Dear Editor:

Much negative talk has been said about small hospitals. Some of the talk I agree with and some I don't. All I have to go on is my experience.

In the month of June, my mother-in-law, Mrs. Lula Mae Rischer, and her husband, Sylvester Rischer, just celebrated 60 years of marriage. My mother-in-law became gravely ill after leaving her son's church (Pastor Jimmy Rischer). She went home and ate, and began hemorrhaging from the mouth.

She was rushed to the hospital by her daughter-in-law and son, Eva and Dennis Rischer. Immediately, the doctor and nurses began working with her. Now, this is what impressed me—-the doctor could have prolonged her decision, but she decided quickly the next step. She called for the ambulance to transport her, but after she discovered that she needed to get to Athens Medical Center fast she summoned for the helicopter.

She encouraged me so much. She didn't push me to the side, but she treated me as though I was a patient also by answereing all of my questions. She gave the commands and they obeyed her, both male and female.

The nurses, the attendants, along with the doctors, helped my mother-in-law even after she returned back from Athens. My thanks are first and foremost to Jesus, Doctor Downing, Dr. Kelly and a host of nurses and attendants.

We, the entire Rischer family, would like to express our gratitude to you loving our mother back to good health. Thank you for your quick thinking and, of course, Dr. Downing you make me proud to be a woman to have authority and yet keep your feminine qualities.

To the entire Fairfield hospital staff, thanks and may God richly bless you. From the sons and daughters and grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of Mrs. Lula Mae Rischer's family, thanks for the prayers. She is better known as Mom Mae and she is doing just great.

Patricia Rischer Fairfield

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Dear Editor:

I'm not mad about the Health Care Reform Bill . . . I'm absolutely amazed that there are people who are so overwhelmingly and completely ignorant of the facts concerning the proposed Health Care Reform Bill.

This bill is only a document of suggestions to be discussed and probably rewritten before it's all over. The bill is being formulated by a panel of both Democrats and Republicans. It's not just the president's idea. It's a panel of people with differing ideas and political affiliations.

The part of the bill that was mentioned in the "Letter to the Editor" referred to as "End of Life" counseling has no language in it that remotely sounds like a plan to kill off old people. This is a total "Pants on Fire" lie! It is not in any way written as to give anyone the idea that a politician or government official would be making decisions about who lives or who is refused treatment and let die.

People should check out the facts. There are web sites that give all this information, they are: www.politifact.com or www.healthreform.gov, and several more. These sites will answer all the questions about what is actually in the bill.

The library also has many publications that have this information in them.

Too many people are getting their information from the Fox "News" channel and entertainers on the radio. I use the word "News" loosely here, as I feel they do very little reporting of the news and are so blatantly biased with their opinions and facts. They are all just a bunch of "Shock Jocks." Their jobs depend on how well they spread discord, anger and sensational untruths.

I would also like to add that the proposed Health Care Bill does not advocate insuring illegals, nor does it have any language that sponsors or pays for abortions. Everyone should inform themselves and stop listening to the lies and misinformation concerning this.

Every American has the right to have health care, no matter what their health situation. I could not be so narrow minded and judgemental concerning a person that has any kind of health problem. I don't think it is mine or anybody else's job to judge persons with diseases of the mind or body. I think they are just as entitled to affordable health care as anyone else.

Also, it has been proven that alcohol, drug abuse and obesity are diseases. These are not all people who are lazy or good for nothings. My mother taught me that compassion is a desirable and Christian attribute.

As a Senior Citizen who is dependent on the "Social" program called Social Security, my health care is partially paid for my Medicare. It's a good health care plan. My husband is blind and if it wasn't for Social Security and Medicare he would be sitting on a street corner somewhere, selling pencils to make a living. We are not lazy. We worked and paid our taxes and are entitled to our health care. But even if we hadn't been able to work and pay taxes, we are still deserving members of society.

If it were not for programs like SS and Medicare, this country would really be in a mess. Grandparents and parents who were not fortunate enough to have earned enough money to retire with a stipend would be at the mercy of their children to support them until the end of life, or be put away like they did in the 19th and early 20th centuries, in an asylum or county home, i.e poor farm.

There are also some people who need help with affordable health care because they were so unfortunate as to have been born with health problems, or were injured and have become disabled.

I can't imagine why a country that sends billions of dollars to foreign countries to help their sick and disadvantaged would not be willing to take care of their own citizens who are in need.

I do agree with the writer of the "Letter to the Editor" on one point . . . it's pretty scary. It's scary because of the people who are willing to believe all the untruths and misinformation and who will not take the time to find out what is actually in the bill.

Your readers should consider this; who really is behind all the misinformation? Could it possibly be the big, mega billion dollar profit making insurance companies? They are the ones who are deciding what treatment you get today. They tell your doctor what treatment you need and what they will pay for. Last year, United Health Care Insurance Company made over $155 million in profits and they only insure about one-third of the people. Imagine how much profit the other insurance companies are making.

These companies don't want health care reform. They are surely against this reform because people would have a variety of choices, and we just might get the opportunity to choose from a less expensive, more inclusive pool of insurers. They are the ones who are paying the lawmakers to vote against this reform bill. Yes, they pay them with campaign contributions, trips, lavish parties, gifts and many, many more perks!

The lobbiests are loving all the screaming and yelling and discord, just about as much as a buzzard loves a fatally injured animal. Think about it people.

Joy Shaw Fairfield

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Dear Editor:

Where are your hard earned tax dollars being spent?

I think the people of this county should get more involved in commissioners court meetings. People should really find out where all of our tax money is being spent.

It's funny how $170,000 was budgeted for an air monitor in 2007 and was never used, so it rolled over into surplus to collect interest. Now in 2009-10 the commissioners are willing to use the money to buy the air monitor. I wonder why that could be. Could it be because it is election time and they want our votes?

Commissioners have their jobs so they can take care of the people in their precincts and their roads. Yet, the roads in this county are done poorly and patched together.

Now they want to lower the tax rate maybe half a cent to please the taxpayers, but in turn by doing that they want to cut peoples' jobs. Yet, they are not worried about people being out of a job and how hard it is to find a decent job now. If you are going to cut the budget, why not cut from a fund that will not cost someone their job?

I am really upset that the commissioners can do this to people that vote for them. I know that I will not vote for my commissioner in my precinct.

I hope the people of Freestone county will get together and start paying attention to where our tax dollars are going. This is the time the people of Freestone county need to stick together and help each other out, but yet our commissioners just want to cut from everyone else's budget, except theirs. Yeah, they cut a little, but not like they did the other offices.

If you really think about it, why would you cut from offices that are bringing the money into the county instead of cutting from an office that just costs us money? Why don't you cut from people going to school, travel allowance, supplies, phones and stuff that can be done without, or cut back on.

How is it fair the commissioners get to decide everyone else's pay and budget, and then get to decide their own?

Amanda Sanders