Dear Editor:
The Newell Community Improvement Coalition Inc. would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chester Volunteer Fire Department for its efforts in obtaining the Newell Memorial Field, which is the former Oak Glen football field in Newell.
Our communities were built by people who understood community pride and worked together to make our town a good place to live for everyone. We look out for our neighbors and do not take advantage of situations for our own private gain. This has been reflected in the fire department's attempts to acquire this property for the use of our communities and our youth. Our hats are off to you, gentlemen!
We also wish to thank those who may have had an interest in this property but had the integrity to respect the efforts and the popular opinion of the residents of our towns. We are proud of your decisions and we have great admiration for the values you have shown.
Also, we commend the person(s) responsible for offering personal funding to make this a reality. This is so touching that you are attempting to be certain that the right thing is done by actually giving your own money to keep this in the community. This makes us proud to have you live among us!
What is brought into our communities is fed into our schools. We have been disappointed in the majority of the Hancock County Board of Education who do not see this. We can see through the smoke screens, you are elected officials who say you want to do what is best for the entire county. We only see that you want to do what can bring the most dollars to your pockets regardless of the repercussions. With the many problems that we are facing in our schools it seems that education should be your main concern. Education should come first, not after football fields or track surfaces or trying to sell out a football field to the highest bidder. Reconsider your actions, our future depends on it!
Sue Thompson
Newell
