Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 33, Ed. 1 Monday, February 2, 1987 Page: 2 of 32
thirty two pages : ill. ; page 24 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Editorials, Opinions
Recent Cleburne trial opens
eyes to reality of child abuse
BY KIM RENFRO
It’s easy to remove ourselves
from the reality of child abuse,
leaving it to the authorities, and
always to someone gJse some-
where far away. %
Jimmy Cagle and Ann Hagle—
the Homesteads couple convic-
ted last week for injury to a child
under 15 —reminded us how
close the reality actually is.
For at least 10 long days,
Hagle’s child, 8-month-old Rebec-
ca Barnett, was beaten repeatedly.
The abuse inflicted on that child
is heart-wrenching, sickening
beyond words.
“For the last 10 days of her life,
8-month-old Rebecca Barnett
lived through hell,” District Attor-
ney Dan Boulware remarked in
his closing statement of the
couple’s trial.
After suffering the incredible
amount of emotional and physi-
cal pain Rebecca must have suf-
fered, it may have been a
blessing that she died. Scars like
that might never have healed.
During the trial, defense attor-
neys objected to entering certain
evidence on the basis that it was
“gruesome." The evidence was
gruesome, but it was the truth.
The evidence was pictures of the
dead child covered with bruises.
I didn’t see the pictures, but
those in the newsroom who did
were appalled, sickened, and
shocked that anyone could inflict
that degree of harm on a
child. A baby.
Defense attorneys attempted to
discredit the Texas Ranger who
assisted with the investigation of
Cagle by asking him if the
prisoner was treated fairly. The
defense wanted to know if Cagle
was served coffee or given an
ashtray during questioning.
I felt sad for a legal system that
would even consider a technicality
such as not serving coffee or giv-
ing an ashtray to a prisoner as a
reason for dismissal of the
trial.
Cagle also said the large sta-
ture ol the Texas Ranger in-
timidated him. Frightened him
into a confession.
I wondered if Cagle thought to
ask the tiny Rebecca if she’d
rather he didn’t slap her, force a
sock in her mouth when she
cried, or sexually abuse her. I
doubt if he gave a moment's
thought to her intimidation by
his large stature.
As for Ann Hagle, I have no
understanding of a mother who
Human beings are
drawn to liberty
The comic strip of the late
A1 Capp featured Lower Slob-
bovia, a bleak, cold country
Immediately upon the birth
of their children. Lower Slob-
bovian parents placed them
on the official waiting list to
leave the country. The list
contained the names of ev-
eryone in the land.
That was an imaginary
country. The real Lower Slob-
bovias are the communist na-
tions, all jammed with people
dying to get away. Consider
the fact that the two largest
refugee groups in Florida are
Cubans and Nicaraguans
from the Western Hemi-
sphere's only two communist
nations.
Consider also the Berlin
Wall, constructed to keep
people from escaping from
communism into freedom. It
seems axiomatic that com-
munist takeovers are invari-
ably followed by mass exodus
of the population.
The latest escapees are a
pair of Soviet high-wire per-
VINYL SIDING
vmii . . ,AV V %
^ AND TRIM SPECIALIST
V
STEEL GARAGE DOORS
COMPLETE REMODELING
Locally Owned & Operated
Get 2 Estimates then call me.
If you don't, then we both have lost money.
We are contractors with all major brand siding
OUR POLICY
We believe in having a
Satisfied Customer
BEFORE ANY PAYMENT
IS MADE; and we will not
request a down-payment
prior to starting your |ob
Also, service is a part of
our commitment to our
community, and is part of
every contract SATIS-
FACTION-GUARANTEED
INSURED-BONDED
SO Tear Warranty
Labor l Materials
COVER YOUR OVERHANG, TRIM BOARD • WOOD WALLS FOR GOODI
Never paint again offer good tor brick homes, Mock homes
or any type frame homes Also commercial property!
NO MIDDLEMAN, DEAL DIRECT
AND SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS
STORM AND REPLACEMENT WINDOWS
INSULATION • GUTTERS
STORM DOORS • CARPORTS
28 YEARS EXPERIENCE
JAMES YOUNG CONTRACTING
Rt. 3, Box 94 Cleburne, Texas
Bob Ferguson
Call Anytime 641-0862 or Metro 572-4502
Ewaning and Waakand Appointment* Welcome
could stand by and allow the
monstrosities that occurred hap-
pen to her child. As the district
attorney said in his closing argu-
ment, “Even an animal will pro-
tect its own. Ann Hagle didn’t”
A jury convicted both Cagle
and Hagle of the most serious
first degree felony verdict they
could pass—guilty of inten-
tionally and knowingly engaging
in-y conduct causing serious
bodily injury to a child younger
than 15. Cagle was sentenced to
serve 75 years; Hagle 50 years.
Many feel the sentences were
too light.
Tiny Rebecca Barnett was
beaten to death by her mother
and her mother’s boyfriend. We
must not ever forget the reality of
child abuse. We must always
remember the tragedy occurs in
our own backyard. And we must
do everything in our power to
stop it.
Letters to the editor
Star noted for
Seminary mall
advertising
formers who defected from
the Moscow Circus road show
while it played Argentina. Ni-
kolaievich Nikolski and his
wife, Bertalina, both in their
mid-30s, communicated with
U.S. authorities in Buenos
Aires and received hastily ar-
ranged U.S. visas.
Now in Miami, Bertalina
said, “We are happy, very
happy to be here.”
The Moscow Circus is
world renowned. Its perform-
ers are first class, popular
with the Soviet public and
economically secure. Why
leave all that to start out
again in a new, unfamiliar
land”
Perhaps because it is in the
nature of human beings to be
drawn to liberty even as it is
in the nature of moths to be
drawn to light. Communism
stops liberty from being ex-
ercised; it can't stop the
human heart from longing for
it. It can never do that!
(Reprinted by permission
of The Indianapolis Star)
In a recent informal survey
taken at Seminary South, we
noted an interesting point —more
customers remembered our Bur-
leson Star advertising than the
Star-Telegram, (same ads, same
size).
We have felt that Burleson is an
important target market for
Seminary South, being that we
are its closest regional shopping
center. For example, our Crazy
Card program shows an equal
distribution of winners from
Burleson, Cleburne, and Fort
Worth. Our zoned Southwest
Fort Worth Star-Telegram reader-
ship is five times that of the entire
city of Burleson, yet those
Burleson customers appear to be
playing the game and winning in
equal if not greater numbers than
Fort Worth customers.
My opinion is that the Bur-
leson Star enables Seminary
South to penetrate the Burleson
market more effectively. It pro-
vides depth and supplements our
Star-Telegram schedule
DIANE PROVENZA
Marketing Director
Burleson
community
thanked
The people ol Burleson are to-
be commended for their gener-
osity when a need arises
When Odyssey Harbor, a
residential treatment center lor
emotionally disturbed children
located near Keene, made known
the need for Christmas items the
citizens ol Burleson donated a
radio-cassette stereo, Sony cas-
settes and cash
The children of Odyssey Har-
bor (and the staff) will not soon
forget Christmas 1986, thanks to
the generous hearted people oi
this area.
LARRY ELWELL
Odyssey Harbor Staff
A few thanks
to The Star
Dear Burleson Star,
Thank you for showing me hou
to make news paper And show-
ing me how to develop film And
thank you for the bubble gum
Your friend,
Sara MeVean
Dear Burleson Star,
Thank you for the bubble gum
Thank you lor showing me hoys
to make news Your yen very very
much Your mv Best friend
ever
Your Inend,
Kells
Dear Burleson Star,
Thank you for inviting me lu
the Burleson slar Thank you lor
giving me a sucker And thani
you lor showing me the mail
Your friend.
Mall hew G
Dear Burleson Star,
I hah tun seeing youi work I
like the way you ty pe mv name on
the screen I like the bask room
Thank you lor ihe candy I like n
too thank you
Your Inend,
Amanda
J^xxxxxxxxxxXXxxxxXXXXXXXXXX',
Are you looking for a simple and easy way
to earn money for your group or organiza-
tion with no risk? Let us introduce you
to:
FUND RAISERS UNLIMITED
Burleson's full-service fundraising com-
pany specializing in fund raising needs of
schools, churches, athletic organizations,
youth groups, service organizations, etc.
Choose from over 20 product lines
including-M & M's, chocolate bars,
cookies, food lines, gifts and more.
40 to 50% profit to your organization and
many services that will make your fund
raising project as simple and profitable as
possible. For more information please
call;
295-8197
Or come by our convenient location:
144 N.W. Ellison
Burleson
FUND RAISERS UNLIMITED
CUSTOM DENTURES
—One Day Service—
a On Full Upper
A Lower Dentures..................................................
Cast Partial Ratines
D*"*""* I / H While You Wart
...Each f 4r ...Each
.......‘495
$40
Repairs
...A Up
TEXAS DENTURE SERVICE
H.L. Stewart. D.D.S.. & Associates
51 5 S. Summit. Ft Worth. Texas • 332-4242
G/L & Assoc.
wm—mmmomm—m 5ET
Insurance
AUTO • HOME
LIFE • BUSINESS
295-8134
Greg Wilkerson
Certified Insurance Counselor
501-B S W Wilshire
Burleson
wjdJLi&
, , V, to<
xULA' ^ -iv"0'
,acW'^o£'^tec;lvS99’8 r"0°UV
o3vea-JyOUrs)o.o.'V
plan
bta'1 . .,
then odd
,u"" 50,000
v« 499
. moNTW
UMI*£>ti
me °nlY
vvhile IN
vento*'
EStAST!
'k
SOUTHTOWN
FORD
r
YUGO
174 A I-35 • Burleson
295-8121
‘UtfUDMK. Slut. PKH k Ft >H Yl <f< u. V IMS" A..M- S'kM I *
TlITAi M 4uCi KXt l. JAX AM) IllIJ
*6C months w 11 >*■% APR swtth 6VX) dirwt) plus *•*»*- 4 «■ :k
• Jit* ^
r
l
If you rt looking for a great mol and a great
deal, look at all you gtt lor jutt $2 $9
B Quarter puunj 100% pure Serf Hunfr buster®
made to order
B French Fries
B Medium aolr drink
B ^ o* DQ Sundae your
choice of tofipng
At $2 59 h i not just a deal
•t $ a steal1
Sunday, February 1 thru Saturday, February 7
Burleson
201 S.W. Wilshire
Joshua
Hwy. 174
Cleburne
901 W. Henderson
1616 N. Main
!
r
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Moody, James. Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 33, Ed. 1 Monday, February 2, 1987, newspaper, February 2, 1987; Burleson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth761303/m1/2/: accessed June 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Burleson Public Library.