LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

District should preserve fund balance

Editor, the Leader-News:

I am aware that there are many needs within the El Campo Independent School District - and many "wants."

After seeing the article in Saturday's Leader-News, I am concerned about the continued excessive spending and the possibility of depleting the ECISD Fund Balance account or dimishing those emergency funds until there is 12 percent or less left in this account, which will be the smallest balance ever.

According to knowledgable sources, at least $5 million should be left in this account in case of an unforseen necessity, which is likely to happen. Money should be available for that "rainy day."

It is my hope, and that of many citizens, that the school board will not be persuaded to spend money out of the fund balance account on things that are not absolutely necessary - today, or this year!

We hope that you, the school board, will make wise decisions in regard to this spending of taxpayers' dollars.

Ann Strarup Concerned Citizen

Local radio's efforts always appreciated

Editor, the Leader-News:

Coming from a large family, and not having much growing up, the one thing that always brought our family together through good times and especially during the bad times, was music. Specifically, our local radio station here in El Campo.

KULP may seem square to the new age teenager with the 24-inch woofer, that basses out a deafening 200 watts per decimal block. I, however, prefer traditional music in which I can understand the lyrics. KULP provides comfort to all ages. Whether it be listening to traditional polka music, which is in my opinion one of the main reasons my mother used to listen before sending us off to school. In my opinion, small-town radio stations should be commended everywhere for their diligence and hard work and commitment to keeping their communities up to date on what is most important in a world that seems to be so fast paced, that we simply, sometimes, overlook the pleasure of listening to a classic country song, or artist, such as Patsy Cline's Sweet Dreams, or Johnny Cash singing I Walk The Line.

I am a firm believer in not forgetting where we all come from. A small-town radio station like KULP has become more like an extended family because, to many of us, KULP has become part of our daily routine, whether we are heading off to school or work, or even if we are homebound.

The world without music and pertinent information is a very mundane, and boring, and unhappy place to be, in my opinion.

Thank you KULP for getting us all through another year.

Sincerely, Martin Schimcek