LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dating violence must end Editor, the Leader-News:

Valentine's Day is an opportunity to show our loved ones just how much we care for them. Sometimes we express our love with a card, flowers or kind words. This year I hope Texas parents will expand their Valentine's Day activities to include talking with their teens about what real love should look like in a dating relationship. We need to spread the word across our state that abuse in teen dating relationships must stop. That effort must start with education and awareness.

A week before this year's holiday, I spoke at a news conference held to raise awareness about teen dating violence. Among the speakers were two teenagers, Nabil Gomez and Manuel Veloz from Reagan County High School, who bravely stood at the podium to spread the word of the dangers of dating violence to parents, the media, and most impressively their peers. Control is not love was the strong message printed on the poster standing behind them.

Nabil and Manuel are part of a Students Taking Action for Respect (or STAR) Team. STAR is a growing community of more than 400 youth leaders across the state carrying the message of teen dating violence prevention to their classmates and community groups. The first program of its kind in the nation, STAR has reached more than 13,000 students in 150 Texas communities since its inception.

I'm so proud of Nabil and Manuel and the hundreds of other youth around the state who lend their strong voices to the growing chorus combating the dangers of dating violence. I am proud of them because sometimes it's hardest to confront a friend, more than anyone else, with the message that how they are being treated by a girlfriend or boyfriend is just not right. As much as we adults hope that our message is heard, teens often listen best to their peers.

Unfortunately, relationship abuse among teenagers is all too common, partly because many don't understand what constitutes inappropriate behavior. While physical and sexual abuse are the obvious offenses, verbal and emotional attacks can also frighten and control a person in a dating relationship. We must also recognize that this abuse victimizes young men as well as young women.

Anita Perry

(Perry is the wife of Texas Gov. Rick Perry)

Citizens deserve rights Editor, the Leader-News:

Is the El Campo City Council allowed to pass three annexation ordinances, without scheduling a public vote by the citizens of El Campo? According to our own city charter, they are not. However, at their Dec. 11, 2007 (meeting), that is just what they did.

In response to this lack of concern for our citizens and the law, on Jan. 10, 2008, a group of citizens were forced to present a petition (signed by almost 300 citizens) to the city.

The petition required the City Council to immediately either revoke the ordinances or schedule a public vote. The City Council, at the direction of Mayor Spenrath and City Attorney Ronald Collins, instead took no action on the petitions. This effectively prevented the citizens of El Campo from having their say on the important annexation matter forcing them to file suit to enforce that legal right.

On Jan. 31, 2008, members of the Citizens for a Responsible El Campo filed a lawsuit asking Judge Clapp to enforce the law requiring the City of El Campo to permit its citizens to vote on three annexation ordinances passed by the City Council at its Dec. 11, 2007 meeting.

The suit, styled Ryan Services, Inc. et al. v. Phillip Spenrath et al., seeks an injunction to prevent enforcement of the annexation ordinances, declarations that the city charter requires council to permit the citizens of El Campo to vote on the ordinances, and orders directing the City Council to follow the charter.

On Feb. 5, 2008, Judge Randy Clapp of the 329th District Court in Wharton County, heard arguments in Ryan Services, Inc. et al. v. Phillip Spenrath et al. The hearing involved the request for temporary injunctive relief. Judge Clapp instructed the parties to provide further information before deciding whether to force the City to suspend its behavior before a full trial. That hearing will take place on Feb. 19, 2008.

The citizens of El Campo deserve their right, as guaranteed in the city charter, to be honored and supported. The Citizens for a Responsible El Campo was formed to make sure local elected officials honor the law, respect the rights of citizens, and act with the citizens' best interests in mind, every day.

The voters of El Campo must be allowed to decide whether annexation is in their best interest.

Sincerely,

David Allgayer

Citizens for a Responsible El Campo

Sports upgrades noted Editor, the Leader-News:

It is extremely nice that people give back to the El Campo Community in so many ways. My husband and I have lived in El Campo for eight years, and it is so nice to go to the Boys & Girls Club for a basketball game this year and to have a new scoreboard that works properly and that you can read without any problems.

Dr. Ross Anderson's Dental Office sponsored the new scoreboard. Also, the new scoreboards at the Little League Park that came in at the end of last season are fabulous, too. You can see the correct innings, strikes, balls and outs along with the score.

Thank you to Prosperity Bank, NewFirst Bank, Coca-Cola, H Builders and First State Bank for sponsoring those scoreboards. In football, people sponsored the jerseys for the youth football games, coached the teams and helped out in other ways, too.

In closing, thank you, thank you, to all of the businesses and individuals for all of your donations of time, money, and for being coaches, team moms, sponsoring jerseys, teaching youth groups at churches, or helping in any other aspect for the youth of El Campo and Wharton County. They will not be young for long, so get out and volunteer - the children are our future!

Sincerely, Suzanne Brandl

Parent

Fight TTC at all levels Editor, the Leader-News:

Having attended both a town hall meeting and a local hearing regarding the TTC, I think it is critical that every citizen speak out against this massive land grab! Comments are due by March 19, and there are three ways that you can do so:

1) Online, by typing the following address into your browser window: http://ttc.keeptexasmoving. com/commentsquestions/commentsI69. aspx. This will take you to the correct form for commenting specifically on the TTC.

2) You can mail your comments to: I-69/TTC, P.O. Box 14428, Austin, Texas, 78761.

3) You can comment verbally or in writing at a public hearing. The next hearings in our area are: Feb. 21 at the El Campo Civic Center (5 p.m.); Feb. 28 in East Bernard at Riverside Hall (5 p.m.).

Here are some thoughts that might help you structure your comments:

1) You will be commenting on the Draft Environmental Impact Study, and the only two options that TxDOT wants to hear at this meeting are that they should continue with the study, or that "No Action" should be taken, meaning that existing transportation routes would be used. Later on, in Tier Two, it is my understanding that the upgrading of existing highways (59, etc.) will become an option open for discussion.

2) Preface your comments with the phrases "I oppose the TTC/I-69" and "I support the NO ACTION alternative."

3) Comment on the lack of transparency with regard to the involvement of local officials and citizens (i.e. this thing was steam-rolling us before we ever found out about it).

4) Emphasize that TxDOT must start the environmental study over again in order to comply with the law regarding coordination with local, state and federal officials.

5) Comment on the effects on agriculture, community travel patterns, local businesses, schools, emergency services, air quality, water displacement/ flooding and wildlife habitats/migration patterns.

6) Note the economic Impacts: lack of access to local businesses; financial constraints due to tolls; diminished local retail and sales tax revenue; diminished property values due to the undesirable proximity to a massive toll road.

7) Point out the destruction of cultural and historical sites, old cemeteries, family burial grounds and archaeological sites.

Most importantly, you must put your comments in the hands of your elected officials, from county commissioners to representatives, to senators, and to TTC architect Rick Perry. You can find the state information easily at www.fyi.legis. state.tx.us.

This battle will be won in Austin, not at these TxDOT "dog and pony" shows that exist simply to meet a legal requirement. When you cast your ballot in the primaries, and later in the election, ensure that everyone you vote for at every level opposes the TTC, even if it means crossing party lines! If EVERY citizen votes only for anti-TTC politicians in EVERY election, saner heads will eventually prevail, and, gradually, we will win this war!

Respectfully,

Wendell McAskill

El Campo

RIF program grateful Editor, the Leader-News:

On behalf of Sesame, I would like to thank the community for their continued support of the Reading Is Fundamental program.

The Sesame Club is very fortunate to be the host of R.I.F. due to the vision of the late Angela Slovak.

For every dollar raised or donated, the R.I.F. program matches three-fold; bring our tax dollars back to the community.

Sesame hosts three R.I.F. parties a year when each student, pre-kindergarten through third grade selects a book to keep. Many local clubs, businesses, banks and schools give year after year after year.

At this time, I would like to give a special thank you to the Wendel family who recently gave a generous donation in memory of Megan Wendel. On behalf of our current members and all those who have sewed costumes, made props and acted out books and read before us, we appreciate that you chose this program to honor Megan's memory.

Thank you, Clarke Collins R.I.F. Chairman