Recordpub.com - ALONG THE WAY: Mike Sever

By Mike Sever

Record-Courier staff writer

A group of people who say they want the government taxman off their backs is planning a rally for July 11 on the Portage County Courthouse lawn.

Beth Pullin is on the committee organizing the TEA Party -- that's Taxed Enough Already -- in Portage. She said the group is talking to people about getting involved in their government.

"We want people to stop sticking their heads in the sand. We are no longer a government by the people but a government by the Congress," she said.

Other TEA parties are scheduled around the country on July 4, but Pullin said her group did not want to draw people away from the Kent Heritage Festival going on that day.

Involvement in government is essential for a representative democracy. When less than 10 percent of registered, eligible voters cast ballots -- which happened in our latest primary -- that means government isn't getting any message at all.

While I personally don't agree that "just cut taxes" is the answer to our problems, I believe starting the conversation about what we want from government is essential.

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A Rootstown couple who have cared for upwards of 300 foster children in the past 30 years are going to be honored later this year.

Jean and Charles Harrell has been chosen for a "Family of the Year" award by the Public Children Services Association of Ohio.

The Harrells are probably the longest-serving foster parents for the Portage County Department of Job and Family Services. They have served as inspirations and mentors for other foster families through the years.

Many of their foster children drop by to say hello. A couple years ago when I did a story on the Harrells, Jean Harrell said so many wanted to stop by for Christmas, "we had to do it in shifts."

Portage County is fortunate to have people like the Harrells.

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Police have made one arrest and are closing in on the rest of a group allegedly responsible for some 300 car burglaries in Brimfield, Suffield and surrounding communities.

Surprising, to me at least, is that the break-ins in Brimfield were all from unlocked vehicles, according to Brimfield Police Chief David Blough.

I found it amazing that so many people would still feel free to leave valuables in an unlocked car. Trusting your neighbors is fine, but you still have to lock your valuables away from the creeps in the night.

Sorry to disillusion people who move to Portage for its "rural charm" but this isn't Mayberry and Andy and Aunt Bee don't live here. Shouldn't people take at least the basic responsibility of locking their cars?

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It is ironic that when the economy tanks, so do donations to our charitable organizations and social services. That's just when they need support as more people need help.

That simple fact seems to be forgotten in Columbus where both the administration and legislature are looking to balance the budget by cutting services.

Locally, agencies such as the Center of Hope, the County Clothing Center and other charities are struggling to help a flood of people. Donations are down and some people who formerly donated are now in need of help themselves.

Government agencies such as the Department of Job and Family Services and the Workforce Connection -- that's the jobs office -- are seeing record requests for help. The state has cut dollars and is talking about cutting more?

Does this make no sense to anyone else?