LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Society appreciates H-E-B gift Editor, the Leader-News:

St. Procopius Altar Society officers wish to express our sincere thanks to H-E-B for providing breakfast for the First Penance students on April 19, 2008. Thanks for your kind support to our community.

God Bless You,

St. Procopius Altar Society

Adel Leal, President

Paper presented facts selectively Editor, the Leader-News:

My first reaction was a chuckle when I heard about the 50 or so words that more or less branded me as a criminal in the eyes of this community.

It was not taken into regards that our past is just that if we strive for betterment. I was more insulted if anything when I finally got to look at my name in the police blotter. I was indicted for tampering with evidence - not four convictions for delivery of a controlled substance.

Still, the decision to constantly put that irrelevant information as tag-ons is insulting and demeaning to anyone with a past criminal record. In 2001, I was sentenced to six years imprisonment - which I have since completed - and therefore those four felony convictions would not be relevant to the current case because the issue has already been addressed.

Hello? I have no problem with my criminal past, as that is my motivator. My past defines who I am, where I've been and what I'm trying to accomplish as an adult.

As we all have our past, we take into consideration the strives of others and the efforts they make to move on from the past - as we all have had to do at some point in our life.

We don't try to 'remind everybody he's a criminal,' as one friend jokingly said. So my arguments are with Leader-News. If you feel the need to add these tag-ons - which convey to the community of El Campo a sense of guilt - it would be relevant to add what was the sentence or punishment for that crime, rather than making a statement with so little words, but with so much meaning.

Since last fall, I have been a full-time student with above average grades. The paper would imply different even though not stated. That in its true form is propaganda. Propaganda is a concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behavior of large numbers of people. Instead of impartially providing information, propaganda in its most basic sense presents information in order to influence its audience.

The most effective propaganda is often completely truthful, but some propaganda presents facts selectively (thus lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or gives loaded messages in order to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the cognitive narrative of the subject in the target audience.

Demond Bluntson

Editor's Note: Past criminal convictions are specifically listed on grand jury indictments - and reported by the Leader-News - because they are considered relevant by the court. A person's criminal history can be factored into the punishment if another conviction occurs.

Convicted for four past counts of delivery of a controlled substance (the sale of a narcotic) on June 14, 2001, Mr. Bluntson was indicted April 1, 2008 on a charge of tampering with physical evidence. On Nov. 27, 2007, he allegedly "knowing that an investigation was in progress, to wit: a pursuit, intentionally or knowingly destroy evidence, to-wit: a baggie containing marijuana, with the intent to impair its verity or availability as evidence in the investigation," according to the indictment.

The Leader-News takes its information directly from the indictment on file in the district attorney's office which is available to the public.

Remember to pay tickets on time Editor, the Leader-News:

This is a reminder to everyone to please check your addresses on your driver's license. Please make sure it is the same as your mailing address or you could go through what I went through.

I was at a local store and backed up into a truck, it was in my blind spot and I didn't see it. I did receive the ticket and never gave it another thought. It was irresponsible and inexcusable on my part.

Last Wednesday I was on my lunch hour coming to work and was going 40 in a 30 and was stopped for speeding. I wasn't worried. I gave the officer my insurance and driver's license. To make a long story short I had a warrant for my arrest.

I did ask the lady at municipal court if they had mailed a letter to me reminding me about the ticket. She said 'yes' and I asked her to what address because when I gave the officer my driver's license I noticed it had the wrong address. She replied that they send a courtesy letter to the address on the driver's license. The address has CR 313 El Campo, TX. My physical address is CR 313 Louise, TX 77455. My mailing address is P.O. Box 407 El Campo, TX. I never received the courtesy letter.

I am not making excuses for myself, I broke the law and paid the consequences. We were going through a house fire and just when I thought we were getting back to normal this happens. I do want to say that Officer Terrazas, Mrs. Eide and the lady at municipal court were very kind to me. I learned two valuable lessons: pay your outstanding tickets (they never disappear) and check your address on your driver's license.

There is always a silver lining to every story. Mine is that I do thank God I had the money to pay for the ticket at that moment or I could of gone to jail, and that the officer allowed me to drive myself to the police department. He could of handcuffed me. I am thankful for my friends and coworkers who called after reading the newspaper giving me their support. Please everyone, if you have outstanding tickets pay for them.

Terri Beltran

Reader questioning Ryan Editor, the Leader-News:

In reaction to the continued lawsuit against El Campo that has been denied by two courts and is now being taken to the Supreme Court, I have the following questions and comments for Tim Ryan:

My first question is about your voting record. I'll ask the question that no one else is asking because I believe that one's words should be backed up by their actions. You are suing your own town for your right to vote, but your name is nowhere to be found in the voter logs from the last two City Council elections in May 2006 and May 2007 (when the Council members that voted for annexation were put into office). How can you justify taking your right to vote case all the way to the Supreme Court, when you didn't even take the time to vote in these elections?

Second, in a recent Letter to the Editor, you referred to our current city leadership as "aristocrats." I know most of these people and they are certainly not aristocrats. They are people with a common concern for the welfare of others and they simply want El Campo to prosper. When I hear your comment that, "All this Council had to do was let us vote, and we'd never have to sue anyone," I am reminded of the precedent set in the 2005 Middle School Bond election. I recall that the Ryan family was very involved in a lawsuit against ECISD at a major cost to the taxpayers, even after the bond referendum passed and the votes were recounted.

Why would you have expected city leadership to make an exception to state law and give into your request when recent history reminds us that you will sue even after you have your right to vote?

Mr. Ryan, the passion that you have for El Campo is evident when there is a cause that you are willing to support, but please understand that opposing you on this issue are citizens that have as much passion for El Campo as you do.

For this reason, I believe that we have an opportunity to accomplish wonderful things for our town if we could find a way to work together for a common goal. But we'll never get anywhere when we have to worry about being sued by you when you don't get your way. Please take the gloves off, Tim. Let's stop fighting and start working together.

J.J. Croix

Don't climb park's fountain Editor, the Leader-News:

The board of Beautify El Campo Extension (BEEs) strongly discourages climbing on the waterfall in Evans Park by anyone of any age. The waterfall was constructed as a visual attraction to the park, not a climbing wall. We care about the safety of you and your families.

The community of El Campo has always been enormously supportive of our projects. We are truly grateful for that support, and we know that we can count on you to honor this request. We also greatly appreciate the Leader-News for being such a good friend to the BEEs.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Kelly

Recording secretary

Consider goals before voting Editor, The Leader-News:

My wife and I have had the wonderful opportunity to be raised and educated in El Campo and now enjoy raising our children in this great community. Our focus and daily mission with our family is to live our lives out of passion, not fear, and to base our goals on improving ourselves and our community, not being satisfied with the status quo.

When making decisions for our family or community we ask whether it will help provide for the future and improve the quality of life. We ask you to answer this same question when voting on May 10: which candidates are passionate about making El Campo a better place to live in tomorrow and not just maintaining yesterday?

Sincerely, Chip and Dana Jenkins