Thanks to search team

To the Editor:

The Hurst Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Department would like to sincerely thank all those involved in the search for the lost child on Feb. 2.

I would especially like to thank the Fire, Ambulance and Rescue Departments of Hurst, Cambria, Carterville, Royalton, Gorham, Lake of Egypt, Bush and De Soto; Williamson County and Hurst EMA; Illinois State Police; Williamson and Jackson County sheriff's departments; Hurst Police; Cambria Police; Vernon Dury and his private plane; food volunteers Helga Jarvis, Dana Womack, Cindy Woolsey, Crystal Smith and the City of Hurst for purchasing food; Hurst Mayor James Rich; and all the search volunteers from Hurst and surrounding towns.

With your help, the boy was found in a timely manner and was unharmed. I am grateful to the couple west of Royalton who spotted the young boy and took him into their home. Thanks to the media for reporting the missing boy to area residents.

Again, thanks to everyone for your help. I hope I did not leave anyone out.

Duke Woolsey

Hurst Fire Chief

Not everyone's a homeowner

To the Editor:

The majority of people have spoken for the sales tax. I was going to vote for the tax, but it was a last-minute decision to vote "no." The way I understand, the homeowners are going to get property taxes lowered. That will help some people, but not everyone.

I could understand why people who have kids voted for the sales tax. I could respect that. I could also understand those who voted against the sales tax. Prices are going through the roof and we're in a recession.

Some of our taxes - property and sales - help pay for the schools. It takes three or four people in the house just to make it with everything going up; we don't need higher sales taxes. Property taxes are raised a lot anyway. In three or four years, the people won't even know property taxes have been lowered. There won't be much done with the schools.

I do respect this was a vote by the people; that's the way it should be and that's all that counts. Our local, federal, state and county governments get rich off the people. They always say what they do is good for the people, but it ends up with the public being losers at the end. What about the people who don't own their own homes? They won't get anything in return because our local, federal and state governments have everything to going to benefit them and not the people.

Donald K. Holman

Marion

Time for health care

To the Editor:

We are in a position where the rich continue to get richer and poor get poorer. The poor are repeatedly victimized in a health care system that promotes the denial of care. We are talking about a human right, not a privilege. Too many of us put a lot of money and effort into our lives and we all pay taxes if we are fortunate enough to find a job. It's time for health care to take precedence over war and space exploration in the spending of our tax dollars.

Bryan Fair

Carbondale