The West News (West, Tex.), Vol. 106, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 31, 1996 Page: 3 of 16
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The West News. Thursday* Gctobn- 31; 19M
West ISD employee urges
Citizens for Excellence in Education
to look 20 years ahead
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Every Wednesday afternoon I
open the current West News won-
dering what new way Ernest
Jaska and the Citizens for Excel-
lence in Education are going to
attack the West Independent
School District.
I have read how the adminis-
tration, current board members,
and past board members have
been berated for the decisions
they have made. I would like to
remind the CEE that these deci-
sions were made in good con-
science for the good of all the
children ofthe West ISD. It seems
that at every turn of the road,
questions are raised in such a
way to insinuate that some wrong
has been done or is currently
occurring. You make compari-
sons of things that in no way can
be compared. You make state-
ments that have very little truth
to them, or state them in such a
way to make it seem that the
administration is doing some-
thing underhanded.
I know your group is against
ANY bond issue because of
money. You can say that you are
not, but you will never convince
me otherwise. I don't want to pay
higher taxes either, but the fact
remains that the construction of
a new high school is the most cost
effective way to alleviate the over-
crowding at all three campuses.
What does it take for you to un-
derstand that any construction
undertaken at any campus will
cause the district to have to bring
that campus up to full compli-
ance with the American Disabili-
ties Act? We would spend way
more of your and my tax dollars
doing this than in constructing a
new building.
In one letter you compared
school enrollments from various
years. Any accountant now serv-
ingtime in a federal penitentiary
can tell you that numbers can be
manipulated. This is 1996, not
1946. Today, there is one elemen-
tary school with a population well
over 600. In 1946, there were
schools that were not part of the
West ISD - Tokio, Ross, Tours,
etc. Today, those schools and oth-
ers are part of our system. I don’t
know what the enrollments were
in 1926,1936, or 1946, but I do
know that it was not l,475asitis
nowin 1996. Play fair Mr. Jaska,
use the correct numbers.
In your last two letters, you
attacked the Rio Brazos Coop. In
this day of Wal-Marts on every
comer, how can you question
what is only a very wise business
decision? How many people do
you know that have their pre-
scriptions filled or buy their gro-
ceries at the giant super stores to
save money? It costs less at these
places because you obtain their
products in large quantities. You
ask why local people don't pro-
vide the services that the Coop
does. Mr. Jaska, WE are Rio
Brazos. We have joined with six
other school districts to SAVE
MONEY. The majority of the
people in our district who are
Ex-Trojan says
people need
to wake up
Editor:
Hillsboro 13 West 7. No, it
wasn't a bad dream, it is a sad
reality. Somewhere a fat lady
surely must be singing. Are we
reafly prepared to put up with 10
more years of bad dreams. The
only way to prevent more bad
dreams, is for a group of people to
wake up before they can occur.
Those people know who they are
and so does the rest of this town.
Alan Rieger
Captain 1980
State Semi-Finalist
Hewitt, Texas
employed by Rio Brazos also live
here. They are not from out of
town. The coop is able to buy
buses, gasoline, computers, and
other things for less because they
buy more. Today, we provide ser-
vices to children who in 1946
were kept at home or even in an
institution. These services are
provided for less money because
of the Coop. Today, we attempt
to educate EVERYONE, Mr.
Jaska.
You keep asking about
Brookhaven. Brookhaven is a
private facility for boys who have
been sent there by the courts.
Brookhaven is not operated by
the district. All that facility has
to provide is housing, not school-
ing. Be thankful that the school-
ing does take place out there.
Otherwise, young men who have
been convicted of very, very seri-
ous crimes would be attending
West High School and West
Middle School. Does your group
want that? Because that facility
lies within our district, we must,
by law, provide an education for
the residents,
Recently one of your group's
members mentioned what he did
at General Tire. I would like to
remind that gentleman that
when he worked in conditions
that were considered unsafe or
for less money than he thought
he should receive, he had a union
to represent him. Usually those
workers would strike until their
demands were met. That option
is not available to the children in
our overcrowded buildings. They
cannot strike until overcrowding
is remedied. But what could hap-
pen, is that the type of people you
want to live and work in this
community will look elsewhere.
Right now, the morale of quite a
few of us employed by West ISD
is pretty low. We feel that as if
people think we want extrava-
gant palaces instead of a good
learning environment for our
children. There is a district just
up 1-35 that thirty years ago was
just as good as ours is today.
Over time, that district was faced
with situations much like those
in our community today. That
community turned a deaf ear to
the needs of their children and
consequently, the school and that
community are not what they
once were. For quite some time,
their taxes have been consider-
ably higher than ours, and yet at
the beginning of October they
overwhelmingly passed a bond
issue to construct a new high
school. Yes, they now have a
larger and more profitable tax
base than we do, but they have
also realized how important
schools are to a community.
In twenty years, I will be close
to the age that you are now, Mr.
Jaska. In twenty years, I want
West to continue to be a place
where people want to live and
bring up their families. I want
people to live in West who care
and love this town and her people
as much as I do. Friends who
grew up here, but now live else-
where, tell me how lucky my chil-
dren are to attend the West
schools. Tell me Mr. Jaska, will
that be true in twenty years?
Kathy Devers Doherty
West, Texas
Editors Note
in order to publish
Letters to the Editor
it must be signed
along with an
address and phone
number.
Writer urges Mr. Bowen to get his
facts straight about commissioner
Le ;’s Rally behind Coach Mark Johnson
Fml Binner
liii Mil iiiiiiin ( lax 1 \\i\sor ( ol lector
For those of us who have read about his actions over the last
two terms as County Commissioner of Precinct 3, know that it
has been a job well done. Even though it is hard to please
everyone, he has demonstrated during his time in office that he
has tried to make the best decisions possible. He gets the job
done.
Now that he is running for Tax Assessor Collector as a write-
in, he carries with him the experience of commissioner,
businessman and having a broad knowledge of what is going on
in McLennan County. Keep this in mind when voting for the
next Tax Assessor Collector.
R.T. Bennett
AxteU
nwp-si)
L AsMM.'nt
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to
Mr. Bowen's letter to the editor
in a recent edition of your paper.
I feel the need to clear up some
misconceptions he has left the
voters of McLennan County with.
Evidently, Mr. Bowen has no
idea how departmentalized bud-
gets work. Fred Binner's com-
ments about budgets were in ref-
erence to his departmentalized
Road and Bridge Budget. This
budget is not affected by the
County Commissioner's choice to
purchase the old Aderhold Fu-
neral Home or the furnishing and
remodeling of the new offices.
These purchases were funded by
the overall budget for the County,
not out of Precinct 3’s Road and
Bridge budget that Mr. Binner
was referring to in his ads. Of
course, any time a purchase is
contemplated by a governmental
entity, many factors are consid-
ered and there will always be
SOME opposition. I respect Mr.
Bowen's opinion of the option to
purchase the funeral home. How-
ever, this purchase affected all of
McLennan County and was con-
sidered carefully by all four
County Commissioners.
Mr. Bowen questions the re-
surfacing of roads that he feels
seems to coincide with Fred
Writer says
vote your conscience
not iust your party
Dear Editor:
Moral relativism now
permeates the universities,
public schools, congress,
entertainment industry, news
media and the courts. This was
very evident at the political
conventions. None of the leading
parties dealt with the great moral
issues facing our nation - partial
birth abortion, same sex
marriages, condom distribution
in the schools, protection for
parental rights, fetal tissue
experimentation, obscentity on
the internets. Instead of facing
these issues, we heard only of
newfound' tolerance and
inclusiveness.
What if Abraham Lincoln had
been tolerant of slavery? It might
have continued for decades - how
tragic! He often spoke of those
that hated slavery and were
opposed, yet acted with the party
and denounced all attempts to
restrain it.
Is it now time we voted our
conscience and the candidate that
we feel best fills the bill, and not
simply because they belong to a
certain party?
Seems we hear a great deal
about the economy these days.
Can you imagine the effect
freeingslaves had on the economy
of the slave owners of Lincoln's
time? What made Lincoln a great
statesman, not just a politician
was to work hard to oppose those
things that were morally wrong.
Mary Ann Cocek
West
West Trojan Pride shines
brightly in Clifton
Dear Editor,
I am a former resident of West
and an alumnus of West High
School. T sObeeribe'tfl Tke'West
News and monitor the "events"
involving the school issues.
Several weeks agoWest played
Clifton (now my residence) in
varsity football. My fourth grade
son is in the Clifton Flag Corp.,
and I watched the preliminary
events directly from the field.
1 am writing to compliment
the young men and women who
represented West that night in
Clifton.
The football uniforms were
sharp and for a while, I was sure
that the Trojans were going to
hand Clifton a loss. West has an
awesome front line.
The band and mqjorettes were
excellent. The band put forth a
quality performance in front of
the Clifton stands. The 'corp"
Style of marching looked great.
At the end df their performance,
the West Band stood at attention
on the sidelines and were very
attentive and courteous while the
Clifton band performed.
Your cheerleading squad was
great. These gals are talented.
But most of all, the highlight
ofthe night for me, was hearing
the “Beer Barrel Poia " I haven't
heard that tune played in over
ten years; even the Clifton fans
were clapping and stamping to
thelune: ~ 7 •*» ~
I wish the school board and
citizens of West my best in terms
of resolving the issues that affect
our young people. “All things
change; nothing stays the same"
or so I hear. I don't think we can
do enough when it comes to the
education of our children.
I am proud to say that I hail
from West. Your students repre-
sented the school and the city
quite well. West has a group of
young folks to be proud of.
Sincerely,
Mary (Miller) Werlinger
Clifton, Texas
SROASTKD CHIC
CATTISH
♦?% Fa Fi«! C«H
Pick up orders * offkt
KOA
1-SSaCwwtyUwM-,
To
i h
Binner's decision to run as a
write-in candidate for Tax As-
sessor-Collector. Fred Binner's
careful spending of our hard-
earned tax dollars has allowed
him to continue with a plan for
resurfacing roads that he began
EIGHT YEARS ago. Fred Binner
has not altered his plan for the
sake of his campaign. Mr. Binner
has vowed to leave his current
budget in better shape than he
got it in eight years ago. That is
something we all shou Id be proud
of.
Mr. Bowen mentions that he
may have other questions regard-
ing Fred Binner's quest to run as
a write-in against Buddy Skeen.
I would suggest to Mr. Bowen,
and anyone else with questions,
that you pick up the phone and
call Mr. Binner. Unlike Buddy
Skeen, Mr. Binner is in the
Phonebook.
It is wise to not pass judgment
on Fred for what you THINK was
going on. Next time, try to get the
facts. Give Fred a chance Mr.
Bowen.
Karen Gaiduaek
West, Texas
Writer says
it's time for voters
to "clean house"
To the Editor:
Has our country become
amoral when honesty, integrity,
character, morality, trust and
such like is concerned? Has a
large percentage of the ' baby
boomer" generation failed to un-
derstand whathonesty, integrity,
character, morality and such like
means and how it affects their
lives, their children and their
grandchildren lives? Drug use
among young people has risen
very much the past four years
according to news reports.
In 1974 we shw a president
resign as a result of the Watergate
investigation. Then in 1976those
in power were voted out of office.
Earlier we had seen the Vice
President resign due to his own
misconduct. “* '
Today we have investigations
into Travelgate, Filegate, White
Water, several resignations or
convictions due to illegal acts by
members and/or people con-
nected to the current adminis-
tration. Much mdre could be
said.. .such as drug dealers in the
White House.. .but space does not
permit it.
When we vote onNovember 5,
let's compare the candidates for
this high office and "clean house1'
in Washington and other places
which need it. Reittember when
Edmund Burke is quoted as say-
ing, "Only thing necessary for
the triumph of evil is for good
men to do nothing." By voting out
of office those who fail to show
the above mentioned
qualities...you will serve your
country well. Let s do it!
Sincerely,
Bill Burleson
McGregor, Texas
Page 3
ie People of West:
ve read two letters in
referi ice to the ongoing sea-
son o the West High School
footb 1 team, both contain-
ing n gative remarks about
3oach Mark Johnson.
Appa ed by the scathing ref-
erent 3,1 write this open let-
ter to |he people of West.
Wt %, West High School,
and ti* West Trojans are near
and (fear to me. I grew up in
Westj and attended West
schools my entire life until I
left fo| the United States Mili-
tary Academy at West Point.
Everjseason since leaving for
West point, I have proudly
followed the West Trojans and
kept n with their record.
Thtifootball season for the
West [trojans has been less
than nectacular. Our team is
not delhg as well as we have in
years last. I have a lot of pride
in W«t football and, natu-
rally, lam disappointed with
this s Jason, but I am far more
disappointed with the lack of
support for Coach Johnson.
I
te no doubt that Coach
Johns!
h and his staff are one
hundij
d percent committed
to pro
being the best team
possibj
q. I also have no doubt
that tj
it Trojans themselves
Are
Consumers
gett\
fig ripped off?
A rJ
dent consumer report
stated I
Hat the reason groceries
prices i
fire so high was because
farther)
received a subsidy.
In li
S2 when then Governor
Clinton
was running for Presi-
dent, h
1 promised to cut out the
farm si
bsidy. That's one prom-
ise he lj
ept-
Ten
rears ago the farm bill
wasarcj
md $13 billion, two years
agoitwl
Is $39 billion. Most of the
money 1
n the farm bill goes for
food sti
nps and welfare. Con-
gressm
m Chet Edwards went
along w
(ijt,
are committed to doing their
level best. But just as an ex-
ternal lack of support for a
commander destroys the mo-
rale and fighting ability of a
combat unit, how can the play-
ers on our team respect Coach
Johnson and maintain any
will to win when their own
parents and the people of this
town constantly ridicule their
coach and leader?
We should not forget that
several years ago, Coach John-
son took over a team which
suffered not one, but several
unsuccessful seasons, and
worked with them until he
forged a group which consecu-
tively made the playoffs, such
as the Trojan team my senior
year. Every team has their
rough times. Not too long ago,
even the Dallas Cowboys had
several lackluster years.
However, in perspective,
this is not the Dallas Cow-
boys, this is not Army or Texas
A&M football, this is high
school football. The purpose
of these students playing foot-
ball is not entirely winning
and losing as some people
seem to think. The lessons
these kids learn on that prac-
tice field and the playing field
are far more important than
racking up the 'win' column.
This includes leadership,
sportsmanship, discipline,
commitment, hard work, per-
severance through hardship,
and most important of all,
teamwork.
These lessons which I men-
tioned above benefited me
during my time at West Point
and I believe they will con-
tinue to help when I graduate
and become a commissioned
officer in the United States
Army infantry. These lessons
will also benefit this new gen-
eration of Trojans much more
than any season record ever
will. One famous graduate of
West Point, General Douglas
MacArthur, realized the valu-
able lessons gained from
sports participation. Upon the
Fields of Friendly Strife Are
Sown the Seeds That On Other
Fields, On Other Days, Will
Bear the Fruit of Victory."
Respectfully,
Jeff Nora #44
West High School '93
United States
Military Academy '97
West Point, New York
"Go Big Red"
"Beat Navy"
I cal id Edward's office and
askedh: i nottovoteforNAFTA,
we don’tfieed Mexico's cattle and
Dr the past two years
our catt a have been selling for
halfofw at they did before. Some
ause of the importing
> cattle and that grain
prices w re up. If that's the case
it woult only cost $60 more to
feed a c: f.
Ifaca 'brought $530 two years
npw it brings $240 add
kse cost of grain that
i0 and if that calf sold
lat's $230 profit some-
ing. Meat prices have
town in the markets.
ago and
$60 inci
makes $
for $530
one is m
not gom
Today gi i n prices are down and
cattle pi cps are still down.
The c st of gas and diesel to-
day is se ing for what it did when
oil was 1 'kiging $45. A barrel of
oil toda; is $25 and fuel is still
going uf ijt has gone up 20 cents
a gallon i the past three months.
I havi known Bob Bullock for
40 yean When I attended a re-
ception 1 rlBob Bullock who was
running fpr Lt. Governor, he
called C d Edwards "Chicken
Chet E vards". I asked him
afterwa li why? He said Ed-
wards “received a check from
Tyson Chicken Company, but
was supposed to have returned
it. I wonder if he is now getting a
check from the oil companies or
meat packers. The consumers are
not getting a fair deal.
I am a Veteran. My medical
records burned with thousands
of others in the St. Louis fire at
the government records storage
facility. I wrote Chet Edwards
asking for his help. He wrote
back telling me he could do noth-
ing. Can I tell the IRS that my
tax records burned and I am not
sending in my taxes?
I saw Edwards on television
Memorial Day promising the Vet-
erans they would be helped and
protected. I hope you can see what
kind of a Congressman we really
have. I voted for him four years
ago, but not in 1996.
John P. Endera
West, Texas
School group explains
Rio Brazos impact
Education is the bed provi-
sion for old age
—Aridotlr
In reference to last weeks ar-
ticle by the CEE, we the Rio
Brazos Educational Co-op em-
ployees would like to set the
record straight. Someone who
claims to be a friend of teachers,
yet doesn't even know who the
teachers are, or support them,
shouldn’t claim to be their friend.
This "flow through item" does
pay salaries and services pro-
vided by Rio Brazos Education
Co-op. The special education
teachers, diagnosticians, teacher
assistants, therapists, and bus
drivers are all paid with this
money. The bus maintenance
comes from this also. IE Mr. Jaska
was truly in support of teachers,
he would have done his research
to find out who these people are
that are teaching our kids before
making those statements. Mr.
Jaska, your taxes pay for very
dedicated, qualified people. Al-
though some are from the Waco
area, 40 out of 52 Rio Brazos
employees ARE FROM WEST,
many are parents with kids en-
rolled in West schools. WISD is
providing employment opportu-
nities since most of the special
education employees are local
residents. We, as employees of
WISD, have a vested interest in
West (no matter where we live)
in spite of Mr. Jaska and his
group's claims.
Rio Brazos simply handles the
"business" of providing special
education and transportation
services to schools. Rio Brazos
saves the district money by em-
ploying therapists and diagnos-
ticians whose services we share
with other schools because we
don't have the need to employ
these positions on a full-time
basis.
A waste of taxpayer money
would be to do it your way and
hire full-time diagnosticians,
physical therapists, occupational
therapists and counselors, then
pay their entire salaries. If one
thinks about it, one would real-
ize that $ 1 ,000,000 wouldn't even
break the ice on these salaries
and related expenses.
It's a tragedy when a small
group of people, in a nice commu-
nity, spend so much of their en-
ergy seeking out and creating
negative issues within their
school system that do not exist.
Especially, when most of the ac-
cusations are unfounded and
unsubstantiated!
If all that energy was put to-
ward positive input, help, and
cooperative assistance, we could
have a community that can truly
overcome all obstacles.
According to Texas Monthly
Magazine, we have a four star
elementary school. WHERE IS
OUR FOUR STAR COMMU-
NITY? The community is |
ing and our student
grows along with it Overcrowd-
ing is a problem now and will
only worsen as our large elemen-
tary school population moves on
to the other campuses. Our dedi-
cated staff works hard to ensure
that each student receives a qual-
ity education. The crowded fa-
cilities along with the
community's lack of support for
the bond hinders our children's
academic growth and opportuni-
ties.
Mr. Jaska, sir, you need to do
your HOMEWORK before dis-
torting the truth and misleading
your fellow citizens. Citizens of
West, INVESTIGATE FOR
YOURSELVES the rumors,
street talk, and articles before
making decisions that affect the
lives of your children and the
industry of your town (WISD jg
the largest employer in this
town).
Questions?? All it takes is a
phone call to your school office.
Respectfully,
Diane Strohacker
Mary Ellison
Becky (Hill) Holloman
Anna Urbanovsky
Sharon Burnham
Kathy Cinek
Mary Ann Gilstrap
Stephanie Pavlas
Anna Srubar
Laurie Hudson
Sharon Kutscherousky
Donna Sepeda
Melanie Baranowski
Sandra Kettler
Patricia Kolar
Dolores Tufts
Valerie Nance
Sharon Middlebrook
Debbie Uptmore
Pat Lee
Chris Rankin
Beverly Sterling
Carolyn Waters
Cheryl Lamb
Brenda Huse
Evelyn Rankin
Edward J. Nora
Lisa Nora
Ida Wines
Freda Mitchell
Pat Lednicky
Laurie Morrison
Nancy Polasak
Vickey Craig
Donna Pustejovsky
Jeanette Jeraigan
Lari Stoermer
Dorothy Warren
Rhonda K. Deiterman
See more
Letters to the Editor
on Page 3.
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Knapek, Larry. The West News (West, Tex.), Vol. 106, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 31, 1996, newspaper, October 31, 1996; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth716608/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting West Public Library.