Monday, December 14, 1998

Myrtle shines on

The narrow view from close at home is often at odds with the perspective from far away.

When Abilene Clean & Proud put up billboards saying “Myrtle’s coming — get your bed ready” to promote its 1997 campaign to beautify the city by planting crape myrtles, it set off a firestorm of letters to the editor from Abilenians whose moral sensibilities were offended. Their outrage attracted state and national media’s bemused attention. Campaign organizers Donna Albus, Cindy Moore and Janet Ardoyno, who never dreamed of creating controversy, had to defend themselves and their goals for Abilene.

The broader view has exonerated the notorious Myrtle ladies. The Keep American Beautiful National Awards Program has honored the Myrtle project with second place in the entire country for its beautification efforts, in which more than 8,300 crape myrtles were planted in Abilene on Make A Difference Day in 1997.

Way to go, Myrtle!