A soapbox and a horn ...

By Bob Belcher

May 06, 2008 11:02 pm

— I want to take some space today to pass along some well-deserved kudos to a couple of our staff writers here at the Daily Sun.
Let me say first, it “takes a village” (no political affiliation or preference is to be implied by that) to produce the newspaper seven days a week. I’m proud and humbled to be surrounded in the Daily Sun newsroom by an entire staff of “villagers” who care deeply about what they do here, each and every day. For you, that’s a good thing.
A couple of recent efforts I think deserve some special recognition ...
Last Sunday, Janet Jacobs produced a very well written and researched piece documenting the 40th anniversary of the May 3, 1968 crash of a Braniff passenger plane in Dawson. If you missed it, it is still available on our Web site at www.corsicanadailysun.com, and deserves your time spent reading it.
As I went through the piece when she had finished it, I had only one thought — I didn’t want the story to end. It was that good.
Thanks, Janet, for the trip back through time.
Also this past week, our Deanna Brown shared with us the story of Kimberly Rash Chu — a single mom who, among the challenges of raising four children on her own, is facing a life-threatening illness and is awaiting a transplant. Her story, told with care and concern by Deanna, was one of hope and a positive attitude in the face of adversity.
A blood drive held for Chu last Sunday resulted in 81 units of blood donated on her behalf — something that will be key to her pulling successfully through her hoped-for transplant.
And Deanna does stories like this for us while juggling the responsibilities of “exp,” our monthly magazine she serves as editor for.
Thanks to you, Deanna, for all that you do.
As I said, it does take the entire “village” to get our job done, and to each and every member of the Daily Sun team I say thanks!
*****
Saturday is Election Day.
In just about every corner of Navarro County, there are issues to be decided — city councils and school boards and such, and a bond added to the mix for good measure.
In Corsicana proper, two seats on the City Council (one unopposed, the other not) and two seats on the Corsicana Independent School District (one unopposed, the other not) up for grabs.
The bond election is in the Rice I.S.D., where they’re also electing school board members and city offices as well.
As long as we’re naming names, there’s Blooming Grove, Dawson, Kerens, Frost and Mildred to add to the mix, and those new-fangled voting machines that sound like the microwave popcorn is done when they start beeping at you.
And there’s one town that apparently has two separate elections going on for the same offices. But then again, they like to do things a little differently in Mustang. I’m not at all sure we’ve heard the end of that one, yet.
But just about anywhere you live in Navarro County, there is an election that affects you in some form or fashion. Please do your part in casting your vote (or votes) in the race (or races) that touch your part of our world.
It’s the right thing to do.
—————
Bob Belcher is Managing Editor of the Daily Sun. His column appears on Wednesdays and Sundays. He may be reached by e-mail at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com.

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