Fri, May 16 2008
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Thank you, firemen!
Dear editor,
We want to thank ALL of the Central Community Volunteer, Springtown and Parker County fire departments for their quick response to the fire call on Murray Road, Monday, Jan. 7.
Dozens of acres were burned and three family’s homes were in harms way, as well as our cattle and other animals. The firefighters stayed on the scene hours after putting out the fire. Crews returned later that night to check for hot spots being fueled by high winds.
We were told that children playing with firecrackers started this blaze. PLEASE, everyone, be more aware of your children’s “play things.” We have been under a burn ban and this is a criminal act to us.
Our thanks are really inadequate to compensate those wonderful individuals for their dedicated time and efforts to protect the lives and property of their friends and neighbors. We will be forever grateful to each of you.
Leta Jester,
Tom and Kathy Porter,
Randy and Brenda Voss,
Weatherford
Recognizing
election volunteers
Dear editor,
With the recent passage of Texas Senate Bill 393, authored by Texas Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston, the second Tuesday in January has been set as a day of recognition to honor all election volunteers. That day was Jan. 8.
The official name for the observance is “Volunteers for Democracy Day” and Parker County has some of the best precinct chairs and many other election volunteers in Texas.
These volunteers make valuable contributions to the nation’s democratic system of government and should be recognized for their dedication and hard work.
Please remember to recognize all of these great Texans this month.
Larry Lippincott,
Weatherford
Weatherford should impose smoking ban
Dear editor,
Conspicuously missing in Mr. Estes’ letter was any reference to a 1998 World Health Organization (WHO) study, one of the largest ever done on environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer risk.
Overall findings from this study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, show no statistically significant increased lung cancer risk for nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in the home, the workplace, vehicles or public places such as restaurants.
As acknowledged in the WHO’s own press release (3-9-98), a small increased risk was found for nonsmokers living or working with smokers, but “neither increased risk was statistically significant.”
Furthermore, in contrast to the current anti-smoking hysteria to ban smoking, the WHO study states that “public indoor settings (including restaurants) did not represent an important source of ETS exposure.”
As reported in the Washington Post, July 19, 1998, “A federal judge has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency wrongly declared secondhand tobacco smoke a dangerous carcinogen in a landmark 1993 report, a decision that could imperil hundreds of local and regional ordinances banning indoor smoking.” (wwwjunkscience.com)
So, in the future, it would behoove the public if those who choose to use percentages and datum for facts would first verify their accuracy.
Bill Moylan,
Weatherford
Liability at home
Dear editor,
The 18-wheel tank truck that caught fire and exploded on I-35 North recently was a minor mishap; however, if the accident had occurred in downtown Weatherford, it could have and would have been a very major mishap.
Of course we hope it never happens, but with the number of tanker trucks and other 18-wheel trucks going through downtown Weatherford, carrying who knows what, we are tempting fate and the law of averages. I do not understand why so many 18-wheel trucks have to go through downtown Weatherford.
If they are going to Mineral Wells, Perrin, Jacksboro and points north, just a few miles west on I-20 there is a turn-off to these towns. If the destination is Azle, Peaster, Springtown or Bridgeport, they could go FM 730.
In other words, there are safer ways for theses trucks to get to their destination without going through congested downtown Weatherford.
If the truck traffic continues, let’s hope the truck companies, the City of Weatherford and Parker County have a tremendous amount of liability insurance. This situation needs to be corrected and the sooner the better.
Earl Ward,
Weatherford
Global warming, climate change?
Dear editor,
Did you ever hear of the dust bowl and drought in the 1930s? The May 17, 1949 flood that devastated Fort Worth, and Porter Randall gave his newscast from a boat? Water was up to the second story of the Montgomery Ward building.
Then there was the 1950s drought when farmers had to import hay to feed their livestock. Lake Weatherford was built in the ’50s. The weather was hot and dry. The lake was finished in 1957, and experts said it would take seven years to fill. The rain began shortly after completion, and water was cascading over the emergency spillway.
I don’t remember every year, but I remember the year of global warming in 1980, when the temperature reached 119 degrees. Then there was the year of the ice age, the 1983-84 winter when temperatures hovered near or below freezing for 30 days. We had to use an axe to cut through the ice on the stock tank so the cows could get a drink.
Mr. Gore says the climate is changing — duh, where has he been. He says the oceans could rise as much as 20 feet. He could be right if the fuel cell automobiles are successful, because water vapor is their only emission.
Wrap your mind around this picture — a million automobiles emitting water vapors. Is it possible the picture could be shrouded in a fog? I’m not against new technology, but I’m against idiots who travel in private jets and tell me to ride in a cracker box automobile. The sooner we can get away from Opec the better.
Ethanol is not the savior. From what I understand, it takes a lot of energy to produce and it doesn’t provide the mileage that gasoline does. Weather and climate has been changing for about 70 years that I know about.
Have you forgotten the June 24, 1974, article in Time Magazine, ANOTHER ICE AGE. Look it up, it’s amazing how gullible humans are. If a scientist says it, it must be true. Time changes every thing, including the weather.
Richard Feuilly,
Weatherford
Thanks for the support
Dear editor,
Manna Storehouse and Salvation Army would like to thank the businesses and residents of Parker County for their love and support in the Santa’s Helpers Angel Tree project this past Christmas.
More than 1,100 children enjoyed a beautiful Christmas morning through the generosity of individuals and groups who donated toys, clothing and money to the project. We especially thank Jan Barton for providing us with 3,000 square feet of “workshop” space.
We would like to thank the businesses who provided services and goods to get the project started and the students of Weatherford Christian, the School House, Aledo and Weatherford schools for toy donations.
We appreciate the community service from Aledo High School National Honor Society, Weatherford High School National Honor Society and Student Council, First United Methodist Church Junior and Senior High youth, Weatherford High HOSA and FBLA groups and the Probation Office.
This project would not have been possible without the help of the many dedicated “behind the scenes” elves who worked in the workshop.
Manna Storehouse and Salvation Army,
Weatherford
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