Dear Editor:

I am writing this letter for two reasons: 1) to make sure everyone in San Saba knows what IMPACT 2000Plus is and who we are; and 2) to encourage people to join this worthwhile organization.

San Saba IMPACT 2000Plus is a non-profit 301 (c) organization that has been in existence for at least 15 years. It originally was just IMPACT 2000 but, when the year 2000 passed, we changed our name adding the "Plus" as our efforts enhance the quality of life for the San Saba citizens continued. We currently have about 8 members that actively attend monthly meetings and support our community events. We meet once a month on the 4th Thursday at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center. Our annual events include the Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt which is right around the corner on Saturday, April 23rd at 10am at the track field in Mill Pond Park. It is open to children under 8 and we hope to have a great turnout. We also do the Fireworks Celebration in the Park every July 4th and Breakfast with Santa, the 2nd Saturday of December. These are all events that pro vide good family entertainment for our citizens which is our goal. We offer all our events at no charge and rely on our fundraising efforts and the generosity of donors/businesses throughout the year. Let me take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us in the past and those who will continue to support us!

The second purpose of this letter is to encourage others to join our organization. As I mentioned before, we have maybe 8 to 10 members and that is not many when you look at the scope of our events. We could certainly use some new members to help our group continue to prosper. I know our efforts are meaningful and appreciated so I hope they

can continue. If you are interested in joining IMPACT 2000Plus, please give me a call at 325.423.4703 and I will gladly welcome you to our group and provide you additional information.

Thank you for your support and I hope to hear from lots of new members! Take care and God bless,

Marian Deans, President

San Saba IMPACT 2000Plus

Dear Editor,

When The San Saba Pony League had a need to make money to help purchase a portable mound for the new baseball field at Mill Pond Park, Sonic Drive-In and the generous people of San Saba really came through.

On Saturday, April 16, 2011, the teammates of the San Saba Pony League worked for tips as car hops at Sonic Drive-In. The people of San Saba gave generously to our boys. When it was time to count the money and see how we did, we also discovered that Sonic had made a generous donation to our cause.

The boys not only had an opportunity to raise money, they also got an opportunity to work with the public and learn some great skills. It was a very positive experience and we are very grateful to Sonic and all who contributed.

We are very blessed to live and play in such a great community.

Nancy Oliver

San Saba TX

Dear Editor,

When The San Saba Pony League had a need to make money to help purchase a portable mound for the new baseball field at Mill Pond Park, Sonic Drive-In and the generous people of San Saba really came through.

On Saturday, April 16, 2011, the teammates of the San Saba Pony League worked for tips as car hops at Sonic Drive-In. The people of San Saba gave generously to our boys. When it was time to count the money and see how we did, we also discovered that Sonic had made a generous donation to our cause.

The boys not only had an opportunity to raise money, they also got an opportunity to work with the public and learn some great skills. It was a very positive experience and we are very grateful to Sonic and all who contributed.

We are very blessed to live and play in such a great community.

Nancy Oliver

San Saba TX

Dear Editor,

When The San Saba Pony League had a need to make money to help purchase a portable mound for the new baseball field at Mill Pond Park, Sonic Drive-In and the generous people of San Saba really came through.

On Saturday, April 16, 2011, the teammates of the San Saba Pony League worked for tips as car hops at Sonic Drive-In. The people of San Saba gave generously to our boys. When it was time to count the money and see how we did, we also discovered that Sonic had made a generous donation to our cause.

The boys not only had an opportunity to raise money, they also got an opportunity to work with the public and learn some great skills. It was a very positive experience and we are very grateful to Sonic and all who contributed.

We are very blessed to live and play in such a great community.

Nancy Oliver

San Saba TX

Dear Editor:

Once again the Richland Springs School is trying for money. This past week, Mr. Fowler placed a picture of what the outside would look like, then we heard from Sue Ransom about the cost of plans to show what the inside would look like.

As any loan officer would tell you, "we need plans." The school wants money but they won't show

us exactly what it is to be used for. When you borrow money to build a house or any major structure plans are a very important factor. So it should be with this.

Then we have the tax issue, school taxes are covered by all in a bond election, not just a few. There are very, very few that are exempt when it comes to a bond election and the tax increase.

There is still time for Mr. Fowler and his staff to get a set of plans in the paper so we can see what the bond is actually for. We have been burned before and I personally don't like it.

Now, let's be realistic, if our homes or businesses are not in good condition we don't destroy and rebuild, we renovate to save money. Not everybody are the Jones' trying to match what the Smiths' have. That isn't practical or smart. Wouldn't it be less costly to renovate the buildings that are there?

Lastly, nobody has addressed this part of the issue, we are still paying for a new building that we as taxpayers had no say in and now you want more money. Should you get your money and the school closes, what then? You got it, we still pay the extra tax.

Was renovation ever even talked about? I think not, but it should have been and still should be. Why should we, as taxpayers take the chance on something that my not be used very long if at all? People please stop and give some serious thought to this. The amount of money needed to renovate the existing buildings would be a lot less and a lot easier to reach around. We have no need to compete with other schools as to the new look. The outside of a building is not what is important. In this case, it is most definitely the inside that counts. Will a new building help our children to learn better? Will a new building bring in more students? Will a new building still be used if the school is no longer? The answer to these is no. We are small, we are mostly middle age and older. Ask yourselves this "Do I want to burden my children and grandchildren with this tax and expense after I'm gone?"

Do some research on your own and make some calls, you will find that the cost to renovate is a lot less and the most practical. Talk to people that have no vested interest in this and you will learn the truth. Most of us can not afford this tax increase. Not only that, but there are those on fixed incomes, stop and think of what this will do to them. Then as you give thought to those things, give some thought to those that are already behind on their taxes and then ask yourself if you want to burden them with more financial difficulty. There are many in this community that can not reach around their financial obligations as it is. This bond is as the old saying goes, "putting the cart before the horse." Renovation should have been given first consideration.

Do research, make calls, check prices, think like a money lender and how they do business and you will see. This subject is missing a lot of information. I would like to see all the cards on the table, not just the ones they want us to see. So, Mr. Fowler, it's your turn. Show all of your hand, not just what you want us to see. Show us the real deal and get some plans, do some research and show us the figures on the savings you say will be there with a new building vs. renovation. Granted, there isn't much time but

there is enough. I want to see all of what you want me to pay for with a major tax increase.

Ms. Dell Becker Sagebiel

Richland Spring, TX

Dear Editor,

My name is Tracey Thomas and I am a teacher at San Saba High School. My husband and I have only lived in San Saba 25 years and I have taught here 16. Our children call this community hometown but education and careers have taken them elsewhere suggesting that I may never have family or grandchildren in San Saba schools again. Yet, my heart believes it is crucially important for the children of San Saba to attend school in a safe environment where they will have every hope of learning and succeeding in this world. I understand that I am treading upon controversial ground here. I also understand that taxes are high, and the economy is insecure. Every

person has the right to vote their convictions, and I will defend that right forever. Maybe I just want people to make an intelligent, thought out decision based on information and facts, not on gossip and fear.

I won’t profess to know all the answers. But I know a few things. Our little children go to school every day in old buildings full of asbestos and appearances of black mold; buildings that have been sandbagged many times at the door to keep as much water out of the classroom as possible on those few days a year when it rains really hard. The elementary school has been patched and covered with band-aids for years now. The high school science labs have gas jets, and shower heads that are practically ancient and way out of line for todays state requirements. Our teachers do an awesome job of working around this in every way possible. However, there are times the students miss great experiments and learning from their curriculum in the name of safety. Our current band hall was pieced together and is falling apart on the sides. Don’t take my word for any of this. Please go and see these things for yourself, and ask questions.

We have an opportunity to receive very low interest financing in order to ameliorate our current situation. This is why the bond election is called for now. The money we need to ensure our children a safe, worthy education will only cost more later. We elected a school board—people just like us who are willing to serve and make difficult decisions in long meetings. They support a superintendent who goes the extra mile to make sure we are informed and knowledgeable of how our schools are required to operate. We are fortunate to have dedicated teachers and staff at every level who work in difficult conditions at times spending their own money on supplies because of a great love of children, and a desire to see them reach their highest potential. Take time to ask any of them about these issues, and how they deal with them.

I sure hate to see my taxes go up. But I will give up a Dr. Pepper a day, and somehow make it work if it means the children of my church and my community have a safe, clean environment in which to grow and learn. I will vote FOR the bond election on May 14th.

Sincerely,

Tracey Thomas

San Saba, TX