The Times Herald from Port Huron, Michigan • Page 7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2002 www.theTimesHerald.com TIMES HERALD, PORT HURON, MICHIGAN 7A i Members ot the Times Heratfeditorial board: Opinion Chuck Wanninger president ana publisher Thomas D. Walker opinion page editor Shawn Starkey city editor Denise Richter executive editor Katie Haddad director of market development Garth J. Kriewall features editor Neely Deeney, Kevin Totty community members To contact any members of the editorial board, call opinion page editor Tom Walker at 989-6278. UBlfl EE NATO1! SCENE Opinion by Dick Wright Vol your mm Photo of jumping victim is not it subject for journalism award Twas shocked and appalled to find out that Area native becomes oldest man born in United States JLRichard Drew of the Associated Press was awarded third place by the World Press for his photo of a man jumping to his death from the World Trade Center. At what point does artistic content meet with respect and moral responsibility? Now, I don't have a problem with the press getting a picture of a person on the way to his or her death.

Sometimes, that can play a vital role in the event of a tragedy, even if only to capture the magnitude and depth of the situation; My question, however, is does a photographer deserve to win a prize at the expense of another person's demise? KRISTIN MEYERS Port Huron, April 19 Public buses are vital service; please renew millage May 7 Reliable transportation is identified as the primary need for people who work, especially those with low incomes and those with disabilities. Town hall forum and focus group results from the past 10 years have all included a variation of the same theme: "I would like to work, but my choices are limited if there is no bus service or if the hours of service are limited." Also, people on fixed incomes, senior citizens no longer able to drive and people with disabilities who are unable to drive depend on public transportation for many daily living activities. These include work, shopping, medical appointments and recreation. Please support the upcoming millage vote on May 7 as a way of retaining one of our greatest local assets: public transportation. Who knows, tomorrow you may need it.

MARYTWISS District Manager Michigan Rehabilitation Services Port Huron, April 18 Editor's note: Letters regarding the May 7 bus transportation millage renewal or the Port Huron ballot proposal to sell or lease the Seaway Terminal property must be received by Tuesday, April 30, to be considered for publication. The records keep coming for longtime Port Huron resident John Ingram McMorran, who celebrates his 113th birthday on June 18. In the past week, he became the oldest man born in the United States. He passed John B. Sailing of Slant, who died in 1959 and claimed to be the oldest Confederate veteran of the Civil War.

western St. Clair County and most of his adult years in Port Huron. He now lives at a nursing home in Clearwater, near a grandson and a nephew, his closest surviving relatives. Gerontology researchers Louis Epstein and Robert Young tell me he is: The oldest American, a title he took in March upon the death MHE OPINION Port Huron can't give up on its marina KEY TOPIC: Water Advisory group must help find facility's role as tourism asset Boating is not just a means of recreation for Port Huron. Boating is a way of life.

Critical to the city's tourism industry and essential to the city's image, boating is too vital to Port Huron and its future to be given short shrift. Closing the Municipal Marina was too drastic. The marina's 374 slips comprise 74 of the 505 wells the city provides. The Port Huron City Council is unwilling, however, to reconsider its April 8 vote to keep the marina closed for this year's boating season, and that's a shame. Oh Monday, however, the council did approve an advisory committee to explore how the marina might be saved for future boating seasons.

At least that's a promising step. City officials argue the marina is a money pit. The facility, already in poor condition, would cost more than $4 million in upkeep and repairs in the next 10 years, City Manager Tom Hutka said. Besides, the Water Street marina hasn't proven it can bring significant numbers of visitors downtown. Still, the marina has too much potential for city leaders simply to cut bait.

Instead of crippling a potential tourism asset, finding ways to make it viable seems far more reasonable. The advisory committee can play a valuable role, provided its scope isn't solely limited to the cost of getting the marina up to snuff. That cost must address the marina's role as a community asset. The committee must consider the new possibilities for Port Huron's waterfront the Acheson development plan and the marina's potential contribution. The group should include boaters.

That is a given. Tourism boosters also deserve to be members. Beyond its makeup, though, the group's focus must be linked to Port Huron's tourism. It's not enough to look for ways to avoid the marina's permanent demise. Port Huron's leaders must view it as an integral part of the city's tourist industry.

In most businesses, sometimes, you have to spend money to make money. The Municipal Marina still promises to accommodate tourists who could spend their money in Port Huron. The trick is finding a way to help the marina enhance that process. Adopt a stream The St. Clair County 4-H Youth Program has come up with a good way to help the environment: adopt a stream.

Youth groups can test designated waterways, and collect and identify macroinver-tebrates under 4-H Youth Program supervision. In the fall, they can help clean up the streams. Environmental advocates believe water is one of the most important legacies we can leave our children. Encouraging them to take an interest in their inheritance makes perfect sense. The first adoption is Saturday.

Groups as small as five can participate. Call the 4-H Youth Program for details: 989-6935. He's the second St. Clair County journalist to earn enshrinement into the Hall of Fame, on the Michigan State University campus. Atkins is a 1957 graduate of Port Huron High.

After earning a degree from Wayne State, he joined the staff of the Independent Press of St. Clair County. He worked with the Daily Sentinel of Utica before joining the Detroit bureau of The Associated Press in 1971. He spent 29 years at the bureau, the last 21. as sports editor, before retiring two years ago.

He reported on all sports, from prep football to the World Series and Stanley Cup, and also covered the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. "He epitomizes all that a journalist should be," said an AP colleague, Paula Froke. Among those who attended the induction ceremony in East Lansing last weekend were John Heering, who coached Atkins in high school, and Jim Wallington, the managing editor of The Romeo Observer and another Big Red from the 1950s. By the way, the other local journalist in the state Hall of Fame is Louis A. Weil a co-founder of the Times Herald.

Weil, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Elmer Ottaway bought The Daily Times and merged it with their newpaper, The Port Huron Herald, on Jan. 1, 1910. Mike Connell is a columnist for the Times Herald. He can be reached at 989-6271. Some researchers question the validity of Sailing's age and military service.

At any rate, he died at the supposed age of 112 years and 305 days. McMorran passed that threshhold last week. McMorran was born June 18, 1889 in Lapeer County near Imlay City. To put this in perspective, he's two months younger than Adolf Hitler and 16 months older than Dwight Eisenhower. He spent his childhood in of Maud Fams-Luse of Coldwater.

The world's second-oldest man, behind Yukichi Chuganji of Japan, who's three months older. The world's fifth-oldest person, trailing two Japanese woman, an Australian woman and Chuganji. These rankings can change quickly. Epstein and Young said they have learned of a Maryland man who claims he was born June 2, 1889. "It is too early to tell if the case will be validated," Young said, "but it would be ironic if Mr.

CLCEST LIVING PECPLE The Times Herald Opinion Page is seeking new writers for our community columnist feature. Those selected must be willing to submit at least one column per month for the next year. Column topics will be of their own choosing. Interested? Submit three 500-word sample columns by Friday. Include a paragraph about yourself and a phone number.

MAIL: 77mes Herald, P.O. Box 5009, Port Huron 48061 -5009. FAX: 989-6294. E-MAIL: tmshrldic.net. For more information, call Tom Walker, Opinion Page editor: 989-6278.

McMorran were superseded by someone older by just 16 or 17 days." The world's oldest living people whose age has been documented by gerontology researchers: Individual, Nation Birthdate 1) Kamato Hongo, Japan Sept. 16, 1887 2) Christina Cock, Dec. 25, 1887 3) Yukichi Chuganji, Japan March 23, 1889 4) Mitoyo Kawate, Japan May 15, 1889 5) John McMorran, USA June 18, 1889 Source: Gerontology researchers Louis Epstein and Robert Young PORT HURON native Harry Atkins, one of the state's most capable (and most admired) sports writers, has been inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. Port Huron officials are selling the vacant Algonquin Hotel lot. What would you like to see it become? QUESTION OF TIIE DAY: By ROSEMARY TAYLOR Visit our online poll www.thetimesherald.com ft 4 'its JOIN THE DISCUSSION We welcome your comments on editorials, columns and other topics in the Times Herald or on any subjects important to you.

Only submissions that include name, address and day and evening phone numbers and that are verified by the 77mes Herald can be considered for publication. Letters to the editor of 250 or fewer words and opinion columns with a maximum of 600 words and a minimum of 500 have the best chance of being published. No poetry, please. All submissions may be edited for length, accuracy and clarity. Letters to the editor, opinion columns and articles submitted to the 77mes Herald may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.

BY MAIL: Send all submissions to the Times Herald, P.O. Box 5009, Port Huron 48061-5009. BY FAX: Our fax number is 989-6294. BY ELECTRONIC MAIL: Our Internet address is tmshrldic.net. We will publish a letter by the same author no sooner than 14 days after his or her previous letter.

1 "Come type of educa-Otional student center I 'd like to see a com-I munity center for "Qomething that will benefit our people and be lovely to look at as mentally-impaired people, where parents and their kids could work on projects something entertaining for I walk by." "Mow about a restau- rl rant geared toward a younger crowd, with pool tables and stuff?" Joe Axsom student Port Huron ctra together like computers, social service agency 1 u' them." Mary Coulter call center operator Port Huron Eddie Kindle director Port Huron athletic coach Fort Gratiot I jm J'i, was told they're called box elder bugs." Glen from Port Huron Township: "Terry asked a question about the beetles. Probably what she has is known as a box elder bug. It doesn't have a hard shell, like a beetle does, and it quite often winters as an adult living primarily on box elder trees." Dana from Avoca: "I'd like to help Bill from Smiths Creek with his beetle problem. He can get Bonaide at Aco. It will kill them.

Trust me. I've used it." Let's figure out what it is before we nuke it, OK, Dana? they desire." Grandma from Lakeport: "I agree with John from St. Clair. The Times Herald should include channel 32 and 51 in its television listings. I also get those channels, and it would be nice to know what's on them instead of having to channel-surf.

Thanks." Bill from Fort Gratiot: "I'm calling in regard to Tcri from Fort Gratiot and the black bug with the red spots on it. I don't know what it is, but she can capture one in a clear glass bottle that's closed off, take it down to the St. Clair County Cooperative Extension in the county building, and the staff there can probably tell her what it is." Storm from Port Huron: "This is in regard to Terry from Fort Gratiot, who called that he has ladybugs and a black bug with red stripes, wondering what it was. I have those, too, and I mail yours at the deadline? You don't need to thank the post office. Its staff is getting overtime.

And stamps are going to go up, too. So thank you, Sharon." No name from Port Huron: "I'm just wondering what the Taliban are doing over there, watching the Americans kill their own with these so-called accidents in Afghanistan. Now this terrible accident has happened with Canada. I think our forces need to be retrained, and somebody has to investigate them to see why they're having so many of our military personnel are being hurt by themselves." Marie from Port Huron: "I would like to answer Don in the TalkBack. In Genesis 15:18, God made a covenant with Abraham.

'To your descendants I have given 1 this land from the river Egypt to the great river The covenant was renewed with Isaac in Genesis and also Jacob in Genesis 26:13. The Jews returned to their land on May 15, 1948. This was foretold in Ezekiel 20:34. The Jewish people have tried to live peacefully with the Palestinians, but Arafat has broken every treaty." Don from Port Huron Township: "Sorry about that Port Hope remark. My wife thought it was funny.

But then again, she's from Rap-son." In case anyone's wondering, Huron County's Rapson is south of Redman, north of Louisville and nowhere near Gotts Corners. Diane from East China: "My response is to Elizabeth from Fort Gratiot. I didn't realize we had a subculture called 'those people' on welfare. Some people work very hard and still have a low-enough income to receive food stamps. I believe they have the right to choose how they live their lives, any way skaters could be hit by cars.

The skaters would be in a public park, which is fenced in. In 30 years, I've witnessed a collective total of less than 10 seniors sitting outside of their apartments on benches. Seniorhood does not give us the right to expect the life of a community to be solely designed by those of us who are seniors, only because we haven't died yet and not because we are a higher human species. And by the way, I'm a senior. It's almost like I wanted to scream, being lumped in." It's like I've always said: People who use stereotypes are all alike.

Wayne from Burtchville: "This is for Sharon of Port Huron about procrastination on sending in your taxes. The lazy people should wake up. They've had 3 12 months to get their taxes ready. Why should we have to pay overtime to the post office so you slackers can Call TalkBack, but just don't call collect The TalkBack answering machine we use received a collect call the other day. Luckily, I've trained the machine well.

It didn't accept the call. I'm not sure what the caller expected, but he'd be hard-pressed to get the response he wanted from a piece of audio tape. Now, to the phones: Anonymous from Algonac: "The attractive senior housing in downtown Algonac has existed since the late 1970s. It's a prime piece of property with a river view. An article In the paper said some senior residents appear to object to a proposed skate park because of privacy concerns and that GARTH KF.IO.L TALKBACK 989-6297 TalkBack is the newspaper's version of a radio talk show.

The opinions are Garth's and those of his readers. The TalkBack line is open 24 hours. wHJffcojrjjrat. CALL TALKBACK The TalkBack line is open 24 hours: (810)989-6297 Toll free: Call 1-800-462-4057 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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