Dear Editor:
Regarding the saying: “The best-laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.†In other words: “The most carefully prepared plans may go wrong.â€
Regarding the saying: “The best-laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.†In other words: “The most carefully prepared plans may go wrong.â€
The origin of this saying is from the poem “To a Mouse†by Robert Burns (1786). While a farmer ploughs his field, he upturns a mouse’s nest. The poem turns into an apology to the mouse.
But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane [you aren’t alone] In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o’mice an’ men
Gang aft a-gley, [often go awry]
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promised joy.
With respect to the nuclear storage facility,
Patricia Golden
Dear Editor:
The coaching staff seems to be pumped up for this year’s season. Coach Gibson has a new vigilance to this year’s team. I really like Coach Gibson’s idea to have 5th and 6th grade boys out on the field as ball boys. This will start a love for the game of football and competition. I just hope he can share that during the season with all the 5th and 6th grade boys.
Sincerely,
Jack Dorris
Dear Editor:
Van Horn, Texas – the third world city of the Southwest?
I am a frequent traveler and I enjoy driving from destination to destination. Van Horn, Texas is one of my favorite stops. The Capitan Hotel, the scenic views, Papa’s Pantry, and the nice folks at McDonald’s are a constant reminder of how nice of a stopover Van Horn is … or was.
The last couple of stays I have had in Van Horn were utterly uncomfortable and awful. Why, because the electricity “went outâ€. From speaking to the locals, every time there is a heavy rain or thunderstorm the electricity fails in the Town of Van Horn, Texas. How could this be tolerated? How do the residents and businesses manage with an unpredictable utility? During the days I was stuck in Van Horn, the temperature and humidity levels were unbearable. Needless to say my room had no A/C and I slept in my car for few hours to try and get some rest.
Perhaps the residents have become accustomed to rolling black outs like in third world countries, but a traveler like myself almost becomes helpless. I understand the electricity was out for three days one week. How much revenue was lost? How many travelers just drove on by because the Town of Van Horn has no electricity?
How is a town supposed to provide basic services to their citizens without electricity? A large portion of these businesses have to close because equipment is inoperable and the dependence on computers to perform a simple transaction, because of the lack of electrical power. Some establishments have generators and are open for business, but entering these establishments is chaotic prompts me to immediately leave and return later.
My only question, what is Van Horn doing to fix this problem? What steps are the leaders of this town taking to assure the people of Van Horn that when they flip the switch to any room of their homes, there will be illumination? Why would anybody want to live in a town with an unpredictable utility? Why would any new businesses want to open shop there?
Van Horn, it’s time to fix this problem.
Sincerely,
J. Doggs
J. Doggs
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Note from Editor: Van Horn receives its electricity from El Paso Electric. This has nothing to do with city leaders. El Paso Electric is a federally sanctioned monopoly that serves this area because El Paso is the nearest major city with an electric utility that can serve Van Horn and the towns to our west. We understand the frustration of power outages. To be fair, the electricity was not out for three days. El Paso Electric continues to make modifications to its equipment, but one cannot control an act of God, such as when lightning strikes a transformer.
