Sunday, May 25, 1997

Library issue needs leadership now

By Glenn Dromgoole / Abilene Reporter-News

Let's build a library: Congratulations to the Citizens Library Review Panel, not only for coming to a recommendation that Abilene ought to have a new library, but mostly for just surviving.

These folks put in a lot of hours trying to do what they felt would be best for the community. They didn't get paid anything for all their efforts, and they were under a lot of pressure from various interests.

In the end, the task force members didn't come to a unanimous decision, which isn't surprising given the variety of ideas they had to choose from. But their 6-2 vote to recommend that a new library be built downtown ought to carry some influence with the rest of us, if for no other reason than our own relief and appreciation for not having to take the heat ourselves.

I think it is appropriate also to say a word of thanks to Ken Musgrave, Bill Senter, Bruce Reed and others who stepped forward with ideas for the library. All of the suggestions had merit; it was a matter of picking the best of the alternatives, and I believe the task force members chose what they felt was the right course. I hope everyone will be able to accept, if not the decision, at least the integrity of the people who made it.

The next step is for the City Council to provide some leadership. The council let the citizens task force take all the heat on the library issue, but now it's time for the council to sell the issue to the voters. Any bond issue is tough to pass these days, but it can be done - with the right leadership.

The facts are: 1. We need a new library. 2. It will be an asset to our community. 3. We can afford it.

So let's put aside the bickering and build a library we can all be proud of. Then we can address the issue of branches. First things first, and a new central library needs to be the top priority.

Just Say So: Well, it's that week again, a week celebrated in Abilene which should be celebrated across the country.

For a number of years the women of Grace United Methodist Church have designated a week as "Say So Week." During that week, they urge everyone to say "thank you" - whether it's in person, or by letter, or by phone - to people who might need or appreciate a little encouragement. And don't we all need that!

Say So Week starts today and runs through Saturday. What if, for the next seven days, everyone in Abilene and the Big Country took just a few minutes each day to tell someone thank you for a job well done, or for a kind deed done, or for a thankless task performed, or for just being there to offer a sympathetic ear or hand? It would make a difference in the kind of community we have.

And most importantly, it would make a difference in our own lives. People who have learned to be appreciative understand the significance of grace in our lives. We all have been blessed by the generosity, the patience, the service of others.

This week, take a little time to Say So.

Take me out to the ball game: Well, it's really baseball season now. The Abilene Prairie Dogs are back.

I'm not much of a Major League fan anymore, so for me and quite a few other folks the season started Thursday night when the Prairie Dogs took the field in Tyler. I wore my baseball tie to the office that day and then tuned in on the radio to hear them win the season opener 11-3, and I plan to be in the stands Thursday night for the home opener against Alexandria.

We will have a full page of pictures and bios and other information about the '97 Dogs in Thursday's paper. Look for it, and then come on out to the ball game and let's cheer our Prairie Dogs to another Texas-Louisiana League championship.

Minor league baseball is good baseball - minus all the overpriced egos - and it's good entertainment for children of all ages - especially those of us who have never quite grown up.