READERS

Letters to the editor, Sept. 17

Richmond Palladium-Item

Help build a better community  with United Way 

This week begins United Way of Whitewater Valley’s annual campaign to benefit over 18 agency programs. Do you want to take part in paving a smoother road to success for members of your community? You’re in luck! Brick by brick, you and United Way can build a stronger community together. 

Our mission is more than a dollar amount, it is success in what those dollars are doing to strengthen our community. United Way is driving lasting community change in the strategic focus areas of education, health, youth and family, and community vitality. Improvement in these areas means improvement in quality of life. When children succeed in school, when neighborhoods turn around, and when families have good health and are financially stable, we are able to grow together. With your help, United Way can continue to strengthen the common good along the road to success. 

As you consider your investment, please know that giving to United Way of Whitewater Valley provides the greatest return. Giving to United Way of Whitewater Valley is the only way you can reach out a hand to one, and influence the condition of thousands. 

• United Way of Whitewater Valley invests in 25-plus programs at 18 agency program partners across Wayne and Union counties so your dollars stay local. 

• Volunteers review partner agency programs to assure that your money is being well spent. 

• According to our 2016 ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report Update, approximately 40 percent of households in both Union and Wayne counties live either below the poverty line or are just above the poverty threshold, making it difficult to make ends meet and move forward. 

Your decision to give today will positively impact the lives of people in our community. Be part of the change and help United Way of Whitewater Valley strengthen our community, brick by brick. 

Sharrie Harlin

Campaign Chairperson

New method reduces bridge construction time 

Wayne County is getting a brand-new bridge, and it involves state-of-the-art technology that most folks have never heard of. 

The “slide-in-place” method, one of many Accelerated Bridge Construction technologies pioneered by the FHWA, is making it possible for the old I-70 bridge over Ind. 121 in Richmond to be removed and its replacement slid into place over the next several days. With this new method, workers can do in days what once took months. 

Projects like this may not be as large as some others around the country, but they mean a lot to communities like Richmond. 

Reducing the time needed to replace a bridge is especially important in small communities, since any impact on local traffic can be significant. This project is important to me because I approved it a few years ago while I was deputy commissioner for INDOT’s Greenfield District, and I am glad to see it nearing the finish line. Congratulations to all the workers who are making this project possible, and to all of you who will get to drive over the new bridge very soon. 

Brandye L. Hendrickson

Acting Federal Highway 

Administrator, Washington, D.C.

Messer and climate change 

Hurricane Harvey has brought more than 50 inches of rainfall, setting a record for the most rainfall from a single storm in the continental United States. With the number of reported deaths rising daily, and many emergency systems overwhelmed, the strain of this disaster impacts thousands of people in the Houston area. Not only that, Hurricane Irma caused massive damage to the Caribbean and the U.S. While we must provide an expeditious recovery for those affected by the storm through donations, and action, we must also realize and address the issue exacerbating extreme weather events: climate change. 

Our climate is warming significantly and the heating of our oceans and atmosphere are leading to stronger storms. Warmer seas evaporate faster and warmer air can hold more water vapor, which releases energy when it condenses inside a weather system, thus increasing the strength of the storm. Rising sea levels created by warmer oceans also exacerbates the storm and flooding. According to organizations such as NASA and the National Academy of Sciences, climate change is influenced by human activity such as the emission of greenhouse gases. 

Our representatives have the responsibility to create policies that provide disaster relief to communities impacted by this tragedy. To achieve this, more of our leaders must address climate change. Most importantly, we cannot allow partisanship to keep us from solving a problem that impacts us all. The bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus’ is trying to achieve that vision. This caucus’ goal is to educate members on economically-viable options to reduce climate risk and to explore policy options that address climate change. Rep. Luke Messer has a responsibility to address climate change. I urge him to join the Climate Solutions Caucus. Doing this will help lessen the intensification of storms like Hurricane Harvey and Irma that destroy lives. 

Morgan Mack

Richmond