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Special Olympics tournament a fine event
Published October 4, 2005
Since 1987, the Clute Parks and Recreation Department has stepped up to the plate, so to speak, and hosted what is arguably the most significant softball games the area sees all year.
An annual tradition, the city again invited teams from across the Houston area for a Special Olympics softball tournament in September.
Teams in attendance came from Clear Creek, Deer Park, Fort Bend County, Pasadena, Goose Creek and numerous other cities to show their mettle on the diamond.
Pam Holloway, Special Olympics area coordinator for the Gulf Coast, called the Clute event “probably the best tournament” in the area, noting the majority of about 1,200 Special Olympics athletes in the Houston area attend it each year.
Donations from area sponsors make the tournament possible. Then city staff get to work preparing the fields at the Stratton Ridge Sportsplex and organizing brackets.
And while the outcome of the games isn’t what makes the tournament unique or necessary, there was fierce competition from those on the field and plenty of encouragement from the bleachers.
“Just the fact that these athletes had a good time usually will stick in my mind after we are done today,” Clute Parks and Recreation director Dana Pomerenke said at the event. “That they had a great time and got to do something and excel. They are competitive in every fashion, form and way. They do not quit.”
The city of Clute, Pomerenke and other who are involved with the planning and execution of the Special Olympics tournament should take a bow for putting together this worthwhile event.
No excuse for recklessness
Fleeing Hurricane Rita was a grueling experience no one hopes to repeat any time soon. Sitting in a vehicle with brake lights as far as the eye could see as minutes turned to hours — and for some, turned to days — was a true nightmare.
And then there were those who felt they should get a free pass while most of the millions stuck in traffic obeyed the law. They believed driving on the shoulder or the grass, or right in the path of oncoming traffic, wasn’t above them.
Not only were these decisions foolish, they could have been deadly.
And as poorly executed as the evacuation plan was by the officials we count on to keep us safe, the foolish decision of some drivers made things worse for us all.
At some point, those drivers had to get back into the lane they never were supposed to venture out of in the first place, which simply added to the gridlock.
Gov. Perry has appointed a commission to review what worked and, more importantly, what didn’t with the Rita evacuation in hopes of making things smoother if and when another hurricane appears headed for the Texas coast.
Hopefully, those efforts will lead to less of a headache on the roads.
Regardless, we urge patience — even when it seems all that you had has run out — the next time a traffic jam has you stuck in unfavorable circumstances.
These editorials were written by Chris Greene, sports editor of The Facts.
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