I want to start by saying that I am not, nor have I ever been, a fan of Mayor Coleen Seng. Rarely do I agree with what she does. However, in the case of the Wal-Mart dispute concerning the new facility at 84th and Adams, she is absolutely correct in saying “no” to it. Wal-Mart generally gets its own way and dictates what it is going to do when dealing with a city government.

 If you stop and review what she said, she did not say she would veto the store construction if it were to be built on an appropriate site. She said she would veto it for the 84th and Adams site. Wal-Mart does not belong in an area marked for residential development. It belongs in a commercially designated site such as along Cornhusker Highway.

The other question I would ask is, “Do the people who live close to this site on 84th really know what they are asking for?” If you have never lived close to a large retail establishment, you cannot possibly imagine all the problems that would be coming your way. Don’t ever expect to have a yard free of trash again. Don’t forget to plan for the after-hour parties that develop in the parking lot with noise, fights and empty beer bottles and cans. Plan for the cars that will park in your drive or in the street when the party group starts dividing up to make out in their cars.

A developer thinks he has found a “pot of gold” and wants to cash in on it with little regard for those who will have to live close by. Tell him to put in the retail businesses that belong in this location.

Put Wal-Mart where it belongs!

Joan Bower, Lincoln

Answers about Medicare

The year 2006 is under way, and so is Medicare’s new prescription drug benefit. Representing the biggest change in Medicare’s 40-year history, prescription drug coverage will help Nebraska beneficiaries pay for the prescriptions they need.

Many people view choosing a prescription drug plan as confusing. With 42 different options in Nebraska, where can beneficiaries turn for help? The Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) educates people with Medicare, assisting seniors and those with disabilities in making informed decisions on topics related to health insurance.

Trained SHIIP counselors will not recommend policies, companies or insurance agents but will provide free, unbiased answers to the questions of consumers and their caregivers. Coordinated within the State of Nebraska Department of Insurance, SHIIP contracts with regional representatives and has more than 300 volunteers across Nebraska.

Everyone with Medicare must make a decision about the new prescription drug benefit. Open enrollment in this voluntary program continues until May 15. Beneficiaries who wait until after May 15, and do not have drug coverage that is as good as or better than Medicare’s, will pay a penalty if they decide to enroll later.

SHIIP understands this is a confusing time for Nebraska’s 260,000-plus Medicare beneficiaries and is available to help. Beneficiaries or their family members are encouraged to call (800) 234-7119 for confidential counseling and answers to their insurance questions.

Tim Wagner,

Nebraska Director of Insurance

Heineman a real leader

When I read a recent letter to the editor, “No future with Heineman,” by Ron McGuire, I felt compelled to write.

Gov. Dave Heineman could have “played it safe” by not going to Cuba last August. On this trade mission, he was the only governor to accompany his state’s trade delegation. I respect his decision to attend, and I would respect it even if the trade mission had not accomplished any sales.

In fact, this trip has led to more than $27 million in executed contracts for the sale of our agricultural products. On a subsequent trip, an additional $5 million of beef products and an additional $30 million of soybeans were sold to Cuba. The soybeans will be delivered by several states; the Nebraska portion of this sale will be somewhere in the range of $3 million to $6 million.

Fidel Castro’s tenure as the head of Cuba’s government is approaching its end, but the relationships that Heineman has cultivated with the Cuban people are only beginning. In addition to impressive results now, these relationships are an asset that will benefit both Nebraskans and Cubans for many years in the future. The governor’s trade mission should be recognized for what it was: a courageous act of statesmanship and leadership.

Steve Guittar, Lincoln

Cynical about politics

Regarding the ethics scandal in Washington, recently the leading Senate Democrat, Harry Reid, apologized publicly to Senate Republicans. He wrote, “The document released by my office yesterday went too far and I want to convey to you my personal regrets … I am writing to apologize for the tone of this document and the decision to single out individual senators for criticism in it.”

I’m thankful to Harry Reid for recognizing there is such a thing as honor and decency in politics. I am, however, fully expecting the Democrat strategy to continue lumping good men with bad men as Reid has ostensibly apologized for doing.

I sense we will be hearing how Jeff Fortenberry is a corrupt politician because he is a Republican, and the Democrat candidates are saints because they have not yet been elected. It would be heartening if this weren’t the case, but I guess I’m prone to cynicism.

Let voters not tolerate such fruitless tactics from either side.

Tony Fulton, Lincoln

Wasteful missions

The recently launched unpiloted mission to Pluto will cost the taxpayers $700 million.

Based on everything I have read, I think it is safe to say there is no chance that we will discover anything on Pluto that will be of any benefit to the human race. After all, we have sent unpiloted missions to Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus, at great expense, and derived no benefit whatever from the discoveries made.

Meanwhile, the national debt grows every day, because feckless leaders such as Bush cannot bear the thought of cutting useless spending. The contractors who built this Pluto probe will make big bucks from this boondoggle, and doubtless they will make big campaign contributions to the politicians who voted for it, but the taxpayers will get nothing but a kick in the pants.

To stop this insanity, we need a law to force TV stations to provide free time to candidates for campaign ads. If candidates can get free time, they will feel less need to sell their souls to raise campaign money.

Douglas Sczygelski, Lincoln

Still worried about law

Proponents of a concealed weapons law tell us that everything will be OK because those who carry will be trained, licensed and will have undergone a background check.

This does not make me feel better. The same preparations are required to operate a motor vehicle, and I’ve seen the way you people drive.

Larry Claassen, Lincoln

Osborne appreciation

I am writing this in regard to my appreciation for Tom Osborne and the support he shows for soldiers from Nebraska, especially those who have been wounded in Iraq.

I was wounded April of last year after I was deployed to Iraq with the 70th Engineer Battalion out of Fort Riley, Kan. I was medivaced to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C., were I had numerous surgeries during my eight-week stay.

While I was there, Osborne called me several times to talk with me to see how my family was doing and how I was. To my surprise, he later made time to visit with me in person and told me how much he appreciated my service to this country. Since then, he has made additional calls to myself and my family to follow up on how I’m doing.

I was very honored and thankful for his visit. To thank a soldier in person for their service means a lot, especially for soldiers like me who have been wounded with physical or emotional scars that will be with us the rest of our lives.

I’m very disappointed Osborne was the only congressman from Nebraska for or against the war in Iraq to take the time to call or visit me.

From my firsthand experience, I can affirm all the good things that have been said about Tom Osborne as a person and leader. I am a proud Nebraskan and I would be even prouder if Osborne is our next governor.

1 Lt. David Folkerts,

70th Engineer Battalion

Fort Riley, Kan.

(formerly of York)