Tuesday, September 1, 1998

Man of morality

For more than 50 years I have subscribed to the Abilene Reporter-News and have used your classified ads to advertise my Boston Terriers as long as I was able to care for them. This is my first letter to the editor, but I must respond to Clark Kreitler of Clyde and his comments about Congressman Charlie Stenholm.

I have known Charlie since he was born. He is a man of honesty, integrity, character, morality and ability. Our closest association has been through our church, and I have confidence in his ability to serve his constituents better than anyone else at this time. I applaud the courage he has demonstrated over the years in standing up to the "big shots" in Washington. For Mr. Kreitler to make the comments he made shows me he doesn't really know Charlie Stenholm, and he shouldn't pretend that he does.

I would like to publicly thank Charlie for all he had done and is doing for his district.

PEARL HAM

Lueders

The opportunist

Isn't it amazing what lengths Rudy Izzard will go to get elected? He is an obvious opportunist.

In the July 30 Abilene Reporter-News, he tells people he hasn't seen the ads against Charlie Stenholm sponsored by U.S. Term Limits and "that since he is a non-incumbent he isn't interested in the intricacies of campaign finance." In the Mineral Wells paper, he actually said he agrees with Charlie!

Then in the Aug. 6 Reporter-News, Izzard is calling it "sham-legislation" to protect Charlie's job. I thought you didn't care, Rudy.

Rudy has never gotten involved with home health care, an issue Charlie has been working on for most of his tenure. As of July 29 Reporter-News, he is an expert. And because of his dentistry background, he feels he is a key person to write health care legislation. This background is also a huge asset in other areas, like Social Security, foreign affairs, tax reform, veterans' affairs, budgeting and agriculture. They must teach everything in dentistry school.

This is just another example of Izzard and his campaigning skills; he has no real knowledge about any of these issues. He is an opportunist; he will say anything to get elected.

We don't need another politician in Washington, D.C. We need a statesman. And we have one: Charlie Stenholm.

Charlie doesn't pretend to know about issues that he doesn't. He is an expert in the issues that affect us, and he works hard to represent us. Why change?

BRYAN SCOTT

Abilene

Via e-mail

Humane helpers

To all the people who so generously and compassionately helped us meet the expenses for the dogs removed from Merkel, I want to say thank you. It would have been very difficult for us to pay the bills for the veterinary care that these animals needed so desperately.

To the Taylor County Sheriff's Department, a very grateful thank you for its cooperation and swift action to remove these animals from an inhumane and life-threatening environment. A special thanks to Sgt. Donnell for his willingness to listen to me and to Deputy Craig Griffis, who without hesitation, promptly and speedily, obtained the necessary legal permission to remove the dogs.

I wish I could say this combined effort takes care of all the animal abuse and neglect in this area, but it does not. Unfortunately, there are probably hundreds of animals dying of abuse and neglect in our neighborhood back yards, but because they die silently, one at a time, we don't notice.

Please join us. Help us to help those who have no voice and no choice.

MARIA GRIFFITH

Taylor-Jones Humane Society