BallingerNews.com

Letters to the Editor Sponsored by:
(The views expressed in the following letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the sponsor of this page)

Thanks
7/18/2010
I would like to thank everyone that came by on Wednesday and helped us celebrate our grand opening at Doug Little State Farm in Ballinger.  If you were not able to attend, we had a ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce along with Mr. Ballinger Laurence Jaramillo, Miss Ballinger Logan Orozco, Court member Kelsey Lott and we all enjoyed pizza and cake.  All our guests left with gift bags and we got to meet a lot of our new neighbors.  We look forward to meeting everyone in the community as we continue to get settled in and make Runnels county our home.

Thank you again for the great welcome!
Doug and Carole Little

Newton Gang
6/27/2010
Between 1917 and 1924 Willis Newton and his gang robbed banks and trains in Texas, the mid-western states and Canada. They hit 6 trains and more than seventy banks including those in the Ballinger area.  I am a Kerrville writer doing research for a new book on the Newton brothers.  

Two months before Willis died in 1979 I did a lengthy interview with him and was able to get a bed-side interview two weeks before he passed away at the age of 90.  I am very interested in locating pictures, newspaper articles and personal first-hand accounts of the robberies.  If any of the newspaper readership has information on the Newtons I can be reached at grwtexas@hotmail.com.  

For the curious, Willis was unrepentant to the very end.  He justified everything he did with the simple explanation that he was just stealing from other crooks. 

G.R. Williamson
Kerrville, TX 78028

Thanks to a Good Samaritan
6/20/2010
A few days ago I decided to take a ride on my motorcycle. For no particular reason I turned down the road towards the Elm Creek one mile crossing. I eased across the water drove up a bit then decided to back track. I slowly eased back though the water and all of the sudden my cycle slipped out from under me. I tried to stand but the crossing was slippery with moss. I realized what had happened as I finally stood up on the slick mess. I recently had surgery and was under orders not to lift anything for another month. I had a 600 pound motorcycle lying on its side and couldn’t do one thing to get it up right. I waited for some time and finally a Good Samaritan came along in the form of Kyle Mansell. Mr. Mansell waded out and without any hesitation, and despite the slippery footing got my bike back on its wheels for me. He also followed up with a phone call the next day to inquire about my well being. Thank God that Mr. Mansell came along and was willing to help. Thank you Mr. Mansell

Sincerely: Buck Buchanan

Word of Thanks
6/1/2010
To Whom it May Concern:

Just a word of thanks and congratulations on having a great and welcoming little town. I brought a crew into Ballinger last week to install some fiber optic cable for Ballinger ISD. With this being our first time in Ballinger we were at lost as to where to find and purchase materials needed for the job. I would like to thank everyone for being so helpful and receptive to our needs. I am from a small town also and I hope when people from out of town come to my hometown they will be met with the same welcoming and helpful residents as those in Ballinger. A special thanks to the management at The Executive Inn, Dixie Hardware, Ballinger ISD, IGA Store, Batts Rental, Adelitas Restaurant, the Steak House (North of Town), and the First Baptist Church. Thank you again and please pass the following on to everyone.

Steve Wootten
Supervisor
Diamond H Services, Inc.
Longview, TX

 

Congratulations
3/2/2010
I was so glad to hear that Gene Davis was recognized as Ballinger's citizen of the year.  Gene is a very giving and unselfish man.  He is one of those individuals that helps a lot behind the scenes.  He probably never expected to get an award for simply volunteering and doing his civic duties. 

Congratulations Mr. Davis
Sincerely,  Buck Buchanan
 

Stonewall - Budget Inn
2/28/2010
     First things first, I would like to make it known that I (Lebecca Davis), a born resident of this town, am now Manager at the (Stonewall) Budget Inn, located here in Ballinger. I took over as Manager the weekend before Christmas and I took this job with a vision in mind. I have high hopes for this motel and with the help of our community those hopes (my vision), might be possible. Most everyone in this town knows me and knows what type of person I am. Many of you may remember when I was manager at Town & Country and remember that I took my job very personally as well as seriously. Well, I take my job here at the Stonewall  as manager just as personally and  as seriously, which leads me to the purpose of this letter.
    Just this past week (Tuesday, February 23, 2010) events that took place in town leading to a police chase,  ended in front of Stonewall. It didn't take long for my phone to start ringing with family and friends asking what was going on and whether or not my children and I were OK. Just today (2-28-10), I was asked what had taken place on that particular day, that they had heard that there was a drug bust. 
     I would like to make it public knowledge and set the rumor straight that those events had NOTHING to do with the Stonewall or with anyone that was staying at the Stonewall at that time. I realize that past events have had/or caused many to look down up on this particular business and I would like to be given the chance to change that view. Apart from that, I would like to let people know that just because someone gets pulled over or some other chain of events may end on or around this property, it does not mean that it involves this business.
     I am trying to build a positive reputation for this motel. If our local community is not willing to give it and myself a chance to improve not only the reputation but the conditions of the motel, my visions and hopes are wasted. I am not one to give up easily, but I am asking for the communities help. Think of the extra business it would bring to this town if we had more people willing to stay at our local motels. Those same people will need food, possibly clothes, license, toiletries or many other things that other businesses have to offer right here in our home town. If our locals are referring these people to stay in San Angelo motels, they are sending that extra business to San Angelo as well. Anyone whom owns or manages a business understands what I'm says.
      All I am  asking for is A POSITIVE word of mouth and your referrals. Give Me a chance! Give us all a chance! Let's make Ballinger prosperous together. 

Thank You!
Lebecca Davis -Manager
(Stonewall) Budget Inn
 

Ex Donates to "Friend"
1/27/2010
Hello Ballinger,

I have been following the "FRIEND" project from up here in Colorado Springs, CO since its beginning. I must say that I have been excited about this project since I first read about it in the Ballinger Ledger. Back in the day I played on that hill, in the city park, and have also heard the stories about the "Indian" that used to stand atop that concrete hill. I would like to be a part of the restoration project of the "FRIEND" so I have enclosed a donation. I would also like to challenge ANY other out of state citizens to match my donation of $25. I challenge them to show their love for the Great City of Ballinger! Thanks to ALL the kids that have taken this project on! It makes me Proud!!!!

Peace and Love,
Todd Clifton

Seeking Information on early 1900's Murder
1/7/2010
I'm looking for help in research concerning the first murder on the South Plains near Lubbock, and there is a connection I believe to Ballinger.
A  handsome young land developer, Jim Jarrott, was shot 5 times in the back in summer of 1902 with no witnesses(where is CSI when you need one?).  Several years later the notorious hit man/ killer Deacon Jim Miller casually mentioned to a jailor that he had been the one to shot Jarrott, and then Miller was dragged out of an Ada, Oklahoma jail and hanged.
Miller was in Ballinger and involved in shootouts there, and his brother-in-law was also killed in a saloon fight there in 1887.  What I'm trying to establish is that Miller knew a family in Runnels County who were the Julius GLASER family with sons Benjamin, Robert, Andrew, and son-in-law W.B. Turner.
TheGlasers would have come sometime after 1880 when they were in Guadalupe County.Julius Glaser is listed in the 1896 Civil War Veterans list and is in the 1900 census for Runnels County.  So I need someone to look at old tax records or lists of deputy sheriffs or  business owners or any scrap that might be in a dusty file somewhere.  Julius' son Benjamin may have played a part in the murder, so that is why I'm trying to connect Deacon Jim and the family while he was in Ballinger.   I will be glad to pay someone for doing the looking for me.
It's a fascinating story that has never been told, so I need all the help I can get.
My e-mail address is    altolady33@aol.com
Many thanks from Lubbock
Judy Womack

Thanks Ballinger!
12/12/2009
   At dusk on Dec 9th we rolled our motorhome into town on our trip from Mexico (not New) to Florida for a holiday visit with family-one of whom had just recently returned from Kuwait. A helpful young man gave us directions to the City Park. It was almost dark by then. We must have looked confused, because when we arrived at the park another young man stopped his pickup and led us to the campsites that circle the meadow, and answered every question with a yes sir/no sir.
  We awoke to a crisp, clear morning. A glaze of ice had formed on the water below the dam, and our dog was trying to communicate with a bobcat and about 10 wild turkeys enjoying the meadow.
  Later on our dog walk, we came across a talkative older man picking up hickory nuts, who informed us they make the best pie you ever ate.
  Upon leaving the park a city employee checking the pool, directed us to the dump station and gave us directions to get back on the highway.
   What a grand experience !! The hunters may not have arrived yet, but the hospitality was all over town.
   Now we know why Ballinger is called "the greatest little town in Texas".

Kent and Louise Ogden
Las Vegas, NV

Not enough Coverage
12/5/2009
To Whom it may concern.

It has come to my attention that the Ballinger Junior High Lady Cats B teams are not recognized very often as they should be. They have great energy and love for the game as many others do. They work very hard with determination to complete the goals they want to achieve. It would be nice to see them in the Ballinger spot light to let them know that they are doing a great job.

Lady Cat Fan
Dulce Castillo

In reply to Dulce's concern, she was sent the following:
Dulce, 

I appreciate your concern. Let me see if I can bring it all into perspective for you.

BallingerNews.com, WintersTXNews.com and my photography at GorePhotographyShop.com are all run by me. As you might guess, I cannot be at every single event as much as I'd love to. I really love our BISD Sports and other BISD events and try to be at as many as I can. I have only been able to make it to one evening of Jr High basketball games so far this season. It's not because I don't want to believe me. It's because of my constant busy schedule. I work every day at my day job, then do photography and this news page, plus the WintersTXNews.com that I'm trying to grow into a viable news source like BallingerNews.com has become.

At the current income levels for these two news webpages, there is no room in the budget to pay reporters. I suspect there never will be. So, with that said, I like to call to the public to send me any and all news (and photos). And the public is doing an AWESOME job so far!!! I have not yet denied anyone a newsworthy item or photo. And best of all, no one has to pay to have their news item added. This is the model I was given when I bought BallingerNews.com from the previous owner and it has proven successful for them as their news webpage is 9+ years old now.

One way I have tried to improve the sports coverage recently, in case you have not noticed, is that I have asked our Athletic Director for some help. I have asked him if he could provide me with a weekly report of scores and what not that he compiles from the coaches of the various levels of sports action. You'll notice the first edition of this on the sports page currently. This may or may not address your concerns on the Lady Cubs B team action, but it's a start. I suspect that if there's not coverage for a specific team, it's probably due to the fact that the coach of that team did not send anything in.

With all that said, I say thanks for caring enough to write in. Thanks for reading this news page and thanks for giving me the opportunity to explain it all.

 Now, what I ask of you is to send me any info you may have that I was unable to cover or attend. The community is what makes this page tick and I cannot thank them enough.

 Thanks,
Jason Gore

Credit to Lineman
11/12/2009
To whom it may concern:

I would just like to congratulate the offensive line of the Ballinger Bearcats because without them, the quarterbacks, running backs and receivers who get recognized in the papers would not be possible. Also the defensive line that did a great job throughout the year. I would also hope that the Bearcats continue the hard work and have a better season in 2010!!

Frank Rodriguez
 

Reader from Georgia
11/3/2009
Thank you for such a wonderful and informative web site.  We live  in Lakeland, Georgia, but our  son and his family live in Ballinger and we are able to keep up with a lot of the things they are doing there, especially the children.  I see my grandchildren frequently on the faces page and I am very proud of the Ballinger Bearcats Band as one of the members is my grandson, Ian.  Keep up the good work.

Dianne and Chandler Sirmans
Parents of T.C. Sirmans and family

Hospital Concerns
10/27/2009
I read the article that states that we have excellent family practice physicians in Ballinger.  Dr Rightmire is in poor health and Dr McKinnon doesn't take patients at the nursing home.  With these issues at hand how do you think that it is a good thing to keep patients in Ballinger?  When a person comes to the emergency room and sees only a nurse and the doctor never comes, yet they still receive a bill for the doctors services.  How is this good for the community?  When a person is in the hospital and their doctor is in the room next to them as a patient.

How is this good for the community?  And when a patient goes into the hospital and their nurse is rude and acts as though its ruining her day for them to be there, how is this good?  I have talked to numerous people who have been in Ballinger Hospital and have been treated so rudely by the staff.  Until staff is changed out with people who really care about patients and their jobs, patients will not want to come there.  There are numerous problems with healthcare in Ballinger that citizens refuse to deal with.  It has become easier for them to seek healthcare elsewhere.  When the hospital & the doctors become concerned about the service and care that they give their patients, then the City of Ballinger will be concerned about the hospital and the clinic.  Really, think about it,  Doctors from elsewhere came in & started a clinic, residents were willing to go to Coleman where these doctors practiced to be placed in the hospital, and when that clinic closed, Ballinger Clinic bought the charts to end the competition.  Was there REALLY competition????  NO.  It was all about patient care.  Think about it. 

Sincerely, Concerned Citizen, Martha Martinez

Coach Keesee
10/27/2009

To Whom It May Concern:                                                    

Coach Aaron Keesee was hired by the school board to be the head coach of the Ballinger Bearcat football team as well as the athletic director. In the short time that he has been here, he has been working diligently to turn the program around. Turning a program around does not happen overnight as we all know. That does not even happen at the professional or collegiate levels. We, as fans, are in my opinion, expecting that turn around in the program to occur immediately.

It is hard at any level to go back to your roots and coach, without high expectations set before you arrive. I don’t know a coach out there who does not want to win. Believe me, this coach and his staff want to win more than the next staff.  We as parents and fans must realize that a coaching staff must start from the ground up to build a foundation. This Bearcat team stepping out on the field every Friday night is a young team, not to mention, learning a new offensive system.

We must be patient and give the coach a chance to build his foundation to get this team of young men to believe in him as well as themselves. We are all frustrated things have not gone their way, but with maturity and a growing knowledge base each game will get better.

Let’s support Coach Keesee and his staff, along with the team, to achieve success as they strive to improve weekly through the struggles of a very young team. 

Always a Bearcat,

Kenneth Manley (class of 1981)

Letter From Vermont
10/15/2009
Thanks for bringing the 'local' news to all of us who have moved away but still want to know what's going on back at home. You folks are doing a really good job! Keep up the good work! 

Lee Ann (Speckels) Dennis, Norwich, Vt

Thanks from the Park Board
9/15/2009
The Ballinger Park Board would like to thank everyone that helped make Design Day a success.  Thank you to Mr. Arrott and all the teachers at the Elementary that allowed us to come in a speak with the students about what they would like to see at the park.  Rotary and Rotary Interact for everything you did with the meal, set-up and clean-up.  Stan Bickel for providing our designer with a place to stay, Texas Cookie Jar for the muffins and cookies, First Baptist Church for allowing us borrow the projector, Mike White for the meal tickets, IGA, Toliver's, Apples-N-Spice, and Chandelier Ranch for the raffle items.

We look forward to this build and seeing the kids enjoy this for years to come.

Ballinger Park Board

Thank you from Ballinger FD
9/2/2009
The Ballinger Fire Department wishes to thank all the Sponsors and Participants of the 7^th Annual Fire Department Golf Tournament at the Ballinger Country Club, held August 8^th & 9^th, 2009. For with without your participation or sponsorship, the great success of the fundraising project would not have been possible. 

A big thank you to the Ballinger Country Club for letting the department host the tournament at their facilities.

The Ballinger Fire Department thanks you for your support in 2009.

Thank God for loving and Caring People
8/13/2009
On Wednesday 12, 2009 Ballinger experienced a freak storm that cropped up out of nowhere. I didn't really think anything about it. It was just some rain that we as a city needed in a very bad way. I was sitting in my living room pondering and questioning some of the things that have happened to me in my life since Christmas of 2008. To put it bluntly, I was having yet another pity party for myself. I was thinking just how cruel and mean people can be when a person is down on their luck. I had really lost all faith in humanity.

Thanks to the Community and Fire Department
7/2/2009
Thank you to everyone in the community for all of the thoughts and prayers, and for the beautiful plants and flowers and delicious food.  It is overwhelming and humbling to know that one has such a generous and loving community to support them during rough times.  All of the wonderful acts of kindness will always be remembered.

To everyone in the fire department, 

    Thank you so much for all of the food and household items that were brought to our house.  It was so hard to come home with the new baby knowing that Lonnie was not going to be there.  Once again I was shown that the fire department family is always there when you need help or simply a shoulder to cry on.  Words can never express how much we appreciate everything that you have done.  My kids will always know that their daddy loved being a volunteer fireman, and that he was so proud to be part of such an outstanding fire department.  Again, thank you for everything.

 Thank you,
Sharon, Caitlin and Riley Bishop 

Curing Cancer Dance
5/20/2009
I wanted to say a special thank you to Elizabeth Cook, the girls from the bank and all the wonderful people that put on the dance.  It was a wonderful event and I hope that there are many more to follow.  I had friends and family that came from Midland/Odessa  and they really enjoyed themselves.  Again, thanks for putting this together for people of all ages.  What a wonderful way to show your support and raise money for Cancer. 

Thanks to Elizabeth Cook and City of Ballinger
5/19/2009
My name is Terry Hucks and I'm the General Manager at KDCD, Lonestar 92.9 and its sister station KMDX, 106.1 MDX in San Angelo. I want to personally thank Elizabeth Cook and the City of Ballinger for being such great hosts for the First Annual Curing Cancer Dance.

Everyone involved with this great first-time event was able to see what most towns can't: the bigger picture. You supported an event that not only raised awareness about cancer, but raised significant dollars for research in the fight against this awful disease. Ballinger showed its true heart in backing this great cause. For that, you should be very proud of yourself and your community.

I've been doing this for many years and I've never seen an event run as smoothly as this one was. Elizabeth Cook did an incredible job considering it was the first time she has organized an event on this scale. Mrs. Cook should be COMMENDED.

There are inevitably small issues that will arise with any event, but the key is to determine what those are and make improvements where they are needed. I have no doubt whatsoever that Elizabeth Cook will do that. She represents Ballinger with class and integrity that is hard to match. Her heart is as big as Texas, and we need more people like Elizabeth in this world who will selflessly sacrifice of themselves for a greater good.

Lonestar 92.9 is very proud to be a part of this great cause and looks forward to being the host station for the Second Annual Curing Cancer Dance.

Warmest Regards,
Terry Hucks-GM
KDCD Lonestar 92.9
KMDX 106.1 MDX
325-947-0899W.
325-656-1474C.
San Angelo, Texas 76901

Letter From Doris Studer
5/12/2009
Have you ever made something that you really liked, made it special and someone comes and smashes it? What if you keep on making it and this happens over and over and over again and it keeps on getting ruined? What if the people that are ruining it are very special to you and you keep helping them in spite of the hurt they are doing to you?

Did you ever stop to think of the trouble this country is in?

Every child is different even if they are twins or more. They all have special talents and we even had a president in a wheel chair. Every child is a gift from God, do people think they make babies? Most of us cannot even make a good pot of soup. The wonderful gift of sex is telling God that we are ready to have babies, and that we accept the responsibility of treasuring a child.

Do you think God is saying to Himself, I am tired of them killing my children? Have you ever looked at what the human body is composed of?

Our country is having a lot of issues and people are having many problems. Do you think God is saying wait a minute I am tired of them killing something I love, time to stop my protection of this country?

Our country needs a lot of help, there a lot of people who would like to have children and cannot. Why kill them? We are gifted with pregnancy centers and help mothers that cannot afford to have children with adoption agencies.

Please if you are thinking of an abortion, think again positively and do not.  Please stop abortion centers!

Doris Studer

New Viewer Speaks Up
4/24/2009
Jason and Joanna,

I love the website! I heard it advertised on KRUN, I then came home and decided to check out the webpage. It is very good, especially the weather application. I'll continue to visit and tell other people about it, especially my friends and family who don't live here but find the local news interesting.

God bless you! Ellen McKinnon

Compliment from New Braunfels
3/23/2009
(Directed to Cinnamon Carter)
I just saw your article in Butch Bridges' TnT from Ardmore, OK... I just wanted to tell you that the Ballinger website is awesome! That is the best and easiest read that I've seen. I wish the Daily Ardmoreite would follow your lead. They have the worst website around. So hard to read...Oh well anyway, we used to come thru Ballinger twice in a day on our way to Sweetwater to pick up our granddaughter. We've eaten at the Pizza Hut there but the best place is that little hamburger joint pretty close to the Methodist Church right on the curve going toward the high school. Those are the best hamburgers around, bar none!!! If you know those folks, be sure & tell them of our compliment! Again, I'm very impressed with your newspaper. I see you obviously work for the school district...good for you!
Thanks again for your interesting input.
Danna Rice New Braunfels, TX

Great Customer Service!
3/13/2009
Hello.

My husband and I were tourist in you city during February. I wanted to write and let you know how much we
enjoyed seeing your town and how helpful and nice your community was to us. I was in need of help from
a State Farm Agent. I was having trouble making some payments on the phone while traveling because I did
not have all the information I needed to do that with me. We came off the freeway into your town and found
Laurie Woodruff's State Farm Office. ( another business directed us )

At the time I could not get hold of my agent at home. I went in Laurie's office and explained my problem. The ladies wasted no time helping me. They located regional State Farm managers and my agent on the phone. They got a conference call going and settled everything up that I needed help with in a timely matter. I was so frustrated and they made it all BETTER. Plus, they offered us cookies and water and a comfy chair while they found the people we needed to help me in the State Farm System

Thank you to Laurie and her staff for helping us. They made us so comfortable we stayed and walk around town
some and had lunch and Texas Cookies. When we said we were tourists from Oregon EVERYONE said, "Welcome" with big smiles and shared a nice conversation about the area.

All our friends have been hearing about your nice town. Thank you Ballinger.

Rich and Jean Nilles Newberg Oregon

Letter from Iraq
2/23/2009
 
Jason,

Great to see Ballinger is up with the current times. I now can keep up with back home news during my travels. Thanks and keep up the great work.

Respectfully,
Ruben Castillo
Staff Sergeant
United States Marine Corps
Camp Pendleton, CA (currently deployed to Iraq)
(Class of 1996)

This particular letter deserved a reply from the Editor:

Ruben,

Great to hear the compliments! It gives me chill bumps thinking of what you’re doing for your country (us civilians) and taking the time to THANK me?! On behalf of BallingerNews.com we wish to send you, every other soldier, and every last veteran a big thanks (it can’t be said enough) and please come home safe!! If it weren’t for selfless people such as you, this world would truly be a different place.

Send us some photos from your day to day life over there, and we’ll post them on the faces page if you wish to share.

C ya and Thanks!
Jason Gore

Thanks to the Fire Departments!
2/22/2009

Dear Editor,

We would like to thank the Ballinger Fire Department, Rowena Fire Department, Miles Fire Department, and the volunteers for their hard work on the night of February 10th on River Road. Because of their quick reaction and expertise a potentially devastating wildfire was contained before tremendous damage could occur. So thank you to everyone involved for your professionalism. Also, we would like to say we are sorry to anyone affected by our mistake. We are just thankful that no one was harmed or lost their homes because of our negligence. Please don't hesitate to let us know if there is anything that we can do to try and make things right.

Before this incident we both considered ourselves responsible with building fires and extinguishing them as well. We now realize when conditions are right a fire can re-ignite four days after it's believed to be put out correctly. We thought pouring several gallons of water into a completely contained bar-b-que pit and putting a lid on would be safe enough, but we were wrong. We hope that everyone reading this will learn from our mistake and be diligent in taking the proper steps to extinguish any type of fire, no matter how harmless it seems. Thank you for your time.


Sincerely,
Jared Wheeless
Jason Wheeless