I travel near the area and often I flip through radio stations while driving. It was only a few days ago that I was listening to 104.7 WIOT Toledo's Rock station during my usual radio scans. A recording of a woman came on to do a contest promotion. "Pay Off Your Side Piece" is the promotion. The ad was directed towards men who have fallen into unfortunate romantic circumstances and need to get out because of their 'side piece' getting attached. I couldn't believe it, so I looked on wiot.iheart.com/contests and sure enough it was there.

As a millennial woman it has been common for me to take notice of movements happening for women, by women. I believe it is our burden and honor to lift women up to empowerment. When I hear the language of the same oppressive ideals we have been fighting against, spoken by those having a powerful influential impact, it makes me feel daunted. For generations it has been no secret what women have accomplished to circumvent the injustices imposed upon us. It doesn't go without acknowledging the different dynamics of growth we need to have as a nation. We are not objects to be exploited. The support of this promotion discredits any rationale of this notion. I am not resentful, I understand progress doesn't necessarily happen in a straight line. I am a woman hoping, like many others, for social equality and respect. We can all be leaders in this together.

AMANDA UGARTECHEA

Ypsilanti, Mich.

 

Be warned about Fostoria landfill

This intent of this letter is to forewarn anyone who lives within a 15 to 20-mile radius of Fostoria. There is a menace to your self, family, and real estate lurking just below the surface. That menace is in the form of a place that is ironically referred to as Sunny Farms Landfill. SFL is in the process of implementing a huge expansion of its operations just South of Fostoria. SFL has a history of being a horrific neighbor. They also have a history of being in noncompliance with environmental directives on multiple occasions. Despite that fact, SFL has been allowed to operate and expand virtually unchecked. The Ohio EPA has levied fines against them. These fines border on laughable. SFL likely imports greater volumes of trash to offset those same fines. Hence, the only parties being punished are the local residents.

Speaking from experience, every time SFL expands, likewise does the radius where people suffer from burning eyes and nose, bloody noses, coughing, along with a host of other issues. SFL is infamous for discharging hydrogen sulfide gas into the atmosphere. The closest I can come to describing H2S is that the associated stench might be comparable to a rotting corpse. There have been many occasions where H2S has literally taken a person's breath away even from a distance of 6 to 10 miles. The effect SFL has on real estate values within its radius of misery is staggering. The Ohio EPA either lacks the will, or does not have the authority to effectively reign in SFL.

If this latest expansion by SFL is not stopped, the radius of areas affected by SFL will once again expand farther on out. Thus, there is a significant possibility that residents in and near Findlay, Tiffin, and Carey may experience exposure to H2S, as well. I suspect that these areas are already hanging close to the balance. The proposed expansion will substantially increase that jeopardy. Some residents in or near Arcadia, Bascom, Vanlue, Alvada, Van Buren, Risingsun, Old Fort, and Bettsville are already being affected by H2S. If this latest expansion is allowed, the situation will only grow more severe.

The Ohio EPA has scheduled a meeting to discuss the negative effects that SFL has been permitted to unleash onto NW Ohio. That meeting is set for Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. It is to be held at Fostoria High School. For anyone living on the fringe areas of the SFL nightmare, you may wish to speak up now. You may not have a second chance.

KARL WALTERS

Fostoria

 

Data scrubbing joke

WOW — what a harsh punishment for Toledo Public Schools Superintendent Durant and TPS administrators James Gault and Brian Murphy. How will they cope with 90 days off with pay?

The Ohio Department of Education really sent a message. Unfortunately, the message is — you can pretty much do as you please.

What a joke.

JERRY WELKER

West Toledo

Bring back sanity, please

In the current U.S. government, all the animals are insane and some are more insane than others. Are there no sane voices in the legislative or executive branches that can bring a sense of "genuine good for the country" to prevail and stop the pettiness and horrible way of running a supposedly world leader country?

I believe the real cause of climate change is the earth-shattering revolutions of our Founding Fathers in their graves.

To live in interesting times was an ancient oriental curse. We are getting what we deserve, but do we have to continue like this?

ROBERT J. WILHELM

West Toledo

First Published January 26, 2019, 11:00 a.m.