Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 123, No. 104, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 29, 2005 Page: 4 of 18
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PAGE 4A - POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29,2005
EDITORIAL
V
THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE
Letters to the editor
Year brings recognition
Jufly
Hardly humane
To the editor:
I sincerely believe that it's past
time for all human beings to grant
animals basic humane and legal
rights.
Think of these brutal, insensitive
and lethal, murderous acts by
young Americans against defense-
less domestic animals: (1) Boys 11
and 13 years strung a dog over a
tree limb with a chain and butch-
ered her with a weed whacker; (2)
two teen-aged girls stole a little
sweet-natured pet Dachshund and
drowned him as an act of retribu-
! tion against one's estranged boy-
friend; (3) a 19-year-old boy stole a
kindly Labrador Retriever from a
yard and hacked her to death with a
machete; (4) two university stu-
dents lured four cats into a yard and
set them on fire - even utilizing an
aerosol can as a blow-torch!
And consider these acts: those of
you who frequent Italian restau-
rants and other eateries which serve
veal, and those of you who pur-
chase it at the market, should know
that the little beef calves are put
into tiny stalls when they are barely
able to stand, and must spend their
entire short lives in these stocks,
never receiving any soliu food,
only milk... and must live their
days out in this miserable, heart-
breaking condition, in their own
waste, until they are killed so we
may "enjoy" Veal Scaloppini; one
of our last true-American untamed
animal treasures — the magnificent
wild Mustangs of the West -- are
being systematically murdered by
sharp-shooters with high-powered
rifles, or shipped off to be killed in
slaughter houses for animal food,
all under the guise of preserving the
grasslands for cattle ranchers who
enjoy the largesse of taxpayers
through the give-away programs of
grazing rights granted by the U.S.
government, even when there are
NO cattle on those ranges!!
And you may have seen Larry
King Live recently exposing the
Chinese practice of collecting dogs
and cats which they skin ALIVE
("so as not to 'spoil' the fur") to
export to America and Great Brit-
ain and other countries, to trim
clothing and make fur-toys for all
of us to wear and play with!
The videotape showed the little
dogs still wagging their tails as they
continued to trust their murdering
captors who'd already mistreated
them and now were preparing to
butcher them!
(Do YOU buy Chinese products
at stores because they're
"cheaper"?) You might want to "re-
think" that.
Or how about the adorable, tiny,
helpless harp seals who are slaugh-
tered and skinned alive by the tens
of thousands as they lie stranded on
little ice flows... in the name of a
small seasonal income for a few
men, temporarily?
And what are we doing here in
Polk County for unwanted, loving,
domestic animals which COULD
be human's devoted pets, or cattle
or squirrel dogs...or cuddly house
or useful bam cats?
Are we such an impoverished
community that we cast uncaring
disregard for these poor creatures
who have done no wrong but
whose owners have refused to pre-
vent unwanted pregnancies, have
denied them basic necessities, have
wrongfully abused them, and
thrown them away?
We "pretend" to be a Christian
community, but in face of these
atrocities against living beings,
how Christian ARE we?
To be continued. ..
Lee Ashly
Wells, Maine
Do not fear opinions
To the editor:
Your "Letters to the editor" page
is a great service to the commu-
nity. There would be a void with-
out it.
The free media is the bedrock of
our democracy. In the United
States the entire spectrum of cul-
tural and political opinion is repre-
sented by various sectors of the
media. For radical right-wing
people who cannot tolerate open
and free discussion there are many
media outlets that should soothe
their fragile egos. TV Fox has
"fair and balanced" news and many
not taxed religious political pro-
grams are also available to present
the right-wing perspective.
The internet offers right-wing
opinion outlets such as the Wash-
ington Times, whitehouse.gov an<
any U.S. Representative web site
that might reflect more radi
cal viewpoints. Most any radio talk
show is to the right of Attila the
Hun. There are also many
paid subscription magazines that
will not violate right-wingers pre-
conceived notions.
I, for one, do not fear the opin-
ions of others. I will listen to and
consider most any argument no
matter how flawed. Meanwhile, I
am thankful for our free (in a lib-
eral sense) media. If you don't like
it, move to another country.
Fred Berry
Livingston
from page 1
ory of Pfc. Stuart Moore. It was the
first Freedom Climb open to die
public since the dedication of the
tower in June 2004.
The Scenic Loop Volunteer Fire
Department attended the East
Texas Firemen’s and Fire Mar-
shal’s Association spring conven-
tion in Pincland and brought home
trophies for their success in the
pumper team races.
Bobbye Rogers Wade of
Livingston, owner and operator of
the R.H. Rogers Farm and Ranch in
Polk County, was recognized at the
Houston. White also served as a
columnist for the Polk Courtly En-
terprise.
Dr. Ben H. Welmaker, Southern
Baptist minister and foreign mis-
sionary, died April 29 in Lufkin. A
former pastor of Central Baptist
Church in Livingston, Welmaker
started five new churches, includ-
ing Blanchard Baptist Church and
Beacon Bay Baptist Church, as
well as two Spanish-language
churches.
30 annual Family Land Heritage
An easy resolution
Hope is
than
more powerful
o hurricane.
American
Red Cross
1 800-HELP NOW
redcross org
nciioy* kiovghi le row by tho
■ton lad Cross and lh« Ad CosmkiI
To the editor:
Today marks the tragic anniver-
sary of the world's worst natural
disaster, when a giant tsunami ex-
tinguished the lives of nearly
200,000 people in Indonesia, Thai-
land, India, Sri Lanka, and other
countries on the Indian Ocean.
Yet, each year, seven times as
many Americans die of heart dis-
ease, stroke, cancer, and other
chronic killer diseases that have
been linked conclusively with con-
sumption of meat and dairy prod-
ucts. Meat consumption also dumps
animal waste in our waterways,
destroys wildlife habitats to grow
animal feed, and tortures innocent
animals in factory farms and
slaughterhouses.
Because of the many benefits it
brings to us and our planet, let's
make a New Year's resolution to
replace meat and dairy products in
our diet with wholesome, delicious,
vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole
grains. With every supermarket
featuring a large variety of these
foods, as well a rich assortment of
soy-based veggie burgers, soy
dogs, deli slices, ready-to-eat fro-
zen dinners, and soy milk and ice
cream, it's got to be the easiest
resolution we'll ever keep.
Marianne Chalmers
Livingston
Congratulations, citizens
To the editor:
My fellow citizens, congratula-
tions on your Christmas decora-
tions. Homes and businesses are
aglow with the celebration of Je-
sus’ birth.
The City of Livingston and
county government depicted what
can be done united to, make this
community beautiful beyond com-
pare. Our entire county did light up
the whole area to make it beautiful
in tribute to our Lord. May it al-
ways be so.
With admiration to all____
Joe Pedigo
Livivingston
Singing locusts
To the editor:
from
The wind didn’t come
where they said it should,
The wind didn’t turn like they
said it could.
The wind came and pushed
things down,
Now the wind’s gone,
The locust sings on the ground.
The tall standing silent ones are
now gone,
Leaving room for the young ones
to carry on,
The wind came and seemed to be
mean,
Now the wind’s gone, more stars
to be seen.
Thank you, Lord, for allowing
me to still be around.
To hear the locusts singing on the
ground
No more moonlit silhouettes of
leaves
Dancing in the breeze will I see.
Replaced now with shooting stars
streaking before me.
After the passing of, saw, axe
and spade.
Now what will offer heat was
once shade
But again in time when we meet.
There our roots running further
down, in the wind
We’ll dance and sing and be
happy at such a thing!
As locusts singing on the ground.
Leaf‘n the Creek, Sept. ‘05
Debbie Rhoden
Daltardsville
POLK COUNTY
ENTERPRISE
ALVIN HOLLEY, PUBLISHER
I Ay amu WmMt j I WhyJ
Telephone Number 936-327-4357
(USPS 437-340)
WEBSITE: www.EastTexasNews.Com
E-MAIL: polkncws@livingston.nel
Texas 77351 under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1987. Entered as Periodical
Matter at the Post Office at Livingston, TX.
EDITOR I Al. DEPARTMENT
BarbaraWhile ......
Emily Banks.........
VanThomas .........
Greg Peak............
Vicki Coker..........
Vanesa Brashier
Gordon LeBarron
PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT
. ..Editor .........................
News Editor.................
Sports Editor
Area News Editor........
I jving Section Editor
Special Feature Editor .
Photographer
Ext. 102
Ext. 103
Ext 107
Ext 106
.Ext. 104
Ext III
Paul Holley.....
Don Holeman
Adrian Dunn ...
lee Torrei.......
Cameras/Platcmakmg.................... Ext. 119
Cameras/Ptalemaking .............................. Ext 119
Pressman ........................................... Ext 120
Mailroom/Circulation ......................................Ext. 120
COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT
Jennifer Kingsbury
Nancy Hatchett
Supervisor........................................................Ext 118
Graphic/Typeset..............................................Ext 118
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of county;
Calhoun in
IPTION RATES - $20 00 per year tax included in countv; $22.00 per year oat
$24.00 per year out of state. Published semi-weekly. Sunday and Thursday al 100
i Livingston. Texas by the Pblk County Publishing Co.
Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing or reputation of any person, ttrm or
corporation which may appear in this newspaper will fit gladly corrected upon being brought
to the attention of the publisher
Opinions expressed in columns are those of the writer and not neccessarily those of this
newspaper.
Opinions expressed in editorial are those of the Enterprise.
POSTMASTER: Periodical postage paid At Livingston. TX. Please Send Address Changes
to IV) Box l?7b I ninj-,i„n
Ceremony in Austin and honored
for 150 years of continuous agricul-
ture production.
Polk County Sheriff Kenneth
Hammack completed participation
in the 88* session of the National
Sheriffs Institute held in Long-
mont Colorado.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
welcomed its new rector, Rev.
Dorothy Gremillion.
Polk County Farm Bureau Presi-
dent Jay Snook was selected by the
Texas State Farm Bureau Board of
Directors and State President Ken-
neth Dierschke to serve as a mem-
ber of the Beef Cattle Commodity
Advisory Committee for 2005-
2006.
The Polk County Enterprise was
the recipient of two awards during
the 79* annual convention of the
North and East Texas Press Asso-
ciation in Fort Worth. The newspa-
per captured first place honors for
community service in the Division
3 category (semi-weeklies and twin
weeklies) and foutth place for spe-
cial sections, also in the Division 3
category. Additionally, the Enter-
prise received three awards during
the 78* annual convention of the
South Texas Press Association in
Corpus Christi. The newspaper
captured first place honors in news
coverage and in feature writing and
third place honors for special sec-
tions.
This year’s Trinity-Neches FFA
and 4-H Livestock Show grand
champion steer was shown by Jes-
sica Murphy of the Livingston FFA
chapter. The steer brought $ 15,000
at the auction.
Representing the Polk County 4-
H, Krystal Fitch won the Trinity-
Neches Sweetheart Contest at the
annual Trinity-Neches Livestock
Show and Rodeo. Livingston FFA
was the first place rodeo team.
The Livingston FFA Chapter’s
food science team competed in
state career development events at
Texas Tech University and placed
fifth in state. In other Livingston
FFA activity, Kaycce Hendrix was
elected to serve as the 2005-2006
Sam Houston FFA District presi-
dent.
Level 9 gymnast Judith Ashcraft
of Livingston competed on the U.S.
Region 3 team at regionals in Nor-
man, Okla. She was coached by
Ellen Moseley-May.
The Livingston Lazer All-Star
Heat Cheerleading Squad competed
at the Cheerpower National Cham-
pionships in San Antonio against
16 other teams and won third place.
Lamar University student Hillary
Zeigler, a Livingston High school
graduate, won medalist honors and
her Lady Cardinals golf team won
the fourth Southland Conference
Women’s Golf Championship at
Whispering Pines Golf Club.
For the first time in Livingston
High School history, two brothers,
Clint and Shane Hughes, pole
vaulted at the 2005 Coach Clyde
Littlefield Texas Relays on the
University of Texas campus.
Leggett High School student
Sha’Tonya Mays signed a letter of
intent to attend Blinn College on a
basketball scholarship.
Livingston High School student
Brett Williams was named District
18-AAAA Medalist Winner for
2005 following the District 18-
AAAA Golf Tournament at
Glennloch Farms in Klein.
Livingston High School student
trainer Jacob Chapman was
awarded an athletic student trainer
scholarship to Tyler Junior College.
Goodrich High School student
Edward Brooks signed a letter of
intent to play basketball for Cedar
Valley College.
Leggett High School student
CoDarrell Evans advanced to the
UIL Region III Class IA Track and
Field Meet at Stephen F. Austin
State University.
Local resident Ursula White,
founder of WOW Ministries Inter-
national Inc. and Spirit of Integrity
Worship Center, died April 13 in
May
City council and school board
elections were held the first week-
end of the month. The biggest up-
sets were in the City of Livingston,
City of Corrigan and Leggett 1SD
elections.
The press room of the Polk
County Enterprise was damaged in
a fire that occurred early May 6. A
Livingston police officer on patrol
spotted smoke coming form the
building and reported the fire.
Livingston, Scenic Loop and Ona-
laska volunteer fire departments
responded.
Downtown traffic was held up
for hours on end two days in a row
following wrecks on May 12 and
May 13. On May 12, three vehicles
were involved in an accident on
Hwy. 146 that held up traffic for
approximately four hours as emer-
gency personnel retrieved a lost
load of lumber and cleaned up haz-
ardous acid chlorine. Clean-up ef-
forts took six and a half hours and
five people suffered minor chemi-
cal bums. On May 13, a Union
Pacific railroad train clipped the
rear of an 18-wheeler at the West
Church Street crossing, sending the
truck’s trailer onto the grounds of
the Polk County Courthouse. Most
railroad crossings in the city were
blocked for approximately two
hours, with traffic diverted along
the U.S. 59 Bypass and Business
59. The train conductor suffered
minor injuries.
The East Texas Regional Water
Planning Group adopted a new 50-
year water management plan for 20
counties within its jurisdiction,
which includes a1 portion of Polk
Courtty. ’' 1
An explosion at Ford Contract
Services Inc. on Old Hwy. 35 criti-
cally injured Jeffrey Dunn, a
Livingston man who was inside a
tanker trailer, sanding it after it had
been relined. Dunn was air-lifted to
John Sealy Hospital in Galveston
with bums on approximately 90
percent of his body.
Travis W. Edwards was hired for
the position of superintendent of
the Big Sandy Independent School
District, filling the vacancy left
with the resignation of Dr. Darrell
Myers, BSISD superintendent since
spring 1999. Myers took a job as
superintendent with the Bridge City
Independent School District and
was released from his contract at
Big Sandy.
The Texas Department of Crimi-
nal Justice's Polunsky Unit held its
sixth annual correctional officer
memorial service honoring fallen
officers who are gone, but not for-
gotten. Patricia and Ronnie Broth-
ers planted a tree during the cere-
mony, in memory of their son, Of-
ficer Steven Brothers, who was
killed in a Dec. II, 2004 automo-
bile accident en route to in-service
training.
Seven local individuals were ar-
rested on 18 charges at a residence
on Lindley Lane off the Yarbor-
ough Loop following an investiga-
tion by the Polk County Sheriff's
Department.
Three juveniles from Houston, in
a car reported stolen from Katy,
spawned a chase that began in Dib-
oll and ended in a three-vehicle
accident just north of Livingston.
An approximate 30-minute chase
on Hwy. 190 concluded with the
Texas Highway Patrol arresting 23-
year-old Rudy Svetlik of Cleveland
for possession of methampheta-
mine, marijuana and a loaded gun.
Workers under contract with
Polk County continued mold reme-
diation in the offices of the Polk
County Law Enforcement Center.
Employees of the Polk County
Sheriffs Department were tempo-
rarily displaced as the work was
being conducted.
Onalaska resident Ken Shank
traveled to Pilsen, Czechoslovakia
with an estimated 200-300 World
War II veterans for a commemora-
tive event held to mark the 60th
anniversary of the city being liber-
ated from German occupation by
the 2nd Infantry and the 16* Ar-
mored Divisions of the U.S. Army.
Shank was a member of the 2nd
Infantry Division.
Habitat for Humanity of
County got a big boost when
Cochran and Toni Cochran-Hughes
donated 27-plus acres of land ip the
City of Livingston to the organiza-
tion. Bound by West, Beatty, B’fai?-
bird and Martin Luther Kit®
streets, the property will be devel-
oped over a period of several y^ifSf
After 45 years as an educatfj/1^
26 of those years in Livingston -
Pine Ridge Elementary StJffBW
Principal Danny Tinney retired 9"'
George W. Loner was appointed
chief of police for the City of Oh&
laska in a unanimous decisions
the Onalaska City Council.
U.S. Representative Kevin Eftblfy
(R-The Woodlands) came to *Polk
County and put on Social SectifWV
workshops at the Livingston 'ml
Onalaska Senior Centers. * ,0
State Rep. John Otto (R-DayflbW)
was selected to participate in ’Tfife
Program for Emerging Politifcijl
Leaders” held at the DardA
Graduate School of Business at 'tfit
University of Virginia in Char-
lottesville. Participation in the pro-
gram is limited to one state legisla-
tor nominated from each of theIi5t)
states. > 1
Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Democ-
ratic candidate for U.S. Senate,
brought her campaign to
Livingston.
Livingston Mayor Ben Royden
Ogletree presented a resolution 6f
appreciation to Dr. Bill Watso^,
recognizing his 14 years as a
Livingston city councilman.
The Onalaska School Board rec-
ognized and honored retiring board
member Dr Jackie Elliott for his
many years of service to the school
district. Having served on the boani
for many years, Elliott served as
board president for most of his ten-
ure.
The Pamela Moseley Carpenter
Children’s Foundation was estab-
lished in memory of Carpenter ^6
provide grants to children who
want to participate in pure move-
ment sports but are unable to be-
cause of the expense. These sportfc
include martial arts, dance, drift
team cheerleading anil gymnastics.
.Ground was1' broken and Con-
struction began /of a new 56-rodHi
Hampton Inn Hometown located;jlt
225 Southpoint Dr. in Livingston.
Livingston residents Don Baskin,
Cary Baskin and Ernie McClendon
are partners with Lodging Host in
the development.
In preparation for the 37* annual
Alabama-Coushatta Indian Pow-
wow, Stacey Langley was selected
as tribal princess and Lareina “Mae
Mae’’ Battise was selected as junior
tribal princess. As such, they will
serve as tribal ambassadors for the
year 2005-2006.
Country music recording artist
Jason Allen, who spent part of his
childhood in Onalaska, filmed por-
tions of his first music video at
Broken Arrow Marina, a few miles
east of Onalaska. The music video
was for the song “Jon Boat Blues,”
from his second CD, “Wouldn’t It
Be Nice.”
Team members at International
Paper’s plywood mill in Corrigan
were honored with the prestigious
American Forest & Paper Associa-
tion Safety Excellence Award.
The Polk County Enterprise was
the recipient of four awards during
the 67* annual Texas Gulf Coast
Press Association Convention in
Clear Lake. The newspaper won
second place in the Farris Block
Merrtorial Community Service
Award, third place in feature writ-
ing in the Division III (semi-
weeklies) category, third place in
sports photos and third place in
sports coverage. A highlight of the
convention was when the press
association’s board of directors
voted to name its scholarship after
Alvin Holley, owner/publisher of
the Polk County Enterprise. The
scholarship is awarded annually to
university students who are pursu-
ing newspaper-related degrees.
The Big Sandy Ladycats won the
Class IA Bi-District crown in soft-
ball and advanced to their first ever
Class A Final Four softball tour-
nament in Austin and the Big
Sandy Wildcat baseball team be-
came the bi-district champions.
Livingston FFA member J.D.
McLeod was elected to represent
the Area IX FFA Association as a
Texas FFA Officer for the 2005-
2006 school year.
Livingston High School student
Clint Hughes pole vaulted 16-feet,
six-inches to win the UIL Class 4-
A gold medal. The first Livingston
athlete to win back-to-back gold
medals in pole vaulting, Hughes
See STUDENTS pg. 5A
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 123, No. 104, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 29, 2005, newspaper, December 29, 2005; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth820046/m1/4/: accessed June 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.