Tuesday, November 3, 1998

Road unitization

The Oct. 27 issue, page 4A, carried an article by Kathy Stapp on a movement in Shackelford County on the subject of an election on road unitization. The core of the article is a gross misrepresentation of truth and fact.

The statement, "The committee's report, submitted in April, strongly supported adopting unitization," is totally false. There were nine members on the committee, plus County Judge Ross Montgomery. I served on the committee and kept notes on the proceedings.

Three members, in addition to Judge Montgomery, were the only voices in favor of unitization. The two commissioners on the committee voiced strong opposition to the measure and gave assurance the two other commissioners were also opposed to it. Two other committee members voiced opposition.

There was not nearly a majority of the committee for the measure and definitely not a recommendation to "strongly support" such a move. No motion was ever presented for any kind of recommendation.

I have no objection to citizens having a vote on any measure, but please, no railroad job or false statements. People should have the truth and facts. The facts are simply that unless the four commissioners give up their salaries, there will be no real savings by adding another layer of salary and benefits for a person employed to "oversee" road work in the county.

Why not tell the truth and give honest facts and let the voters decide? There is enough distrust without stirring up more among friends.

JACK CLACK

Moran

'Moving' a store

An article in the Oct. 23 Abilene Reporter-News stated the Higginbothams hardware store in Gorman was not "closing" on Oct. 31, just moving the entire stock to a larger sister store in De Leon, 11 miles away.

To me, a closing of the store means we will not be able to purchase hardware in Gorman.

All stock is being moved, the doors locked, and the building will be vacant.

This may not mean closing to Linda Gautier, vice president of sales and marketing for Higginbotham Bro. and Co., as she was quoted in the article, but we in Gorman know what closing means.

For her information, we have been able to purchase carpet and floor coverings of all kinds for some time from Clark Construction Company. What it means is that they expect us to travel 11 miles to purchase small hardware items they have moved to the De Leon store.

We are proud to know that a new lumber yard, Clark Building Supplies, Lumber, Paint and Hardware, is under construction here in Gorman and will stock hardware supplies and will supply the needs for this area.

ESTELLE CRADDOCK

Gorman

Project on Texas

I am in the fifth grade at Hart-Ransom School in Modesto, Calif. I have adopted your state as a class project. I will be doing a report and making a display about Texas.

In May my class will be having a "state fair." I will display and show everything I have learned about your state to my whole school. It would be helpful to me if you could ask your readers to send me post cards of your state, maps, brochures, information about wildlife, industry, neat places to visit, statistics, sports teams and any other information and items your readers feel would be helpful.

I hope your readers can help me with my project. I'm looking forward to hearing from them.

ALEX LEYVA

Mrs. Unruh's class

Hart-Ransom School

3930 Shoemake Ave.

Modesto, CA 95358