Published: October 22, 2006 02:30 pm            

10/22/06 Letters to the editor

Thanks from Ex-Students Association



Dear Editor:



The officers of the Cleburne High School Ex-Students Association would like to thank all of the individuals and organizations who helped make this year's Homecoming weekend a success.

Thank you to Mayor Ted Reynolds, City Manager Chester Nolen, Police Chief Terry Powell and Fire Chief Clint Ishmael for their cooperation and the assistance of their respective departments during the parade. A special thanks to Gary Lackey and the many city employees who assisted in setting up and blocking the route of the parade, enabling the event to start on time and proceed smoothly.

Thank you to each group, entity and individual who participated in the parade this year. Each of you makes it special. We appreciate the support of Wright Lincoln-Mercury, Crump’s Corner and Mark and Kelli Burk for providing automobiles for the event, and to Josh Moore, Harold Crump and Fred Sarchet for agreeing to drive the vehicles. Thank you to Charles Frederick and Boy Scout Troop 673, sponsored by United Presbyterian Church, for providing the color guard for the parade, and to Jason Jones and the Golden Pride band for leading the way.

Congratulations to the winners of our Best Float competition. First place went to the CHS Junior Class, sponsored by 2005 Coming Home Queen Rebecca Roe. Second place was awarded to Marti Elementary and third place to the Family, Consumer and Community Leaders of America class of CHS.

Thanks to CHS Principal Justin Marchel, CHS Student Council sponsor Earl Wall, Ann Lowrie and the members of the CHS culinary arts class and the CHS Student Council for the lovely reception provided to the 2006 Honorees and the Ex-Student Association officers and to Superintendent Robert Damron and the members of the Cleburne ISD school board for their continued support and making available the facilities for these events.

Thank you to CHS cheerleader sponsor Kara Mead, the cheerleaders and the student body for the wonderful pep rally and the opportunity afforded our honorees to be recognized during the event. Coming Home Queen Jo Caudle and Wall of Fame recipient Ogden Spurlin were both very excited to be back and quite impressed with the student body and the amount of good ol’ Jacket spirit they witnessed. Both remarked that while many things about Cleburne had changed, that indomitable Yellow Jacket pride still shines brightly!

We also wish to extend a very heart-felt and huge thank you to Lisa Magers with the Cleburne ISD administration for her continued tireless and unwavering support of the Ex-Students Association. Without her efforts on our behalf, none of this could have gone as well as it did. Thank you, Lisa.

Finally, the perfect ending. Congratulations to Katie Tull and Jamel Groover, homecoming queen and king for 2006, and a huge congratulations and a job well done to head football coach Phil Young and his staff and the Fighting Cleburne Yellow Jackets for wrapping up the 2006 homecoming festivities with an impressive victory over Mineral Wells. It was the perfect way to cap off this year’s activities as we anxiously look forward to next year’s celebration.

Thank you again to one and all.

Sincerely,



CHS Ex-Students Association

Mark Banton (Class of ’72), president

Kyle Boles (Class of ’84), vice president

Cheri Fuller McCullough (Class of ’88), secretary-

treasurer







Awards coming at the perfect time



Dear Editor:



Many articles have appeared in the Cleburne Times-Review citing many awards, etc., being given to U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

The timing is quite a brain twister. In the how-come department, why weren’t these given last year or maybe back in April? I’m sure we all understand the ramifications clearly. Then again, what’s new?



E. G. Frey

Cleburne







Time for change



Dear Editor:



For more than a decade, border security has been a burdensome raincloud for our president, our judiciary, our representatives in the house and senate, and, most prominently, for us — the people of Texas. There will be no sunny skies in Texas until we elect an individual with persistence, integrity and unfailing consistency. All three characteristics are essential to finding an active solution to a safer Texas, and we have a chance Nov. 7 make it happen.

Chet Edwards, the Democratic incumbent running for the District 17 congressional seat, has had 16 years to think about what he can do on our border with Mexico. It is sad to see that such an experienced representative, if you can call him that, has used his time and our money to effectively and independently accomplish nothing and then pretend as if he is somehow still “for us.”

Van Taylor, the Republican candidate for congress, is our chance to get something done on the border. His service there as a Marine not only provided him with knowledge and experience to understand the severity of the problem but the wisdom to support and enforce acts that will help our men and women in the Border Patrol do their jobs. Van Taylor is willing, able and ready to represent the people of District 17, and he doesn’t need a pat on the head to do it.

The problem here is not that Chet Edwards hasn’t been doing anything the last 16 years. It’s that whenever he does do something, it is for political gain instead of the betterment of the people. When we vote someone into office, it’s their job to do what’s best for us. Since we currently have a representative whose voting record is dependent on election strategy, how can we honestly expect true representation in Congress?

If Edwards really wanted to help local officials get tough on illegal immigrants, why did he vote against House Amendments 288,138, 655, 583 and 190, which would have all strengthened our fight for border security in Texas?



Matt Burnett

Cleburne







Checking voting records easy



Dear Editor:



Maybe it’s time for the voters of Congressional District 17 to do what they are responsible to do: Find out the truth before they vote! It’s not very hard to look up an incumbent’s voting record online. Anyone can type in “Chet Edwards’ voting record” (punctuation is unnecessary) on any search engine and get more responses than he’d know what to do with. The main, relatively unbiased sites that appear are Project Vote Smart, On the Issues and the Washington Post. These merely document how our congressman voted on key issues, from international and domestic issues to economic and social issues. On the Issues is easier to use and more thorough, including a general rating system from various national groups and a chart of how liberal, conservative or moderate an incumbent is. Their assessment of Chet is interesting.

To determine more about a candidate and his philosophy, try reading the party platforms. They are very long, so scanning for issues of particular interest is easier. There is a stark difference between Republicans and Democrats on most issues, although the rhetoric of politics has carefully disguised those differences in the latest platforms. There are those who run on a party ticket, but claim to be more closely aligned with the other party. So why not switch? Why offend those of your own party by appearing embarrassed to be aligned with them on fundamental beliefs?

Remember that there are many middle ballot races that get forgotten. Find a sample ballot (online or in a newspaper) and do research on judges and local candidates that you may not otherwise know much about.

Finally, please take the opportunity to vote early. This will save you the frustration of long lines, multiple elections being held in crowded polling places, not knowing where to vote and having to rush to make it. You can check online county Web sites or in your local newspapers to find your polling place. It is the voter’s responsibility to know where to vote! (Please don’t fuss at the election judge because you were irresponsible!) Remember that new legislation requires that cities, schools and state and federal elections all be held on the same date, at the same location now. Consider the complications of this on Election Day! Make life easier for election judges and clerks and yourself! Vote early! Early voting starts Monday and continues through Nov. 3. There are many locations in each county to vote early, and you don’t have to vote nearest your home. Check with your local county elections administrator to find out when and where you may early vote.

Remember, if you don’t vote, you don’t have a right to gripe! Each of us usually votes on behalf of 20 folks who chose not to exercise the most valuable right in the free world! Let’s not take for granted what our forefathers and brave young patriots fought and are fighting for! Go vote!



Wynne Loveless

Burleson

        

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