LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Fatal fire highlights safety issue

9/25/2013

My heart goes out to the mother who is coping with the loss of her family and home (“5 children, father of 1 killed during blaze at trailer park,” Sept. 16).

Years ago, I worked on mobile homes, installing heat tapes on copper plumbing underneath each unit. I discovered that one thing that often causes fires on cold nights is an improperly installed heat tape.

These are electrical add-ons that keep pipes from freezing and bursting. They must never cross over themselves. If they do, they’ll short out and cause a fire. I am not sure these devices are safe to use on plastic plumbing.

Perhaps modern mobile homes should have insulated pipes for the Ohio market.

SID DAVISSON
Fremont

Outrage missing over baby’s death
A baby’s father tortures and kills his 3-month-old baby, with an absence of community outrage (“B.G. man guilty for role in death of son,” Sept. 19).

This news only merited page B3 of The Blade. The 10-year plea deal for this horrific crime should leave us shocked and vocal.

Burns on hands and feet, head injuries, and at least 15 broken ribs. The baby could not talk, run, or lift his arms to protect himself.

A more appropriate punishment would be life without parole, and a prison uniform with this message in large letters: ‘I tortured my 3-month-old son before I killed him.’ ”

DANIELS ARNETT
Petersburg, Mich.

 

Don’t forget famed Toledo general
I commend The Blade for its excellent coverage of the 200th anniversary of events in the War of 1812 (“Thousands witness re-enactment of Perry’s 1813 Battle of Lake Erie,” Sept. 3).

It was unfortunate, however, that The Blade overlooked the area’s significant ties to the 150th anniversary (Sept. 19-20, 1863) of the Battle of Chickamauga, and to have forgotten the only local Civil War hero to have a statue erected in Toledo. Gen. James Steedman, who led troops on a number of Civil War battlefields, played a vital role in saving what was left of the Union Army at Chickamauga.

His statue, originally at Cherry and Summit streets, was moved to Jamie Farr Park, near North Summit and Galena streets.

The 21st Ohio Volunteer Regiment from Findlay and the 14th Ohio Volunteer Regiment from Toledo also provided distinguished service at Chickamauga.

DALE K. BENINGTON
South Beverly Hills Drive

 

Gun parade was out of place
Great. A gun parade in downtown Toledo, complete with AR-15s, AK-47s and babies in strollers (“Group parades guns downtown; Peaceful walk makes point that anyone can openly carry firearm,” Sept. 23).

We are mindful of the recent mass shootings that have devastated our country. How fitting a tribute to the victims massacred in those shootings was offered by those who paraded through the streets of the city with the very weapons by which they died.

I’m all for legal gun ownership. But a parade with assault weapons? Please.

TOM McCARTY
Sylvania Township