Letters
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Motorcyclists targeted
unfairly for taxes, noise
From: A.C. Reeves
Columbus
Received: June 25
The headline in Noel Taylor’s opinion piece in the Saturday, June 23, The Republic, caught my attention with the word “motorcycles.” I guess you could say I’ve had a passion for motorcycles for nearly 50 years.
I primarily tour and enjoy North America, but also frequently ride closer to home. I, too, am a member of The American Motorcycle Association and ABATE, as well as The American Legion, VFW and other groups.
All I think Noel is questioning is the concept of fairness. Laws and rules should be created for valid reasons and applied equally. A number of times I’ve been required to pay a toll rate the same as any two-axle vehicle. I’m sure the wear and tear factor for my 900-pound vehicle is significantly less than that caused by a 15-passenger van filled with people and their luggage.
Motorcyclists frequently are targeted at checkpoints (at taxpayer expense) allegedly to enforce noise limits. Many jurisdictions have laws governing what is considered excessive noise.
I’m offended by overly loud motorcycle exhaust noise, but equally so at overly loud cars, trucks and window-rattling stereo sound systems. A sound-level enforcement should apply to all, not just a specific group.
So, as the city of Columbus comes to a conclusion on how to handle parking in the city garages, please make rules that are clear and applied to all users of the facilities.
And yes, as to being “green,” I guess my bike is a large one, but in my travels consumes regular fuel in the 40 to 50 mpg range, while enjoying the beautiful creation about me.
Fashion show offers hope
to children with cancer
From: Beth Hardesty
Nashville
Received: June 24
Local volunteers have returned from visiting Camp Catch-A-Rainbow, as the result of their fundraiser efforts through the local American Girl Fashion Show last year.
Anita Mathis, Tera Smith and I, along with our children, were invited to attend visitor’s day this past Thursday up in Jackson, Mich., which is home to the American Cancer Society Great Lakes Division free children’s summer camp program. Child campers from Michigan and Indiana are eligible to attend Camp Catch-A-Rainbow, free of charge, which offers a wonderful six-day summer camp experience to children ages 7 to 15 who have or are in remission from cancer.
We were given a complete tour of the camp, which included viewing one of the cabins, the horse stables and fire ring and marina, where campers can ride floating bicycles, sailboats, paddle boards, canoes or, as a group, a pontoon boat.
Other activities included the high-dive swimming area, high ropes obstacle course and zip line, archery, and an arts-and-crafts area. In addition, we witnessed many little smiling faces and heard stories of how this camp truly has a positive impact on these young cancer survivors.
I’m very proud to volunteer for our local American Cancer Society, and it’s through experiences such as this that allow me to witness firsthand how our fundraising efforts not only through the American Girl Fashion Show but through events such as Relay For Life continue to help cancer patients and their families.
The American Girl Fashion Show is a wonderful way to offer a life-long, positive experience to the children and families of our community that in turn gives back to some very special children who have had to battle cancer.
Last year, the local AGFS contributed more than $10,000 to camp, and local volunteers are hopeful to achieve that again this year when the show returns in November, this time to a new location at the Crystal Ballroom at the Clarion Hotel.
For more information about camp or the upcoming AGFS, please visit us at our booth at this year’s Bartholomew County Fair.
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