Conflict in Veterans Service comes to a simple door

Vox Pop

In the past Taylor County has been blessed with two dedicated Service Officers and their dedicated staff, in which you address first when you visit the office. This is the first step of getting your concerns going.

With the retirement of Jeff Hein, veterans were again fortunate to have two dedicated people Shellie Shaw and Nikki Sherman, to serve the veterans of Taylor County. There has been nothing but high praise from fellow veterans and well deserved for what they do to help vets.

As new people enter any job there are possible changes. Now comes in play the closing of the office door of the Veterans office. This is to ensure privacy of whoever is in there with concerns. There was a sign outside stating the office was open, please knock before entering. That can’t be tolerated according to a few good ole boys board members. With constant harassment and then cameras put in to monitor activity of the service office door last year, Shellie Shaw was basically forced out of her job.

These good ole boy arrogant board members have disrupted every Vet in Taylor County from getting the help they deserve. Without that office Vets must go out of county to get help.

One of them at a vets meeting actually said the main problem, here is that “You veterans think you are better than everyone else.” I couldn’t believe what I heard. This is not only a slap in face to vets, but to every one in the county to have a board member make such a stupid remark.

Now these members will say if you’re not happy, why don’t you run. Well, to be honest, I don’t know the ins and outs of the system. But I do know what’s right and what’s wrong, fair and unfair. I also know you should lead by example and you have to give respect to get respect.

The job of the board is to see things run smooth and in control, they are not there to harass and bully anyone who they may feel is a threat to their control. Elected officials are to help, not hinder.

In closing, I only have two words for especially these so-called leaders, and it’s not Merry Christmas.

— Don “Bronk” Dombroski, Medford. USMC veteran.