FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2018 THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN VOL. 10, ISSUE 24 STAMFORD AMERICAN VOLUME 97, ISSUE 30 STAMFORD LEADER VOLUME 113, ISSUE 31
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Local Author Releases Book Local Author Callie Metler-Smith released her first picture book, Ben’s West Texas Snow, October 23rd. The book tells the story of Ben, a little boy who loves his West Texas life: fishing at Lake Stamford, playing in his dirt fort, and eating watermelon out of his grammy’s garden. He loves it until he realizes that West Texas doesn’t get snow like they
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State vs. Compton: Prosecution vs. Defense BY KAY SPEARS
do in other parts of the country! Ben then goes and asks his Pop to help it snow in West Texas and what comes is a lesson in cotton
and Ben’s own version of snow. Metler-Smith grew up on a cotton farm outside of Stamford and loved West Texas “snow” growing up.
Ben’s West Texas Snow is available at Noteworthy Bookstore and online.
The prosecution, in the case of the State of Texas vs. Dillion Gage Compton, continued in the process of presenting to the jury witness testimony and evidence which might convince them to render a punishment of death in this capital murder case. Compton was convicted on October 15, 2018 of murdering Corrections Officer Marianne Johnson on July 16, 2016 at the Robertson Unit in Abilene, Jones County, TX. The question now is how Compton will spend the rest of his days in prison. The options are to live without the possibility of parole or live on death row until his appeals are exhausted and he is put to death. Robert Davis, of the Dallas County Juvenile Probation Officer, gave testimony of conducting a Social Evaluation on Compton as part of the process to determine if a discretionary transfer to adult court was appropriate. Compton was 16 in 2010. Davis was able to share information concerning Compton’s history and his state in 2010, when Compton pled guilty to aggravated assault of a child under SEE COURT, PG 15
Stamford’s Armed Forces Memorials Honor Veterans
BY GAYLE LOVVORN
In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. The “war to end all wars” was over. November 11, 1919 was set aside as Armistice Day in the United States, to remember the sacrifices made by men and women during World War I. Congress voted Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938, 20 years after the war ended. In 1953 Congress passed a bill introduced by a Kansas congressman renaming the federal holiday Veterans’ Day. Americans still
give thanks for peace on Veterans’ Day. The Armed Forces Memorials sitting proudly on the Post Office lawn on the square in downtown are Stamford’s tribute to the veterans who’ve served in the wars of our country and a memorial to those who did not return. In 1991, the Desert Storm Support Group conceived the idea of a Gulf War Memorial that would be placed in downtown Stamford to honor those who served in that conflict. Through fund raising efforts and help of veterans and other concerned citizens, the memorial became a reality,
and during a Coming Home Celebration, on May 18, 1991, Jesse Morton, president of the support group, presented the memorial to the City of Stamford. Shortly after that ceremony, Morton and others began fund raising efforts to erect additional memorials to honor those who served and those who died during our country’s wars. Veterans were urged to send in their names to be engraved on the memorials. Family members also submitted names of those who were killed in action. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Monday, June 15, for the forthcom-
ing dedication ceremony which was held on the square on July 4, 1992. Stamford area citizens and veterans accomplished the necessary work to establish five new memorials for the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Let’s all continue to remember those brave men and women who served our country and secured peace for all of us, and be thankful for the brave men and women who are currently serving our country to preserve the freedoms that we all enjoy.