Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Remember KP35



Sweet 16?

Do you remember the night that you practiced your last game?

Do you remember your friends who stood there in pain?

Do you remember your mother whom held your hand and stroked your hair?

Do you remember the Angels standing there?

Life is uncertain at best, it is a never ending quest.

We strive for truth, and find darkness waiting in the nest.

The faithful day that you said “yes Lord, to you I give my life”.

That was the day that you began your journey into the light.

I remember every Sunday taking you to church, your eagerness to worship was not stilled by the long car ride.

I remember the nights taking you to youth group, your hunger for more was never deprived.

I remember the talks on the way home from church, of friends and songs and things that delighted you in the Lord.

I remember the last night we spent together coming home and laughing all the way, while you mimicked the Christian comedian’s words.

That faithful night when the Angels came, I was in church once again.

I went to the hospital not knowing what has happening to my church companion.

I remember the doctor saying, “you can come in now”, and entering the emergency room in pain.

I remember walking in the trauma room where you lay, and knowing that you had gone on to glory, to no longer suffer again.

I remember seeing you dancing with Angels on high.

I remember the comforting arms of our Savior close by.

I remember the friends and family all huddled in the hallway that night.

I remember the faithful night that our Kodi had died.

Only hours before, you had said “YES! I will die for Jesus”!

“If I die tonight, I am going to heaven”

No such words of courage or affirmation have been spoken by such a young man before.

I miss you Kodi, but I know you’re waiting in heaven with open arms and an anxious pace.

Waiting, waiting, for us to finish the race.

In Loving Memory of Kodi Braden Pipes who would have been 16 on January 24th, 2006. January 24th, 1990 – November 19th, 2003

Troy Timberman

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

5 years of service down the drain.

Okay, so some of you asked me about the police department last night.

The story goes like this.

Last September I made a drunk driving arrest and found out that I had to go to the prosecutor's office on Monday, before 4pm, and sign some papers basically saying that I swear that the charges are true. I thought it was rediculous that I had to take an hour out of my work day (from my PAYING job) to drive to Brazil to sign 2 pieces of paper. I told the staff in the prosecutor's office how I felt. Evidently I sounded pretty bad to them "boderline balligerant". The woman I was talking to supposedly was so upset that she almost had to take the afternoon off. I didn't think I was that bad. Well they filed a complaint with the chief and the town board.

I wrote a letter of apology and the board said it was a good thing, it was filed away and nothing more was said.

Before the first home basketball game, Jeff Bell told Terry Skaggs and one of the board members that he had a couple of concerned parents come to him and say that they thought it would be best if I wasn't at the games in uniform because some of the students might be uncomfortable with that.

This all goes back to the law suit that Ronna and I have filed against the school corp and others in regards to Kodi's death on 11/19/2003. All we want is the TRUTH! What happened that night?

I went to the first game, and the following Monday, Jeff Bell again calls Terry and he says "I don't want Troy at the games in uniform anymore. If you have a problem telling him, then I will. I don't have a problem doing it." So I agreed that I would not go to the games in uniform, but I wanted to attend the games to support the boys.

For some reason, after this, the board started looking for an excuse to terminate me. I received an email from Terry on 12/26/2005 stating that the board was going to have and executive meeting before the 1/5/2006 public meeting to discuss my termination. But no decision would be made at that time. I called Tammy Wilson and Roy Chenoweth on Monday 1/2/2006 and talked to them both and said that I was asking for was a chance to talk to the board and discuss what I had done wrong to warrant them wanting to get rd of me. Both of them mentioned the school and the incident at the prosecutor's office (3 months ago).

At the executive meeting it was agreed that I would have a chance to tender my resignation to "save face" and not be terminated. I refused because as far as I knew, I had done nothing wrong. At the public meeting on the 5th the reason for termination was said to be "not putting in the required number of hours and not participating in on going training". The training sessions conducted by the sheriff's office are always during the week and during work hours. I would have to take vacation time to participate, and most times I didn't know about the training until the week of, and I have to give 2 weeks notice for vacation requests. The board NEVER let me speak. Terry was told that I couldn't speak at the meeting because the topic was not open for discussion.

Yes, I agree, I didn't work the hours required, but why didn't the board have Terry talk to me before hand about this? Why just terminate me?

If you really think I was wronged in this, then write a letter to the town board. Tell them how intimidatig I am to the kids, what a threat I am.

I admit I was furious when I first found out what they intended to do. But that pailed in comparison to how I felt when they actually terminated me at the meeting and gave a totally different reason for the termination. Not only that but NONE of them would look me in the eye during the meeting.

There is more, but I am not at liberty to discuss it because of the pending lawsuit.

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me and my family.