Posted: Wednesday, August 9, 2006 7:00 pm
I was very dismayed recently when I heard the news that Sen. Ben Nelson was protesting the property taxes on his riverfront property in Sarpy County. The news report explained that Nelson was claiming that his property should be designated agricultural because he raised wild turkeys on his land.
If his claim is denied, Nelson would be responsible for $14,000 in unpaid taxes plus interest.
This stunt by Nelson slaps the faces of nearly every Nebraska resident. To claim that recreational/ vacation property should be designated agricultural is slap to the faces of legitimate Nebraska farmers who pays their fair share of taxes on real agricultural ground. And it slaps the faces of the rest of us who do not own agricultural property.
There is not one legitimate Nebraska farmer or rancher who can claim to raising wild turkeys for one simple reason: They are wild! It is my hope that the Sarpy County assessor will not fold to the likely pressure being applied by those who would be part of this scam. If Nelson is raising wild turkeys on his property, it would be great if this great Nebraska wild game provider allowed us turkey hunters to enjoy the fruits of his labor during the upcoming turkey seasons by hunting on his property. Let me be the first to sign up on that list!
Shame on you, Senator. Nelson. You should know better!
Michael Stroup, Lincoln
So it be goin’
Intelec2al dialog ‘tween Bennie N. and Petey R.
To Petey: U did 2! signed Bennie.
To Bennie: Eye din’t either! signed Petey.
To P: U got more relief on yourin taxes than I did.
To B: I earned ’dem.
To P: Dint niether.
To B: Did two.
To P: Got more $ two spend on adv than u due!
To B: Ain’ neither, I gots a gazilian more to spend.
To P: How much in a gazzilian?
To B: Lots of pesos and centavos.
The above makes as much sense as the dialogue going on between them.
Jerome A. Cain, Lincoln
Keep ‘our Ted’
I held my breath the morning of Aug. 6, finally locating Ted Kooser and the daily poem on back page 6D.
Please, please, please continue this fine feature even though “our Ted” has been relieved of his U.S. poet laureate duties!
He brings a sensible exposure of poetry to the multitudes.
Many thanks!
Carole Barnes-Montgomery, Lincoln
The new danger
As I was looking through some of the blogs about what a terrible town Lincoln is, I was very impressed with the number of people who remain true to this city and the state in general! Every state has its own “problems” and Lincoln is no different.
The one thing I love about Lincoln is that you can pretty much be rest assured that we will get through a few months in a row without picking up the paper and reading about a murder or a rape and be scared that the lunatic is still out there lurking! People can let their children out and allow them to go a reasonable distance and feel fairly comfortable that they are going to come back unharmed.
Here is the problem: What in the world is the reason for allowing people to carry concealed weapons effective very soon!? What are the lawmakers thinking? It is official. Lincoln will soon be creeping into a world of violence with random shootings, road rage violence and simply shooting people off of their property because these idiots will think “well, since we can carry a weapon, we can use it however we wish!”
People are going to take this new-found freedom and run with it! I wonder how much the murder rate is going to go up in good ol’ Lincoln now! Reminder: Do not flip anyone off if they cut you off!
Joleen Meints, Lincoln