Editor,

On Christmas Eve I accidentally cut my right middle finger. This laceration required four stitches, not a big deal. This uncomplicated repair was done in a very professional manner by a local health care provider and, as Merrill residents, we are fortunate to have the choices we enjoy. There always seems to be delays and waiting at hospitals and clinics, however, on the night I sliced my finger I was first in line - no other patients.

In real time it took about 20 minutes from signing the forms to saying goodbye. On the clock, this visit was about one hour and twenty minutes. My real concern is the cost of treatment. When I subtract the price of an overdue tetanus shot, the bill I received was $498.72. I have no complaints with the services rendered; however the cost of four stitches is amazing. I submit these two paragraphs as an example of the soaring health care costs. Don’t let our bickering politicians screw up the current attempt at health care reform. This about it, $125 per stitch.

Rich Prange

Merrill

Letter to the Editor:

During the month of March, designated as Ag Month, the agricultural community celebrates their efforts of protecting their industry and the contributions by farmers and ranchers across the nation. The Ag Council of America has a host of activities of which ag organizations can choose to aide them in a special effort to educate the American consumer. In so doing, the ag community hopes to improve the consumers’ understanding about agriculture in their every day life.

Farm technology continues to grow every year through research and testing, striving for improvement and providing new information on farming practices. These practices are designed to safeguard our environment, natural resources, the health of crops and animals and therefore the production of safe wholesome food for the health of consumers today and for generations to come.

As farmers having been hit by adversity, the agricultural community has become a smaller sector of business enterprises and as such our voices have become fainter over the years. For the past 32 years, Wisconsin Women in Agriculture have taken their voices to Madison in the month of March. Other invited ag organizations will co-sponsor WWA’s annual legislative brunch in the Assembly Parlor of the State Capitol again this year on March 10. State officials, legislators and media are invited to partake of an array of Wisconsin’s finest food products for a small fee. In support of Wisconsin’s growers and producers of fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, fish, corn, soy, honey and ginseng (which will be showcased, we show our legislators how vital it is that they make wise decisions to protect the industry that feeds the nation.

Having this opportunity and through this effort, WWA and our co-sponsoring commodity groups trust that by informing our legislators of our concerns and needs, we can meet the needs of our customers, the consumer.

Rosemary Eckardt

WWA President

Merrill

To the Editor:

As I recall from 4-H years ago, there was a pledge we’d recite before meetings. That pledge had to do with four words beginning with the letter H: head, heart, health and hands.

If my memory is correct, the 4-H pledge went like this: I pledge y head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my health to better living, and my hands to greater service. This current controversy between the Fair Board and Sam Darduk, underscored by Shellee Sabatke’s letter last week, reveals the flaw in that pledge.

The flaw lies with Heart. If we pledged to greater "compassion" we’d be on the right path. The problem with pledging to "loyalty" is that it’s open to organizational hijacking. That is, I think Shellee Sabatke is being loyal to the Fair Board, but she is not being compassionate to Sam Darduk.

That’s one point. Another is this - county residents via county government subsidize the county fair. The Public Property Committee of the County Board has oversight responsibilities in regard to the Fair Board. If the Fair Board discriminates against somebody - and that seems to be the case in regard to Sam Darduk - that reflects back on the County Board. And that means the County Board bears ultimate responsibility for issues of discrimination.

So I suggest - besides coming clean on this matter with Sam Darduk - that 4-H folks begin to pledge their hears to greater compassion. Starting now. Starting with Sam.

Paul Gilk

Merrill

Editor:

This letter is on behalf of a lot of people in our state that believe the so-called DNR experts are really screwing up all of our natural resources. Like hunting: there are very few deer left. I don’t think they realize that if you kill one doe, you just killed three deer for years to come, two fawns and the mother. They should get out of bed with the insurance companies over car deer accidents.

They also screwed up all of our fishing. There are few fish left in most of our lakes. They have slot sizes that are not working out. Daily bag limits? What a joke! You can’t even catch close to the bag limit.

The cost of hunting and fishing is not cheap these days. Not to mention registrations, safety equipment, hunting equipment and fishing equipment. The DNR is out there acting as police, trying to find something you did wrong to get more money out of you. They have so much money that can build a brand new DNR building when there was nothing wrong with the old building. Brand new trucks, boats, snowmobiles and four wheelers. Money, money, money.

Now they’re trying to get a 16-day hunt, as if that is going to change anything. Just a longer killing season. With no deer now and a longer season, no deer later. We need buck only. I hate to say it, but maybe not buying licenses for a couple of years and see how they like that. It seems to be all about the money. You almost have to be afraid to hunt or fish, because almost assuredly you will do something illegal in their eyes which will cost you.

We also need to let the people vote in the DNR secretary, not be appointed by the governor. Everything they get their greedy fingers on seems to turn out wrong or bad for the environment, people and animals. They need to stock our lakes and clean them up, and stop importing bugs and animals to try to clean up their nesses, like they did with the Chinese beetle. They re-introduced the fishers in northern Wisconsin, which have no natural enemies. They cannot be regulated because they’re protected, so you can’t kill them or trap them. The wolf population is starting to get out of control too. Once again, a protected species.

I’ve seen the city dumping snow laden with chloride salt and chemicals from autos right into the Wisconsin River. Why is this okay? They should be trying to clean up our environment. People have to get permissions from the DNR for certain projects on their own land, and yet it is okay to cut down a great number of mature trees in the name of "progress" for the airport. It is enough to make a person sick.

Richard Kotschi

Merrill

Dear Editor,

I am writing to respond to the recent letter to the editor regarding the Lincoln County fair Board’s vendor termination policy written by Ms. Shellee Sabatke. I want to start by saying that I have had the privilege of knowing multiple people who have served on this Board over the years and hold them in the highest regard as hard working, caring, and giving people. They have shared with me their immense challenge in running a high quality event with challenging financial constraints.

I have been at multiple meetings on this issue, primarily to support Mr. Darduk, but also trying hard to keep an open mind about how the Fair Board has handled his termination as a vendor.

At the end of the day, it seems to me that communication between 2 honorable parties broke down. Was it because of a personality conflict, someone having a bad day, a very questionable legal strategy of stonewalling a County oversight committee for several months, or maybe a combination of these and other factors? We will probably never know. Mr. Darduks’ brothers’ vending contract was terminated as well with no reason ever given.

Mr. Darduk would never want to do anything to damage the Fair and the real issue is not the threat of cancelling the Fair or questioning the integrity of either party in this dispute. In my opinion, it is about all vendors being treated equally while using public property that is owned by all of the county taxpayers. It is time for the Board and Mr. Darduk and his brother to give each other the benefit of the doubt, and give their relationship another chance. Then the Fair Board can concentrate on crafting a simple and UNIFORM policy which it applies to ALL vendors and allows for a simple appeals process. In all likelihood this entire issue will become history and the Board members can get back to focusing their energy on hosting one of the most special events in Lincoln County.

Sincerely,

Mark Mehlos

Merrill