Sounding Board
Our Readers Write Email us at: bensharp@journal-spectator.com
Courthouse trees

Letter to the Editor:

Since I have been quite overt (both orally and written) in the debacle of the Wharton County Courthouse pecan trees issue, there is some positive information that should be shared with everyone. Six or eight weeks ago, I was informed that professional tree experts from Texas A&M had been consulted and upon inspecting the courthouse trees declared them all in good health with the exception of four or five. These four or five need to be removed. The remaining pecan trees needed only proper maintenance and occasional proper pruning. Upon hearing this news I was ready to dance a jig! I have waited to see this reported in news print and none has appeared.

Friday I encountered Commissioner Mickey Reynolds at Capital-One Bank. I repeated this information and asked if it were indeed true and valid. Mickey gave me a joyous Christmas smile and yes indeed it was good information. He stated that he would be quite happy for me to write yet another editorial to get this good news to the Wharton County public.

Hopefully, the trees that are removed will be replaced expeditiously with pecan trees of a reasonably decent size and not just two inch saplings. Merry Christmas to all!

Dr. Margaret A. Hooker

Hungerford

Don Tol church

Letter to the Editor:

Oct. 22 was a sad day for the 139-year-old Old Bethlehem church in Don Tol. I had asked the man who was allowed to use the church not to take our church's cornerstone and bell. Over 50 people from this community shared my view, including an 80-year-old lady who is sick and must walk with a cane, but on Oct. 22 he and his brother came as if they were doing demolition and ripped the cornerstone from where it had stood for years.

He called the police on us and tried to have us arrested. My life was threatened by his brother. But my God told me to forgive him and his brother because they knew not what they were saying nor doing. I did, but I will never forget. He has no right to tear our community church down nor remove anything off or out of it just because he's building a new church. I live in this community and I care deeply about my community's history, which they know nothing about. Old Bethlehem will always be part of our community.

If I have to stand by myself I will stand alone for righteousness because I've been baptized and I've been washed in the blood of the Lamb, and I have another home besides this earthly home, I have a heavenly home. I've asked for the prayers of the righteous to help support me.

Norman Simmons

Don Tol