My response to "We are not afraid of the word God" 

In the letter from the reader who wrote "We are not afraid of the word God," it was said that there is no fear in the word "God." Well, just to let you know, "God" is not a word, it's a name. It is one of the many names our Lord has. Jehova, Emmanuel, Messiah, Savior, Jesus, Christ, etc., but if you meant it as just a word you are very right, because many times the "word" god is used in words like, god d*****, or just by itself, which shows the lack of reverence for His name (which, by the way, is breaking the third commandment). 
Now another thing was said that also caught my eye, which was that you don't criticize others for their religions. To be honest, I think that's great! That's how it should be, criticism is in no way appealing to anyone. But we should all be careful not to take everything as criticism. Maybe it's just simply stated as a fact, the truth, not meant to criticize. It may be said bluntly, but that doesn't make it criticism. 
You also said something else that was true...we live in the land of the free. We do, but it is also a land that was build on the foundation of belief in God, with the freedom to practice our way of worshipping Him however we like. Why fight to take God out of our pledge? He is what our country was founded on. It would be disrespectful to God and our forefathers to remove the foundation of this country from our pledge.
Now to address your final statement, "Open mindedness is the answer..." No offense meant, but I completely disagree with you. Open mindedness opens the door for tolerance, and tolerance for more tolerance, unil our open minds are so open we will allow anything and everything to happen in our country. A tolerance for musicians and others who say it's okay say as much filth as you want and to beat your girlfriend and kill people. A tolerance to let murderers go free for killing people just because they were "in shock." How much open-mindedness must we have until we realize what it's doing to us? How is it that we can allow all kinds of negative words and actions to be said, but we can't allow talk about a God, the one and only God, who loves everyone no matter what their race or age, one who is so deeply in love with everyone he created that he would send His one and only son to die a brutal death on the cross just to save us? A God who says "Come to me and all you who are weary and find rest for your souls?" 
You may say you either want nothing to do with a God who allows all this pain and suffering, or you may say He doesn't even exist. My answer to that is all the pain this country and world is now suffering is because of tolerance. God never once said in His word that it's okay to talk about killing and beating others. He did however say "Do not let any unwholsome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen(Ephians 4:29)," and "Thou shalt not murder (Exodus 20:13)." God doesn't want these kinds of things to happen, He proved that when he gave us the Bible. But God doesn't force us to follow His word. He did, however, give us the freedom to choose.
To choose life over death, joy over pain, love over hate. Our forefathers long ago to chose God. If you don't want to, you don't have to. If you don't want to say the holy name of "God" in the pledge, don't. The truth is, God is the only answer for the problems in the world today, but if you don't want to choose Him, it's your choice. I choose God because I love Him. I hope one day you will see the light, His light, and do the same.

Lindsey
Prattivlle, AL 

“Wise” Court issues another foolish decision 

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness ... Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight”, Isaiah 5:20,21.
Writing legislation from the judicial bench, and re-defining the Constitution once again, the Supreme Court has taken another grand moral slide downhill with its ruling on sodomy. The Bible says that for a man to lie with a man as with a woman is an abomination extracting a penalty in the persons who participate in it. Indeed, from gay bowel disease to hepatitis to new strains of gonorrhea to AIDS, not only is a new immorality upon us in this country, but a huge health care burden as well. 
The laws of our country have come from the legal tradition of the Bible : whether they be laws against murder, laws against stealing, laws requiring commitment to contracts, or laws against sodomy. Every single state until the 1960's had laws against male sodomy. Why? Because the Bible says in very strong terms that it is wrong. The word sodomy itself comes from a Biblical city that was destroyed by God for the very practice it describes. 
Now the Supreme Court, a little group of lawyers, has decided once again that they can over-ride the Bible, states rights, and first principles of tradition and family values, and grant a “right to privacy” not found in the Constitution (just as they decided in 1973 to create a ”right to choose” to murder pre-born infants). This new right to privacy in all fairness, should also allow privacy for bestiality, pedophilia, drug abuse, prostitution, polygamy, and the like. Under the new rule of privacy, the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) should also be allowed to argue that it is their “right” not to be “demeaned as citizens” of this country so that they can legally vent their lusts. This is the kind of inconsistency and downward slide you get when laws are not based on the transcendent principles of the Bible and the Constitution, but on the changing opinions of men and the votes of 9 robed law school graduates. The liberal men and women of the Supreme Court do not interpret the Constitution. They legislate their own ideas. They should be impeached by Congress. 
Our legal system is totally out of order. The reason for this is that we have replaced as a country our original accountability to an acknowledged Creator (see the Declaration of Independence), with practical atheism. Our law schools teach that you should not look to a Creator God for legal authority. They teach that you should look only within the proud, limited, and chameleonic human mind. Law is, in practice, no longer supported by faith in God. It is supported by faith in the bankrupt and discredited hypothesis of evolution. 
Clothed in their justice robes, and seated in their paneled courtrooms on their elevated benches, the Supreme Court thinks of itself as wise. I am afraid however, that by calling evil good and vice versa, and in the inconsistency of their “right to privacy” argument, their situation is as another Bible verse says, “Professing to be wise, they became fools…” Rom 1:22.

Mark Cadwallader
Conroe, TX 

Three by m.e.

Three things that waste management decided that they didn't need in order to survive in the world of business:
1. multitudes of midlevel and senior level managers in their different departments.
2. extra contractors who work in the information technology.
3. a surplus of those who actually pick up the garbage.
surely there will be one to pick the garbage up and one to drive- which is the minimum required to keep the garbage route alive!
Three places that one can expect an energy company to get their employees:
1. straight out of college.
2. from a recommendation of another employee.
3. from the top of another fallen energy company.
No matter the circumstances employment does not stop- for those situated at the very top!
Three things that should be included on a checklist for the preparation of the Fourth of July:
1. buy fireworks.
2. shoot fireworks.
3. wash hands and belongings before attempting to board an airplane.
Any firework residue- will be detected and make it a lot harder to get through!

Mary Elizabeth Rumsey
Porter, Texas

Sadler speech 

My name is Ellen Dubuisson, and I have lived in the Woodlands for 21 years. I am concerned, especially as a Republican, about statements Alan Sadler has made in the Conroe Courier and the Houston Chronicle last week. He has decided that the government, Commisssioner's Court, will create policies in our libraries that are more suitable for what he has labeled our more "conservative" county. He states as follows: "I personally think we need to change the liberal ALA language in our library policy that gives no protection to children at all." Parents know how to protect their children and how to monitor what they read. Parents do not need the government's help in doing so. Libraries are not a threat to children, and children looking for trouble are not inclined to make a visit to the public library. 
Based on Mr. Sadler's actions in the censorship debate last fall, and his current plans to add new regulations to our libraries, it is clear to me that Mr. Sadler want to decide what books are available for me to read. He says he would not restrict books in the adult section, but his desire to withdraw membership from the American Library Association, will surely result in limiting adult selections. Librarians educated in Library Science are the logical choice for selecting books in Montgomery County libraries; not Mr. Sadler, the government. Mr. Sadler should never be able to tell me what I can read. 
How strange. A conservative county that supposedly wants government interference. Perhaps Mr. Sadler has severely misread the voters of Montgomery County.

Ellen Dubuisson
The Woodlands 

Texans Want to Give Choice a Chance

How can an idea be so publicly popular, offer such demonstrable benefits, have the endorsement of the Supreme Court, and yet still be categorically rejected by so many in the education and media establishment?
That’s the question I’ve pondered these last several days in reviewing the results of a recently conducted opinion poll. The scientific poll asked Texans a very straightforward question: “Do you favor or oppose a proposal that would create a school choice program whereby education scholarships would be given by the state to pay for a child’s education at any public, private or parochial school?”
Who supports school choice? At first glance, you find about 60 percent of us. But when we look more closely, the numbers show support for school choice crosses every social, economic, and political boundary.
Texans without a college diploma are the strongest advocates of school choice. Eighty-one percent of registered voters without college degrees (the bulk of Texans, mind you), between the ages of 18 and 44, support it. For college grads in the same age group, support is right at 60 percent.
Texans who struggle to make ends meet solidly advocate school choice. Sixty-six percent of people earning less than $30,000 a year want school choice. In the $30-$50,000 range, it’s 57 percent.
School choice is not restricted to conservative enclaves. Just shy of 60 percent of women who make less than $50,000 demand school choice for their kids. And women who vote Democratic? About 61 percent. But going to the other end of the gender and political spectrum, 57 percent of GOP-voting men also favor school choice.
Choice is not a just a dream for the inner-city poor. Rural voters support school choice 62 percent of the time, while urban-dwellers give it 56 percent support.
Every kind of Texan wants parents to be free to select the school best suited for their children, and have no problem in using tax dollars to pay for it.
Why such opposition from individuals who often portray themselves as champions of the disadvantaged? According to the poll, the state’s poor, Hispanics (73 percent) and African-Americans (63 percent) overwhelmingly support educational freedom.
Do school choice opponents not trust poor and minority parents to make good decisions? Surely choice opponents do not believe only government is smart enough to recognize effective educational programs? 
Opponents of choice can no longer hide behind the law. Last year the US Supreme Court declared vouchers constitutional. So the leading argument against school choice has become money. Vouchers, opponents claim, will siphon money from cash-strapped public schools. One could make the case that ’s not a problem.
Our poll asked Texans: “Do you think public schools spend money in a wasteful fashion?”
Yes, said 56 percent of Texans. This response should send shivers down the spines of many in the bloated administrations of our education bureaucracy. Cheerleaders for the existing public school monopoly like to say there are no problems more money cannot fix.
But that is simply not true. Numbers compiled by Rep. David Swinford demonstrates that higher performing schools actually under-spend poorly performing schools.
Giving parents freedom to choose the public, private or parochial school of their choice will put those bloated bureaucracies on a strict diet.
Day in and day out, every school would have to prove its academic value to the parent of every child. Just as stiff competition forces athletes to focus and finely tune their efforts, so would choice drive school systems to greater academic achievement and economic efficiency.
When the legislature convenes for a special session on school finance, most likely next spring, school choice should top their to-do list. 
Texas parents want what’s best for their children, and they need real choices to get the best. The bureaucracies want only to protect the bloat. It’s now up to legislators to do the right thing and represent the will of the majority of Texans.

Chris Patterson
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Kudoos!

Excellent articles on Montgomery County Hospital District! Just Excellent! Kudoos!

Karen Hipp

Compassionate Citizens for Healthcare 

Recent actions of the MCHD board and state legislature have left alot of people feeling disenfranchised. We have scores of people who were left with no mobile clinics in an overnight theft that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid would have been proud of. 
It is a sad fact that the clinics were terminated without investigating possible alternatives that should have been in place beforehand, but it could also be considered abandonment of care that without warning the public was left out in the cold without in many cases, reasonable options. Exploratory sessions should have been held BEFORE the decision was made to terminate the clinics, not afterwards. 
It is obvious from the MCHD board's actions, that they did not want to explore ways of making the mobile clinics run more cost-effectively, and that they were irresponsible in the way they fulfilled their duties to the public that they are supposed to serve. 
Who gives a DAMN about treating the poor in our community? With the meat clever approach that the MCHD board has taken, it makes one wonder whose side they are really on. In one fell swoop they reneged on agreements to fund the Conroe Family Practice Residency Program, whose trained physicians serve the poor, but they also terminated the mobile clinics, and they also threatened doctors who hadn't been paid in months for the charitable work that they had performed. Doctors and their patients became the scapegoats for the board's poor planning and lack of fiscal responsibilit, as well as a "let's lower taxes at all costs....who cares who we hurt" attitude. 
The need to be frugal is obvious. We cannot afford to waste money, and I agree with people who don't want higher taxes. However the approach needed is a surgical approach, one that uses precision rather than haste. Cutting the budget does not necessitate abandoning patient care of leaving a quarter of a million children off the CHIPS program with nowhere to turn. 
An exciting group has started in Montgomery County whose purpose is to promote cost-effective health yet compassionate health care. Compassionate Citizens for Healthcare believes in saving tax payer dollars, but wants to make sure that tax expenditures are used both wisely and fairly for al the people in our county. 
CCH is a nonpartisan group that is open to people of all political parties. We are actively forming coalitions with other groups and individuals who are concerned citizens. We feel that we can influence policy decisions in our community through education and communication with the public and with public officials. 
Unfortunately, many public officials make great businessmen, but understand precious little about the way that medical care is delivered or not delivered as the case may be. Our mission statement follows this letter and states our main goals and objectives. 
If you are fed up with the way that our government agencies are treating the poor or if you feel disenfranchised by the dirty partisan politics that are threatening to undermine the health care of our community, please contact us at compassionate@txucom.net, or call us at 936-756-8142 and leave a message for Peggy Walton. If you prefer to write to us, our address is Compassionate Citizens for Healthcare, P.O. Box 3155, Conroe, Tx. 77305. 

Steven Farber, MD 

New Caney Angel

The city of New Caney is fortunate in having a true angel as a citizen. her name is Wanda Marsh. You may wonder how a person in College Station is aware of this. We have in truth been touched by an angel.
My wife, who enjoys chip carving, had designed a carving for her great, great niece in California. Before she could make the carving she was stricken with terminal cancer and the rapid onset weakened her to the point that she was unable to complete the project. She wanted me to find if someone might complete it for her. Through a few calls I contacted Wanda Marsh. She agreed to look at the project and said she would do it.
I was prepared to pay for the work but she refused to accept any payment and did a wonderful job.
There is more to this story. She had estimated that she could work it in over about one week. She put in extra hours and did it in one day. This alone is outstanding but, she delivered it to my wife yesterday morning.
Wanda said that the Lord had been so good to her that she had to do it.
She is a true angel!

Jack W Rose
College Station, TX


Hulk review

in all, your review of the hulk was right on target. however, i must mention that sam raimi directed spiderman, not ang lee.

Laurel Doll
Bulletin Online Reader

MCHD Response

Your editorial concerning MCHD was very insightful. The public must get involved in health care issues in Montgomery County in a positive way and move away from warfare. 
Moving health care responsibilities from one governmental organization to another is not necessarily a good thing. As long as a few individuals feel they are in a power struggle over county health care it will not make any difference which governmental entity is making decisions.
As a paramedic with close to a quarter century of handling medical emergencies, I have repeatedly seen eyes opened to the importance of quality EMS care; unfortunately, it is usually after the face. For example, someone has a heart attack in their home and must depend on a prompt response time, with the right equipment, and appropriately trained personnel. 
Equally important is indigent care. A large percent of the population is working poor without insurance. I have a neighbor who almost lost an eye because of an accident and had to rely on county resources to save his vision.
As a community, we need to come together and focus on health care and put behind us past MCHD mistakes and differences.

Jim Becka
Splendora, TX

Texas Medicaid

I am writing you on behalf of my 10 year old handicapped daughter. The Texas Medicaid is denying services, supplies, and equipment to my daughter and many other handicapped children. They no longer pay for speech therapy. My daughter can't even talk or communicate. Her occupational and physical therapy has been cut down to 1 per week each. They tell me that she is chronic and is not improving. Without these therapies she is going to get worst. But that is something I have learned about Medicaid. Instead of trying to prevent illness they let illness come and then pay a higher price for the healing. My daughter has a feeding tube and Medicaid has cut down her feeding sets to 4 per month, 4 irrigation syringes per month and 8 syringes total per month. How would you like to keep putting the same tube or syringe which can't be sterilized into your child's stomach. My daughter takes 4-5 different medicines 4 times a day. There is no way 8 syringes a month can hold up to that. We also have been denied IV bandages and Coban wrap which we use to keep her tube clean and protected. We have been denied gloves. 
Would you want to change a 10 year old's bowel movement with bare hands. We can't even get equipment that would help us calm our daughter down so she could function or even sleep. What is wrong when money is needed the handicapped children who really need the medicaid and the elderly are the ones that suffers. I hope that I can count on you to help us parents.

Shelia Allen
Clyde, Tx

Pie Town

Hi, I just read a review of yours of Pie Town. It sounds wonderful. I'm looking for a place to mail order a heart-shaped pie. Do you think they have a website and mail order?
What an appetizing article!
Thanks for any help.

Linda L
Bulletin Online Reader

Blitz 

I have been keeping up with the letters wrote towards Blitz. This so-called Tabitha person needs to STEP OFF THE BAND. I agree with JC and James Parker . This Tabitha sounds very jealous and her spiteful mouth is extremely uncouth, I might add.. Ignorant opinions that no one cares to read and were uncalled for. But If Tabitha must keep on whining and talking out her ass, maybe one day she'll say something intelligent. Which reminds me just how many songs has this Tabitha wrote that are on HER cd? hhhmmmmmm And where is HER band for HER to be given rude advice? And if Tablitha is an alias then why hide? Many others and I above all have the highest respect for Blitz, and if their name bothers Tabitha so much they should just keep it and add to it.. Keep up the Awesome job your doing guys I think you rock and are out of this world that's why I think you should rename the band COSMIC BLITZ. 

Tracie Brent 
devoted BLITZ fan 
Willis, TX 

The So-Called Humane Society 

I recently and reluctantly called the "Humane" Society to pick up a desperately sick stray cat from my neighborhood. My neighbor had enticed the cat into a crate, but we were afraid to try to transport the animal, both because of its condition and because he was so agitated at confinement that we weren't sure that the crate would hold him. The employee who came to get him was polite and professional, and assured me that the cat would be evaluated for its medical condition. As there are a large number of cats, some stray, some domestic, in my neighborhood, I was concerned that whatever illness it had might be contagious to the other cats or even to dogs or people. When I called during the next business day to inquire about the cat's condition, the employee who answered the phone very rudely informed me that they had about two hundred cats, no medical evaluation, and that she had neither the time, the inclination, nor the resources to figure out which cat I was asking about. In short, she did not care and was not going to be helpful. Even after I told her exactly when and where it had been picked up, with a detailed description of the animal, she refused to make any effort to look up the animal. If this is how their employees treat the public, no wonder so few animals are adopted! They claim that every animal that passes through their doors is photographed and placed on their website; the disparity between the number quoted by the employee and the number on their website means that I seriously doubt. I'm quite certain that they are underfunded and understaffed, but there will be no improvement in their public relations (and to the donations and increased adoptions that might accompany good public relations!) until the manners of their employees improve. I was appalled. 

S. Hill 
Montgomery, TX.

Humane Society

Regarding the Humane Society in Conroe, is your objective to report sensationalism based on the input of one source, Heather Boggs, or would you be more interested in developing a story that presents the situation accurately and fairly?
I would like to express my point of view for your consideration and ask you to do a broader study with the objective of presenting all the relevant information.
I am a long time volunteer (almost 3 years) at the Conroe shelter. I go in twice a week for 5-6 hours at a time. I also put the cats on our petfinder site: http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/TX279.html. I do adoptions, answer phones, take in unwanted/found pets, etc. I also work with the rescue groups when possible. 
First the bad news --- let's get that over with --- the shelter is under-staffed and under-funded and the building is old. 
The good far outweighs this. The 2 locations in Montgomery County are the ONLY locations I know of for animal adoptions and a low cost spay/neuter program. 
The crew that works there love animals – they have to, to work in an animal shelter. They work very very hard to do their best for these cats and dogs and are not well paid for their efforts. Even when the shelter is totally overcrowded, if an animal comes in from the city limits of Conroe or Willis, we must take it – even if there is no room. When this happens, they always make room for the animal or the litter of animals. 
People turn in litters of puppies and kittens because their dog or cat was not spay and they can’t find homes for the babies. People turn in dogs and cats because they can’t keep them, don’t want to keep them, etc. etc. This occurs every time I am there. 
If animals are brought in which are not “owner-turn-ins” they must, by law, be held for 72 hours. Many of these are very sick, have mange, etc – they must BY LAW be held in the facility – this does not help to keep animals healthy. People bring in tiny kittens that must be bottle fed every 3 hours. Some animals show no symptoms, but turn out to be harboring disease. Very few animals brought in by animal control are ever claimed. Only maybe one in 30 come in with tags on. 
The dogs and cats are cleaned every morning. The dogs are fed once a day and the puppies 2 times. Cats and kittens are given food every day. Yes, some of the dogs do love to knock their water bowls – we had a dog in recently, who, when after eating would somehow pick up his metal food bowl and nest it in his water bowl. As the employees circulate throughout the building they stop and fill up the empty bowls .
The crew deals skillfully with terrified animals all the time -- they are handled as gently and carefully as can be – I watch them. Have you ever tried to handle a wild cat or kitten?? I tried ONCE and will never do it again. 
All of the employees have their own pets – to suggest they would deliberately be inhumane or cruel is absurd. Some of them, me included, have taken puppies and kittens too young to adopt home with us and fostered them. The kittens I had were always infested with fleas, ear mites, and usually sick. One kitten I had came in - beige color – when cleaned up was actually pure white ! 
Does anyone have any positive thoughts on this – helpful things that would aid the animals?????? Donations of supplies, money, repairs???? Education to have more people spay/neuter their pets? ??? This is what is needed. 

Sue R.
Willis, TX

Police Cars Sitting? 

I was wondering why some police officers, sheriffs. Get to take the police cars home?I see them sitting in drive ways in the community. 
And I noticed one Mcso car sitting in his drive way for five days in a role,and it did not move the whole time.I have seen Houston police cars sitting in neighborhoods in Montgomery co.And Harris county too.I am wondering who pays for the fuel,maintance etc.On these cars looks like they should be on the streets working.and about the no smoking in city,county buildings. There is a sign in the Willis p.d. That says no smoking.And I was there to talk to a officer and the dispatcher was puffing away.Nothing was said to her. 

Jason Hutchins 
Montgomery,Texas

Article Concerning HSMC

My daughter and I have been up to the humane center several times looking for a dog to adopt. 
We found the people there to be caring and helpful. 
Yes, the animals looked sad, but they are lonely and hoping to be adopted. The animals always had food and fans were going to keep the animals cool. 
Your article gave the. negative side to the Humane Society, I just wanted to tell what we perceived on our visits. 
Just wanted to say we didn't find it to be all that bad. Yes, they should ask for more funds. It must be hard to supply adequate care to the animals. 

Thanks, 
S Elliott

Lancaster/Sadler Agenda 

I am writing in reference to the letter of Republican Precinct Chairman Tom Lancaster commending County Judge Alan Sadler for his stand against the ALA (American Library Association). What Lancaster says and what he means should be carefully noted. 
According to Lancaster "...the ALA continues to attack the moral foundations of our country and corrupt the minds of our children." The children part is an excuse to promote his agenda. In his wisdom Lancaster has decided that he knows the "moral foundations" of our country. 
The ALA people that attack our moral foundations are ""gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered". I went to the ALA website. I missed all of this. By the way, what does "transgendered" mean? Is it contagious? 
Lancaster shows concern for the "taxpayer". At what point did paying taxes determine a person's rights? I don't remember that part of the Constitution. 
According to Lancaster if a book is on the shelves of the library it is "recommended". How many hours did it take to find one that Lancaster can ridicule? The ALA is a professional organization. What are his qualifications to decide what should be on the shelves? 
I read in the paper today (July 3) where several soldiers from Fort Bliss received medals for action in Iraq: People with names like Edgar Hernandez, Shoshana Johnson, James Grubb, Francis Carista, Matthew Rose, James Riley, Damien Luten, Patrick Miller, Curtis Campbell, and Joseph Hudson. I believe that these people risked their lives for the ALA's "twisted view of the First Amendment", ie., that everyone can say they want, read what they want, and write what they want, however distasteful. 
Judge Alan Sadler and Precinct Chairman Tom Lancaster are dangerous. Cultures are changed by the free flowing ideas and behavior of people, not by government dictate. Surely, moderate conservatives can find better leadership. 

Mike Dubuisson 
The Woodlands, TX 

Comments on HSMC Case 

Heather Boggs and Christina Fontaine are both good friends of mine. I know for absolute certain that Heather is telling 100% of the truth. I saw those 8 healthy puppies myself the day they left. I was the first one Heather called distraught when this horror started. I would vouch for Heather or Christina in a court of law any day.
They are telling the truth and idiot f****** Ganther should lose his job. These animals come to them for help, but in fact they would be much better off on the street. It is truly sad that people are so ignorant and covering other peoples ass at the expense of many lives. It breaks my heart and pisses me off. 

Ashley Jenkins 
Lifetime Member of PETA 

Humane Society 

Folks – PLEASE get your facts right before you slam the Humane Society in Conroe. You published a letter from S. Hill in Montgomery. Mr. or Mrs. Hill – the Humane Society in Conroe had nothing to do with your cats. Only animals from the CITY limits of Conroe and Willis are brought to the shelter. The cats in question would have been transported to the Montgomery County animal facility on 242. 
The Humane Society is dependent on donations – please do not, by your misinformation and wrongful accusations hurt this cause. If you have a complaint, please take it up with the proper authority.

S. Rosemund
Willis, TX

Is Judge Sadler to Waste Taxpayers’ Money?

Under the guise of protecting unsupervised children in the public libraries of Montgomery County, Texas, Judge Alan B. Sadler proposes to withdraw from the American Library Association so that by-laws opposed to censorship may be deleted. 
This tactic has been tried unsuccessfully in Loudoun County, Virginia, and the effort cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees--and much public rancor--to return to the protection of the original ALA by-laws. 
What happened in Loudoun County, Virginia, can happen in Montgomery County, Texas. A Group of people angry that books in the public libraries contradict their beliefs accused the ALA of promoting pornography and child abuse by homosexual adults. The Group does not address child abuse by heterosexual adults, who commit the large majority of sex crimes against children.
The Loudoun County library system responded by withdrawing membership from the ALA, thereby removing the protections of the ALA by-laws. The Group then proceeded to censor every book about Christianity not written by Christians who hold the Group’s views. Books by contemporary Christian theologians and non-Christians were pulled from the public library shelves. Only those books that promote the opinions of the Group were deemed acceptable. People who went to the public library to read works by contemporary Christian theologians were advised to purchase heretical books from a non-religious book store. 
After more than two years of legal wrangling and nearly a quarter of a million dollars in legal fees, the public library system in Loudoun County, Virginia, returned to the protection of the ALA by-laws. 
Judge Sadler proposes that Montgomery County, Texas, experience this public upset and waste of taxpayer money in response to Montgomery County’s own Group.
I suggest that in light of the experience in Loudoun County, Virginia, Judge Sadler rethink this political move.

K.E.S. Palmisano
The Woodlands, Texas 

Money Should not be a Problem

I don't understand why they have a problem! They won't give you a refund under any circumstance unless you call in 24 hours ahead of time to cancel a spade. They said the vet still showed up but he wasn't just scheduled for my dog and now they won't refund my $105.00. This was out of my control.
I separated from my husband before the date arrived and he said he would take care of it. It did not get taken care of and i am trying to make it by myself and it would have helped to get my money back that was some from my income tax return.
So, if they do this to other customers, why are they having such a problem cleaning the place and taking care of the animals?

Tommie Mize

People in Glass Houses...

The 'conservative' faction of Montgomery County is back in action again. Preaching about corruption in the library, how books have turned children into suicidal homosexuals and so on. Their focus is on how all liberals are ruining society and our children. What about the conservative adults who are ruining society, our children and other adults?
Here are some interesting facts to think about: we have high ranking school officials accused of sexual harassment; we have a high ranking county politician accused of sexual harassment; sitting and standing in commissioner's court on Monday, July 14, 2003 was a man known to physically abuse his wife, two men who have had extra marital affairs, one woman who has had an abortion, and one woman who paid for her daughter to have an abortion. (And these are only the ones I know about.) Guess the common thread of these people?... they are all REPUBLICANS! Now isn't that just a kick in the pants?
Were these people driven to commit these acts of sin because of books, or our library's membership in the ALA? Was it what they watched on television or in the movie theaters (that they paid to watch)? Tell me o' great hypocritical conservatives, what evil forced these adults to do these horrific acts? My opinion: free will mixed with a heavy dose of immorality. One can only imagine what our children must think, or the impact on their lives, of 'upstanding' adult members of Montgomery County who abuse, harass, commit adultery, and lie. And believe me, they don't get this kind of education in any section of the library. Oh no, they get it from the front page of the newspaper, on the 6 o'clock news, and tragically for some, in their own home. Whoops, I think I just heard some glass houses being shattered by stones.

D. Lincoln
Conroe, TX

Music Scene

Many thanks to you and The Bulletin for your attempts to keep the local music scene alive. It is much appreciated by many of the bands we play along side. In addition, we would like to invite you to witness what one fan has considered "..one of the most original bands to come out of the Conroe/Houston area in years." 
The band is called Zombilly and you witnessed our debut show at the 19th Hole April 19th along with Three Fantastic and Leather Pants. Since the April 19th show the music has become bigger and more psycho than ever with a fan base that is ever evolving and popularity that is snowballing even to the Austin and San Antonio areas with the Graverockers network. I have attached our newsletter to this e-mail as well as the web address. We will be playing the Axiom and Fitzgeralds in August along side Clousieux (our drummer is the flame breather for Clousieux) as well as other shows to be named both in San Antonio and Houston. 
We utilize the P.A.R.C. facilities for practice downstairs with other bands Too Bad Mice and Soul Harbour. You are more than welcome to view our practice and talk with us on Mondays and Wednesdays there. We appreciate your attention and any interest you have in Conroe's psychoghoulabilly surf band. Promopacks and audio are available. 

Ivan Dead
Zombilly 

Sweet Stalker

This is a very thorough article; however, I fail to understand why the writer included the following statement: "Outside Burns' office a registered sex offender, a well-built black man, seems to be seeking empathy from Burns.”
Maybe mentioning that sex offenders seek sympathy from Burns would have gotten the point across with identifying his race. I also noticed that no other individual's race was mentioned in the article. Again, why was race mentioned in that context? As a journalist, you have a responsibility to fair and impartial...

Bobbie L. Clayton 

Roy Head

Your Roy Head interview was very good. When was the interview published? I did not see a date on the story. You mentioned a new Roy Head CD. Will it be released this summer?

Leon Beck

More Roy Head 

I saw Roy Head in Los Angeles in 1966 at a club called the Velvet Slipper, I had just returned from Viet Nam and was driving around Los Angeles in my 1954 Austin Healy 100-4 sports car, prior to returning to my home in Illinois . 
I saw the marquee with his name on it and remembered that I had heard his music in Texas when I was down there for training. I went to the show, and got to meet Roy, who was gracious and down to earth, sat at his table.. 
To this day I have not forgotten the music, his stage presence or his dance steps. What a great performer. 
I just watched the "Commitments" on T.V.and as soon as I heard the songs like "Treat Her Right" I was transported to a club in L.A. to a time long ago watching a white singer, who took the time to be nice to Viet Nam Veteran, out dance James Brown. 
I wish I could personally thank him for his music and the memories. 
I was heartened to see that he is alive and well and performing.... 

Dr. Douglas August Sapper III 
Tulsa Oklahoma

Montgomery County Library 

This letter is in response to the Commissioners Court hearing concerning our library system and the American Library Association. 
The majority of the children of our county have parents who actively participate in the daily activities of their children. As active parents they are not concerned that their children will encounter “objectionable” material at the library. This is because those parents visit the library with their children and actively participate in that experience with their children. Active parents are constantly looking for opportunities to shape the principles of their children. Contact with any type of material provides those opportunities when the parents are present and willing to dialog with their children.
Most people who object to our library appear to be inactive parents. These people want a “safe” place to drop off their kid for a few hours. These parents want to just forget about their children while they are otherwise occupied. In order for the library to be “safe” they have to control the materials present in the library and step on the civil liberties of everyone else. 
It seems to me that the libraries A.L.A. membership should be reinstated so that our librarians have access to the latest information on library technology. After all, would you take away your doctor’s membership to the American Medical Association because a neighbor didn’t like A.M.A.’s opinion on teenage smokers?
I do not believe those present at the hearing represent the majority of Montgomery County or a reasonable voice concerning our library system. I request that you encourage responsible child rearing by up holding the principle of open access and information rich libraries and discourage turning our libraries into the equivalent waste land of network television.
To express your concerns contact our commissioners at the addresses below:
County Judge Alan B. Sadler
301 N. Thompson, # 210, Conroe, TX 77301
phone: 936-539-7812, fax: 936-760-6919
e-mail: cojudge@co.montgomery.tx.us

Commissioner Precinct 1 Mike Meador
113 S. Trice Street, Willis, TX 77378
phone: 936-856-4851, fax: 936-539-7874
e-mail: bhouser@co.montgomery.tx.us

Commissioner Precinct 2 Craig Doyal 
38927 FM 1744, Magnolia, TX 77355
phone: 936-539-7816, fax: 936-760-6954
e-mail: cdoyal@co.montgomery.tx.us


Commissioner Precinct 3 Ed Chance
1130 Pruitt Road, Spring, TX 77380
phone: 936-539-7817, fax: 281-298-7321
e-mail: commis3@co.montgomery.tx.us

Commissioner Precinct 4 Ed Rinehart
P. O. Box 84, New Caney, TX 77357
phone: 936-521-8919, fax: 936-521-8918
e-mail: cmailto: kparr@co.montgomery.tx.us

Michael Phillips
The Woodlands, TX

Animal Control

Today I had an animal control person come by my house and threaten to give me a ticket because my little dog was running lose in my yard. I could understand if it was running lose in the neighbor hood and bothering neighbors but in my on yard. I had let him out to go to the bathroom. I was informed that whenever I let my dog out of my house it had to be on a leash just to go out in my yard for just a few minutes. 
Is Conroe that hard up for money and is everyone there at the shelter have to be so hateful. The animal control lady picked up a female that belonged to my neighbor who had just had puppies under my house. She picked up the mamma dog but not her 8 puppies who were just 2 days old. 
This is inhuman. The little girl next store was in the process of getting her puppies and mamma dog when the dog catcher came by. This is not the first time something like this has happened. Once before when the dog catcher came by I had a fence up and the kids had left the gate open. The dog catcher lured my dog out of my yard onto the road and then gave me a ticket for no rabbi shot. I see all these stray dogs running loose and she doesn't bother them just lets them run free. Well to me picking up a mother dog with 8, 2 day old puppies and leaving the puppies is the last straw. What can be done about this animal control person. I think she should be fired or sent to school or something. I don't think she has any feelings for animals at all. This is mean. I know the puppies is going to die and what was so bad my 8,& 3 year old, my nieces 9 and 7 were outside when she took the dog away and had them catch the dog for her.

Kathy

Time to Take a Stand

I’d be willing to bet most of you are like me. Go to work every day to support your family or perhaps just yourself. The rest of your day is taken up by sitting in traffic, taking care of your house, spending time with your spouse, kids, friends and if you are lucky some time for yourself. Never enough time to do everything you have to do, much less what you would like to do.
Then some fool like me comes along and ask you to do one more thing.
I ask you to take a stand on something you may not even have heard of. 
On September 13 of this year the elections will be held to allow you to vote for 22 statewide constitutional amendments and on ONE important local issue.
That local issue is the formation of the Southwest Montgomery County Improvement District (SWMCID). This district would impose an additional 1-2 cents per dollar in sales taxes. This is a 14-28% increase in the amount of sales taxes you are paying now, which translates into $100-300 a year, perhaps more.
While there are many arguments pro and con on this issue, I ask…
Is this the Right Thing to do?
Is it right that in a time of high unemployment and high taxes we are imposing the people of the area with an additional tax burden? 
Is it moral to tell an out-of-work citizen of our area that they have to pay more taxes so that we can build community centers, and then charge them for the privilege to use them?
Is it moral to tell a single parent that they must pay additional taxes so that we can entice companies to move to the area by using corporate welfare as an incentive?
Is it moral for our children to be saddled with the debt of the bonds that will be issued to pay for risky schemes that the un-elected board of directors will devise over the next 2-4 years? (All 6 at-large board members will be initially appointed by the county)
Is it fair that you will be paying the executive director of the SWMCID a huge salary to spend your money?
Is it right that the organizers and sponsors of the SWMCID rushed this through the legislature with very poorly announced public meetings?
Is it right that the cities of Magnolia, Conroe and Stagecoach township will be able to appoint members to the board when the sales tax will not be imposed within their city limits?
Is it the right and moral for You to do Nothing on September 13 and allow the SWMCID be approved without your voice being heard?
If you agree that it is not the Right Thing to impose more tax burden on yourself and your neighbors, then take the time and vote NO to the proposed Southwest Montgomery County Improvement District on September 13 or vote early starting August 28. And take the time to call or write County Commissioner Craig Doyle to let him know exactly what you think about his plan to raise your taxes. Ask him why he thinks this is the right thing to do.
Thank you for your time.

Tom Villman
Conroe, TX

Humane Society

I would like to take a few minutes of your time to address the articles concerning the Humane Society of Montgomery County. I as an employee also have an opinion. 
Sometimes facts and fiction are turned around. The facts however are as plain as the faces on the unwanted animals that make the days at the shelter seem so long. The public unaware of the magnitude of the unwanted and stray animals that fill the kennels on a daily basis. Some previous employees, disgruntled, unhappy, or whatever category they fall into, know first hand the ins and outs of life at the shelter. Sick and unwanted animals are brought to us daily. There is only so much room to house and care for them. And let me reassure you that every animal is fed and his or her cages cleaned daily, regardless of what some seem to think. Yes the building is old, and needs repairs. But trust me the animals don't care about the looks of the 29 year old building. There are a lot of things that need to be addressed, but lack of caring is not one of them. Bad news is what sells, and good news sometimes gets left unsaid. The good news is that as of July 8, 2003 there are 262 animals that are not on the street being starved and neglected not being ran over by a car or truck traveling 50 or 60 miles an hour. 262 animals are not being rained on and tearing up the trash looking for something to eat. Unless you have ever worked in a shelter environment, then you have no clue as to what goes on. You only have the word of those of us who have.
Given any situation you can take out of it what you will but the public only hears the words of the ones who seem to be unhappy. I get up every morning and come to my job willingly.
Most of us are here because we need to work but all of us are pet owners ourselves, and would not dream of abusing an animal. The people that dump animals and abuse animals are the ones that should be bashed, not the ones that are trying to care for the thousands of animals that have come through the doors of the Humane Society. Personal issues are abundant, but personal issues do not belong inside of a business that in my opinion is one of the toughest jobs anyone can do. To take a bad situation and make something good out of it is always the best thing to do. I would just like to invite all of the readers who really don't know what to believe to come to the shelter and just see what it is really about. 

Cindy Holman 
Operations Mgr., Humane Society

Tsk, Tsk

This battle of words could go on and on. But would like to comment on the opinion and wisdom of one Ashley Jenkins. Her terrible lack of being a lady only results in making herself look bad. As far as name calling there is no excuse for it. Mr. Ganther only came to the shelter 13 days prior to the so called filming of the conditions at the Humane Society. To call him what she did is not only tasteless, but down right insulting. What should happen to the one who wrote it, but also the Bulletin for printing such garbage. I was appalled by the language used in the newspaper. There are some people who choose to read your paper, and do not wish to read the nasty language. A point can be made without using such vulgarity. I will continue to defend the Humane Society, and so should all of the ones that really know what we do. 

N.Glazier 
HSMC

Help the animals

The Montgomery County Humane Society 
I join many animal lovers of Montgomery County who are saddened, but grateful, that your newspaper would expose a glaring need in our community. I called last week for information of how to send a contribution. I had tried in vain to find an address in the phone book. I finally found a phone number and called. The young lady who answered at the Dallas center did not have the address at hand. I had to wait several minutes for her to locate it.
I hope that your magazine will print this in BOLD, so that others may send money or offer service. The phone is: 936-756-3914. The address for contributions is: 
The Conroe Adoption Center
1016 East Dallas Street
Conroe, Tx. 77301. 
Thank you for your efforts to help the animals. 

Marilyn Moore 
Conroe, Tx

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