The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 12

FEEDBACK: Call'EditorHeber-Taylorat1-800-561-361L Ext. Wednesday April 15, 1998 EWS Your Local News Source Since 1842 On the Worid Wide Web at http://www.galvnews.com Les Daughtry Editor and Publisher Emeritus Dolph Hilotson President and Publisher Heber Taylor Editor BILL CLINTONS LEGACV undreds of Galveston County students have spent the past year preparing for the county fair and rodeo, and now their time in the spotlight is Have you been to the Mr lately? The issue: The Galveston County Fair and Rodeo opens Friday. We suggest: This is a good opportunity to support some young people who don't mind a little hard work to achieve their goals. here. The annual event, which attracts thousands to the fair, rodeo, carnival and barbecue cook-off, begins Friday at the fairgrounds on state Highway 6 in Hitchcock.

It will continue through April 25. Visitors to the fair can view the livestock raised by area students, as well as the other projects completed by the kids. The county fair is a large fund-raiser for scholarships awarded to area students with interests in livestock and agriculture. It is a long-standing tradition well worth attending. It's a chance to see some fine cattle, poultry and pork.

It's also a chance to see an abundance of youth who don't mind a little hard work to achieve their goals. YouTl see examples of the values we should try to instill in all kids. If you set a goal and work hard to achieve it, you will reap the rewards. The owners of the top livestock will receive thousands of dollars at the auction. We should support these Mds and applaud them for their effort.

Many wake at dawn to tend to their animals before heading to school. Then, after school, they work with their animals again before hitting the books for homework. But in addition to showing your support for the kids and their work, the fair is a perfect chance to spend some quality time with your family At the fair, families can spend a few hours together enjoying old-fashioned fun along the carnival midway and at the various dances. The Galveston County Fair and Rodeo benefits the youth of Galveston County and should be supported by all those who live and work in this area. Take an afternoon to slow down, enjoy your family and head to the fairgrounds.

You won't regret it. This editorial was written by Heidi Lute, lifestyle editor of The Daily News. Her email address is Today is Wednesday, April 15. tax day, the 105th day of 1998. There are 260 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History: In the early hours of April 15, 1912, the British luxury liner Titanic sank in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland, less than three hours after striking an iceberg. About 1,500 people died. On this date: In 1817, the first American school for the deaf opened in Hartford, Conn. In 1861, three days after the attack on Fort Sumter, President Lincoln declared a state of insurrection and called out Union troops. In 1865, President Lincoln died, several hours after he was shot at Ford's Theater in Washington by John Wilkes Booth.

Andrew Johnson became the nation's 17th president. In 1945, during World War II, British and Canadian troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. In 1947, Jackie Robinson, baseball's first black major league player, made his official debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day. (The Dodgers defeated the Boston Braves, 5-3.) In 1959, Cuban leader Fidel Castro arrived in Washington, D.C., to begin a goodwill tour of the United States. In 1986, the United States launched an air raid against Libya in response to the bombing of a discotheque in Berlin on April Libya says 37 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

In 1989, 95 people died in a crush of soccer fans at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England. One year ago: The Justice Department inspector general reported that FBI crime lab agents produced flawed scientific work or inaccurate testimony in major cases such as the Oklahoma City bombing, in Saudi Arabia, fire destroyed a tent city outside Mecca, killing at least 343 Muslim pilgrims. Jackie Robinson's number 42 was retired 50 years after he became the first black player in major league baseball. Today's Birthdays: Actor Michael Ansara is 76. Country singer Roy Clark is 65.

TV producer Linda Bloodworth- Thomason is 50. Columnist Heloise is 47. Actress-screenwriter Emma Thompson is 39. The Associated Press Http://www.grimmy.com Eaton Chapel stands today as symbol of faith hose Were The Days There stands, today, as a symbol of faith, the Eaton Chapel, the fnrRn.Tnin.er of the historic Trinity Episcopal Church. Located at the northwest corner of 22nd Street and Avenue its story tells of the major role religion and churches played in the city's early days.

Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists were the first to organize congregations in 1840, closely followed by the Episcopalians in 1841 and the Catholics in 1847. The Rev. Benjamin Eaton, who was born in Dublin, established the Episcopalian church here, and his faith was sorely tested in the doing. After arriving, Eaton wrote his bishop, saying: "I know little about this town yet. But I have already seen and heard enough to cool my Texas fever and make me fear where my exertions will not be half useful and where I shall experience almost every privation that a civilized man can And he was soon to find the truth of his prediction.

In 1842, a hurricane hit the island and seriously damaged THOSE WERE THE DAYS the little church he had worked so hard to build. Barely escaping through a window of the building, Eaton said: "My God, my God has forsaken me this night." But his parishioners repaired the building and later the beautiful Trinity Episcopal Church built. Those Were the Days In 1938, when another man of God dared to speak out about the gambling element that was thriving uncontrolled in the city. W.F. Bryan, pastor of the First Methodist Church, then located at the northwest corner of Avenue I and 19th Street, said in his sermon that the underworld had Galvesto- nians "buffaloed." "Why, I could take a bird dog, not a good one," Bryan said, "and smear beeswax on his nose and he could still flush more quail in an hour than the police of Galveston have flushed gamblers in a week.

Aad a few good men," he added, "men whose names we can barely pronounce, are getting fatly rich." A Galvestonian to be remembered: Henry Renfert, 18851966. He came to Galveston from Fort Worth in 1920 and built a large business dealing in cotton. He was a director of the Federal Reserve Bank in Houston; was president of the Galveston Cotton Exchange, 1932 to 1936; was president of the Galveston Family Service and was active in the red cross. John Murphy, a native of Galveston. joined The Daily News in 1932 as a sports writer and iater covered Galveston for The Houston Post.

You can write to him The Daily News, P.O. Box 628, Gaiveston 77553. fc -J T. Death penalty is the worst form of torture Texas has set an execution date of April 22 for juvenile offender Joseph John Cannon. Belonging to a Christian Human Rights defending group, I am very much concerned about the death penalty and consider it as the worst torture.

How can a democratic state like the USA allow that? In more than half of its states, capital punishment is still applied. What does it mean when the authorities protect and execute their citizens? Isn't there any paradox? The United States ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1991: Article 6 (5): Sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below 18 years of age and shall not be carried out on pregnant women. I do not expect any change up to April 22. Nathalie Mischter Geneva, Switzerland Letters policy The Galveston County Daily News welcomes letters of up to 150 words, and guest columns of up to 500 words, on any public issue. Guest coiumns must include a photograph of the writer.

Any letter that exceeds the word limit will not be considered for publication. Any guest column that exceeds the word limit or does not include a photograph will not be considered for publication. We publish only original letters or guest columns addressed to The Galveston County Daily News. An address and daytime phone number must be included so the author's identity can be verified. No letters or guest columns will be published until authorship is confirmed.

Those who write letters are asked to limit their entries to one per month. All letters and guest columns are subject to editing. The Daily News reserves the right to decline publication of any submission. Remember: Little League should be fun for boys No Little League season can get going properly without the publishing of the following poem: Just a little boy He stands at the plate with heart pounding fast. The bases are loaded; the die has been cast.

Mom and Dad cannot help him, he stands alone. A hit at this moment would send the team home. The ball meets the plate; he swings and he misses. There's a groan from the crowd, with some boos and some hisses. A thoughtless voice cries out, "Strike out the bum." Tears fill his eyes; the game's no longer fun.

So open your heart and give him a break For in moments like this, a man you can make. Keep this in mind when you hear someone forget: He's just a little boy and not a man yet. Clark Hal! Texas City SAU.VKOW5R, AS JOURNALISM SCHOOL, I BOY 11? COVER SOIOJOKK5P HARP, SJWfSP, MVEPANP NATION TJ3J7H ABOUT OF UNfTSP STATES PROPFEPHIS ISABEL PARR Keep facts in mind for vote efore entering the voting booth in May to vote or "no" on the billboard referendum, please give the following your consideration: Myth Island is besieged by number of billboards. Fact There is not an over-saturation. Quite the contrary, two businesses have had a 50 percent decline in boards since 1978 when the ordinance was first passed.

Myth There is a monopoly on billboards. Fact There are three existing companies and not one law on the books to exclude other companies from entering the city of Galveston; however, with the ban on new boards as well as the relocation-repair of existing boards, currently threatened, another company would undoubtedly not want to do business here. Myth The companies add little to the tax base. Fact One particular company has been paying taxes for more than 60 years. The owners, as well as their employees, also contribute to the tax base as home owners (or renters), and they frequent other local business for their company and personal needs.

i Myth Billboards are not i "selective" in advertising too many devoted to cigarettes and alcohol. Fact Of the 26 boards owned by one company, there i is one cigarette ad and one i liquor ad. The majority of boards are devoted to local advertisements and many are donated to various civic organizations. Myth Billboards are an "eyesore." Fact Depends on who you ask. When one enters any city as a complete stranger, it is extremely helpful to know the locations of lodgings, eating establishments, etc.

i Myth Billboard owners 1 won't be "too damaged" if this i ordinance is passed because existing billboards can remain indefinitely. Fact One catastrophic act of nature in this city could result in these businesses going 'Tselly-up" because of regulations already in place. A recent mailing by billboard opponents, as well as their telephone survey, failed to stress that if existing boards are damaged beyond 50 percent, they are history. Nojebuilding and no relocation, tfbu might also want to look at this issue from the point of discrimination. What other private business in Galveston will have a stringent ordinance (other than zoning restrictions) to dictate their everyday operations? Myth Recent endorsement for billboards by parks board was referred to by opponents as "special interests" taking precedent over public interests.

Fact Where was Elizabeth Beeton when so-called "special interests" not only embraced the Galveston Economic Development Corporation but taxpayer money went toward their original funding? To send a "you've served your purpose and we no longer need you" message to existing businesses can definitely create an unfriendly climate and is certainly not conducive to attracting new businesses to this island. A "yes" vote on Proposition 42 delivers an emphatic and positive message. Isabel Parr is a resident of Galveston..