DEAR EDITOR:
Dear Fellow Delphos Residents,
I am writing to commend Mike Birkemeier for addressing council on what seems to be a deterioration of the neighborhoods and houses in our city. I would like to address another contributing factor to the decline of our neighborhoods, the overabundance of feral and domestic cats. Unfortunately, this situation is not unique to Delphos, and many municipalities find themselves dealing with the problem. I know there are many dissenting opinions about how to handle these cats. Almost every solution proposed has its detractors and its advocates. Licensing requirements and leashing recommendations for cats can prove to be unsafe for the animals, and difficult to enforce. I would like to suggest the implementation of a Trap, Neuter, and Release program for feral cats, and a cost assisted spay and neuter option for domesticated cats. These programs have at least proven to be effective in other places.  
As far as I could determine, there are no such programs like these in our city. Cost of sterilization surgery is prohibitive for many people, especially those dealing with more than one cat. Feral cats need to be humanely trapped before they can be spayed or neutered. That’s where the appointment issue gets problematic. It would be immensely helpful if there was a same day surgery option, or at least a place to take trapped feral cats until surgery. Our local vets would be a valuable asset in our efforts to sterilize both feral and domestic cats. Corporate sponsorship and fundraisers could offset the financial costs of such a program.
To fix the cat problem in our town, we have to stop this profuse production of kittens. There are too many kittens, and not enough homes. According to one estimate, the average number of litters a fertile cat can have in one year is three. The average number of kittens in a feline litter is 4-6. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats. Only 1 in 12 of those 420,000 cats born finds a home. More conservative estimates conclude the offspring of one female cat could be 400 by the end of 7 years. Even 400 is 400 too many. There are no place for these cats to go.
I can think of so many examples of times when our community came together for the greater good. It is one of the best features of Delphos, and I know if we join together we can make a profound difference in our community concerning the forgotten cats.

Thank you,
Bev Jettinghoff

DEAR EDITOR:
Most people who know me know I have been donating blood for 53 years and I have a total of 215 pints donated so far.
I stopped for a short time because I had tumors on my bladder that had to be removed. When I completed the last of my follow-up treatments, I asked if would be OK if I donated blood again. They said it would so I called the Red Cross in Fort Wayne and set up my appointment to donate the next week at the Eagles.
I was glad to be able to give blood and help people in need again. It has always been very important to me to be able to help save lives.
This next pint will be 27 gallons for me. I only hope that I will be around to give a lot more.
My son and sister are also blood donors.
Paul H. Feathers Sr.

DEAR EDITOR:
Congratulations to Dulton Moore, winner of the Lima area “Youth of the Year,” and our God, Flag and Country winners. And congratulations to our schools and churches for providing the teachers and classes to help all these young people grow and care.

The Phi Delta Sorority would like to thank those who supported its second annual raffle held last fall.
Items raffled included winner’s choice of: dinner for four, chocolate tray or fruit flowers. The winners were, Karen Youngpeter, Jane Rode, Julie McCormick, Diane Steinbrenner and Pam Baxter.
All proceeds from the raffle were used to purchase shoes and boots for children in the Delphos community at Christmas.
We would also like to thank our ticket sponsors.
It is our hope to continue this fundraiser in order to provide for the needs of our community’s children.
Sincerely,
Kristie McCormick
Phi Delta Sorority secretary

DEAR EDITOR:

Spring has sprung. More people are on foot, kids are on their bikes and motorists are in a hurry to get somewhere for no real reason.
All you have to do is observe people. Cars come down Hunt Street to St. Rt. 66 and don’t stop at the stop sign. Yes, they put a foot on the brake pedal and slow down but too many people think a stop sign is just a yield sign.
How about the motorists that go back and forth on Fifth Street 45-50 mph because they think they are entitled.
Let’s not forget the people who don’t use turn signals because of yakking on the cell phone. These are the same people who can’t make a 90-degree turn without driving left of center.
You can fix bad driving habits.
Spring has sprung. Let’s hope your airbag doesn’t spring because you were in a preventable accident.
Think when you turn on your vehicle. The life you save may be your own.
Tony Kriegel,
Delphos