PECOS ENTERPRISE

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Opinion

Thursday, Sept. 19, 1996

CRITIC'S CORNER

Early-day Rangers

saw many changes

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Texas Rangers got their start in the 1820s as a defense force against
Indian depredations, writes Frederick Wilkins in The Legend Begins: The
Texas Rangers 1823-1845.

His work is the first major Ranger history in many decades. He uses the
recently discovered and now much more accessible source materials to
separate facts from fiction.

Wilkins follows the rangers from their beginnings through the years
Texas was a Republic. He discusses changes in the philosophies and in
the organization of the Rangers during these early years - changes made
necessry as the times changed and the needs of Texas changed.

Available at $24.95 hardcover and $16.95 papercover from State House
Press, P.O. Box 15247, Austin TX 78761, phone 512-835-1644.

OUR VIEW

Businesses owe nothing to anyone

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Thieves in Pecos has helped bring about another casualty.

This time, it was the closing of a business -Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber
Co., a fixture on the Pecos business scene since 1929.

The company hasn't officially talked about losses by theft, but we've
learned those losses were substantial. They weren't able to sell enough
merchandise to overcome the losses to theft and make a profit, according
to information we have received.

The theft problem doesn't seem to get much attention by law enforcement
or the public in this area. But it is serious. A number of businesses
have said they have had this problem for years and there have been
rumors of the closing of a number of businesses due to this problem.

It seems that some people here and from the surrouding area believe
businesses owe this to them. We don't have a clue where this kind of
thinking comes from. Businesses don't owe anything to anybody other than
to try to serve the needs of customers through having the right
merchandise at a reasonable price.

It is up to us as members of the community to put a stop to thieves by
letting people we know that this kind of thing should not be tolerated.
And if we see something suspicious going on in a store, we should report
it. If we are called on to serve on a jury for shoplifting or theft, we
should make sure the culprits pay for their crime.

LOOKIN'
ROSEY
By Rosie Flores

Child abuse should

not be for anyone

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Child abuse may seem like just a couple of words to most of us. But to
some children, it's a way of life.

A life that the child did not choose to come into, but is having to
endure, because of parents who don't know how to control their anger,
are bitter or just plain mean.

Lately, we've been hearing more and more about child abuse, via the
media. More cases are being made public and some stories are not very
pretty. Some are downright gruesome!

Like the case of the abused twins, who have cerebral palsy and muscular
dystrophy and are clinging to their lives right now. Their mother,
jailed for starving the two five-year olds.

Yes, we all realize that raising a normal child is hard enough in
itself, and raising a special child is twice the work. But there are
places where these children can be taken to if they're not wanted.
Places that are equipped with nurses and staff educated to give these
children the care they require.

In this particular case, the girls were found dehydrated and starving
with insects crawling in and out of their ears. Officials in the case
stated that their appearance is worse than anything anyone has ever seen.

They stated that if anyone has ever seen documentaries of the
holocaust, that this case is even worse than those. It's unbelieveable
to realize that in these days and times, things like this still happen.

Child abuse awareness has increased substantianlly, yet there are still
some cases that go undetected. While physicians are the first ones which
become aware of such situations, there are still many dentists that have
little or no training to spot the warning signs, according to some
literature we received recently.

According to the Southwestern News, dental professionals should pay
special attention when an injury does not quite match up to the story,
such as when a parent claims a child's injury occured during an activity
uncommon for the child's age group.

For example, torn upper lips are routine among children who are just
learning to walk, but they usually are not seen in children are not yet
mobile. They could indicate that a child was struck hard in the face by
an adult or was hurt when the parent tried to force-feed him. Also,
dental professionals should be concerned if the stories told by the
child and the parent are inconsistent.

Certain sexually transmitted diseases will show up in the mouth, too.
Sores or warts in the oral cavity could be the result of some kind of
sexual abuse of that child. Neglect often is easy to spot, but harder to
categorize.

Everyone should try to do their part in preventing or helping child
abuse victims. Studies indicate that three million children a year are
abused in this country and it occurs among every segment of society.

Children are our future and physical abuse is not the only form of
abuse. Verbal abuse can cause as much, maybe more damage than the
physical part of it.

Rosie Flores is an Enterprise reporter and editor of Lifestyles and
Golden Years. Her column appears every Thursday.
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Copyright 1996 by Pecos Enterprise
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
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