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Letters to the Editor

Curious state of affairs for Trump Administration

To the editor: Just when we thought we were getting desperate, Trump is rewarding us by demolishing the East Wing of the White House in order to construct a new 2-3 million dollar ballroom all done with generous patriot’s donations, some of them anonymous, but none of them stepping over the limits of ethics in government. It appears quite certain that the new ballroom will either be named for Trump himself or the McDonald’s corporation. In other news, Trump has decided to sue the Department of Justice for catching him in the act of breaking the law by stealing and concealing ...

School district facing serious financial challenges

To the editor: As a board member at Marshall Public Schools, I’m grateful for the trust this community has placed in me. Over the past years, I’ve learned a lot about our district’s finances, so I want to explain why the board decided to bring an operating levy to voters this November. The district is facing serious financial challenges — but these challenges did not happen overnight. Since the early 2000s, the state’s complex school funding formula hasn’t kept up with the rising costs of education. More than 85% of our budget comes from state funding — but that total ...

Do we support our children?

To the editor: Not too many weeks ago I remember watching a Marshall School Board meeting and Russ Labat appearing to express concern for the safety of children crossing streets near a school. I find it somewhat ironic that he doesn’t seem to realize how important an affirmative vote on the referendum is to the quality of the instruction once those children arrive safely in those schools. I recently visited with a paraprofessional in our schools who was not only concerned for her job, but was more worried about the extra help which may not be there for our children. Well-informed ...

Fascists traits adds up to fascism

To the editor: It is not name calling to say someone is a Nazi when they act like a Nazi, anymore than it is to say a forklift driver is a forklift driver. Nazism is defined by intense nationalism, anti-intellectualism and dictatorial rule. Would anyone say those characteristics are not those of Trump? Furthermore, he uses fascist techniques of identifying scapegoats, disdain for human rights, controlling mass media, rampant sexism, trying to intertwine religion and government, suppressing labor, protecting corporations and overt cronyism. Open your eyes, supporters. Maybe you ...

Look at possible school cuts from top down

To the editor: Since my last letter to the editor, I’ve had a chance to continue to review the information that was sent to me by the director of finance at Marshall Public Schools. One of the things that I found out is that our local district is paying 100% of health and/or dental insurance for 22 individuals. These individuals include the superintendent, principals, assistant principals, administration support and district office employees and do not include teachers in MEA. The annual salaries for these individuals range from a low of $59,000 to a high of $175,000. And the ...

A referendum reminder for township voters

To the editor: The upcoming school referendum requires voters to either vote in person or request an absentee ballot. There are at least three precincts that are mail-in voting — Fairview, Lake Marshall and Grandview townships. Voters in those precincts will need to request an absentee ballot or vote in person. No ballots will be mailed to your homes as in the general elections. Sean Carmody Marshall — Sean Carmody is clerk treasurer for the Lyon County Association of Townships