From Staff Reports
Corsicana Daily Sun
Corsicana — Hawkins Tire rolls on
To the Editor: It is shocking Corsicana is running Hawkins Tire Company out of business. Yes, I’m sure it’s true some conglomerate could come in with a nice brick building after running Mr. Hawkins off, but then everyone that has been a customer there for years, including my husband and I, would go somewhere else as they would have to charge much more for new tires and repairs than Mr. Hawkins has.
This is no way to treat a respected small businessman, who has performed a great job, and his father before him for 34 years. He has already spent $5,000 trying to work with the city. Just think how many hours he and his men have to work just to come up with that. If he should come up with the money to brick the building, then the city would raise his taxes out of sight and he would still have to close. Yes, rules are made, but let’s not let the rules get in the way of common sense and do the wrong thing. He isn’t on the main street of Corsicana. This isn’t downtown Dallas where they have no feelings for anyone, that’s why people have chosen small towns.
Small businessmen are the core of our towns and the United States.
Barbara A. Whitfield
To the Editor: The “closed” sign on Hawkins Tire has disappointed me greatly. It’s time for fresh ideas through clear eyes. Howie Hawkins has been denied his 14th amendment right. “No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of the law; nor ‘deny’ to any person ‘equal’ protection of the laws.” Until every property owner in the Main Street District meets the same requirements facing Howie Hawkins’ 34-year-old business, I would declare Mr. Howie Hawkins is not getting “equal” protection under the laws. The City of Corsicana and the Main Street Project cannot pick and choose their victims. If you do not make your voices heard now in defense of Hawkins Tire Company, will your downtown property be the next victim?
It’s time to retire the 25-year Main Street Project. The job should be finished and Corsicana should be the showplace of Texas. Pour that $120,000 yearly plus Main Street budget back to the downtown property owners over a three-year time limit at a low interest rate and allow Lee McCleary to oversee the project. You will see more progress in three years than you have in 25 years. What’s good for one is good for all. “Remember equal protection under the laws.” It’s not complicated. It’s good business. $120,000 x 3 will buy a lot of paint.
Vicky Prater
A thank you
To the Editor: Mini-West Storage collected 146 valentines for hand-delivery on Feb. 14 by U-Haul (Maryland) employees and members of the United War Veterans Council to veterans who are recovering from injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Our thanks to those who brought valentines, and especially to the children and youth in the Westminster Presbyterian Church LOGOS program, the children and special needs adults from Lifeline Church, the scouts in Cub Scout Troop 253, and the residents of Country Meadows Nursing Home who all made special valentines with personal messages for the patients. Additional thanks go to the Corsicana Daily Sun and employees Camille and Holly who were helpful in placing our ad and including the information in Local Beat. Thanks as well to Semonna with the Corsicana Chamber of Commerce who publicized our project through e-mail notices.
We at Mini-West Storage and U-Haul appreciate the support of this effort to brighten the lives of those who have given so much in service to our country.
Priscilla Clore
Site manager, Mini-West Storage
