Thursday, April 9, 1998

Unfair to Edison

It is really sad that the Abilene Reporter-News thinks someone getting fired is front page news. I would bet there are a lot of people who have been fired who would have liked to have had their picture on the front page. Does Anthony Wilson plan to print their story?

Even though it was sad, it wasn't surprising because the Reporter-News has taken every opportunity to try to discredit the district attorney's office.

As a 14-year employee of James Eidson's, I have personally witnessed the disruptive influence Ms. Beck brought to our office. The reasons for Beck's dismissal were obvious to those of us in the office and should have been to Beck as well.

It would be nice if, just once, the Abilene Reporter-News would truly investigate an issue and get all the facts, rather than simply printing whatever seems to be the most damaging to Eidson. However, because the Reporter-News backed our opponent in the election, I guess it now needs any reason it can get, however one-sided or wrong it may be, to try to justify its wrong decision.

Grow up people. The election is over, and Beck's being asked to leave was simply a sound personnel decision made in the best interest of our office. Would Mr. Wilson be so quick to criticize any other office without all the facts?

KAY BERRY

Abilene

Via e-mail

Job is to protect

I read in the newspaper that the City Council will be revisiting the need for sirens for our community today. I am writing to state I am in complete agreement with the need for sirens throughout our community. If this issue (whether to have sirens or not) was brought to the attention of Wichita Falls voters, heads would fall.

I was in Wichita Falls in 1979 and saw the death and devastation brought on by a killer tornado. The tornado that ravaged Wichita Falls was six city blocks wide! We have been very lucky to not have had this happen to our city. We can rebuild our community, but we cannot rebuild the lost lives that a tornado would inflict. I for one am willing to pay whatever is needed to have the best possible warning system we can have.

To the City Council members, your job is to protect the citizens of Abilene. If you vote this down and next year a tornado kills many of our citizens, how will you feel? Nothing is more important than the safety of our citizens.

ANDREW CARGILE

Abilene

Via e-mail

Smashing event

I read in your Lifestyle Topics of a "smashing event" (car smashing, that is) to raise funds for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica teams. This is "to release your pent-up aggression." The article goes on to say, "Prices for car smashing are $2 a hit, tail lights and headlights go for $5, side windows for $15 and front and rear windshields are $25. Kids 10 and under will have chances to smash non-glass areas of cars."

In my opinion, this is another example of teaching our children it's all right to take out your frustrations in a physical way, such as smashing up cars, shooting, punching, running over people with cars, etc.

Seems to me the March of Dimes could have made a wiser choice for a fund-raiser for its most worthy cause.

BYNA HOOD

Abilene

Blowing hot air

Chicago was not the only place in the country to receive a nickname critical of its boasting. By the time of its 10th birthday, a certain community in West Central Texas was tabbed "the Wind City." That was in 1890, before Chicago's 1893 Columbian Exposition.

The term "the Wind City" had nothing to do with the prevailing meteorological conditions, but rather had reference to the claims of the town's aggressive boosters.

That city, as you may have guessed, was Abilene.

ROBERT SLEDGE

Abilene