Hood County News from Granbury, Texas • Page 4

MEMBER: National Newspaper Association Texas Press Association West Texas Press Association Texas Press Association Forum Forum 4A Hood County News www.hcnews.com Saturday, August 27, 2011 JOE HELLER okes requiring explanation should be avoided, and so should athletic conferences with numbers in their names. Too many members are here today and someplace else tomorrow. For example, the now has 12 member schools, and the ten. Texas continuance in the is tenuous at best. Aggies, typically humming, singing or whistling their War Hymn, now are alternating it with another musical number.

the one about boll weevils, looking for a home, just looking for a My Uncle Mort, now two months past age 99, has spoken out on athletics. are headed toward four super conferences of 16 teams he maintains, slug it out for national championships. When this occurs, the slipping and sliding between conferences should come to a halt, or very nearly. And the other 100 or so universities then will have golden opportunities to scale sports back down to I shied away from the conversation, because the resident philosopher was just getting warmed up, overcome by excessive heat. He claimed that Rick Perry, to run for president instead of the will be a key player in deciding whether his alma mater joins the Southeastern Conference, if and when the Aggies are All I know is that I know.

With so many major institutions changing conference allegiances, I feel sorry for sportswriters. Previously, they were expected to predict finishes in football standings. Now, they must predict beginnings as With severe drought and three- digit temperatures tormenting so many, writers will have days finding new expressions to replace field In most stadia where grass once grew, thatch, gopher holes and plain old dirt remain. And all this when so many voices yell, One coach said it well: may have home dirt advantage, or home rut advantage or home dust he kidded. after a good rain, we may have home bog advantage or home pool All this puts one in mind of Andy recitation that catapulted him into national stardom.

His It Was, Was hit in 1953 was his description of a game played in a little green cow Clueless about football, Griffith drawled about the goings- on of gangs that wanted the same with blowing whistles trying to maintain order, At TCU, where a $105 million stadium renovation project is under way, an obstacle course of construction equipment, detours and assorted hazards may challenge fans. In fact, two early-season night games have been changed to afternoon, giving fans a better chance to remain safe, both coming and going. I guess one might say the Horned Frogs have a advantage. The TCU facility is only a THE IDLE AMERICAN Don Newbury Guest columnist I not sure what it is about humans that makes us bully people, but it makes me a little sick to my stomach. The other day I had a major flashback to my younger years as I saw that I had a friend request on Facebook from a girl that I have known since elementary school.

I think about this girl from time to time and every time that I do, I feel like I got punched in the stomach. When I saw her name on my computer screen it was a little different from all of the times that she had just crossed my mind. This time it almost brought me to tears. I knew that when I clicked on her that I would see what been up to and how she per se. I was nervous about that part.

You see, I know that she have it easy growing up. In elementary school she was picked on by a large majority of the school. Intermediate school was no different, it might have tapered down a little in middle school as people became more interested in bashing their best friends than people they friends with at all, and not sure how high school was for her. sad because I even remember her in high school. I know if she was there, if she moved, if she dropped out, or what.

I really ever directly mean to her that I can remember, but I stood back and watched her get treated badly by my friends and peers. I never stopped it. I remember being shocked at some of the things that people would say, but I still take up for her. When I reconnected with her on Facebook, I asked her what been up to, and she told me that she moved away because she had gotten into drugs really bad, had now gotten clean, and needed to get out of town to be away from it all. I know that I hand her the drugs and make her do them, but I still feel a little responsible for her turning to drugs.

I feel guilty for not stopping the verbal abuse when we were so young. This columns brings tears to my eyes because I know that the same thing is going on in elementary schools today. Children are bullied, then the bullies will probably grow out of that stage and most likely never think of the ones being bullied again. But the bullied are scarred by those moments for life. I encourage all of you parents to talk to your kids about this subject now that school is back in session.

I guarantee that my mom and dad would have never thought that their sweet little gap- toothed, bow-headed daughter was having any kind of involvement with bullying in elementary school. So chances are, you think your kids are either. But the thing is, everywhere. In every classroom, on every playground, at every daycare, everywhere. all do what we can to stop it.

chelsea.20something@gmail.com Bullying has no place in society We can act Informed citizens are well aware that Obama has led our country to the brink of financial collapse with no solutions and no leadership in the White House. We have elected people to our Congress who support his idiotic ideas. In the past, Congress got things done in a hurry because of public pressure, and now voters need to act. Congress is an honor, not a career, and we need term limits. Congress should no longer have the right to vote themselves a pay raise.

Congress needs to purchase their own retirement plans and participate in our health care system. Eighty-one percent of the American voters disapprove of current congressional decisions. We can start down the road to recovery in 2012 elections if we demonstrate common sense. Jack Williams Granbury Thanks, Pecan We would like to express our appreciation to all who made the inaugural Pecan Plantation EMT Basic class a success. This countywide effort, supported by a very generous local gift and hosted by the Pecan Plantation EMS, involved fire-fighters and first responders from 8 of our 9 county volunteer fire departments.

The combined efforts of Pecan Plantation the Hood County Fire Office, the Hood County Fire Fighters Association, Hill College and Weatherford College made this ground-breaking class an example to follow. We, the students in this class, realize that Pecan Plantation and their respective boards, are interested in all of Hood County succeeding by providing qualified personnel to enhance the local public safety sector. We must pay special tribute to the staff at Pecan Plantation EMS whose personal space and paper towel supplies we invaded for the past several weeks. And, we must specially acknowledge the supportive spirit of Sandra Winfield who encourages us, celebrates our success and committed precious resources to our training. The Students of Pecan Plantation EMT Basic Class Summer 2011 say Joe Phillips, Student Granbury LETTERS TO THE EDITOR his week, we learned a little about collateral damage.

Stephen Wayne Johnson pleaded guilty Monday in 355th Judicial District Court on four second-degree felony counts involving sex crimes against children as young as 10 years old. On Tuesday, Judge Ralph Walton sentenced the 55-year-old Granbury businessman to 20 years in prison. Even beyond the multiple victims of child abuse presented in evidence to the judge by District Attorney Rob Christian, I had a realization of how wide the circle of victims can extend. A young woman testified during the punishment hearing about finding out her husband had been sexually abused as a child. After learning Johnson committed the offense, she insisted her husband tell their pastor.

She want more children to be victimized. made it really awkward. There was some tension she said. think he was Imagine the level of pain and stress of having to discuss such a secret with a relatively new spouse. An older husband and wife who were parents of two of the victims, now young adults, also made their thoughts known in the punishment hearing.

They had believed they were good with Johnson for years, the man said. After he discovered what Johnson did to their sons, he had a hard time believing it because he knew him so well. thought I he added, sadly. Christian said if Johnson could molest children of longtime friends, this defendant can molest His victim impact statement read before aloud by Christian took a sharp jab. betrayal is beyond Christian read from her statement.

hurt the boys, but you also hurt two people who considered you a friend for the last 15 years. I honestly do not think you were ever our After writing that she felt they failed to protect our she added, hope you get the maximum sentence you can The lone witness on behalf was a local businessman, a friend of his 30 years. guess this is just about the toughest day of my life when you see a community split apart because of a he said, with an open Bible on one knee as he began to quote scripture. The man said that he heard Johnson the validity of God and why he was going to church. It just broke my Johnson said he believes a Christian, and has asked for forgiveness.

was able to deny these things so completely that nobody knew I was this Johnson said, adding that he finally realized I could hurt children and I could hurt my He indicated his behavior was spurred by pornography. allowed me to believe that some of the actions I took with the (victims) were things they Johnson said. caused me to neglect my wife. It caused me to neglect my duties as a In closing remarks, Christian said, just too late to minimize the impact. There are so many victims out m.wilson@hcnews.com 817-573-7066, ext.

254. Actions can impact on many levels MARK MY WORDS Mark Wilson Staff Writer few miles from now defunct Masonic Home and School. The football program there was at the other end of the spectrum. where late legendary Coach Rusty Russell led a dozen scrawny kids to football prowess over major schools and recognition throughout the state. Mighty Jim book about the is a great read.

Dent said that when Russell arrived, they had no place to play, and even have a This is the time of year, of course, when athletes in all fall sports as well as members of bands, drill teams and cheer groups sweat greatly in preparation. Coaches wear sweat- stained garb as well, but their perspiration will continue whatever the weather as losses sully their records. No wonder already developing clever lines for media personnel and their athletes. I like the story of the high school coach who was pumping up his charges in the locker room minutes before facing a mighty foe. Winning the coin toss was the only likely exciting prospect for his outclassed youngsters.

Realizing a blood bath was probable, the coach dusted off the old line about the opponents putting on their pants one leg at a time like we A scrawny sophomore, his 130 pounds already in quake- mode, whimpered, Coach-have you seen the size of their (The same coach has standing instructions: we kick off, try to block the extra point, and if we receive, try to recover the Dr. Newbury is a speaker in the Metroplex. Send comments to: speakerdoc.com. Phone: 817447-3872. Website: www.

speakerdoc.com. Uncle Mort: a numbers game TWENTY- SOMETHING GIRL Chelsea Hooper Columnist Heather JuarezMickie MatlockJerry AllenBrian Kent How do you think the Dallas Cowboys will do this year? love the Cowboys! a fan. So far I seen them play this year, but hopefully they will go think they are going to make it to the playoff s. I think pull it off and go all the way. I like the third-string quarterback, McGee, but I want Romo hurt! hot, Jason off ensive line is going to be faster this year.

The defensive line is a different story. It will be mid- season before they understand scheme. If they can gel perhaps they may have a chance. I love them, but I have to be grew up about an hour north of Green Bay, so Packer blood runs through my veins. Tony Romo did come from Wisconsin.

back the Cowboys if Green Bay is eliminated. Anything worth doing is worth doing YOUR TURN.