Military suicides; preservation; Hurst mayor

Military suicides

It’s a sad chapter in our military history when our uniformed soldiers’ suicide rates exceed the deaths of their brothers and sisters in war zones. (See Sunday story “Suicides in military pass Iraq war toll.”)

The suicide syndrome has many factors: stress, depression and other psychological manifestations.

Being deployed multiple times to combat zones would put the finger on the trigger.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a major mental condition.

Its causes are many, with devastating consequences.

The military must prioritize this problem and take action.

Preservation

I read with interest the April 3 commentary by Fran McCarthy (“Preservationists go too far with council criticism”).

I, too, am a 53-year-old resident and agree with him on our City Council — the best in Texas.

McCarthy was doing well until the statement, “And what about all the other historic industrial buildings in town that continue to have little or no protection?”

Show me just one that has the draw to Fort Worth from all over the U.S. and abroad.

The commentary mentioned some protection factors that most of us knew very little about. Big help.

I’m proud I live where the “West” begins instead of where the “East” begins, if you can read between the lines.

Hurst mayor

I’ve lived in Hurst all of my 50 years.

As a conservative I have values about the limited role of government and personal liberty, applicable to every level of government.

Joel Downs is running for mayor of Hurst on a platform of limited government, personal liberty and self-determination, principles for the kind of new business growth that southeast Hurst needs.

Downs offers positive change, a course correction to conservative values that reflect those of the majority of residents of our city.

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Military suicides; preservation; Hurst mayor."