LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor:

On a recent walk through the woods near our home, I marveled at a turtle making its way along the underbrush. I was pleasantly taken back to the days of my youth in the 1960s when we often played with turtles, and even painted school insignias on their backs and had races to the cheers of our neighborhood friends. Turtles, frogs, lizards and hamsters were common pets then; often kept in aquariums and cages in the home.

Today we are more aware of the potential of becoming sick after handling these beloved critters and their habitats. Salmonella is a bacteria that, if ingested, can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, headache and fever. A small child can become dangerously dehydrated quite rapidly. Turtles, frogs and lizards have been implicated as chronic carriers of salmonella.

In 2009, Texas had an increase in reported cases of Salmonellosis and it is estimated that the number of infections may actually be much higher. When cleaning aquariums and pet cages, always go outdoors. Never clean these habitats in kitchen or bathroom sinks or tubs. Wash your hands and arms thoroughly with soap and water after all handling of these pets and their homes.

Teach your children to regularly wash their hands after feeding or handling any animals or pets.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is a great resource for safety tips and keeping our families well in 2010.

Healthy families make healthy communities.

Carrie Self, RN, BSN Fairfield

* * * * *

Dear Editor:

Mr. Willie Ward, brother of Luke Ward, Sr. the County Commissioner of Precinct 1, has implied that I, Charles Morgan, am the only person concerned about our air quality in Freestone county. Where was Mr. Willie Ward when the court house was packed to standing room only with people from all over the county that are concerned about our air quality?

He makes statements as if he is an expert on air quality. Yet, he has never offered to come forth previously, state his credentials nor present a credible case for not having an air monitor in Freestone county.

It is a done deal, funded and approved. Let’s get on with the installation expeditiously.

Mr Luke Ward, Sr. continues to have persons placed on the commissioners’ court agenda to try to stop the air monitor installation. Does he represent the people in his precinct or Big Brown which is in his precinct? It seems to be the latter.

As for any bullying, Mr. Luke Ward, Sr. has continuously tried to bully me every time I attend a Commissioners’ Court meeting. His personal attacks against me must stop. He needs to act in accordance with that of someone in the position which he holds.

We do not need to continue rehashing the issues and discussing the air monitor approval. We need to discuss its installation schedule and tasking someone to be responsible for getting it installed.

Let’s get on with the program!

Charles E. Morgan, P.E., Inactive

* * * * *

Dear Editor:

Who would have thought the air monitor would be making the headlines after two years? Good intentioned, well meaning people on both sides of this argument have valid points. I have complete confidence in the commissioners and county judge to what’s best for the county.

The truth is, if TXU had kept their promises we would not be arguing over an air monitor.

Remember the big meeting at the courthouse about three years ago when the TXU entourage, Dallas Mayor Laura Miller and the big city media descended on Fairfield? Courtroom and lobby packed; speeches went on and on.

The head man from TXU got up and told how they had been here 30 years and were planning another 30- year phase. How TXU had partnered with Freestone county and provided everything from jobs, to aid to civic clubs, to sponsoring Little League baseball teams. We were not just partners, we were like family! He said, be patient, we want to protect the environment, too. Give us a little time and we will put scrubbers on the smoke stacks at Big Brown so the air will be cleaner.

I thought, this man has solved all our concerns in less than five minutes! What a deal! No doubt TXU would do what they said, they had put scrubbers on other coal plants they owned.

By the way, have you heard about the new scrubbers being installed on the Big Brown smoke stacks. No, me neither, not a word.

Since that day they have changed their name to Luminant. I wonder if they think that lets them off the hook for the promises made in that packed courthouse?

We’re still waiting.

Frank Bonner (NLT) Fairfield

* * * * *

Dear Editor:

I was hoping I would not have to write this letter, but our organization has been up and running going on two years and the help we thought would come has not. New Leash on Life Fund is working on year number two and if it hadn’t been for Judge Linda Grant and the county commissioners and a handful of Freestone county residents, we could not have lasted this long.

The time, however, has come for the governmental agencies of Fairfield, Teague and Streetman, and the citizens of Freestone county to step up to help us, NLOL, help the stray and abandoned puppies, kittens, dogs and cats of our county. NLOL has four officers and approximately 4-6 active members out of a county of approximately 18,000 citizens, and has had to hire two part-time workers.

We are at our limit of around 100 dogs/puppies and about 25 older kittens and cats. We have not been able to take in any new animals from animal control or from Dr. Adkins’ office, where animal control takes the strays since July or August 2009. What this means is that a lot of animals have been euthanized!

The cost to feed, medicate, spay, neuter, provide shelter (we built temporary kennels in the spring) and other necessary supplies, plus pay the part-time help is well above the $20,000 that Freestone county has graciously given us for 2010 and also gave us for 2009. With all the expenses that we have now, by February 2010 we will be close to needing more funds to survive the year.

We do hold fundraisers throughout the year to help supplement our money situation, plus collection jars at various businesses, but that is something we cannot depend on.

Where are the volunteers, the people who say they love animals but can’t spare the time to help? Where are the community service individuals who need hours of service to fulfill their probation? We can use these people. They have a chance to give back to the community. Freestone county and the cities in our county have available money. Are they willing to part with it? I sincerely hope so.

We also need a solution to the overpopulation of puppies and kittens that are forever being born in homes, where if the owner would have just gotten their animal spayed or neutered the problem would not exist. We do have people who are responsible for their animals and do the right thing by having them spayed or neutered. It is the ones not responsible for their animals and then call us to take unwanted puppies or kittens, or worse, put them out to fend for themselves.

The neighboring cities and Freestone county need to get together and come up with a solution to this overpopulation.

We, NLOL, are grateful to everyone who has helped us in our endeavors. Please know that we do not receive anything for our work and dedication but a wet, sloppy kiss on our face and hands when we go out to work with our animals. What a wonderful thing it is to hear from a person who has adopted one of our animals and they tell you what a joy that animal has brought to their life. That is all the payment we need to keep going.

We need more businesses, large companies and individuals to take a stand and help us. We are a 501c(3) organization and all donations are tax deductible. If you would like to donate, our mailing address is NLOL, Box 1605, Fairfield, Texas 75840.

Please help, now!

Cindy Phillips