I had the pleasure--actually, it was a real DISpleasure--of meeting the notorious Buster Mangham, the "FAKE Jack Webb"--I know you remember the television show "Dragnet" with Jack Webb, that famous crimefighting lawman whose saying was, "Just the facts, Maam, just the facts".
Last summer, Buster--as I said, the "FAKE Jack Webb"--- wrote a Letter to the Editor about my niece, Kaitlan Head, that was published in the Clifton Record. Kaitlan was the 2007 Cranfills Gap High School Valedictorian illegally banned from her own graduation by corrupt former Cranfills Gap School Superintendent Carla Sigler and derelict Cranfills Gap school board members Kenny Wiese, Jeff Rose, Kathie Witte, Shelly Stuart, Virgil Tindall, and Ray Sorrels in May, 2007.
Buster's Letter to the Editor did not contain facts, though he said his letter was "Just the facts." His letter was not based on fact at all, but on hearsay and misinformation. It was unbelievably irresponsible for the Clifton Record, a small-town newspaper, to print such unverified lies as actual accusations presented as fact. Printing Buster's false accusations and inaccurate information understandably cost the Clifton Record a lot of readers.
Buster based his letter on false information that came to him as hearsay from supporters of Carla Sigler. If Buster had really been interested in the truth, he would have wanted to hear what Jesse Best, who broke up the fight between the two girls, had to say about it. Jesse said it was just a fight, that it was blown way out of proportion, and that it was not an attack by Kaitlan on Sarah--- as Buster would have you believe.
Buster could have heard Sarah's own statement of the fight, read twice in public by Carla Sigler-- and available to the public at any time-- if he had really wanted to find out the truth. Sarah even admits to striking the first blow by hitting Kaitlan and taking the verbal altercation to a physical level, escalating words into an actual fight.
There was no attack as Buster incorrectly says there was, but he conveniently forgets that it takes TWO to make a fight. Sarah should have also been punished, but the only one punished was my niece, Kaitlan, and that illegal punishment was done with malice by vindictive Carla Sigler and the school board.
Anyone that really wants to know the truth can find these facts easily. In my opinion, however, Buster is not really interested in knowing the truth. I think Buster would rather believe what he has been told by his friends--his "sources"-- all Carla Sigler supporters to the rotten core--whether it is the truth or not. I don't think Jack Webb, Dick Tracy, or any real law enforcement official would want someone who is so incompetent, biased, and uninterested in finding the truth ---as Buster Mangham seems to be--- anywhere near their investigations.
I was really disappointed when I finally got to meet the infamous former lawman Buster Mangham. I was expecting someone of real standing and stature--someone along the line of crimefighters Dick Tracy, Jack Webb, or some of our real-life legendary lawmen. The Buster I met was an uncivil, uncouth, loud-mouthed old geezer with thick glasses and a beer belly.....more like the prejudiced bigot Archie Bunker than Jack Webb!
Buster reminded me of the comical, incompetent sidekick of Mayberry Sheriff Andy Griffith ---Deputy Barney Fife, who shot himself in the foot all the time. Seeing Buster, I also couldn't help but think of the old-time fumbling, bumbling Keystone Cops. What a joke of a lawman! Laughable and sad, all at the same time. Sad that it shows that nothing's changed and it's not going to change. And that's really sad for Cranfills Gap.
