So this is normal?

I was sitting in my classroom across and down the hall from the school office at Vocational High School in Syracuse when the school secretary stuck her head in the door. "You better all pray" she said, "President Kennedy has just been shot." We all remember what we were doing when monumental events occured.

I had just woken to my 10 AM alarm clock last Tuesday (I work late) and when I switched it from alarm to off it momentarily paused at 'auto' and the radio announcer said "A plane has just crashed into the World Trade Center" I stumbled down the hall to the living room to turn on the TV as the phone rang with one of my friends calling me about it. The rest of the day was spent sitting transfixed in front of the TV watching over and over as that plane crashed into the Tower. It was as surreal for me as I'm sure it was for you. Unfortunately it will be another day for all of us to never forget.

I don't want to add to the cacophony of noise you have all heard from the TV and newspapers about this. That is not my purpose. When this first occurred last Tuesday the Primaries importance seemed distant. It shrank to a speck of unimportance in light of the day's events. However now time has passed and I realize that the Primary does have importance for all of us. Despite what happens in our country we need to be concerned about what happens in our community. What happens at the Primary will have a far-reaching impact for us and it is important.

It is important for me that Jim win as I am sure it is important for the other side for Steger to win. Unlike the caucus, which had a large element of intimidation, the Primary voting is behind a closed curtain and the intimidation is far less, still there but less. More that just nominating a candidate for the November election the Primary will also be a true reflection of the will of the people of Preble. The future path Preble will take will be determined by the results of this Primary.

Many Republicans are shocked to know that the Republican caucus was won by Democrats. Indeed after the first of the year the Democrats will hold a majority on the Town Board for the first time. It was the Republican leadership led by Max Stoker, John Steger, Peter Knapp and Anne Brennan that did it. Quite a feat when you think about it.

A vote for Steger is a vote for what happened at the caucus.

For true Republicans the only vote is a vote for Jim Millis!

Frank Hogg
9/17/01