Tuesday, October 13, 1998

Hurray for Myrtle

Abilene Clean and Proud sold 5,000 crape myrtles to the citizens of the Big Country in an effort to beautify the city in conjunction with national Make a Difference Day.

The crape myrtle project could not have been a success without the help of local businesses, schools and volunteers. Lowe's Home Improvement Center, Payless Cashways and Simpson's Nursery contributed many hours and a place for the crape myrtles to be distributed. Simpson's Nursery also delivered and planted more than 600 crape myrtles for the elderly and disabled.

Many businesses, yards, apartments and schools are now more beautiful, thanks to Myrtle. BFI, the local landfill, donated 200 crape myrtles, and West Texas Utilities donated a bed of 100 crape myrtles to be planted along the railroad right of way.

This Make a Difference Day project could not have been a success without the local media. Mid West Outdoor Advertising donated 12 billboards, and the Abilene Reporter-News, KTXS, KRBC, KTAB and local radio stations gave excellent coverage. WTU helped print brochures. Roger Dennis with Dennis Air Duct Cleaning let Myrtle "hang out" with the famous gorilla on Treadway.

Donations are still being taken for the city by calling 676-6437. Businesses are being encouraged to donate a bed of 100 crape myrtles to be planted up and down North and South First. The donated crape myrtles will be planted in the spring, and the total number donated will be announced on Make a Difference Day on Oct. 24.

HOLLY HALEY

Abilene Clean and Proud Coordinator

Conservation flap

I heard some Washington-based environmental group was spending a few hundred thousand dollars out here to tell us how to choose our congressman.

The League of Conservation Voters, which in typical Washington fashion doesn't have anything to do with conservation or outdoor sportsmen, tells me I should vote against Charles Stenholm. Apparently he voted against salmon for Seattle or more parks for Kennebunkport or something. The LCV explains the "problem" is that Stenholm votes "too often" with "resource extractive industries," fancy Washington-speak for oil, gas, gypsum, portland cement and similar industries.

Someone should tell these "naturalists" these industries have provided our jobs and community economic bases for decades.

Another "major problem," according to these "environmental stewards," is that Stenholm voted too often with farmers. Someone should tell them that for more than a century, farming has been a mainstay of the 17th District.

The LCV announces it has sent us "a Dallas-area native" to coordinate its massive media blitz that is supposed to convince us it's awful to have a congressman who consistently supports farmers, ranchers, oil, gas, gypsum, and West Texas jobs.

I say, let them elect a congressman (for their own districts) who votes for the things that are near and dear to their hearts and let West Texans vote for a congressman who votes for those positions that are vital to the future of West Texas.

I hope you'll join me in sending the LCV a return on its investment on election day.

GREG WORTHAM

Sweetwater

Via e-mail

Fundamental point

I am writing in reference to the letter Oct. 6 by Paul Washburn, chairman, Taylor County Republican Party, in which he asked, "Will Texans really elect Darth Vader as attorney general?"

It is a sad commentary on the state of American politics when a leader of a grand old party stoops to name-calling and character assassination.

I agree with Paul that "there is no better cause to work for than assuring honesty and integrity in our government." Unfortunately, his letter failed to recognize that honesty and integrity include examining the whole of a person's life and, in the political arena, trying to clarify policy differences and to enrich civic discourse. It also missed the fundamental point that, as fallen human beings, neither party has a monopoly on evil nor the monopoly on honesty and integrity.

I agree with Stephen Carter that "too many partisans seem to hate their opponents, who are demonized in terms so creative that I weep at the waste of energy, and as one who struggles to be Christian I find the hatred painful."

An authentic politics of integrity doesn't seek to make cheap partisan points but, among other things, seeks to call citizens to their higher selves and to encourage civil dialog.

Perhaps if we could do that in Abilene, there might be hope for the rest of the country.

DAVID DILLMAN

Chairman, Taylor County Democratic Party

Restoring education

After two largely rhetorical editorials by my two favorite Mollies, I felt its time for the truth to be told concerning those "extremists" on the State Board of Education.

If you don't agree with the liberal viewpoint, you suddenly become a "right wing extremist" who has lost touch with mainstream America. It just so happens that those "Republican extremists" were voted into office by a majority of Texans, which means several million of us are "far right wingers."

As far as "ensuring our children have the best education in the world," for the last 30 years the liberals have had their chance and have blown it. An alarming number of our kids leave high school without basic educational skills. They can find a Web site, but then all they can do is look at the pictures.

We've doubled the amount of money going into schools, yet our world ranking plummets. We've removed God from school and replaced Him with New Age humanism. You can talk about Mother Earth, but not the One who created it. It's more important that Johnny learns about alternate family lifestyles than balance his checkbook.

Liberals learned if you can brainwash a generation in school, you can control a future society. Goals 2000 sounds wonderful but is nothing more than social engineering at taxpayer expense. NEA and their puppet TSTA care more about this agenda than the basic reading and writing education of our children.

It's high time for those "right wing extremists" to restore our education system.

THOM DUSEK

Abilene

Via e-mail

Shown his colors

Rudy Izzard is a good person who cares about the future of our country and the 17th District. He is a person with morals and integrity who wants to provide a wholesome environment to raise our children. Rudy will work hard for our values in Washington.

How do I know? I have known the Izzards for 13 years.

Charles Stenholm has shown his colors. He is a career politician who can bend the truth into negative statements. He knows how to straddle a fence and talk out both sides of his face. I think it is terrible that a career politician has had to succumb to negative ads because he cannot make a stand on the issues.

Charlie has been in Washington too long. After 20 years of being around Washington Democrats, he has become one of them. He is not a good old hometown boy anymore.

I support Rudy Izzard for Congress. If you are concerned about the future of our country, you will vote for Rudy Izzard, too.

VICKIE BRIGGS

Abilene

Competent office

It is time for the voters of Taylor County to know the full facts about the state of the county treasurer's office.

In 1995 Laura Browder inherited an abandoned office that was understaffed, hopelessly behind and using an outdated, inefficient hand-accounting system. In short, she inherited a real mess.

Over the next two years she worked tirelessly to reorganize the office and has created an efficient, technologically up-to-date and cost-effective office.

The "checkbook" has always been reconciled monthly. It did, however, take a lot of work to get the abandoned, archaic accounting system in shape so accurate reports could be produced. Since 1997 the office has been in perfect order with all reports presented in an accurate, timely manner and all accounts reconciled monthly to the general ledger.

An examination by the county's outside auditor found the quality of Laura Browder's work to be above reproach.

Since taking office, Browder has led the county in conservative investment strategies that have resulted in improved portfolio performance. She initiated and implemented a cash management system that has increased the county's interest earnings by $84,000 annually.

The excellent state of the treasurer's office is the result of dedicated efforts on Browder's part to bring the office up to speed. She has made a real, positive difference in the county's financial situation.

I hope the voters of Taylor County will join me in re-electing a true professional, not a politician.

CHERYL CUNNINGHAM

Abilene

Via e-mail

Charlie and Bill

The Jan. 27, 1997, Abilene Reporter-News identified Democrat Charles Stenholm as one of eight special guests invited to the White House to watch Super Bowl XXXI. Stenholm, while proudly hailing the invitation, was quoted as saying, "It was fun - certainly a memorable experience." He further stated that Clinton "made for lively company" and "everyone has heard of the president's personal charm. It's not over-exaggerated."

Stenholm boasted, "It's always special to be in the president's audience." This visit to the White House was two months after the commencement of the Clinton-Lewinsky "inappropriate relationship."

Subsequently, Stenholm was quoted in the Austin American Statesman as saying, "It's taken us a while, but we are a team again."

Stenholm has demonstrated he is a member of "the team" by voting and supporting Clinton agenda for fast-track authority allowing Clinton to negotiate trade agreements; granting communist China (the world's most brutal regime in repressing human rights) most-favored-nation trade status when our trade deficit is at an all-time high; and casting the deciding vote in the House to allow the Puerto Ricans to vote on whether to become the 51st state in the United States.

We need a congressman who's not on the Bill Clinton team and who is not enamored by Clinton's personal charm. The election of Rudy Izzard will assure this transition.

J.T. REEDER

Abilene

It's no bull

I am a dairy farmer from Scurry County. It is not a customary practice for me to take the time to write a letter to the editor, but because of U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm's always strong leadership and support for Texas dairy producers, I feel I need to speak out.

The 17th District is the largest milk producing area in the state of Texas. During times of legislative changes, disasters or low prices, Charlie has worked tirelessly for our benefit. The 1995 farm bill mandates that the federal milk orders are restructured in this coming year, and as usual, there will be a regional turf battle.

Without Stenholm's experience and proven leadership abilities, the 17th District and the state of Texas could certainly come up on the short end.

In the last few years, several hundred Texas dairies have gone out of business. Dairies provide jobs, and purchase feed, fuel, equipment and many other services for their communities. In other word, they are a boost to our economy.

Let's help the Texas dairymen and their communities by voting for Charlie Stenholm.

TIM COLLIER

Snyder

Via e-mail

Not really sex

A few days ago I read an article in this paper concerning a jailer, formerly employed by one of the area counties, receiving oral sex from a female prisoner in his custody.

Is the district attorney another Republican stooge of the Ken Starr ilk?

Everyone knows oral sex is not really sex. The chief law enforcement officer of the nation has certified that under oath. The act was obviously consentual; she received a job, excuse me, cigarettes for this nonsex service. (The entire scenario must have been engineered by the Tobacco Industry as a way to force rural county jailers to buy more cigarettes.)

Even if she felt compelled, she can't demonstrate any damages. Doesn't the D.A. have more important things to do than root around in this hard working jailer's private life? The fact that the nonsex occurred at the jailer's work place is an irrelevant coincidence.

The defense attorney only has to produce the jailer's personnel performance evaluation for this farce to be laughed out of court. A good job performance rating, regardless of how subjective or fanciful it might be, will certainly cause the judge to apologize profusely for the gross and cowardly excesses of the D.A. and dismiss all charges.

Does this D.A. think he has a duty to the public trust in his office? How partisan of him. The jailer is not laboring under such a grotesque misapprehension.

After all, only trailer trash would ever see his actions as abuse of power.

T. R. SAUNDERS

Blackwell

Via e-mail

Shut out of park

We made a trip to the Abilene zoo recently with our Brownie Troop. Everyone went through the zoo, and we prepared to eat our picnic lunches. We started across to the park in front of the zoo, and there was a handful of people there who said they had rented the park and no one could come in.

I think it is sad that you don't keep that open for the people who visit the zoo. The children were disappointed they couldn't continue their fun at the park.

DOLORES STONE

San Angelo

Via e-mail