Alzheimer’s event set

To the Editor:

Each day, thousands of American families are forever changed by Alzheimer’s disease. Your family, your neighbor or even you, may be affected by some form of dementia.

Every 65 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s. By mid-century, someone in America will develop the disease every 33 seconds. It is estimated that nearly 500,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease will be diagnosed this year.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death across all ages in the United States. For those 65 and older, it is the fifth-leading cause of death. Between 2000 and 2014, deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s disease increased 89 percent, while those attributed to the number one cause of death, heart disease, decreased 14 percent.

Alzheimer’s disease is currently under-reported as the underlying cause of death — there is a difference between dying with Alzheimer’s and death from Alzheimer’s.

The U.S. government is not spending enough to respond to this growing epidemic, sometimes called the tsunami of the health care system.

St. Martin’s Episcopal in Fairmont invites you to attend a fundraiser soup lunch Friday, Feb. 1. A suggested donation for the lunch is $7. This event is planned by a Thrivent Action Team and supported by Thrivent. All money raised will be sent to BrightFocus Foundation, Clarksburg, Md., designated to Alzheimer’s research.

Jennelle Cunning

Dementia Friend Champion

Fairmont

Best if we have neither

To the Editor:

A recent Sentinel editorial mentioned government programs and noted that at one time freebies did not exist. I wonder if the voters in this country are aware of how huge these programs have gotten. The editor is correct. When my grandparents came to America in the 1800s they were on their own. No handouts for them.

In his Jan. 8 address to the nation, President Trump asked Congress to approve $5.7 billion dollars to add to the border wall on our southern border. He said this is needed to cut down on illegals, terrorists, human traffickers and drugs coming into our country. He calls it a crisis.

Where walls are in place on our southern border and in other countries, they have proved to be 90 percent to 95 percent effective in keeping illegals from crossing. Border Patrol officers, our Border Patrol chief and the previous chief during the Obama administration are all asking for more wall. The head of Homeland Security said it is needed. Wouldn’t you think this would be an easy call?

In a rebuttal to Trump’s address, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi both said the $5.7 billion for the extended wall would be a waste of taxpayer money. Let’s talk about taxpayer money.

It is estimated that illegal aliens are costing us $174 billion per year in social services. I guess Chuck and Nancy think this is a good use of tax dollars.

Since the onset of the Great Society’s war on poverty in the mid 1960s, the U.S. has spent more than $15 trillion in means-tested entitlement programs. Between 1960 and 2010, federal entitlement spending increased from 19 percent to 43 percent of annual federal spending. The programs were designed not only to eliminate poverty but to eradicate the root causes of poverty. The results? The overall poverty rate in 1966 stood at 14.7 percent while in 2013 it stood at 14.5 percent. In other words, nothing changed.

In Minnesota, the Department of Human Services is the state’s largest agency, responsible for nearly one-third of the state’s spending. At the county level in Minnesota, Human Services is the single-largest agency. So at the federal, state and county levels of government, welfare gets the largest single share of tax dollars. No wonder so many want to come to the United States. All of this money spent on social services. As mentioned above, it has done nothing to eliminate poverty. Add it up, if we hadn’t wasted these funds, we would have little or no national debt.

Some of our progressives want to turn Minnesota into a sanctuary state. Maybe we can get to be like California and New York where the welfare recipients are moving in and the taxpayers are moving out.

We are a welfare nation with open borders. We can’t have both and it’s best if we don’t have either. Trump is right on this one. Spend the money to secure the border instead of the progressives’ plan to give more handouts to immigrants crossing our borders illegally.

Alan Ask

Sherburn

‘Wall’ of separatism

To the Editor:

There has been much debate regarding a wall between Mexico and the U.S. with sinful humanistic views dominating the conversation. I could easily add to such a debate allowing my sinful nature to control my opinions, but as a Christian I know it would be more prudent to be on the side of God’s/Christ’s known points of view regarding building “walls” to separate and divide people.

In the Old Testament, right away in Genesis, God didn’t build a wall around the tree with the fruit they weren’t to go near, nor did he build a wall around the serpent to keep him from influencing them, but wanted Adam and Eve to be his light, even among that which had turned from him. Throughout the Old Testament, time and again, he sent his prophets into possible hazardous situations, exposed his people to the unknowns of this world and never once suggested they build a wall around themselves or become exclusive. No, God wanted everyone to have the opportunity to be one of his children. (Isaiah 6)

In the New Testament, Christ was the same way. Never suggesting that his followers become separate from the unknowns of this world but go out among all the people, even those supposed “enemies” of his and give them an opportunity to be part of something better. He believed in this all-inclusive solution so much that he gave up his life to breakdown the “wall” separating us from his father. Sent the Holy Spirit to ensure his people would have the strength, not to separate themselves from others, but reach out to them even in the face of death — which many suffered. (Mark 6:6-13, Matthew 28: 16-20)

Over and over again, God/Christ broke down walls/barriers and never once made any suggestion of building up “walls” as any type of solution as to what is best for us as humans, let alone Christians.

There is no doubt that God/Christ would have nothing to do with supporting a separatist nation or people but instead would encourage us to reach out to those less fortunate and find a way to give them an opportunity to know a better life. (Hosea 11, Isaiah 48:1-6)

In this world there will always be weeds among the wheat, but as Christians we should always strive to diminish the weeds, not by hiding behind walls and being separatist but by being among them and pointing them to God and his ways. (Matthew 13: 24-43)

Anthony Scheff

Fairmont

Funds sought for pool

To the Editor:

A new sign recently went up on Highway 15 in Truman. The pool deck (concrete pad surrounding the pool) needs to be replaced and the Pool Commission is looking for community support to make it happen.

The deck has been patched numerous times over the past 52 years as repairs to it and the infrastructure below have necessitated, but come this spring the plan is for the entire deck to be removed. At that time, crews will be able to inspect all of the pipes and base layers below, making any other necessary repairs or bringing in additional fill that may be needed before replacing the concrete.

The commission has been informed that there will likely be only a short favorable window in the spring to complete the work and is hoping to have the necessary $50,000 ready to go when that time hits.

Donations for the project may be directed to: City Hall, P.O. Box 398, Truman MN 56088. Questions may be directed to Faith Clow at (507) 236-6817.

Faith Clow

Truman

CREST offers thanks

To the Editor:

On behalf of the CREST board of directors and staff, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all who financially supported CREST throughout 2018 and during the annual appeal. Because of your generosity, we will be able to continue to reach out to those in need in Martin County with live at home services, caregiver support services, and volunteer opportunities. We are so thankful that you believe in our organization and support us with your monetary gifts. We look forward to another year of enhancing the quality of life for those we serve in 2019.

Rob Stauter

CREST executive director

Fairmont