Crowley Star (Crowley, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 22, 2011 Page: 4 of 12
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Page4A ★ Crowley Star ★ Thursday, September 22, 2011
www.crowleystar.net
EDITORIALS
Council caved
to Chesapeake
The issue: The Crowley City Council approved per-
mits for Chesapeake Energy to drill three wells even
though council members and residents complained
about the company’s treatment of residents.
We say: Council members should have used this
vote to send a m essage to Chesapeake.
One wonders what Chesapeake Energy has on Crow-
ley City Council members after the council voted, 6-1, last
Thursday to grant drilling permits to the gas-producing
company for three wells on the Jammer Pad on E. Main
Street, across from Bicentennial Park.
Chesapeake has been a good corporate citizen to
Crowley for the most part, but its actions in the last sev-
eral months have seen somewhat of a turn in the tide. It
is now flexing its corporate muscle to impose its will, and
the city is going along with it.
Some examples:
■ The meager royalty checks to local landowners
have been cut because of a new “transportation fee.” As
Mayor Billy Davis said, it certainly hasn’t affected the
company’s CEO, who’s making $ 17 million this year.
■ Drilling the first three wells on the J ammer Pad has
caused great grief to nearby residents, who complained of
sleeplessness because of noise and light, and health issues
because of the dust created by drilling so close to home.
Chesapeake is building a 32-foot soundwall and switching
to a quieter rig. But it refuses to use an even-quieter rig
because it would take too long to get a needed agreement
with electric companies. What’s the hurry? Why can’t it
wait 3-6 months to do what’s right for the residents?
■ There was big talk earlier this year about moving the
truck entrance to the site so it wouldn’t face Main Street
and the residents across the street. Council members have
asked for that, Chesapeake has acknowledged that the en-
trance location was a mistake and the company indicated
it would try to do that, though it might not be so easy. As
it turns out, the entrance will not be changed, even though
the wall will be “staggered” to help abate the noise.
■ Chesapeake held a “neighborhood meeting” with
lease-holders in the Jammer Pad unit recently. Davis
didn’t know about it. Chesapeake also failed to alert the
news media about it, so the company obviously wanted
as little transparency as possible.
Councilman J im Hirth was the only member of the city’s
governing body to vote “nay” on the requests for the drilling
permits. Even though Davis and Councilwoman Tina Pace
said she didn’t like some of the things Chesapeake was do-
ing, but she voted “yes.” So did Councilman Beau Yarbor-
ough, who has voted “no” on previous Chesapeake requests.
If those three had voted, the request would have been
denied, and Chesapeake would have had a choice: Come
back with an amended request that includes the quiet-
est rig possible, rebuilding the entrance to the pad and
the road leading to it so the noise would be minimized
and perhaps put a little something more in the residents’
pockets. Or, clear out of Crowley.
That last option would be lose/lose. Chesapeake
would be out all the gas it can produce here, and Crowley
would lose a lot of royalties.
Perhaps that’s the reason the City Council voted to
approve the drilling permits. Maybe they were scared
Chesapeake would pack up and leave town. Or that it
wouldn’t pay for the Celebration of Freedom fireworks
show anymore. Or it would find and finance candidates
to run against the nay-sayers in the next election.
Chesapeake has never broken a promise, but until now, it
has always had the best interests of the people it affects at heart.
The good news is, by this time next year, Chesapeake
will likely be done drilling on the Jammer Pad. It probably
knows better than to try something else so close to residen-
tial property in Crowley. But for as long as it takes to drill
the wells approved last week and the one likely to be ap-
proved in October, the multibillion-dollar energy company
needs to stop trying to squeeze out every dollar possible.
And the City Council needs to show who’s boss.
Homecoming time
for celebration
The issue: Homecoming season is upon us.
We say : Get out and support your school — and
gentlemen, don’t forget the mums for your ladies.
Homecoming is one of those time-honored traditions that
have become important parts of the culture of high schools
and colleges. Even schools who don’t have alumni yet figure
out a way to integrate such a celebration into their calendars
—such as Burleson Centennial’s “Up and Coming last week.”
North Crowley High School’s Homecoming is this
week, and it will be a welcome site to see the Panthers’
Homecoming parade return tonight after a year off.
Luckily, the safety concerns that prevented the parade
from taking place last year have been corrected with a
new route. Having a Homecoming game coincide with
the start of district play is always exciting.
Crowley High’s game is Oct. 7, with the parade and
pep rally scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 6.
While the original meaning of Homecoming is the
time to welcome alumni back to their alma mater, a lot of
the celebration is for current students. The crowning of
the queen and king at halftime of the game is one of the
highlights of the school year, and the dance is the second
most popular social event of the year, after prom.
It’s also for the entire community. The parade is the
only school-based such event in the city —the others in
Crowley are for youth baseball/softball, Christmas and
Celebration of Freedom, so this is the time for the purple
to reign (or the blue to reign in south Fort Worth).
The Crowley High School Football Booster Club has
developed its Paint the Town Purple campaign, and
merchants and individuals alike have the opportunity to
show their school spirit by buying a Crowley Eagles flag.
Homecoming is a special time of the school year. Cel-
ebrate responsibly, have fun and go, Panthers and Eagles.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Store disrespects
American flag
If you visit the Shell station on the
corner of E. Main Street and N. Crow-
ley Road, across from the McDon-
ald’s, please take a moment to look
at how they continue to dishonor our
American flags.
Sunday morning, Sept. 11, as I
stood in line to pay for my coffee, I
could not help but notice the five or
six NASCAR car window flags hanging
neatly in the window, and the dozen or
so Dallas Cowboys car-window flags
displayed on a display rack and stra-
tegically placed directly above the reg-
ister. Looking down, I then noticed a
laundry basket on the floor with the
American car window flags literally
thrown into the basket. These flags
were not neatly standing in the basket,
but positioned as if just tossed down
as if into a garbage container.
When it was my turn to check out, I
kindly stated to the young female at the
register, “I know you just work here, but
I would like for you to relay a message
to your owner or manager. I noticed
the NASCAR flags displayed in the win-
dow, and ‘America’s Team’ displayed
on the rack and above the register..and
look down to see that this is how your
store chooses to honor the American
flag?” She replied that they were in the
window and someone must have taken
them down the day prior. She stated, “I
can’t help what happens on my day off.”
I told her that I found it very offensive
regardless, and hoped that she relayed
my message.
That evening, I returned to the store.
To my surprise, the NASCAR flags were
still in the window, the Cowboys flags
still on the register and rack. They took
about six of our American flags and dis-
played them alternatively between each
Cowboys flag (although they were quite
wrinkled from being thrown in the bas-
ket). And the laundry basket of mangled
flags remained on the floor.
I reiterated my disgust with the man
then working the register. He explained
that they took them down because they
could not see out the window. I told him
I didn’t care why they were not in the
window, that I cared the condition they
chose to display them elsewhere in the
store; that if they could not show any
more respect to our country’s flag than
to throw them in a basket, they needed
to at least place the basket out of the
customers’ sight and only display a few
at a time to sell. I then left the store.
Tuesday, Sept. 13, my curiosity got
the better of me so I stopped back in to
see if they heeded my advice at all. They
hadn’t.
Perhaps it is my emotions reliving
the 10th anniversary of one of our coun-
try’s worst tragedies, or that my son is
currently in the U.S. Army, or perhaps
it is simply the fact that I was raised to
honor our national symbol. Regardless,
I am very angry that after kindly bring-
ing this to their attention three times
now, the staff at the Shell station choos-
es to continue showing such blatant dis-
respect for our country’s most cherished
symbol.
Rita Wester
Crow ley
FAIR: 174 new substitute teachers attend
FROM PAGE 1A
tute before deciding to study
for alternative certification,
which takes one year and
costs about $4,200, Taylor
said. That program is basical-
ly a concentrated collection
of education courses normal-
ly offered at colleges.
“Subbing is a good way
to find out if you love it,”
she added.
The district had adver-
tised the sub fair on its web-
site and in the Crowley Star
a month before it took place.
As applicants’ expressions of
interest were received, Tay-
lor and her staff conducted
background checks through
the Texas Department of
Public Safety and researched
what teaching credentials the
hopefuls had.
“We’re looking for out-
standing character and back-
ground,” Taylor said. “Then
we have one-on ones. We
ask them, What do you love
about this?”’
Sometimes, a hidden gem
is found. Taylor spoke to an
applicant Friday who has a
master’s degree in counsel-
ing. She forwarded that name
and resume to chief instruc-
tion officer Theresa Kohler
for consideration when a
full-time counselor’s position
comes open.
An advanced degree isn’t
required to become a sub.
CISD policy requires at least
a high school diploma, but
Taylor would prefer at least a
junior college degree. Some-
one seeking to be recruited
for a full-time job must have
at least a bachelor’s degree.
Substitutes make more mon-
ey per day the more advanced
letters policy
The Crowley Star welcomes letters to the editor for consideration
for publication. Letters to the editor are offered by the newspaper to the
community for expression of personal views on matters of concern.
Residents are encouraged to use the column in a constructive man-
ner, sharing their views on subjects of interest with the newspaper's read-
ers. Letters are individual opinions and not those of this newspaper.
Each letter must be original, limited to 300 words or fewer, signed by
the writer and bear the address and phone number of the writer. Only the
writer's name and the city will be published with the letter. The Crowley
Star does not withhold the writer's name for any reason. Anonymous
letters or letters signed by an unidentifiable pseudonym will not be
published. The phone number and address are necessary for verification
of authenticity or clarification of content. Letters which cannot be verified
will not be published.
The Crowley Star reserves the right to edit all letters. Letters deemed
libelous, slanderous, unclear or otherwise unacceptable will not be pub-
lished. Thank-you expressions singling out individuals or organizations will
not be published. Poetry is unacceptable as a letter to the editor.
During election campaigns, the Crowley Star will accept letters to
the editor discussing issues or offering endorsements. The deadline for
election-related letters is two weeks prior to Election Day.
Address letters to: Editor, Crowley Star, P.O. Box 909, Burleson, TX
76097-0909. Letters may also be faxed to 817-295-5278, or e-mailed to
publisher@thestargroup.com. Faxed and e-mailed letters must include the
writer's complete address and daytime telephone number.
an education they have.
Certified teachers — who
make up 60 percent of the
CISD’s substitute corps, Tay-
lor said — are called on for
long-term assignments, such
as filling in for a teacher on
maternity leave.
Once accepted, new sub-
stitutes can undergo training
through the Region 11 Educa-
tional Service Center to help
them acclimate to the class-
room environment.
Some of the substitutes
are particular about where
they teach, but others aren’t,
Taylor said.
“There’s a lot of people
asking if high school is better
than elementary,” she said.
Substitute teaching is
also a way for parents to get
involved in their school com-
munity, Taylor said.
‘They’re not asking for
a five-day-a-week commit-
ment,” she said. “It’s great
for parents. That’s how I got
started subbing. It got me
so involved in school, in the
PTA. We knew where we
needed help, and we contrib-
uted more.”
Another substitute-
teacher fair could take place
in January or February,
Taylor said.
Crowley/Star
Volume 25, Number 20
12 Pages in 2 Sections
(ISSN-1092-4965)
Periodicals Postage Paid at
Fort Worth, Texas 76161 and
additional mailing offices
www.crowleystar.net
817-295-0486
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Sorter, David. Crowley Star (Crowley, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 22, 2011, newspaper, September 22, 2011; Burleson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth809234/m1/4/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Burleson Public Library.