The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 14, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 14, 2007 Page: 4 of 10
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CYAN magentaYELLOWblack
Page 4A ★ IChc Bastrop UdOCltlSCl' Saturday, April 14,2007
Issues & Opinions
Letters To
The Editor
Photo outline
failed to capture
baseball team s
achievements
Dear Editor:
I am the mother of the second baseman
who was photographed and published in The
Bastrop Advertiser in a great picture last
week. However, the caption went on to read
that Chad missed the ball at second base and
we lost to Bowie High School.
I am writing you today because Chad, our
second baseman and the rest of the varsity
baseball team, has so many wonderful positive
areas and awesome plays to focus on instead of
the negative ones that you chose to publish.
I should state for the record that my son paid
very little attention to this negative attention.
Chad's only comment about the photo was,
"wow, they put my error in the paper" as he
sadly smiles at me and hauls his baseball bag
to his room. I just sat wondering why, out of
all of the awesome plays this team makes, the
photographer would publish and print this in
such a negative manner? So there's just a
couple things I'd like to say to him:
I'd like to tell him what a commitment Chad
has made to this sport, to this team, and to his
coaches. I'd like for him to know how much of
Chad's life he has dedicated to this sport.
Chad has dedicated many, many years to
baseball growing up. He has been playing
since he was five. He eventually had to give
up all other sports to focus on baseball at the
high school level.
He has spent thousands of hours on the
field to improve his game and as many hours
if not more practicing on his own. To do this
means that he practices six days a week with
the school every spring, he plays two games a
week, many on Friday nights. He has played
summer and fall ball most of his life, which
entails a lot of time and travel and expenses.
That's committed. And there's more. Chad is
just as committed to his academics at BHS,
where he is enrolled as a junior and takes all
Pre-AP and AP classes and makes the AB
honor roll and is ranked in the top of his
graduating class. Print that in your paper.
So I hope you can understand why a caption
like this could be upsetting to a parent that
knows how much positive there is to focus on
in his life.
There is a so much positive support we
can offer our varsity baseball team. They beat
Round Rock, the No. 1 ranked team in the
state. We also celebrated our next three dis-
trict wins, beating San Marcos, Austin High
and Seguin High all since the picture was
published.
This should be a reminder to each of us to
focus on the good in everyone and leave the
negatives out of our lives, off the fields and
out of the papers.
Teresa Goertz
Bastrop
Public hearing
notice was fair
and informative
Dear Editor:
I would like to say thank you to the City of
Bastrop and the city council for putting the
public hearing notice for the annexations that
they will consider April 24 at 7:30 p.m. in The
Advertiser.
This notice, which affects residents in
Hunters Crossing, was put in the main section
of the paper where anyone could read it.
We in Hunters Crossing have not been
noticed in the past concerning zoning changes
near our homes. In the past citizens had to read
the classifieds, and the notices were legal
descriptions without any sort of map or
address, which left many in the community
unaware of what was being considered.
The notice this week was fair, informative
and will allow residents input.
Carolyn Smith
Bastrop
I BET
HIS COLLEGE
EXPENSES WILL
AMOUNT TO A
FORTUNE/
ArTUAl IV—
IT WON'T RUN AS MUCH
FOR HIS BOOKS, ROOM ANt>
BOARD, AND TUITION AS IT
COSTS JUST TO FEED
HIM AT HOME.
A
—.—.—
.2
Child Abuse Prevention Month
puts spotlight on Advocacy Center
Each child in our great state is a unique,
precious gift whose innocence must be protect-
ed. So if, God forbid, one of our children is
abused, neglected or assaulted, we must be
prepared to handle their unique circumstances
and tailor a response to their needs.
Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) of
Texas exist for just this purpose. As we
observe Child Abuse Prevention Month, CACs
like The Children's Advocacy Center Serving
Bastrop, Lee and Fayette Counties in Bastrop
stand as a shining example of how to help
young victims.
The 61 CACs across Texas provide a safe,
nonthreatening environment that is designed to
address the specific needs of each child victim.
At CACs, children encounter caring profes-
sionals who give them specialized medical and
mental health services, grief counseling and
other assistance they need to put their lives
back together.
Bringing everybody under one roof allows
children to tell their painful story just one
time. The people who need to know - law
enforcement and child protection officers,
medical professionals, prosecutors and others -
get necessary information during a single ses-
sion, thus saving children from re-living the
agony and trauma of the crimes committed
against them.
CAC professionals, who work closely with
investigators and prosecutors, usher a child's
case through the criminal and civil justice sys-
tems. Throughout the process their goal is the
same: minimizing the trauma to the young vic-
tim.
A CACs loving arms are extended every
day to children, such as one 10-year-old who
was sexually assaulted by her uncle last year.
The traumatic experience left this girl shell-
shocked, but the CAC staff comforted and
assisted her as soon as she walked through the
door. They helped the young victim and her
mother apply for funds to offset expenses
related to the crime. These carmg experts also
helped her complete a Victim Impact
Statement, in which she told how her uncle's
betrayal affected her little life.
Many crime victims are understandably ter-
rified by the thought of facing their attacker in
court. This girl was no different. She and her
parents were uncertain she would be able to
look at her uncle, let alone testify against him.
But the CAC and its staff were there for them:
They conducted weekly therapy sessions and
took the family to the courthouse, where they
visited other trials and grew comfortable with
the courtroom.
Guest
Column
Greg Abbott
As it turned out, she didn't have to go
through the trial. Her uncle agreed to a plea
bargain and received 60 years in prison. Had it
been necessary, though, this 10-year-old victim
would have been ready. In fact, she told her
victim assistant that the reassurance she
received from the CAC staff gave her the
courage to face her attacker.
CACs like this one don't just adapt to the
needs of the children; they also adjust to the
needs of the communities they serve. A one-
size-fits-all approach won't work in a state as
vast and diverse as Texas, which is why you'll
find rural CACs tucked into little cottages and
some metropolitan CACs covering an entire
city block. Smaller centers may have budgets
of under $100,000, while in urban areas they
may require seven figures to fully operate.
This ability to adapt, coupled with the care
given by CAC staff, explain why Texas CACs
are so effective. In 2006, they were able to
help more than 35,600 children. The Office of
the Attorney General is proud to partner with
Children's Advocacy Centers; last year, we
provided more than $5 million in grant funding
to support them
In the end, though, our true success is not
found in numbers, but in the faces of the chil-
dren we serve. One CAC client summed it up
this way:
"I had no idea places such as this existed.
How wonderful to put the child first in a situa-
tion that seemed sad, scary, and confusing. I
am disturbed at other's actions, but thankful
there is help when needed. Thank you - I'm
proud to be a Texan."
That says it all.
■ GREG ABBOTT is Attorney General of
Texas
EDITOR 'S NOTE: To find out more about
the Children's Ach'ocacy Center, visit www.
childrensach'ocacycenterorg or call 321-6161.
Reader feels snubbed by Roberts
Subscribe to
Wat Bastrop SLduertiser!
Email classifieds@bastropadvertiser.com
or call 321-2557
Dear Editor:
I recently went to the house where Julia
Roberts is filming her movie. It is within walk-
ing distance from where I live. I wanted to get
an autograph. I have never met a movie star
before and after this, probably never will. It
would have meant the world to me to say "hi" to
Julia Roberts. It would only have taken a
minute or two.
To my dismay, I was promptly told that no.
Miss Roberts was not giving autographs today
and no, there was not a convenient time I could
come back later while Miss Roberts was in
Bastrop, for an autograph and no, Miss Roberts
was not going to set aside a few minutes for
autographs while she was here in Bastrop. I
realized that I wasn't going to be able to get near
Julia Roberts.
I can see where a movie crew and the main
star are busy trying to film a movie and taking
the time to accommodate a fan would some-
times be inconvenient. But when there is no
effort or willingness to accommodate the sun-
Skate park will
be beneficial but
requires more
thought, planning
Dear Editor:
In a recent edition of the Riverside Grove
newsletter, it was reported that Bastrop ISD and
City of Bastrop are in talks about locating the pro-
posed skate park on the grounds of Bastrop
Middle School. This plan raises several questions.
Is the school district planning to sell the
property to the city? Or is this another plan to
give away school property? If this is a joint ven-
ture, what is the liability to the school district to
have this facility on the school property?
How will this facility be monitored? Will it
be an open, unsupervised area like a city park?
What kind of additional facilities (such as rest-
rooms, parking, etc.) will be constructed?
I have serious reservations about building
the skate park in this location. It will bring a
tremendous amount of traffic into a residential
neighborhood along an already busy street. It
will encourage students at BMS and BIS to
bring skateboards to school so that they can go
to the park after classes. Aren't skateboards
currently banned on school property?
With the expense of building the park,
wouldn't it make more sense to locate the
facility where necessary parking and restrooms
already exist, such as Fisherman's Park or Bob
Bryant Park? These two existing parks are not
near busy streets or m residential areas.
Perhaps the city could even put this facility
in the plans for the new city hall and convention
center. That would allow shared parking and
restrooms while moving the skate park out of a
residential neighborhood. Smithville's skate
park is located near it's community center.
I believe that this skate park will be an
excellent addition to the recreational facilities
in Bastrop, but more thought and planning
must go into its final location. It is important
that taxpayers ask questions now.
Cathy Felder
Bastrop
Something on your mind?
Write q letter to the editor!
e-moil: news@bostropodverl:iser.c:om
plest of requests, I can't help but wonder if
another scenario exists: that of the Hollywood
celebrity w ith an ego to match their fame.
Surrounded by a crew who is forbidden to speak
to them directly, including extras. Bodyguards
to keep their fans, the people who support them,
away, so they won't have to take two minutes to
sign an autograph and leave someone with a
pleasant memory to last a lifetime.
Only Miss Roberts knows how much of those
two scenarios applies to her.
For a celebrity to film a movie inside some
big Hollywood studio is one thing, but to come
to a residential neighborhood where people have
lived for years and not, at some point, take time
out to sign just a few autographs or shake just a
few hands, is not a good thing.
If Hollywood celebrities come to Bastrop and
snub the people who live here, I would prefer
that in the future they go film their movies
somewhere else.
Robert Holt
Bastrop
The JBastrop 3doctTiscr
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper
Since March 1,1853
Semi-Weekly Since Sept. 5,1977
Devoted to the welfare of the people of Bastrop
Comity. Published 104 times a year on Thursdays and
Saturdays by Austin Community Newspapers,
a division of Cox Newpapers, at:
The Bastrop Advertiser Phone:
908 Water St. (512) 321-2557
P.O. Box 459 Fax:
Bastrop, Texas 78602 (512)321-1680
e-mail: news@bastropadvertiser.com (news.)
or ads@bastropadvertiser.com (retail advertising)
Subscription rates: $49.92 per year or $35.36 per
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(all are payable in advance).
Periodic postage paid at Bastrop, Texas 78602.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Bastrop Advertiser, P.O. Box 459,
Bastrop, Texas 78602-0459
Publisher: Stan Woody
Advertising: Peggy Dieringer, Debbie Denny
Editor: Davis McAuley
Sports editor: Mark Goodson
Staff writers: Dana Lachman, Terry Hagerty
Contributing writers: Ellen Moore,
Ernest Simmons, Donald Williams,
Joan Russell, Donna Davis, Michal Hubbard
Contributing photographers: Charles Bell,
Michael Amador, Karol Rice,
M.D. DeHart
Office manager: Shirley Gibbons
Classifieds, subscriptions: Ginny Pickering
Production: Alicia Svetlik
pRpr
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McAuley, Davis. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 14, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 14, 2007, newspaper, April 14, 2007; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252364/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bastrop Public Library.