Published: May 21, 2006 01:37 pm            

5/21/06 Letters to the editor

Thanks from Jennifer Dugger



Dear Editor:



I would like to thank all of those who supported me in the school board election. I appreciate each person who took the time to come to the polls, and I am especially grateful to those who provided encouragement to me throughout the campaign.

I also want to thank my opponents for having a respectable campaign. During this past week, some candidates have personally contacted me to lend their support and offer their services. They plan to remain involved and are willing to help in any way. I am proud to be part of a community with such committed individuals, and I look forward to serving the citizens of Cleburne in the upcoming years.

Sincerely,



Jennifer Dugger

Cleburne



We know where Edwards’ loyalties lie



Dear Editor:



Recent letters have questioned U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards for calling on Van Taylor to disclose how many millions he owns in ExxonMobil stock. When big oil companies are making out like bandits and gas is near $3 a gallon, voters have a right to know about Mr. Taylor’s ties to big oil.

Let me also remind people that Mr. Taylor is running to represent us in Washington, so it’s fair to determine if his millions invested in big oil pose a conflict of interest that will cloud his judgment when it comes to crafting sound energy policy that protects average Americans.

We know where Chet stands — he has voted to hold price gougers accountable, invest in alternative energy sources and end unnecessary federal subsidies to big oil companies.

To me, the fact that Mr. Taylor won’t tell us how many millions in ExxonMobil stock he owns speaks volumes about where his loyalty lies.



Jimmie W. Furr

Cleburne



Thanks from Kiss Cancer Good-Bye team



Dear Editor:



We would like to thank everyone who came out and played in our second annual Kiss Cancer Good-Bye Texas Hold’em Tournament. Without your support, this event would have not been so successful!

We would like to thank the following businesses and individuals who donated to our event and supported our team: Mexican Inn, Spring Creek BBQ, Joe’s Pizza, Cinemark Theater, CiCi’s Pizza, Accents, Footgear, Bealls, Art Mart, Sears, On The Border, Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, Dr. Sherwood’s office, KFC, Burger King, Sonic, Taco Bell, Golden Corral, Red Lobster, Cotton Patch-Burleson, Pin Center Bowl, McDonald’s, Billy Bobs, Staples, Fort Worth Stockyard Rodeo, Fort Worth Cats baseball team, Joshua Oil and Lube, Lee’s Western Wear, Applebee’s-Burleson, Tai-Pan, Peterson’s Smokehouse Café, West End Grill, Quizno’s, Marci Hargrove, Holli Sims, Angela Dusten-Premier Designs, Devin Menzel, Big Lots-Todd Sigler, Mrs. Baird’s Bread, Don Davis Auto-Rick Coleman, Card and Party Factory, Frito-Lay-Mike Coleman and Danny Richardson, Cleburne Lawn and Garden-Gary Lillard and Cendera Funding-Jackie Robinson.

We would also like to extend special thanks to Steve and Ruth Graeve for organizing the event and the dealers who helped to make the event so much fun: Pat McHargue, Matt Wilkin, Eli Strange, Bill Goldman, Troy Graeve and Brian Tippett.

We would also like to give special thanks to Ron from Domino’s Pizza for all of the pizzas and Wal-Mart Distribution for the briskets and salad and for their continuous support of our team. And, last but not least, we would like to thank our team members for all of their hard work and dedication.

Thank you all again for supporting Kiss Cancer Good-Bye and our efforts to eliminate cancer.

Sincerely,



Carrie Graeve

Angela Dusten

Kiss Cancer Good-Bye

team captains



Don’t be fooled by school finance plan



Dear Editor:



I hope that no one is fooled by the new school finance plan. Taxes were not decreased, they were increased. All that happened, besides the increase was that the taxes were shifted around so that you are not quite as aware that you are paying them. Regardless of where they are applied, in the end, it is the wage earner — man, woman and child — who pay all taxes.

If you think that by applying the taxes to businesses you don’t pay them anymore, then you need a reality check. When you, as a consumer, buy anything, the price of that product contains all of the taxes that are applied by all levels of government, from the manufacturing of that product to the delivery to you..

Think about it folks. Think of how many hands that product passes through before it gets to you and at every step of the way, taxes are applied on top of taxes. It’s really scary regarding how much of your money the government is taking.

Services are taxed the same way. Our legislators only know “tax and spend.” We’ll see how long this so-called tax relief for property owners lasts.



Donald Henry

Cleburne



Thanks from Teresa Blackwell



Dear Editor:



I would like to congratulate the new Cleburne ISD school board of trustees. Jennifer Dugger, Brent Easdon and Teddy Martyniuk. I look forward to establishing lines of communication with each of them at the next board meeting.

I met a lot of new people along the campaign trail and enjoyed talking with each of them about their concerns.

I am encouraged by the energy created by having 10 candidates and hope to see as much participation next year. I hope each candidate stays involved as we all have good reasons for seeking the best for and from the CISD. My reasons are the same now as they were when I started this campaign, the best education for my children, all the children and less tax burden on my husband and all the hard-working men and women of the community we call “home.”

Sincerely,



Teresa J. Blackwell

Cleburne



Voting lines unfair



Dear Editor:



Well, I’m just real upset that I couldn’t vote for Betty Zuspann. I didn’t know you had to live in a special area to vote. That’s very unfair. I could have helped Betty win. She and I could have done great things for east Cleburne. My idea was to put a Dollar General where Earl Williams’ old grocery store was. It could have had a sub-post office, pharmacy and a branch bank. We owe the citizens of the east side to rally around the flag boys and keep this town on an even level. You know I may just see about getting a Dollar General in east Clebune. Why not?



Thelma Walls

Cleburne



Thanks from King’s Daughters



Dear Editor:



The Lend A Hand Circle of King’s Daughters recently held its fourth annual golf benefit at the Cleburne Municipal Golf Course. The funds raised with this tournament will support Goodfellows, other area causes and the needs of our community.

We would like to thank the following sponsors: A Little Ben’s, Accents, AFLAC, Mark Jameson Allstate, All Pro Tire & Lube, the American Red Cross, Anglin Rose B&B, the Art Mart, Auldridge, Mathews & Von Tungeln, AutoZone, Bennett Printing, Blockbuster, Bob Harris Oil, Bob’s Auto Supply, Floyd Camp, The Castle Collection, Cendera Funding, Cleburne High School athletic department, Cleburne Eye Clinic, Cleburne Golf Center, Cleburne Municipal Golf Course, Cleburne Shipping, Colonial Savings, Community Bank, Cotton Patch Café, Dang Gym, Domino’s Pizza, Double Diamond Resorts, Travis Adams-Edward D. Jones, First Financial Bank, First State Bank of Texas-Cleburne, Forrest AutoPark, Michael Forrest, Friou Floral, Frito-Lay, Fun Time RV, Furniture Outlet, Griffin Heat & Air, Harmon Insurance, Lonnie Holliday, Hillwood Development, Leigh Anne Honaker, In The Garden, J&J Pharmacy, Joy McHargue State Farm, Kay and Larry Kelm, Liberty Ford, Leonard’s Flowers, Lonestar Car wash, Lonestar Land Bank, MacLean & Boulware, Mann Farm & Ranch, Whitney Marshall, Merle Norman, Mitchell’s Carpet, Modern Monuments, The Mustang Foundation, Prine Towing & Recovery, Quality Contractors, LLC., Gay & Sheila-The Refinery, Mayor and Mrs. Ted Reynolds, Rocky’s BBQ, Rosser Funeral Home, Sanders Travel Centre, Sears, Dr. Wade Smith, Squaw Valley, Staples, Unique Fold & Mail, Wal-Mart, Walter G. Mize Ranches and Wells Fargo Bank.

We would also like to thank the Cleburne Times-Review and the Cleburne Eagle News for the publicity about the tournament; Craig Nieman, Bill Pace and Steve Riza of the Cleburne Municipal Golf Course; and last but not least our honorary member, Jim Woodard, who we cannot do without.

Our many thanks for all of this wonderful support!

Serving in his name,



The Lend A Hand Circle of King’s Daughters & Sons.



Thanks from Woody Mathews



Dear Editor:



To my family, friends, employees and voters, I want to thank you all for your support in the recent Cleburne ISD board race. I can’t begin to tell you how great a privilege it was to meet so many of you while I was campaigning. There are many people in Cleburne who are concerned about our schools as the turnout on May 13 showed. I want to encourage everyone who voted to stay involved. Come to board meetings, volunteer on committees, join the PTA and please stay involved. You all have great ideas about areas we can improve our district and with all of us working together we can accomplish great things.

I want to offer my support to the new members. We have elected three individuals who will do a super job and I believe work well with the existing board. I know each of them personally, and they will work hard for our children and teachers to provide the very best.

On a personal note, congratulations to Jennifer Dugger. As my daughter’s algebra teacher I know what she brings to the table. She is one of the most conscientious teachers I have ever met. She will do a fantastic job on the board. Please give her your support.

I will continue to stay involved and be on committees if asked. There is more to being involved than just running for the board. I hope the other candidates will consider doing the same in a constructive manner.

Yours truly,



Woody Mathews

Cleburne



Relay For Life set for June 9-10



Dear Editor:



The American Cancer Society has been a very active group in Johnson County for several years with dedicated volunteers participating in patient service programs, cancer support groups, tobacco control and fund raising for research and patient services.

The Johnson County unit of the American Cancer Society needs your help now. Plans are under way to promote the annual fundraiser Relay For Life, to be held June 9-10 from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. Relay For Life provides us with money to fund cutting-edge cancer research, provide free transportation to hospitals, donate wigs to cancer patients, help prevent youth smoking, publish life-saving literature and develop a new generation of weapons to fight cancer.

Now is the time for individuals, corporations and small businesses to commit their team participation. In addition, now is the time for survivors to register for the event and time for the public to purchase luminarias. Relay For Life can be the site of a company picnic or family gathering while supporting a great cause. There will be an opportunity to participate in games, win prizes and make a contribution to the American Cancer Society.

To sign up, to participate or to learn how you can volunteer for Relay For Life or other American Cancer Society programs, call either of the co-chairmen for the 2006 event: Gail McCleary at 817-558-3272 or Stephanie Huffman at 817-487-8006.



Mary Ann Wheatley

American Cancer Society

Advocacy Chairman, 2006

Johnson County,

Relay For Life



Searching for Sgt. Stewart Clark



Dear Editor:



My dad hardly spoke of World War II but he spoke often of the friends he made in Battery B 132nd Field Artillery of the 36th division. Most of them were from Cleburne and included Dub Osborne, Johnny McKeel and Sgt. Stewart Clark. Recently, after leaving the funeral of Johnny McKeel I remembered the stories and the bond my father had with these men and how he looked forward every year seeing them at reunions.

Of all these men I never met Sgt. Clark. He was killed on Sept. 13, 1943, near La Villa Alta Badia, Italy. When my dad spoke of him it was in a tone of reverence and respect and he was a great leader. The amazing part is that Sgt. Clark was only 21 years old and my father was 25. On the day he died he volunteered his gun battery to move to a forward position to offset a counterattack by the Germans.

Under heavy artillery fire he had the battery move the gun into position and began firing. In a short period of time it was evident that the Germans were zeroing in on their position. He ordered everyone to leave and run for cover while he stayed and continued to call in coordinates of German positions. My father was the last to leave as the Germans scored a direct hit on the gun, killing Sgt. Clark.

Even though the war was 60 years ago we need to remember those who have served our country and have passed away and honor those who are still alive. If any of the relatives of Stewart Clark are in the area, I would appreciate any information they could give me about his life and would like to have a picture of him in the military. Remember Memorial Day. Thank a veteran.



Ernest Uptmore

Ross, Texas

        

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