Cheers & Jeers
CHEERS: To Ms. Payne for caring enough to appear before the Texarkana Ark. Board of Directors to protest chaining dogs. More cheers to Charles Lokey, director of the Texarkana Animal Care and Adoption Center for his support of the ordinance to ban chaining. Special cheers to Vivien Hibbert for bringing Mike’s story before the Board. And finally, major cheers to the six directors who voted to ban this cruel practice. May Mike and many others enjoy their newfound freedom. —S.M., Texarkana, Ark.
CHEERS: I attended a musical a month ago put on by the Fouke Drama Department. This was presented in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ work. I would like to commend the teachers and students for their remarkable work. Children of all ages were used. The costumes were all so colorful and realistic. It was evident that a lot of time and hard work went into this presentation. It was spectacular. Cheers to all involved for great work. You all deserve an award.—J.C., Texarkana, Ark.
JEERS: To the Gazette editorial “Magic Budget.” Education and health care are the two largest items in the Texas budget. Cutting health care would be a double whammy with the loss of federal matching funds. Education is simply where the money is. Tax cuts are just one contributor to revenue losses. The downturn in the oil/gas segment has had a huge impact. Are you suggesting raising taxes in the midst of a downturn? Also, before we get visions of Charles Dickens, the is the second largest budget in Texas history i.e. $105 billion. By comparison, the budget in 2005 was $65 billion.—R.S., New Boston, Texas
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