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Readers’ Views

Forget 1 percent idea

To the Editor:

Recently in Sharon Rosen’s Ceylon news column, it was noted that Ceylon is considering charging the Howell Helmers Auction Company 1 percent of its proceeds of the sale to clean the mud off the streets.

Any number of communities in the area would like to have such a successful day as we have on Community Day. Howell/Helmers Auctioneering pays the costs of advertising/clerical workers/supplies, and for the physical labor of the workers at the sale. To be honest, outside of permission, all of this happens without much help from the City Council.

This will be our 82nd Community Day sale. Quite a record for a small town that has been shrinking. This day is a great day for the city of Ceylon. Often, 3,000-plus people come to our city. It’s a great business day/week for Legends II and other businesses and the people they employ. Keep in mind some of these businesses are paying high commercial property taxes. For many residents, it’s the only day to have a rummage sale, as on a normal day there wouldn’t be enough traffic.

I would rather see the city concern itself with enforcing the ordinances — to be concerned that the city looks its best when so many people are coming to town — instead of worrying about the aftermath of the mud on some of the streets. Mud on the streets seems a minor problem compared to the benefits the day brings to the residents of Ceylon. So, please reconsider this 1 percent charge. Leave Howell/Helmers Auction Company to do its business (our celebration). Not everyone knows how to supervise 30 employees in running a sale of this size. And the city should help them if they need it. They don’t have to have their sale in Ceylon; we’re just lucky to have it.

Ceylon Community Day was postponed from April 14 to April 21 due to bad weather. Let’s have fun this weekend. If you haven’t been, come and see what it’s all about.

Jack and Joyce Schultz

Ceylon

Grateful for community

To the Editor:

We would like to express our gratitude to the community for the overwhelming support and concern you have shown us since Loren’s near-drowning accident in Hawaii. We would also like to thank Judy Bryan and the Sentinel for the extensive article that helped to explain what truly occurred. We are so grateful to live in a community where we truly value each other and care about our neighbors and friends.

Loren Dunham

and DeeAnne Helfritz

Fairmont

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