The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Warning Of Effort To Eliminate Public Television.
Dear Editor,
This is an urgent message to everyone who has ever enjoyed the treasures of public television, whether you have grown up to Sesame Street or are now watching your children do the same.
It is a message to those who, along with PBS, discovered Riverdance, Andre Rieu, The Three Tenors and the film documentaries of Ken Burns.
This is a message to our volunteers and to our members of viewer-supported public television station WMEC/PBS Macomb.
It is a message to all of you who make your public televisions station possible...there is a major effort afoot in Congress to eliminate public television.
There have been similar efforts in the past and they have failed. They failed, however, because concerned citizens let Congress know that public television was a national treasure of quality programming for adults and an indispensable source of programming that prepared children to read.
Congress was informed by those citizens that public television should not be sacrificed for political or financial reasons.
This time, the efforts have come to a crucial point in the legislative process without public notice and the legislation is draconian in its impact.
It would, if approved, zero fund public broadcasting in two years; cut $100 million in funding already approved last year for this year; provide no funding for grants under the U.S. Department of Commerce PTFP program (the funding source public broadcasters have used to match private dollars raised to update their facilities when necessary); eliminate funding for Ready To Learn literacy initiatives used in conjunction with commerical-free children's educational programming; eliminate funding for public broadcasting's interconnection system; eliminate funding for digital conversion, now the largest unfunded federal mandate in the history of the federal government. In all, it would cut nearly 45% of funding for public broadcasting this year!
You, as a viewer, have the ability to express an opinion to your legislator and that opinion will be heard. The full House of Representatives might consider the Subcommittee recommendations as early as June 22nd. If adopted, it will then go to the Senate.
If you wish to continue to have access to the current range of educational, artistic, cultural, informative and enjoyable programming that is carried by WMEC/PBS Macomb, you can share your desire with your Representatives and Senators.
Phone calls make a difference as do letters. If you want children to have continued access to programs that repeatedly have been shown to enhance their early learning and literacy experience, let your elected officials in Congress know.
Dr. Jerold Gruebel
President and CEO
Network Knowledge
WSEC/V
Unhappy About Hookup Charges
Dear Editor,
This is in regards to the village board meeting and the fee for hookup. We think the citizens of our town need to know the charges for other utilities when it comes to changing service.
We just moved from Commercial Street to South Mary Street and we did not have to pay a fee to either Ameren IP or Nicor to change our service.
In fact they thanked us both verbally and in our last bill for Commercial Street for being good customers.
We only had to pay a $12.00 service fee to Frontier for a telephone change.
We think someone on the board should check the facts out about other utilities charges.
We appreciate Doran's (because I'm sure they take a lot of "heat" from upset water customers) Tony, Juanita and Lawrence for their concerns in this matter.
Barb Klossing
Stronghurst
Analysis Of Rams And Bears Football Teams
Dear Editor,
While going through withdrawal pains in realizing the Rams won't be back to Macomb this summer, it is interesting to analyze teams.
According to the Sporting News, the Bears made the most improvements in pro football in the off season.
With a healthy Grossman at Quarterback, Muhammad at wide receiver, Miller at OT and an impressive rookie running back in Benson, they will definitely have a better offense; although they stayed pat on defense.
In my opinion, the Rams made even better improvements (although we Ram fans may be a little prejudiced).
Hopefully, Claiborne will be the impact middle linebacker that has been missing (since London Fletcher left).
The other free agent linebacker, Coakley, should also be a big improvement.
First round pick Barron should step right in and solve the weakness at the offensive right tackle.
Tucker, one of the Bear's former best guards, should fill the other question mark in the offensive line at left guard.
The Rams should have eight new starters this season. Linebacker was their weakest position, but should be the strongest defensive position this year. With Tinoisamoa (145 tackles least season) to go with Claiborne and Coakley, you have an impressive trio.
Their one big loss was free agent defensive end Fisher. They have Hargrove and free agent Williams to take his place. Butler and Fisher are good corner backs; although neither will be an Aeneas Williams in his prime (he will likely retire).
They will have a lot of competition at the safety position with free agents Hawthorne and Stone to compete with rookies Bartell, Atogwe and Carter for one position.
If Archeleta has recovered from back surgery, he is about as good as any at the other safety. The Rams should have gone for the Bear's McQuarters to solidify their secondary, but the Lions beat them to him.
It appears they are well set at tight end with Manumraleuna and former Ram, Roland Williams, a Raider's free agent.
The Rams last draft pick was Hedgecock, who is considerably bigger and a stronger blocker than Goodspeed and should start at fullback.
The Rams definitely have strength at the skill positions. They may have the best receiver's corps in the NFL in Holt, Bruce Curtis and McDonald. Bulger keeps improving at QB (Eight fewer picks and better deep accuracy last year.) Faulk has slowed at running back, but watch Jackson provide an exciting blend of size, speed and power and be one of the top backs in the NFL.
The Rams special teams remain the biggest question. Wilkins is a very dependable place kicker. Hodges, a rookie draft choice punter, should win that job. Hopefully, they have considerably upgraded the tacklers blockers, and returners on special teams.
One last question: "What do you call something with 22 legs, is dark blue, orange and white and usually is found in the cellar in the fall?" The Chicago Bears football team!
Go Rams!
Weyman George-Macomb