Thursday, November 19, 1998

Defending the jury

This letter is in regards to Bill Preston's letter of Nov. 12. Mr. Preston stated he is angry with the jury that sat on the panel for the trial of Billy Don Wilson.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. But for Mr. Preston to think the jury panel is a bunch of crybabies and to insinuate they didn't care about people and have caused taxes to go up because of this trial is ridiculous.

Mr. Preston, I served on that jury, and I don't believe you were there when we voted. Furthermore, it is obvious that the vote was not unanimous or it would not have been a mistrial. The entire panel did not vote to clear Billy Don Wilson.

We all as citizens have a right to complain. High taxes as well as crime are concerns for me as well as for you. But I also have the right to serve on a jury and make my own decisions, whether good or bad.

I resent your suggesting something bad would have to happen to someone close to us before we clean the streets and vote guilty on every panel because of your beliefs. This is nonsense.

I will not go into details, but some of the jurors felt there were not numerous eyewitnesses as you mentioned in your letter. I feel blessed to be able to serve on a jury. And I count it a privilege to be able to think for myself.

L.R. McGEE

Abilene

Lightning strikes

I would like to compliment Roy Jones for his article on lightning safety at outdoor athletic events.

As head athletic trainer at Hardin-Simmons University, I consider lightning safety a primary concern whenever storms are in the area. Although hand-held lightning detectors are helpful, they only detect what has happened in the immediate past - they do not predict where lightning will occur. Detectors will not protect you if the first lightning bolt strikes you.

Lightning predictors are available but, at a current cost of $5,000-8,000, are cost-prohibitive for most organizations.

In the absence of a lightning detector, you can attempt to judge storm distance from the flash-to-bang time (every five seconds from lightning flash to thunder is one mile). However, the distance thunder can be heard can vary due to wind, environment and other conditions.

The NCAA, together with the National Severe Storms Laboratory, has issued a guideline advising that athletics participants should be in a safe shelter when the flash-to-bang count is 30 seconds and should ideally wait 30 minutes after the last lightning flash or thunder to resume an activity.

The flash-to-bang guideline allows those without detectors (youth coaches, parents, etc.) to have some rules to judge when an activity should be suspended. Above all, common sense should dictate when it is too hazardous to continue outdoor activities, with or without a lightning detector or flash-to-bang timing.

DAVID STUCKEY

Abilene

Via e-mail

Support in Clyde

The Clyde Junior Football Association would like to thank all of the Abilene businesses and all the individuals who helped make our Nov. 13 auction and spaghetti supper a success. Without you, we couldn't have reached our goal for the 1998 season.

Thanks again.

BARBARA HAVNER

Clyde