— Larry Walden is qualified candidate

Dear editor,

We have lived in Parker County for 47 years and have known Larry Don Walden and his family since he and our children attended school together. We have followed his career, his accomplishments and his dedication to Parker County over the years.

We believe that enough inference has been made that he cannot give 100 percent to the job of county commissioner. This is not true. We have seen first-hand how he has taken care of his family, has been a successful teacher and administrator for Parker County public schools, has served Parker County on various elected and community service organization boards, is currently a successful businessman in Parker County and also manages his farming and ranching operations. Think about it — most of the people we trust in elected positions have done the same thing. That is how we know them and trust them. That is how we know that they are not just good people but also have the qualifications and local experience for the position they seek.

We are 100 percent confident that Larry Don Walden will continue to successfully serve the people of Parker County as he has done for years. We ask for your vote of confidence as well. We look forward to having Larry Don Walden represent Precinct 3 on the Parker County Commissioner’s Court.

Douglas and

Bonnie Finch,

Weatherford



Walden for Commissioner, Precinct 3

Dear editor,

In the race for commissioner in Precinct 3, Larry Walden is my choice.

I believe we need more people in government like him. He has the education, experience, knowledge and leadership skills required for the job. He doesn’t want to become a leader — he is one. He doesn’t hope to become successful — he is successful, in both the public and private sectors. He will serve the entire precinct, not just a portion of it. He has spent his entire career here, in Parker County, working to make our county a better place. Join me in helping him continue his community service at the next level.

Chris Schofield,

Millsap



Larry Walden for Precinct 3

Dear editor,

We need a commissioner in Precinct 3 that we can rely on. We need someone who has experience in budgeting and public finance and is a real conservative. We need a commissioner who has ties to the land and the ability to plan for the new growth we are experiencing. We need someone that won’t have to learn on the job; we can’t afford mistakes. We need a commissioner who is financially independent enough to not be constantly running for re-election, or afraid to make tough decisions for fear of losing his job in the next election, yet is responsive to citizens’ needs. Our commissioner should be as comfortable in a boardroom as he is on a road construction site or on a piece of heavy equipment.

Only one candidate meets the criteria — Larry Walden. He is a proven leader and decision maker with over 30 years of public and community service. He was elected to five terms on the Millsap school board, serving 15 years. He holds a master’s degree in administration, and a commissioner is an administrator.

I urge you to elect the most qualified candidate, a proven leader, Larry Walden.

Trevor Stephens,

Weatherford



Council should investigate moving festivals

Dear editor,

Darwin Yeary’s July 13 letter to the editor (“Festivals should be revised due to weather, health”) made an excellent suggestion to change the hours for Christmas on the Square and the Peach Festival to avoid midday heat in July and a cold December night. Why not move the Peach Festival to, say, 6 to 10 p.m. in July and move Christmas on the square to daylight hours?

Additionally, the two event locations are not ideal. Both tie up traffic on highways 80 and 51 and parking is very limited. Why not move one or both events to the huge, paved, lighted parking lots east of South Main above and below I-20?

These lots are almost empty after 6 p.m. on Sunday, and I’m sure the retail stores and restaurants would be glad to have the Christmas festival during daylight hours in December. A shuttle could move people back and forth across I-20 to expand the parking area.

There may be some good reasons why this move wouldn’t work; but I sure would like the city council to investigate.

Dennis Tilly,

Weatherford



Festival one example of great community

Dear editor,

Another successful Peach Festival is history. I moved my family from TCU/Fort Worth to Weatherford in February 1993. My number six child, Evan, was born on a mattress in a little house we were renting from Jim and Jeannie Cardin across the street from the Precinct 2 barn while we awaited the completion of our little house just a mile up the road.

We didn’t know a lot of people back then, but what we did know was that the Peach Festival was upcoming. So we gathered up all the kids that July morning and went to the Peach Festival. What few people we knew were there, too. We greeted each other as we passed between the booths on the square. It was really hot but no one seemed to care because this was a time when the whole community of Weatherford gathered, walked around, said “Hi” to each other, and enjoyed the food and entertainment of all the folks who came and claimed to be “Weatherfordites.”

A year or so later, again that hot July morning, it suddenly began to rain. Everyone took cover under the awnings around the square, crowding in together and watching it rain. While we all hovered elbow to elbow one of my little boys decided to drop his pants and relieve himself and, well, if you are the man wearing boots and under some awning out of the rain next to a lady with a bunch of kids, well my sincerest apology.

My point is how all the different organizations within our small city bring together so many activities that bind us all together as one community. There are too many to name and not enough space, but I think of Weatherford College providing free drama and choir performances, Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, Weatherford Parks and Recreation Department, all the various churches and non-profit organizations, and individual families who put time and money into sponsoring special events during the year that attract every kind of interest and background, drawing people together. Another example is a web page, www.mycountycoop.com, designed and sponsored by local Parker County young families who want to introduce local produce growers with local produce buyers.

It’s not that other towns and cities don’t do those things. It just seems that for the size of Weatherford, we enjoy an especially diverse and number of activities and events throughout the year. And that is what community is suppose to be — the opportunity of individuals to share common experiences and make common memories that transform a group of individuals into a community.

Pastor Patrick Hurd,

Weatherford