Auto accident at Palo Pinto and South Bowie

Dear editor,

Over the past couple of days you have been reporting the circumstances of the police auto chase that led to a major accident at Palo Pinto and South Bowie.

It seems to me that the local police were at least partly negligent and responsible for that accident for chasing the fugitive through downtown Weatherford into a major intersection and causing a serious accident.

Wouldn’t it have more safe to let the fugitive get out of town a little ways and then stop him?

Allen Dodson,

Greenwood



Guns on campus argument contains faulty logic

Dear editor,

I would like to point out what I perceive as a lack of either logic or rational thought in the editorial by Phil Riddle in the Sunday, May 24, edition of the Democrat (“Guns on campuses is bad policy”).

Mr. Riddle devoted quite a few column inches to the argument that this proposed change in the law represents an unacceptable risk to college students. “Look at all those people who could be hurt” he says. “It will confuse the poor police” he continues. Please explain to me “exactly” how different these scenarios are from Wal-Mart on a Saturday, the mall or a crowded restaurant.

Answer: You can’t. Any location with citizens present has the same potential outcomes as any other. Mr. Riddle’s argument is either valid for all locations or no locations. He has not made a convincing argument for why there is a difference between campus and the movie theater, nor can he.

Young men and women of college age by the hundreds of thousands serve this country every day with weapons far greater than what’s carried for CHL. Employing Mr. Riddle’s logic they’re old enough to go man machine guns to fight and die for us, but somehow the same age standard applied to campuses means they’re automatically too immature, stupid or untrustworthy to protect their own life or that of others on campus. Were I still that age, I would be greatly insulted by this condescension.

I applaud Sen. Estes’ support of common sense, rational thought and the Constitution. When the time comes for a vote to be taken in the House, I hope to be able to likewise laud Rep. Phil King.

Brad Felmey,

Weatherford



Thanks for the success

Dear editor,

Thursday, May 21, athletes from Aledo, Lake Worth, Castleberry, Glen Rose, Peaster and Granbury descended on Aledo Bearcat Stadium for a morning of friendly competition and fun at our ninth annual Jumpin’ Jamboree.

They all proudly wore T-shirts of their school’s colors, played games, ate lunch and received medals due to the generosity of local businesses and area people.

Generous donations came from parents, Chicken Express, Joe Crain, DDS, Brown Excavating, VLK Architects, Robert Casey, Tacket Pharmacy, Faulk Company, Moritz Chevrolet, Donald Fulton, Atty., T.G. Mercer, Aledo Medicine Store and Aledo PTO. A huge thanks to everyone who made it possible for Aledo High School to host this event.

Also thanks to Jane Gann and her crew that prepared lunch, and Mandy Overturff who works so hard on the games and events.

A great big thanks to all of the Aledo High School juniors and seniors who took the morning to befriend a special needs athlete and make their morning special. To watch these kids in action will bring tears to your eyes. You are a shining example of the young adults in Aledo.

Thanks also to the administration at Aledo High School and central office for allowing us to continue this each year.

We can’t wait for our 10 year anniversary next year. Come join us!

Gail Norris,

Aledo High School



Like it or not

Dear editor,

Liberal Democrats in Congress are panting to pass the Freedom of Choice Act and Obama has pledged to sign it. If it becomes law, it is estimated an additional 125,000 babies will die each year (American Center for Law and Justice newsletter, May 2009).

Imagine yourself becoming a victim of that law. You are in the womb and you feel unassailably safe. You are there in that warm place when a cold, sharp instrument finds you. You feel a slicing pain. You struggle to live, but sooner or later, you are irreparably still.

When Obama had been in office less than one week, he signed a bill funding abortions with federal money. With an exultant stroke of his presidential pen, he declared open season on the unborn. If the Freedom of Choice Act becomes a law, it will initiate a killing spree, the likes of which America has never seen.

Having a pro-choice president and Congress is a bitter pill for me to take. But like it or not, they won the election last November. They won it fair and square. The will of the people was done. But the will of the people was evil.

Barbara Pickard,

Aledo



Dads passing

Dear editor,

I wish to give a big thanks to Jana Sanders and her staff at Veranda Place for the care and love they gave to my dad these past few years.

Also want to thank all of the great people of Weatherford that have called and sent flowers for my dad due to his passing this past Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

You have all been my legs that have helped me stand during this trying time. From all of my family, I say thank you.

David Pruitt,

Weatherford



Energy tax proposals

Dear editor

Administration’s energy tax proposals are a real downer for the industry!

The Obama Administration is proposing new tax legislation that, in my opinion, is punitive in nature and will have a detrimental effect on our domestic energy industry. The proposals will be especially onerous on the smaller independents that rely on capital from outside sources to fund new drilling projects.

Some of the proposals are:

Repeal the percentage depletion deduction.

Repeal the expensing of intangible drilling and developing costs.

Repeal the manufacturing tax deduction.

Repeal the passive loss exception for working interests in oil and gas properties.

Levy a new (excise) tax on production in the Gulf of Mexico.

I am of the opinion that these energy tax proposals will not “put Americans back to work” but will have the opposite effect on jobs, especially here in Texas.

Douglas R. Sanford,

Weatherford



What happened to Memorial Day?

Dear editor,

I got in the truck Memorial Day morning to take my son to school (that’s another letter!) and turned on the radio only to get bombarded by ads to buy a car, some furniture or an appliance. “Another excuse to have a sale,” I thought.

As I drove through Weatherford, I was shocked, appalled and angry at the number of flags still flying at the top of their poles. At every bank I passed, at city, county and state office buildings and one school, the flags were not at half-staff on Memorial Day, with very few exceptions.

I dropped my son off and drove around town for a little while to see if I could find one flag lowered in honor. I found that schools were in the majority in having their flags properly displayed, mainly because somebody was there. Everyone else had a “day off.” Let’s talk about that day off for a moment.

In the United States, we have designated Memorial Day to honor those who have given their lives in the cause of freedom, in service to their country and its people. Those of us who live to enjoy this freedom are asked, once a year, to observe a day in honor of those fallen and to do so in thought, prayer and by lowering our flags to half staff or mast.

This requires little on our part, a few minutes at most, to lower the flag in reverence and remembrance. As a veteran, I was hurt and ashamed at the number of flags in our fair city that were not lowered to half staff for this show of honor and respect.

To all who fly our flag as proud citizens, I thank you, but I also challenge you and those around you who fly the flag to do so properly and appropriately. Enjoy your “day off” with family and friends, but let’s make next Memorial Day a day to reflect, to remember, to honor those for whom it was intended to honor.

Take a few minutes out of your “day off” and do what you know is right. It will surely not go unnoticed.

SFC Tony Williams, (Ret),

Weatherford



Dear editor,

I have been pondering the reactions of the press and citizens of this great country when the current president makes a misstep. I try to support the efforts of the administration, but cannot get past the blatant hypocrisy of the Democratic Party and the people who voted for the man.

I came across this format recently and thought it made good “letter to the editor” material. I added a few of my own observations to bring it up to date!

One simple question is all that is asked here: How would you have reacted, or more importantly the liberals in this country, if George W. Bush had:

Made a joke at the expense of the children in Special Olympics!

Given Tony Blair, the past Prime Minister of Great Britain, a set of inexpensive and useless DVDs.

Given the 80-year-old Queen of England an iPod containing his speeches.

Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia!

Continually denigrated previous administrations instead of focusing on the country’s dire circumstances!

Filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to pay their income taxes!

Submitted a “letter” of protest to the UN every time some whacko dictator fired off a nuke!

Ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so!

Involved himself in the takeover of the auto industry! 

Proposed to double the national debt in one year, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate!

Nominated an avowed enemy of the Second Amendment to sit on the Supreme Court!

Cherry picked intelligence documents for release that only supports his position.   

So, what makes the man brilliant and impressive? Can’t think of anything? He’s done all of this in a few short months — you have three-and-a-half more years to go!

Lonnie Williams,

Weatherford