Brandon’s House hosting walkathon



My name is Susan Parr, and for the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of serving as the director and one of the counselors at Brandon’s House Counseling Center Inc. Brandon’s House is a nonprofit agency, located along Beeler Street in New Albany, that opened in 1993 with the mission of giving away professional counseling to teenagers and families. We have worked with more than 2,600 families since we opened, and we have given away more than $1,460,000 worth of professional services. We believe that we are making a difference, one teen at a time.

Brandon’s House never charges for counseling services, nor do we depend upon government support or large grants to keep our doors open for young people and families that need help. The financial support for Brandon’s House has come from the community we serve, from people in the community who also believe in the power and potential of youth.

Brandon’s House holds several fundraising events each year. The next event will be a walkathon that will be held at 3 p.m. April 19. Individuals and groups are invited to come walk with us. Several school groups have already let us know they will be there, and we would love to have more. There will be trophies for the individual and group that raises the most money. Participants may register for just $5 until April 10; $10 after April 10.

Maybe you’d like to sponsor the walkathon. The deadline for sponsors is also April 10. Walkers need to sign up by April 10, too, to be entered into a drawing for a free pair of walking shoes from Pacers and Racers. If people are interested in walking or supporting the walkathon, they can call 812-949-2499.

For 15 years, Brandon’s House has helped young people and families in our community. This hasn’t cost our community 1 cent. It has made a difference in many, many young lives. Come join us April 19, and be part of that difference!

— Susan Parr, New Albany





Reader still unhappy with local judge



Does Greg Fifer recognize the irony of his letter to the editor praising Judge Cody, particularly since his clients benefited directly from these recent decisions by Judge Cody?

Mr. Fifer represents developer Bob Lynn for the Lafayette Ridge subdivision. Mr. Fifer also represents Wastewater One LLC, the sewage treatment plant that would provide service for Cedar Pointe II, if the necessary capacity existed.

My interest in Judge Cody’s decisions stems from spending countless hours of time in meetings over the last decade or more, first to influence the completion of the Floyd County Comprehensive Plan and its supporting Subdivision Control Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance. Then, in serving a four-year term on the Floyd County Plan Commission from 2004-07, to which I was not reappointed. Then, in 2008 to present, as president of Greenville Concerned Citizens Inc., which is appealing Mr. Cody’s decision on the Lafayette Ridge subdivision to the Indiana Appeals Court, as Mr. Fifer suggested was the appropriate action.

Instead of criticizing Judge Cody, Mr. Fifer suggests that I should pursue working with the legislative body or administrative agency responsible for the comprehensive plan and Floyd County ordinances to make changes. How can you change 80 feet of road frontage per building lot to be anything other than what it is?

Except, Judge Cody chose not to recognize this fact.

In a case directly related to Lafayette Ridge subdivision, Mr. Fifer also represented Wymberly Woods Wastewater Treatment Plant in an eminent domain lawsuit. These Floyd County landowners are fortunate they took their attorney’s advice and requested their case be moved from Judge Cody’s court to be heard instead by Judge Whitis in Harrison County. Judge Whitis found in favor of the landowners on all points, including bad faith on the part of Wymberly Woods in their agreement with developer Bob Lynn and that Mr. Lynn would pay all expenses involving this lawsuit.

The present comprehensive plan tries to comply with the stated preference from area residents to maintain and preserve the rural character of Floyd County. The current ordinances are also designed to help foster this ideal and are enforceable law.

In my opinion, Judge Cody’s decisions, at least in these stated instances, do not uphold what the citizens of Floyd County worked so long and hard to accomplish.

Isn’t it great that we live in American where we have the freedom and right to disagree?

— Carol Lamb, Floyds Knobs



Reader: Animal control officer appeared ill-prepared



On March 28, 2009, I was witness to a very disturbing and upsetting event across the street from my home in an urban area. The New Albany Police had to put a dog down because of the ineptness of the Floyd County animal control officer that appeared on the site to capture the dog.

I have never seen a supposed dog catcher so ill-prepared and intimidated by a dog that was only barking at her. She tried for more than 45 minutes to place a noose over its head. Oh, I failed to say it was a killer pit bull. To that I say bull! They claim the dog had a bad rap sheet, it supposedly had bitten two people in the past, the officer said. To this I say, why were the owners not fined for letting the dog run loose and not on a leash?

If the law had been enforced, the event would not have happened, but it wasn’t and it did happen. Although, I can’t understand why the dog wasn’t shot with a tranquilizer gun instead of having the officer shoot it with a shotgun. Also, the poor animal was not killed outright by the blast — and she did not have a syringe of whatever they use to euthanize the animals to prevent suffering — and had to haul it back to West Market from the east end to complete the task. She needs to be provided with the proper tools for the job, trained how to use them and, if not willing, replaced.

— Maurice L. King, New Albany