Dear Editor,

The penalty awarded by the jury in the Fuelberg trial is tragically insufficient. This man raped and pillaged PEC members for years.

Jay Strickler

Woodcreek, TX

Dear Editor,

It is unfortunate that we find it necessary to write this letter, but there are rumors going around about the Christmas toy program in Blanco, rumors that need to be addressed.

Tots Need Toys was to benefit the residents of Blanco who needed help with gifts for their children. Christmas J.O.Y. in Johnson City assisted those who lived within the Johnson City I.S.D. Sadly, there are people who will attempt to take advantage of both programs so we, for the first time, asked for an I.D. and a rent or utility receipt to verify residence within the Blanco I.S.D.

The majority of those who came for toys on December 11 brought an I.D. and a receipt showing their physical address. Some just had an I.D. And some had neither, but no one was turned away. If anyone left without toys it was by their own choice. Late that afternoon, after we had served the Blanco residents, we allowed some Johnson City residents who had missed the Christmas J.O.Y. deadline to come in and get toys for their children.

In addition to providing toys, we invited the participants into the Social Hall at Blanco UMC and offered them refreshments while they waited their turn to "shop", and we watched their children while they were in the other building selecting gifts for them. Along with toys, they were also given some food items that were donated.

If you go to the Salvation Army, Marines Toys for Tots, and even Christmas J.O.Y. you are asked to fill out an application for assistance. All we asked for was verification of residence.

If anyone in Blanco has a better idea on how to run this program, we are more than willing to hear it. Until then, we are doing the best we know how and we continue to be grateful for the phenomenal support by this community in this endeavor over the years.

Very sincerely,

Andy Chidester, Shirley Cage, and Cerice Spivey

Dear Editor,

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and acquaintances in Blanco. We hope and pray for a merry and happy and safe Christmas and a prosperous New Year for everyone.

May we all remember the main reason of the Christmas season; the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We all need to stop and be grateful for our family and friends and to share our love and good blessings with one another. With this recession our whole world is experiencing, we need to lend a helping hand to our fellow man and reach out and even touch we do not know. One generous gesture is all it takes to make someone smile and to believe in your fellow man.

I lost a very dear family member 2 years ago and at the funeral someone gave a talk about how she lived her life. In the story, that person reminded all of us of this : “Be kinder than necessary, because everyone you meet is going through some kind of battle in their lives.” This is what I’m hoping everyone who reads this letter will do.

I am so grateful for getting to grow up in the town of Blanco. I now live only 9 miles south of Blanco on top of a hill at the Back 40, where I can see a view of Blanco and all the surrounding small townships. My husband Johnnie and I have always had a dream to return and settle there, and our dream came true 3 years ago. We are very happy and have worked hard to get there, but it was so worth all of the hard work.

I hope to be a little more active in the community someday, but for now I work in San Antonio and hope to find work closer to Blanco in 2011. Many of my friends are on Hwy 281 every morning from the Blanco area. We just do what we have to do to provide for our families.

So, just please know we are thinking of all of our friends and family during the holiday season. Please be safe and happy and reach out and help someone; it sure makes you feel good. There are many ways to help others, even if it is only the giving of a dollar or stopping to help someone with opening a simple door at the store. Just do something that counts. Life is hard enough sometimes and spreading happiness sure makes you feel good and warms the hearts of people around you. Take care and be safe and be happy. It takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown. God Bless everyone.

Sincerely,

Patty Byars, Johnnie, Marvin, and family