Letters to the Editor 08-16-2000
Race Track
Editor, Times-Union:
It seems as though it's that time of year to drag me through the rag once again. I have finally decided to set the record straight. My children are gone, and you no longer hold any power over me or my family. The track is gone forever. Now for some facts.
1. The most the track ever made was $800 in one year. This was told by the fair board to the Winona Lake Property Owners association.
2. There was a 1960 something, signed legal agreement, between the fair board and the property owners, for the newer high performance cars to use mufflers. The agreement also said no new races after 11 p.m., and 2 rain dates per year. None of these agreements were honored after about a year.
3. The WLPA bought and planted trees on the lake shore for noise protection. This was welcomed by the fair board, and mowed down at the beginning of every racing season. This happened more than once.
4. There was an article in the Warsaw Times-Union stating that the track was being leased to two individuals for $20,000 a year. The article went on to say that they planned to race more nights, develop concerts and use the track in new ways. We knew these two businessmen and knew they would have to do something, as the track's best year was $800, again, according to the fair board.
5. We offered ground, money and support to move the track. $20,000 per year for 5 years sticks in my mind, to bolster the move. The fair board always said, "Go ahead, sue us, we aren't moving." There were some cooler heads, but they could not prevail with the board. The whole time the board was bolstered by the bad press the property owners got from this paper.
6. The 9 individuals filed suit, as we knew that if we did a class action suit, the class would win, and the advertisement done by the attorneys for people damaged over the years by this "non conforming use" and "expansion of the track" would have bankrupted 4-H. There probably would have been thousands of claims. Expansion means lengthening, racing faster cars, building stands, refreshment stands, etc.
7. I live over 1 mile away. The noise level at my home one night during evidence collecting was 105 decibels. Like standing behind a jet at takeoff.
8. The money to fight the suit and hire attorneys took less than 1 hour to raise $20,000. I'll only tell you of one donor. She was and is, I think, an owner of the Times-Union. They have decided to keep this story in front of the people of Warsaw and print my name countless times. It's time the people of Warsaw know the truth - The Times-Union owners helped close the track. Yes, Helen Williams donated a lot. As a matter of fact, more than I did. She no longer lives here, so it's time everyone knows.
9. Finally, when the suit ended, we donated the money left to prop up the 4-H. I think it was about $5,000 of our suit fund. We spent $15,000 on a roomful of evidence, including sound analysis around the lake, case law, as well as finding out that this track was used primarily by people from other counties. (We did a license plate survey at the track). We understood that the fair board spent a lot more than that, and showed up with case law using the "Grandfather Clause." This didn't hold water, as the track had been expanded and changed, according to the law. They knew at this time they would lose in court.
In closing, the track was closed by a fair board, who at the time had no one from Warsaw on it. They remained stubborn and would not settle, or even talk about it, till the day we could have owned them. The case was decided on legalities. The track was illegal according to the law.
By the time it reached the courts, we couldn't say "go ahead, judge, let them race - we now have an agreement for the board to do something illegal part of the time," such as allowing racing one night a week. It was illegal to make that kind of noise in a city, be it one night, or one hundred nights, and we proved it.
We gave up the $500,000 suit as we knew the ground would have to be sold and we would end up with the monies. So the settlement was for racing to cease at our track forever. The one I went to with my family, just like you. The two businessmen dropped out of the suit early on, as they knew they couldn't win, but you can hardly blame them.
Some of the 9 lost business and status in the community, and some received threats. When I bought my home, I knew they raced one night a week. I loved it. But there's not one person out there that would have given up their homes 4-5 nights a week. All we wanted was for the fair board to be a good neighbor. They didn't want to, so they lost our track.
Jake Handel
Warsaw
Publisher's Note: The Times-Union denies any attempt to close down the Winona Lake race track. The Times-Union considered the racetrack a community asset in terms of family-oriented entertainment. No officer or shareholder gave money for attorney fees to support the successful effort to close the track.
Bible Thumping
Editor, Times-Union:
After reading Matthew Trier's most recent letter to the editor, I am convinced of just one thing: If he's an accurate representation of the current community, in all his Bible-thumping glory, I'm glad I got the hell out of Warsaw. If I need a lecture, I'll talk to my dad about having to go a fifth year at Ball State instead of the preferred four.
Matt Perry
senior, Ball State University
Muncie
Christian Charity
Editor, Times-Union:
In response to Matthew Trier: As one of those people that you chose to attack in your letter to the editor, I trust that you will at least entertain a response. Many in my congregation were concerned about your narrow views as presented in that letter. I want you to know that I will pray for you that you might find enlightenment and joy in your faith journey. It is apparent from your editorial letter that you see Scripture in a very narrow perspective that is punitive and harsh. If this is all that our faith is about, I'm not sure why anyone would want to be a Christian.
May God grant you the vision to see the broader picture of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. May you learn to treasure those who are different from you. May you learn from Scripture that we are all members of the body of Christ and that you alone may not be the interpreter of the word. May you remember, too, that the Bible tells us that we should not judge others unless we are willing to be judged.
May you learn that many women served as ministers and deacons in the early church - notably Priscilla, Phoebe, Lydia and the women noted in Luke 8 who not only were part of the followers of Jesus, but also financed his ministry. May you understand the women of the Old Testament who led people for God - like Deborah, Esther and others. May you realize that the calling of God is not, nor ever has been, gender sensitive.
May you learn that it isn't half of the Scripture that speaks to sexual orientation but rather six passages and the translation of some of them is questioned by many biblical scholars. May you realize that God doesn't create only part of humanity in God's image, but rather all of it including those who may not share your views on human sexuality.
May you understand that the body of Christ is an open community that welcomes all who seek a closer relationship with a loving and forgiving God through Jesus Christ. May you begin to understand the true impact of the resurrected Christ who died that we could be forgiven our sins and find joy in our salvation.
May God grant you new sight to see the limitless power of God's love and grace. May you realize that we cannot begin to fathom the power of God or define God in human terms. May you feel his grace and know that even you are totally loved by God. May you experience the Holy Spirit working through the word to reach and change even you.
I continue to pray for you despite your obvious hatred for so many of this world who don't share your narrow belief. God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it, my friend. Shalom and may you accept these words in the spirit of Christian charity and forgiveness for your biases.
Rev. Kaye Patton
Claypool United Methodist Church
Thanks To Theaters
Editor, Times-Union:
We would like to say an extra special "thank you" to North Pointe Cinemas: owners, Bess and Sam Joyner; manager, Yvonne Keirn and each and every one of their employees who made this a very special summer for the children of Warsaw and many surrounding communities as shown by the license plates in the parking lot.
Everyone was greeted by smiling faces, employees with endless patience and a wonderful, clean facility with all of the latest movie equipment, Dolby sound, etc.
Children's movies were presented nine consecutive Wednesday mornings in four of the six theaters, usually two showings each Wednesday morning and then they treated everyone to a last bonus movie - what a treat!
Also, a very special thank-you goes out to the sponsors.
When we again say "thank-you," I know we're speaking for hundreds of children, parents, grandparents and caregivers who enjoyed these movies.
Jane Foster, Carolyn Holbrook, Kylee Gochenour,
Hayley Hudson, Emma Dickerhoff, Dan Dickerhoff
Warsaw
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