By Nancy Monroe, Wellsville
Legislator Karl Graves Must Hate Christmas
Yes, it is true, Karl Graves has reared his nasty head again, this time questioning Sheriff Rick Whitney's decision to make Steve Havey "Honorary Deputy Sheriff". Twenty five years ago, then manager at Kmart, Mr. Havey implemented the Shop With A Cop program integrating Law Enforcment and less fortunate children of Allegany County. For 25 years this Christmas program has been very successful. On the 25th anniversary, Kmart and Sheriff Whitney wanted to show their appreciation to Mr. Havey by making him an "Honorary Sheriff"s Deputy". Karl Graves, whose only intent is too question ANYTHING the Sheriff does, has 14 questions for the Sheriff from how one becomes an "Honorary Deputy Sheriff" to, is any training involved. Really? Give it a rest Karl. Don't let your personal vendeta for the Sheriff interfere with the intended good deeds. Give it a rest.
Response from Karl Graves -
To Nancy Shine Monroe:
First of all, yes, I do like Christmas. Thank you for asking. To be right up front with you what I don’t like are phony people hiding behind the guise of a charitable event to promote their own personal agenda.
How did the “Shop With A Cop” program all of a sudden become all about Rick Whitney and the Sheriff’s Office? Who at Kmart has the authority to make anyone an Honorary Deputy Sheriff or the power to request that it be so?
Yes, I did ask a lot of questions about the program. After years and years of getting half to little or no substantive information about other goods and services – costly goods and services – that the Sheriff has forced us to participate in I tried to narrow the window down so that maybe, just maybe – I would get a straight answer from him.
I like and respect Steve Havey. This isn’t about him or his service. He’s done nothing wrong. The smiles on those kid’s faces are all the payment he needs for what he started. I know, because I’ve been there and witnessed it with my own eyes.
What I want to know is if public funds were used by the Sheriff to play politics. That’s the underlying question. You can tell your husband to answer that one and I will be satisfied. Well, maybe. I want to see the response first. I may have other questions.
Happy New Year!
