Sinner, put down that stone

We live in a time of the reactionist. The media and the mob canvas the Internet waiting like predators, half-mad with starvation ready to seize any morsel, any microbe of potential scandal to feed their lust for sensationalism.

A student brings a suspicious-looking homemade clock to school. Reaction? Fear. Understandable, and sadly necessary, fear. Reaction is a choice which those who wish to harm us have brought upon us. Fear and terror are sisters whom our enemies have introduced to our people with untold horror. Those who protect us must do what they must do. Make no mistake, we are at war on our own soil. Those who reacted did so to save, not to harm.

Think before you react. Propose intent before judging action. Our law enforcement, our soldiers, and all those who protect us, do so with unconditional commitment. They must. Before you judge what they do, for you, for us put down the stone.

Joe Coley

Columbus

Deadly menace

To the person firing a gun on Saturday, September 5 at approximately 4 a.m. near Isbell/McClendon Road in Fort Mitchell: Your bullet came through my kitchen window and hit a door frame on the opposite side of the room. A guest in our home had been up to take his dog out about 15 minutes prior to this. You are very lucky no one was injured or killed. And thanks to you, we get to buy a new window.

If anyone heard a neighbor firing guns in this area on Saturday, please call the Russell County Sheriff's office.

Rebecca Johnson

Fort Mitchell

This is a problem

My wife and I just returned from a 3-week trip to Ireland with another couple. Enjoyed the 60-degree temps, the food, the Guinness, and the hospitality of the people we met.

However, there was an annoying similarity among service workers that reminded me too much of what we thought we had left back home. Call me a grumpy old man, but I have an increasing problem with the irritating response of "No problem!"

When I ask for a refill, another napkin, or the dessert menu (which I really shouldn't), there is a variety of possible responses. One might say "Certainly," "Right away," "Sure," or even "Not possible." But when did it become a constant to tell me that doing your job is not a problem?

If bringing a customer a drink refill ever becomes a problem for a restaurant server, then I submit that this person needs to find a different form of employment. I know that this is not a world-class issue, and there are many other things that bother me -- newspaper space prevents me from developing those ideas. This is just the topic of the moment.

Service workers of Columbus: please find more creative phrases to respond to customers who make reasonable requests that fit in with your regular job description.

Ken Paulk

Columbus

Garbage con job

I am so glad the city has decided to use weekly collection, but there are questions needing to be answered. Such as: How come this was not done a long time back? Think of all the money they could have saved. I mean by way of instead of twice weekly. They now have the same load, but as weekly. Now they do the same work in one day instead of two. Great math, Einstein.

They also save wear on brakes. To bad. For now you get to hear when they are close by sound of brakes rubbing/squeking. That way you know to get out of their hazardous driving way. Going against traffic, or down the center. Sure helps us there.

Is the method used for all collection legal? Basing weekly collection on location seems to be questionable. When does north side have collection? Then again, how does that math save money? Is the cost the same for twice weekly? So how is the city saving money. Nothing but a con job.

Then again, there is a bright spot. Since collection is weekly. The collection fee is down by half.

Ronald Cook

Columbus

Still a believer

I want to say I'm sorry about what happened at St. Francis Hospital. We've often heard the saying, "Bad things sometimes happen to good people." I believe that's what happened to St. Francis.

St. Francis Hospital and some of the people who work there and some who are connected with it have worked together to bless me and so many people I know, and some I don't know. I remember when the sisters were still there. I fondly remember the time one said she and I believed in the same heavenly Father so we would pray about my need. We did and the need was met.

I've been healed many times while a patient there because of the fine doctors and other people who work there. I respect these people and the ones who sent the survey to find out how I was treated there. I appreciated the times I needed mercy on my payment schedules. They always made me feel it was OK.

I don't know why this happened, but I will say St. Francis didn't desert us at Franciscan Woods even when they were in trouble. I believe in St. Francis and pray the very best for everyone there. I'm so glad God forgave me and wanted me to write this. I hope God will let me hear more positive things like I heard from the nurses or read about it in the paper. I'm thankful someone would want to give them a meal.

I'm still trusting in God for good things to happen because of the hard work of so many people.

Mildred Reeder

Columbus

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Sinner, put down that stone ."