YOU DESERVE OPEN GOVERNMENT
As we celebrate Sunshine Week, March 10-16, I'd encourage readers to get involved in their local communities and promote the importance of open government and access to information.
Anyone can play an active role in government and help keep public officials honest, makes government more efficient and act as a check against waste, fraud and abuse of power.
Freedom of information isn't just an issue for the press, it's a cornerstone of our democracy. Join us and help make a difference in the battle against unnecessary government secrecy and waste.
You can find out more at SunshineWeek.org
Jason Stverak, President, Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity
'SE TEXAS GIVES' APPRECIATED
Thank you for the wonderful special in the March 3 Sunday's paper - Southeast Texas Gives. It was a joy to see the community's involvement in supporting so many worthy organizations that serve the underprivileged in our society.
While Habitat for Humanity builds community one house at a time, you helped build community at every house to which you delivered a paper that Sunday morning.
Uliana Trylowsky, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County
SLOW DOWN, SAVE LIVES
The other day while walking the dachshunds in the 7200 block of Ellen Lane in Beaumont at about 8:30 a.m., we found a gorgeous Brown Thrasher just hit by a car. It was still warm. I tried to revive it but to no avail. Why did the little bird die?
1) It flew across the street to find something to eat.
2) Someone was in a hurry driving fast.
3) We took part of his habitat for a questionable drainage pond funded by the "stimulus and/or FEMA."
4) The useless and outdated time change that coordinated the person in a hurry and the bird's feeding schedule.
Wake up, folks, and slow down and do things based on common sense. One of God's innocent and beautiful creatures is senselessly gone.
James G. Cummings, Beaumont