Letters to the Editor 8/10

Beetles terrorizing New Mexico as well

In regards to beetles, as reported in Monday’s Clovis News Journal: They are not confined to the Texas Panhandle.

I had to do a double-take when I spotted the photo of that pesky bug on the front page. They’re driving me crazy!

They walk about 40 feet into my home, and proceed to roll over and die. The pesticides are working, but now I have dead bugs all over my house. The gas station south of me on U.S. 70 was recently flooded with them. I really do hope they go away in September.

Richard Lopes

Clovis

Water warnings seemingly unheeded

A day after front-page headlines asked Clovis residents to conserve water, I was shocked as I drove down Norris Street and turned onto East 21st. In my short trip, I observed one of Clovis’ finest churches and two of its finest houses watering their lawns — in the extreme heat of the afternoon.

I suppose it is possible that someone overlooked changing the automatic timers on their sprinkler systems, but why would the timers be set for such an inappropriate time in the first place?

George L. Prothro

Clovis

Umpire not always impartial

There are many wonderful men and women who give unselfishly of their time, talents and effort to coach and umpire Little League baseball. They are capable of being fair and unbiased.

I am upset about the few who are unable to set aside their bias.

I am not a poor loser. You do not hear me complain when games are played fair and square.

That was not the case during a recent tournament in Clovis. One of the umpires had close ties to one of the teams.

The obvious conflict of interest was allowed by league officials.

When I asked the umpire administrator why outside umpires from Portales or Tucumcari were not used, he asked, “Are you willing to fork out $40 for gas?”

My answer is “You bet.” Not only am I willing to pay a little extra for unbiased officiating, most of the parents and grandparents I know would also be willing to chip in as necessary.

Baseball is a fine, wholesome sport. We need a system that reduces the potential for biased umpiring.

Margarita Leal

Clovis

Solons should listen to the people

The editorial in Wednesday’s paper inferred the people of Texas do not want the blatant gerrymandering of the federal House districts to even up the House representation.

Just because political columnist Molly Ivins and the liberal media around Austin say so, it doesn’t mean the people of Texas say so.

For as long as I can remember, the Democrats who controlled redistricting tried to lump Republican votes (up to 75 percent or more) so that Republican candidates would not have a chance in other districts.

The state House members put personal interests aside and tried to devise districts that were much more competitive so that the people would be better represented. Some incumbents want to devise districts where their re-election is assured but no district should be approved where more than 55 percent of the voters are registered in one party.

These Texas state Senators toughing it out at the Marriott Pyramid in Albuquerque are fighting to retain the gerrymandering of the past and their future in the Democratic Party rather than for good representative government.

Dr. Martin B. Goodwin

Portales