The Nocona News (Nocona, Tex.), Vol. 101, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 15, 2007 Page: 2 of 12
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Page 2, Thursday, February 15, 2007, The Nocona News
Sound Off, Readers
Sorry for the bittness,
not the concept
Despite receiving enough
valid signatures from in-district
Prairie Valley taxpayers, even
after redacting the name of one
lady who claims she was
unsure of what she was signing,
the democratic process to com-
bine Nocona and PV has ended
without a vote.
This decision was made
because the issue has become
too divisive.
Unwilling to see others mis-
treated by unchecked passions,
we yield our will to consolidate
to you. We remain convinced a
healthy debate of the issues fol-
lowed by a vote by both dis-
tricts is far preferable to the
tactics used by many against
consolidation.
I find it amazing that despite
boycotts, threats of legal action,
name calling, theatrics and
being jumped in public that not
a single person for consolida-
tion used an angry, unkind or
retaliatory word.
You have behaved
admirably, and as taxpayers
and voters you have the right to
be heard without fear of
reprisals.
To the handful of good and
upright people against consoli-
dation who showed their class
by listening to opposing views
and then sharing with kindness
how strongly they disagreed
and how important the school
is to them, we congratulate
you. We respect your view.
On a personal note any
information on the flier that
was inaccurate was from look-
ing at different data or an hon-
est miscalculation not an inten-
tional attempt to mislead or a
lie, so be careful who you call a
liar.
Mayor submits resignat ion
Fellow City Councilmen,
Administrator Henley and
the Citizens of Nocona,
It is with sadness of heart
and fond memories that I
must tender my resignation
as Mayor of the City of
Nocona. New priorities and
new opportunities have
forced me to make this
inevitable decision. I would
like to thank the people of
Nocona for entrusting me
with 11 great years of over-
seeing the business of this
great town. I have gained so
much from this experience,
and can only hope I gave
back a fraction of what I
received as councilman and
mayor.
I would also like to thank
my fellow council members
for their hard work and ded-
ication. This is a board that
is second to none. Nocona
is so fortunate to have these
members serving in these
leadership positions. They
have taken the city from
financial despair to a com-
fortable working budget
without hurting their fellow
citizens. Nocona is lucky to
have these gentlemen serv-
ing them and should feel
very at ease knowing they
are managing their city's
business.
I would also like to thank
all the departments and the
staff for their hard work and
effort making Nocona a bet-
ter place to live. Each of
you should be proud of the
jobs you perform. It has
been a joy working with
each of you. Thank you all
for always keeping me
informed and helping to
make my job far easier than
it should be.
I would also like to give
special recognition to Mr.
Lynn Henley. He is the
right person, at the right
time, a city manager second
to none. I have no doubt he
will make any mayor's life
easy in the years to come.
I wish the citizens of
Nocona the best of luck in
the future. I will be watch-
ing with high hopes for
your continued success and
prosperity. Thank you again
for this opportunity to serve
this great community.
Respectfully,
Paul S. Gibbs, RPh
Mayor, City of Nocona
NEDC Notes
By James Yohe
NEDC executive director
I began these series of arti-
cles talking about common
unity on economic development
efforts, especially the role
tourism can play in bringing in
outside dollars for our business-
es.
I've discussed the general
local attractions, NEDC's letter
to Nocona alumni, the 4B
Board's efforts to save our
buildings downtown and both
NEDC Boards' efforts to assist
the Nocona Athletic Goods
Company.
One other important asset is
reaching a critical stage: The
Tails and Trails Museum.
I understand the various
frustrations and disappoint-
ments over the last several
years as the museum board
began, stalled and now is trying
to complete its effort. I realize
emotions run high over several
past events and insecurity over
finishing a successful museum.
But the museum is probably
the best example of where
Nocona needs to overcome
doubts and objections and real-
ly start embracing what a muse-
um can do for tourism in this
community. Museums are natu-
ral attractions that also educate
about our community, our her-
itage, our past and can even
leave us hopeful of the future.
I recently attended a meeting
in Paris (Texas of course, we're
not quite ready for international
tourism efforts). One of the
day's events was touring a local
museum that has been created
there. Nothing fancy or elabo-
rate like the Chisholm Trail
Heritage Center in Duncan,
Okla., but something that is
attracting people and passing
on Paris' history and culture.
If we choose, we can also
create something to be proud
of. Something that will attract
people to our area for continu-
ing visits, offer educational vis-
its from schools throughout the
region and even offer our own
students a better understanding
of Nocona's place in the history
and culture of Texas and the
United States.
But we need to get involved
now! This is absolutely an
effort that needs the common
unity of every member of not
only Nocona, but all of
Montague County. We need to
draw a line in the sand that says
we don't revisit the past disap-
pointments or frustrations, but
that we roll up our sleeves and
pitch in our time, experience,
ideas and yes, money to finally
pull this all together.
Tourism in Nocona needs
this museum and our acting
positively as a community to
support completion will eventu-
ally benefit us all.
If you have any thoughts or
visions about the future of
Nocona please call me at 825-
3150.
You should know most of
those who signed the petition
did so before seeing the flier.
Second, I would never sue
you, intimidate you with
lawyers, or coerce you with
threat of an "actionable" cause.
Involving lawyers is never
the best way to solve our differ-
ences. It is evil!
For a few among you this
has become a habit.
It is to the rest of you I
appeal, if such remedy violates
your good conscience, never
sue or threaten a neighbor or
brother, or be a party to others
doing the same.
Thirdly, I resent those who
said I don't care about the PV
students and that my motives
were greed, power and jeal-
ousy.
I delivered many of them,
treated them when they were
sick, coached your children in
youth sports, taught some of
them in Bible class, counseled
many on post-graduate plans,
followed with joy their college
careers and life successes, been
a speaker at a PV commence-
ment, given to annuals, senior
trips, Ag premiums and paid
my taxes.
So next time someone dis-
agrees with you or even angers
you, rather than smear them
you might tiy to find why they
differ.
If this venting seems devoid
of contrition on my part, it is
not.
I admit to being impatient
for progress and impatient with
the status quo.
I confess to you pride and
wounded-pride.
But most of all I am very
sorry for my part in the bitter-
ness that exists between some
of us.
Forgive me, and I commit to
being a better and more under-
standing neighbor especially in
areas we disagree.
Dr. Rusty West
Still watchful, concerned
Letter to the Editor:
The Concerned Parents of
Prairie Valley Students would
like to thank Dr. West for with-
drawing his petition for consol-
idation and preventing any
more pain being inflicted upon
our children. Our children have
been so hurt and stressed this
past week that a crisis coun-
selor had to be brought in on
Friday to talk with them. We
believe that this could all have
been avoided if Dr. West and
his group had come and talked
with the Prairie Valley
Community and School before
starting the petition. Had he
meet with us first he would
have seen the support we have
and that we were not interested
in consolidation and could have
prevented the pain that was
inflicted on our children. We
encourage anyone with ques-
tions to visit the school and get
all the facts. We do not want
our children to endure this kind
of pain again.
We would like to thank
everyone who turned out and
supported our children.
It was very important for
them to know that they have
such strong community sup-
port. We love our children, and
they are the reason we were
willing to fight for their
beloved school. Let us remain
strong in our community sup-
port of the school and make
sure that others see we are
strong and many in numbers.
We are deeply saddened by
the hurt that this issue has
caused within our community.
Many friendships have been
ruined because of this petition.
We encourage everyone to
remember what is so great
about our community and that
is we are family. We should not
let one man and his petition rip
our community apart. We have
a wonderful community frill of
love and support.
Let us go back to supporting
one another and put this awful
experience behind us
It is our hope that this issue
has been resolved and will not
be something that we have to
deal with again any time soon.
We will hold our group
meeting on Monday, February
19, 2007 at 6:30 in the PV gym
to discuss other activities for
the students.
Sincerely,
Concerned Parents of Prairie
Valley Students
Revell Hardison, Leslie
Christian, Kim Haralson, Gary
Don King, Trish Goolsby ,
Angie Klein, Tammy Fenoglio
Kari Reid, Dusty Smith,
Katrina Smith, Kim Combs,
Brad Cozart, Michaela Sterling,
Stephanie Jones, Nell Ann
McBroom, Lee Ann Tucker,
Christy Pae, Tainmie Mitchell
Thanks for the suppport
Letter to the Editor:
I would like to personally
thank everyone who came out
to support our school. I volun-
teered to organize a group of
parents to fight the petition
because I love my son, I love
my school, and I wanted to pre-
serve the history of my family.
I was overwhelmed at the
response at our meeting.
It was so heartwarming to
see so many turn out to support
the students and the school.
I love this community and
have lived here nearly my
entire life. There is no were
else that I would want to live.
My grandparents often spoke of
previous attempts to force con-
solidation. They were always
strongly opposed, and I hope
that I have made them proud in
my attempt to pick up the torch
and fight for the school that I
graduated from.
I care deeply for the children
of our community no matter
what school they attend. As a
member of the Nocona Lions
Club the projects that are near-
est and dearest to my heart are
those that we do for children. I
am very proud to be involved
in an organization that does so
many things for the children in
the community. If you enjoyed
the circus recently, I personally
volunteered to run that project
and hope to do so again. The
Lions Club does several things
for the kids in foster care in this
community. We have a very
high number of kids in foster
care compared to other counties
and that is very scary. The chil-
dren of our community deserve
all the love and support that we
can give them.
I am dismayed and frustrat-
ed that this petition was able to
do so much harm in such a
short period of time. I am
deeply hurt that this pain was
brought to our community and
hope and pray that it never hap-
pens again. Our community did
not need this kind of friction
and upset. I truly believe that
this whole mess could have
been prevented and should
have been prevented.
This has opened my eyes to
the fact that if I always want
there to be a stage for graduates
to walk across at Prairie Valley
then I must be even more active
in my school. I can never take
for granted the school I have
been a part of since 1971.
Thank you to everyone for
your support,
Revell Hardison
Proud Prairie Valley
Graduate 1982
Baseball
The grass is cut the lines
have chalk
A winning season is our
only thought.
Through hard work and
sweat and a lot of true grit
Please See "Letters" Page 12
First Baby
This colt was born on the Mike Hughes Ranch on Jan. 2, 2007,
making it the "first baby" of the new year.
Community Calendar
Thursday. February 15.2007
9 a.m. -- Montague County Commissioners Court meeting, Montague
County Courthouse.
9:30-11:30 a.m. & 1-2:30 p.m. --Texas Department of State Health
Services immunization clinic, Nocona Community Center.
Friday. February 16.2007
Saturday. February 17.2007
8 a.m. -8 a.m.-Noon - City Trash Roll off pile open, by Southside Sewer
Treatment Plant of Montague Highway.
Sunday. February 18.2007
6 p.m.-9 a.m. - Washington, D.C., Trip, lock-in, Middle School Gym.
Monday. February 19.2007
3:30-5 p.m. - Camp Fire meeting, Elementary School Cafeteria.
6 p.m. - M.O.P.S. meeting, Nocona Church of Christ Annex.
6:30 p.m. - Concerned Parents of Prairie Valley meeting, Prairie Valley
Gym.
7:30 p.m. - Nocona School Board meeting, School Administration
Building.
Tuesday. February 20.2007
9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Texas Driver's License Office open at Nocona Public
Library.
2 p.m. - Montague County Retired School Personnel meeting, Bowie
Senior Citizens Center.
6 p.m. - Nocona T.O.P.S. chapter, Nocona Carpenter's Shop.
7 p.m. - Nocona Hospital Board meeting, Wanda Billings Conference
Room, Nocona General Hospital.
Wednesday. February 21.2007
Ash Wednesday
8:30 a.m. -3 p.m. - Farmer & Rancher Sym[osium,. NCTC campus,
Gainesville.
Noon - Nocona Lions Club meeting, Nocona Community Center.
Thursday. February 22.2007
Friday. February 23.2007
All Day - Nocona I.S.D. student holiday, Staff Development Day.
Saturday. February 24.2007
8 a.m.-Noon - City Brush Pile open, Airport Road, old Landfill.
Sunday. February 25.2007
Monday. February 26.2007
9 a.m. - Montague County Commissioners Court meeting, Montague
County Courthouse.
3:30-5 p.m. - Camp Fire meeting, Elementary School Cafeteria.
Tuesday, February 27.2007
8 a.m. - Nocona High School Spring and group pictures, High School
Gym.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Texas Driver's License Office open at Nocona Public
Library.
Noon - Nocona Rotary Club meeting, Rotary Hall.
3 p.m. - Nocona General Hospitasl Auxiliary meeting, Wanda Billings
Conference Room, Nocona General
5 p.m. - Feeding Hour, North Texas Cattleman's Roundup, VFW Hall,
Bowie.
6:10-7:10 p.m. -Take Off Pounds Sensibly Open House, The Carpenter's
Shop Senior Citizens Center.
Wednesday. February 28.2007
Noon - Nocona Lions Club meeting, Nocona Community Center
3:45 p.m. - High School Campus Improvement Team meeting, High
School Library.
Thursday. March 1.2007
9 a.m. - Montague County Commissioners Court meeting, Montague
County Courthouse.
Friday. March 2.2007
Saturday. March 3.2007
8 a.m. -8 a.m.-Noon - City Trash Roll off pile open, by Southside Sewer
Treatment Plant of Montague Highway.
All Day - Credit by Exam for Acceleration (with prior instruction), Nocona
I.S.D.
LEGEND
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Mesler, Tracy R. & Mesler, Linda L. The Nocona News (Nocona, Tex.), Vol. 101, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 15, 2007, newspaper, February 15, 2007; Nocona, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth439392/m1/2/: accessed July 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Friends of the Nocona Public Library.