Here are this week’s letters to the editor of the Herald Times Reporter. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views.
Thoughts on the Rev. Edward F. Stelter
I was saddened by the passing of the Rev. Edward F. Stelter. My father was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, and my mother and I were members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Two Rivers. The morning after my father died, Rev. Stelter paid a visit to my mother. He was the only member of the clergy to do so.
When I moved back to Two Rivers, I used to play basketball on Thursday nights with the group at St. John’s gym, and Pastor Stelter was a team member. When we were short a player or two, I would suggest a name whom we could call. The organizers of the group preferred to have players who were Lutheran and not of another religion. Pastor Stelter never expressed that criterion.
About a year and a half ago, I called Rev. Stelter and had a lengthy, uplifting phone call with him and reminisced about the previous associations that we had. I am not an expert on religion, but I believe Rev. Stelter exemplified what religion is.
George V. Reis
Two Rivers
The wage gap in Wisconsin child care
Child care providers hold one of the most essential roles in our state and nation, yet they remain among the lowest‑paid workers in our economy. These are the individuals who give Wisconsin’s children the strong start in life that every family hopes for — supporting early learning, healthy development and school readiness.
Despite the importance of their work, their compensation does not reflect the skill, responsibility or dedication the job requires. Even with recent state funding, the average child care wage in Wisconsin has risen only to $13.55 an hour, barely above the minimum wage and far below what is needed to support a family. By contrast, the average wage for all workers in Wisconsin is $28.34 an hour. This disparity is not just troubling — it is unsustainable.
When we allow critical workers to earn poverty‑level wages, we undermine the stability of the child care system and the economic well‑being of families who depend on it. Providers struggle to recruit and retain qualified staff, centers are forced to limit enrollment or close entirely, and parents are left with fewer options for safe, reliable care.
But this problem extends beyond child care. Too many workers across Wisconsin earn wages that do not reflect the rising cost of living or the essential nature of their labor. A stronger minimum wage — one that allows people to meet basic needs without working multiple jobs — is long overdue.
If we truly value children, families and the future of our communities, we must start by valuing the workers who make that future possible.
Darlene Wellner
Manitowoc
Our letters policy
Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to htrnews@htrnews.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com. Letters must meet specific guidelines, including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest. All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter, their city of residence and a contact phone number. Letters are edited as needed for style, grammar, length, fairness, accuracy and libel.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc letters include tribute to Rev. Edward Stelter
Reporting by Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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By Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter | USA TODAY Network
