Letters to the editor, May 21, 2009

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May 20, 2009

Letters to the editor, May 21, 2009

Anonymous The Commerce Journal Wed May 20, 2009, 06:06 PM CDT

To the editor:

At Texas A&M; University-Commerce, the safety of our students is a top priority. We cannot expect our students, who come to us from throughout northeast Texas and the world, to entrust us with their academic futures if we cannot also promise them a safe, secure campus environment.

Unfortunately, on May 5, 2009, two A&M-Commerce; students were hit by a car driven by another student in the Culver Street crosswalk outside Whitley Hall. Thankfully, they sustained only minor injuries.

Incidents like this are taken very seriously by the university. For a number of months, university officials have been in regular talks with the Texas Department of Transportation about how to improve the safety of the pedestrian crossings on Culver Street and Hwy. 50.

On May 8, campus officials met with Craig Miser, area engineer for TxDOT, to discuss new plans for improving the crosswalk notification system. This meeting had been planned well in advance of the May 5 accident.

Mr. Miser and the university agreed on a two-part solution. The plan includes a push-button signal that will illuminate a strip of LED flashers in the pavement. In addition, TxDOT agreed to lay down rumble strips on the pavement on both sides of the crosswalk to get drivers' attention. This plan will be brought to the city for approval in the coming weeks.

Once the project receives city approval, the improvements will be installed, starting with the rumble strips next month. The LED flashers and push-button signals should be installed by the fall semester.

In addition, crosswalk education will play a greater role at new student orientation. Thanks to our risk management and safety departments, students will participate in a training program focused on crosswalk safety, emphasizing the need to maintain a heightened awareness of their surroundings as they cross the street.

Our students' safety can be secured only through a long-term commitment to assessment and implementation of new security features as the need arises. This commitment extends beyond our university to the city and state officials whose constant support and cooperation make safety enhancements like these a reality. We at the university are thankful for this partnership and will continue to rely on their efforts as we work together for years to come in an effort to make prudent, timely decisions that impact the safety of our students and community.

Dan R. Jones, President

Texas A&M; University-Commerce

To the editor:

The members of Louise Drake Garden Club of Commerce wish to express our sincere appreciation to the individuals and those business owners that made our spring project “Tablescapes: An Experience for the Senses” a huge success. This event was held May 2 in the fellowship hall of the First Baptist Church in Commerce.

We were honored to have Dr. Ted Hansen of the music faculty at Texas A&M; University-Commerce entertain the guests during the event.

Thank you to those businesses that provided door prizes.

Janet Peek, President

Rheba Icenhower, Project Chair

Louise Drake Garden Club

Commerce

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Letters to the Editor

Kudos to Wolfe City, Commerce firefighters
To the editor:
I just wanted to properly thank the Wolfe City firefighters who brought two trucks and the Commerce firefighters as well for coming so quickly to put out our structure fire. Although it was full of treasures and necessities both, these men prevented our house and barn and second shop from burning. They came quickly enough and they worked very hard.

November 30, 2012
More people to thank for Author's Park
To the editor:
This photo was one of four that appeared in the June 7 issue of the Commerce Journal.
There are several people who help with this project that never get a thank-you, and I would like to point them out to the city and citizens of Commerce, Texas.

June 19, 2012
A thank you from the mayor
To the editor:
Now that the municipal and primary elections are over and before the 90 days leading up to the general election in November begin I would like to take a few minutes to thank the voters of Commerce for going to the polls and exercising their right to vote.

June 15, 2012
Adoption, spaying/neutering answers to overcrowding of no-kill shelters
To the editor:
Weekly I walk several municipal shelters to pull animals that are up for euthanasia. This is a hard job to do, but the rewards are great. Animal Control provides a wonderful service to the community by keeping our streets free of roaming animals. Sad to say there are more animals than space available, so animals have to be put to sleep.

April 30, 2012
Cost to build trails is the question
To the editor:

I just read Opinion/ Guess Viewpoint of Joe Johnson (BIKER) in Caddo Mills enjoyment of the trails in Florida and Missouri. I have heard that he is a nice guy and grew up around the local area and I respect his opinion. Nothing in his opinion explained how these trails were built and paid for. So here is my opinion. If someone would research the total cost it took to build this enjoyment using Our taxpayers money it would be in the the millions of dollars level, I am sure.

April 20, 2012
Hike and Bike Trail a bad idea
To the editor:
I had sent you a letter to the editor a while back that you had stated it was not needed in your area. Now it is.
Funding has been approved for a 12-Mile Hike and Bike Trail by TPWD — National Recreational Trail Fund for a private not-for-profit group to construct it along the old Chaparral RR. It is to start on the east side of Fannin County line that adjoins Delta County. From there it will go west through the city of Ladonia, then dips down into Hunt County above Commerce area for a short distance, then continues back up into Fannin County and will come down into Hunt County just east of Hwy. 34.

March 30, 2012
Old houses worth saving
Dear Bob and Sherry Johnson,
I was looking at the Commerce Journal and saw the story about the Bonham Historic District. My uncle and aunt Jack and Iva Lilly owned the house at 1408 Bonham. My aunt was an interior decorator and had an office in Dallas.

February 3, 2012
Last minute equals last place
To the editor,
My heart goes out to you, poor soul. Your instructors put the term paper parameters and due dates in the syllabus. You only had 15 weeks to work on it.

December 20, 2011
Setting fine standard
To the editor:
To say that I am appalled by Texas A&M-Commerce football players allegedly stealing copies of the East Texan, I am equally appalled, if not more so, by the head football coach's attitude, 'condoning and encouraging' it.

March 5, 2010
Letters to the editor, May 21, 2009
May 20, 2009
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