Disagrees with action
To the Editor: I am writing in response to the article “MHMR fails before council “on the front page of the Corsicana Daily Sun on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. ...
Within the article on the City Coouncil meeting was the approval of a Specific Use Permit for the Remington to have a private club in order to serve alcoholic beverages. Though legal, Alcohol is the drug of choice to self-medicate for many people. Another statement made was, and I paraphrase, these services are needed but not in my area. That is such an overused excuse.- Where do you want it-in an area that is totally inaccessible to anyone who needs help ?
I was the Executive Director of Navarro County MHMR Center for 20 years. For over 15 years, the Center was located at 920 N. Main St. which was at the corner of Main St. and Ave. F. Our close neighbors included two day care centers, a dance studio, a pharmacy, numerous residences, a gymnastics business, Brookshire’s, (where you can now buy beer and wine) and the State agencies within the Navarro Mall.
These businesses were within a block of our building. For the entire time we were in that location we provided substance abuse counseling, as well as a full range of services to persons with mental illness. Some of our services were provided in the evening. We never received complaints from any neighbors because our clients were causing problems or loitering in the area.
This is a badly needed service in our community — a void that has stifled the road to recovery for many people. The limited choices are AA, NA or seeing a private therapist licensed to treat substance abusers.
Many studies are conducted yearly to estimate the cost of alcohol and drug abuse on society. One recent joint study by three federal agencies dealing with alcohol and drug abuse issues projects that the cost to society for alcohol and drug abuse is $965 for each for every man, woman and child in the United States.
Based on the 2000 Census, Navarro County has a population of 45,124. Using these figures, the cost to Navarro County is $43,544,660 yearly in economic impact on Navarro County.
This is an issue that is already in your neighborhood, and mine.
We can’t change that impact without treatment options.
Sincerely,
Julie Lang
Former Director, Navarro County MHMR Center
To the Editor: I am writing to express my disappointment in the "rally" to keep a substance abuse program out of a certain area in town.
I have been a social worker in town 17 years and have seen the need for a program such as this many times. As far as I know, there is no such program in Navarro or Ellis County.
In looking over the petition, I see names (of) people who see children removed from families due to substance abuse, people who work with disabled individuals and people who know first hand the extent of this problem....
Some have already requested their names be removed from the petition stating they were misled. I would be willing to bet that this problem, substance abuse, has touched every person on that list in one way or another.
The idea that people who need this help are "undesirable" is offensive and discriminatory. It is my hope that those of you who feel you were misled and signed this petition will contact the city and ask that your name be removed.
It is also my hope that this program will become a reality and those who badly need this service will not be too ashamed to seek help. I urge all of you who believe this type of program is needed, to let your voice be heard.
Thank you,
Debbie Richardson, LMSW
Opinion
Letters to the Editor 10/13/12
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I am so cynical
Cynical: “...believing that people are motivated in all their actions only by selfishness; denying the sincerity of people’s motives and actions, or the value of living...sarcastic, sneering, etc...pessimistic implies an attitude, often habitual, of expecting the worst to happen...”
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Dumb people in the news
In the news this week was an on-line press release from the Department of Environmental Protection for the state of Pennsylvania that they’ve lost a nuclear device off the back of a truck somewhere between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Troxler Model 3430 is a radioactive gauge that takes measurements in the ground. The press release from the DEP states that anyone finding the box should not “tamper” with it.
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Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
This amounts to spying on an American news organization — common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press. -
Flying the “Delta Connector”
I had an unfortunate fall earlier this week and wrecked my back to the point where I cannot spend much time sitting up at my desk to write. Therefore, I am recycling a piece I wrote many years ago about our first trip from Corsicana back to Denver.
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It's my job
A couple of weeks ago, some chowderheads released a study saying that the worst job in America is that of newspaper reporters because of the low pay, long, odd hours and stress.
Number two on the list was lumberjack, which makes sense because trees kill.
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Message from the Mayor: Safety first
The tragic incident that recently occurred in West serves as a stark reminder that disasters can occur at any time or place.
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Angels among us
The winds have dispersed the mushroom cloud that hovered over the small town of West. The dust has settled. The President of the United States, the Governor of Texas and other dignitaries have come to join in the memorial for those who lost their lives.
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Missing the fun
Sad to say, in the 11 years The Little Woman (don’t call me that!) and I lived in Navarro County, we never attended the annual Derrick Days festivities. We followed all the events in the Daily Sun, but we never schlepped into town to “walk amongst em.” I guess, if I were to be honest with myself, I am the reason we never went.
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Need a job? Leave the cat at home
The USA Today has printed an article this past week of advice to newly minted college graduates on how to get a job which basically boiled down to “don’t be stupid.”
This is excellent advice for any situation, but particularly that crucial job interview. -
Plenty to do
I don’t wanna hear anyone griping about “there’s not anything to do around here.”
In fact, there’s SO much to do around here, I’m not sure how anyone can get to it all! - More Opinion Headlines
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