Cheers: To columnist Bob Ray Sanders for his update about capital punishment. Rick Perry has allowed 200 executions during his tenure as governor. Texas has accounted for 37 percent of our nation’s executions since 1977. Thanks to Sanders for being the vanguard in the movement to end the death penalty.

Cheers: To Courtney Butler for receiving the Carnegie Medal. She paid the ultimate price for her heroic deed. Sunday’s article (See: "Carnegie Commission honors teen who drowned after saving a friend") made me smile and cry, and I am sure she will be remembered forever for her act of selflessness. God bless her soul.

Jeers: To whomever hired the company that has butchered the trees in the Shady Valley area. Instead of shaping the trees and retaining their beauty, workers lopped off one entire side of a tree that will eventually fall on the owner’s home.

Cheers: To the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs for coming within one game of a trip to the College Baseball World Series. No Frog team has ever done so well. Good show, men!

Cheers: To Blake Travis for adopting Highway, the dog he helped rescue 18 months ago while employed with the Humane Society. What a fitting epilogue for Highway. Now she has a permanent home for a lifetime.

Jeers: To the manager of a Mansfield game store for not honoring a gift certificate issued for second place in the Texas hold ’em game at the establishment. I will find another place.

Cheers: To the Colonial golfers and fans who wore pink in support of Amy Mickelson, the wife of professional golfer Phil Mickelson. Real men do wear pink.

Cheers: To the staff and volunteers of Summerglen Public Library. They consistently provide cheerful, helpful and courteous service; they have an ongoing mix of pertinent and fun programs for all ages from preschoolers to retirees. They serve as the "center of our community," often without acknowledgement. Though ever busy, they always have time to address our questions and needs.

Cheers: To Carl Bell and the Fort Worth Cats for hosting 5,000 Fort Worth school district students at the May 20 game against Sioux City. The Cats won and a good time was had by all. Go Cats!