The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 119, No. 05, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 29, 2009 Page: 3 of 32
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THE CANADIAN RECORD
THURSDAY 29 JANUARY 2DD9
FIELD NOTES...CONTINUED
going to get a ticket."
Because Sheriff Henderson asked, we're publishing a remind-
er of Texas' school safety laws, and a few simple common-sense
tips for drivers which, if observed, could exponentially ncrease
our school children's safety. But the essential truth of the matter
Is simpler still:
Saving a life is a lot more important than saving time.
We don't always get do-overs. Some mistakes last forever.
The face you see n the rear view mirror really is yours.
Words to live by...and words to let others live by, too.
TEXAS SC
L SAFETY LAWS
•Regardless of the direction of travel, all cars must stop
for flashing red lights on a school bus. Violations can lead to a
$1,000 fine. Travel may continue when the bus has moved, the
flashing lights have stopped, or the bus driver signals that ve-
hicles may pass. When a driver illegally passes a school bus,
he is putting children at risk.
•A pedestrian at a crosswalk (marked or unmarked) has
the right-of-way by law. If the motorist does not to stop for a
pedestrian and injury occurs, the motorist is liable.
•In Texas, fines (including speeding tickets and failure to
yield) double in school zones, where the posted speed limit is
15 mph.
CO
-SENSE SAFETY LAWS
•Keep an eye on children who are gathered at bus stops
or pick-up spots and watch for children who might dart across
the street to catch the bus. Some basic guidelines include:
•Reduce your speed—you never know when you will need
to stop suddenly.
•Do not pass other vehicles in school zones. This is dan-
gerous and illegal in most areas at certain times.
•When backing out of your driveway or garage, watch out
for children walking or bicycling to school.
•Drive with your headlights on at all times so children
and other drivers can see you.
•Identify and be aware of the school zones on your regular
travel routes.
•When driving close to school zones, watch out for young
people who may not be thinking about the road safety rules
they have been taught. Skateboarders are particularly fear-
less.
•Scan between parked vehicles and other danger zones
for hard-to-see children.
•Drive extra slowly and carefully in school zones. Watch
for children walking in the street, especially if there are no
sidewalks.
•Be alert around school bus stops, where children may be
playing or arriving late for the bus and darting i :ito the street
without looking for traffic.
•Avoid distractions while driving like using cell phones,
eating, changing radio stations or putting on make-up, espe-
cially during the peak traffic hours before and after school.
CULTURE UF CORRUPTION-CONTINUED UN NEXT PAGE
symbolic step in the right direction. Declaring that "families are
tighteni ng their belts, and so should Washington," Obama an-
nounced his intention to freeze the salaries of White House em-
ployees who make over $100,000. Now Congress needs to do their
part.
Winston Churchill once said that "a politician thinks about the
next election—the statesman thinks about the next generation."
It's time for our elected representatives in Congress to stop acting
like politicians and start remembering that they exist to serve the
people, not themselves.
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On the child's side
By Peggy and J n Pollard
47,000. THAT'S THE NUMBER of children who
passed through the Texas foster care system
last year in search of a safe, permanent home.
Of those 47,000, 20,000 were represented by
CAS A (Court Appointed Special Advocate) vol-
unteers. A CAS A volunteer is appointed by a
judge to represent the best interest of a child in
CPS (Child Protective Services) custody. Under
court authority, the CAS A volunteer has access
to a child's medical, educational, legal and other
records. They converse with the child's parents,
foster parents, attorneys, educators, casework-
ers, doctors and other professionals. They are
involved in setting up the child's programs and
the execution of those programs. A CAS A vol-
unteer is under an oath of confidentiality.
These 47,000 Texas children have been tak-
en from the home because CPS has reason to
believe they have been abused or neglected.
They are placed under the supervision of the
district judge of the child's residence. District
Judge Steven Emmert has delegated to Judge
Phil Vanderpool the responsibility for these
children in this judicial d istrict.
This is a wise decision on Judge Emmert's
part. Judge Vanderpool specializes in child law.
Every day he works for these children. Judge
Vanderpool is very long on compassion for these
children and very short on tolerance for CPS
caseworkers, attorneys, the CAS A volunteer,
and parents who are not working for a child's
benefit. He is the child's protector.
A CAS A volunteer's responsibility is to pro-
vide the judge with a d ifferent perspective from
that of the CPS caseworker. CPS is obligated
to give an objective report. A CAS A volunteer
gives a more subjective report about the child's
welfare. Separate lawyers are appointed to rep-
resent the child's parent, the child's legal rights,
and the State of Texas. A CAS A volunteer rep-
resents the best interest of the child i n CPS cus-
tody. Being a CAS A volunteer is very fulfilling.
It is not fun. At times, the CAS A volunteer has
nformation they wish they did not. It is time
consuming. Travel is always required. Always
the CAS A volunteer winds up being involved in
the child's life. But it is very fulfilling.
What about the other 27,000 children who
do not have a CAS A volunteer working on their
behalf? They just do not have the benefit of the
representation that a CAS A volunteer brings.
Texas CAS A has a goal of recruiting and traili-
ng enough new CAS A volunteers and retaining
present CAS A volunteers to increase the num-
ber of children by 4,000. Base funding for the
program comes from the State of Texas. This
money goes to provide administrative support
to the CASA volunteers. This provides for re-
cruiting, training and retraining the CASA
volunteer, legal guidance, and communication
between the judge, caseworkers and attorneys
and the CASA volunteer. They also take chil-
dren when there is not a volunteer available.
This is a very efficient state program. The
CAS A volunteer does the bulk of the direct con-
tact with the child. They do not receive any com-
pensation. They are not reimbursed for travel.
This is a model of an efficient and effective state
program, which gives a big bang for the taxpay-
ers' buck.
The state legislature is in session. They are
faced with tough economic decisions for the next
biennlum. Hopefully, lawmakers will provide
the funding to maintain and elevate the CASA
program to this next level. If they do not, many
of our most vulnerable children will go without
that one adult to represent them. Your stated
support of the CASA program to Representa-
tive Warren Chisum (P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX
78768, 512.463.0736) and Senator Kel Seliger
(P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station, Austin, TX
78711, 512.463.0131) would benefit these chil-
dren. Locally, the CASA program is directed
by CASA of the High Plains.
To volunteer, call (806)669-7638. To sup-
port this work financially, send your contribu-
tion to Friends of CASA of the High Plains, P.O.
box 604, Pampa, TX 79066. Your money will be
wisely used for these children.
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
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Texas Press
Association
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MEMBERSHIPS
National Newspaper Association
Texas Press Association
West Texas Press Association
Panhandle Press Association
We are members of the Society of
Professional Journalists and staunch
advocates of the SPJ Code of Ethics
OUR POLICY
LETTERS TD THE EDITDR
are always welcome, and will be
published if they are signed and
cannot be considered libelous.
We will not publish anonymous
letters under any circumstance
All letters must be accompanied
by a phone number for
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Each letter should be received
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that week's newspaper.
PLEASE DIRECT LETTERS TD:
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Brown, Laurie Ezzell. The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 119, No. 05, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 29, 2009, newspaper, January 29, 2009; Canadian, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252735/m1/3/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hemphill County Library.