May 11, 2008 01:09 am
—
Power plant proponent
To the Editor: Recently we have been bombarded with half-page ads about the doomsday facing Navarro County if we dare to allow power plants. We will all die from breathing pollutants from the emissions.
Why did the city of Ennis, which just got a large power plant a few years ago, move out to within a mile of the new power plant and build a new hospital and a new elementary school? Do they have no compassion for these vulnerable people, the sick and the young?
Or do they know something we are not being told? Perhaps they have worked with factual information rather than emotions and opinions. Maybe Ennis and Ellis County have a “can do” attitude, while Navarro County has a “can’t do” attitude. That would explain why Ellis County is growing rapidly while we take the slow boat to the future.
Get your facts together, Navarro County, and don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to significantly increase tax revenue with a much lower tax rate.
Harry Hudson
Former chief appraiser of the Navarro Central Appraisal District
‘Bitter’ is defined
To the Editor: Bob Belcher’s column in the April 15 edition of the Daily Sun was both amusing and interesting. Belcher said that Obama might be “on target,” about some voters being bitter, noting that he had bought his first “$50 tank of gas” that week, and was bitter about that. However, you left a few things out that embitter me.
First of all, government needs to butt out! We all know, lest we forget, what a disaster President Nixon’s wage and price controls were in the ‘70s. Remember looooong gas lines in the ‘70s? President Reagan was right when he said, “Government is not the solution, but the problem!”
When was the last time we built an oil refinery in this country? I believe it’s been about 30 years! We have enough oil in the ground, and offshore, to drown OPEC. Build and drill, build and drill, build and drill. Did I say it enough?
Quacks, like the one I saw on early morning TV, are saying things like “The earth has a temperature.” He goes on to say idiot things like “One wouldn’t say ‘I have a 104 temperature.’” What’s a few degrees? We know what a healthy body temperature is! There is no such ideal temperature for the planet.
Finally, Mr. Bush and Mr. Chaney do no set oil prices! Please people, think. Oil is a commodity. The price is determined by a host of variables. Futures, the free flow of oil, world events, supply and demand — all play a role in its price. The government makes five times what the oil companies make in taxes. Nobody ever complains about that!
I’m not saying the oil companies are angels, but let’s use our heads for something besides a hat rack!
Mark Fleischer
In praise of an educator
To the Editor: For many years, I watched her as a diligent teacher and as a determined principal. For over 12 years now, I have watched her side by side as a teacher myself and have still learned from her after being out of “school.” For the past seven of those last 12 years, I have not only watched as a former student and as a colleague, but from a parent’s perspective, as my child has gone through the same shoes I went through many years ago — a student at Mildred Elementary School.
Paula McNeel, principal of Mildred Elementary School, holds a very special place in my heart, you see, because I was a student of hers in that very same elementary school that my daughter has attended under her direction for the past seven years. My daughter is now about to leave the elementary campus, and I must say, I am a little sad.
My daughter has had the privilege of Ms. McNeel’s guidance throughout her entire elementary years. Ms. McNeel runs a tight ship and always has, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. She has a deserved respect from me and my daughter because of the respect and dignity that she reciprocates to her students. This is a memory that I have from my elementary school days all the way until now, and I hope that my daughter will continue to carry these things with her because of the model of respect and dignity that she has seen through the example of Ms. McNeel, as one of the great role models she has in her life. The care and concern that she has shown me and my child through our childhoods will not be forgotten. I hope that she knows just how many lives she has touched over her years at Mildred — not only the little folks, but the big ones, too!
From a former student, fellow colleague, and friend,
Sherrie Bottoms
Thanks for care received
To the Editor: I had a recent need to use the emergency services of Navarro Regional Hospital. I received adequate, timely, and courteous service in the emergency section of the hospital. My care by the hospital personal while I was under the care of my personal medical doctor was performed in a most courteous manner by all those on the second floor. The conduct of the care givers are a complement to the hospital, Corsicana, and Navarro County. To each of those who made my stay entertaining, and enjoyable I wish to express my gratitude and my thanks. Incidentally my health has continued to improve since returning home.
Carter Hart
Say ‘No’ to variance
To the Editor: The Corsicana Planning and Zoning Commission narrowly approved a variance request (4-3 vote) for the Tiger’s Den convenience store to sell beer and wine less than 1,000 feet of Corsicana High School per the Daily Sun April 18, 2008, issue. In the upcoming weeks, this matter will come before the Corsicana City Council again, as in 2006, requesting the same variance to sell alcohol.
The Corsicana City Council adopted an ordinance in 2004, setting the distance requirement for alcohol sales from a public school at 1,000 feet. The purpose of the ordinance is to create a safe environment for our youth. In 2006, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the Tiger’s Den variance by the same 4-3 margin.
On Sept. 19, 2006, the City Council upheld this ordinance, by denying a variance to the Tiger’s Den (4-0 vote, one abstention). The primary reason for the variance denial, as reported by the council, was that the store owners purchased the property in 2005, with full knowledge of the distance ordinance. Yet, they built walk-in coolers during store construction to hold their beer and wine. The Planning and Zoning Commission expected the City Council to give assent to their proposal. From the outset, the Corsicana City Council’s position has been clearly communicated to the store owners, long before the formal vote.
The Tiger’s Den is promising no visible alcohol advertising and retail alcohol sales training, same as in 2006. The distance between the store and the high school is the same. Tiger Stadium and Youth Expo Arena are adjacent, across the road, which attract large crowds of young people.
If the Tiger’s Den store owners sincerely want to increase their business, they should stop pushing the alcohol variance ‘envelope’ and maybe they will gain the respect of parents of this community. A variance would encourage future alcohol merchants to build their facilities close to schools and other places where youth congregate.
Sincerely,
Steven L. Jessup
To the Editor: Consider the actions of a spoiled child. They want what they want. Said child asks dad’s permission and he says no. Trying an “end around,” one then tries mom. A well-established union fortifies one another. Appropriately, mom supports dad and is a “no go” as well. A child with more will than wisdom might wait out the situation and give it another go-round. Authority can be worn down over time and with persistent pressure. Go back and ask enough times; mission accomplished! The child gets what it wants!
The Tiger’s Den built their facility too close to Corsicana High School to receive a license to sell beer and wine. In 2005 they petitioned the Planning and Zoning Board. P&Z granted a variance to the restricted zone. The Corsicana City Council had to overturn that variance. So, no alcohol sales, right? Well, not so fast; Tiger’s Den goes back around again this April and P&Z caves one more time! On May 20, 2008, the Corsicana City Council will have another opportunity to hold its ground and support our union. This council has some really strong dads and one tough mama! They know that CHS, as well as, the Youth Expo and Tiger Stadium are far too near. Allowing alcohol sales within 1,000 feet is against the city ordinance set by these fine people.
Dads and moms of Corsicana must reunite to protect our interests! Our children and our community deserve that effort. The desires for additional business profit cannot be placed above the health and safety of our youth. Please let your city council members know that you want them to uphold their original decision.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Y. Thompson, education chair
IMPACT Corsicana, an initiative of Drug Prevention Resources Inc.
Ethanol response
To the Editor: It was gratifying to read the letter of April 27 by Bob Kral in which he spoke clearly about the problems created by using corn for vehicle fuel. It is unsettling that the majority of our citizens have not paid any attention to the problem and express surprise when they learn of the consequences of the ethanol bill which was signed into law. We know firsthand what has happened to meat producers, egg producers, milk producers and truckers. Pork producers are losing $40 per head for every animal they market. That means if a producer markets 30,000 per year he loses $1,200,000 minimum and the losses are expected to increase to $60 per head. Even very large meat producers, such as Tyson, are having a difficult time staying in business. I have suggested our lawmakers instead of making fact-finding trips to exotic places visit some of our farms and learn some facts about how food reaches our tables. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison recently came out with a report called “Undoing America’s Ethanol Mistake.”
Sen. Hutchison has said she will introduce legislation to freeze the biofuel mandate and Sen. Inhofe (Oklahoma) has called on the EPA to impose an immediate waiver from biofuel mandates while a review of the impact of ethanol production on the global food crisis is undertaken.
These senators are to be commended on their stand and a list of those unwilling to take another look at the problem should be published and voted out of office. Gov. Rick Perry is very much concerned and involved in solving this problem. If you eat, thank a farmer and a trucker and understand the problem cannot be solved by burning human/animal food in vehicles. Willie Nelson, where are you hiding?
Hazel Allison
Appraisal concerns
To the Editor: Would someone please tell the Appraisal District loud and clear that property values have dropped, and we are in a recession! Taxes should be lowered! Fuel and food prices are out of control. Jobs and homes are being lost. This nation is at the mercy of Arab states, and many say dangerously close to Black Friday 1929.
I was told there were few foreclosures here, but judging from Web sites, there must have been hundreds of foreclosures and desperation sales in the county during the past year.
I was told that your taxes will be increasing for another three years to bring property up to 95 percent of its so-called market value. That value is decided by unelected appraisers stampeded by an irresponsible legislature.
Furthermore, I resent my tax money being spent on schools whose boards and their lawyers unfairly refuse to include Divine Creationism alongside the teaching of atheistic evolution. No wonder our nation is declining morally, spiritually and economically. Bring on the vouchers.
The Appraisal District, like the lover of quaint, out-of-date brick streets, is out of control and out of touch with reality. Maybe the city council should brick Seventh Avenue and force the state to build the bypass around Navarro County.
Charles Lennon
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.