LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor:
Just how much land can we sell in Allamakee County to the State, DNR, etc.? In regards to an article in the Waukon Standard, Nussle and an Elkader conservationist are talking of taking another 1,000 acres out of the peoples hands forever.
These purchases by the state take land out of production, and tax money our county needs, as well as land off the market forever.
Most of the people pushing for these purchases are people from other counties. Counties that have plenty of taxable property to keep their county flourishing and keep taxes lower. But these same people want a free place to go hunt, fish, and take a nature hike in Allamakee County.
The State and the DNR will have to subsidize Allamakee County on tax losses. These taxes are needed to support our schools, hospitals, law enforcement, and to keep our towns alive.
Maybe soon Allamakee County will be owned completely by the State and "our" congressmen. Maybe we should get petitions together to show the State and congressmen we have had enough land go to the State and DNR to be controlled by them forever. What do you think?

Thank you,
Dick Sullivan

To the Editor:
The July 12 front page speaks of "decreasing Medicare and insurance reimbursements" leading to cuts in the hospital's budget.
We should all probably ask Representative Jim Nussle and Senator Chuck Grassley about this, as they are both members of the majority party of Congress, and it is Congress that ultimately determines how much Veterans Memorial Hospital is to receive for the services it gives.
It is probably too much to say that a vote for Governor Bush or Congressman Nussle is a vote to shut down Veterans Memorial Hospital, but when our local hospital is coping with inadequate insurance reimbursement while the robustly profitable private insurance companies are making lavish soft money payments to the Republicans, anyone who is inclined to vote for Bush or Nussle this November should think twice.

Mark Odegard
Waukon