Published: January 28, 2008 01:41 pm            

1/29/2008 Letters to the Editor

Responding to ‘sour grapes’



My child is missing. I’ve been raped. Someone is in my home. My spouse has had a heart attack. The neighbors’ dogs are barking too much. There’s something up in my tree. I can’t find my dog or cat. My kids won’t mind me.

These are all calls that have come into the Cleburne Police Department either by 911 or by nonemergency. All calls that come in must be answered by a police officer — the difference is a 911 call requires a minimum of two officers for every call. All calls must have some type of report taken and filed.

My husband came to work for the Cleburne PD in 1987. We had one child and one on the way. I was not excited and not very supportive. But things have changed over the last 20-plus years. I’ve watched my husband and many other men and women devote their lives to protect and serve the lives of others. The police department, just like the fire department, never closes. They are open and running 24-7. They are on the streets working, patrolling, looking, watching, seeing and serving.

When the tornadoes hit in 1989 our youngest was 5 weeks old. We lived in a singlewide trailer and had one car. The storm came fast. My husband had someone come get us because he was out doing his job — serving and protecting. Some people would probably think that I would resent this, but this just made me love and respect him more. Our kids learned to grow up being a “cops’ kid” as did a lot of other officers’ kids.

It’s not easy. I was a single parent a lot of the time. Shift work, being called out in the middle of the night, working over when they are short handed. These are all things that most people never see and never know about. Only the people who live it — the officers and their families.

So, to the person driving through Cleburne who saw the officer “scowling” at them. That was my husband, Sgt. Bill Black. He remembers you, too. He said that you weren’t slowing down traffic — just as you said. However, something that you failed to mention, you were so busy looking the other way you almost ran him over.

He’s always said that he would not die from a gunshot like on TV — he would die from a stroke from high blood pressure while directing traffic or from getting run over while directing traffic.

Police officers are called out and always at least some of the people there don’t want them there; the traffic stop is never the driver’s fault; your child would never lie; you didn’t shop lift — you just forgot to pay; you only had one or two beers — you couldn’t possibly be drunk. But when you need them it’s your tax dollars at work, and they had better be there in under three minutes.

More meals have gone uneaten, more sleep has been shattered and more children’s programs have been missed because you need a police officer. Please just remember that when you see one maybe having a bad day. They are also human.

I am more proud now than ever before to say that I am the wife of a police officer. I have a necklace that I wear often that is a badge. My children have no problem telling people that their father is “a cop.” He’s given his life, we’ve given our life, the other officers and their families have given their lives. Thank a cop.

Sincerely,



Paulette Black

Cleburne



Thanks from ECCC



On behalf of East Cleburne Community Center, I want to thank Cleburne residents for attending our annual Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon on Jan. 21. Krystal James, Tarrant County Precinct 1 administrator, gave a wake-up call to all that King’s dream is still only partially fulfilled.

To keep the dream alive, ECCC provides numerous programs for the disadvantaged youth of Cleburne. Because so many do not even have a dream, our goal is to give our youth a broader vision and the tools to reach those goals. And it doesn’t take a Ph.D. or mountains of time to help our youth stretch beyond their current limitations. Anyone with compassion can encourage our young people.

The greatest need is with our boys who lack positive male role models in their lives. ECCC’s Boys 2 Men mentoring program matches one boy with one man. Cleburne is full of good men, and the call to help is being trumpeted.

Will the men of Cleburne just turn over and continue sleeping, or will you wake up and heed the call? The need has never been greater and now is all we have — one man to make the dream a reality in one boy’s life. Call 817-556-3716 to volunteer today to make a difference in a boy’s life.



Terri White

ECCC board chairwoman

Cleburne



Thanks for participating in downtown window program



There are a number of beautiful old historic buildings near the Johnson County courthouse in downtown Cleburne. Their majestic dignity from days gone by still shows through. Sadly, they now sit empty, needing something to wake them up and make them a refreshing, integral part of the life around them once again.

A few months before Christmas 2006, Tom Burkett and I (downtown retailers), brainstormed and came up with an idea of how to bring a bit of life and beauty to the buildings. At least for a season. Several nonprofit organizations were called and invited to “Adopt A Window For Christmas.”

No fees were charged. Each organization provided their own paint and artistic skills. Owners of the buildings who could be located gladly gave their permission to allow the painting. Nine windows were decorated. Everyone was enthusiastic about the project.

Before Christmas 2007 twice as many nonprofit groups signed up to decorate windows as had the previous year. The dedication of the renovated courthouse was to be held Dec. 1, and we wanted the downtown to be ready. How exhilarating it was to see everyone so excited as they decorated. Christmas card windows appeared and each group added a merry Christmas greeting, along with the name of their organization.

It became a work of heart as those folks gave the free gift of Christmas joy and beauty for all downtown workers and visitors during the holiday season. The results were absolutely wonderful, and hundreds of Cleburnites have told us how very much they enjoyed the awesome windows.

Plans are already being made for Christmas 2008. In the future this event will be coordinated by the recently formed Keep Cleburne Beautiful committee. The individuals who participated in adopting windows are far too numerous to list.

However, we would like to thank the following nonprofit organizations for their time, hard work, enthusiasm, patience, positive attitudes and joyous spirits as they participated in the Adopt A Window At Christmas program: Art Guild of Johnson County, Campfire USA, Carnegie Players, CASA of Johnson County, Christmas In Action, Cleburne Christian Business Club, Covenant House, Eastern Heights Church, First United Methodist Church, Fishers of Men Class Field Street Baptist, Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, Joanna Joy Class at Field Street Baptist, Master Gardener Association, National Vietnam War Museum Board of Directors — Mineral Wells, Operation Blessing, Spirit of Sharing, Toastmasters, Wings of Hope Equitherapy at Egan, Z Club and Zonta.

A very special thanks to Sandra Campbell and Carolyn Cate for the many hours they spent assisting several of the organizations with artwork.

Anyone is welcome to attend the next meeting of Keep Cleburne Beautiful, which will be held at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 15 at city hall.

If your organization would like to get involved with the Adopt A Window for Christmas 2008, call me at 817-645-1155 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.



Deborah Gaurkee

Cleburne

        

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