Let’s all keep cool

Thursday’s editorial [“Deceit and heat”] exposed our state leaders’ deceit by robbing the fund earmarked for providing some relief to poor people for paying their sky high electric bills. This is the kind of journalism we need more of to hold our elected and appointed officials accountable and call them out publicly when they fall short.

To those who want lower taxes: Do you not realize that the officials you elected to hold the line on taxes often only play a shell game of adding or hiking fees and raiding funds earmarked for other uses? Are you happy so long as taxes remain where they are, or go down, even if that means lawmakers rob from the disadvantaged — possibly making them swelter in 110 degree temperatures —  to do so?

We should all demand that our elected officials be completely open, honest and fair in their dealings. This kind of behavior, exposed in this fine editorial, is tantamount to corruption. If it is allowed to continue we can expect to see worse.

Roger Olson, Waco

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As the possibility of rolling blackouts looms, it seems only fair that those who so adamantly opposed the building of new power generating plants should be first to have their electricity cut off.

David B. Anderson, Waco

True heroes remembered

Condolences to the family of singer Amy Winehouse. Folks will still admire her, romanticize her music and carry on vigils for a woman of sorrow. But many will never know of Army Pvt. Denae Jensen of Fort Hood, who ran into a burning home to rescue two puppies, then ran into another home that was on fire to rescue a baby. My hero is Pvt. Jensen.

Kyle David Fallon, Waco

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A memorial service was held July 29 for Arthur “Kit” Murray at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West. Major Murray, a retired Air Force pilot, flew combat missions in the P-40 out of Africa during WWII. Along with Chuck Yeager, he flew record-setting flights in the X-1 rocket plane. Yeager was exploring the speed envelope while Murray soared to record heights over 90,000 feet. Murray flew several “X” planes and was Air Force program manager for the X-15. He helped develop air-to-air refueling capabilities and worked on the Bell tilt-rotor aircraft program. He retired after 20 years in the Air Force.

He died on July 25 at age 92 in a nursing home in West. Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 59 (Waco) members were honored to provide a missing man formation for the service.

In this age of rock stars and actors, it is truly a shame the passing of a real hero is so little noticed.

Mike McMains, Waco

Opinion page criticisms

I agree with Fred Kaparich’s July 30 letter that the letters page has deteriorated to the point where you print letters from people with differing opinions. It was great when the only opinions allowed were from highly educated liberals. “Liberal” equals “educated elite.” It matters little which condition came first.

Jack Files, Eddy