Letter: Observe National Day of Prayer May 6

From: Helen Bunge
Mayer
Thursday, May 6 is our 59th annual National Day of Prayer. National Day of Prayer was created by an act of Congress to be the first Thursday of May.
The theme for 2010 National Day of Prayer is “Prayer. . . for such a time as this,” and is based on Nahum 1:7 which states: “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”
National Day of Prayer task   force chairman Shirley Dobson announced that Mr. Franklin Graham will lead the nation in prayer as the 2010 honorary chairman of the National Day of Prayer task force.
Below is printed the 2010 prayer for the nation written by Franklin Graham, so that you can pray with millions across this land.
Lord, we are thankful for the abundant blessings You have bestowed on America. Our forefathers looked to You as protector, provider, and the promise of hope. But we have wandered far from that firm foundation. May we repent for turning our backs on Your faithfulness.
We pray that this great nation will be restored by Your forgiveness.
From bondage, You grant freedom.
Through Your own sacrifice, You offer salvation.
From the state of despair, You offer peace.
From the bounties of Heaven, You have blessed – not because of our goodness – but by Your grace.
You have given us freedom to worship You in spirit and in truth as Your holy word instructs. May our lives honor You in word and deed. May our nation acknowledge that all good things come from the Father above.
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that our nation should set apart a day for national prayer to confess our sins and transgressions in sorrow, “yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon. . . announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nation only are blessed whose God is the Lord.”
“We have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our own hearts, that all these blessings were produces by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own . . . we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us. It behooves us then. . . to confess our national sins and to pray the God who made us! It behooves us then. . . to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”
Help us to pray earnestly for our president and leaders who govern, that they will humble themselves and seek Your guidance so that everything we do will shine the light of Your glory in a darkened world.
May our prayers as a people and a nation be heard and blessed for such a time as this. We make this plea in faith, believing in the mighty name of Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
You may have heard from the news media that the Freedom from Religious Foundation filed suit a number of months ago contending that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.
On April 15, US District Court Judge Barbara Craft decided in their favor, claiming that this observance violates the “establishment clause” of the First Amendment.
This ruling makes the National Day of Prayer theme “Prayer. . . for such a time as this” most timely.
We must unite our voices against this outrageous move to take away our religious liberties established by our founding fathers.
National Day of Prayer is America’s heritage. National days of prayer have occurred since 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the nation to join in a petition for divine guidance.
Since then, 34 of the 44 US presidents have called for days of prayer during times of crisis, including George Washington during the Revolutionary War, Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, Woodrow Wilson during World War I, Franklin Roosevelt during World War II, George H. W. Bush during Desert Storm, and George W. Bush during Iraqi Freedom.
Roosevelt prayed a passionate six-minute prayer on D-Day June 6, 1944, which was broadcast in its entirety on nationwide radio. Our leaders knew then that we desperately needed God’s intervention during those very dark days. And today, official recognition of the National Day of Prayer is now judged to be unconstitutional.
We know God is in control. I urge you to pray with bold confidence that our merciful God hears and answers our prayers, for Jesus’ sake, and for the good of this people in “such a time as this.”

Letters: Legislation has broad positive benefits

From: John Norman
Buffalo
Apparently the sky is falling as the Republicans attempt to discredit the health care reform bill.
You would never know, with all the false information and racket perpetuated by the sore loser Republicans, who there is much in this legislation that has broad, positive benefits for those covered by health insurance.
President Obama promised change when he ran for president; was elected by a majority of Americans; has a Democratic majority in congress. In spite of no support from the Republicans, who advertised the health care plan would be his “Waterloo,” the bill passed and is now law; the biggest social change since the passage of Medicare over 60 years ago.
This landmark legislation represents an achievement for Obama that other presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, sought unsuccessfully for nearly a century to implement.
This health care reform bill provides solid steps to curb rising health care costs which, left unchecked, would continue to bankrupt families, penalize US corporations and negatively impact our recovering economy.
This is not a government takeover of the nation’s health care system. Health care insurance companies will now have to compete on a level playing field.
Virtually all of the 160 million Americans with employer-sponsored coverage will be able to keep it. The 15 million now self-insured and the 32 million uninsured will also have the option of private coverage.
Provisions that take effect within the year will bar insurers from rejecting people with pre-existing conditions; will extend health care coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans; will provide tax credits to small businesses that offer coverage; will provide subsidies for people with limited or moderate incomes and will allow young people to stay on their parents’ policies until age 26.
Additionally, it will require health care insurers to spend a higher percentage of premiums for benefits instead of profits and overhead. For older Americans on Medicare, it will gradually close the “doughnut hole” on prescription drugs and also guarantees basic Medicare coverage. The Independent Congressional Budget Office states that savings generated by this bill will trim the federal deficit by $143 billion through 2019.
This ground-breaking legislation is a victory for all Americans over the big insurance companies and will prove that good policy is good politics.
As the impact of this health care reform is recognized by the American public they will heartily endorse it.

Letter: ‘Global warming’ is current catch phrase

From: Joan Neururer
Waverly
Chicken Little was crying, “The sky is falling.” In the 70s “Global Cooling” was the catch phrase of the far left.
The alarmists said we must change our ways. They said the use of fossil fuels was polluting the world and causing “Global Cooling.” They said that people would be dying from starvation, worldwide, within 10 years.
Alarmists insisted we could warm the earth’s surface by dumping ash on the polar caps. Dumping ash on the polar caps was a ridiculous idea, but sane people agreed that we needed to be better stewards of this wonderful world we inhabit.
The saner minds prevailed and people in general became more energy-conscious. Unfortunately environmentalists gained a strangle hold on the country and began dictating national policy.
We essentially quit drilling for oil. We let our natural resources lay fallow in the ground. For the most part, oil refineries ceased to be built and some old refineries were deemed pollutants and shut down.
Chicken Little ran faster crying, “The sky is falling.”
Flash forward to the turn of the century. “Global warming” is now the catch phrase of the far left.
The USA is deemed the cause of “Global warming.” We are deemed a selfish, uncaring nation. If that were true, why do we contribute aid more generously than any other nation, when crises occur around the world?
On the other hand while being extremely generous, the saner amongst us, are not willing to commit what will be national suicide.
Cap and Trade legislation must not be passed. “cap and trade” or Cap and Tax, as it is commonly called, would effectively tax industry out of existence in the USA. It would send industry off shore and it wouldn’t save our planet. Industries will move to countries such as China and India.  Those countries are known to have abysmal regulation of pollution.
We can’t allow the further undermining of our national wealth in the, erroneous, name of climate control.
In Iceland, a volcano is spewing more pollution into the air than we can even imagine. The funny thing is that some scientists are saying that the volcano will, quite possibly, lead to global cooling. The volcano has, possibly solved the fictional issue of global warming.
Remember we live in the great state of Minnesota. We have 10,000 lakes that were created through the melting of glacial beds long before the USA was even in existence.
There were certainly no automobiles around when those glaciers melted. Still, Chicken Little is running around crying, “The sky is falling.”
Please become involved in the fight for environmental sanity. Call your congressional representatives. Join “Camp America,” a local Tea Party group based in the Waverly and Howard Lake area. http://campamericagrassroots.com

Letter: Please rough in a culvert now

From: Karsten Anderson
Watertown-Mayer Superintendent
In conjunction with Carver County, the Watertown City Council is considering plans to reconstruct County Road 20 between Paul Avenue and the “Y” intersection near Bremer Bank.
As part of this project, roundabouts will be installed at both ends; curb, gutter, and a trail will be installed between the roundabouts; and a culvert may be roughed-in near the elementary school at the intersection of County Road 20 and Paul Avenue.
At a later time, perhaps after more homes in Forest Hills are built, the roughed-in culvert could be converted into a pedestrian underpass.
The purpose of this letter is to urge city council members – Steve Duske, KJ McDonald, Rick Mann, Dan Geiger, and Earline King – to rough-in a culvert now to provide the safest possible road crossing for residents of the City of Watertown.
An underpass would enable city residents to easily cross County Road 20 so they can access the Luce Line Trail, proposed city park, and school district fields and facilities.
Because the culvert would also benefit the school district, Watertown-Mayer is willing to consider a cost-sharing arrangement with the city to pay for the costs of roughing-in a culvert.
The following issues have been raised by council members who are opposed to roughing-in a culvert at this time:
Cost and responsibility: according to the latest city estimates, the cost to rough-in a culvert at this time is about $80,000.
One city council member expressed concerns about burdening taxpayers with this cost during these difficult economic times. If this is truly their primary concern, then why will curb, gutter, and a trail be constructed between the roundabouts?
Why should we spend any taxpayer dollars on these features even if other governmental entities are paying part of the bill? Why can’t we construct the trail north of County Road 20 at a later time?
Roughing-in a culvert is more important than these other features of the project. Out of a project of this magnitude, $80,000 is a small price to pay to provide the safest possible crossing route for our children.
Because the primary benefactors for the project will be the residents of Watertown, the City of Watertown should pay for at least some of the costs for roughing-in a culvert.
Nevertheless, Watertown-Mayer would consider an appropriate cost-sharing arrangement with the city to help pay for roughing-in a culvert at the intersection of County Road 20 and Paul Avenue
Costs could be recouped in the future if the district needs to limit transportation options for residents who live near the schools.
Timing: Now is the best time to install a culvert because the road is being redone, construction costs are low, and needed equipment will be on site.
Some say we should wait until more families move into the development before we install a culvert, but it will be much cheaper to do the work now during the road reconstruction.
If an underpass will ever be constructed under County Road 20, now is the best time to rough-in a culvert.
Location: One council member mentioned that an underpass should be placed further east on County Road 20. The first phases of Forest Hills, however, will be on the west side of the intersection; those residents, along with other city residents, will more likely use an underpass located at the intersection of County Road 20 and Paul Avenue
Furthermore, the county road over the location further to the east was recently reconstructed, and I doubt the county would redo that portion of County Road 20 to accommodate the construction of an underpass.
Type of crossing: Another council member suggested that an overpass be constructed in the future rather than an underpass now.
My understanding is that an overpass is more complicated and expensive than an underpass, especially when you are dealing with accessibility issues, structural issues, and power lines.
Suggesting this solution may temporarily appease some community members, but it is not a serious option for consideration.
Maintenance: Some council members claim that an underpass at the intersection would cause undue maintenance concerns for the city, especially with regard to snow removal and water accumulation. If true, then an underpass in another location would be similarly problematic.
In addition, some argue that there are maintenance concerns for overpasses. I am confident that our city engineers and maintenance staff members can address these maintenance issues; after all, other cities are able to do so.
Need: One council member conducted his own personal traffic “study” to see if children would walk to school from Forest Hills.
Because he did not see any children crossing busy county roads on that day in the middle of the winter, he claims that an underpass is not needed because children won’t walk to school.
That’s like saying a proposed road won’t be used because no one has been seen driving a car on a farm field where a road might be placed.
If an underpass is built under County Road 20, more children will walk or ride to school. Watertown-Mayer has periodically sponsored walk-to-school days when 10-plus adults supervised intersections and other crossings. On both days I observed, we had 100 to 200 students, their younger siblings, and parents walk or ride to school.
If city council members had observed these events, they would have seen children and parents with scooters, baby carriages, and bicycles finding their way to school.
Imagine how many children would walk or ride to school on spring or fall days after more homes in Forest Hills are built and families have an underpass to use? After all, Forest Hills will eventually be nearly twice as large as Wildflower.
Adequacy of the roundabout: One city representative indicated that the roundabout would be adequate for our residents because one near the high school in Waconia works well.
This roundabout in Waconia is fed by city streets with lower speed limits, and the primary destinations for traffic are the high school and community center.
In contrast, Watertown’s roundabout will be near an elementary school and will be fed by a major county arterial road with a high speed limit. There is no reasonable comparison between this Waconia roundabout and the Paul Avenue/County Road 20 roundabout.
To enhance the safety of children walking to school, one city official suggested that the school should pay for crossing guards before and after school.
The solution sounds simple, but having an underpass would still be safer than having crossing guards supervise a roundabout.
Furthermore, who would supervise the crossing during the summer and other non-school times? We are hoping for the safest possible solution throughout the entire day and year, not just the fifteen minutes before and after school.
I have a unique perspective because I not only represent the school district but also live in Watertown and have three young boys who love going to parks and riding their bikes.
Although this particular proposed underpass does not directly serve my neighborhood, I understand the needs and concerns of Watertown residents who desire a “walkable community” ostensibly espoused by the city and county.
To provide for the safest possible crossing of County Road 20, we encourage Mr. Duske, Mr. McDonald, Mr. Mann, Mr. Geiger, and Ms. King to vote for roughing-in a culvert as part of the County Road 20 project.
The culvert is proposed for the right location, the timing is right, and benefits outweigh the costs. This is our chance to get the project right. Let’s do it for the good of our community.

Letter: Be sure to attend land use meetings

From: Leonard Wozniak
Stockholm Township Planning Commission chairman
Stockholm Township is have a Planning Commission hearing Thursday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. Read the public notice in this paper.
Stockholm Township board would like give the residents and land owners of Stockholm Township an extra opportunity to convey their thoughts on shaping the township in the comprehensive plan.
The county will have a meeting at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School  Tuesday, April 27, but there was no scheduled meeting between the County P&Z and the cities and township officials before, and we thought it may be beneficial to have a meeting with just the township.
Stockholm Township has its own planning and zoning but must operate under the county’s comprehensive plan. Please plan to attend and voice your ideas.

Letter: Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit enjoyable

From: Mike Ollig
Winsted
Last week I read a column written by Lynda Jensen of the Herald Journal regarding the Dead Sea Scrolls. This exhibit is currently on display at the Minnesota Science Museum.
I have great respect for Lynda and her writings. Her editorials are usually very interesting and though-provoking.
However, I have to take issue with her column of “Don’t bother with the Dead Sea Scrolls program.”
I must point out what I truly believe was an honest mistake on her part. There possibly was information that was given to her by someone at the information desk or ticket sales at the Science Museum which was incorrect.
In her column, she was upset that she had to see the movie Arabia as part of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.
To make a long story short, the movie Arabia is not a part of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. You don’t have to see this movie to experience the Dead Sea Scrolls. They are separate.
I went to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit and chose not to pay a separate $8 charge to see the movie Arabia.
I found the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit fascinating. Yes, there is a bit of history presented before you see the scrolls. However, they are arguably one of the greatest finds in modern day history.
You actually see 2,000-year-old hand-written text of which much of our present day Western religious traditions are based.
It’s not for everyone, but if you like history, religion and science, you will enjoy this exhibit.

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