08-30-25

Guest submission from LeighAnn Arroyo

05-21-25

Hi Jaclyn Gonzales

My name is Mrs.LeighAnn Arroyo

I live in Elyria Ohio

I visited Uvalde a couple years ago and placed flowers and notes at Robb Elementary

I wanted to include Uvalde Hesperian newspaper reporter Michael Robinson in this message to you so he knows that I am so dang proud of you and I stand with you on what you did at the Uvalde School board meeting tonight.

You have guts!!!!

From this supporter in Elyria Ohio to you ……. Keep kicking ass and taking names later girl !!

You got this!!!!

Letter to the Editor submitted by James Tweed Ocean City, NJ 08226

03-08-25

Oh Kumbaya!  There is common ground for those who voted for, or
against, Donald Trump to be President of the United States again.

First, we can all agree that he won the election.  Second, Kamala
Harris did not whine and lie to the American people that she really
won.  And third, since it was a free democratic election, the American
people will get the government they deserve.

For those citizens who feel disappointed that a majority of voters
chose as their leader a demagogue who believes the rule of law does
not apply to him, your duty now is to bear witness to the
consequences.  And remember.  For history’s sake.

Stay awake as the herd nods off, and avoids evidence of an
insurrection that happened before their very eyes.  Observe the idiot
wind that blows constantly from the mouths of all those Trump-pets
pretending that traitors are patriots.  Don’t fall for the false
equivalencies, like convincing you that their retribution is the same
as real justice.

And stop thinking about King Rump.  Entertainment is his game.  He’s
the best at keeping everyone distracted while he performs his con.  He
knows what he’s doing.   Also, don’t waste your time trying to
convince your friends and relatives who have slid down the rabbit hole
of self-delusion.

This election proved Mark Twain was right when he
observed: “It is easier to fool a man, than to convince him he has
been fooled.” James Tweed

 Submitted by Isabella Martin & Anabell Rivera 

10-16-24

  Underperforming, lackluster, dereliction are a few words to describe the state of the Uvalde Independent School District. So why not allow our kindergartners to run our district instead? The lack of transparency that parents have had to withstand from numerous school administrators, and the idea that our superintendent portrays, makes us believe the role of authority is not difficult. All it takes is deceit, hindrance of information, boldfaced lies and your squared away for the job.  

  Think back to your kindergarten days, at that age we were taught values such as honesty, accountability, respect, open communication, responsibility, integrity, and justice. I believe that since kindergarten students can comprehend and apply these values that should run our local school district.  

   From that age, as little as four years old, kindergarteners are taught to be honest. Being untruthful can have harsh consequences as a kindergarten student, whether that means no recess, or having to switch seats away from your friend. So why aren’t we holding our superintendent and administrators to the same standards? Our kindergarten students would never hide the fact that inappropriate items were and a continuously being brought to school. After the major tragedy, the community of Uvalde has already suffered this abuse of authority and neglect. Our kindergarten students would handle these taboo situations with honesty, openness, and clarity. Allowing questions to be asked, parents’ concerns heard and given a solution to ongoing problems.   

  Another core value our kindergartener students are taught is accountability. As stated in the Oxford Languages Dictionary: Of a (person, organization, or interest institution) required or expected to justify action or decisions; Responsible. Do you really believe our kindergarteners would let a teacher who was caught consuming prohibited substances on the job continue to instruct young children? Not only was this teacher allowed to hold their position but was also paid to keep the story under wraps. Our students would never allow this injustice to happen and would continue to hold admins accountable for their actions. 

  As many of us have been around. Young children, we know how open and transparent they can be when a subject comes to mind. If our kindergarten students ran our school board imagine all the excellent work, they could accomplish. Having a transparent school board would make parents and community members more comfortable with sending their children to school. Pertaining to the school system, parents would like to be able to trust the faculty and systems in place to protect and provide adequate leaning to their children, but the continuance of lies and not hinderance of information has made it extremely difficult.  Admins need to learn to be more open and not fear the repercussions, the school system would become more beneficial to the students and community. If we cannot get the correct administrators in the office the whole community will continue to suffer.  

   Even if we think there is not any way that children could do this, it is not any better now and we might have actual accountability. Children cannot lie or have perceived judgment as adults.  On a serious note, having people that are tied to the community would make better leaders in the school district because children are the priority, and they have an invested interest in the betterment of the schools and students’ future

 Received on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024

The following manuscript was written by Ray Scott and submitted to the Uvalde Hesperian by Dee Scott

(The Uvalde Hesperian converted the handwritten pages to type)

(from the TV show Bonanza) added by the Uvalde Hesperian

  When I was 18 years old, a good friend of mine (Morris Barrow Sr.) gave me the opportunity to be a caretaker for John Nance Garner: Ex Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the United States. John Nance Garner was in his early nineties. He was a very humble man. He lived in a single wall house behind the Garner Museum. The house now I believe to be on one of the Briscoe Ranches as I understand it.

  I am now 80 years old. There wasn’t a day gone by that he didn’t say to me, “Always tell the truth.” He didn’t indulge in alcoholic liquor during the time I worked there. 

  While working there I had the opportunity to meet Dan Blocker: Hoss Cartwright (from the TV show Bonanza) and John Connally when he was running for Governor. 

  When John Connally came to see Mr. Garner with his entourage, Mr. Garner said, “Come in, Governor!!” They shook handstand Connally broke out in laughfter. (sp)

  If people think scrambled eggs are not healthy, that is all he ever ate, three times a day with hot biscuits and crisp bacon. 

  Mr. Garner did not use vulgar language. The only thing sweet he ever ate was honey. He wore a suit and a tie every day.

  I would like to have the opportunity to go to the Garner Museum and tell everyone what I knew about Mr. Garner. I was there the day that JFK was assassinated. I took the call from JFK when he called to wish him a Happy Birthday.

Ray Scott

Article submitted by Diana Olvedo-Karau

 August 4th, 2024

Where was Uvalde County Republican Chair, Charlie Downing on Monday, July 29th when the Uvalde County Commissioners held a special meeting to push through approving to apply to be part of the Countywide Polling Program (CPP)?

Submission by Diana Olvedo-Karau

Uvalde County Commissioners act like the decision on whether or not to apply for the County Wide Polling Program for elections cannot wait until after this election cycle. Why?

We are in the middle of a historical presidential election with very little time to make changes to the system and assure that the system will perform as required, or even adequate time to advise the voters of this change.

The Uvalde County Elections Office has done a very poor job of disseminating information to the voters before elections, during elections and after elections.

Year after year, this has caused some voters to be turned away on election day because they are required to vote at their polling location on that day and the voter is not aware of that rule.

One commissioner I spoke too uses this as the basis for supporting the effort to approve this action; completely disregarding the fact that the problem is not the existing polling system.

It is the fact that the Uvalde County Elections Office does a very poor job of disseminating information to the voters during each election cycle, so that every voter that wants to vote, can vote.

By Simon Ortiz

Submitted to the Uvalde Hesperian by Velma Lisa Duran

Proverbs 24:24-25

Whoever says to the guilty, “you are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.

But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them. 

  I, Velma Lisa Duran, sister of Irma Linda Garcia who was a former teacher at Robb Elementary due to being gunned down,  would like to share the insulting and cruel interaction my sons and I experienced at SWTJC on February 13, 2024 at The Candidate Forum   

  This trip to Uvalde was very difficult as I had spent Superbowl Sunday creating a trifold poster of the aftermath at Robb Elementary using various articles and photos from a multitude of media sources showing law officers who are disgracefully running for Uvalde County Sheriff, constable and House of Representatives.  They are Uvalde Sheriff Nolasco, Former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin Jr., SWTJC Law Enforcement Academy Coordinator Johnny J. Field, and SWTJC Law Enforcement Academy Instructor Emmanuel Zamora.

  Let’s not forget D.A. Christiana Mitchell who doesn’t have anyone running against her and is intentionally dragging the Robb Elementary Massacre in order to protect Law Officers who just stood by and witnessed 19 children and 2 teachers DIE and many other children and teachers left  suffering inflicted with life-long injuries and trauma, as she states without any remorse, “allow the process to take place.”  

Lastly there is Justin Wolbert, who is running for County Attorney, his wife Shawna Wolbert, former Vice Principal of Robb Elementary during one of the deadliest massacres in The United States of America, who wants your vote and ” if elected plans to attend all meetings to be on hand to offer legal advice or  explain complex matters, something he says is not currently happening.”  

  He is correct.  These people elected for a specific job find it very easy NOT to show up if they don’t feel like showing up and Uvalde’s taxpayers continue to provide their salaries.  It is a corrupt system that takes care of their own.

  Now, my reason for this write up is to show everyone the blatant demonic people that comprise Uvalde, Texas.  The night before the forum I stayed up until 1:00 a.m. writing 15 questions to submit to the Uvalde Leader News all directed to Sheriff Ruben Nolasco. 

  I went to work and left midday to head to Uvalde with my two loving sons.   With little sleep, I felt good about representing my sister and my brother in law Joe by attending submitting imperative questions that deserved to be asked.  I needed to make sure someone from the family would be there to represent them as great concerns overshadowed every day knowing the list of candidates running for these important roles in Uvalde County. 

  As we walked towards the Tate Auditorium we were told to leave our posters outside before signing in to the forum.  As I held my poster up, I noticed a woman staring at me and I said, “Do you like this poster?  ” and she responded with a big smile and said, “That’s a very pretty poster.” 

  I responded, “THIS poster with the bloodshed of my sister and her students?”  she replied with a dark smile and said, “Yes, VERY pretty.” and turned away from us. 

   I was completely shocked and could feel a sharp pain in my heart as I placed the poster by the door and walked in trying to hold my composure. I looked at my sons and I could tell they were floored at what had just happened.  A couple of minutes passed and we were then directed to move our posters off the building due to some legality and we complied. 

   After the uninspiring SNL type of forum and debate, Nolasco, Field and Zamora failed to show up.  I asked SWTJC Hector Gonzales if I could have a word with him and he agreed.  I had deep concerns about the employment of Field and Zamora as Law Enforcement Instructors after their failure to help children and teachers in the Robb Massacre.  

  He responded that he had someone looking into the DOJ report and would get a conclusion to their decision.  That is when I saw the same woman on the stage who was trying to taunt me as we walked into the auditorium.  

  I asked SWTJC President Hector Gonzales if he knew  her and he said, “yes, she’s one of my instructors.”  I explained what had happened as we walked into this event and he called her over.  

  I was extremely emotional but hoping for a resolution.  He asked her to apologize and she did!  She didn’t ask what was the reason for the apology,,, she just did.  I asked her why she was apologizing and she once again said, ” It was a very pretty poster.”  At that point I lost it and said some choice words and yelled at her,  Fucking Bitch!  

  My boys walked me away and before leaving the auditorium I yelled at Mr. Gonzales to Do Something as he and his wife have been so gracious with the families in seeking justice.

   At this point, I feel like everyone has their own agenda because one way or another everyone is related, has a friendship or works for or with someone who stood around and REFUSED to follow the oath they took when they signed up to be a law officer.

 That brings me to County Commissioner, PCT 1 John Yeackle, who made a statement at the SWTJC Board Meeting last week.  Not one person rebutted his claims about the responsibility of SWTJC Law Enforcement Academy Coordinator Johnny J. Field and Constable/Law Enforcement Instructor Emmanuel Zamora who responded and stood in the Robb Elementary Hallway where my sister Irma was horrifically shot to death alongside many of her students and co-teacher. 

  I agree with Yeackle, when he states ” that elected officials have to express how they feel and accept the consequences that come with that.  If you want to be a leader then you have to say those uncomfortable difficult things or then you DON’T DESERVE TO LEAD.”  

  Well said, however, Field, nor Zamora showed up to the Forum but want your vote.  Their names were listed on the Department of Justice of the United States of America Report detailing their failure and Yeackle attempts to defend them?  

   They want to double dip in their important responsibilities but not have any backlash when they dangerously fail.  That is just WRONG! When it comes to law enforcement you should choose one or the other because with this leadership, the chances of this happening again are great.  

 They shouldn’t have been there if they were not going to practice what they TEACH!  Everyone knows that when it comes to a shooter you follow the shooter and neutralize them NOT  stand around asking about who the lead is.  Is that what they teach? 

  Who in their right mind is going to ask a law officer what title they are representing during a shooting?  It is RIDICULOUS!  Getting a Law Enforcement degree from SWTJC  is a complete joke but I can understand that it is also less of a financial burden.  Choose wisely people, they have clearly shown us the type of officers they are and getting a supplemental check protecting your life is not worth your precious vote.

With My Family and the Uvalde Citizens In Mind,

Velma Lisa Duran

Former Robb teacher