Letters to the editor

Fence repairs

Wooden Lattice FenceA good chain link fence was removed recently from the north side of McClure Elementary School, 2529 S.W. Chelsea Drive. An 18-inch strip of concrete was then poured. New posts were installed that will support another chain link fence. Quite a lot of labor was needed to do this entire job. Why?The last time I checked, the fund was still being raided.So I wonder quite a bit when I hear Republican leaders like Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, suggest raising the retirement age for Social Security to 70. Others would eliminate the program because of debt woes.Chain Link FenceChain link fences are not particularly attractive, but they make up for their plain appearance in utility. Chain link fencing is one of the cheapest and simplest fencing types to set up, and does a great job of protecting children and animals from busy roads and dangerous areas without blocking the view. A chain link fence can be as high or low as the homeowner wishes, though the norm is usually only about three to four feet.WINNIE PAYNE,TopekaJAMES L. BERTRAM,TopekaA neighbor who inquired told me it was done so grass would not grow up into the bottom of the fence.The government raised Social Security withholding taxes in the 1980s to accommodate baby boomers who are coming to retirement age now.Note that among the top errors that can be made in installing an electric fence is poor earth grounding. Many people still fall for the mistaken notion that you can save on time and effort with regard to adequate earth grounding. But the most sensible thing to do is still to install several ground rods - at least three that are 6 to 8 feet long, galvanized, and attached with good ground clamps. The electricity must complete a full circle back to the charger through the ground. Poor grounding gives weak shocks.DAVID HEWITT,TopekaSlat FenceSave Social SecurityTo those who have been worrying about the national debt in relation to gross domestic product, some number crunching shows our gross federal debt is about 88 percent of GDP, which is certainly a very high figure.While using lattice work is rare for an entire fence, it does make a great compromise between the open and airy look of a picket or slat fence and the safety of a stockade style fence. Lattice fencing is ideal for placing on top of a solid privacy fence to help the fence seem more interesting and inviting. A lattice fence offers a little bit of a view into the surrounding area without leaving the large spaces of a picket style fence that allow animals to squeeze through.Instead of meekly letting our leaders tear down and steal our Social Security, how about we choose to fight, tooth and nail, anyone who would take it from us after we have paid our dues into it literally all our lives?Picket FenceFor a more southwestern look, some people consider getting a fence composed of horizontal wooden slats. This style of fence has a very rustic style of beauty, but it is difficult to build a horizontal slat fence that is high enough to keep in anything that is capable of jumping or climbing. While beautiful and interesting to look at, a slat fence is probably a bad idea for protecting children from a road or housing a dog that can jump.On the Fourth of July, Eagle Auto Wash offered full car washes to all active military personnel and all retired veterans with valid identification. My husband, a retired veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict, found time between rain showers to go receive a free car wash.The stockade fence is one of the most familiar styles of fencing that is currently sold. Because the solid wall built with a stockade fence can serve as an effective privacy barrier as well as a safe enclosure, it is frequently used to fence in back yards in crowded areas. Stockade fencing is built with wooden slats, though some choose a wood grain vinyl slat style due to the low cost and low maintenance of vinyl fencing.The first solution many people think of is invisible fencing. Still another option is electric fencing, or hot fencing, the Petsafe brand among those said to be the least expensive.Another interesting, albeit somewhat pricey option is the coyote roller. This non-electric, zero maintenance device is effective at keeping your four-footed pets in as well as keeping coyotes out. The roller is made of specially designed UV resistant polymeric materials, aluminum tubing, and stainless steel components. The leading company that sells rollers swears by a statistical study that rollers not only reduce coyote attempts to intrude, but actually result to the dog's giving up intentions to enter the property at all.Stockade Style FenceUnfortunately, various branches of the government have been "borrowing" from the fund in vast amounts over the last decades.Moran has a strong record of anti-abortion votes. He is endorsed by the very conservative Family Research Council. He helped pass the Partial Birth Abortion Ban, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and many other pro-life bills.I would not be supporting him if I did not believe he was reliable on anti-abortion issues. I would not have a "Moran for Senate" sign in my front yard if I did not trust that he would continue to legislate on the side of the unborn.

WINNIE PAYNE,Topeka