Pattern of hurt
The 600 people in Kimberly who lost their jobs ("Paper Chase," 10/17/08") illustrates a continuing pattern of hurt in Wisconsin.
In Manitowoc, the Aluminum Goods Company - later Mirro Co. - was founded in 1885 and acquired in 1983 by Newell company. Mirro was the world's largest cookware manufacturer. In 2001 Newell closed the last plants; it's said that 1,300 jobs went to Mexico.
In nearby Two Rivers, the Hamilton Manufacturing Co., started in 1857, made the nation's first automatic clothes dryer. In 1982 it was purchased and began specializing in laboratory furniture. It changed its name and built a modernistic 186,000-square-foot plant in Mexico, where most of the jobs went.
Wisconsin manufacturing jobs went from about 40% in 1980 to the present 12% to 14%. No matter whether Democrats or Republicans were president or controlled Congress, manufacturing jobs have left Wisconsin and the United States.
Myron L. Anderson
Lost and found
I think I know exactly how Angie Treinen felt when she finally located the school group trying to find its way out of the Treinen's corn maze - and then got lost herself ("Leave Your GPS at Home," 10/17/08).
Many years ago, the UW Arboretum arranged a shindig for school kids at Token Creek county park. The event's leader, Rosemary Fleming, asked me to take Sun Prairie fourth graders on a nature walk before lunch.
It didn't take too long, however, for our group to get lost. Some of the kids started to cry.
After a few minutes of wishing I could become part of the forest soil, a savior appeared in the form of ranger Wayne Pauley. Rosemary had dispatched him to find our group. He remains my hero after all these years.
Jacqueline Kelley
Pay to play
I'd like to respond to the "Watchdog" items about how the city of Madison is hoping to play local musicians' songs on its phone system as "hold music" ("Send In Your Songs," 10/3/08) and the lack of response ("Local Musicians Blow It," 10/17/08). I'm a local composer; it's taken decades to develop my music (sample at www.roughlight.com). I can't see giving it to the city for free. I would require some return beyond listing my name on a website. The person typing my name on the site is paid, right? I need to pay my property taxes like anyone else.
Dave Black
