinson?” and “What can we give to Sand Ridge?”

Lebanon has suffered enough under their leadership. I don’t doubt that they feel they know what is best for Lebanon, but they have continually ignored the correct procedures and put our school district in jeopardy.

Legal fees totaling in the thousands of dollars have resulted from their actions. Failure to uphold the district administration’s attempts to get contract compliance from PIE almost resulted in the entire district losing its state funding. That issue is still under investigation.

Efforts were made during the audience comment section at board meetings, letters and e-mails were sent, even some face-to-face attempts to get through to the board, along with last-ditch attempts as letters to the editor were mailed, all to no avail.

Lebanon has been embarrassed enough by all the bad press and the reputation it has given us. It’s time to pull ourselves out of the mire we’ve been in. We are poised to step into a better community financial climate than we’ve seen in a long time. A good school system is all that is lacking now. What happens with the superintendent is up to the board, but not this one as it presently sits. It’s time to move forward and move on.

Patty Crenshaw, Lebanon

I love with whom I disagree

It looks like I struck a nerve with William C. Medlock, whom I fondly call “Willie Woo,” in his Sept. 29 letter to the editor, “Confused about tolerance.” Sometimes the truth does that.

It’s funny how the liberals fail to read the entire text but just pick and choose. In this case “Willie Woo” forgets to mention how I did say that I loved the liberals and that I have no problem loving those with whom I disagree.

The God of the Bible calls on us to love one another but he does not call on us to roll over, play dead and have no opinion. That seems to be the liberal approach to conservative Christians.

Don’t worry “Willie Woo,” I’ll still love and pray for you before and even after the election is over.

Jeani West, Sweet Home

The problem: Their methods

As I’ve been reading the letters opposing the recall of Mr. Alexander and Mr. Wineteer, I’ve noticed a common thread — the belief that the ends justify the means.

I have never met Mr. Alexander or Mr. Wineteer but have no doubt that they are sincere individuals who are trying to follow what they believe. I have no problem with them wanting to do so. The problem is in their methods. Both have disregarded board policies and procedures that are in place to ensure a fair process and to protect the board and the district from potential legal and civil liability.

If Mr. Robinson or some other harmed individual chooses to sue the district because those policies and procedures were ignored, the district has no defense. In a time when school districts are struggling to balance budgets and provide quality education, any money that is taken away from the classroom, and especially due to litigation, is a travesty.

One other point: The discord on the board caused by Mr. Alexander and Mr. Wineteer has caused important decisions the board needed to make to be postponed. The Beyond LHS program is a case in point. The final parameters for the program were not set until June, well past the deadlines for students to obtain financial aid from other sources to pay for their education at LBCC.

When someone says that our students’ education comes first, it’s important that their actions match their words. Mr. Alexander and Mr. Wineteer, your behavior forces me to vote in favor of the recall. The ends do not justify the means. If the recall fails and you are retained on the board, please change your methods. The welfare of the students of Lebanon Community School District is at stake.

Brian Hawes, Lebanon

We take a Biblical approach

In response to the two letters castigating Ted Gay for his letter trying to give the Biblical view of homosexuality: One needs to go to the beginning of time when God created the Earth and on the sixth day he created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

In the Old Testament Leviticus Chapter 18:22-23 and in the New Testament Romans Chapter 1:24-27, God has made it clear what we can and cannot do, all sin is covered: fornication, adultery, murder, deceit, covetousness, stealing, and yes, homosexuality.

Ted Gay is not a hatemonger, nor am I. We believe the whole word of God and His son Jesus. He is a forgiving God when we leave our sin and ask him for forgiveness. Some people only want to pick out things Jesus said and put a positive spin on it to justify their lifestyle choices.

All of us are sinners and fall short of the glory of God but when we go to him with a contrite heart and ask for forgiveness he lovingly forgives and remembers our sin no more. The key is to do our best to avoid sin in any form but to trust that what he says is the truth.

If we take the humanist approach to life, then anything goes, including homosexuality, or no need for marriage between one man and one woman but demanding marriage between two homosexuals, or abortion because a humanist doesn’t accept our premise that life as we see it starts at conception.

It’s clear we are going to be continually condemned for our Biblical approach to homosexuality and life.

Patricia Beck, Lebanon