Letters, 4/19: Lend a helping hand

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A few weeks ago, my faith in my fellow human  beings (at least my fellow Nebraskans) was renewed. Nebraskans are truly something. We are all they say and more.

On March 30 at 8:20 (think rush hour traffic), I witnessed an amazing event. I was at a service station getting gas when a Mountain Dew delivery truck lost several cases of pop off the back of his truck. They were scattered all across Ninth and Q streets. In many places, people may have just chuckled to themselves and kept in their own business, but not here — not in Nebraska. There were at least 10 people who stopped, ran a block down the street even, just to help this guy out. There were businessmen and women, my service station guy and even a couple of Department of Roads guys who came to his aid. The Department of Roads guys even parked their truck to deter traffic. It was such a cool sight to see, I was almost moved to tears, seriously.

I want to applaud those Nebraskans for doing the “right thing”;  the kind, compassionate thing. Perhaps if the whole world just focused a little more of their energy on doing the “right thing,” maybe our children would be growing up in a truly kinder, gentler nation.

So, when you are out in the world today, look for an opportunity to help your fellow neighbor — you never know when the shoe may be on the other foot, and it might be you who is in need of a helping hand.

Susan Ames Rivers, Raymond

Justice — or ‘just us?’

How fortunate those Duke players are that they did not have to spend years in jail until DNA evidence proved them innocent. Sometimes “justice” really does mean “just us.”

Jessie Myles, Lincoln

Resigned on LPS costs

Not all of the public is silent due to the two reasons cited by Keith Prettyman — disinterest or contentment (LJS, April 11). Some of us are silent out of resignation. I for one already feel defeated. Lincoln Public Schools is going to cost us more money every year. That is as sure as the proverbial death and taxes guarantee.

I have three children in LPS, so I personally see mismanagement of money. I think the single biggest waste of money is too many administrative staff members. LPS doesn’t have to worry about its budget. It knows it can forcibly take as much money from the taxpayers as it wants … one way or another. Why then would I waste my time coming to a meeting knowing that LPS could really care less if the public approves of its budget or not?

We spent $394,000 on supplies like pencils and paper. When I went to school, we brought our own. Can we go back to that? I think if parents around the city had a choice, we could buy those supplies for less than that amount. We would certainly be more cognizant of how many supplies our own children were using.

Marcy Bartek, Lincoln

Republicans: Please vote

Get out and vote. In the last mayoral election, Republican voters did not turn out like should have, consequently an inept Democrat was elected as mayor.

We need a change in our city government, and that does not mean elect Beutler, a career politician, as mayor. He wants to use the mayor’s office as a stepping stone for a higher office. He has fed at the public trough long enough. Beutler’s campaign people try to make the things he has done sound like such a great accomplishment, but they really are not.

Svoboda has been involved in city government just long enough to know what needs to be done to get this great city progressing like it should; let’s get out and elect him.

Jim Lee Butler, Lincoln

Why not investigate?

In response to Kelley J. Hascall’s letter (“Just the news, please,” April 10), I would like to suggest that a really good journalist is able to see a story from a variety of perspectives. This story was not about Hollywood gossip; rather, it used a popular celebrity figure to plant a seed of knowledge about adopting pets from animal shelters.

Articles like the one about Ebony encourage people who are considering adding a pet to the family to think about adopting one from a shelter rather than purchasing one from a pet store. Pet stores sometimes get their dogs from “puppy mills,” breeding facilities that subject dogs to cruel and harsh conditions that result in a lifetime of suffering and pain. I am a part of a large circle of animal advocates, and without exception, everyone who has seen the article applauds the Journal Star for placing “front page importance” on this subject.

I was moved by the passion in the words written by Hascall in her letter to the editor. She described herself as an idealist and expressed great enthusiasm for quality investigative reporting. I would encourage her to do some investigative reporting on puppy mills. Good reporting will lead to heightened awareness among the general public and hopefully to better laws that ensure “the good life” for our animal friends in Nebraska.

Kathie Phillips, Denton

Phone books wasteful

I’m glad you addressed the problem of unwanted, unnecessary phone books that glut doorways. When I get another useless phone book, I think of the thousands of trees that are being destroyed. Now I know the approximate number — 26,282 trees. I immediately recycle the new unwanted phone books at a recycling center, but many people don’t and throw books in the trash, causing more landfill refuse.

No doubt the salespeople who sell ads in books 2, 3 and 4 tell would-be advertisers that people “need” their books with ads. Do advertisers realize that hundreds of these books end up piled at churches, vacant lots and unoccupied dwellings? Someone is paid to “deliver” the books wherever.

As for city maps in phone books, the map size has been reduced to the point the maps can’t be read even with a magnifying glass. Just try to search out an unfamiliar street using the worthless maps.

The cost of paper products is obviously going up. Would you rather valuable paper be used for umpteen phone books or toilet paper? Um …

Mary Ann Donoghue, Lincoln