I had a call about a death in my family today, and also a friend of mine lost her only brother a few days ago. I will not be looking at responses, if there are any…I hope no one else gets too wild about this letter.

Maureen

I would like to add that Mr. Berner is also wrong about the notion that the $500,000 worth of drugs actually represented $500,000 floating around the community in cash that folks had spent on drugs. In fact, much of the drugs that went up in smoke were confiscated marijuana plants which no one had bought and paid for. They were seized before they went on the market. The “value” assigned to this portion of the bonfire was imaginary, a guess at what the weed would have brought in, if it had actually been sold. So, the “value” that went up in smoke was as tenuous and fictional as Mr. Berner’s analysis of its social significance.

Once again, thanks for posting your letter here, and especially for writing it in the first place.

Dear Mr. Berner,

I receive my subscription to the Antigo Daily Journal one day later than when it is published as I live in an outlying community in Langlade County, and my paper arrives via mail delivery. My husband and I are active in community events for the betterment of Langlade County, believe in assisting in the development of programs that develop our county, especially our youth and are also proponents of a solid, hardworking American ethic. We own two businesses and operate them successfully from our home. We began these businesses on our own and started from scratch..building, learning and growing as we did so. We support growth of business in our County and all of the communities that are within its confines.
I read with some shock your comments in the Saturday, May 2nd “Bits and Pieces Column” of your paper the comment and I quote, “I am tired of people telling me that this is a depressed area. If officers can collect $500,000 in marijuana, cocaine and other stuff in a few years, there is money kicking around; if they found enough to be worth $500,000. how much did get used and abused?”.

Mr. Berner…depressed areas are typically a haven for the drug trade. It follows that alcoholism, depression and other crimes of abuse accompany this type of economic environment. It is a fact that when suitable employment opportunities are not to be found in an area, people turn to illegal trades in two ways. They sell illegal materials, drugs included, and they partake in and abuse illegal materials, drugs included. They will also abuse others and find other ways to relieve their collective anger, frustration, pain and despair. Toss in the current economic status of our country, and what do you expect? You are an intelligent man, and I cannot fathom why you would make such a comment. I for one support the earnings of hardworking individuals that are making an honest contribution to our area. If dollars are being generated by illegal gain..those are not dollars that I welcome in this area. That is not “money” that any community welcomes, or wants to recognize.

I hope that is not what you intended to say in your column. There is definitely money in our county, but the fact remains that Langlade County is a depressed area. Whether you want to hear it or not..that is a true fact. We rank at the bottom in our state in per capita income. Food stamp usage is on the rise in Wisconsin, and in our county. Check your facts…accept the reality of our situation and then get out and encourage our community leaders to bring in jobs and increase opportunities in our area so that drugs and their accompanying troubles stay out of our communities, or at the very least do not grow. There is no reason at all that this county can not recover with positive action and community involvement and cooperation and willingness to change what has always been. The only way for Langlade County to move ahead is through active positive change and the embracing of growth and competition.

Respectfully,
Maureen Gallenberg

I am must say that these last comments have provided interesting reading for me this Sunday morning. Thank you to IPS for revisiting my opinions and seeing my meaning. That means that you were at the very least given food for thought and that you spent time reflecting on my humble writings. That is what I had hoped for.

I will not be leaving this area. It is my home. Homes are not always completely happy, and to run is never an option..unless one is in real fear.

I was introduced to this site just two days ago by someone who suggested I visit it. I have not read through all of the articles or posts.

I do think it is wonderful that there is a forum for differing opinions here on this site. I do also remind both of you and the rest who may be reading this…the complete opinions of a community are not always those that are allowed to be seen by publication of an editor in an area newspaper. It is clear that there are many who are fed up with a lack of being heard.

I was happy to see that Mr. Berner published my press release on Friday for the Wolf River Territory Days Event which I had submitted. I was pleased that he did not retaliate by not allowing that to be published.

Albus..I hope that you do talk with the paper tiger…but not necessarily because of me..but to stand up for the others who have vital opinions and would love to be heard and to have a voice, but who may be afraid.

Please…enjoy your Sunday and also Mothers Day:)

Maureen, I would encourage you to stay, to help “people take the blinders off”, as you say. Illumination is in short supply in Antigo, but there is plenty of fuel to light the lamp. There are many people with good intent and social sensitivity among us. They just haven’t found each other yet, and haven’t linked up to make their combined voices heard.

Your letter is already out for public view. It was, after all, published in the ADJ. I doubt that it will be discussed there, however. I think if you send it in to admin@antigobuzz.com as an attachment to an email, it would be an excellent piece for a blog and discussion on its own merits and theme, and would open the door for others to express their thoughts and share their observations on the community’s dynamics.

I can understand that you might not want to be in the limelight as the possible focus of Fred Berner’s ire. If that’s the case, just say so, and I will gladly take up the banner of your cause and do battle with the paper tiger on Superior Street. I can assure you that I would not be alone.

I initially thought your rebuttal to Berner’s comments were a little on the ignorant side. I thought the purpose of his comments were directed at the people who have the money for drugs, alcohol, smokes, multiple kids without the means to care for them, and yet are the first to complain about how there is no money and certain people are overpaid for what they do. I now see where you are coming from and no longer have the same opinion.

Albus is obviously well spoken and intelligent, yet his attempts at literary banter and convoluted arguments have the exact small town arrogance that you speak of. If you read all of his posts, they feed on emotion and the same condescending attitude towards those that do not share his thoughts. Therefore, he is no better than anyone or anything that he writes about.

My family has also been the victim of small-town politics and has been pushed out of certain circles because we do not agree with the masses. This town is destined to continue the mistakes that it has always made and will spend money foolishly ($800,000 for a walkway along the stinky thing that winds between factories and swamp), will complain about people having to face the consequences of breaking laws, not going to school and performing up to standards, and the corrupt police and sheriff departments. Nobody in this town takes responsiblility for their own actions and it shuns those that try and make them.

Get out now, before it is too late.