Dear Editor:
Many statements made in the letter to the editor "Township board restricted from addressing grievances" were defamatory and untrue. Please allow me to set the record straight on several of the issues raised.
Dee Mathews was appointed Assessor in February 2009, not January. I did not appoint Dee Mathews to replace Bruce Owen--the Decatur Township Board made the appointment. Every member of the board voted to approve this appointment, including Hilda Walker.
Apparently Hilda has forgotten that she was part of that process.
Bruce Owen's resignation letter is on file. In it, he details his health issues and upcoming surgery as reasons for his resignation--not pressure from the board.
Assessor Dee Mathews was appointed by the Board in February 2009. I did not come to work for her until May 2009. Obviously, Dee's "first action" did not involve me. I was not asked to perform office manager duties until the end of July 2009, after several employees managed to get themselves fired.
The statement that "Ms. Mathews and Ms. Sheets have since terminated five employees...." is a blatant lie. Two of the employees referred to were terminated in March 2009. I was not even working for the Assessor's office at that time. In addition, I have had no part in any disciplinary actions given to any employees, other than to witness the signing of the paperwork.
It was not me, but the former office manager, who recommended one of the five employees referenced be terminated.
Township employees were seeking union representation even before Dee Mathews took office.
As stated in the letter, the dismissed employees had worked for the township for 9, 7, 7, 4 and 2 years. Assessments for Decatur Township were behind by as far as 17 years. Should employees be kept on the taxpayers' payroll when it is apparent they are not fulfilling their duties?
Even after almost 2 years of trying, one employee had not completed certification. It is possible to complete training in less than 2 months. Should the taxpayers be expected to continue to pay for hotels, mileage, course fees, meals, etc. for an employee to repeatedly fail the training?
It is clear to me that the Board did not have the facts regarding these issues. In the future, the board may wish to investigate the facts to ensure the accuracy of their allegations; otherwise, they may once again find themselves in the unfortunate and untenable position of publishing a libelous document.
Vicki L. Sheets, C.I.A.O.
* * * *
A FRIEND OF JUNE CHRISTY FROM 6TH GRADE AT WARREN SCHOOL
Dear Editor:
Shirley Luster (June Christy) and I were friends from the 6th grade at Warren School. The first time she sang with Stan Kenton was in Madison, Wisconsin at Truax Fied, which was an Army Transport Center for moving planes around the U. S, in early 1945. She had joined Stan Kenton the day before.
She and I spent the day exploring Madison and that evening Stan Kenton took us to dinner. The discussion was about her name. Shirley favored June Knight but Stan was not sure. The rest is history.
Again in 1948 we were together for a day in Baltimore, Maryland, lunching and shopping.
My husband, Joe Markwitz and I attended the concert that evening as guests of Shirley. The crowd went crazy for her as she was so good. We went backstage and talked about Decatur.
I wish Shirley were alive to read the wonderful coverage you have given her. It would please her to know that she has made it in "her own home town".
Thank you so much.
Barbara Hildebrand Markwitz
* * * *
FEW UNDERSTAND ANYTHING ABOUT ENERGY DISTRIBUTION
Dear Editor:
We have been hearing for ages about clean energy and “green” jobs. Though many Americans believe that wind and solar power are to be our energy salvation, few understand anything at all about our energy- distribution system. Solar arrays don’t work very well at night, and windmills aren’t of much use unless the wind is blowing at a relatively brisk rate. (Most don’t develop rated output until the wind speed reaches 29 mph.) Electric consumers, however, have the expectation that even on calm nights their lights and air conditioners will work. And street lights, traffic lights, hospitals, police stations, and many commercial and industrial concerns that operate around-the-clock ought to function too. Because they generate electricity only intermittently, wind and solar installations have not replaced a single power plant and, unless an efficient way to store massive amounts of electrical energy is discovered, will not do so.
It’s time we get on with the business of building nuclear power plants (which France has done quite successfully), start drilling on the many known sites of available oil and get our country back on track again.
Mark Percival
Watson
* * * *
THANKS TO THOSE HELPING TO PREPARE FOR THE BAZAAR
Dear Editor:
Special thanks to Linda Jamison and Mary Black Stiles, and all who are helping them to prepare for Oxford’s Annual Bazaar on Nov. 6 from 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The whole first floor will be filled with crafts, cakes, cookie, pies, Christmas decorations, etc.
A nice lunch is available. So, everybody welcome.
Rose F. Cunningham
An Oxford Resident
Decatur
* * * *
NO NEED TO CHANGE HER NAME
Dear Editor:
I don't understand why Shirley Luster changed her performing name to June Christy when Stan Kenton asked her to do that.
In my opinion "Shirley Luster" is a better and as memorable a name as "June Christy".
Shirley was a great singer and performer. She would have been successful if her name was Jane Smith.
Don Hildebrand
