June 7, 2009 — Rozlyn’s Hope gave us hope we needed

Dear Editor,

I wanted to give you some insight from a different perspective on Rozlyn’s Hope Animal Rescue. My name is Kory Coots. I was born and raised in Claremore, OK and currently work at my families business here in Claremore, The Burrows Agency. We came to meet Kimberly Maupin when my sister, who is a Christian missionary was planning to go on a mission trip for an entire year.

My sister, Kara Burrows, had two dogs and when the plans we had fell through for one of her dogs at the last minute, Kimberly was our saving grace.

Abner, a mutt Dalmatian mix, was going to be without a home and we were going to have to take her to a shelter. Kara had a friend of hers take her other dog but she was unable to take both dogs. We were all frantic to find something and it was very last minute (about 2 weeks before she was supposed to leave). I had called the animal rescues in the area of Claremore and actually found Kimberly and Rozlyn’s Hope in the newspaper, she was the only person who would take our dear Abner.

The other rescues required some form of payment which at the time my sister couldn’t afford due to her mission trip and Kimberly of Rozlyn’s Hope was the only place that would take her without any sort of payment.

We worked out that we would bring food by until Abner could have possibly been adopted out or until Kara returned from the mission field.

My sister left for her mission trip to about 11 different countries in June 2008 and my father and I have frequently taken bags of food, and other items during the year that Abner has been staying with her. I do not know what we would have done without this Kimberly.

Kara is due back in two weeks from her mission trip and we are planning on picking Abner up the day after she arrives. I can’t say enough how grateful I am to Kimberly and her Rescue.

Kimberly has worked very hard with Abner, she wasn’t as social and had some aggressive issues that she no longer has, she has remained in excellent health and Kimberly has really given me some peace of mind. I don’t worry about Abner with Kimberly, I know that she has been in the best hands throughout the year that she has been staying with her.

Yesterday my father took a bag of food when Kimberly told him of the situation, and at work today I saw the newspaper article. I have been to Kimberly’s home around twice a month every month since June 2008.

I have never been overwhelmed by odor or even seen much of any fecal matter in and around the yard. I know that Kimberly has a lot of dogs that come in and out and I truly feel that she does the best she can do. Having multiple dogs is very difficult and I think she does a fantastic job.

I would hate for anything to happen to this rescue, Kimberly is a very understanding person and is so giving of herself and her time to these animals in need. Our dog Abner probably wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for Kimberly.

Please let me know if there is anything I could do to contribute to the situation, I feel for all that Kimberly and her Rescue has done for my sister and her dog it is the least I could to shed some light on the good that Rozlyn’s Hope is doing.

Kory Coots

Inola



Get us out of Iraq

Dear Editor

The war in Iraq has brought this country’s economy to its knees.

Ten more years will bring it crashing down into something that makes the Great Depression look like a hangnail. We cannot afford to pour more money into this hole in the sand. Get us a man who will get us out now.

Mercedes Lackey

Claremore



Youth Detention Center location bad

Dear Editor,

In regard to the juvenile facility proposed at Dupont and Moore. There are a couple of things that were not mentioned in the article. One being that the land being purchased for the facility is owned by the City of Claremore, and that four men appointed by the mayor and city council were responsible for making the decision to make the zoning exemption to allow the facility.

Also, over 75 percent of the property owners in that area signed a petition stating they didn’t want the facility there, which was ignored. Another thing is they did not state that the facility would be built behind the homes on Dupont, with a mobile home park on the west side of it and several homes on the south of it.

Also, it will be a locked down facility. That makes it a detention center, not just a shelter. I believe this facility is a good idea, but not anywhere near a family neighborhood.

They called it a “secured shelter” in the article, but failed to mention some of the offenses committed could be assault, shoplifting, auto theft, drugs, etc.

Sheriff Walton stated in the article May 22, 2009 that it would be for non-violent offenders. I think fighting and stealing cars can be considered violent. He also stated that “it has to be in somebody’s backyard.”

There is plenty of land around Rogers County that could be used and not be in “somebody’s backyard.”

Cheryl Melot

Claremore



Something’s wrong with City’s choice

Dear Editor,

I have heard all the good things about the facility but what about the other side? Not everyone is happy about the location of the youth shelter aka youth detention center.

First of all the facility was misrepresented in the notification letter mailed out to land owners and to others involved.

The so-called youth shelter is not just a shelter it is also a Youth Detention Center and it will detain by locking down youth, ages 11-17 from Rogers County and other counties.

The detained will be youth who have committed crimes not just in our county but in other counties. It will be located directly adjacent to the family Expo Center, where families go with their children, or drop off their children to have a care free fun and safe experience.

That will no longer be the case if the youth detention lock down facility is located in the vicinity of where Claremore citizens exercise and stroll with their babies on the walking trail.

Why would the Board of Adjusters vote in a detention center so close to this family center? What were they thinking?

The Expo Center is also a big draw from out of town families. Will this effect the revenues brought into town? How about the campers at the Expo? Do they want to be camping next door? I wouldn’t want my kids to have to keep looking over their shoulder afraid.

This detention center doesn’t belong in the middle of an ordinary residential area with a daymare and park within 400 feet or surrounded by residential housing. Would you want this in your backyard?

The facility only had to get approval from the Board of Adjusters, no planning commission, no city council. At the meeting citizens showed up to voice their opposition on the location of the facility because of safety issues.

That is where we found out that it would be a locked down facility thus making it a detention center.

There was also a petition against the location of the facility signed by 77 percent of landowners within 300 feet of the proposed site.

Other concerned citizens also signed the petition. Even after voiced concerns by parents with small children, widows and elderly, I feel there was no attention given to the opposed. The vote was 4-0 in favor of the detention center.

Also, it must be noted that it was the city’s land that was being sold and the city’s mayor and council appoints the Board of Adjusters. Something isn’t right.

The detention center doesn’t have to go in anybody’s backyard but sadly that is the choice the Board of Adjusters made.

It could go into the county and that way the Rogers County Sheriff would be able to respond quicker to emergency calls.

I would suggest if you don’t want this detention center next to where you go for family events and recreation to call and write the city’s mayor and city council.

Let them know the voting citizens of Claremore do not want this detention center. Also, write the newspaper and let them know you are not happy with the decision.

I am not against the detention center in any way, but it’s location doesn’t belong in a residential area.

Lisa Hinkle

Claremore