From Our ReadersIssue Date: January 6, 2021 Dear Editor:
"Happy New Year!" These are words we have been looking forward to saying for MONTHS now. I believe it is unanimous; 2020 was one for the record books, and not in a good way. That said, you may have noticed that although 2021 is finally here"¦so is the virus. I realize no one really thought that we would wake up on January 1 to a covid-free world, but still. It's an underwhelming start, and we have a long winter ahead of us.
So, how do we avoid crashing when our aspirations for the shiny New Year ahead meet up with the still very real pandemic? I spend a lot of time teaching folks mindfulness skills, which is to say, how to stay more focused in the present rather than the past or future, and there is a lot to be said for that. This is one of those times, however, when a little future focus may do us some good. Cue our fancy, future oriented minds!
If you are feeling blue because we are still in the grips of this nasty virus, then my suggestion is, step one, acknowledge that reality. The fact is, we will still need to be really, really careful. We just are not out of the woods yet. That said, we have good reason to feel hopeful, and that is step two! Because while we are just now entering what could feel like a rather dark winter season, we can brighten those winter days by thinking about how great it will be to do so many of the normal, and now absolutely amazing-seeming things that have been off the table for so long, once the vaccine has had time to be fully distributed. I look forward to going to a beach and not scanning to see how many other people are doing the same. I get excited imagining bigger things, like planning a trip, and seemingly small things like sitting down in a restaurant, smiling at my server, and taking in the people around me. How amazing will that be?? And of course, being able to hug someone, or shake hands, without worrying. Of course this all assumes a robust rollout of vaccines and good participation, but by sometime this summer that may well be realistic. I can also think ahead to next year's holiday season and feel pretty darn confident it will not be fraught with life and death decisions, as this year's has been.
The fact is, we have all learned a lot about how to maneuver around this virus, and we will need to use those skills to stay safe this winter. Zoom calls, snow shoes, and sourdough will all have their place in the months ahead, along with bonfires and binge watching. But when feeling discouraged, we can also let the future-oriented parts of our minds provide us with boosts of warm, hope-fueled energy, enough to help power us through the last, really crucial stretch of Being Careful during these cold winter months. If we do that, combining our newly acquired mad covid-dodging skills and our great human ability to picture better times ahead, then before we know it winter will be winding down, and with longer days will come a lot of the relief we are all longing for. So let's all repeat "Happy New Year" and by staying smart now really get to enjoy it then.
Allison Allen,
NorthLakes Community Clinic's
Chief Behavioral Health Officer
Editor:
Are affidavits evidence and fact or hearsay?
The definition of an affidavit is: a sworn statement in writing made esp. under oath or on affirmation before an authorized magistrate or officer. A public notary is a public officer who attests to or certifies writings to make them authentic and takes affidavits, and depositions. I will point out here that an affidavit says the written statement was written by the person signing the document. This is not hard evidence but can only be supportive of evidence already submitted. This is why the Courts have rejected claims of fraud. An affidavit can essentially be a glorified personal opinion. Mr. Trumps claim of having thousands of affidavits if true means he has thousands of written opinions.
I also want to define hearsay. There are two definitions: a. rumor, b. evidence based not on a witness's personal knowledge but on matters told to him by another. I put these two definitions here to point out actual hard evidence or even truth in is not necessary and affidavits can be based on hearsay.
My point is affidavits can not determine whither an election is honest or not. The hard evidence comes from voting records, audits, and county/state elections officials across the county, not partisans or Presidents. Therefore, from the hard evidence, the election was not fraudulent or unfair and Joe Biden fairly won.
Gilbert Engel
Niagara
Dear Editor:
Growing better is not about what you have but what you do with what you have. That concept has stuck with me since I was 15. Each morning mom had the aquamarine-colored transistor radio tuned to WGEM-1440 AM on the dial. Through the snap, crackle, and pop of breakfast, Radio host Earl Nightingale's message came in crystal clear to me that morning. He said, "Success is not about what you have but what you do with what you have. If you hear this, you have a heart, a brain, likely two hands, and two feet. With those universal features, no matter your lot in life today, living in this free country, you are equal to kings, queens, and those with entitled inheritance. It is not about what you have but what you do with what you have." From my modest surroundings that morning, this message stuck.
With the celebration of Fincantieri Marinette Marine's proud production of the namesake ship, the USS Marinette, this event reminds me of what I learned. The idea about what to do with what you have translates to our community. Our #MyMarinetteMenominee region has many assets--water, woodlands, and wildlife, to name a few. We have the advantage of an abundance of skilled jobs highlighted by Marinette Marine's growth story. Our concentration of industry jobs per-capita is a feature envied by other regions.
We have all we need to build a vibrant community. A vibrant place that keeps businesses healthy by attracting talent. We draw this talent by being a place people want to visit, stay, and make their homes. We have the freedom to be a vibrant small town with an open-air lifestyle. A region where our children and grandchildren would choose to stay, belong, develop, and contribute their talents. This betterment is how we enrich the lives of households in our community. What will we do with what we have? Our businesses and industries bring people here to provide services, consult, and work. The story they tell their companies, families, and friends back home can attract them to become our resident talent.
What is the voice in your head telling you about visitors? Do you welcome them? Is it your nature to invite and include new people? What do you tell them about living here? Without anyone else's permission and at little to no additional cost, you can choose to love living here. Please welcome visitors with the story of why you love living here. Decide to do all you can with all we have to create a better future for our children, grandchildren, family, friends, and neighbors.
Keith Killen,
Marinette
Letter to Editor:
Thank Ya'll
I want to thank all in our community for their help in making Triple C Riders 2020 Toy Drive for Hospitalized Children a success. Triple C Riders delivered the toys to the following hospitals just before Christmas: BAMC in Marinette, Bellin in Oconto, and St. Clair in Oconto Falls. I hope that those toys will help brighten a child's stay in a hospital or just a visit to get a vaccination.
Thank you all and may you all have a great 2021.
Sincerely,
Dave Kvam
Dear Editor:
You can't imagine how I felt when 2020 was over. It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Today I have a different outlook on life. I now have a bucket list and I don't take life for granted, as I have experienced how it can be taken away in a blink of an eye.
There are things I am having a hard time understanding in our city. On Dec. 17th, Alderman Berth approved 3 out of 4 vacation requests and was very vocal against one person stating job performance. Running for an alderman position is not just attending a meeting. I am going to use Mr. Berth as an example. He is currently the Chair person of Fire, Lighting and Building. A major part of that position is touring every city facility and checking for future needs. This is a big part of the city budget as this would be a main factor in planning for the next year's budget. When I was in the nursing home I had communication with our City Clerk as I have the city lap top and stayed apprised of my emails. I asked acting Mayor Behnke if he reminded Mr. Berth about touring city buildings and he stated yes. Well, this was never done. What frustrated me is when someone does not do their job but criticizes someone else not truly knowing theirs. The City of Peshtigo Clerk spent countless hours working on a $58,000 grant for the city. Through her efforts office desks were replaced, bathroom updates, improvements to help prevent COVID-19 and a camera system for the city chamber where meetings are held.Countless hours were spent by o ur clerk to get these improvements. Other funding she recently secured for the city through the Elections Commission was just over $2,000 and a Tech & Civic grant worth $5,000. Receiving grant funding is huge as this helps keep taxes down. I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything she does. Going above and beyond her job duties.
Alderman Berth has been asking a lot of questions and that can be a good thing. Again what frustrates me is why would he worry about how much Water & Sewer committee members get paid? He stated he receives $30 a meeting and they get paid $70. Why should they get paid more? First off, their knowledge. They do not just show up to a meeting. They spend countless hours researching and are very prepared with facts to make those hard decisions. I respect and appreciate their guidance and I can assure you they don't do it for the money.
What led me to write this letter was last nights council meeting. First I am going to back track about my entire day preceding the council meeting. I plan all UDAG and Plan Commission meetings. I started my day with a UDAG meeting at 8:30 a.m. I was very excited as we will be welcoming another business into the city. They were very interested in purchasing 2 parcels just under 10 acres. I called the UDAG meeting for guidance. I appreciate their expertise towards the future development of Peshtigo. At 10 a.m. we had a Plan Commission meeting. At 11 a.m. we had a Finance meeting. Alderman Sivert is Chairman for Finance. She also Chairs our UDAG committee. Her expertise in Finance is a huge asset for the city. Last night Mr. Berth made the statement and insinuated the Mayor receives monthly $1,333. That is not true. The Mayor receives $2,000 annually or $166.67 monthly. These funds can be used towards gas, attending seminars, or purchasing items for the city. I take a great deal of pride in how the city looks, not only for our residents but visitors to the city as well. For fall I have purchased scarecrows for the planters, or another example I had a visitor that drove 3-1/2 hours to city hall, fire chiefs and a representative from the DNR to discuss our upcoming sesquicentennial. On behalf of the city we provided lunch for all our guests at a cost of $80. Mr. Berth also stated this benefit started in 2012 but this expense allowance has been in effect for decades. Aldermen also receive an expense allowance of $25 per month to off set gas expenses.
Committee meetings are quite lengthy. Yesterdays Finance meeting was 1 hour and 45 minutes. In attendance were committee member Chairman Sievert and Aldermen Behnke and Leupp. Others in attendance were me, Alderman Berth, City Clerk Kasal, Public Works Director Cowell and Police Chief Badgley and Lieutenant Phillips. What I find unusual is Mr. Berth during the course of the entire meeting did not ask one question or contribute towards any resolution to any other items. I also find unusual that he waited for the council meeting to ask questions he already knew the answers to.
I love the City of Peshtigo and will work to keep the city moving forward. I will continue to be informative on issues when they are not presented properly. I would also like to inform library goers starting next week on Jan. 11, City Hall doors will be open for access to the library which have the automatic door openers, for the safety of our residents during inclement weather. Business directed for city hall will remain to use the drop box located at the entrance of city hall. I do apologize for any inconvenience. We are replacing the service window at the clerk's office to make our staff as safe as we can and once this has been completed we will totally reopen city hall. FYI, we will also be sending a copy of the recycling schedule for your information and reference to recycling with the Water and Sewer bills.
If anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to call. Peshtigo City Hall number is 715-582-3041.
Thank you and please be safe.
Cathi Malke
Peshtigo Mayor
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