DEAR EDITOR:
Journey end ...
Be it known that I have been following the saga of John Demjanuk, a Ukrainian who was accused of being “Ivan the Terrible,” a guard at the infamous Solibar death camp. He was a retired auto worker in the Cleveland area, a taxpayer and an American citizen. He himself had been wounded as a Soviet soldier, fighting German forces, then captured and held by the Nazi’s under cruel conditions. He was extradited to Israel for trial due to a picture ID that witnesses from the death camp identified him as “Ivan the Terrible.”
He was found guilty. During an appeal following the trial, witnesses rescinded their testimony and he was exonerated and told he could return home to the United States.
The U.S. Justice Department would not accept his return and he was handed over to the German court system to start trial there. He was found guilty on circumstantial evidence, was sentenced to five years in prison and was held over in appeals.
While  high-ranking  German  officials  were  acquitted  of terrible  crimes,  lowly  guard  Demjanuk was convicted on circumstantial evidence based on an unrecognizable photo ID.
He died at the age of 91 in Germany at a nursing home alone, they say, but not. His family and church defended him to the end.
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Edward J. Zalar, SFO
Delphos

Dear Editor:
It is my hope that the “Night at the Museum” Gala Celebration will long be remembered by the almost 200 people that were in attendance. When we were planning this event we never believed we would see the amount of interest and support for our project. People from the Toledo area, Dayton, Columbus, and even Massilon, came to experience this one of a kind exhibition. Several spent the night at our local motel and then went shopping the next day. 
It was extremely difficult to reference everyone who has played a part in our reaching this day. Literally, there have been hundreds of people who provided assistance in as many different forms. Without their support, we would have never been able to open our doors.  
I believe we have finally produced a high quality series of displays and with the 70 percent of our collection in storage; we will be able to keep things fresh and interesting for decades to come. The food, the music, the liquid refreshments, the decorations, the artwork, were all wonderfully prepared and tastefully executed.  
Next year we will have a new theme and we will do it all again. 
My thanks to our sponsors, donors, contributors, volunteers and tour guides.  
Gary S. Levitt
museum director

DEAR EDITOR:
On March 6, Van Wert County residents will have the opportunity to vote for two new commissioners.
If you are like me, you have spent many of the last few years a bit disillusioned with the current state of our county.
• Van Wert is only one of three Ohio counties whose population has decreased by 5 percent throughout the last 20 years. While that percentage may seem small, it equates to hundreds of people — gone.
• Van Wert has consistently ranked amongst the highest Ohio counties facing unemployment.
• For nearly a decade, Van Wert has pursued new businesses, and for nearly a decade, Van Wert has continued to lose jobs.
With such statistics, it is sometimes difficult to believe that our local officials have any power to change our circumstances. But a certain candidate has offered a new perspective to voters. Todd Wolfrum believes in a prosperous Van Wert County, and those beliefs extend beyond mere words and ideas.
• Todd Wolfrum believes in creating business incentives that will attract new businesses to the county.
• Todd Wolfrum believes in tapping into state monies that remain untouched each year simply because no one knows how to ask for them.
• Todd Wolfrum believes in promoting business opportunities for individuals and businesses who can invest in our economy today—rather than tomorrow.
• Todd Wolfrum believes that promoting a local higher-education branch campus is the best way to keep the brightest minds in our county.
• Todd Wolfrum believes in representing all segments of Van Wert County— teachers, business owners, factory employees, farmers, bankers, retailers, young, and old.
On March 6, I am voting for Todd Wolfrum. If you care about the future of Van Wert County, you should, too.
Lindsay Hotmire

DEAR EDITOR:
Attention Van Wert County voters: the time to vote for two new county commissioners is upon us. There are several individuals running for the two open commission seats.
I believe the two candidates with the most experience with the operation of county government are Sheriff Stan Owens and 911 Coordinator Kim Brandt. I also believe both of them will try to represent what is best for all Van Wert County residents at all times.
Tom Wise,
Van Wert

DEAR EDITOR:
As members of the Delphos Public Library Board of Trustees, we would like to comment on information contained in a letter written by Margene Freund and published Jan. 27:
Many libraries, including the Delphos Public Library, appreciate and accept donations of books and other media to supplement their collections. We have in the past and will continue in the future to purchase new materials based on need and on budgeted allocations and do not solely rely on donations to purchase those materials. 
The property on First Street was purchased in 2008 for the price of $60,000. Renovations to the building have totaled approximately $32,600, with generous awards from the Dienstberger Foundation covering $30,000 of that amount ($15,000 in 2008 and $15,000 in 2010). The library addition and all library facilities are for the benefit of and use by the local community and community-based groups.
The 2011 Dienstberger Foundation grant will be used to fund a project that will add much-needed handicap accessibility to the east entrance of the library for library patrons and visitors.  
Library board members are chosen by a majority vote of the board and approved by our local school board. As a recent example of this process, after a board member’s retirement in December, the board received applications from qualified candidates and a new board member was chosen after an interview process, a majority vote by board members and approval by the Delphos City School Board. Despite steep funding cuts by the state in the last few years, the Delphos Public Library continues to successfully manage, through tough economic times via budget constraints and belt tightening. We pride ourselves on spending public money wisely while maintaining essential services, presenting facilities that are well maintained, having comfortable places to read and having enough friendly, knowledgeable librarians and staff to provide help when needed.
As a board, we have high expectations for our library and hope that the public does as well. We want you to rely on your library for books and programs for your children. We want your library to be cutting edge with new technology and materials and want people to use the library as a place to read, to study, to relax, to hold meetings and gather for special events. There is a real future for public libraries in the Internet age. If education and lifelong learning are keys to opportunity for individuals and our community as a whole, your local public library serves those needs and serves them well.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit lately, please make it a point to visit your Delphos Public Library; you won’t be disappointed. We also invite anyone interested to attend our monthly board meetings held at 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month in the Library’s First Edition meeting room located at 302 W. First St., Delphos.  
Respectfully submitted,
Members of the Delphos Public Library Board of Trustees
Ron Elwer
Susan Kapcar
Pat Poling
Brad Rostorfer
Jane Rutledge
Leila Osting