Published: January 20, 2008 04:33 pm            

1/21/2008 Letters to the Editor

Thanks to fire and rescue workers



On Jan. 7 we received the call that is every parent’s worst nightmare. Our son, Mickie Bayless, was a passenger in a horrible accident. We cannot thank our local fire department and the emergency medical team enough for their quick response and preparing Mickie to be CareFlited for treatment. He is going to be OK but has a long road of recovery ahead of him. We all know by the scene of the accident that he had an angel on his shoulders, and for that we are forever thankful.

We would also like to thank all our relatives, friends, neighbors, Mickie’s employer, H-E-B, and some we have yet to meet for all their calls, e-mails, prayers, hot meals and support. Please continue to pray for Mickie, Haunah and Averie as they continues to recover.



Bill and Donna Patterson

Cleburne



Police officer’s sour grapes unsettling



Around 5:15 p.m. on Jan. 10 my wife and I had to pass through Cleburne to pick up some paperwork before heading up to the Fort Worth area. Leaving town we found ourselves caught in a mini-traffic jam that was caused by an accident at the intersection of Kilpatrick and North Main Street.

The traffic was moving along at a decent pace, and we were pleased to see the local fire and police out taking care of the unexpected incident and keeping things moving along for those of us just passing through.

Well, we were happy until the police officer directing traffic down North Main decided to wave his hands in disgust and yell at us to look forward. Maybe it wasn’t his hands waving or the yelling. It could have been his facial expression — half frown, half scold like I was the one that caused the accident, or I was somehow at fault for giving him the thankless duty of traffic flagging.

Whatever it was, it left us feeling a little disgust for him and the police force as well. Our eyes might have wandered a bit towards the flashing lights and commotion, but we were never slowing the flow of traffic or doing anything I would consider inappropriate. As schooled drivers we are always paying attention to our surroundings, even when following behind another vehicle.

Sometimes the police can get a bad rap when all they are trying to do is their job. A great way to counter this is to make those social interactions with the common people a pleasant and memorable one. Maybe he was having a bad day or wasn’t in the greatest mood, but I can think of 50 ways he could have made our experience a pleasant one without looking like a jackass in the process. Maybe next time he’ll get it together.

Hoping for the future.



Adam Seahorn

        

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