Dear Editor,

Well, here we are, nearly a week into daylight saving time and most of us have adjusted about as well as we're going to. The point is, we shouldn't have to adjust. Everyone that I've heard express an opinion says we (they) should just pick a time and stick with it. It would seem that since we now "save daylight" for eight months out of the year, this should just become the new standard time and we can leave well enough alone. No one I know actually benefits from the time change and I believe nearly everyone would be happier not having to go through it. I say nearly everyone because, as we all know there are sadists and masochists who thrive on giving and enduring pain, respectively. But I figure they can get lumped in with other ne'er-do-wells and social miscreants who really don't count anyway. It seems the legislature is willing to blithely ignore the will of the populace. We, the common citizenry, need to find out who is behind this scheme to disturb our sleep and wreak havoc with our schedules and bombard them with calls, letters, e-mails or any other means of expressing discontent.

We might get responses indicating that atomic clocks and computers are programmed to reset themselves automatically and this may be touted as a reason for maintaining the current state of affairs. Here's a news flash: clocks and computers are machines - they are meant to serve us, not vice versa. I would much rather upset a few soulless machines than autistic children who thrive on routine and household pets who can't understand why their feeding schedule has been tampered with and some of the rest of us who are just plain "sot in our ways."

Most newspapers, from time to time, publish the names and addresses of elected officials. They are usually found in telephone directories as well. So, let's reclaim that hour and spend it expressing ourselves to the powers that be and see if we can't end the madness. After all, they too work for us.

JoAnn Dalgard - Brady, Texas

Dear Editor,

The Timmons Family; Kasey, Breann, Sue and Jim would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all the folks that helped on the Wednesday (3-12) night fire. Thanks to Dwayne Shaw for waking me and Breann up from a deep sleep to find the house next door engulfed in flames and the venetian blinds already melting on the inside wall of my house. Thanks especially for our great VOLUNTEER Fire Dept. for setting up where they did and saving our house. We certainly regret the loss of the home next door and thank God that everyone got out okay. Thanks to Roger Verette and the city crew for their quick actions with the electric lines and other services. Thanks to Mark McEwin with Atmos Energy for his concern and advice. Also Thanks to Chief Riggs and Sheriff Brown for their Depts. help. I hope I haven't left anyone out, it was a hectic 2:00 a.m. wakeup call. "Wimpy", Breann's pup wanted to thank Dwayne Shaw again for coming back in and finding him cowering under the table; everyone had thought he had run outside earlier.

Thanks Again,

Kasey Timmons

Dear Editor,

March 15, 2009 was an absolute success! Positive involvement from the community! A "Big Thank You" to everyone for their long hours and determination to make the Free Meal 3rd Sunday a great success! Volunteers unselfishly worked many hours making possible a free meal for all. Ladies from different areas, churches, and 3rd Sunday volunteers prepared everything necessary for the enjoyable meal. Many ladies did an outstanding job preparing pies, cakes, cookies, cobblers, and pudding. So many wonderful desserts to choose from made the entire meal a success.

Volunteers removing the fire trucks from the fire station, setting up tables and chairs, preparation for main meal, cornbread preparation, setting up dessert tables, making of tea/coffee and especially clean-up was an enormous undertaking by dedicated people of the community.

Many families, friends, and churches were represented at the first Free Meal. The main "cause" for the Free Meal 3rd Sunday is the "bringing together" of our community. Also, sharing a meal with everyone and having time to fellowship with family, friends and neighbors.

Anyone "traveling through" Richland Springs is encouraged and welcome to attend the 3rd Sunday of each month.

Volunteers are needed and welcome to help any 3rd Sunday of the month. Everyone is welcome to come eat! Desserts always needed and appreciated!

All donations will be used for the purchase of food and supplies for the next Free Meal 3rd Sunday, April 19th, 2009.

Note: This is not an organization. This is not any one church. This is our community caring for one another, sharing with one another, and working together. Come eat, share, and care!

Arlene Stratton