Letters to the editor

Forget about the minnow, save the farmers, other people

Editor:

Pray. Pray for rain. Can the minnow, people, just can it. It can now be raised in tanks.

Are there people in agriculture in this valley with families to raise? Pray. Pray for rain. Can the minnow. Save the families. Did God give us the technology just to save the minnow or to save ourselves and the minnow? Are there people in this valley with taxes to pay? Pray. Pray for rain. Can the minnow. Pay the taxes. Do people in agriculture buy cars, groceries, furniture, pay dentists and doctors? Pray. Pray for rain. Can the minnow. Buy goods and services.

Pray. Pray for rain. Can the minnow. Pay the taxes. Buy goods and services. Save the families. Save a way of life.

Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Hacker

Valencia

When will they fix the roads?

Editor:

I was wondering if anybody was ever going to bring up the condition of the roads in Valencia County, particularly Old Highway 85 (NM 314). That road is getting so bad I would rather take a dirt road (it might be smoother). Or are our county commissioners waiting for election time to fix the roads?

Robert Eastman

Belen

CASA may lose its funding

Editor:

I am writing this letter to give Valencia County residents an update on our recent Light of Hope event to recognize and honor the more than 6,000 children who are abused and neglected in New Mexico each year. First, let me thank the Valencia County News-Bulletin and reporter Clara Garcia (for) writing such a wonderful article about our program and Valencia County CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates).

I am pleased to report that Valencia CASA was able to raise more than half of the necessary funding to support the Light of Hope event. Our supporters included Wells Fargo Bank in Belen and Southwest Airlines Reservations Agents, who provided financial support; Hacienda Home Center in Bos-que Farms, who supplied some of the lights; KARS radio, which ran our public service announcements for the event; Dee’s Cheesecake Factory and the Golden Corral in Albuqueque, who gave us gift certificates for our speakers; Alphagraphics on Juan Tabo in Albuquerque for printing our event flyers; and, of course, the volunteers and staff of the Valencia County CASA program who donated freely to put up the lights and clean up after the event. Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to Judge John Pope and KRQE News Anchorman Dick Knipfing who spoke up for the children who are abused and neglected in New Mexico. Because of this community support, this event was a success and we look forwad to holding it again next year.

More recently, Wal-Mart in Belen, the Bosque Farms Muni-cipal Court and Accutrak in Tomé have added their support to our program. Because the program is funded through the administrative office of the courts and subject to the legislative budget, this support comes at a time when we are in desperate need of funds and we are very grateful for the generous support we have received.

With the state budget unsigned, our program is in danger of not having sufficient funding to continue to provide services to the abused and neglected children in Valencia County. We are asking everyone who is able to send us $10 toward keeping our program operating for one month. If 250 generous people give just $10, we will have enough funding to keep our program alive until the budget is signed.

I want to express my profound gratitude to the caring individuals who have given support to our program.

Marie L. Aberant

Executive director

Valencia County CASA

P.O. Box 3321

Los Lunas 87031