Letters to the Editor

As to a letter of Jan. 13, 2023, the VCSD announced their plan of school district’s overtaxation relief to the past 4 yrs, of their exceedence of the VCSD Building Fund 10 mill cap, totaling their error of over taxation of $619,982.24. Their plan is to offer a tax relief over the next 2 years.

(2023-2024 & 20242025). At face value, this appears to be a reasonable way to refund overtaxed dollars. But it has one huge flaw, if you have sold or transferred your property in the past 4 yrs, you will receive a $0.00 refund. Your overtaxed dollars shall be credited on the current owner of such property in the school district. Yes, they will be getting your money.

If this concerns you, please call Josh Johnson,

Supt. of VCSD (701-845-0483) or any VCSD Board Member and most importantly contact your Barnes Co. Commissioner on your feelings here. I’ve made my request to the Barnes Co. Commissioners at today’s meeting, as this matter to placed on the Feb.21st agenda for a discussion and their action.

In my opinion, truly what needs to be done here, is the Barnes Co Commissioners must direct the Barnes Co. Auditor to issue those overtaxed amounts to the proper property owners. Yes, Start writing checks now and get them mailed out. Especially now, your budgets are tight and you surely could use your cash return now rather in the next two years.

Paul Lacina Valley City, ND

I used to think North Dakota was one of the best places to live - but not anymore. Now it’s getting to be a scary place for women. In 1975 North Dakota ratified support for the Equal Rights Amendment (REA) and reafirmed that committment again in 2007.

In the last session our state legislature voted to recind our support for the Equal Rights Amendment, turning back the clock on women’s equality and now they are working on plans to say the government should be in charge of what a woman can or can not

do with her own body, and that we can not make our own health care choices and they’ll watch us (stalk us) to see if we don’t keep their laws, and if anyone helps us to do what is necessary for our health but is against the new laws, we will all be punished. In a

Forum article, a woman’s doctor lists many reasons why an abortion may be necessary to save a woman’s life, but treating some high risk pregnancy under the laws would not be allowed. But that should be a woman’s own decision, it’s her body and life. I quote a

rabbi: ‘While we view the fetus as precious, the life of the wellbeing of the mother is paramount, because we place a higher value on exisitng life than on potential life.’

I am sure there would be no man who would let the government have control over

their bodies, say - get a vasectomy in your 20’s or you can not get a tattoo because of the formaldehyde in the ink, etc.

So why are you taking away our equal rights and our rights to care for our bodies? Ranee Svenningsen Valley City, ND

I was stunned by Joe DeMasi's Jan 31, 2023 letter to the editor defending obscene books, which our children have/ had access to.

Mr. DeMasi does not seem to know the difference between obscene and biology!

North Dakota Century Code defines obscene material as "Depicts or describes in a patently offensive manner sexual conduct, whether normal or perverted," and the term "sexual conduct" means actual or simulated: a. Sexual intercourse; b. Sodomy; c. Sexual bestiality; d. Masturbation; e.Sadomasochistic

abuse; f. Excretion; or g. Lewd exhibition of the male or female genitals. Most of the above are presented in the book "Let's Talk About It" in our library's adult section (previously in the youth section) that you so vehemently defend that our tax dollars pay for.

How dare you defend the degenerative immoral war being waged on our youth! Shame on you! On that note, this is a fact I want to bring to the attention of the readers so that perhaps we can all help our good librarians make responsible decisions; if a librarian allows a child under 18 to check out or even have access to this or other obscene books according to the ND Century Code (Chapter 12.1-27.1), they could be charged with a Class C felony. In North Dakota, Class C felonies carry a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

People like myself and many others are outraged that these obscene books are available to our children and that some hide behind the 1st amendment to push this filth onto our youth.

I would suggest to you, Joe, that a more constructive use of your time to protect our children would be to donate to a pregnancy center, lobby for pro-life legislation and pro-family bills like our own D-24 Representative Cole Christensen has introduced this session HB 1362, a bill that would codify a parent's right to exercise primary control over the care, supervision, upbringing, and education of their children.

Sir, this would be a far better use of your time than railing against those attempting to protect our children from this obscene sewage. Barry Borg Valley City, ND