My name is Cathy Parks, my daughter is Melissa Creek. First I want to say a small town is a wonderful place to live work and play, but when the small town is wrong it needs to back up and find out who is doing good for its citizens and not trying to run things. I am no trouble maker and I am writing to explain this could happen to anyone. The town has trouble keeping a good Mayor and city councilmen.
Everyone is for their selves and no one is for our city. Enough said about city hall but this began at city hall. We have a wonderful Police Chief. He is fair and I am confident he will keep our city safe. My daughter was given a citation around April 20th and was told to see the judge on or before the 1st of May. I called city hall, the number on the ticket, talked to the court clerk and was told the Judge was not in and did not know when to expect her. To call back, I called back and was assured that the Judge was going through her tickets and would call me back.
I waited and no call. On the 1st of May I called again and ask to speak to the judge and was told the ticket was $138.00, to pay it at city hall for dog at large. The dog was not at large she was in her yard. Melissa wanted to plead not guilty but the court clerk told her she could not see the Judge who was not in, and is in only two days a month. Melissa received the papers saying she had a warrant out for her arrest on the 7th of June. The officer came out on the 10th told Melissa the Pit bull was out again only he did not see it but was told she had a complaint was given a ticket again and a warning to get rid of our watch dog who has never been in trouble and would lick you to death. I am home bound I am home all the time. The officer ran her ID, told her she was clear and to see the judge before 21st of June.
We are on a fixed income. My husband and I have to be took care of and I am in stage 4 renal failure. My oldest daughter passed away in Feb. 2010. She has three boys who have been in Bangs school since kindergarten. We have lived in this nice little town for 12 years. Melissa was given custody to her nephews now with her two biological children. She has a baby given to her by the boys’ sister. She has 6 kids and cerebral palsy and is on heart medication. She is being charged with $1000 now for failure to appear. She would have appeared if she had been told when. We are trying to come up with the money where she can still buy groceries for the family and be an upstanding citizen but we still miss our dog who was not out the second ticket but the officer said he was scared of her to get rid of her. So, small towns are great in some instances, but not this time. City hall is wrong to our family so watch it could happen to you.
Cathy Parks, Bangs, Texas
