The Choices We Make

"There is a choice you have to make in everything you do;  and you must always keep in mind, the choice you make, makes you.                ANONYMOUS 

 It always amazes me when the truth comes out about the choices folks make, and those choices show their "True Colors". It is disappointing to realize their choice is not at all what you thought it would be. Sometimes the "low road" is chosen when the "high road" would be a much better choice. 

 I visualize a sweet little angel--our conscience?--- and a mischievious little devil sitting on our shoulders, advising us on our choices--having a conversation ---back and forth--good against evil--black against white---A dialogue--a debate ---Is this a choice that will do good or do harm?  Will it benefit us or will it cause harm to others?  If wrong, will others find out about it? If no one will ever know, do I still do it, knowing it is not the right thing to do?  Is it the best choice I can make? What will the consequences be of making this choice? 

Tim Taylor, the Mayor of Normangee, Texas, a small city of about 700 people---where I lived in 1984--- turned himself into law enforcement last Thursday after being indicted by a grand jury for felony theft. The City Secretary, Heather Spikes, was arrested at her home for the same charge. Last summer, the Leon County District Attorney had investigated Normangee city council officials after rumors of corruption arose and either funds or property became unaccounted for. The District Attorney took the case to the Texas Attorney General's Office for further investigation. After being indicted by a Grand Jury, arrest warrants were issued for Tim and Heather, two seemingly nice people I knew many years ago.  

Every day, the news is full of reports of folks who appropriate for themselves what does not belong to them. Margaret Mills, who recently allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from Downtown Waco, Inc., is a perfect example. Greed can truly make a person show his "True Colors" and let the world see who they really are.  Perhaps a thief thinks no one will ever know, or no one will do anything to them. They are obviously not thinking of the possible consequences for the choices they are making.

Sometimes it is not money or greed that is our downfall. Some folks are tempted to use their power or influence to accomplish unworthy goals or achieve a result they later come to regret. Usually at the bottom of it is the wrong motivation for their actions---why did they make that particular choice?  For whatever reason, they have become convinced in their mind that they are allowed to do certain things and get by with it, just because of who they think they are.  Political and religious leaders are the most high-profile abusers who often use their power and influence to achieve an unworthy goal, usually for what people with a conscience consider the wrong reasons.  

When I worked for the Dwyer Group in the mid-1990's and had the wonderful pleasure and privilege of knowing Don Dwyer, he often said ,"If you can dream it, you can do it." Of course, Don meant you should not be afraid to dream big and do your honest, ethical best to achieve those big dreams.

 Don also said to be sure your big dreams were good goals and achievements and not anything  you would be ashamed of the world knowing you did. I think Don meant one could dream something bad and unworthy just as easily as dreaming something good and very worthy, to be careful what you wanted to achieve. And it wasn't just achieving a worthy dream, it was HOW you achieved it that was most important. 

It is sad to see the choices some folks make, without a thought to the consequences. All actions have consequences. Would that we could always make the good choices with the best consequences, since we don't always get a "DO-OVER."  

Remember:   Make the choice----Don't let the choice make you!                             

"Blurb" to Shelly Stuart

This is a friendly little "blurb" to Shelly Stuart, someone I once considered a friend----the friend and fellow horseman and animal lover  that I met when I had bought such wonderful alfalfa hay from her one winter, for my eight horses. Shelly has many horses, goats, and dogs. 

Shelly is the friend that my sister, Sue Lee--- now Shelly's former friend, too--  had in the past helped Shelly take care of her animals when Shelly--- for one reason or another--- could not. Livestock have to be taken care of whether you are ill or your rig is broken down or whatever--they still have to have hay and feed put out, especially in times of drought or in the dead of winter, when there is nothing--- not even a blade of grass--- in the pasture to eat. 

 Last winter, Sue---in the snow, no less!--- hauled a big load of hay with her own rig --her own pickup and her own big round bale cradle--- and put out the round bales for Shelly's animals, when Shelly wasn't able to, and the animals needed feeding.  When Shelly's hay hauling rig was broken down, Sue used her own rig----her own pickup and her own big round bale cradle---to deliver a big load of hay to one of Shelly's customers who had bought hay from her and needed it right away. Sue had helped Shelly take cows to the vet, run errands for her, and so forth. Sue was just doing what good neighbors and good friends do----helping each other out when needed.  

And Sue knew Shelly would have done the same for her, if help were ever needed, because that is what friends and neighbors do for one another, especially in a little town like Cranfills Gap, where everyone knows every one.  Or at least that's what they used to do. That special "I'll- help- you -out" and "Let- me- lend -you- a -hand" attitude is a big part of what has made the Gap such a special place for all those many years, so when that specialness--that neighborliness, that friendship--- is lost, it is particularly sad.

 There are all kinds of friends--the old friend; the new friend; the friend you don't see very often, but the connection and friendship are still there after many years; the barely-known friend considered a friendly acquaintance; the friendly neighbors who pull together for the good of the community. Friends come in all shapes and sizes. It just about breaks your heart when those great folks you thought so much of are no longer your friend. Not only you but the entire community loses so much when a friend or neighbor's friendship is lost. 

 Shelly---- like my sister, Sue---- is also a Cranfills Gap school board member. Shelly is the School Board Secretary.  Shelly recorded in the August 20th, 2007, Cranfills Gap school board minutes a statement about my efforts to publicize ---on the Internet--- the ordeal of my niece Kaitlan Head, the 2007 Valedictorian illegally banned from her graduation ceremony in May 2007 by former Superintendent Carla Sigler and Cranfills Gap school board members Kenny Wiese, Jeff Rose, Kathie Witte, Shelly Stuart, Virgil Tindall, and Jackie Ray Sorrels.  

 I understood Shelly to be saying that she considered that my efforts had resulted in inconsequential, unimportant, short, little "blurbs" on the Internet and implied my little "blurbs" would have no effect on anyone whatsoever and therefore would be of absolutely no consequence.

Well, Shelly, I wonder what you think of all those inconsequential, ineffective little "blurbs"now!!!!!!

WAITING FOR AN ANSWER

I am waiting for an answer to my question to Another Norwegian. He or She had left a comment under the Bosque County News article I posted a few days ago about the Texas Attorney General's Office current investigation of Former 2006/2007 Cranfills Gap School Superintendent Carla Sigler and current Cranfills Gap school board members Kenny Wiese, Jeff Rose, Kathie Witte, Shelly Stuart, Virgil Tindall, and Jackie Ray Sorrels that was filed by board member Sue Lee. I asked Another Norwegian a question on the comments section of that entry and there is not yet an answer from him/her. 

On May 9th, 2007, Cranfills Gap Salutatorian Sarah Sellers became involved in a verbal altercation with  2007 Cranfills Gap Valedictorian Kaitlan Head at the school. According to Sarah's statement that was read by former Superintendent Carla Sigler at a disciplinary hearing on May 16th, 2007, and also read by Sigler at a special school board meeting on May 25th, 2007, Sarah escalated the verbal altercation to a physical level by striking the first blow of what then became a physical fight between the two girls.

Jesse Best, the student who broke it up, has said repeatedly: "It was just a fight that got blown way out of proportion." Both girls had slight injuries---Kaitlan had been hit in the head with a heavy textbook by Sarah--and the writing pen in Kaitlan's hand had caused an injury to Sarah. Some have described Sarah's injury as a "scratch"---whatever it was, it apparently did bleed, but it was still only a slight injury.  The fact that no medical treatment by a nurse, doctor, or hospital was sought for Sarah's injury, the fact that no law enforcement was called to make a report about the incident, the fact that the school did not at any time notify Sarah's parents that she had been in a fight--much less that she had been injured--- and the fact that Sarah left town the very next day on a four-day senior trip ALL prove that any injury to Sarah by Kaitlan was indeed slight and not serious at all.

Kaitlan was suspended for one day by Superintendent Sigler for fighting with Sarah. Kaitlan had been an honor student all her life, always the student with the highest grades in class, the 2007 valedictorian of her graduating class, the 2006 Homecoming Queen, a student with perfect attendance for many years, and Kaitlan had NO DISCIPLINARY HISTORY.  However, Kaitlan soon found herself being punished by Superintendent Sigler by being banished from campus and unable to participate in the rest of her senior year--no honors field trip, no senior trip, no baccalaureate service, no graduation parties or celebrations with her classsmates.

Kaitlan also was ordered by Sigler to attend the off-campus Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP)--- which is a last resort for REPEAT troublemakers -----which Kaitlan would not have had to attend because of her perfect attendance. Kaitlan was banned from the Cranfills Cap campus, her graduation ceremony, and found herself facing a court date in August for a misdemeanor charge of assault after Sarah--at the behest of school officials, perhaps Sigler herself---filed charges of disorderly conduct (fighting) with the Bosque County Sheriff's Office a full week after the fight. 

 

The deputy who took Sarah's complaint told Kaitlan she could file charges against Sarah if she wanted to, as Sarah had been fighting also. But Kaitlan said NO! Thankfully, on August 2nd, 2007, Kaitlan was fully exonerated of all charges by the judge--meaning a criminal record will not follow her the rest of her life and is not still hanging over her head.

Carla Sigler's punishment of Kaitlan was excessive, was not at all what the law or Cranfills Gap school policy called for, and was escalated from the original punishment of one day. WHY? Cranfills Gap School Superintendent Carla Sigler saw an opportunity to retaliate against her perceived foe, Kaitlan's aunt, school board member Sue Lee, and did not care how much harm she inflicted on Kaitlan, a child and student under her care and authority, or whether the law was broken.  

 Sigler effectively ended Valedictorian Kaitlan's senior year----the most memorable year of her education--- on May 10th, 2007. Sigler had ordered both Sarah and Kaitlan to sit in the same small classroom the day after the fight, to take a test for several hours. Obviously, Sigler did not consider either girl a threat to themselves or others. Sarah and Kaitlan had even apologized to each other for the incident.

 After the test was taken, Kaitlan was told by Sigler that she was suspended and to leave campus until further notice. Kaitlan set foot on campus one more time--May 16th, 2007--for a disciplinary hearing, and--to my knowledge--has not since returned to Cranfills Gap, the little town where she grew up and still has many friends.  

 Sarah--- WHO HAD NOT EVEN BEEN SENT TO THE OFFICE for participating in the fight, even though she admitted she had been the one who struck the first blow and had escalated the altercation to a physical level----and admitted she was the first to use violence to try to settle it----left that afternoon to go on the four-day senior trip with her classmates. SARAH RECEIVED NO PUNISHMENT AT ALL AND WAS ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE REST OF HER SENIOR YEAR.

Sarah was allowed to be a part of and enjoy all the trips, baccalaureate, graduation ceremony, honors field day, parties, celebrations, etc. that were denied to Kaitlan. Sarah was able to use her salutatorian scholarships to enroll in Tarleton for the fall semester. Due to the agonizing ordeal that Carla Sigler put Kaitlan through--- even though Kaitlan had already been accepted at Tarleton--- she is not enrolled and may have lost her scholarships because of time constraints. Kaitlan was knocked "off -track"---"derailed" by Carla Sigler's malicious actions and is still at that point.  

And, to make matters worse, Kaitlan's father, Charles Head, had to spend over $4000 on an attorney to force Sigler and the school board to meet before the scheduled JUNE 1st meeting--a date which was SIX DAYS AFTER GRADUATION. The regularly scheduled May school board meeting had been purposely reset by Sigler, so that no appeal of Sigler's decision that banned Kaitlan from graduating, getting her diploma and her scholarships, and from participating in her graduation ceremony could be heard before the graduation date of May 26th, 2007.  Involvement of the attorney, John Cullar, forced the board to allow Kaitlan to graduate and have her diploma and scholarships, but she was still banned from participating in her graduation ceremony.

Sarah and Kaitlan both have brilliant minds which should not be wasted. On May 8th, 2007, both Salutatorian Sarah Sellers and Valedictorian Kaitlan Head had a bright future. However, only one of these honor students now has that bright future and has been able to go on with her life, and that one is Sarah--- the one who was not punished at all, who was not held accountable for her actions as Kaitlan was, and who has not had to endure any of the intentional and intense emotional pain, suffering, and public humiliation that Kaitlan has endured.  Two honor students with such a different outcome for each!

My question to Another Norwegian --or anyone else for that matter---is this:    

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO SARAH FOR HER PART IN THE FIGHT? Please leave a comment as to what you think should have happened to Sarah -----what her punishment, if any, should have been.  I am curious to know what others think about the fact that only one student in the fight was punished. I would really like to know! And, just for the record, I hold no ill will toward Sarah the Salutatorian or her family and wish them only the best, as does my niece, Kaitlan, the Banned Valedictorian, and her family.  I believe Sarah and her family were used by Carla Sigler to help achieve her goal of vindictive retaliation against Sue Lee.

 

STATEMENT OF CHARLES HEAD TO THE CRANFILLS GAP SCHOOL BOARD

Note to readers:                 

 I  just now realized that I had not posted this document.  My brother, Charles Head, is the father of Kaitlan Head  (the 2007 Cranfills Gap Valedictorian banned from campus and her graduation by former Cranfills Gap School Superintendent Carla Sigler and Cranfills Gap School Board members Kenny Wiese, Jeff Rose, Kathie Witte, Shelly Stuart, Virgil Tindall, and Jackie Ray Sorrels).

At an August 20th, 2007 school board meeting, Charles Head--along with many others who voiced their dissatisfaction---addressed Cranfills Gap school board members Jeff Rose, Kathie Witte, Shelly Stuart, Virgil Tindall, Jackie Ray Sorrels, and Sue Lee.  Board President Kenny Wiese was not present. Charles Head's statement is as follows:

"The Cranfills Gap Superintendent and the Cranfills Gap school board failed miserably in their duties to uphold the laws of Texas and the Texas Education Agency. Laws were broken by the Superintendent that harmed a child. The school board, through their ignorance of their own Code of Conduct and the laws of Texas, cast a dark shadow over what should have been a student's most memorable day----graduation as valedictorian.

An appeal brought before the school board where a student and their family sought to have justice served--through what should be a checks and balance system--was a farce. We believed the board--- having several members with long tenure and experience---- would hear a case and look at the facts, then make a good, honest, and lawful judgment. That did not happen. The only justice in this case so far has been the county court where the charges were dropped and the county attorney stated that it was TWO 18-year-olds acting like TWO 12-year-olds. TWO TWELVE YEAR-OLDS, NOT ONE!!!!

Laws Broken:

1.     Alleged aggravated assault and terroristic threat:     Law enforcement says it didn't happen.

2.     DAEP hearing for assault requires substantiation and corroboration of law enforcement:     Didn't have any.

3.     Assigned Mandatory DAEP is  for a violation of Penal Code  22.01(a)3, and NOT  a 22.01(a)1--as per the Student Code of Conduct.

4.    Extending DAEP placement past the end of the school year is illegal in this case.

The school board upheld a superintendent's illegal ruling. Board members must know the school's Code of Conduct. If not, you can't make proper judgments--as in our appeal of a DAEP placement. Maybe you do know the rules and choose not to adhere to school policy. Either way, you failed.

You allowed a hit with a book and the throwing of a pen to escalate to the level of DAEP for a student with NO disciplinary history. DAEP rules are strict. My attorney and I have researched this, and there are rules and procedures to follow before placing a student in DAEP. These rules were not followed. DAEP is not intended to correct pen-throwing or book-hitting. DAEP is for students with a history of problems. It's the next to the last resort. It's stated in the DAEP Code of Conduct that we received from the Gap that DAEP is your last chance to make things right.

Tell me where the board used its knowledge and wisdom of the Cranfills Gap Student Code of Conduct, the DAEP Manual, or the many resources of the State of Texas--such as the PEIMS Data Base---to come to a lawful and honorable decision in this case. YOU CAN'T!!!

The bullyish board president allowed us ten minutes of presentation, then the Superintendent ten minutes. Then, the board --with protest from my lawyer and myself--had the gall to go into closed session and break the Open Meetings Act by discussing the case and receiving more evidence--the same evidence that was never presented to me or my family during our hearings, but by law should have been.

In fact, NO documentaton at all exists that has been substantiated by law enforcement to support your actions. The three-day suspension was more than adequate. Punishment should have been administered to BOTH GIRLS for being IDIOTS!!!!  According to the Deputy who gave Kaitlan a ticket, he wanted to give one to the other girl, too, but Kaitlan  said NO. Both girls were wrong, and both girls should have been punished.

This was a vendetta to get even with and to cause pain to Sue Lee through her niece, Kaitlan Head.I believe it would be in the best interests of Cranfills Gap Independent School District if board president Kenny Weise and board members Jeff Rose, Kathie Witte, Shelly Stuart, Virgil Tindall, and Jackie Ray Sorrels resigned and a special election was held to replace them.

And Virgil Tindall----who uttered and stuttered after the board violated the Open Meetings Act and obviously discussed the case in the closed session--saying, "What are we voting on? Are we for or against this one?"--and asking others, like Jeff Rose, how he should vote! Shame on you, Virgil Tindall!!!

Kaitlan's court hearing is over, and it has been determined that no justification for this action ever existed.  It's apparent that the crime committed here was the vindictive behavior of the Superintendent and this school board who went beyond the law.

You use children for your own personal agenda. Just like you, Kathie Witte-- and you, Jeff Rose---who allowed your own children, with your support, to head up a protest and walkout at school.

I do expect to be reimbursed for my expenses and the pain and suffering you caused my family. You will be hearing from my attorney. I will not consider this matter closed until restitution is made. I will seek justice and payment for as long as it takes. YOU ALL DISGUST ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

Adult and Parent: LORI DREW

According to an official police report,  Lori Drew---an adult and a parent--- created a fictitious boy, Josh Evans, on the internet to gain the confidence of thirteen -year -old Megan Meier and to see if  Megan was saying anything mean about Lori's daughter, Megan's former childhood friend.  

Megan and Lori's daughter had been close friends for years. They lived four doors away from each other, and Megan had even gone on family vacations with the Drews. Adult and parent Lori Drew was quite aware of the vulnerability of teenage Megan, as well as the mental health issues of Attention Deficit Disorder and depression that Megan had dealt with since a young child.

 Somewhere along the line, adult and parent Lori Drew apparently decided it would be a good joke--a funny prank---if Megan was publicly humiliated and caused as much pain, suffering, and emotional distress as possible. With the help of her own daughter and an eighteen-year-old employee, adult and parent Lori Drew knowingly inflicted this pain, suffering, and emotional distress upon the vulnerable child, Megan Meier, causing Megan to hang herself to end the misery.

Despicable and indefensible!

A lot of sickening and disgusting details are now coming out on the internet and in the newspapers about Megan Meier's sad story. The really tragic part is that is did not have to happen.  In my opinion, intentional actions of adult and parent Lori Drew were unintentionally the direct cause of  Megan Meier's death.

What a tragic and unintended consequence of adult and parent Lori Drew's malicious actions! Belatedly, adult and parent Lori Drew apparently now feels guilty and feels responsibility for any part her intentional actions might have played in causing Megan's death.

Does the world---the public--the people---have any forgiveness or mercy for adult and parent Lori Drew who intentionally did such despicable and indefensible things to a child? Apparently, not at this time. Sometimes the actions are too despicable to ever be forgiven, though we--- as a mainly Christian Nation ----are told we should forgive. I personally believe you should forgive but never forget the despicable and indefensible actions done by an adult to a child.

 On a very personal level, those of you who read my blog know exactly what I am talking about. I am pretty sure I have forgiven--at least I hope I have forgiven--- former Cranfills Gap School Superintendent Carla Sigler, her supporters, and Cranfills Gap school board members Kenny Wiese, Jeff Rose, Kathie Witte, Shelly Stuart, Virgil Tindall, and Jackie Ray Sorrels-- the adults and parents who, intentionally and with malice aforethought,  caused such great public humiliation, pain, suffering, and emotional distress to my niece, Kaitlan Head, a child and student. In my heart, I know I will never forget that these people did these things intentionally and with great malice, and I do want them held accountable for their actions.  

My hope is that God will have mercy on the soul of adult and parent Lori Drew and any others whose actions may have contributed to Megan's death, as it does appear that most human beings in our world are not ready to do so at this time. Sometimes, you just have to face the consequences of your actions.

Adult and parent Lori Drew, may the Lord have mercy on your soul.