Great folks

To the Editor: Our community lost some wonderful people in 2009 to illness and tragic accidents. Each one of them was unique in what they offered to all of us. I would like to say a few words about two of them that I knew fairly well.

About three years ago, some good people from St. John’s Episcopal Church began a Habitat For Humanity affiliate here in Corsicana. The basic premise of Habitat is to take money, donated materials, and donated labor from the community and to build good, safe, secure homes for those who need a better place to live.

Billy Ray Cobb donated a complete heat and air conditioning system for our first home. A very substantial gift. We voluntarily paid him for one half of the system in hopes that he would make the same gift for the second home. Well, he did. And not only that, but for the third and fourth homes also! All four homes are occupied now. That means that four families were able to stay cool during the brutal heat this past summer and are able to stay warm this winter greatly because of this very generous gift. Billy Ray, we will not forget you!!

Volumes could be written about David Coley and his contributions for the betterment of our community. I will sum up what I have to say about DC in three words. What a guy!!

James Stubbs



Sadness for class

To the Editor: In May of 1974 Mildred High School graduated 20 seniors (the last class from the old school). I thought we were a pretty tight-knit group. We all got caught up in our own lives and drifted apart, which I totally understand.

In December 2009, we lost our first class member. I went to his service fully expecting to see most of my class. I was wrong, I was the only one there, guess we were not as close as I thought.

Wallace Watson

Senior ‘74

Mildred High



A good idea

To the Editor: Thank you, Paul Hooper, for the following excerpt from your Chamber of Commerce column, and I quote, “Please remember to buy local because ‘buying local does matter!’”

“It is not always possible to buy everything you need from locally-owned businesses, but if everyone purchased one more item locally when they shopped, the effects would be tremendous. The point of this campaign is to encourage people to think local first — choose locally owned businesses when choosing where to buy goods and services. If there is some item or purchase you will be making, I encourage us all to think where we can get this in Corsicana and Navarro County. We as residents owe it to each other, our city and county to do our part as this is one way we can all pull together to make a difference.”

Also thanks to Bill Spae for your excerpt from the “guest commentary” of Dec. 27, 2009. “Buy local whenever you can and help keep the sales tax dollars in our county while supporting our local business.”

There are many businesses that do not shop locally that need to rethink their shopping habits. Your business depends on local people. Repay your dependable customers by shopping locally.

When you shop or dine in Ennis, Waco, or Dallas, you are supporting them — repairing their sidewalks and roads and supporting their schools. Keep your dollars here. Be proud of our community. Support our community, help our community remain strong.

Thanks to all the local businesses and Corsicanians who do shop locally. We truly appreciate your business.

Phyllis Pallanich

Copy Center and Office Supplies



Give me a break!

To the Editor: I heard on the radio about a 10-year-old boy that refused to stand up and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with his classmates.

When asked why he refused, the little boy said “I have the right to refuse.”

When asked why he exercised said right, he said “I’ll say the Pledge when we truly have liberty and justice for all!”

My jaw dropped when I heard this. Perhaps he, and whomever taught him this garbage, should move to a country with true freedom — like Iran!

As a prominent newsman has said, “Give me a break!”

Mark Fleischer