Some of the readers of this article do understand how our local cable system works, some do not. With everything else being equal, let me share this with all of you.

Our family has been spending considerable time away from our home, due to family needs, but nontheless, we do know that the signal that supplies Mankato (our local KEYC Channel 12), comes from Mason City, Iowa (KIMT Channel 3). Due to regulations as set forth by the FCC, a timer blocks out the signal that we do receive, at times.

From Mason City, Iowa, we do know that the signal that supplies Mankato was not operating properly from Feb. 11 through 23, and also March 10, 11 and 12. The same problem! The Charter Communications folks are fine folks. It is the system that does not work very well.

We who do use and pay for this cable system will have to endure what we have for several more years, as that is when our local cable supplier contract expires. I do know that other cable systems that are in our local area would like to purchase our franchise, but not to string their own cable lines alongside the present Charter lines.

In some of our neighboring cities, they do run their cable lines alongside Charter&8217;s, but these are smaller systems, so it is not so expensive to do. I had Charter people come to our home at our request to further check out the problem. Charter personnel replaced some of the connections that help bring in their signal as the connections were old and not what they are using now, and we now do have a much clearer picture. The connections were not allowing the present signal to come in with the clarity that we should have been receiving all along.

Due in part, because of Charter, many of our local former subscribers to Charter have gone to one of the satellite suppliers, such as Dish or Direct TV.

I do know that in the case of Feb. 11 through Feb. 23, all of Charter&8217;s subscribers in Albert Lea were without Channel 12 KEYC, and as such, if you had contacted Charter Communications, you were entitled to and should have received a credit on your next Charter billing. I was billied for the service call, and I knew I would, but we have a much clearer picture when we do receive the channels that we are supposed to receive.

John Reid

Albert Lea

Results on calculator don&8217;t match mayor&8217;s

Dear Mayor Randy Erdman:

What a coincidance it is that your article in the Tribune appears on the same day I got my propert tax statement in the mail! OK, granted I have not double checked the figures using two calculators, so I can only presume that 1. either one of us is really bad at math or 2. I&8217;ve bought a faulty calculator.

What my calculator comes up with using our great city&8217;s figure of .43221 per 1,000 take that times the rounded figure you tell me my house is worth at $64,000 I come up with $276 in taxes. So my question to you is why my 2007 taxes were $538 and 2008 at $742? You have some explaining to do. I will leave my phone with the Tribune, expect to here from you very soon!

Chris Meislahn

Albert Lea

The late Ellen Adams will be missed

My sympathy goes to Ellen Adams&8217; family. My mother, Esther (Groten) Rodi, was Ellen&8217;s first cousin.

I remember Ellen well. She was so kind when my mother passed away last year.

I just learned of Ellen&8217;s passing Monday when I saw a letter from Dorothy informing my aunt, Lillian (Groten) Weaver, of Ellen passing, and of the passing of her husband, Bud.

It is so hard to lose family.

It give me comfort to know that by God&8217;s grace we will all be together again some day.

Peace be with you.

Doreen Nohr (Groten-Rodi)

Cottage Grove