Your letters for June 28, 2024

By NewsPress Now

Western District Commissioner’s response to editorial

This is my response to Friday’s “Our View” editorial, “County should put brakes on rush to dredge.”

The fifth paragraph of the article states the “expensive” cost and that I am the one leading the push.

Yes, it is expensive and yes, I am leading the push and have been for years to try to dredge Lake Contrary. Let’s clear the air though. This push is not to benefit me or a select few property owners. The push is for the betterment of the entire community. The recreation piece is the most popular piece because that’s what concerns most people. The deeper, less talked about issue is the reason and purpose the lake is there. Many years ago, the United States Army Corps of Engineers installed several “relief wells” to relieve pressure off the levee system in that area. The Corps of Engineers has invested thousands of dollars to retain the integrity of that section of levee infrastructure. In 2012, the Corps of Engineers installed seven additional relief wells along the south side of the beach area due to the number of sand boils that were found during the high-water events in 2010 and 2011 in that area. Sand boils are signs of a possible weakening in a levee system.

With the above data, perhaps “a mere $7 to $9 million” is worth dredging the lake for the protection of residential property along with major employers, employers such as Sealed Air, Lowes Warehouse, Silgan Container, Clarios (Johnson Control), Tempus St Joe, Evergy, Triumph Foods, Albaugh, Nestle Purina, Omnium, BlueScope Buildings, Varco Pruden, Lake Road Warehouse and Venture Foods. This is why we are doing our research on all aspects of a dredging project. Please contact these employers and talk to them about “who stands to benefit.”

Protecting the above properties is economic development. Saving and protecting assets and jobs is vital.

Providing a lake with water and a place for the relief wells to drain the underground water pressure on the levee would be a part of a levee project.

One more reason: Several years ago, the Department of Natural Resource installed three aqua pumps. These pumps are designed to pump from the aquifer, 65 feet below ground surface, into the lake, to relieve additional pressure off the levee system during high river levels.

This is not reliving the “glory days”. This is preparing for the future. Whether it’s for recreation or protection, all will benefit.

Please call me at 816-351-1019 with any questions you may have.

Ron Hook

Buchanan County

Western District Commissioner



There is no link

I am not a female and I don’t identify as a female. I have never read a complete definition of “female reproductive health” although I have googled it at length.

Too many times, this phrase is linked to abortion rights. There is no link. If this is incorrect, please, would a woman’s group respond?

It seems with all the access to over-the-counter birth control, a pregnancy is preventable, if the male and female agree, or just by the female’s choice.

“Female reproductive health” deals with reproduction. “Abortion” deals with ending reproduction!

John Byrne

St. Joseph