TO THE EDITOR:

I am a naive citizen of Ohio. I hit a pothole on the ramp from Ohio 741 going to Interstate 275 east in June, which caused $600 damage to my car, which was rendered not drivable. After filing a police report and calling the "pothole call line," I was given the number in Columbus to file for a reimbursement through the Court of Claims.

What a fiasco! Not only did I lose the case, but also I have to pay court costs, because I couldn't prove the state was negligent. The Ohio Department Transportation (defendant) said I had not proven "how long the pothole had existed," and therefore they could not be held responsible. They cited, in their defense, that they peruse the roads twice monthly. Is there something wrong with this picture?

MaryAnn Beranek, Fairfield

Pilarczyk remarks don't help the faith

I am 66 years old and was raised Catholic. I was taught and still believe that our clergy must be held to a much higher than normal standard. Recently, in a radio interview, I heard our archbishop, Daniel Pilarczyk refer to some of his priests as being a little funny.

I see nothing funny about this serious breach of our trust in our priests. We have an absolute obligation to protect our youth from these sexual predators who play on the innocence of our children. Apparently, our church's hierarchy sees more importance in protecting its sexual predators than preserving the spiritual and moral welfare of our youth.

In my view, Archbishop Pilarczyk, your recent comments are detrimental and destructive to our Catholic faith. Also, please stop using our contributed money to buy off victims of these sexual offenders. Could this be a wake-up call for our church to finally seriously consider the issue of celibacy?

There are many other married clergy of other faiths who convey the word of God quite well.

Bob Harrison, West Chester Township

It's, ahem, the Army guarding that tomb

This is in regards to the letter "Marines showed devotion during Isabel" (Sept. 24). The writer wrote about the Marines who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery not leaving their post during Hurricane Isabel. Let's get it right. The Marines do not guard the Tomb of the Unknowns. The Army's 3rd Infantry, the Old Guard, have that distinction.

I visit Arlington National Cemetery every July to see my mother, who is buried there, and I always pay a visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Robert Burke, Anderson Township

Bush plans to hand Iraq back for '04 vote

The main question concerning our quagmire in Iraq seems to be the timetable for the return of our occupation troops. Perhaps the administration has already established a date (in secret, of course), when you consider that the schedule for handing back the power to the Iraqis calls for a new Iraqi Constitution next month, with an election scheduled for next August.

Why August? Because next September is the Republican National Convention. Political adviser Karl Rove knows he has to overcome voters' long memories of Dubya's mounting number of documented lies, the increasing body bags, the pathetic spiraling economy, the millions of unemployed, the size of the ever-increasing deficit, plus the polls showing people think the Iraq war wasn't worth the financial and human costs.

Rove is running Dubya as the man in the flight suit. A new democracy in the heart of the Middle East, plus the return of our troops, would give Dubya/Rove a compelling platform for the September convention.

Paul Ashworth, Delhi Township

Steelers played just fine on that field

Regarding the caption under the picture in the Sept. 23 Enquirer - "Some Bengals say Paul Brown Stadium's field has led to injuries and played a role in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh": Does this mean that the Pittsburgh players are used to lousy turf, and so they can win? Do the Bengals stay up all night thinking of excuses for not winning? How about no more excuses and start learning how to play professional football?

Edie Sause, Fairfield

Larkin's 3-year deal hasn't been worth it

I have had the pleasure of watching Barry Larkin throughout his entire career. I also appreciate the fact the he was able to play his first 18 years with the Reds. If you look at the numbers, he had an outstanding career through the 2000 season. Since the three-year, $27 million contract was signed, here are some staggering numbers that the average worker will never comprehend.

Since the beginning of the 2001 season, Larkin has played in 260 games at $103,846 per game; he had 232 hits at $116,379 per hit; he had 904 at-bats at $29,867 per at-bat; he had 11 home runs at $2,454,545 per home run. If Larkin ran a business, could he afford this kind of return on his investment?

Gary Ziegelmeyer Hebron, Ky.

Bucks per game shows why Larkin should go

Let me get this right: Barry Larkin had a three-year contract for $27 million, and he played 260 games in three years? That comes down to $103,846 a game. Are we to believe that he was not well taken care of?

By the way, he played 260 games out of 486 games. That means he missed 226 games.

Time to go, Barry.

Bob Martina, Columbia Tusculum

Three simple steps to Main Street's survival

In the Main Street entertainment district, it really comes down to three things: Security, accessibility and choice.

Security means that the streets are lighted, clean - clean of panhandlers, muggers and drunk drivers. Accessibility means that I'm not parking 16 blocks away, or that there will be a shuttle by in three minutes. Choice means just that. I'm not 20-something.

My idea of entertainment no longer includes eight beers and three square feet of floor space at 100 decibels noise level. Give me a variety of entertainment, a clean attractive location. I'm not ashamed to show off, and I'll show up and bring friends.

Sean Johnson, Madisonville

Will the new water park fee be separate?

The news that Kings Island will be opening a different water park is exciting. However, it was missing one vital piece of information that will determine whether or not Tristate families will frequent the park. Will the water park continue to operate under King Island's one-price admission or will patrons be charged an additional fee? Kings Island always had one up on Cedar Point because Kings Island's one-admission truly gets the patron two parks.

Chris Gaietto Lemmon, Milford