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LETTER to Dwayne Garner and supporters of U.S. Military

I just received your muchly appreciated care package. I want to thank Dwayne Garner, Brookshires, Y's and the DAV. Knowing that we have such strong support coming from home makes our job a lot easier.

The energy drinks you sent are a huge hit. With the daylong mission we run as snipers, a quick burst of energy can always come in handy. When it comes to "off time" we definitely take it to the extreme. Lots of movies and being lazy make up most of our days off. The popcorn and candies are going fast, needless to say. Again, thanks for all the support and keeping us in your prayers.

LCPL Bailey, Cliff, USML SSP

Note: If anyone would like to donate goods to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, contact Dwayne Garner at 903-852- 6527 or any member of the DAV.

Dear Editor,

The IRS needs your help.

Starting in May, economic stimulus payments of up to $600 for individuals ($1,200 for married couples) will be issued by the IRS based on 2007 tax returns. Parents also get $300 for each eligible child.

People must file a 2007 tax return. That's it. But here's where the IRS needs help. Millions of people are eligible but may not know it. These are certain retirees, disabled vets and low-wage workers who normally don't file a tax return. This year, they must file to receive the payments.

People can help not just the IRS but perhaps themselves, friends or family. Help us spread the word. People who have at least $3,000 from wages or certain benefits from Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Veterans Affairs may be eligible.

They need to file a return. We'll do the rest. Please, visit www.irs.gov for details.

Sincerely, Lea C. Crusberg IRS Media Relations, South Texas 281-721-8130 lea.c.crusberg@irs.gov

Dear Editor:

I am thankful that we have things like Little Dribblers and BMC baseball and girls softball for the youth in our communities. I am not happy about the way things have turned the last several years, where it is more about the parents than it is about the kids.

I watch all of the kids, and some stand out more than others. It seems lately that the sports are turning into a popularity contest rather than a contest of skill. I think all kids should be held up and supported, but I do not think that kids with real skills should be ignored or passed by because they are not part of the social club in the Chandler/Brownsboro area.

I saw this happen when Little Dribblers picked its All-Star teams. And I watched a preamble to the same thing at the BMC baseball skills assessment day. I don't even know why they had this skills assessment. Turn-out was low, but the turn-out of coaches was even lower. Many did not even show up to watch these boys show what they could do. It was like they didn't even care. Why? Because the coaches already knew who they were going to pick. It is a social club and nothing more.

I feel bad for the parents and kids who don't know the "right" people, don't go to the "right" church, who perhaps do not fit in or who have just moved to the area. These people are ignored. Their kids are ignored. They do not know that you have to kiss up in order to be accepted.

I hate saying this about our communities, because I like living here. If I had to pick one thing that I would do away with, it would be the politics involved in allowing the kids to have a good time playing sports. It's not fun for many of them because they are overlooked.

I think the coaches and the parents who are in "the club" need to really step back and examine who they are and why things are this way. I have been on both sides of this coin without doing anything to be "in" or "out." But I can tell you that I would prefer to be out if being in means I have to overlook or disregard everyone else, especially boys and girls who just want to have fun and play ball.

A Parent, Brownsboro, TX

Dear Editor:

In 2007, Henderson County Labor of Love completed 214 projects for elderly, handicapped, or disadvantaged families by providing free repairs to their homes. This is clearly a significant effort that involved many good and generous people.

The Board of Directors of Labor of Love wishes to thank those persons. They include foundations, United Way, banks, churches, businesses, and individuals that gave financial support in 2007. The above persons have expressed their concern by providing the resources with which the repairs have been accomplished.

The Labor of Love Board also wishes to thank the 70-plus volunteers, 12 project managers, 4H Clubs, corporations and others. They have organized the work, built handicapped ramps, repaired floors and walls, painted the exterior of homes, repaired roofs, repaired plumbing, and electrical problems, widened and/or repaired doors, and generally completed difficult and sometimes unpleasant work.

Henderson County is fortunate to be home to such an effort. None of the surrounding counties have as yet duplicated the success experienced by Labor of Love. Your contributions have offered both assistance and hope.

Thank you for your support of this wonderful service. Gary Moore Labor of Love, President