El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 99B, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 23, 1984 Page: 4 of 46
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Page 4 A El Campo Leader-News, El Campo, TX, Wed , May 23,1984
Viewpoint
Critics Answered
This newspaper has been criticized in the last few weeks
for its coverage of a bestiality incident in our community
last month.
It is the opinion of some that crimes of that nature should
not-be reported, at least not in detail, and most importantly
they.should not appear on the front page of a small town
newspaper.
Newspapers, whether metropolitan or rural, have a
responsibility to present the news that affects their com-
munities — no matter what form that news may take.
Newspapers must separate truth from the fiction that
usually results in numerous false rumors which usually
grow in farfetched proportions as each day passes. The
facts must be presented — no matter how ugly they
sometimes are. It is the reader’s job to interpret them.
While some may be shocked by such an incident, there
are others who would be equally shocked to read about
child molestation, rape or murder.
But these things do occur in El Campo and we feel we
would be doing a bigger disservice to our readers by not
reporting them. The reader has an inherent right to know
what crimes are committed in his town — a town that is not
immune from the violent or perverse acts that we would
like to believe only happen in metropolitan areas.
Hopefully parents who read about a youngster being sex-
ually assaulted will be more protective of their children
with the knowledge that it can happen and does happen
here.
We understand the predicament that parents may have
found themselves in when an inquiring youngster wanted a
definition of ‘bestiality.’ It’s not an easy thing to explain,
but children are bombarded with new phrases from many
sources—their peers, television, movies—and isn’t it best
that they turn to the parents for an explanation?
While news of this type is by its very nature sensational,
we do not consider this newspaper to be sensational. Any
faithful reader knows the Leader-News does not dwell
on t he negative. Take any issue and compare the number of
“bad news” stories to the others. There aren’t many.
Whatever the news, the Leader-News will report it and
hopefully our readers will be more informed because of it.
Same Song, Second Verse
Editor, the l.ra(lrr-Nfw»:
I have heard the people of El Campo sing praises to the fire depart
merit and I would just like to add another verse
Coming home from Houston Saturday, I stopped at the red light on
Wharton Street and my car died Before I knew what was happening
smoked started billowing out from under the hood Thanks to Weldon
ITiesmeyer, who contacted the fire department, and the County
Sheriff’s Department and the police department, who used their ex
tenguishers until the fire truck came, which was in a matter of
minutes Thank all of you concerned men
Kathy Smith
The El Campo Leader-News encourages its readers to
express their viewpoints through letters to the editor.
These letters should be legible and no longer than 300
wofds. They must be signed and accompanied by an ad-
dress and telephone number. The author’s name will be
withheld only in special circumstances.
The Leader-News reserves the right to edit letters for
libelous content and in accordance with newspaper style
and space limitations.
Letters should be brought to the newspaper office or
mailed to El Campo Leader-News, P.0 Box 1180, El Cam-
po, Texas, 77437.
¥ KL CAMPO 1VT
Leader-JM ews
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Sound-Off...
As there has been
controversy sur-
rounding the pro-
blems of the Texas
Democratic caucus
system for the
presidential elec-
tion, state officials
are considering
changing the caucus
to the primary
system. This week,
Sound-Off asks: Do
you think that the
Texas Democratic
caucus for the
presidential elec-
tion he changed to
the primary elec-
tion system?
Ira Johnson Jr.
1411 W. Norris
Jesse (iibson Employee
“Sure I agree with that (the
primary system >. People
shpuldnt have to vote two times,
it's a waste of time when you can
settle an issue at one time. It
would save a lot of time for the
people, and I’m sure it would save
money too One time is enough.’’
Carolyn Goelzer
1701 St. Luke's
Homemaker
“Yes. I think everyone should
have the opportunity to state their
preference in a primary race. I do
not think the caucus system is
fair.”
(■eraId (irogan
1901 Briar El Campo
Vssistant Principal
“Yes. I don't particularly agree
with the caucus system I think it
would be !>etter with the primary
system I don't think it (the
caucus system) expresses
people's views like the primary
system dot's.”
Brenda Downing
Rt. 2 Box 47 El Campo
Halliburton Dispatcher
“I didn’t pay too much attention
to it (the elections). I don’t know
what to say; I can’t make an
honest judgment.”
I
Lloyd Canales
91!) Kllwood
Manager Trainee
“I feel that people should vote
at one time I think it (the caucus
systemi would be a good idea;
you get votes at one time and that
way they won t he separate It
would be more convenient.”
TONIGHT OH SPCKTSEDWER, K CHTTCAl
QUESTION CAN 'NE EVER Wt> THE
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YIWTTOSCJO^EPOinmWCWNlE POINTS TOR
m COUNTS, HE DOESN'T NMAHT TO ECNC0TT
SIT DOWN, MIAUL OUT OR TAKE. PART IN PETTY
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THE
OBSERVER
<
By HARLAN HOBBS
The Senior Class of El Campo
High School, at this exciting time
in their lives, give little thought to
what may be happening when
their 50th class reunion is held in
2034. There are more important
things. To clutch that diploma
“after all those years ” The prom
Acceptance by the college of
choice. That job!
One thing at a time. There is a
time for doing Then, only then, a
time for remembering I had
opportunity to recognize such
verities a few days ago when I
attended a 50th class reunion of
Little Hock Central High School
I doubt that El Campo seniors of
'84 are even occasional readers of
my efforts, but I would like to
share some of that experience
with them. After all, they have
been educated to take charge of
the next half century.
1 must confess, the invitation to
attend the 50th reunion of the
class of ’34 was either a com-
pliment or an insidious flattery,
for none of that class were even
freshmen in Little Hock High
School when I was graduated
Which brings me to thoughts I
wish to share with El Campo
graduates of '84
Some members must be ad-
justed for relativity, but the Little
Rock experience may well be a
portent for the El Campo class
reunion of 2034. Consider this, if
you will: Of the 630 people in
combined graduating classes of
1934 (January, May and July) the
reunion committee was able to
locate 385 or about 60 percent
About 20 percent of the graduates
are now deceased and an ad-
ditional 20 percent have not been
located It is interesting to note
that those who could not be
located were mostly females who
had changed their names with
marriage* s) and had not main-
tained touch with classmates
through the years
It was also interesting to note
that 55 percent of the graduates
still live in the area of their high
school while another 14 percent
still live in the state The others
have addresses all over the
United States and several are in
other countries
Will it be so for El Campo
graduates in 2034? Or will some
Rieehird be located on another
planet somewhere out in space'1
Anything is possible Some of
those graduates of '34 even live in
Texas
There were some poignant
moments which I hope will not be
duplicated for El Campo
graduates at their reunion in 2034
My bachelor buddy and room
mate in our shared apartment
when World War II burst upon us
(much like now, with people
saying "it's none of our business
or “why do we need to spend to
protect ourselves, it's not our
war" or “they wouldn't dare!“»
and a good many of that
generation had to change their
waysoflife and thinking
Jack Dawson did not need to go
He was a superb physical
specimen, hut his eyes weren't the
best, a fact which he hid from
Uncle Sam and wound up in the
South Pacific where a sniper shot
part of his knee away I had
always thought he was intelligent
t»ut when he was out of an
Australian hospital and should
have been on his way I»aek to
stateside, he conned his way hack
into a combat outfit
Guess what happened to m\
friend Lloyd B Dawson, that
idiotic patriot’’ He got it again In
the same leg And he was one o(
the best acrobatic dancers in
Holl\ W IKwi
• m a lighter note one o( tl*c
• lass n( 14 fellow name o( John
< ook asked me to sa\ hello to a
Irlend the aunt ot his wife Esther
• arrico was the aunt
Seniors in- vkarrest even if you
go tu (Niter space there || l»
someone there who knows atmhi*
El i artifwi
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Barbee, Chris. El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 99B, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 23, 1984, newspaper, May 23, 1984; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1018318/m1/4/: accessed June 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Wharton County Library.