Published: December 24, 2007 04:34 pm         

Letters to the Editor

Local cyclist: Can’t we share the road?

Dear Editor,

In response to Mr. Haar's letter regarding Share the Road Signs on State Highway 4 South in Palo Pinto County:

As taxpayers of the State of Texas and myself as a resident of Palo Pinto County, we (cyclists) have every right to be on this road. We pay more than our fair share of taxes to build and maintain this road and every other road. Bicycles have the same legal right to state and county roads that a motor vehicle does. If everyone would just use a little caution and common sense when driving these rural roads we could all get along just fine.

Palo Pinto County is a beautiful area with lots of very scenic country roads. Cyclists enjoy these two-lane roads most of all and Highway 4 South is especially challenging because of the climb. Our county has great things to offer cyclists and we should promote our local assets by being friendly and welcoming these visitors; they spend a lot of money in Palo Pinto County.

I expect to have a lot more company when riding my bike to work and for fun with gas prices soaring as they are. Motorists need to learn to Share the Road gracefully, as do some cyclists. Let's all slow down a little; the few seconds it takes to slow for a bicycle won't hurt and you might find you enjoy the views of the Palo Pinto Mountains, rivers and lakes the same as we do! Try waving at a cyclist with all five fingers instead of just one … you might find we are pretty friendly folks!

Thanks!

Iris Stagner, local cyclist - Palo Pinto County



Project grad big success!

Dear Editor,

The 2008 Project Graduation Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the MANY people, organizations and companies that made the 2008 Project Graduation a success. Because of your kindness and contributions, 191 seniors attended this remarkable event, with 75 parents chaperoning. Of the prizes that were donated, 90% came from Mineral Wells merchants. Graduates were able to participate in inflatable games, casino games, bingo, movies, videos, ping- pong, and partake of more food than can be imagined.

Special thanks goes out to Albert and Heidi Rincon, Chili's, Wal-Mart, PECO, Mineral Wells Little League, Junior Greenleaf, Doug Grabham, Eddie Howard and Southwest Ford.

Each graduate left with a cash prize and door prize scholarships were donated by local and out-of-town businesses.

Please see the accompanying list to truly get a picture of how much Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto County support this wonderful project that allows our seniors to celebrate their special night in a safe and fun environment.

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Aaron's, AB Construction, Ace Hardware, Adams Fashion Optical, Albert and Heidi Rincon, American Eagle, American Legion #75, American Legion Auxiliary, Antelope Oil Tool & Mfg. Co., Apex Roofing, April Martin State Farm Insurance, Arrow Air, AT & T Store , Auto Zone - Mgr., Awesome Blossom, Bailey, Don & Marjorie, Baum Carlock Bumgardner, Inc., Beall's Department Store, Belk Department Store, Bennett's Office Supply, Best Buy, Bimbo Bakeries USA, BJ's Car Wash, Double H Tire, Eventide Water, Richard's Signs, Boyd, Keith & Donna, Braum's, Brazos Animal Hospital, Brazos Cinema III, Brazos Mall, Brown Eyed Girls Salon, Burton, Casey & Lacy, Cantex, Cat's Creations Scrapbooks, CCA, Century 21 Properties Unlimited, Charlotte's Christian Bookstore, Chicken Express, Chili's, Coco's, Comet Cleaners, Crawford, Carter & Thompson, Crawford, Greg & Joanie, Cross Tire & Automotive, Curves, CVS, Dairy Mart, Dakota's: Amy Isbell, Dakota's: Kelly Carreon, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Production, Davis Glass and Auto, Diamond Pharmacy, Domino's, Don Marcos, Doshier Appilance, Double Hacienda & Ranch Art, Doug Grabham-donated glider, Dr. Alice Ramsey, Dr. Bhandari, Dr. Brad Flaska, Dr. Dave, Dr. Gee, Dr. Jones, Dr. Labbe, Dr. Penny, Dr. Spencer Baum, Dr. Vaughan & Four Seasons Dental, Eagle Sound, Eddie Howard, Edward Jones-- David Wheat, El Paseo, Extreme Internet, Farm Bureau Insurance, Faulk Company, FC Dallas, First Financial Bank, First National Bank of Graford, First State Bank, First Travel, Freeze Carpets, Ft. Worth Zoo, Furr Building Materials, Inc., Gaines Bend Inc., Garner Pipe & Supply, Garrett's Pawn Shop, Gault & Gault, Glitz & Glam, Golden Chick, Gore, DeAnn & Dr. Ty, Hanchey Leather Goods, Heritage Plastics, Hickey's Dairy Queen, Hill's Style Shop, Holiday Hills Golf Club, Holliman, Clarence, Hooks Lincoln-Mercury, HWM Fabrications, IntegraCare Home Health Service, IRON ART MAN, Jack Powell Ford, Jack-in-the-Box, Jamak Fabrication, Johnson Brothers Furniture, Jonell, Inc., K's Nails, Kelly & Company: Ashley Jade Norman, Kelly & Company: Katina Keeton, Kelly & Company: Miranda Fleming, Kelly & Company: Rachel Riggs , Kelly & Company: Shelly Fain, Kelly and Co. - Kelly Richards, Kelly's Jewelry, KFC, Kiwanis Club, Lanny Mercer, Little China, Louella Blankenship, Lube Center, Merle Norman Cosmetics & Gifts, Mesquite Pit, Metro, Mike Smiddy, County Judge, Mineral Wells Care Center, Mineral Wells Fab Ltd., Mineral Wells Florist, Mineral Wells Little League Assoc., Mineral Wells Office Supply, Mineral Wells Optical, Mineral Wells Print Center, Mr. C's, Mr. Jim's Pizza, NAPA Auto & Truck Parts, Noah Enterprises, Inc., Noma Cable, North Oak Dairy Queen, O'Reilly's, Palo Pinto General Hospital, PECO, Pedley Nets, Inc., Pet Sense, Pet Western Animal Hospital, Phil Luker State Farm Insurance, Phillips Welding, Premier Properties, Quad Lighting, Quik Lube Oil Change, Radio Shack, Randy's Service Center, Rave Motion Pictures, Reddy Auto, Regal Entertainment Group, Rent-a-Center, Rep. Jim Keffer, Rivers Surveying, Rockin R Western Wear, Sav-a-lot, Sears: Morris DeLong, Shafer Oil, Shaney's Sports Salon/KC's, Sherwin Williams, Shires Garden Center, Simms Lumber Company, Six Flags, Sonic, South West Ford, Storm Master, Inc., Street, Tony & Anne, Stripes & More Windshield, Studio 107: Darlene Denson,

Studio 107: Rita Wade, Subway, Taco Casa, Talk of the Town Salon: Jacie Bannon, Talk of the Town Salon: Shaley Cates, Texas Brahmas Hockey Club , Texas Packaging, Texas Rangers, The Booksatchell, The GAP, The Laumdronat, The Logo Shop, Tincher's Custom Homes & Remodeling, Inc., Tony, The Schwann's Man, Trophy Tackle, UA Cinemas, United Country, Upham Oil and Gas, V-F Factory Outlet, VFW Post 2399, Waddy's Pharmacy, Wal Mart, Walgreen's, Watkins Metal Fabrication, Western Auto, Wes-Tex Vending, Whataburger #289, WOLY Board Co.

Sincerely, Project Graduation 2008 Committee