I am unable to attend the scheduled community forums concerning the proposed $25.6 million school bond election.

I do want Superintendent Erickson and the school board members to know I share their concern for the school crowding issue and have been keeping up with developments reported in The Mirror. I agree more space is needed for students and the issue must be resolved.

Considering your proposed solution, I wonder if you realize the impact it will have on the individuals who will pay for it. In my case, I have lived in the Tongie school district for over 20 years. My property taxes have increased by about $200 per year for the last five years. A 20-year bond for $25.6 million would cost me between $250 and $500 per year on top of that. In addition, our governor wants to raise property and other taxes, and how much an increase will be approved is presently unknown. So I can expect to pay a minimum of $450 to $650 more each year for at least the next 20 years.

That would be a hardship in my current financial position; it will be an impossibility once I am on a fixed income.

I do not have the answer to the school crowding issue. I think Jack Wolfe’s suggestion of using metal buildings is acceptable. We already have several nice looking metal structures along our section of the 24-40 corridor. I also like the flexibility that modular structures offer to fluctuating enrollments and population concentrations. Modular school facilities are common statewide, as well as nationwide.

Mr. Erickson and school board members: I do not know the solution to our crowded schools. But I do know the $25.6 million plan will take considerable tweaking before it will fit into my budget.

Karen Kellogg,
Tonganoxie.

SUCH A CARING COMMUNITY

To the editor:

As most of you know, our lives changed dramatically on December 12, 2003, when we were involved in a head-on collision on Kansas Highway 16.

Although our lives will never be the same, we are so thankful to be part of such a caring community and to have so many wonderful people in our lives. We cannot begin to thank everyone for the continuous prayers, concern and support we have received in the past three months … but we’re going to try.

Thank you …

• For the help we received at the scene of the accident, the people who called 911 and everyone who stopped to help. Special thanks to the unknown woman in the blue truck who took care of our children and kept them warm until EMS arrived. You will never know our appreciation!
• To the firefighters who worked so hard to get me out of the car, especially the firefighter that talked to me the entire time, and kept me calm.
• To the EMTs who took care of all of us before the helicopters arrived, especially Pat Morey who kept me informed about the children, and Dan informed about all three of us.
• For the love and concern of our family and friends who endured a long evening spent in hospital waiting rooms at St. Luke’s and Children’s Mercy Hospitals. We are so blessed to have you!
• For the numerous hospital visits from all of our family and friends, the flowers, balloons, gifts, cards, etc. How can we ever name and thank everyone? We want all of you to know how much your generosity is appreciated.
• To everyone who brought meals, groceries, snacks, etc. Your thoughtfulness will never be forgotten.
• To Steve Mock and Mark Himpel for getting our home ready for us to come home.

Last, but definitely not least, we want to thank our family and friends who have been such a huge support system for us by showing us more love and care than we ever thought possible.

Words will never be able to express our gratitude. We are so truly blessed and we thank God everyday for you all!

More than anything we want to thank everyone for their prayers. We couldn’t have gotten this far without them. We hope that everyone will continue to keep our little Evan in their prayers, as he needs some extra help to fully recover from this horrible ordeal.

Dan, Cindy, Ryan and Evan Lynch,
Tonganoxie.