To the Editor,

I can't help but think back on the past year (or two) while celebrating Christmas and ringing in our new year of 2008.

I would like to publicly thank our Chickasha Police Officers for keeping a close watch on our properties, both empty & occupied. (We have a few rental properties around town.) They have been especially observant and we really do appreciate it.

An example that comes to mind is we experienced a fire behind the residence at 211 S. 6th which burned three different buildings. One was a large garage facing Dunn's Grocery, which was where my husband and I first started our business back in the early '50's, Bill Johnson's Body Shop. Later we stored antique cars there and my husband Bill (who passed away late in 2002) loved to tinker and restore them. It was the largest building of the three lost. This fire was arson and was immediately seen at midnight by our Police Dept. Our P.D. apprehended the arsonist and alerted the Fire Dept. They were on the scene within minutes.

This fire could be seen for miles since it involved this former body shop and two smaller garages. Thank goodness, the firemen were able to contain it to the three. This diligence saved the neighboring properties Dunn's Food Store, a Detail Shop at 519 Kansas and the two residences, 211 & 215 S. 6th. We are so appreciative of our excellent dedicated Police Force and Fire Dept.

Since these three buildings were lost, Dunn's Food Store Crew have pitched in and cleaned the trash, weeds and debris. It daily blows in and accumulates in the alley behind their store and along our neighboring cyclone fence between our properties. A great big THANKS to Jerry & Kathy Moftinger and their employees for being such great neighbors.

Chickasha Is a great place to live, work and raise a family. Been here all our lives.

Johnson’s Wreckers and Cranes, Inc.

Lynnette Johnson and Jimmy Bill Johnson