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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, February 2, 2013
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OPINIONS OUR VIEW: THUMBS UP/THUMBS DOWN
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Donna Wagner (left) and Blythe Miller have made efforts to raise suicide awareness. Thumbs up: Blythe Miller and
Donna Wagner want no other parents to go through the pain of losing a child to suicide. The mothers of Batavia High School students should be preparing for their kids’ graduations this year, as both Quincee Ariel Barnes-Miller and Dylan Wagner were members of the Class of 2013. Instead, they are promoting suicide awareness. Dylan took his life during his freshman year. Months later, Quincee did the same, during her sophomore year. Miller and Wagner are part of a Suicide Awareness Community Assembly, which is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Batavia High School gym. It is impressive that they can think of others as they continue to endure such difficult times in their lives. And both are hoping their message gets through to those who need to hear it. Wagner didn’t know her son was depressed, but said he had told some friends. She plans to urge students in similar situations to tell adults who are involved, stressing how serious that message can be. Miller said she’s fighting to remove the stigma of suicide. She said she’s not ashamed to talk about how Quincee died, and that such situations never will get better if people are afraid to talk about them. We applaud their efforts. And we hope their message is heard, loud and clear.
WRITING TO US The Kane County Chronicle welcomes original letters on public issues. Letters must include the author’s full name, home address and day and evening telephone numbers. We limit letters to 400 words. All letters are subject to editing for length and clarity at the sole discretion of the editor. Letters can be emailed to letters@kcchronicle.com, faxed to 630-444-1641 and mailed to Letters, Kane County Chronicle, 333 N. Randall Road, Suite 2, St. Charles IL 60174.
OUR VIEW: THUMBS UP/THUMBS DOWN Thumbs down: When Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen ran for office last year, he attacked what he had called “cronyism” in Kane County government. He vowed to eradicate it. But now, only months into his position, Lauzen is facing criticism as he is promoting Robert Sauceda, a political supporter, for a job in the county’s animal control department. Lauzen sought to hire Sauceda to lead animal control but withdrew his nomination after County Board members didn’t support
Editorial board J. Tom Shaw, publisher Kathy Gresey
Al Lagattolla Jay Schwab
the idea. Sauceda had listed experience as an insurance agent and sales manager. Now Lauzen says that Sauceda is among the candidates being considered for a billing manager position in animal control. But even if Sauceda were the best candidate for that job, Lauzen should understand it’s questionable for him to seek to fill the spot with a political supporter of his. And given that Lauzen campaigned against cronyism, it’s puzzling he would attempt such a move – there have got to be others qualified and available to fill the
billing manager post. “Chris [Lauzen] is on the right path because there is definitely a problem and he’s addressing it,” board member Mike Kenyon said earlier this week. “But in government, we’re supposed to go based on resumes when we hire.” We are disappointed there is even an appearance that Lauzen would be engaging in something he fought against during his campaign. In filling the billing manager position, Lauzen would be wise to consider those who are adequately qualified and not tied to him politically.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. First Amendment, U.S. Bill of Rights