To the Editor:

The Big Spring Professional Fire Fighters Association would like to thank the public, the fire chief’s office, KBST and the Big Spring Herald for all the baby items that were brought to the fire stations during our diaper drive for the Rainbow Room.

Carl Condray

Big Spring

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter in reference to what Mr. Downes said in Monday’s paper about the TAKS test. My thought on this that the test should be gone.

That test puts so much stress on kids when they have to take it, knowing that if they fail it they don’t graduate or pass to the next grade.

I am talking about the kids that are A-B or A honor students and even the ones that try their very best and pass all year then to have that test slap them in the face. They panic and don’t pass the TAKS test, so they stay in that grade.

Then there is the exit test for juniors and seniors, they could be honor students and take the exit test and freeze on it and fail it because of all the heavy stress to pass. These kids do not need the stress of such a test.

I wonder if any of the teachers and administrators could pass such a test if given to them.The kids don’t learn a whole lot because all they mainly do is study for the TAKS test. The state needs to look at this on the kids’ level and feel the heavy stress that they face having to take these tests.

Let Gov. Perry take them and see how he does. I see the stress that these kids are under when they have to take such tests and it shouldn’t be going on.

Then there are the kids that struggle and pass all year, then they expect them to pass the TAKS test. Come on, give them a break. No wonder they drop out of school.

I think if a student does good in school and passes their classes, they should be able to walk to the stage with their classmates.

Marge Clark

Big Spring

To the Editor:

I just read in today’s Herald about the current jail bid. It is my understanding that the bids received were low enough to allow the addition of 48 bed spaces to increase the capacity to 144 beds. I must agree with Commissioner Kilgore that this is a “no-brainer.”

Even though the bond was sold to the public as a 96-bed jail, when the bids are low enough to allow for the expansion, then it should be done as the public is already going to pay for it with this bond and it will save our heirs from having to go through this whole process again in the future.

Myself, being retired and on a fixed income from 23 years with the federal prison system, I can very well understand the need for capacity in the jail system.

The current situation with what is going on in our city, county, state and country is a prelude to what we can expect in the future. I would not worry right at this moment about hiring a jailer or other minor situations as the judge and Commissioner Simer indicated. Those situations will take care of themselves as the need arises.

The main issue right now is the future cost of expansion when it arises. The opportunity is here and now. Quit fussing and fighting about it and use some common sense.

Stephen L. Milikien

Big Spring

To the Editor:

In the May 9 issue of the Big Spring Herald, an article on the Howard County Commissioners Court’s special meeting states, “Commissioners told they can build  144-bed jail for price of 96-bed facility.” The article reported that the project architect, Jeff Heffelfinger, and construction manager, Danny Butler, delivered good financial news to the court. “After opening the bids las week, it appears the construction budge for the jail is going to come in at $1.2 million under budget,” said Heffelfinger. “The total construction budget with the bids we have now and are locked in for is $7.8 million. With that in mind, we have some alternate plans we need to consider.” Heffelfinger continued to stress, “It just makes sense to go ahead and build the additional bed space ... if you were to come back five or six years from now and add those 48 beds on, even at today's prices, you would be looking at $2.5 million to $3 million.”

Let me remind the citizens of Howard County that on the first agenda, January 2007, after County Judge Barr's election, he made the motion to fire the previous architect and recommended Jeff Heffelfinger as the replacement. Mr. Heffelfinger was hired and has built many jails and knows his business. Heffelfinger and Danny Butler recommended this 144-bed alternate design because this was an opportunity to take advantage of the lower construction cost bids. Their fees have already been set by contract, so an increase in size would not mean more income to either of them. No one on the commissioners court realized this situation would arise. Judge Barr's reaction was, “This beast has raised its ugly head again.” Commissioner Crooker called the alternate design a “golden opportunity.”

The crime rate continues to climb. In the Public Records section of the May 4 edition of the Herald there were 10 probated judgements made by Judge Barr. These included driving while intoxicated and theft. Check the County Court decision section and you will find “180 days in jail (jail time suspended, 6 months probation)” on these cases and you realize these people are not serving jail time.

This keeps the incarceration rate (time spent in jail) down — consequently you can get by with a smaller jail.

The incarceration rate in Sweetwater, population 15,156, is 4.08 percent. I wonder if Sweetwater is plagued by drive-by shootings and drugs. The incarceration rate in Big Spring, population, 33,029, is 1.63 percent. The average incarceration rate for the state of Texas is 2.63 percent.

In the May 13 edition of the Herald, Judge Barr was quoted as saying, “And there are so many other tools than just putting people in jail. You have your work programs and your bracelets, and we want to use all of those things and that will keep our incarceration rate down. If we need those beds at a later date, it's still there to be done. Of course, it will cost us a little more money. It will cost us $2.5 million vs. $800,000, and I recognize that. But when you put it out and pay for it over a long period, it won't increase our tax rate maybe one cent to 1.5 cents.”

With the suggested alternate design of a larger jail, Commissioner Crooker gave an analysis of the potential revenue that could be derived from housing federal inmates (ICE immigration) without housing prisoners from any other county — which would produce an annual cash income of $326,000 to the county. In a five-year period this would add $1.6 million to the county's cash account. As Commissioner Jerry Kilgore also stated ICE has, “30-plus inmates each day coming right past our facility.”

KBST conducted a poll before the May 12 commissioners court meeting asking the question, A”Do you think commissioners should vote 'yes' or 'no' for a 144-bed jail vs. 96 beds?” The results were 99 votes for and eight votes against. So 92.52 percent of the voters in that poll were in favor of a 144-bed jail. Were Judge Barr, Commissioner Simer and Commissioner Brown misreading the public's desire when they came to court and voted on this issue?

The decision was made last Monday with Judge Barr making the motion not to proceed with the alternate design; Commissioner Simer providing the second; and Commissioner Brown cementing the defeat of the 144-bed design with her vote against the measure. Did they make the right decision? Were they really considering the community's future? As my grandson would say, “This was a no-brainer.”

Joyce Crooker

Big Spring

To the Editor:

This is my very first letter to the editor and probably won’t be my last. I was born and raised and have lived all but about five years of my life in Big Spring. This is my home and I would love to see the town progress instead of going the other way.

Big Spring started its downturn after Webb Air Force Base closed and we started getting all these wonderful prisons here. Of course they brought increased dollars and jobs to this community, but they also brought trouble on the outside of their fences.

Now, to get to point No. 1. To the superintendent of BSISD, I say this to you, shake your head all you want to. We tried supporting a brand new school a few years back and what happened? Even after being told not to build on that site because it used to be a landfill area, and the building that once stood on it had to be abandoned, a school was built anyhow. Look where it got us. Now you are wanting to build another one and we the voters don’t even know where you want to build it.

What is going to happen to the old abandoned school buildings? Are they just going to sit where they are and become more eye-sores in this town? Geez, we have enough eye-sores in this town now! And why are you waiting until now to want to do all of this when the cost of living is skyrocketing, especially for us on fixed incomes?

Maybe you should ask our wonderful governor to finance this project. After all he did promise us a property tax reduction which I have yet to see. My property taxes just keep going up along with gasoline, food, clothing, utilities and everything else I need to survive. Or, maybe you can sell all those laptops back and use that money for some improvements.

So BSISD, I am saying, get your priorities straight and in order before asking the taxpayers to foot another muti-million-dollar debt. My hat is off to the intelligent voters of this town who voted this one down.

Also, I agree with the Herald's editorial board. If a student hasn’t met the local and state requirements for a high school degree, he/she should “not” be permitted to take part in the graduation ceremony — period.

Paul Soldan Jr.

Big Spring

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Mary Rodgers family, we wanted to say thank you to everyone who as been there for us during our time of loss.

Thank you for the love, prayers, food and flowers. Everyone has been so wonderful and we appreciate it.

May God bless each of you.

Becky Letz

Big Spring

To the Editor:

I am so very happy to that Mike Ritchey is going to be Big Spring High School's principal again. I told him just after he took over that whoever they got to be principal would have some very big shoes to fill, because I thought that between him and Kent Bowerman, they were the best principals the school has ever had.

It looks like I was right and Mr. Ritchey is back!

Mr.Ritchey is a very good person and is fair with all of the students and takes nothing off them.

Congratulations again for coming back to where you belong. The high school has needed you for a long time and thank goodness you are back.

Marillyn Miears

Big Spring

To the Editor:

My name is Frank Jablonski, historian for the USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754) Association and I am writing in memory of the 74 men who lost their lives aboard USS Frank E. Evans on June 3, 1969, during the Vietnam War.

Serving in her third war, the aging destroyer was on the gun line off the coast of Vietnam. She was moved out of the combat zone for Exercise Sea Spirit, where she was in collision with the Australian aircraft carrier Melbourne. In less than 4 minutes, 74 sailors’ lives were lost, including that of John Thomas Tolar of Big Spring.

The names of these brave men are not included on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

On this Memorial Day we especially want to recall SA John Tolar. Anyone with knowledge about him or his family is asked to please contact the USS Frank E. Evans Association by e-mail at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Frank Jablonski

Port Orange, Fla.