I sadly agree with Cyndi Wright’s article. I see too many turtles trying to cross highways and not making it, because drivers appear to go out of their way to run over them. How else can you explain dead turtles on the shoulders?

I have saved a few turtles myself, since the ancient creatures’ lack of speed has made survival a challenge. They, just like other animals in need, need a little compassion from humans.

I suspect that those drivers who target turtles (and other creatures) don’t even read the newspaper and articles like this one to maybe consider being more kind.

Thank you for the article.

Renate Suitt

Bastrop

I am pleased to announce that the Bastrop County Aggie Moms Club will be offering scholarships for the 2012-2013 school year. The student’s permanent address must be within one of the Bastrop County school district boundaries. Students must be enrolled for the fall 2012 semester as a full time student at Texas A&M University, and passed a minimum of A&M hours (24 for undergraduate and 8 for graduate) excluding transfer credits and credit by exam. Applications must be postmarked no later than June 1. More information and the application is posted on our website at http://bastropcomoms.aggienetwork.com/drupal/scholarships.

Liz Wysocki

President, Bastrop County Aggie Moms Club

Recently I wrote a letter to the editor in order to commend four young people who saved the life of our 14-year-old Golden Retriever who had fallen into the river and would have drowned without their quick and courageous acts.

I have since found out their names, and I hope people will remember their good work.  If you know Matt McAdams, Jimmy Wise, Heidi Grube and Kristin Tran, I hope you will commend them for their quick response and good deed.

Also, I want to publicly recognize their parents for raising their children to be such kind and generous adults. Kindness and good citizenship are among the many things that I love about Bastrop.

Marian Tuck McWhorter

Houston

I didn’t find my family and friends, God gave them to me.

I feel that I am recovering because of God’s goodness and the kindness of family and friends.

I thank you from my heart for your prayers, telephone calls, greeting cards, money and other expressions of thoughtfulness.

I am still in the hospital, but I am much better.

God bless you.

Bobby J. McDonald

Bastrop

Bluebonnet members have recently received mailings, door-to-door solicitations and automated calls urging them to vote for two candidates in our upcoming board election. Some of these solicitations have asked our members to hand their voting authority over to interest groups supporting those candidates. The three organizations making these solicitations are not violating any rules of our current election process. But their actions illustrate a potential issue that our directors have been studying for the past two years and addressed during last month’s board meeting.

Our current at-large voting system and our current proxy system makes it possible for members in four counties – Bastrop, Caldwell, Travis and Hays – on the western side our service area (that account for 60 percent of our meters) to dominate elections. That means if the folks in those counties were to organize, they could elect virtually all of the members on the Bluebonnet board.

This is a fundamental flaw in our election process that our board felt should be addressed to ensure every part of our service area has fair and equal representation based on our demographics.

So, this summer, our board will develop a plan to evenly divide our service area into districts. The board expects to present its plan for final approval at its September meeting. We anticipate the first election cycle in which our members will be able to vote for directors in their districts will be in 2013.

Under the current voting structure, co-op members are able to cast votes in person at our annual meeting or “by proxy,” designating another to cast their vote or allowing the co-op’s proxy committee to vote in their stead. Under that system, the member has the option to either direct the committee to vote for specific candidates or they can allow the committee to cast their vote at its discretion.

The move from at-large voting will effectively end our proxy committee. In most cases where elections are held by district, proxies are not assigned. Or if they are, they’re assigned to individuals, not a proxy committee.

Transparency is critically important during this process. We’ll communicate our board’s progress and we’ll solicit input from our members from start to finish. Long before any election is held in 2013 we’ll inform our members of everything they need to know in order to participate in the election.

Mark Rose

General Manager, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative

This letter is an endorsement for Derek Van Gilder for district judge of the 21^st District Court for Bastrop, Lee, Burleson and Washington counties. I have known Derek for some time now through his civic involvement. He has been very involved in the community through Rotary, Children’s Advocacy Center, his church and other organizations. He has held leadership roles in each of the organizations – so he is not only committed to the organization, but helps lead them. Civic involvement, however, is not the criteria by which I am endorsing him.

Derek Van Gilder is by far the most qualified of the candidates for District Judge. He has been in the legal profession for 32 years, and has handled cases from the JP courts to the appellant courts and everything in between in both state and federal courts. It is this extensive and varied experience with his having litigated family, civil and criminal cases that make Derek the best candidate. He has tried divorces, child custody and support cases, adoptions, and restraining orders, to name a few of the types of cases in the family law area. In civil cases, he has tried matters involving business disputes, personal injury, construction claims, debt collection, contracts, and property issues. Derek has handled criminal cases from a simple traffic ticket to a Federal gun-running, conspiracy felony case.

Derek Van Gilder has also mediated hundreds of cases and has extensive experience as an arbitrator with a position on the American Arbitrator Association Panel of Arbitrators.

The district courts handle family, civil and criminal cases with about a third of each type case just in Bastrop County. Derek Van Gilder will not have to learn family and civil law as he sits on the bench. I want a judge that does not have to learn the law to be able to hear my case, if I happen to be in his court.

For all of the above, I would encourage every voter, no matter their party affiliation, to vote for a judge that will not only follow the law, but knows the law – that can only be Derek Van Gilder for district judge of the 21st District Court.

Loretta Knepp

Bastrop

On Sept. 4, 2011, the lives of the students and staff of Emile Elementary were forever changed by the Bastrop wildfires. As we returned to school after the wildfires and began to settle back into routine, our students and staff were then dealt another blow by having their principal resign and take another position.

In the midst of all of these changes and uncertainties, up stepped a stable face for our children to see, assistant principal Ms. Moore.

Ms. Moore took on the challenge of stepping into the roll of interim principal mid-year. She has had many critics waiting for her to fail, but she has not. Ms. Moore stepped up, listening to what her staff needed and filling those needs. She took time with parents and students to assist them in adjusting to the changes going on. Ms. Moore has done all of this with grace and integrity.

As a mother I am thankful that my children have such a wonderful principal. While I feel Ms. Moore is a strong leader, she is also a kind and caring.

I was saddened to learn that the BISD did not offer Ms. Moore the job of principal, but instead posted the job and are now making her go through the interview process. I hope that during the interview process, the BISD will realize what I have realized: the students and staff at Emile have had enough change and they need Ms. Moore to continue to lead.

Stacey Gibson

Emile Parent

I am writing this letter to acknowledge Jim Clark as the best candidate for Place 1, BISD.  Although he is my friend and trusted neighbor, the important issue for me is that he is committed to improving the educational opportunities for our BISD youth.  Jim has 30 years of experience as an educator from pre-K through High School.

His priorities are quality education, fiscal responsibility and supporting teachers.  He has followed and researched the issues facing our educational community for years. Jim wants to make a difference via a strategy that examines academics at every level while fostering community/parent/teacher involvement.  He wants to work toward long term solutions rather than short term reparations.

His loyalty is with his community and he is an independent thinker who can work collaboratively.  Remember that educator that taught you, paid attention to you, made a difference and you enjoyed?  That is the Jim Clark I know. I hope you will also get to know him better as a BISD representative working for all of us. Please remember your vote is important because local history indicates only about 7% vote. Thank you for your time.

Signed,

Herb Goldsmith

We are writing to encourage everyone to vote for David Long for BISD School Board Trustee, Place 2.

David is a graduate of Bastrop High School.  BISD is the only district his two children have attended.  David graduated from Texas A & M with honors and is currently employed as a Land Acquisition and Development Manager in Austin and San Antonio.  He is trained in fiscal responsibility and leadership.  He is personally vested in the success of the Bastrop Independent School District.

We believe that actions speak louder than words.  While any of us can profess to want to help the children of BISD, David backs up his words with actions.  He is actively involved with fund raising for the Bastrop Education Foundation and has given of his time and talent to this worthy charity that benefits all children of BISD. David has also engaged people in the community in order to better understand everyone’s perspective of the challenges and future goals for BISD.

We are proud to say that David Long is our friend.  We know him to be a man of integrity, a good parent and businessman. Therefore, for the future of all BISD children, including our own, please join us in supporting David Long for BISD School Board Trustee, Place 2.

William H. Jenkins & Cindy Jenkins

I am writing to offer my support for David Long, candidate for Bastrop ISD School Board of Trustees. David is a lifelong friend that I have known for over 35 years, first as classmates growing up right here in Bastrop and again as students at Texas A&M University, where he graduated with honors.  I have seen my friend David grow as a loving husband, a proud parent, a professional in the workplace and a productive citizen and contributor to this great community.

Throughout the entire time that I have known David, I have seen and appreciated the work ethic he devotes to every aspect of his life.  I have also seen and appreciated the positive results obtained by that very work ethic.  He is accountable for his actions and he is determined to ensure that those actions produce quality results.

My wife Dawn has been a teacher at BISD since 1996.  She and I have children similar in age to David and Jennifer’s two wonderful children.  I have had numerous conversations with David concerning our schools and our desire to make sure that this district moves in the right direction. I cannot stress enough my belief that David will indeed move our district in that direction.  Please join me in voting for David Long for School Board.

Mike Vinklarek