Published: June 21, 2008 12:10 am            

Letters to the Editor 6/22/08

Fan mail for Mr. Young

To the Editor: I’ve read Bill Young’s columns through the cemeteries, through all the census and who grew what and how much — all were interesting to me, but lately I can hardly wait for my Sunday paper. I love to read about archeology and digs, artifacts, etc. And I even learned how the Indians made their canoes besides just burning out the center of logs. They used adzes to clear away the burned wood. Thanks!

Bill Young, you are an interesting writer, so keep up the good work.

I’m thankful that at 80 years old I am still interested, and can still read about things that have always interested me.

Your sincere fan,

Genelle Griffin



Power plant opinons

To the Editor: In response to Harvey Strain’s letter about the proposed power plant:

Sir, you are obviously concerned about your property value and rightly so. Those who have had any training in mechanical engineering realize that there is no other place to put a power plant of any type except next to a body of water. Whether that body of water is Richland-Chambers or the Atlantic Ocean, the power plant needs water for cooling and/or steam generation. Also, the tax revenue and the higher paying jobs that Navarro County and surrounding areas need right now will also come. Power plants are expensive. They require goods, services, and maintenance that most merchants here would be happy to provide. In conclusion, before you go complaining about things, I urge you to think before you publicly denounce good projects that will benefit all of the local communities that this paper circulates in.

Sean Buchanan

Corsicana, BSME-Texas Tech University



To the Editor:

Dear Honorable Judge Davenport,

I read with great interest your statement in the June 10 Corsicana Daily Sun. You were referring to Texas M.O.R.’s refusal to put up a road bond on one of their projects in Navarro County. Please allow me to repeat your quote. “I don’t see a problem asking for a road bond from a company that’s going to be making money every time ‘we’ go to the gas pump.”

It would appear you share the same logic I do. What possible reason could we have to give tax abatements to energy companies that charge us 40 percent more for our electricity every time “we” flip a switch? Thank you, Mr. Davenport. Someone now understands where I’m coming from and I’m thrilled it was you.

Now we can work together on the dollar amount of the “bonds” Pin Oak Creek and the future Navarro power plants should put up for future damages to people’s health, loss of livestock and the devaluation of property here in Navarro County if these power plants really want to come here. I sincerely look forward to working with you on this matter just as Mrs. Pevehouse does.

With respect,

Vicky Prater



Eagles say thanks

To the Editor: As principal of Mildred Independent School District I would like to say thank you to the Mildred community for the support that was shown during the Eagles baseball season. It was exciting to see how parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, students and friends supported our kids throughout the season and especially at the state baseball tournament.

I would like to personally congratulate all the players and coaches for a season that will be talked about for years to come. These young men played with enthusiasm and were a good example for future Eagles.

It was a fun season and I thank all those that were involved.

Shannon Baker

High school principal

Mildred Independent School District



From the Kerens Ex’s

To the Editor: On June 6, the Kerens Ex Students Association president Murlene Lilly handed out scholarships at the graduation ceremonies to Jaycee Colvin, who received the $500 Opal Curington Scholarship; Rebecca Coody, Grant Otten and Ryan Barrington received $500 each, and Matthew Cotten received the $8,000 scholarship.

The scholarship committee selected to honor Clifford Breeding from the class of 1931. Mr. Breeding was at the graduation and received a standing ovation from the audience.

Remember, every $10 membership dues goes to the scholarship for the Kerens seniors.

Sincerely,

Bobbie Nichols



Call to action for kids

To the Editor: Over the past two federal fiscal years Congress has cut victim assistance funds 22 percent under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). The Administration’s 2009 budget request would cut another 20% from VOCA victim assistance funding. The VOCA Fund is a separate account generated by federal criminal fines, forfeitures and special assessments, not taxpayer revenues. These cuts are especially disheartening and frustrating when you consider that this fund is expected to have a balance of $2 billion at the end of 2008.

VOCA funds are distributed to states through an annual allocation and are used at the local level for such essential victim assistance programs as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for abused and neglected children, Children’s Advocacy Centers, sexual assault programs, elder abuse programs, domestic violence centers, and DWI programs such as Mother’s Against Drunk Driving. In Texas the Governor’s Office has been the state administrative agency for these funds and has been a supportive and collaborating partner in providing these funds to victim programs across the state. They now face the thankless task of having to pass down these cuts that will significantly and negatively impact programs in serving crime victims.

VOCA funds have been a vital means of support for our CASA of Navarro County and our Navarro County Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. programs. It has helped us recruit and train over 100 volunteers to serve over 300 abused and neglected children in our area who have been removed from their homes because their homes were unsafe. Continued federal cuts will significantly impact our ability to provide volunteer advocates for children assigned to us by the court.

We hope that you will join us in urging Congress to restore VOCA funding and appropriate $770 million to VOCA in the FY 2009 federal budget. VOCA has been a dedicated non-taxpayer fund source for crime victims since 1984 and there are more than enough available funds to adequately appropriate the amount we are requesting. Our crime victims deserve more in available services not less.

Kimberly Martinez, Executive Director,

Child Advocates of Navarro County



Thanks for support

To the Editor: From the hearts of Single Believers Ministries, we do this day give you thanks for all the support from the City of Corsicana.

We never imagined that we had so many kind, good-hearted people to support us in our endeavor to beautify Woodland Cemetery.

A special thanks to Ted Warren, adult probation supervisor, for allowing Ray Jacobs and crew to paint the gazebo; Rodney Faucett, who spray-painted inside the gazebo; Sherwin Williams Company; McKee True Value Hardware and Lumber, McCoy’s Building Supply, Owen Hardware Inc., and Gilfillan Inc., who supplied the paint and garden equipment; Gayla Gober and Jan Moore from Coldwell Banker Realty Connection for donating 450 flags; and Judge James Lagomarsino, who provided the community service workers.

John Pineda and staff from Pineda Farm Nursery and Landscaping, who labored in beautifying the gazebo area; Elder Clarence Horn, owner of Bubba’s Lawn Service, who labored in the front entrance in beautifying and purchasing garden supplies for this special event; Elder Clarence Horn and Michael Horn, who mowed the outer and inner entrance by the gazebo the morning of the event; and Warner Redus (monkey grass).

The beautification committee members Babbette Samuels, Ann Zeman and Precinct 2 councilwoman Ruby Williams. Ms. Douglas gives a special thanks to her supervisor Cindy White of Navarro County/Johnson County regional coordinator who came out to support her. M.R. Smith Parlor, prayer by Bishop Annell Castille Haney, pastor; keynote speakers, James Borkchum and Elzie Carroll, who are veterans of the Armed Forces; soloists Ruby Williams, Evangelist Gertrude Richardson, Curtis Sparks, and Pastor Bill Elias; Pastor Larry Polk, Taps played by Les Grayson, Navarro County Sheriff’s Department, Les Cotten, city officials, Navarro County Precinct 2 commissioner Faith Holt, Judge H.M. Davenport Jr., Clay Beard, District Attorney Lowell Thompson; and media coverage by Navarro County Times, Corsicana Daily Sun, KAND Radio and Northland Cable.

Cathy Douglas, Single Believers Ministries founder/CEO

Margaret Evans, executive administrator



To: The constituency of Precinct 3

Subject: Yearly Update

I have truly enjoyed the first year of working in Precinct 3. It has now been a year since you elected me to represent you and your family at city hall.

Over the last year we have managed to accomplish several projects in our precinct. Cleanliness and beautification have been one of my pet peeves since taking office. Nature Park has been updated with new trees last year and we have managed to reclaim the property line do to the over growth. There are plans to provide a nine-hole Frisbee golf course by spring 2009.

During the budget talks I encouraged the purchase of an additional brush truck for 2008. It’s soon to arrive! The precinct is much cleaner and the brush service is much better than in years past. I am consistently following up on making the city services better and more cost effective.

2008 road improvements included Woodlawn Avenue and parts of North 26th. The potholes are always a problem with our asphalt streets. Help me keep an eye out for problem areas.

We have had several highly attended town hall meetings discussing the bond program, sale of water to power plants, and the automated garbage pickup pilot.

The three-month automated garbage pickup pilot program is getting better each week. Additional cans are available until supplies last during the pilot. Remember to remove the can from the street once emptied. Would you recycle, if you had a separate 95-gallon container for recyclables? Survey cards will be provided towards the end of the pilot.

Precinct 3 cleanup day! Thanks to the many volunteers, public works, parks, environmental services, planning and zoning departments. The day proved to be very successful and we cleaned up two key areas of our precinct. I plan on changing the current yearly precinct cleanup day to a quarterly plan. Our focus will be only a few blocks at a time and eventually we run out of blocks. Then we start over again. Special thanks to the sheriff and county commissioner Precinct 3. If you have any concerns or questions please do not hesitate to contact me at (903) 654-4803.

Sincerely,

Stephen G. Andrews

City or Corsicana councilman, Precinct 3

        

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