Greetings, one and all, and welcome! Thanks much for joining me. There’s plenty of mail to ponder. We’ll go there shortly. First, a quick thought from Your Humble Narrator (that’s me!).

n How ‘bout them Colts! I was pretty sure the blue and white could beat the Monsters of the Midway, but it certainly is nice to be able to say it’s actually so. Like many Hoosiers, and Colts fans throughout the nation and world, I’m elated! Who says Peyton can’t win the big one? Who says our defense is sub-par?

My guess is nobody, not now anyway, and certainly not many Bears fans. I could gush on and on, but won’t.

It’s time to check the mailbag. Let’s hear it from The Roiling Hundreds!

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n A good example of how kids are today: I was at my son's sixth-grade ball game and one of the boys on his team, who thinks he is the team, turned and yelled at the coach (a teacher!!!) during the game. He was not yanked off the court, and didn't appear to be reprimanded by the coach or by his parents after the game. Too many people make sure that Joe or Jill have no wants, never have to ask for a thing, and all they are doing is giving them the impression that they are the world and that world owes them. WRONG! Yes, 90 percent of the parents in this town, I am looking at you.

n Kids have plenty of friends. They need instructors and examples to follow. What are you doing with your own kids? I loved working with kids, however challenging at times. They are our future leaders and we are responsible for assisting in the producing of quality stock. If you cannot face your classrooms with that attitude then you shouldn't be teaching or even working with kids because, in the end, you will do more harm than good.

n If we pull out of Iraq, it won't make a lick of difference in the war on terrorism. They're too busy killing each other to bother following us home.

n Children do not show disrespect because they have a stereo in their bedroom. They show disrespect because of the lack of parenting skills and/or lack of parents having respect themselves. Many children have all the fancy, high-priced things in life and they are respectful. Having nice things does not mean you are automatically disrespectful and rude to your elders.

n Dispatchers are definitely the unsung heroes. In both RCSD and RPD case, they do much more than typical dispatchers. Some dispatchers don't answer the phone where agencies have separate call takers. In both agencies case, they deal with people that come in the front door and help out with handing out records and other requests. They do a lot more and are a lot better than in many places in this country.

n To the individual complaining that he had no idea about the annexation, I would like to have sympathy. Residents of that area came to the city and asked to be annexed because of health issues. The city did not initiate the annexation. It was in the press constantly, and since this individual writes to "Rants and Raves," I can only assume that he/she gets the newspaper. There were lists that people signed "for" and "against" the annexation. Sometimes sticking your head in the sand and ignoring is not a suitable defense for "no one ever asked me" or "I didn't know." And the answer to your question is yes, that more than 50 percent of the property owners signed on to the annexation. In fact, I hear that people outside the annexed area are already having health issues and want city services.

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Don’t forget to remember to write down your rants, raves, and/or random thoughts and to send them to me. You can do so via the U.S. Postal Service (Rushville Republican, Rants and Raves, P.O. Box 189, Rushville, IN 46173), fax (765-932-4358), e-mail (kevin.green@cnhimedia.com or rushvillerepublican@cnhimedia.com), through our Web site (www.rushvillerepublican.com – just “add a comment” to any posted story and it’s fair game), or just drop your legibly written comments off here at the office (306 N. Main Street, in the heart of downtown Rushville!).

Until the next time, I’ll leave you with this:

“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestioned ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” — Henry David Thoreau

Be good. kg



Kevin L. Green is the managing editor of the Rushville Republican. Look for “Rants, Raves and Random Thoughts” on Mondays and Thursdays. Add a comment at www.rushvillerepublican.com.