Letter to the editor: Thanks for the season
For the Tonganoxie High School Girls Basketball team, the 2004-2005 season has been a great run.
Just before the annual Tonganoxie Invitational basketball tournament this year, the Lansing paper touted their girls team as tough to beat, bragging on their four-game winning streak going into the tourney. Yet the Tonganoxie girls had no trouble defeating that team in regular season play, not once but twice.
Later in the season the Basehor Sentinel also highlighted their young team as coming off a six-game winning streak heading into sub-state play. Again, the Tonganoxie girls had no trouble taking down that team, not once but twice.
It seemed to be lost on area teams the Tonganoxie girls were having a 15-, then 17- and finally 19-game winning streak while earning a third seed berth at the state tournament in Salina this year. With the first-round win over Royal Valley, our Tonganoxie girls team obtained a 20-game winning streak and has now gone farther at the state level than any other girls team in THS history. This team accomplished this feat with poise, grace and good sportsmanship. These young women represented not only Tonganoxie, but our Kaw Valley league and this area very well. It has been a pleasure watching these young women play basketball this season.
Thank you to a great coaching staff, athletics department, school district, community, families, friends and fans of the Tonganoxie girls basketball program for supporting these young women, and for the fantastic send-off last Thursday to the state championship tournament that will be a wonderful memory for all of us.
Thank you to the girls basketball team for giving us exciting entertainment watching you mature and advance as a team to new heights that will hopefully be a model to the upcoming basketball players, including those of you who will return next year to continue the winning tradition.
Thank you to the seniors who have mentored and taught underclassmen how to be a team and fight the good fight.
Thank you to Randy Kraft, Sue Walker, Jon Jacques and Brandon Parker for leading our girls to this wonderful accomplishment.
Tonganoxie girls basketball team, take a bow and stand proud. You are all awesome.
Jo Bogard,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: Don’t top your trees
If you are considering topping your trees to take care of ice-storm damage (or for any other reason), don’t! The No. 1 item on the National Arbor Day’s Web site under tree care is “Don’t Top Trees.”
The site goes on to say, “Never cut main branches back to stubs.” Many people mistakenly “top” trees because they grow into utility wires, interfere with views or sunlight, or simply grow so large that they worry the landowner.
Unfortunately, the topping process is often self-defeating. Ugly, bushy, weakly attached limbs usually grow back higher than the original branches.
Proper pruning can remove excessive growth without the problems that topping creates. In addition, many arborists say that topping is the worst thing you can do for the health of a tree. It starves the tree by drastically reducing its food-making ability and makes the tree more susceptible to insects and disease.
The appearance of a properly pruned tree is like a good haircut: hardly noticeable at first glance.
Jodi Bowersox,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: Vote on amendment
Recently the Kansas House of Representatives, by a vote of 86 to 37 decided to place the marriage amendment on the April 5 ballot. In doing so, the majority of this state’s representatives displayed the political wisdom to place the critical decision in the hands of the voters — where it rightfully belongs.
Previously, some elected representatives blocked attempts to place this question before Kansas voters, which, unfortunately, hints at interference in the democratic process by special interest groups.
Please join me on April 5 to make our preferences known on this matter. We voters deserve the right to be heard on the Marriage Amendment. On April 6, it will become abundantly clear where the majority of Kansas voters stand on this issue.
Wayne Boyd,
Leavenworth.
Letter to the editor: In suport of extension
I would like to address comments in recent letters to the editor regarding use of the countywide 1 percent sales tax to provide an adequate north-south route to connect the Kansas Turnpike to U.S. 24-40 near Tonganoxie. Some have indicated that funds received from continuing the 1 percent sales tax should only be used to improve our mud or gravel roads, and believe that access to the turnpike is not necessary to encourage economic development.
It is important to understand that funds received from the sales tax will not be used to pay for the turnpike interchange. The turnpike will provide the interchange once Leavenworth County provides a supporting road. Leavenworth County tax money will pay for improvement to the county road only. The sales tax allows the county to focus on major improvements so county maintenance forces and materials can be used to improve our mud and gravel roads, and the county commissioners have committed to making this the top priority.
Economic development in southern Leavenworth County is absolutely necessary to provide the tax base to pay for the county’s many needs, including the secondary road system.
The county government tax will generate approximately $2,789,744 annually. In addition, the federal government has mandated that communication systems for local emergency responders be enhanced to provide seamless communication among local, state and federal emergency agencies nationwide.
The cost to Leavenworth County and its cities for the communication system will exceed $400,000 annually. I completely agree that significantly more of our secondary roads need to be improved countywide, but there would not be enough revenue from the sales tax given the current tax base to adequately meet these needs.
Approximately 32 percent of Leavenworth County’s property value is exempt from property tax, much higher than most Kansas counties. The turnpike/24-40 project will attract business and industry to provide jobs and increase the tax base. The only way to significantly improve our secondary road system without increasing property taxes is to increase the tax base.
When you vote, remember this is not a new tax but a continuation of a tax that has greatly helped our area. Before you vote, take a quick look at the improvements made the last 10 years — and vote yes.
Larry Meadows,
Tonganoxie,
Co-chair, Vote Yes Committee.
Letter to the editor: Sales tax not fair
I read in the Feb. 13, 2005, Leavenworth Times that 54 percent of the people recently surveyed do not support the countywide 1 percent sales tax. With all the well-organized, high-profile spin advocating support of the sales tax, I am surprised at that large number in opposition.
However, I am convinced that if those most negatively affected would analyze the tax closely, the numbers in opposition would rise significantly. The sales tax is unquestionably the most regressive tax and falls the most disproportionately on the middle- to lower-income citizens. As incomes rise, the smaller and smaller percentage of income expended is subject to sales tax.
The higher the income, the greater the percentage of expenses that escape sales tax. Examples would be accounting, legal, medical, personal care, domestic help, air and cruise travel, investments, etc.
I consider it quite fair that the more value in property a person owns, the more of the direct proportion of the tax burden they should carry. A person owning $1 million of property certainly benefits 10 times the amount as a person only owning a $100,000 home. Examples of such benefits are streets, parks, fire and police protection, courts, schools, and all other local government services.
The argument is frequently made that everyone pays sales tax and visitors contribute to the expense of benefits they enjoy. That is true to an extent, but not at all in a fair or a significant proportion. Little if anything is ever mentioned of the business that the sales tax drives to mail orders, Internet, and the fort to escape payment of the tax. I also question the suggestion that visitors bring more tourist dollars into Leavenworth than residents take out.
I know it is always a perceived shock to see the increasing tax bill on homes each year.
But, any tax always removes consumption out of our shopping cart regardless of the source taxed. Do make yourself aware of and consider the differences and fairness of the sales tax vs. the property tax. Make yourself aware of what is at stake, your personal circumstances and do vote.
A fair tax will always be computed on a benefit received vs. the amount paid or the ability to pay. The sales tax is based on neither.
E.W. Stalnaker,
Leavenworth.