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Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
My old friend, and neighbor in my youth, Glen Deforest. passed away last week. Seeing the Oysterfest sign and thinking about Deforest and our younger days, I thought about the origin of the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department.
As far as I know, he and I were the last remaining original members of this organization. It was he and I, along with veterans who had just came from War World II (they are our heroes) who would later become our friends. Bill Wendell was elected chief, the first one.
But before this, the county had just gone through a tremendous fire, cutting the brush from Copano Bay to Fulton Beach and southward. We fought this blaze with wet sacks, bay tree limbs, shovels, and hoes. Brush houses and many other things burned.
Anyway, this made the citizens of Fulton think maybe they needed some sort of protection from fires, hurricanes, and other natural calamities.
The Rockport Volunteer Fire Department, God bless them, gave us an old fire truck and trained us to use it. Being young and impressionable, this was quite an undertaking for a 15-year-old. I received a badge, after not being black-balled, and I carried this badge (with great pride) in my billfold until it was stolen in Korea.
After returning from overseas, I did not stay active in the FVFD. However, in the years since, I have watched with amazement at the growth and spirit of the young men and boys as they become men and good citizens of this small community. For as it did for me, I think it has given them a place to go and things to do which are of the most importance in life. Giving them a place in the FVFD just might give them a place in life. I think they will always remember that time with pride.
In short, when you go to the Oysterfest, have fun, eat oysters, but remember to salute these men for their help in all the wrecks and catastrophes which may come to the county. This department (FVFD) has given them much and they give you much.
Gene Sprinkle
Dear Editor,
My condolences to the surviving members of the Gyorog’s family. Thank God Deputy Will Newsom survived.
I witnessed very professional actions involving many departments. The residents of Lamar, Fulton, and Rockport should be very proud of their police officers. EMS personnel did a fine job. It is comforting to know with a collective effort, and much cooperation between departments, residents of Lamar, Fulton, and Rockport can feel safer. Through education, procedures, practice, and cooperation, our law enforcement departments can handle a crisis.
We should thank wardens with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Sheriff Mark Gilliam, Chief Deputy Rick McLester, Aransas County deputies,Aransas County staff, reserve deputies, the Rockport Police Department, Department of Public Safety, DEA, EMS, and Texas Ranger Oscar Rivera who supervised the San Patricio County Sheriff’s Department superb SWAT team. Investigator James Beck of the Aransas County Sheriff’s Office was very impressive and professional as the hostage negotiator. Residents of Lamar got involved and should be recognized.
Hats off to a job well done.
Also on another note, parents and guardians can turn to a probate court which can determine if a patient lacks the capacity to make decisions whether or not to take medication(s) prescribed by a physician.
Karen French
Dear Editor,
Thank you Alayne Arne for your outstanding article about Ceil Frost. It is so refreshing to find people still care about a part of our community which is not attached to their property. She is so enthusiastic and positive about the future of a garden many will enjoy. Obviously, “can’t” is not in her vocabulary.
Ceil, I look foward to seeing your garden.
Lawana Jackson
My old friend, and neighbor in my youth, Glen Deforest. passed away last week. Seeing the Oysterfest sign and thinking about Deforest and our younger days, I thought about the origin of the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department.
As far as I know, he and I were the last remaining original members of this organization. It was he and I, along with veterans who had just came from War World II (they are our heroes) who would later become our friends. Bill Wendell was elected chief, the first one.
But before this, the county had just gone through a tremendous fire, cutting the brush from Copano Bay to Fulton Beach and southward. We fought this blaze with wet sacks, bay tree limbs, shovels, and hoes. Brush houses and many other things burned.
Anyway, this made the citizens of Fulton think maybe they needed some sort of protection from fires, hurricanes, and other natural calamities.
The Rockport Volunteer Fire Department, God bless them, gave us an old fire truck and trained us to use it. Being young and impressionable, this was quite an undertaking for a 15-year-old. I received a badge, after not being black-balled, and I carried this badge (with great pride) in my billfold until it was stolen in Korea.
After returning from overseas, I did not stay active in the FVFD. However, in the years since, I have watched with amazement at the growth and spirit of the young men and boys as they become men and good citizens of this small community. For as it did for me, I think it has given them a place to go and things to do which are of the most importance in life. Giving them a place in the FVFD just might give them a place in life. I think they will always remember that time with pride.
In short, when you go to the Oysterfest, have fun, eat oysters, but remember to salute these men for their help in all the wrecks and catastrophes which may come to the county. This department (FVFD) has given them much and they give you much.
Gene Sprinkle
Dear Editor,
My condolences to the surviving members of the Gyorog’s family. Thank God Deputy Will Newsom survived.
I witnessed very professional actions involving many departments. The residents of Lamar, Fulton, and Rockport should be very proud of their police officers. EMS personnel did a fine job. It is comforting to know with a collective effort, and much cooperation between departments, residents of Lamar, Fulton, and Rockport can feel safer. Through education, procedures, practice, and cooperation, our law enforcement departments can handle a crisis.
We should thank wardens with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Sheriff Mark Gilliam, Chief Deputy Rick McLester, Aransas County deputies,Aransas County staff, reserve deputies, the Rockport Police Department, Department of Public Safety, DEA, EMS, and Texas Ranger Oscar Rivera who supervised the San Patricio County Sheriff’s Department superb SWAT team. Investigator James Beck of the Aransas County Sheriff’s Office was very impressive and professional as the hostage negotiator. Residents of Lamar got involved and should be recognized.
Hats off to a job well done.
Also on another note, parents and guardians can turn to a probate court which can determine if a patient lacks the capacity to make decisions whether or not to take medication(s) prescribed by a physician.
Karen French
Dear Editor,
Thank you Alayne Arne for your outstanding article about Ceil Frost. It is so refreshing to find people still care about a part of our community which is not attached to their property. She is so enthusiastic and positive about the future of a garden many will enjoy. Obviously, “can’t” is not in her vocabulary.
Ceil, I look foward to seeing your garden.
Lawana Jackson
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