To the editor:
Since I was unable to attend Friday night’s PAHS board meeting due to prior commitments, I eagerly anticipated the Tribune’s story about the meeting. However, regardless of the message to keep things “good and positive,” I feel the meeting was basically a character assassination of a decent and caring man. The Mike Hill I know is more like the person described by Mr. Easterday in an excellent recent editorial in the Tribune. The Mike Hill I know would probably tell me “it’s over, just let it go” but I’m afraid I can’t quite yet.
I’ve known Mike since we got our present wonderful dog at the old shelter and worked with him many hours on the construction of the current great facility, though nowhere near the hours he devoted. I’ve seen him interact positively with a wide range of people—potential customers, animal control officers, interested visitors to the shelter, workers who trusted him to deal with puppy mill animals that noone else wanted, the current executive director, and many others.
Apparently, the only ones who had problems dealing with him were the present board members.
Interpret that as you wish.
Among the slanderous and false charges presented at the meeting, I will limit myself to addressing only one—the charge of sexual harassment. If such charges were true, would the Miss Kansas Pageant directors have exposed several candidates to a visit to the facility—a visit which they all apparently greatly enjoyed?
Regardless of the way this whole situation is eventually resolved, I would like to thank, primarily, Mike Hill for all he has done for PAHS and for the way he has conducted himself during this whole ordeal. Also, thank you to the shelter workers, past, present, and future, for the work they do and best wishes for success in the future of PAHS.
Mike Keltner
Medicine Lodge
