I am currently a Trustee and President of the Minonk Fire Protection District. I have been watching the current Fire Trustee race with great interest, and reading the many emails posted on this site. I have been withholding my comments and concerns about some of the issues of the Fire Department that have been posted here. But after reading some of the more recent letters, I feel I must respond to the unfair treatment of Chris McKay and Steve White!

About 6 months ago I was informed that two of our current Trustees were not going to run for reelection. After seeking out other candidates in the community and finding none, I approached some of the Firemen to see if any of them would run for Fire Trustee. Mr. McKay and Mr. White were willing to run. Since we always seem to have an abundance of rural Trustees, I was glad that I was able to get a couple of City candidates, so that the City would be represented on the Fire Board! Then current Trustee Dave Timmerman announced he was running for reelection and Jerry Barth also announced his candidacy. I am actually very excited that we have 4 candidates for only 2 trustee openings, as many other surround fire districts have trouble finding anyone to run for office!

After reading Mr. McKay and Mr. White's letters announcing their candidacy's for Fire Trustee, I fail to see why a few of my fellow Trustees are upset, they seem to be concerned about some very small issues! Mr. McKay and Mr. White only stated their intentions as Trustees if elected!

Unlike one Fire Trustee, I see no conflict of interest in having a Fireman sit on the Fire District Board! Because the Firemen are volunteers and the Fire Trustees are not paid, I fail to see how you can have a conflict of interest? There is no possible monetary advantage for the Trustee who is also a Fireman! You can only have a conflict of interest if as a Trustee you could somehow by your vote gain a monetary edge! The fact that so many other surrounding Fire Districts have Fireman as Trustees supports my position! And I might add that the current Trustees also supported my position only 6 months ago, but now it appears a few have changed their minds?

In closing I am sure that whoever wins the election, will work to continue the improvement of the Minonk Fire Protection District!

Good luck to all the candidates

I just read your editorial on the war in Iraq and the lack of community interest in the "Meet the Candidates Night". You made a good point when you drew attention to the generational differences and the fact that the community as a whole has become apathetic. As I read that, I kept in mind the previous points you drew about how the media is desensitizing us to war by giving us a live feed of Baghdad. The obvious question then popped up, "is the apathy of the community linked to the desensitization brought on by the media?" Perhaps Minonk and other towns are experiencing a lack of interest in politics, history, current affairs, etc. because the public, in general, has moved away from optimism, through pessimism, and is now at the next level, apathy. In other words, the question isn't is the glass half full or half empty, its who cares about the glass? Perhaps the apathy is a product of media desensitization? Maybe its because of the sad state of our economy? Perhaps it is a result of the bleeding heart liberals in this country?

The message people are receiving is why should we try or even care? People know if they fail or give up, they can just live off the government. My generation and those younger than I have no recollection of World War or the Great Depression. The majority probably couldn't even tell you the decade in which they occurred. They probably never took the time to talk to their grandparents or elders and realize what it was like to have nothing, not even food. They probably have no idea why the older generations were known for their Teutonic work ethic either. They were raised in a time when parents were not allowed to punish their children, when the children's feelings were paramount to any family situation, when a child was allowed the freedom of speech. They were raised in a time when prayer was abolished from schools and courts were asked to remove the reference to God from our currency and the pledge of allegiance. In fact, the very document that grants us our rights and freedoms has come under attack for its reference to God. That same document is often used to grant one the freedom of speech, but then attacked because it grants us the right to bear arms. This draws out the underlying issues of accountability and responsibility. It is the responsibility of the owners to properly store their firearms, be properly trained, properly use them, and to be accountable when they are not properly handled. This subject does directly tie in with media desensitization. Children today don't realize the horrors of war or if they do, they see them as a new type of "reality TV". They don't understand the danger of firearms or the atrocities of war. Instead they see weapons as toys and war as a game. Once the worst act of mankind, war, has been piped into our homes and we have all been desensitized to its horrors, what is left to keep up the TV ratings? Torture? Sacrilegious acts? Who knows, but there is probably a generation out there that is saying "who cares?"

Click here for an example of how to fill out the ballot to vote for me as a write-in candidate. An 'X' must be placed in the box along with the word "alderman" and my name "Dean Barth".

Minonk is a wonderful town, let's all work to keep it that way. With your vote, I can continue to do my part in making Minonk a better place to live.

The fact that Steve White and myself decided to run for Fire District Trustee seems to have offended one of the current Fire District Trustees, why I do not know, but rest assured Mr. Welch, our letters announcing our candidacy were never intended to offend anyone! But were intended to state our political platform and what our goals are if elected! I do believe that you, Steve White and myself share the same goals for this department and community!

The reason two firemen are running for Fire District Trustee is because some of the current Fire District Trustees asked us to, due to the fact that at the time it was believed that two of the current trustees were not going to run for reelection, which would leave the current board shorthanded!

Now, since Mr. Welch and Mr. Oncken have raised some questions concerning our letters announcing our intent to run for District Trustee, I would like to respond with the facts!

1. The $70,000 Illinois First Grant, which was used to purchase a new fire truck, is a state grant, not a federal grant, and the current trustees are to be commended for securing it. But, it should also be noted that this $70,000 Illinois First Grant came to the fire district via the City of Minonk!

2. I am aware that the Trustees are activity pursuing a FEMA Grant to purchase a Thermal Imaging Camera and other fire equipment. But, I believe the district Trustees need to be more proactive than they have been in pursuing the Grants! I know that many of the surrounding fire districts have already secured several FEMA Grants to purchase fire equipment!

3. I guess that my suggestion that we as a community and fire district exhaust all options for keeping the ambulance service active is not something that Mr. Welch wanted to hear! Maybe the current Fire District Trustees have exhausted all options!

4. I have been to many District Fire Board meetings since I have join the Fire Department as a Fireman, several within the last 18 months! I guess Mr. Welch doesn't remember me handing him my petition to run for Trustee at the January Trustee meeting? As Mr. Welch also states in his letter "Time restraints on volunteer firemen are stretched to the limit" which is true, and makes it difficult for many Firemen to attend the Trustee meetings, which is another reason for a Fireman to be on the board! Having Firemen as District Trustees would extend the lines of communications back to the Firemen in the department! Several other neighboring Fire Districts currently have Firemen as Trustees!

6. I want to make this perfectly clear; Steve White and myself are not out to spend Fire District or Taxpayer money. The current and past Trustees have done a fine job of outfitting the Fire District! Nowhere in my letter did I state or even suggest that the current Trustees are not working for the firemen and taxpayers! I am only suggesting that there may be room for improvement!

Mr. Oncken's letter asks the question " I guess I just don't understand why 2 current firemen are spending so much money to be elected to a board that pays nothing?" I am running for District Trustee to "make a difference" and not make money, a concept that seems to be foreign to Mr. Onken!

I guess I never realized that if one ran for a public office, you must have a sinister motive for doing so as both letters suggest! Now I understand why finding a person to run for public office in Minonk is so difficult!

Good luck to all candidates in the April 1st election!

Thank you for your vote!

Am I missing something in the upcoming Minonk Fire Board election? We just got a $75,000 Illinois First Grant towards the new fire truck. According to the present trustees, there is still money left in reserves. The current trustees are filling out a new federal grant to purchase a new thermal imaging camera and all new pants for the firemen. I guess I just don't understand why 2 current firemen are spending so much money to be elected to a board that pays nothing. Is there a problem within the department? I know for a fact that the firemen pushed a few years ago to get an elected board. Are they unhappy with this now? Maybe it's back to the old saying, "Watch out for what you wish for, you just might get it."

I would like to announce my candidacy for the position of Minonk Fire Protection District Trustee.

Some of the issues I would work for on your behalf, if elected to the position are:

First and foremost, I would look into the fire department helping the undermanned ambulance squad. The Minonk Ambulance Squad must remain a vital part of this community!

I also have been doing research on Federal Grant Programs. If the fire district could obtain any of these Grant Programs, we could purchase new fire/rescue equipment and training, which are desperately needed in all rural fire departments. Federal grants will allow the Fire District to have the most up to date equipment without placing a burden on the taxpayers of the district! The last thing needed now, is higher taxes in the community.

As a fireman on the Minonk Fire Department, I believe I have a unique insight into the needs of the Fire Department as well as the needs of the citizens that the Minonk Fire Protection District protects!

Please give a voice to the firemen, who protect and serve the community!

I would appreciate your vote on April 1, for Trustee of the Minonk Fire Protection District.

Thank you,

I don't think the referendum should pass for the following reasons:

If you think that this raise in taxes won't affect you, remember rents will go up, retired people will have more taken from their existence and the backbone of the tax base, farmers, are already taking a beating.

Remember, in the end the school is J.A.G. (JUST ANOTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY).

Best wishes,

Todd Cremer
Visions Video - owner

And, by the way, MinonkTalk continues to be a pretty classy Web Site and just keeps getting better and better. Thanks for all your hard work. As you know there are lots of us out there that keep checking in regularly. Articles and pictures such as the Weistart one are the reason.

After reading several emails about the upcoming election for fire trustee, I would like to relate some concerns as well.

First, in being a firemen's wife I have been involved in helping the fire department with different matters. I really don't know if I helped or hindered, but as a firemen's wife you are always a part of the department! This includes as little as clearing off table for the pancake and sausage breakfast, to answering phones at 10:00 PM from extraction representatives, to getting cars from MMMA for extrication training! So I feel confident that I know what is going on in the fire department concerning different matters! I also ask people a lot of questions, which they probably wished I didn't, but I am a taxpaying member of the community and I want to be informed!

Holding the position of fireman and trustee is done throughout the surrounding communities. How can it be a conflict of interest? I would hope that trustee's and firemen all have the same goals for the fire department! Why should a few former trustees be so against firemen being on the fireboard? By reading their emails they are against any firemen being on the board! So is the conflict being a fireman and a trustee, or is it a conflict between the former trustees and the firemen?

Before voting you might want to ask some firemen their opinions along with the trustees, as Fuzzy Timmerman writes in his email "the taxpayers deserve to know what is going on in the fire department". But, there are always two sides to every story. So ask the same questions and consider the answers you receive!

In reading Jerry Welch's email he talks about training, I would like to express my feelings on training. My family as well as a lot of other fire families has spent many weekends and evenings away from our spouse for fire training either here in Minonk or out of town. But, does this training ever get utilized? I know that my husband attended a weekend training exercise at McLean Co. fire school! He brought back several new and innovative ideas that he felt would benefit rural fire departments including the Minonk fire department! One of the ideas was a hose lay so one person could pull the hose off of the fire truck, which during the daytime hours when there is a shortage of firemen in town is a must! After the firemen agreed to test this new hose lay, the new hose lay was implemented on one of the fire trucks. Come to find out during the next fire call, the hose lay was already changed back by a couple of "old time" firemen without the consent of the majority of the firemen! This has happened several times within the department! So ask yourself? Why should these firemen attend training and waste taxpayers money, when all of their innovated ideas are instantly disregarded? Sounds like a waste of time for the firemen to me, does it to you? I would want all the training I could get, not only to protect myself, but also to aid in the fire and my fellow firemen. So it all boils down to why go to the training only to have any of the innovations you learn disregarded by a few "OLD TIMERS" who seem to control the fire department!

Another matter confuses me. Which is spending money for this election. What difference does it make if someone wants to support him or herself? How many voters would have known that Chris McKay and Steve White were actually running for fire district trustee if signs were not put up? We desperately need young people involved with City functions! After McKay and White put up their signs, I can't believe that one of the trustees actually went to a City council meeting to try to ban political signs in the City of Minonk! It seems to me there's no difference between putting up political signs to promote an election and giving someone your dealer card when you're trying to sell a lawnmower!

Good luck to all the candidates!

Support your firemen, vote for Chris McKay and Steve White for fire trustee!

Illinois ranks 46th in funding school and number 1 in paying politician's pensions. How ironic the politicians are to vote no on a bill to bring their pensions in line with yours or mine and then are delaying or not paying at all the last 2 payments to the schools. 80% of all the schools are having money problems. This should send a red flag up that something is wrong with our system.

If this referendum passes I will be paying more in taxes than my son is who lives in Normal and his house is worth more than mine!. Something is wrong with this picture.

The politicians want us to vote yes on the referendum so they can keep their rich and famous life styles. If we vote no then they will have to figure out how to keep the schools running or the state will fail and then they will lose they fat pensions.

So let's make them keep their promises and vote NO on the school referendum.

I have decided not to run again for trustee in the fire district but I would like to throw my two cents worth in the trustee race.I have a small problem, not with the gentleman running, they are very good people and I know them well. They are good fireman but in my mind even though it is not stated in the bylaws I personally think it is a conflict of interest for them to do both if they were elected. I also back up what Fuzzy said in his response. Finally I would encourage to the voters to support Fuzzy and my dad Jerry for trustees. Good luck to everyone on April 1

Thank you

In response to Chris McKay's e-mail, I would like the general public to know the rest of the story.

1. The Illinois First grant money that the Minonk Fire Protection District received was applied for by the fire district. Someone in Springfield assumed that we were associated with the city, so they sent the paper work to the city. Once Springfield was corrected, the money was sent directly to us, the MFPD.
2. The trustees have been actively pursuing grants in the past several years. Federal grant money is very tight. If you forget one little item, or make any mistake what so ever, the whole application is thrown out. No questions asked.
3. I hope that anyone who has ideas to assist the ambulance squad, please come forward to assist the community. After talking with Mr. Welch, he wants the ambulance squad to grow also. He wanted the community to understand that the firemen were involved in this discussion earlier.
4. If my memory is correct, Mr. McKay and Mr. White turned in their applications just before the board meeting, then left.

The taxpayers in the district deserve to know what is actually going on. I wish the meeting was attended by more people, so they understand what the trustees are doing with their money.

I would appreciate your vote on April 1st.

Sincerely,

I would like to know if Mr. White and Mr. McKay plan to resign their positions on the fire department if they are elected as trustees? It seems to me that it would be a conflict of interest being on both. Isn't this why the fire department decided to have elected trustees, instead of appointed trustees? To avoid the conflict of interest ? Just wonder if anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Good Luck to All Candidates

If I may, I'd like to express a few thoughts on the upcoming school board election. First of all, I'd like to mention that I am running for the Board and would like to encourage all registered voters to exercise their privilege and vote on April 1. My views, as well as the views of other candidates, can be heard at the "Meet the Candidates" event sponsored by the F.E.A. on March 24, at the Rutland Legion. The primary reason for this letter, however, is to express my thanks to those who currently serve on the Board of Education. Public service is often a thankless job. Many of us do not realize the incredible time commitment. Further, regardless of what important decision one makes, it will likely be wrong in the eyes of many. The current Board has faced, and is currently facing, many difficult decisions, I applaud you for your tireless efforts.

Thank You,

I would like to take a few minutes to respond to Chris McKay and Steve White's letters concerning the situation at the Minonk Fire District.

1. They both want to use grants to get money for the district. If they show up to any of the meetings in the past 18 months, they would have known that the district received $70,000 Illinois First grant money to help pay for the new fire truck. The trustees have submitted a federal grant application 1-year ago and are currently filing out another federal grant application.
2. The thermal imaging camera has been in the works for about 12 months. There are 2 current funds where donations can be added to the current money for this item. The Associated Bank and Alpha Community Bank will put the money in for you.
3. The ambulance personnel problem is not unique to Minonk. Being on the special ambulance personnel committee along with Joe Schmillen, the fire board president, we have looked at several ways to help the situation. About 4-years ago, the ambulance squad and the city came to the MFPD to request us taking the ambulance over. We studied the current situation at the time and even brought it up to the firemen. The board was told by the firemen that we would loose several firemen if we took this on. I think almost all of these firemen are still firemen now. I don't understand what changed here in the past 48 months. The current fire board does not restrict any of the firemen from being on the ambulance squad, so the ones that want to be on both are more than welcome to do so.
4. Training was also brought up. The current budget has $3,000 as the training line item. In the past 5 years that I've be on the board, this line item has way under utilized. We have sit at several meetings begging the firemen to use this fund. Time restraints on volunteer firemen are stretched to the limit. All work a full time job, have family lives and other responsibilities. I understand that there is only so many hours in a day for life, so training takes a back seat at times. But funding is sitting there waiting for the training.
5. Taxes. I am a tax payer in Minonk also. The school problems across the state are bad enough. I don't see a problem with the current tax base of the Minonk Fire Protection District, nor do I see a major increase being needed. The current board inherited a sound financial picture, purchased a new truck, and still have money in the bank. I don't want taxes raised any more than the next guy.

In closing, I feel if the prospective candidates would come to a meeting, they would understand that the Board is working for the firemen and all the tax payers in the MFPD. There are always wants for any department, but the long term needs of the community must always take priority.

Good Luck April 1st.

I would like to introduce myself as your candidate for the Minonk Fire Protection District Trustee election on April 1 2003. I am a decorated veteran of Operation Desert Storm. I have resided in the city of Minonk for the past 22 years and I am presently a volunteer firefighter on the Minonk Fire Department. Because of my association with the Minonk Fire Department, I have a very good understanding of the needs of your local firemen, fire department and citizens. By electing me Fire Trustee, you would be giving a voice to your local firemen, ensuring your local firemen the resources needed for them to protect and serve your community to the best of their ability.

If elected Fire District Trustee, one of my main objectives is to look into helping our firemen obtain a thermal imaging camera, which could save lives in a house fire and could decrease the amount of property damage to a structure.

The second thing I would like to concentrate on is acquiring Federal Grant programs for help with the purchase of new fire/rescue equipment, which are readily available, but are not being utilized at this time! By utilizing readily available Federal Grants, this gives the fire department the means to purchase equipment needed to serve the residents of the district, without the need to increase taxes, which as a taxpayer, I am against.

The third thing I would like to bring to the attention of the fire district board is the personnel problems of the ambulance squad. I feel as a citizen of this community, this is a situation that the fire department should help with.

These are just a few of the ideas I would bring to the table if you were to elect me Steve White, as your next Fire District Trustee. Thank you for your vote!

Please give a voice to the firemen who protect and serve the community!

Sincerely,

Enjoyed the article on theater by you and my classmate Martha. Just for the record, my Dad was manager for a few years in the early 50's. Mr.&Mrs. Wittee came back to Minonk form Morrison Ill and had more seniority than my Dad so he had to give it up. I had a job as Sunday ticket taker to get my "free pass" and they let me continue. They were nice folks. I remember Elsie Eden did the pop corn when my Dad was manager. I remember having to change the Marqee for the new movie too, a cold job some nights. Thanks again for great memories.

Bob Schmitz

Minonk Theatre ashtrays

Albin Johnson

Former Minonk Theatre projectionist writes

Joe Vallow
Grafton, VA

Former resident enjoys checking on Minonk

Jeff Meyer (Kim & Craig's brother)

Looking for info on Phoebe Green

Chad Stanford
MatildaToo@aol.com