I am compelled to set the facts straight on the letter written by Ronald Mervine Jr. on June 19 in reference to the Ghost Town Trail (“Facts about proposed trail entrance”).

What David Pearson said about his land being taken is correct. My husband and I also have had our ground taken. The railroad did not donate the property, it was sold to Kovalchicks in Indiana for $1. After Kovalchicks were done with the land, they sold it to the county for $1.

On our deed it states “abandoned railroad.” We pay taxes on four acres of ground and that should have gone back to us, the landowners. We never had a say in the matter. Now, we have had to make other arrangements to get to the rest of our property. The trail goes right through our back yard.

A gate had to be installed and pine trees planted so that no one would walk on our property. If you step off the trail on either side of it, you are in our yard. We moved here for our privacy and now it has been taken away.

Our part of the trail is still under construction, so we have to deal with trucks, dozers, etc. Our governor says that taxes need to be raised to help this state. This trail is not a necessity, so why not use the millions being spent on it to help?

I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be happy with me taking some of your property and using it; so why should our ground be taken from us?

Cindy Lamb

Dilltown



Pull your pants up where they belong

Why do young people wear their pants down almost to their knees in public? A person can’t walk down a street, go into a store, bank, or even ride public transportation without seeing young people wearing their pants down to their knees.

Why should we have to see their underwear, or worse, when we go to buy groceries or walk in the park?

What happened to our young people’s self-respect and self-esteem? Are we, as parents, not enforcing standards that our families used to live by and still should? If we don’t step up to the plate and take action now, then it is only going to get worse.

People say, “She was raped because of the way she dresses.” Well, I hate to tell you but it is not just young women but young men, too.

In essence, we are being raped of the privilege of going into public places. We shouldn’t have to view these body parts.

I believe that this comes from lack of parental supervision and also pornography being allowed to be viewed by our young adults. We as Christian parents and grandparents need to speak out and take action, especially starting in our own homes, if it happens there.

P. Jeanne Allison-Rodgers

Johnstown



Richland school board is ending a good thing

The Richland school board has voted not to replace the retiring high school art teacher. This move surprises me because the board in the past has been concerned with and strongly promoted the arts in the district.

The number of students electing the art classes in their schedules has always been at or beyond the maximum capacity, and the quality of the art work produced by the students was award-winning in exhibitions locally and statewide.

Many of the most-talented students were awarded college scholarships. Most importantly, the classes have been personally rewarding to students who have taken part in the visual-arts program.

Recently, the Cadets, a nationally ranked drum corps, performed at the Richland stadium and the president of the Cadets organization commended and congratulated the school board for its past encouragement and involvement in the arts.

He also noted the board’s high regard for the arts within the district curriculum and for the continued support of the arts in the future.

I wonder if his opinion of the district will still be the same in light of the decision to curtail a major part of the arts program by not replacing a fine teacher with another teacher to continue this program?

For the students, I am appalled by the board’s decision.

Frank Trebel

Westmont Borough

Former Richland teacher



Tired of everyone downing the Amish

I get tired of Amish people being put down because of the way they dress and because they do not have all the modern conveniences. They do not believe in such things, but they go by the Bible and God.

Think back to the 1930s and ’40s. I went into homes in Blue Knob, Vintondale and Portage where they used oil lamps, coal stoves, furnaces, and spring houses to keep their food cold. They did not have all the conveniences then, and I still do not have all the conveniences. I am 82 years old.

When my father, mother, and my sisters and I moved into this house that my father built in 1939 and 1940, we did not have electricity for a year or running water.

And as far as the Amish, they are not the only ones to answer on judgment day. We all sin, so we all will have to answer to God.

There is only one who is sinless, and that is God.

Gwen Cobaugh

East Taylor Township