Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
The editorial by Mike Probst on Oct. 17 diminishes the once-proud newspaper. I don't think I've read “puke” and “Al Gore” together in a publication recently. But hey, kudos for the bike thing. Now if we could get a bike lane on Business Highway 35 we'd be set.
Richard Snyder
Dear Editor:
On Oct. 18, my father-in-law, a man of just under 85 years, and I were fishing on a gravel pier just south of the bridge which crosses the entrance to Copano Bay. The weather was beautiful, the bait plentiful, and the experience relaxing.
We had been fishing for about an hour when our world turned upside down ... literally. As he sat back on a plastic chair, its footing slid and he fell backward. As I reached to keep him from falling, over I went as well ... chair and all. The last images I can recall prior to the smack of hitting the ground, were that of my hands flying outward toward the “old man,” and my fishing pole flying high above me.
To make a long story short, a couple quickly came to our aid. Lifting us from the gravel, muck, and rainwater, they couldn't do enough to ensure our sound condition, which included the wiping of our scrapes and abrasions with antiseptic wipes. We left shortly thereafter, rattled and bruised, yet thankful for minimal damage to body and pride. More thankful however, are we to an unnamed couple who graciously came to our aid. The “old man” and I want to express our sincerest gratitude with the hopes an as-so-far unnamed couple will read this wordy note of thanks.
David F. Barrows
Dear Editor:
My wife, Carol, and I were privileged to have the job of double-bagging 80 pounds of coffee to be included in the boxes Carla Reed and her Bahia Bay group send out each month to our troops in Iraq.
Reed is the lady who has led the drive to help our troops get the supplies they need. They now have sent out nearly 2,400 packages of goodies to our troops over the past 2-1/2 years.
As we put the coffee in plastic bags, we read the messages: “Come Home Safe,” “We're Proud of You,” “God Bless You and Keep You Safe,” “We Love You,” “We're Praying For Your Safe Return,” and many others, and our eyes filled with tears and lumps came into our throats at the wonderful outpouring of love, respect, honor, and devotion for our brave servicemen and women.
If you haven't done so yet, there is still time to purchase a pound of coffee and send your own message along to warm our troops' hearts when they are so far from home.
Reed and the residents plan to send out several hundred boxes at Christmastime and the cost of postage has recently gone up to $8.95 per box.
I will never understand why we must pay postage to send supplies to our troops while our congressmen and senators get the “Franking Privilege” and can send all the junk mail they want for free. It's something to think about at the next election.
If you'd like to help out with the postage, you can send your check to Carla Reed at 204 Lands End, Bahia Bay, Rockport, TX 78382. We'll love you for it, and so will our troops.
Sincerely, Karl Hoepfner
Dear Editor:
When asked about the upcoming school bond proposition, after careful consideration, I say I am still undecided.
I've had two children enrolled in Live Oak Learning Center and am certainly in favor of replacing that facility. Teaching in those unattractive portable buildings is not conducive to a quality education and gives the impression education here is a low priority. The library is cramped and the other buildings also need repair. If there were a bond issue solely for LOLC, I would happily support it.
On the other hand, I am not convinced by the arguments for replacing and selling Little Bay Primary. It is a fun place, well lighted, and full of attractive foliage. Bond proponents say because it's on Highway 35 there is too much traffic and chance for accidents. I was always required to pick up my children on the side street anyway. Just as vital, but not as subject to economic and educational analysis is my daughter Hattie squealing “Little Bay” whenever we drive by it, reminding me what a happy time she had there. Disposing of LBP, and then building something else demonstrates poor planning on the part of the school board, and with more than 70 cents of every local tax dollar already going to the ACISD, I'm not comfortable getting into real estate transactions.
Another red flag is teachers themselves are so divided about this. State law prevents teachers from serving on school boards, however aside from voting on their own salaries, teachers should have a special voice in all educational issues. Teachers are already handcuffed by foolish and annoying regulations, if we don't treat them better and offer a decent teaching environment, we will all suffer when they leave.
Along with teachers, I'd like to hear from area local real estate professionals. Are the school board's proposed transactions prudent? Are they practical and cost-effective?
I'm hungry for physical improvements to our schools as adequate classrooms are the bread and butter of a solid education. I'm just not sure I have the appetite to eat or to pay for the rest of the items on this ballot buffet.
Steve Fischer
Dear Editor:
Forty million dollars is a lot of money. The Aransas County Independent School District is asking taxpayers for $40 million, but the proposed plan is actually $48 million. The district has plans to spend most of the $40 million at the elementary school level and additional money at the middle and high schools. Included in the plan is money for buses, furniture and computers. The additional $8 million will come from general tax revenues (taxpayer money).
The proponents of this bond keep telling voters the reason we need to give them $40 million is to get our elementary-aged children out of portable buildings. I do not see a huge downside to portables. The district's highest test scores are at Live Oak and Fulton, the schools with the most portable classrooms.
I also know the proposed construction is not all about the portables. Some of the planned projects include:
€ $17 million dollars to build a new school so the district can close Little Bay. Certainly there is a cheaper way to make the children at this school safe. If the district believes those children are in danger, why haven't they done something?
€ The administration wants to move the sixth grade out of the middle school although the middle school was built to house sixth-eighth grades. Taxpayers still owe $10 million on bonds for the construction of the school. Is it already out of date?
€ $1.2 million is proposed for athletic facilities at the new middle school. Really?
€ The district plans to finance the purchase of computers, buses and “other supplies” over 20 years. The computers will be obsolete before they are paid for.
€ The district may add a childcare center at FLC for teachers' and employees' children. While this is a noble idea, how does this meet the district's educational goals? Is this really the best way to spend tax dollars?
My decision not to support the bond election is also a trust issue. With the ACISD losing enrollment, the district recently hired a third superintendent. We have gone from having one superintendent seven years ago with an enrollment of approximately 3,500 children to having a superintendent, an assistant superintendent and an associate superintendent ($300,000 per year in salaries plus benefits) for 3,100 children. What is wrong with this picture?
Aransas County taxpayers did get some tax relief from the Texas legislature. It did not come from the ACISD. The tax rate for 2007 went “down” to the highest tax rate allowed by new state law. The district's budget did not go down, it went up. The state is planning to make up the difference. Of course, state money is taxpayer money as well. Property valuations increased as well. The taxpayers still pay the bills.
We have many problems in our school district new buildings will not solve. Our newest building, Rockport-Fulton Middle School, has the district's lowest test scores. We need to spend more time, energy and resources on bonuses for the very best teachers, more consistent discipline, listening to those good teachers and getting rid of teachers who obviously don't like their jobs or children. We need to hold the administration accountable, financially and educationally.
I would support a bond election to replace portable buildings with permanent classroom and to make Little Bay safer, but it would not cost $40 million to remodel and add classrooms at Live Oak and Fulton Learning Centers. It also would not cost $17 million to ensure the safety of the children at Little Bay.
Join me in voting No to $40 million in school bonds.
Sincerely, Natalie Baker
Parent, taxpayer and former ASICD school board trustee
Dear Editor:
The Nov. 6 election for Aransas County Navigation District (ACND) commissioners will be one of the most important in years. It will be important for responsible growth in Aransas County, it will be important for the protection of our county's unique natural resources and it will be especially important for open and transparent management of the public's precious coastal resources.
The performance of the current majority of ACND commissioners on these issues has not been satisfactory.
It is important to recognize the current commissioner at-large, Felix Keeley, has not been a part of this problem. In fact Keeley, with support from Precinct 1 Commissioner Merlin Hartdegen has consistently worked for responsible development, for protection of coastal resources, and most important for transparent and responsible management of your resources. He hasn't just talked about our environmental challenges, he has put his shoulder to the wheel and produced real results.
During his tenure Keeley has played a significant role in the campaign to bring the prestigious National Estuarine Research Reserve to Aransas County, along with facilities to support it. He is working now to help plan the visitors center and research center which will be built in Rockport.
He took the lead in working with the state to obtain a $1.2 million NOAA grant for the restoration of Rockport Beach, which has benefited the entire county.
He has worked with the General Land Office to obtain funds for the installation of modern and effective pumpout stations for boat bathrooms and bilges in all three Aransas County harbors.
He has demonstrated the desire and the ability to cooperate with other governmental entities to develop solutions to regional problems such as drainage, the health of our bays and preservation of our coastal resources.
He consistently opposed efforts to privatize public lands for the benefit of developers. A particularly important recent example was his strong opposition to the land swap in Little Bay, which would have resulted in expansion of a shoreline condominium into Little Bay itself.
He has worked hard to build good relationships with elected representatives in Austin
At the same time Keeley has been active in a number of organizations and efforts aimed at preserving and enhancing the quality of life in our county. These include being a member of the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce board and of its environment committee; serving as vice chairman of PACE, an organization proposed by Mayor Todd Pearson and dedicated to responsible growth in the county; assisting Aransas First in establishing the Tule Lake birding facility and the Copano Bay birding walk; and serving as a longtime member and former commodore of the Rockport Yacht Club.
Keeley is not part of the problem with the navigation district. He is part of the solution which will emerge from this election. We should keep Keeley on the ACND board.
Lonnie Matthew
The editorial by Mike Probst on Oct. 17 diminishes the once-proud newspaper. I don't think I've read “puke” and “Al Gore” together in a publication recently. But hey, kudos for the bike thing. Now if we could get a bike lane on Business Highway 35 we'd be set.
Richard Snyder
Dear Editor:
On Oct. 18, my father-in-law, a man of just under 85 years, and I were fishing on a gravel pier just south of the bridge which crosses the entrance to Copano Bay. The weather was beautiful, the bait plentiful, and the experience relaxing.
We had been fishing for about an hour when our world turned upside down ... literally. As he sat back on a plastic chair, its footing slid and he fell backward. As I reached to keep him from falling, over I went as well ... chair and all. The last images I can recall prior to the smack of hitting the ground, were that of my hands flying outward toward the “old man,” and my fishing pole flying high above me.
To make a long story short, a couple quickly came to our aid. Lifting us from the gravel, muck, and rainwater, they couldn't do enough to ensure our sound condition, which included the wiping of our scrapes and abrasions with antiseptic wipes. We left shortly thereafter, rattled and bruised, yet thankful for minimal damage to body and pride. More thankful however, are we to an unnamed couple who graciously came to our aid. The “old man” and I want to express our sincerest gratitude with the hopes an as-so-far unnamed couple will read this wordy note of thanks.
David F. Barrows
Dear Editor:
My wife, Carol, and I were privileged to have the job of double-bagging 80 pounds of coffee to be included in the boxes Carla Reed and her Bahia Bay group send out each month to our troops in Iraq.
Reed is the lady who has led the drive to help our troops get the supplies they need. They now have sent out nearly 2,400 packages of goodies to our troops over the past 2-1/2 years.
As we put the coffee in plastic bags, we read the messages: “Come Home Safe,” “We're Proud of You,” “God Bless You and Keep You Safe,” “We Love You,” “We're Praying For Your Safe Return,” and many others, and our eyes filled with tears and lumps came into our throats at the wonderful outpouring of love, respect, honor, and devotion for our brave servicemen and women.
If you haven't done so yet, there is still time to purchase a pound of coffee and send your own message along to warm our troops' hearts when they are so far from home.
Reed and the residents plan to send out several hundred boxes at Christmastime and the cost of postage has recently gone up to $8.95 per box.
I will never understand why we must pay postage to send supplies to our troops while our congressmen and senators get the “Franking Privilege” and can send all the junk mail they want for free. It's something to think about at the next election.
If you'd like to help out with the postage, you can send your check to Carla Reed at 204 Lands End, Bahia Bay, Rockport, TX 78382. We'll love you for it, and so will our troops.
Sincerely, Karl Hoepfner
Dear Editor:
When asked about the upcoming school bond proposition, after careful consideration, I say I am still undecided.
I've had two children enrolled in Live Oak Learning Center and am certainly in favor of replacing that facility. Teaching in those unattractive portable buildings is not conducive to a quality education and gives the impression education here is a low priority. The library is cramped and the other buildings also need repair. If there were a bond issue solely for LOLC, I would happily support it.
On the other hand, I am not convinced by the arguments for replacing and selling Little Bay Primary. It is a fun place, well lighted, and full of attractive foliage. Bond proponents say because it's on Highway 35 there is too much traffic and chance for accidents. I was always required to pick up my children on the side street anyway. Just as vital, but not as subject to economic and educational analysis is my daughter Hattie squealing “Little Bay” whenever we drive by it, reminding me what a happy time she had there. Disposing of LBP, and then building something else demonstrates poor planning on the part of the school board, and with more than 70 cents of every local tax dollar already going to the ACISD, I'm not comfortable getting into real estate transactions.
Another red flag is teachers themselves are so divided about this. State law prevents teachers from serving on school boards, however aside from voting on their own salaries, teachers should have a special voice in all educational issues. Teachers are already handcuffed by foolish and annoying regulations, if we don't treat them better and offer a decent teaching environment, we will all suffer when they leave.
Along with teachers, I'd like to hear from area local real estate professionals. Are the school board's proposed transactions prudent? Are they practical and cost-effective?
I'm hungry for physical improvements to our schools as adequate classrooms are the bread and butter of a solid education. I'm just not sure I have the appetite to eat or to pay for the rest of the items on this ballot buffet.
Steve Fischer
Dear Editor:
Forty million dollars is a lot of money. The Aransas County Independent School District is asking taxpayers for $40 million, but the proposed plan is actually $48 million. The district has plans to spend most of the $40 million at the elementary school level and additional money at the middle and high schools. Included in the plan is money for buses, furniture and computers. The additional $8 million will come from general tax revenues (taxpayer money).
The proponents of this bond keep telling voters the reason we need to give them $40 million is to get our elementary-aged children out of portable buildings. I do not see a huge downside to portables. The district's highest test scores are at Live Oak and Fulton, the schools with the most portable classrooms.
I also know the proposed construction is not all about the portables. Some of the planned projects include:
€ $17 million dollars to build a new school so the district can close Little Bay. Certainly there is a cheaper way to make the children at this school safe. If the district believes those children are in danger, why haven't they done something?
€ The administration wants to move the sixth grade out of the middle school although the middle school was built to house sixth-eighth grades. Taxpayers still owe $10 million on bonds for the construction of the school. Is it already out of date?
€ $1.2 million is proposed for athletic facilities at the new middle school. Really?
€ The district plans to finance the purchase of computers, buses and “other supplies” over 20 years. The computers will be obsolete before they are paid for.
€ The district may add a childcare center at FLC for teachers' and employees' children. While this is a noble idea, how does this meet the district's educational goals? Is this really the best way to spend tax dollars?
My decision not to support the bond election is also a trust issue. With the ACISD losing enrollment, the district recently hired a third superintendent. We have gone from having one superintendent seven years ago with an enrollment of approximately 3,500 children to having a superintendent, an assistant superintendent and an associate superintendent ($300,000 per year in salaries plus benefits) for 3,100 children. What is wrong with this picture?
Aransas County taxpayers did get some tax relief from the Texas legislature. It did not come from the ACISD. The tax rate for 2007 went “down” to the highest tax rate allowed by new state law. The district's budget did not go down, it went up. The state is planning to make up the difference. Of course, state money is taxpayer money as well. Property valuations increased as well. The taxpayers still pay the bills.
We have many problems in our school district new buildings will not solve. Our newest building, Rockport-Fulton Middle School, has the district's lowest test scores. We need to spend more time, energy and resources on bonuses for the very best teachers, more consistent discipline, listening to those good teachers and getting rid of teachers who obviously don't like their jobs or children. We need to hold the administration accountable, financially and educationally.
I would support a bond election to replace portable buildings with permanent classroom and to make Little Bay safer, but it would not cost $40 million to remodel and add classrooms at Live Oak and Fulton Learning Centers. It also would not cost $17 million to ensure the safety of the children at Little Bay.
Join me in voting No to $40 million in school bonds.
Sincerely, Natalie Baker
Parent, taxpayer and former ASICD school board trustee
Dear Editor:
The Nov. 6 election for Aransas County Navigation District (ACND) commissioners will be one of the most important in years. It will be important for responsible growth in Aransas County, it will be important for the protection of our county's unique natural resources and it will be especially important for open and transparent management of the public's precious coastal resources.
The performance of the current majority of ACND commissioners on these issues has not been satisfactory.
It is important to recognize the current commissioner at-large, Felix Keeley, has not been a part of this problem. In fact Keeley, with support from Precinct 1 Commissioner Merlin Hartdegen has consistently worked for responsible development, for protection of coastal resources, and most important for transparent and responsible management of your resources. He hasn't just talked about our environmental challenges, he has put his shoulder to the wheel and produced real results.
During his tenure Keeley has played a significant role in the campaign to bring the prestigious National Estuarine Research Reserve to Aransas County, along with facilities to support it. He is working now to help plan the visitors center and research center which will be built in Rockport.
He took the lead in working with the state to obtain a $1.2 million NOAA grant for the restoration of Rockport Beach, which has benefited the entire county.
He has worked with the General Land Office to obtain funds for the installation of modern and effective pumpout stations for boat bathrooms and bilges in all three Aransas County harbors.
He has demonstrated the desire and the ability to cooperate with other governmental entities to develop solutions to regional problems such as drainage, the health of our bays and preservation of our coastal resources.
He consistently opposed efforts to privatize public lands for the benefit of developers. A particularly important recent example was his strong opposition to the land swap in Little Bay, which would have resulted in expansion of a shoreline condominium into Little Bay itself.
He has worked hard to build good relationships with elected representatives in Austin
At the same time Keeley has been active in a number of organizations and efforts aimed at preserving and enhancing the quality of life in our county. These include being a member of the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce board and of its environment committee; serving as vice chairman of PACE, an organization proposed by Mayor Todd Pearson and dedicated to responsible growth in the county; assisting Aransas First in establishing the Tule Lake birding facility and the Copano Bay birding walk; and serving as a longtime member and former commodore of the Rockport Yacht Club.
Keeley is not part of the problem with the navigation district. He is part of the solution which will emerge from this election. We should keep Keeley on the ACND board.
Lonnie Matthew
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of rockportpilot.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
