DEAR EDITOR:
Recently the ODNR gave the people who love or hate the canal a window of opportunity. Some say why didn’t they save the fish or call some employee an idiot. But lets look at the opportunity it presents. Why not rally around the canal commission and do something to make the canal a fishing hole, like it was for me in the 50’s.
Could we move quickly and get a plan in place to  dredge the canal. Oh yes the negative thinkers say it will just silt back in. I say mother nature will do what she will do. ODNR says we are small fish and there is no money in the budget. Well, we keep asking for a smaller government so maybe we should do what my dad, Don Patthoff, did in 40s. He went around Delphos collecting ashes from home coal furnaces and built a sinter track at the Delphos Stadium. What a dumb idea; it’s work.
I haven’t lived in Delphos since I went away to college but I still call it my home town. Joan, my wife owns a local business, so I do get to help maintain the building on the beautiful Miami-Erie Canal. I had the pleasure to pick up, by hand, 36 dead fish to control the odor and the maggots that eat the flesh off of the fishes bones. Right now I am, by rake and shovel, building the bank back up to repair the erosion that has already taken place. While sweating in the 100-degree weather, I wondered what can we do now while others just say it is a pity and it smells (not as bad as cleaning the hog barn at my uncles farm).
There are a lot of good people in the area that will pitch in if there is a plan. I’m not a community leader and I don’t feel it is my place to tell the city fathers what to do. I am a dreamer of sorts and wonder what might be.
Some people could operate an excavator to dredge the canal. Some could lend the canal commission their dump trucks. Some can help place riprap to control future erosion. Some can raise money to pay for fuel and equipment rental. Some can work with our government people and see what can be done in funding and materials (not what can’t be done). Some can cook or bring water to the working folk. The athletes that need to build strong bodies could shovel muck.
The dirt could be used to build a sledding hill, or a soap box derby run or a place for the student athletes to run up hill.
The musings of one man. What could be? Gee it sounds like a Shirley Temple movie.
Dennis J. Patthoff, Lima

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

With recent developments, I have been motivated to respond to some of the things that have been ongoing for some time.  It is only the recent events that has set me to voice my opinion.

It’s so good to have things getting back to some semblance of normalcy. Sorry to those still without power.
It doesn’t take long to figure out someone’s character and fortitude in an emergency situation such as we endured this past week.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget driving home Friday afternoon during the storm and seeing the tree on my neighbors house. WOW! It was surreal — like something out of a disaster movie.

I pulled in the drive, hopped out, grabbed the garbage can and drug it around the house and fumbled for my keys. I glanced in the yard and there was a large tree branch on the picnic table that had taken out my begonias. Drat.

DEAR EDITOR:
The Wesleyan Church was open to the public during the recent power outage.
The church would like to thank the media for getting word out; a local restaurant for its donation; individuals for food donations; and those who gave monetary donations.
A big thanks goes out to all who volunteered their time serving and keeping the church open around the clock.
We also appreciate all who passed out flyers to let the community know the church was open and offering food, air conditioning, a place to rest and the opportunity to watch movies.
Anyone who still doesn’t have power can contact the church to see if any need can be met.
The leftover food and monetary donations were given to a rescue shelter in Lima.
Delphos Wesleyan Church

DEAR EDITOR:
Every month, my husband and I pay close to $400 for our medical insurance which doesn’t cover any medical expenses unless we get over $10,000 for the year. It seems like a lot for nothing but it is nothing compared to what most small businesses pay.
This being the case, National Health Care would seems like a blessing. That could only be true if National Heath Care was about care but it’s about controlling our care. It’s about controlling what the doctors can and can not do. It’s about controlling what operations or surgeries the hospitals can and can not perform. It’s about our government having more control over us then they already do.
It would be nice not to pay insurance every month. We could save the money for our kids or grandkids, travel or even retire with a bit more comfort but I’d rather be free — free to control my own health care.
Just a concerned U.S. citizen,
Annette Brown