Published: October 08, 2007 04:07 pm            

10/7/2007 Letters to the editor

Thanking a good neighbor

Dear Editor:



My name is Tamara Shillings. I live at the 1300 block of North Wilhite in Cleburne. I have been there for about 10 years. This neighborhood has had several bad things happen.

The woman who lives about three houses up from mine is Nancy Bessent. Nancy has done a lot of things that I, myself, would never do. These things have been the most heroic things. She has stopped several stabbings. Then she stopped two break-ins of houses just within the last five months. She has single-handily stopped two men from taking tires off my truck at 3 a.m. Then several other times she stopped people from driving drunk. I do not know everything she has done.

Two weeks ago, she stopped a 3-year-old from getting run over. Nancy saw this baby, on a tricycle in the middle of the road. She ran out of her house to get her out of the road. A teenager was supposed to be watching the baby, along with two other kids. The teen started smarting off at Nancy. Another neighbor down the road heard only a short part of this. She called the police and turned Nancy in as cursing the Hispanic people.

Nancy’s a good person. People need to get their facts straight. Nancy was turned in as the one who caused a problem. This woman only heard apart of what happened. I think she owes Nancy an apology.

I want to thank you, Nancy. Nancy Bessent is the best neighbor anyone could ever ask for. The whole neighborhood owes her a big thank you. The city of Cleburne owes her a thank you. I will admit that she is a very courageous woman. I want to thank her for doing this for her neighbors. I would not stop any fights or stabbings. I would not get involved. Nancy does. If all the neighbors were like Nancy Bessent, the whole world would be a nice place to live.



Tammara Shillings

Cleburne



Memorial needed for fallen soldier

Dear Editor:



There is an issue I believe needs serious attention. I am not sure how many of you remember, but our county lost a soldier in Iraq on Feb. 6, 2006. His name was Jeremy Allmon. He was a fine young man who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Whether you agree or disagree with the war, I think we can all agree on one thing — Jeremy deserves a memorial in our county. Cleburne failed miserably on the day of his funeral. It was requested that the flags be on display downtown. There were none. There also were no people lining the streets like you witness in other towns. Very few people even had the courtesy to leave their offices and line the streets of downtown to honor this fallen soldier. I was in total disbelief. There is just no excuse. And to answer a question on many minds at this point, yes, the proper contacts were made requesting the flags. I know this for a fact because I made the calls.

There is no way to go back and right this wrong, but there is a way to help. We honor city leaders and other hard working people by naming streets after them, plaque presentations and providing other types of appreciative symbols to show how much their hard work means to our community. I can’t think of anyone who worked harder or deserves a memorial more than Jeremy. Can you?

After all, he did made the ultimate sacrifice. I believe this is the least we can do to say “thank you to a hero.” The anniversary of his death is approaching very quickly. I can’t think of a more appropriate time to unveil such a remembrance. I hope you agree.



Sheila Leach

Rio Vista



Players should be treated equal

Dear Editor:



My family and I spent this past Tuesday afternoon like we have the last few and like we will every Tuesday for the next few months, supporting our eighth-grade B team at Yellow Jacket Stadium. It was brought to our attention last week that the cheerleaders and band do not even arrive at the stadium until the B games are well under way and do not perform until the A team takes the field.

This week the band did begin to warm up around halftime and played some in the last quarter. The cheerleaders and A team lined up in the end zone with banners ready to begin while the B team still had four minutes left to play in the fourth quarter. I don’t think it is the responsibility of parents to have to bring this issue to light. Those B players match the A team minute for minute in practice and playing time. I am certain the scenario at our home is played out in countless other homes every day of school: We take our eighth-grade player to school around 7 a.m. and return to the house to take the other two kids to two other schools at 8 a.m. Then, after school, we retrieve the two younger children from their schools and find something to do or watch our eighth-grader until he finishes practice around 5:30 p.m. That young man finishes every day sweaty, hot and exhausted. We are proud of him. We respect his dedication.

To the best of my understanding the cheerleading squad, pep-rallies and band are to support all our athletes. I sit right now reading a handout I was given at the game last night titled “Being the Parent of an Athlete.” The handout addresses the importance of supporting our athletes at the beginning of their school athletics, which is right now for many of these kids. I strongly believe the schools themselves are doing some of these players an injustice by the simple act of omission of basic support. If there is some scheduling reason these students cannot support the B team, it needs to be addressed before the next game, before we convey any more feelings of inferiority to these players.

I grew up in a Cleburne where there was no parking anywhere around the stadium during football games. The neighbors around Yellow Jacket Stadium were good natured enough to let us park along their streets. Often they would ask us about the game as we walked to and from our cars. I have never been considered a football fan, but I am a huge fan of these young men. They are doing what we expect of them. We may not be able to teach them heart, but we can certainly show them that we believe in them by treating them with respect.

Thank you for your time.



Catherine Haskell

Cleburne



Thanks from United Way

Dear Editor:



The third annual United Way Day of Caring was a great success. We had more than 200 volunteers, and we were blessed with beautiful weather. I would like to thank all the agencies that participated in the event: Christmas in Action, American Red Cross, Family Crisis Center, Meals-on-Wheels, Camp Fire USA, Salvation Army, Operation Blessing, Harvest House, Children’s Advocacy Center, East Cleburne Community Center, Community Opportunities and CASA of Johnson County.

I would also like to give many thanks to the businesses that donated the materials for the projects to become possible.

A great big thanks to Jason Prado and Liberty Ford for hosting and donating toward this event for the last three years.

Also, Lowe’s, United Cooperative Services, Wal-Mart Distribution Center, ABS Rentals, Curly’s Plumbing, Wal-Mart Supercenter in Burleson, Mann Farm & Ranch, Home Depot, McCoy’s, Double B Foods in Meridian, H-E-B, Colorspot (Walnut Springs) and for the great entertainment provided by Sonny Burgess.

Last but certainly not least, a great big thanks to all the volunteers who gave up their Saturday morning to help people who are less fortunate. You are helping to build a stronger community and making a difference in someone’s life.

Sincerely,



Norma Gloria

Event coordinator

United Way of

Johnson County

        

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