Wheatfield fights back with prayer

The Rev. Bob Heisner is asking local residents and other clergy to join him for a Community Day of Prayer at noon Thursday, May 6, at the gazebo near the flagpole on the Wheatfield Town Hall campus.

Heisner said he became upset recently when he heard that the National Day of Prayer, usually held the first week in May, is being challenged in federal court and that a federal judge in Wisconsin has ruled the observance inappropriate.

"I don't think prayer would have anything but a positive impact on our nation and our community. ... Our forefathers have to be rolling over in their graves to see how insane our leadership has become," Heisner said this week after gaining permission to use the gazebo from the Wheatfield Town Board. "We'll have a scripture reading and even go as far as to sing ‘God Bless America' - what's wrong with that?"

Wheatfield Supervisor Robert Cliffe said the program will not be a town-sponsored event, but that Heisner can ask to use town facilities just as any other person or group can.

However, he added, "I will be there and hope that many come and join. Our town and our country need our prayers now more than ever."

While the courts are kicking the National Day of Prayer around, Heisner said, this area will have its own observance. He's hoping that all religions, political leaders, youth, military personnel and residents of other towns will be represented at the Community Day of Prayer.

Although there is a lot of disenchantment around here with government, this will not be a political rally, he said, but just a brief time of prayer for our community and nation.
In case of rain, the observance will be moved inside the Wheatfield Community Center.
Heisner is director of the Project Future Center at 2720 Niagara Falls Blvd.

In other matters at Monday's Town Board meeting:

• Both Richard Donner from the Water/Sewer Department and Art Kroening from the Highway Department asked and were granted permission to go onto "summer hours" of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. starting as soon as possible.

• With regret, the Town Board accepted the resignation of Building Inspector Jennifer Caldwell with thanks for her many years of service. The town then entered into a contract arrangement with Caldwell to continue working as needs arise.

• The board approved settlement of the claim of Executive Landscaping Inc. for work on the Deborah Drive drainage project for $16,000.

• The board decided to clarify the minutes of the March 22, Town Board meeting to state that the exemption for veterans from any tax imposed by the Town of Wheatfield shall be at the same dollar value and based upon the same standard as is employed for the granting of veteran's exemptions for Niagara County tax.