LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Food stamp cut hurts the poor

11/14/2013

I felt ashamed and angered when I read that about 3.6 million people in Ohio and Michigan will receive a $36 cut in their monthly food stamp allotment (“Food stamps pared today for millions,” Nov. 1).

The victims of those cuts, for the most part, will be those who are the least likely to have the energy, time, or inclination to come together and confront this travesty. That’s why they’re such an easy target for lawmakers who are facing difficult financial decisions.

I’m reminded of a quote from St. Basil the Great: “The money you keep locked away is the money of the poor.”

THE REV. ROBERT SCHRAMM

Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Parkside Boulevard

 

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Clements helped young reporter

Chase Clements’ nickname was Bear and that is what he was in the WSPD-TV (now WTVG-TV) newsroom (“In print, on air, writer covered local politics,” Nov. 6). Reporters and anchors knew that if the story wasn’t right, Bear would be in your face.

I started my career in 1966 with WSPD-TV as a reporter working beside Mr. Clements. A true old-style reporter, he used to do some weekend anchoring. He didn’t really like it, but what the audience heard was accurate.

The great first generation of Toledo local broadcast journalists are now almost all gone. Legendary talent and journalists started Toledo broadcasting and gave others such as me a huge career opportunity in the business. I’ve had a good career, and it all started with Chase Clements.

MIKE SMYTHE

General Manager

KBSI-TV, WDKA-TV

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

 

Heartland backed in response to ad

As a practicing family doctor for more than 30 years in the Toledo area, I was disheartened to see the advertisement in your paper Sept. 29 by a law firm targeting Heartland of Perrysburg nursing home for its patient care.

I have been admitting my patients there for 25 years and have found Heartland’s care to be exemplary.

Heartland’s team of nurses, physical therapists, and wound-care specialists do a fine job of healing these patients, and if possible, returning them home.

I encourage your reading public to consider the opinion of an admitting physician when considering a nursing home for themselves or loved ones, and not just one of an out-of-town law firm.

DR. ROBERT SCHMIDT

Rossford

 

Returning vets need nation’s help

It seems as though organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project, which depend on public donations, are performing a needed service (“Walleye bring ‘Star Wars’ to ice,” Nov. 1). I wonder why our national government is failing to fund such projects to care for the needs of servicemen and women, and their families, who lost so much in serving our country.

Something needs to change so we as a nation can show our thanks and support of these and all other veterans.

LEONARD PIETRAS

Perrysburg