08-21-2011-Sunday - Wise County Messenger

4A WISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Sunday, August 21, 2011OPINIONOUR VIEWSLooking back and looking forwardBy PHIL MAJORThirty years ago this week, a man lessthan half my age wandered into the Messengernewsroom, an office that housed three tofour people for years but now serves as thesolitary confines for one manager.Though he had never been a sports editor,he had landed a job as one, and it being theopening of football season, was thrown rightinto the weekly newspaper mix.Thus began a journey that continues today,with that grandfatherly-aged man nowsitting in the publisher’s chair, tasked withkeeping one of the best small-town papersin the country on course and in the black.But my how things have changed. Colorphotos are taken for granted, we shoot videoof some events, cover news “live” and tryto meet the expectation of instant, 24-hournews coverage that was first promoted bycable TV stations in the ’80s.Indeed some newspapers already broadcastevents live, such as sports, and thatday is coming soon for us as well.Other than pen and pad, weuse none of the equipment withwhich we produced the newspaperin 1981. Gone are waxers andphototypesetters. The Update haslong since stopped being producedon a typewriter and is availableelectronically worldwide almostinstantaneously.And of course we publish twice aweek.Those of us who never saw acomputer until we were out of collegenow carry tiny machines in our pocketsthat are far more powerful than those firstrudimentary Macs that allowed us to seewhat we produced on screen.A reporter can send back live reports,photos and video from the scene in realtime, on a device that’s called a phone butis so much more. It’s been one ofa long list of game-changers, ledby the Internet, which allows allinformation and feedback to appearpractically in real time.We have been challenged toperfect a model that, until recentyears, did not exist at all. And weare faced with doing it on the fly.We are gaining ground but stillare a long way from a satisfactorysolution.MAJOR Predictions of our quick demisewere greatly over-exaggerated.That which did not kill us has made usstronger, as well as more nimble, and hasgiven us a much broader perspective thanthe simple confines of Wise County, Texas.Events halfway around the world canimpact us with light speed.It’s been a heck of a ride, and I wouldn’tdo one thing any differently.Equipment has changed, our challengeshave changed and people’s expectationshave certainly changed. But what hasn’tis our desire and our pledge to bring WiseCounty the best news coverage and advertisingpossible with the resources available.We think we’ve done a pretty fair job thusfar, but we have no intention of resting onthat.We will constantly strive to find new andbetter ways of doing things.I’ll plan to check back in another 10 years,just to see. Perhaps by then, your personalizednewspaper will be delivered via aninteractive, holographic image projectedfrom your VerySmartPhone.YOUR VIEWSThanks to Mrs. VickI hope this will read as a tribute to a wonderfuloman. Recently two of my friends, Joy Jones Litonand Louise Perkins White, and I went to Eagleountain Lake to visit Mrs. Mildred Vick. This formerecatur High School teacher was the wife of ourasketball coach, Harold Vick. I doubt that the Vicksould know how they affected the lives of the studentshey taught.We three girls, along with our departed friend, SanraSaling Stone, were the basketball girls of the classf Decatur High School 1959. We had four wonderfulears under the guidance of the Vicks. They taught usessons that would mold us into the women we beame.Mrs. Vick, a widow for many years, lives in the homelong the lake’s shore that she and her family cameo 50 years ago after leaving Decatur. One of the firsthings she proudly showed us was the view acrosshe lake where on a clear day she could see Decatur.eceiving and reading the Messenger is important toer as she still likes to keep up with the goings-on inise County.This year in November, she will be 95 years young,nd as they say, “she is still sharp as a tack.” Althoughhe is still able to live alone, she is never really alones her two daughters, Linda and Jane, and theiramilies are near. I think she always has something inhe kitchen for the grandchildren and great-grandchilren;she had even made cookies for us. Even thoughe three are in our 70s, we are still pleased Mrs. Vickalls us “her girls.”Decatur has been blessed to have a legacy of greateachers, and Mr. and Mrs. Vick are certainly amonghis group.Ann Dawson KakerBridgeportHoward has it wrongIn response to Mr. Jerry Howard’s letter to the editorAug. 14:Mr. Howard, I am not an expert on all the state dataused to evaluate the school district’s performance, butit is my understanding that most districts across WiseCounty and the state did decline in the ratings, due tothe state raising the bar on what it takes to pass andending the Texas Projection Measure program. Thisyear, only 50 percent of districts in the state met AYP,whereas last year 78 percent did.I have never witnessed laziness by our school administration.I can only speak for myself, but seeingas how I have a little bit of an inside track because mywife happens to be one of those “lazy administrators,”my firsthand knowledge is that of extremely dedicated,hardworking, intelligent decision makers who havethe best interests of students in mind at every turn.As for our “Super” not manning up, I have never meta superintendent, or most any man for that matter, ashonorable, straightforward or with a bigger backbonethan the one we currently have. He exemplifies Christianbeliefs at every turn. I have spoken with him, andhe acknowledges that the success and challenges ofthe district ultimately fall to him. I truly believe hehas the best interest of every child in the decisionsthat he makes.When it comes to our school board, I also believethat these men have the best interests of all studentsin mind as they make difficult decisions for thedistrict. They have a very daunting job to do, and theywill never please everyone, but to insinuate they can’twalk and chew gum is demeaning. They give of theirtime and talents to tackle tough issues, and the onesContinued on page 5Here’s a sample of what some of our online readers arecommenting on this week.“True blue cowboy” published Thursday, Aug. 11I have known this man for close to 30 years and a finerperson you will not find.I used to run a boot repair shop in Springtown, andChester would stop by every morning just to say helloand drink a cup of coffee and visit. He always had a smileand a story to tell. At the time I had a 4-year-old son wholoved cowboys, and he would sit there in awe listening tohim. Whenever we passed him in town, Matt would hollerout, “Mom, there is Chester.”He is a true role model for younger generations of thenand today. I am proud to call him a friend.Theresa SouthwickChico“Stick to the truth” published Thursday, Aug. 11While there is no mention of free education in theU.S. Constitution, Article 7 (I think it is Article 7) of theTexas Constitution does say the state will provide freeeducation to its children. Scary to think of where we areheaded if we don’t educate our kids.D’Ann ElamJoshua“No raises in county budget” published Thursday,Aug. 11The price of everything has went up but no raises forthe workers. Sounds like a happy bunch of employees ...not.Chelsey SteeleAlvordONLINE VIEWS“Residents oppose beer sales near school property”published Sunday, Aug. 14Once again we see the sad double standards in play.For years, Alvord was forced to be dry, and those thatdidn’t like it were told it was the will of the majority!Now that the majority has voted Alvord wet, those thatlost can’t follow their own BS! I guess the majorityonly counts when it suits some self-proclaimed chosenone’s own agenda, right?Well, at least people can see who is honest and whois refusing to accept the will of the majority!Rusty WhiteBridgeport“Bishop will get pickup” published Thursday, Aug.18Let him walk.Jesse LowryNewarkThis man is such a joke to law enforcement. All hedoes is run up and down U.S. 380 East on traffic patroland make U-turns causing dangerous situations. Wehave state troopers to handle traffic patrol. I thoughthis job was to serve warrants.Nathan HornerAlvordRead more comments and add your own at the newWCMessenger.com.