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Letters to the Editor

 

The Lincoln Daily News publishes letters to the editor as they are received.  The letters are not edited and do not necessarily reflect 
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Lincoln Daily News.com
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The mission of Lincoln Daily News is to tell the stories of Logan County in a contemporaneous manner, with lively writing and a predilection for simple truth fairly told. Lincoln Daily News seeks a relationship with the good people of Logan County that is honest, neighborly and never patronizing. Lincoln Daily News presents news within a full context that contributes to understanding. Lincoln Daily News is more interested in the marketplace of ideas than the competition of personalities. Without shrinking from the bold delivery of unvarnished fact, Lincoln Daily News operates from the premise that God's creatures deserve the presumption of right motive. Lincoln Daily News eschews malice and cynicism; it approaches every person with dignity and every subject with equanimity. In short, Lincoln Daily News informs, stimulates and entertains.

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Executive director of CIEDC explains funding, senior programs

9-20-00

Dear Editor:

I have read with interest the letter from Melane Coulter, former Director of the Oasis Senior Center here in Lincoln. Since I am the Executive Director of Central Illinois Economic Development Corp., one of the organizations Ms. Coulter mentioned, I would like to respond.

I have been a "fan" of the Oasis since its inception. I wrote the initial grant to obtain funding for the Oasis kitchen since at that time the Senior Nutrition Program was to be housed there. I served for several years as a member of the Board of Directors.

Ms. Coulter is misinformed on a couple of points however. CIEDC has an annual budget of over $5M and a staff of nearly 200. None of this, however has much impact on Services to Seniors however. Most of the money is specifically funded for use in the Head Start and Energy Assistance programs and cannot be used for other purposes such as providing meals to senior citizens, for the transportation of older people to medical appointments or for Adult Day Care. Government funding of these activities amounts to five percent of the total Agency budget or about $265,000. Additionally, this money cannot be accessed unless the local commitment of funding is realized.

We have no staff grant writer at CIEDC.

Programs such as Nutrition and Transportation that receive funding appropriated under the Older Americans Act are open to anyone over the age of sixty. CIEDC abides by this and in some communities the clientele at Nutrition sites are very similar to those seen at the Oasis.

Ms. Coulter overstates CIEDC’s involvement with low income seniors. CIEDC states a focus on the "frail and needy" which is a term used by Project LIFE Area Agency on Aging to describe older persons in greatest social and/or economic need. Many of CIEDC’s clients are the oldest of the old and without substantial assistance would be placed in institutional care.

We do not focus on the younger or most able seniors - the ones that have the interest and the ability and the means to go to dinner theaters and gambling boats. Not that there is anything wrong with those activities, it is just not CIEDC’s focus. Many of the 500 or so seniors that we see every day cannot partake of these adventures although some can and do. The clientele of CIEDC and the Oasis do overlap for different services.

As Ms Coulter mentions, CIEDC would also like to pay "decent salaries" and to offer health insurance to its employees. I would like to be able to charge more than two hours per week of administrative time to these programs. CIEDC would also like "RELIEF from constant fund raising by the receipt of local cash that can be counted on".

We trust the County Board will do its best.

Sincerely,

Jane Poertner, Executive Director

 


Response to 'Can we rely on the news?'

9-20-00

To the editor:

Mr. Doolin's letter, in my opinion, is one of the best submitted to LDN.

I am a POLITICAL NEWSHOUND and watch as many TV and Cable news outlets as possible. Having said this, I have found only one that is "fair and balanced" and that is FOX news, especially the "O'reilly Factor". He is an independent and is tough on all political parties. He asks the right questions, invites representatives from both parties, and allows no "SPIN".

I have discovered (and most have admitted in one way or another) that ABC, CBS, NBC, CNBC and CNN most definitely lean to the left. The iinterviewers put forth non-direct (easily misleading) quetions to the democrats and play to their answers. Those who may be democrats may not notice this as standing out due to the fact that they are saying what democrats want to hear. To be fair, radio talk shows like Rush Limbaugh go in the opposite direction being strictly conservative. (Try changing your loyalty for one or two days and listen to the opposite side without bias, you may learn something you didn't know or want to know).

Political news is confusing, and for those of us who do pay a lot of attention because we do want to vote for the right individual instead of simply voting the party line, are usually able to distinguish spin from truth, fact from farce.

The "talking heads" tend to confuse voters on purpose stating only half truths, partial facts, and glorifying the unglorifiable. (Most entertaining and sometimes outright rediculous and funny)

In my opinion, when an individual goes into that voting booth, he/she should vote their own thoughts, from their own heart and what they think is best for the country, not what their "party" may dictate, not what their friends or relatives may feel or what the spinners may spin. We are intelligent beings and must utilize that intelligence to elect those in all political offices.

We know that promises by politicians, local and on up the ladder, are rarely kept. We know that megabuck contributors are the winners and we the people usually lose out. Ask yourself what is important to you and your family, i.e., taxes, schooling, medical care, social security and our nation's security. It is too bad that we cannot somehow hold all politicians to their promises. We normally have to wait two or four years and by then we have already suffered enough.

Another important question, do we want another four years of same-o same-o or do we want a change?

Most important - VOTE.

Mr. Doolin is to be praised for bringing up this matter at such an important time. I suggest we all watch, listen, read and pay attention to all views, not just one party.

George McKinney

Pharr,, Tx.

okihanna1@aol.com

 


Former Oasis director suggests how to divide funding for senior services

9-16-00

Dear Editor and Citizens of Logan County,

It seems as though we have a dilemma concerning how to divide the funds generated by the recent senior citizens referendum. I hope to shed some light as well as suggest a formula for dividing said funds. Three worthy agencies are competing for these limited funds. It must be a very difficult decision for the county board.

As a past director of the Oasis I testify to the efficiency the board budgeted their money. You know if you have to work very hard for every dollar, every dollar has a heightened value to you. The Oasis is an organization unlike any other. It consists of many dedicated volunteers, board members and staff of 1 (one). The past 15 years of the Oasis have been possible due to relentless fund raising activities. The Oasis is in competition with CIEDC, with a million + $ budget and 100+ employees, and the rural HealthCare (ALMH and Health Dept.) with even bigger budgets and even more employees. Both have staff grant writers. The director of the Oasis, Judy Donath, does everything from answering the phone, to volunteer coordination, daily crisis of seniors in need, cleaning up messes, on and on. It’s not just a big job...its a huge one. When we compare these agencies it’s like apples, oranges and a grape. Yet with services and value the Oasis stacks up in a very big way. Every senior is this county will at one time or another need and use the Oasis. Even if you’re not a card player, crafter, you’ll need to access the services the Oasis offers. Most seniors in crisis have to start somewhere in a quest for help and 9 times out of 10 they start by looking up the number of the Oasis Senior Center. A senior center is the hub for senior needs. Looming ahead in 20 short years the senior population is expected to double.

Now for the numbers. I looked this information up on the Internet, you may do the same. I’ll include websites. According to data from the Illinois Department on Aging (from the US Bureau of the Census) The majority (67%) of the nations older Americans live in their own family setting. There are 1,495,969 currently at 12.4% of the population and 9% live at below poverty levels (www.aoa.dhhs.gov). According to our Logan County Regional Planner the number of residents in our county is 30,798. Seniors (age 60+)compromise 6,263 of that number or over 20%. If you include those 55 and older the percentage goes up to approximately 24% of our populace. Notice those percentages are higher than national levels? Of the number of seniors in our county there are 605 that live below poverty levels (www.state.il.us/aging/idoatab7.htm). That means less than 10% live below poverty levels.

Senior programs offered by CIEDC aren’t supposed to be income eligible, but according to their own words they serve the underprivileged and needy seniors. Which (see above paragraph) is less than 10% of the senior population. Rural health care serves those unable to access clinics and hospital for needed screenings. The Oasis serves 100% of the senior population. I will not under rate these fine services, and the organizations that offer them, they are much needed and an attribute to our community.

Again, look at the comparison of the agencies themselves, their budgets, their man power, and the Oasis. The suggested formula; 10% CIEDC, 5% Rural Health Care, 80% Oasis and the remaining 5% to be in reserve for future senior needs.

In closing, allow the Oasis to pay their administration a decent salary (like the other agencies)provide some benefits (like the other agencies). Hire staff (like the other agencies). Give the Oasis RELIEF from the constant fund raising, by giving them funds they can count on. Funds that can’t be taken away. This will give the Oasis time and resources to be what they need to be for our community and the avalanche of us baby boomers just waiting to retire.

Sincerely,

MeLane Coulter

 


Can we rely on the news?

9-15-00

To the editor:

If you listen to what the presidential candidates are saying, you hear a lot about taxes, Medicare, education, health care, and so on. I know it can be drastically painful to listen to the politicians spin their own ideas. To pay any attention at any level of detail at all is confusing, frustrating and can cause many to become apathetic towards the entire process.

The above situation leads many of us to monitor the political news by catching a headline here or there. We do this by watching the evening news, reading news online or in a newspaper, or by listening to the radio.

However, can we, as citizens and voters, rely on the information we here in the news to make quality decisions when it comes time to choose who represents us in government? I would like to hear your opinion on the following questions:

Does the media cover the Presidential election in an objective manner that is not partial to either candidate?

Does the media dig in to the issues enough so that you can make an educated decision when it comes time to vote?

I would simply like to ask you to pay a little closer attention to the way in which the Presidential candidates are covered by the major media.

I also encourage readers to respond to the questions I have raised. Discussion, not sparring, of the issues is healthy for the process. Besides, it would be nice to hear what real people, not politicians, believe.

Dan Doolin

(217) 280-3495

dwdoolin@integrity-data.com 

 

 


 

 

Please send your letters by e-mail to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com or by U.S. postal mail to:

Letters to the Editor
Lincoln Daily News
601 Keokuk St.
Lincoln, IL  62656

Letters must include the writer's name, telephone number, mailing address and/or e-mail address (we will not publish address or phone number information). Lincoln Daily News reserves the right to edit letters to reduce their size or to correct obvious errors. Lincoln Daily News reserves the right to reject any letter for any reason. Lincoln Daily News will publish as many acceptable letters as space allows. 



 

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