Letters to the editor — Jan. 10

Column brought back hunting memories

Karl Terry’s Nov. 29 column — “Missing a youngster to teach quail hunting” — brought back memories of growing up hunting quail, rabbits and big game. A lot of young people nowadays never get a chance to hunt.

My 15-year-old great grandson, Josh Estes, brought me some quail and antelope that he shot this season.

Terry was right — there are fewer quail now due to the drought and less small farms that have grain-fed work animals.

When we did go hunting there was no “skillet shooting” at a covey in a cactus. You might get two or three birds, but several would later die from buck shot.

Words of advice:

Never shoot across a big mesquite; always know where your partner is.

Give single birds at least 20 yards before firing.

And before sitting down on the tailgate, put your shotgun on safety.

Johnny Eastwood

Clovis

Thanks for quick, caring work

My mother fell and broke her right elbow and two toes during the Christmas weekend blizzard.

She is elderly and has numerous other health issues.

The emergency responders took very good care of her. They were unable to get a gurney through the snow drifts, so she had to walk to the ambulance with their help.

This was accomplished in a manner that she didn’t even get her clothes wet.

My mother said she could not see 6 inches in front of her, but she followed in the path carved out by the EMTs.

Once at the hospital, the emergency room crew took over and provided the care needed.

My brother arrived at the hospital after getting stuck at least three times.

After several hours, the storm still raged. Mom was released to go home. My family was advised that a Clovis police officer would be dispatched to escort my mother and brother home.

In the patrol car, my mother again noticed that visibility was zero. She could not see where they were going, or even where they were, but Sgt. Dagoberto Rodriguez was able to navigate the streets and return them safely to their home.

My family cannot express how much we appreciated the quick and caring care that all the first responders gave that night.

Deborah Morrison Carr

Clovis