Web posted
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Winfield considers ban on smoking
By ROY GRABER
Courier Editor
About a dozen people spoke in favor of a Winfield city ordinance that would ban smoking in public places at a forum held Thursday evening at Baden Square.
And while the forum was open to opinions on both sides of the issue, nobody spoke in opposition.
Don Key and Byron Jones spoke on behalf of American Legion Post 10, stating their support for a smoking ban.
Key said he favors a ban on smoking in all public places. He noted that the membership of his organization is getting advanced in years, and they have health conditions that could be made worse if exposed to cigarette smoke.
Jones, a retired biology teacher, agreed and shared a story about an experiment done in one of his classes.
At the time, smoking was allowed in the teachers' lounge.
The students conducting the experiment put two white mice in the lounge and two other mice in a smoke-free classroom.
After four weeks, the mice were dissected.
"The lungs of the two that were in the teachers' lounge were totally black," Jones said. "The ones in the regular classroom had nice, pink, healthy lungs. Right there, I was convinced I didn't want to be in a room full of smoke."
Southwestern College student Taggart Wall noted that a smoking ban may keep more young people in town.
"Most young professionals, which is what I'm trying to be, want to be part of a group that is trying to be in the lead," Wall said.
He discouraged the city commissioners from waiting to see what the state, county or neighboring cities like Udall and Dexter did before making a decision. Instead, they should take the lead and set the example.
"If you'd like to keep us here, I'd ask you to take that into consideration," Wall said.
The Rev. Forrest Robinson agreed.
He said that Winfield has been a leader in so many areas, and with so many credible institutions pushing for smoking bans, he couldn't figure out why Winfield has not done so yet.
"Is Winfield, Kan., going to drag its heels on this critical issue?" Robinson asked.
Sen. Greta Goodwin said she has been pushing for a smoking ban while at the Capitol, but every year disagreements among legislators keep them from passing a bill.
"I'm just here to say don't wait on the state to make a statewide smoking ban," Goodwin said. "I don't think it will happen in my lifetime or in the lifetime of anyone in this room."
Joy Trollman, a former Montana resident, said Montana is filled with people who don't like the government to tell them what to do. They have no sales tax there, and for a long time did not even have a speed limit. However, they did pass a smoking ban, she said.
City/Cowley County Health Department Director David Brazil moderated the forum.
Winfield City Commissioners Phil Jarvis and Tom McNeish and Mayor Mike Ledy were present to listen to comments, but they did not take part in the discussion.
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