The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 110, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 1, 1985 Page: 4 of 26
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Opinion
PAGE 4 A
THURSDAY AUGUST 1 1985 ALBANY TEXAS 76430
THE ALBANY NEWS
The Albany News
Since 1875
Oldest journalistic venture west of the Brazos
Editor /Publisher
Managing Editor
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
Donnie A Lucas
Melinda L Lucas
David Love
Donna Barranger
Moran Correspondent
Composition
Office Assistant
Office Assistant
Audrey Brooks
Glenda Estep
Betty Law
Sundav Belcher
editorial
New apartments
The realization of a dream will take place
this Saturday with the official opening of the
Greenridge Apartments located on the
Moran Highway.
The public is being invited to tour the new
40 unit apartment complex from 4:00 p.m.
until 8:00 p.m. during the open house.
The project is privately owned by the
Terry Boyd Company of Fort Worth and
was financed through the Farmers Home
Administration Officials from the Terry
Boyd Company, the construction firm and
the management company, along with local
manager Linda Pittard, will all be on hand to
meet their visitors and show them around.
The apartments will provide the citizens
of Albany with low cost housing based on
their income For years local civic leaders
have attempted to have such a project built
in Albany.
The Terry Boyd Company should be com
mended for recognizing the need that was
present in Albany for a housing project and
placing their dollars and faith in our com
munity.
It is indeed a dream come true for many
local citizens who are in need of improved
housing.
Take time Saturday to attend the open
house and tour Albany's newest asset.
Tax proposal
The Albany City Council voted during a
special session Monday evening to propose a
tax increase of slightly over 25 percent for
the 1985 tax year.
A public hearing has been set for Wednes
day. August 14. at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall in
order to give local taxpayers the chance to
discuss the proposal.
The City has rocked along for many years
with one of the lowest tax rates in the area
Even with the increase, local taxes will
amount to only 25.8 cents per $100 valua
tion. Several surrounding towns of similar
size have rates two or three times as high.
The City should have a definite need for
the increase, and according to a list of
reasons quoted by the council the increase
seems justified.
Improvements are needed within Albany
and they can't be made without additional
funding.
policy
•THE ALBANY NEWS
PO Box 278
Albany. Texas 76430
Set ond < Um poft'agr pwid at Albany Texas 76430
USPS publication number 012400
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
All letters to the editor must be signed by the
author and include a complete address and
telephone number Only the writer's name
and city will appear in print. The complete
address and telephone number will be kept
on file Send letters to THE ALBANY NEWS.
PO Box 278 Albany TX 76430
CORRECTIONS
Any erroneous reflection upon the character,
reputation or standing of any individual, firm
or corporation will be corrected when notifi-
cation in writing is given to the publisher
within 10 days after publication.
RATES
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Albany & Moran 811.00
Including tax. Texas addresses 813.00 in-
cluding tax. other U.S. addresses 815.00.
foreign addresses available upon application.
ADVERTISING: National rate 82 24 per
column Inch, 16« per line. Local rale 81.85
per column inch. Notices & classified ads 1CX
per word per insertion net. 82 50 minimum
paid in advance
AFFILIATIONS
1985 MEMBER Texas Press Association.
West Texas Press Association.
ponderings by pat
Note* irtm a Vukt« for i Si
By Pst LMia Jm«s
■«r
One late afternoon, I was sitting out
on the lawn, alternately reading and
contemplating the beautiful clear lake.
I was startled out of my solitude by a
marvelous but firm feminine voice.
"I'm your neighbor, and I've come to
introduce myself."
A lovely lady, she told me that she
and her husband were retired and live
at Gull Lake year round.
About this time, a darling mutt of a
dog came bounding over to her. With
ail the charm and grace she would
bring to an ordinary introduction, she
introduced her dog. Foxy, to Mary
Margaret.
I've always heard the expression,
"He's a lucky dog.'' It may have
originated with Foxy. He was on his
third day in the Kalamazoo dog pound
when Phyllis and Henry (my neighborsi
went to look for a dog to replace their
pet who'd died. They chose Foxy. He
looks like Benji.
From Death Row to Gull Lake. Foxy
came. He lives in the house with his
new family, checks out his territory
each day, visits with the neighbors,
barks at passing boats, and swims
whenever he desires. Yes, I think he is
the epitome of a "lucky dog."
Mary Margaret was being coy and
standoffish Foxy seemed fascinated
that she only came to his ankles. He
looked like he'd just been plugged into
a live socket.
All in all, I thought Mary behaved
quite well, until she lowered herself to
participate in a wetting contest with
Foxy, who won by virtue of his size.
In the meantime. Phyllis and I were
discovering each other too. I learned
that she had been a school librarian,
and over the years, had collected first
editions and rare children's books.
Since she and I both love to read, love
books and dogs. I knew we would get
along famously.
Later in the week. I went over to
visit her and her books. Her living
room has two long walls, one filled with
bookshelves, ceiling to floor; the other
with art. She led me to a room at the
rear of her house where, jam packed in
shelves, resided her collection of
children's books.
She began by showing me old ones
with famous illustrations. I asked to
see her oldest, her rarest, her favorite
It was a fascinating morning. There
may be nothing more interesting than
having a "collector" sh$w and tell
about his or her collection, particularly
when it's one you admire also.
Some of the stories were funny,
some silly, sad, sweet. Some were
scary. Children love to be scared, but
not too scared. Some illustrations were
beautiful, some garish, most colorful,
some black and white.
One that I found most interesting
was a book of black and white illustra-
tions of mystery stories. The pictures
had been found after the artist's death,
but the stories were never found. So
there are only these marvelous
mysterious picutres witlwcryptic cap
tions. Phyllis said she thought this
book would be great to use in English
classes to trigger imagination by
challenging the students to write a
story to go with the picture.
I could have stayed a week, looking
at all those books, and listening to their
owner tell of them. I will try to confine
myself to an hour every now and then.
She told me of several old book
stores in this area, and I've spent
several days among hundreds of old
books.
For years. I've searched for two
books that were favorites of mine when
I was a little girl. I remembered no
author, but the titles were Heart of
Gold and Cornelui
I told my librarian neighbor about
my search and she told me that it was
Cornelia, instead of Cornelia, and the
author was Johanna Spyri, who also
penned Heidi.
I finally registered them last week
with a professional book searcher. I
hadn't wanted to do that; I wanted the
thrill of finding them myself.
The next day, the very next day, I
found them both in the same book
store. I still can't believe it. What a
great feeling.
But now what will I search old book
stores for?
letters to the editor
Dear Editor
This poem was written by my sister
as she left Albany to return home to
Lubbock. She went all through school
in Albany and is very supportive of
Albany in everything we do. She never
fails to see the Fandangle unless it is
impossible for her to attend. I received
this in the mail today.
Bettie Townsend
"Hometown"
As I left my old home town today
My heart seemed to say —
Oh! Why don't you stay?
I thought of my youth and the carefree
years
Which always brings a few tears.
There were times when I said -
"This town is soooo dead!"
I longed to go to far away places —
See some new faces.
I went to school - learned the golden
rule
Made the "drag," looked for Priaff
Charming
What I found was most alarming
From this town I did go
But now I know
When I come from the West
And see her so content in her nest
My heart skips a beat
To see that old County Seat
The courthouse standing as proud
and tall —
"Fandangle Town," you're the best
of all.
Nellie Jo Kendrick Hendrick
endr
. Te
Lubbock. Texas
Dear Editor,
I may as well jump on the band-
wagon, too. but for a different, if
similar, cause. I appreciate the Cham
bers' letter to the Alews concerning the
availability of pornographic videos in
Albany. If and when enough concerned
people get angry and voice their opi-
nions and begin to act in a positive
way, then something can be done.
I'm asking concerned, angry, opi-
nionated people like myself to get mad
and do something about a movie I saw
on television Tuesday night for a few
horrifying moments. Apparently,
KTVI Channel 11 was showing Mad
Mai as its 8:00 movie offering. My
children came in from outside around
dark and turned the set on. They found
Mad Max and something exciting was
going on. I could tell from the music
and other noise that I ought to check
out what they were watching, and
walked in just in time to see a young
woman running down the highway car-
rying a baby about my son Jared's size.
She was terrified. At that point, I
couldn't tell who or what she was run-
ning from, but soon found out as a
motorcycle gang of six or eight bikers
came over the horizon. In those few
seconds, I couldn't believe what I saw,
and felt. I thought, "Surely this isn't
going to turn out like I think it is!" But
yes, it did. As this mother is still run-
ning, the gang runs her and the baby
over, and the viewers catch a giimpse
of a baby's shoe bouncing on the
highway. Then the father appears on
the scene, running to the place where
his wife and baby lay dead. It was
awful.
I got sick. My stomach turned and I
started crying. How in the world do we
allow such things to be made for enter-
tainment? Why do people enjoy this
kind of thing? I turned the set off and
tried to explain to my kids that that
was why Mama and Daddy don't let
them watch everything they want to
watch. I'm sick of my children being
subjected to violence of this sort! What
kind of people are we that we want to
see babies killed?
In my anger, I got up and called
KTVT in Fort Worth to get the ad
dress of the station. I ask any of you
who saw the same movie to write and
voice your opinion if you were as
disgusted as I was. People, this sort of
stuff is sadistic! We've got to put a stop
to it. If we don't, we won't have any
moral values left. You can be assured
that if you just sit by, shake your head
and say. "Yes, it's a shame things are
like that nowadays," that you are part
of the problem. Think about it.
Please write: KTVT, General
Manager, 4801 W. Freeway. Fort
Worth, Texas 76107.
Sincerely,
Ladonna Viertel
up & down the street
By Elaa M. Turner
A long time ago, in the 1920s we'll
say, there was a popular but imaginary
figure known as the absentminded pro-
fessor. Stories about him filled the
magazines and jokebooks, a sort of
Dagwood Bumstead character who
became a hero because he allowed us to
laugh at him.
He was our substitute for ourselves.
Who is there among us who has not at
one time or another wound the cat and
put the alarm clock out the door?
During the years when I used a laun
dry soap called Oxydol I caught myself
as I was about to put soap in the per-
colator and coffee in the washing
machine.
Part of a school teacher's job is to re-
quire practice in reading, writing, and
spelling; the teacher gets results by
assigning misspelled words to
copy work, maybe 50 or 100 times, until
you spell in your sleep! But you learn.
Parents acquire the label of naggers
by repeating each day: don t forget
your books, don't forget your lunch,
don't forget your sweater. And don't
forget to bring your sweater home.
Don't forget to bring your books home.
Don't forget to bring your lunch box
home.
Don't forget this, don't forget that;
nag, nag, nag. They didn't enjoy it
either, but the people who were
responsible for you nagged you into
shouldering some of it yourself.
Why is it that a vacation seems so
perfect an idea before it happens and
then, after maybe a week of it, we just
can't wait to get back into the same old
routine? Surely we know the answer to
that one.
Then why, if we're sold on a certain
routine, do we forget half the things we
were supposed to remember and spend
three-quarters of the day making up?
Why, why, why?
Right here, with this question, is
where we wade into deep water. This is
not a graduate course on human
behavior. From here on out we cast
about for ways to help our selves, not
probe the causes. And many helps are
available.
The first thing we see is the calen-
dar. Of course you have to use the
'calendar to make it work for you. I once
knew a lady who had six nails on the
wall which she hung her calendars one
on top of the other, year after year.
Each nail held about twenty years sup
ply; she never used any of them. So
remember: collecting calendars is not
the answer.
Another good help is a date book in
your purse. Lists of things are ex-
cellent memory joggers: grocery shop
ping, things to take on a trip, even bills
to pay if that's a problem.
Names, dates and addresses have a
way of getting away and need to be
nailed down. My box number is 37. My
late brother George who lived 95
years, always with an excellent sense
of recall, said he pigeonholed the 37 in
his mind as three dozen and one.
I once had a friend Hattie. Her name
gave me trouble until I began
associating it with a hatbox. When my
five sisters and I were growing up, we
thought we had solved our problem of
remembering the first name of a girl
Versie Smith. But one day Nelle called
her Vicey and our theory flew out the
window.
Memory training is not a matter of
age. Good power of recall, coupled with
good habits and a routine, can be of
benefit at any age and can be mastered
at any age.
It all depends on whether you really
want to use the memory as a vital, liv-
ing function of the body or whether you
want to use it as a crutch.
Community Calendar
AUG. 1 Nutrition Program Meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
Lions Club Luncheon - Longhorn, 12 noon
Mental Health Clinic - Depot, 1 -4:30 pm
AUG. 2 Community Action Progra - Depot, 10 am-3 pm
Chamber of Commerce Luncheon - Ft. Griffin Gen.
Mdse., 12 noon
AUG. 5-9 Band Camp - AHS Band Hall, 8 am-4 pm
AUG. 5 AHS & AJHS boys physicals - Field House, 5 pm
AUG. 6 Ladies Golf Assn. - Golf Course, 9 am
Nutrition Program Meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
AHS & AJHS girls physicals - Field House, 5 pm
Little League Directors Meeting - NSES Cafeteria,
6:30 pm; General Meeting - 7 pm
AUG. 7 Nutrition Program Meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
Kiwanis Luncheon - Ft. Griffin Gen. Mdse., 12 noon
AUG. 10 VFD Ladies Auxiliary Garage Sale & Bake Sale -
Old Fire Hall, 9 am-3 pm
AUG. 12 Two-a-day practices begin - AHS field House
Commissioners Court • Courthouse, 9 am
School Board - Supt.'s Office, 7:30 pm
AUG. 14 Public Hearing & City Council Meeting - City Hall,
5:30 pm
AUG. 20 AARP Meeting - First Christian Church, 6:30 pm
Booster Club Ice Cream Supper - Field House,
7:30 pm
AUG. 21 Social Security Representative - City Hall, 1:30 pm
StT National
Bank of Albany
MEMBER FDIC
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 110, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 1, 1985, newspaper, August 1, 1985; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth402145/m1/4/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.