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Return traffic light to dangerous intersection
DEAR EDITOR:
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, there was a personal-injury accident involving two vehicles at the intersection of Washington Street and North Park Avenue in Warren. This intersection is a a safety hazard as the line of sight is blocked at Washington with vehicles not being able to be seen coming northbound.
We had a traffic light removed because according to a survey that was done either by the state or the city of Warren. I’m not sure which because the state of Ohio claims it wasn’t them, and the city of Warren claims that the traffic lights and some traffic signs were removed and some added.
The city claims to have our safety in mind, yet we are dealing with traffic accidents at this intersection because the westbound vehicles have to creep out to see what northbound traffic is coming or if it's clear to go.
This is a definite safety issue that needs to be addressed, and the comment that was made, that there isn’t enough traffic at this intersection to have the traffic light there, is unacceptable.
PAUL YANNUCCI
Warren
Accountability should not have a party affiliation
DEAR EDITOR:
It is time we stop being Republicans or Democrats first and start being Americans first.
Hardworking taxpayers are watching grocery bills, gas prices, utilities and everyday e xpenses climb while too often it seems that the wealthy and well-connected continue to prosper. Corruption, favoritism and the influence of money in government should concern all of us, regardless of which party is responsible.
We cannot condemn something when the other party does it and excuse it when our own party does the same. Accountability should not have a party affiliation.
The majority of Americans who are Christians do not need politics attached to our faith. Christianity calls us to care for our neighbors, help those in need, show mercy and grace, forgive, and treat people with dignity, even when they think differently than we do.
We don't have to agree on everything. But we should agree that government exists to serve the people.
It is time for Americans on both sides of the political spectrum to contact those who represent us and demand that they work for the people who elected them -- not simply for their party, wealthy donors or special interests.
And then we need to pay attention.
Don't judge elected officials by their speeches, slogans or party labels. Judge them by their actions. Are those actions actually supporting the words they speak?
We are smart enough to know the difference. We matter!
Our message to every elected official should be simple: We are paying attention. We expect you to work for us. Our loyalty belongs to our country and our communities and not to a political party.
JANET DYER
Niles
A look at two notable U.S. presidential Cabinets
DEAR EDITOR:
THE MERITOCRACY CABINET:
On Nov. 26, 1791, President George Washington called his first Cabinet meeting.
The attendees were Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox and Attorney General Edmund Randolph.
No slackers there!
All experienced, intelligent, and dedicated to the revolutionary, patriotic cause of making constitutional democracy work.
THE SCHMOOZOCRACY CABINET:
In 2025, President Donald J. Trump held his initial second-term Cabinet meeting.
The attendees were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, among others.
All sycophants there!
All abandoning their "better angels" for Trump's retribution train, their intelligence for subservience, and their loyalty to the Constitution for loyalty to a personality peppered with over-weaning pride, all happily flaunting their expertise with a collective "experience" that amounts to a box of packing peanuts.
What comes of this abandonment of principle for obsequious loyalty?
Woe to free speech -- ask Sen. Mark Kelly.
Woe to the right to assemble -- ask Trump, "Can't you just shoot them in the legs?"
Woe to congressional independence -- ask Mike Johnson.
Woe to Ukraine -- ask Putin.
Woe to the rule of law -- ask immigrants.
Woe to science -- ask Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Woe to two-term presidencies -- ask Donald Trump.
Woe to the Constitution!
SHELDON FIREM
Chardon
McDonald residents are opposed to data centers
DEAR EDITOR:
As a longtime McDonald resident who attended and spoke at the 9/9/26 council meeting, I was again disappointed by the disregard the council members had for listening and engaging with the residents who spoke.
Previously, we had been told that until recently, the development of a data center had not been in the works. However, that is not true. At the 9/9/26 meeting we were finally told that a company by the name of Oppidan has had a land contract since last year.
The village was to hold a public meeting with Oppidan on its proposed data center on Tuesday, Sept. 15 in the high school gymnasium. We hoped to see even more locals at that meeting to demonstrate just how much the community does not want a data center in our little 1.70-square-mile village.
Not only will it affect our community, but also the surrounding communities.
There is no need or want for this environmentally harmful industry in our village.
LYNN A. MILLER
McDonald
Thank you to the Gondols for work on War Memorial
DEAR EDITOR:
Our family and friends have ordered several bricks for the North Jackson War Memorial. When we saw the work being quietly done on the War Memorial, we knew those people needed to be recognized.
Steve and Patty Gondol, with the help of their family and friends, have been installing rock to update the landscape around the Memorial. Steve was on his hands and knees digging out the blank bricks to install the new bricks.
They aren't doing this work for fanfare or recognition. They're doing it to help each of us honor our family and friends. They're doing it to help us carry on the legacy of those who served our country, especially the ones who didn't get to come home.
BRENDA McDOUGAL
North Jackson
Say goodbye to America's long-held freedom
DEAR EDITOR:
Imagine living in a country that sends agents to journalists' homes to seize their electronic devices. They pressure media to limit their reports. The financial support is withdrawn from public radio and television.
Independent news has been stopped from being shared with the press. The independent editor of its military's traditional independent newspaper has been fired. Access has been denied to reporters that refused to sign pledges to limit their reports.
Russia right? Must be China? Or perhaps North Korea. Maybe some Middle East country ruled by a king? Had to be the Iron Curtain bloc! Maybe it was the drug cartels. Had to be a suppressive country in the middle of some backward African nation.
Nope. This is currently the United States. Welcome to our Amerika.
Have a nice day before those will be stopped by our leaders, too.
HAROLD WILSON
Austintown
Acton 'lunge' exaggeration should also be condemned
DEAR EDITOR:
David Skolnick is correct in stating that conspiracy theories on the Dr. Acton Canfield Fair incident should be condemned. On the other hand, extreme exaggerations of the incident should also be condemned.
An extremely exaggerated narrative came from the Acton camp itself. Shortly after the incident, Dr. Acton posted a statement from her communications director on X, stating "an armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people." Naturally, this statement led to speculation of an assassination attempt. Since then, cellphone footage of the incident was released. In the footage, you can see Dr. Acton surrounded by several supporters. Suddenly, a disturbance occurs so far away from Dr. Acton that you cannot even see the perpetrator despite the cellphone operator panning towardshis direction. Describing his actions as "lunging" towards Dr. Acton is clearly not an accurate portrayal.
We also learned that the perpetrator was holding a cellphone and never brandished his weapons. Thus, calling him "armed" is a heck of a stretch. Simply put, an arm man did not lunge at Dr. Acton.
The extreme exaggeration by Dr. Acton's camp, who witnessed the incident first-hand, is disappointing. The obvious attempt to sensationalize the incident could only have been done for political gain.
SAM JORDAN
Youngstown
The lies just come so easily to some folks now
DEAR EDITOR:
Earlier this week, I was at the state liquor store downtown, purchasing some Crown Royal before the tax (yes, the tariff is a tax levied on American distributors and consumers of this particular Canadian spirit) kicks in. A stranger passing through that aisle smiled at me, so I said, "I'm just stocking up at this price." He said, "Oh, don't worry, they'll find a way to get it into the country." I wondered who "they" might be -- bootleggers? Canadian distillers? Something told me not to pursue the matter.
As we both exited the store and headed for our cars, he stopped and stated, "You know, they're building a distillery down here." To clarify, I asked if he meant that Crown Royal would be distilling their products in the U.S. He said, yes, that was the case. "In Ohio?" I asked. "No," he said, "Somewhere in Michigan or something. You know, closer to them."
Since his assertion seemed to be a MAGA-cult affirmation that the tariff is already "working," I decided to do a little research when I got home. I learned that Crown Royal has not built, is not currently building, nor has any plans to build a distillery in the U.S.
This is what happens when lying becomes the standard modus operandi. You can, following the style of Fearless Leader, just make stuff up and put it out there (without even crossing your fingers) in the hopes that people will just swallow it whole. Thank goodness we have an election coming up.
J.E. JOHNSTON
Poland
Forget the bribes ... pay off some of the national debt
DEAR EDITOR:
President Trump, instead of offering a bribe of $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans succeed in the mid-terms, why not put that TRILLION dollar-plus payout toward the national debt?
KATHLEEN WILSON
Austintown