To the Editor of the Newton Press Mentor:

I want to take this opportunity to say how proud I am of our local candidates for conducting a fair campaign. FARI, not a word however, that we can use when talking about our local newspaper. It's not enough that you left out several very important statements from Dustin Granby's initial questionnaire, but when printing the corrections, you re-ran Bigard's complete questionnaire which was plastered across the front page of the newspaper and Dustin's was in smaller print, almost unnoticeable, and NOT mentioning his name in the headline. In fact, one of my friends and I went through the newspaper twice before we even noticed Dustin's correction.

Dear Editor,

It's true, most Americans have become robotic slaves to the tube. TV has destroyed America's innocence of the unique gift of imagination-not free to conjure up-create our perception of reality-to dream, embrace, enjoy, enchantingly enhance the fullness of our God given talents.

Long ago, we were strong, powerful fully in charge of ourselves and all that existed on earth-"talent on loan from God". Gone.

I have been asked by the Editor of the Newton Press-Mentor to contribute a letter to the editor each week.

In my previous letter to the editor, it ended by stating, "Maybe Americans will find God." Another line should have been added. The belief that man is basically good is a contradiction to God's word. God's word states, "The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked."

Why is there a devil? God uses the devil to test man's faith. It is good for many to have fellowship with others having different religious beliefs, but all believing that man is basically good is at the center of the social gospel. God says that good works alone doesn't get one to Heaven.

Newton Press Mentor

Dear Editor:

Scientists have absolute proof that every one hundred years, there is a tremendous explosion on the sun. That explosion in 1910 stopped all electricity! But who cared? No one had TV or self defrosting refrigerators. During the year 1910-Farmers "Gitty up woah! Haaa slap the lines. Nellie hit that collar." Long as Nellie's sweatin everything alright; then the gang plow was invented. 2-12# inch plow shares-Eureka! Now we is going places! Don't remember too well, but, an acre a day? 2 acres a day?

Dear Editor,

We thank the Newton Press-Mentor for printing "Letters to the Editor". "Our Republic and the press will rise and fall together."-Joseph Pulitzer

I am not a Senior Citizen, I am an old man. I live off the government. I draw a WWII VA disability pension. I majored in social science at EIU-economics etc.-not history.

Dear Editor:

Subject: Why are charges not being made in parental and family abduction

I am responding to this as my case is similar except my children have not been returned and no one seems to care. It is similar as the person abducted is under the age of 18. Illinois does have a law which makes parental abduction illegal ILCS 720-5/10. This is the law, which protects parents from having a crime committed against them by family members through a family abduction.

Eight years ago a mother was taking her little girl to the babysitter one morning driving past a cedar tree in front of the St. Thomas Church in Newton, she said Mommie that tree looks like an angel without a face. The tree has stood for over 100 years and in 1973 we had a windstorm that blew the top branch out of the tree making it look like an angel without a face. The same year Roe vs. Wade court decision saying it was ok to kill your babies in the mother's womb. One of the most hideous killings on earth, it has a heart that is beating and when a needle or sharp knife inserted into the womb to kill it, it moves in the womb.

Dear Editor,

Hitting a Brick Wall

Have you ever had your life going perfectly in the right direction? Everything is good! There are a few stumbling blocks, but all is good. Suddenly, a brick wall hits you and your life takes a turn that gives no explanations. Basically, that has been my life in a nutshell the last few months. The doctors have no explanation of what just happened to you.

To the Editor,

I came into Newton about 8:45 a.m., June 14th. I did not see a flag flying along the city streets. It was Flag Day! How disrespectful to our young men and women that are serving our country. Especially so for the ones that have given their lives to defend their country. I feel really sad that our county seat was so neglectful.

To the Editor:

I understand there was a comment made at last Saturday's Strawberryfest quilt show sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. This comment came as a "slap in the face" for anyone having a quilt on display and was pretty rude.

It was stated that there were only a couple of quilts there she would consider as quilts. My question is: "Just what do you consider a quilt?"

Dear Editor,

There is legalized murder going on in the United States and we as a nation are paying dearly for this to happen. Abortion is the stopping of a beating heart and should never have been legalized. A few of us are endeavoring to get a federal law passed that would correct the situation and eliminate this great sin. Should the same number of soldiers be killed in a month as abortions performed, we would be angered and demand that something would be done to correct the problem. The media never reports any numbers for abortions.

Abortion was established by politics and will have to be stopped by the elected officials. I ask that you make up your mind to put an end to this murder and select very carefully the candidate you vote for in the coming election. We pro-life people respectfully ask this of you.

To Whom It May Concern,

On June 27th, 2009 a few friends and I took a road trip, that ended us up in Jasper County. Along the course of the road trip mailboxes were smashed. It was an unplanned thing that just happened. I can't take back the events of that night, but I can extend my apologies to those who had their mailboxes smashed. It was wrong of us to create the destruction that we did to your property. We are all paying for our actions in one way or another, so I hope you can forgive us. I truly am sorry.

Dear Editor,

We would like everyone in the Jasper County area to know how proud we are of Brandon Tolliver-Goode.

He took first place at state in Pole Vaulting. He could of stopped there but he went on to set a new state record! He jumped so high, it looked like he was flying! He has set the bar high, not just in track, but for all of us who look up to him. I don't think Brandon even relizes he's leading. He's just busy enjoying himself. It's contagous! Even other kids have joined track because, like us, they are inspired by Brandon to find what we can do, and do it well.

Jasper County-we're in financial straits. Our county is contemplating the closing of our jail and lay-off and early retirement of many of our law enforcement.

It's time we as citizens look for ways to prevent these losses. Are you aware that all of the documents recorded in our county office now require a $10 sur-charge fee? This fee is sent to Springfield and then sent to Chicago as a "rental housing" funding. Our local office has just 9 days to forward this fee without legal action from the State. This bill was put in place by our Governor.

I don't know about you-but I believe this sur-charge monies would be better spent in Jasper County. It's my understanding these funds are only available to cities of more than 1 million people.

Note from the Editor: The following letter was sent to Congressman John Shimkus recently by a son of a Jasper County resident who thought that residents of Jasper County might find it interesting.

Dear Representative Shimkus:

I received an email from my mother who has lived in the small town of Newton, Illinois in Jasper County most of her life. I was born in Newton and lived there until I joined the Air Force. I now live in California.

Jasper County is full of hard working people. Many make their living in farm related jobs.

Dear Editor,

I am writing a letter concerning Debra Bennett's letter last week in the paper. The state is in a couple billion dollar debt. When the state does not give money that is owed to counties, state funded projects, schools, preschool programs, senior and child care assistance, nursing homes, (are just few) then cuts have to be made. We as a county and each of us as individuals are also held accountable. Why you ask we are held accountable? Each one of us needs to email, talk or write to David Reis and let him know we NEED and WANT a RESPONSIBLE BUDGET!!!

Dear Editor,

As news of teenage drug abuse and drugs found in drinking water abound, our pharmacy wants to help. The Office of National Drug Control has found that prescription drugs are the drug of choice among 12-and 13-year olds, while a third of all new abusers of prescription drugs were between the ages of 12 and 17. Though it may be argued that the presence of drugs in drinking water is negligible, more and more consumers are disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the drain, adding pharmaceutical pollution to our waters. In addition, medicines thrown in the trash can end up in landfills if not first picked up by children, pets, sanitation employees, or anyone who rummages through trash.

Dear Editor,

There have recently been many job cuts announced that impact Public Service. The County of Jasper has decided to close their Jail, thereby eliminating the Corrections Officers. There will also be a reduction of Deputies and other Public Service Personnel. One of the things many may not realize is the enormous amount of assistance and support our Correctional Officers give to the 911 Dispatchers and the Communities of Jasper County.

We are now in the SEVERE WEATHER SEASON, our Community depends on the Sheriff's Office, to warn them of upcoming severe weather. One of the FIRST places people call is the Sheriff's Office. A lot of this activity occurs after 4 or 5 p.m. and on weekends.

Dear Editor:

This letter is mostly an exact copy of a "letter to the editor" written Monday, April 2, in 2001.

Due to a lack of a living wage, teachers joined unions. About 70 per cent joined the "National educational association" and 30 per cent joined the "American federation of teachers." The teacher's unions are a powerful force. The leaders are and were a powerful political and economic force whose leaders are and were pointed-headed "intellectuals" dedicated to the destruction of our heritage through textbooks and curriculum that destroy patriotism and individualism and promotes atheism and socialism in the name of "education for world citizenship." If one looks up these men, one will know what has happened to our schools-John Dewey, Julian Huxley, Dr. Willard Givens, president of the NEA for 17 years.

Note from the Editor:

I would like everyone that reads this to stop and think about a neighbor, co-worker, relative, friend and even the stranger that you come upon during your day or work week and realize that their situations may not always be what they seem.

How many of us in the busy, hussle-bussle of our lives in 2010 even know what is going on with those that are right near us? People have needs or problems that no one even realizes.