Lake Travis View (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 7, 1988 Page: 4 of 20
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Page 4 • 1-ake Travis View • Thursday, April 7. I MSN
OPINIONS
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Spot, the pet goat, liked to run with the
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Delight); grapes (Mars and Blue
Lake); and plums (yellow Shiro,
purple Methly and red Bruce)
Currently, he is trying to perfect
RONdom thoughts
By RON BIRK
The man exhibits no end ol
energy and originality l or exam
“The pool provides exactly the
right humidity and temperature all
winter long,” Steve says, “and I
just take down the plastic side
panels in summer The roof keeps
out leaves, bird droppings and fuz-
zy oak tree worms in the spring "
4-foot outer walls, fallen into the water and
been unable to get out
My goat, Spot, was one of those small,
passing pleasures that a wise God provides
for those he loves
ments and originality of the man,
I checked with a neighbor to see it
he had feet of clay I asked him
what were the best and worst im-
pressions he had of Steve
"He tries to learn everything about
anything that attracts his attention
I
J
Some compassion needed
Most people would agree that the school district needs to do whatever
it can as fast as it can to bring in delinquent taxes. Otherwise, the district
will run out of money before the end of the school year. Most people,
especially those who did pay their taxes, would also agree that action
should be taken against those who haven't. That’s just good public
policy. But having said that, it seems that a few procedure modifica-
tions are in order in the implementation of that general policy.
For one thing, when a "Pay now or you will be sued” letter goes
out. there should be some kind of system that tracks w hether the delin-
quent taxpayer actually got the letter. Since the letters are sent certified
mail, checking with the post office as to when the letter was delivered
would seem to be a fairly simple matter. Lawsuits should not be filed
on those who have not been notified. Even if the letters are not required
by law. they are a common courtesy.
Perhaps the statement of delinquent taxes should be modified as well
The statement does appear to be giving the taxpayer the choice of when
to pay his delinquent taxes — a 7 percent penalty the first month, 2
percent each month after that. If that isn't the case, the statement should
say so. and point out that non- payment of taxes risks a lawsuit.
It's all well and good to say people should know better. Perhaps the
majority are those who either have no intention of paying their taxes
or who intend to hang on to their money as long as possible But there
are always exceptions to every rule — sometimes people just get caught
in a web of circumstance. It's not fair to lump them in with the crooks
and the deadbeats.
A little compassion can go a long way. and it doesn't cost the district,
the tax office or the lawyers that much in time or money.
RETIRED
(Continued from Page 1)
developed in Israel for that coun-
try's hot, dry climate, and Dorsett
Golden), cherry-plums (Sprite and
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' )
the cows. Evidently he had bonded with
them during his early orphan days. From
then on, he became an accepted part of the
bovine herd
When I would drive out in the pasture.
Spot would see the truck and come running
He loved to ride in the pickup — not in the
back, but in the front with me Living up
to his canine name, he would get in my lap.
put his feet in the window , his face in the
breeze, and off we'd go to check the place
Spot entertained not only me. but most
of the visitors to the ranch He was a photo
favorite No telling how many pictures
were taken i f him. He loved to be scratched
behind the horns and would stand patiently
until the scratcher got tired
Spot also loved to climb. Trees, troughs,
trucks — you name it. If it had some
heighth. it was a challenge to his cloven
hooves.
And that's what did him in. Around the
first of October 1987. Spot climbed one too
many mountains. We found him drowned
in a rock tank Somehow he had scaled its
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the art of growing, from seed, his
own brand of hybrid amaryllis
t i
This may not impress readers too
much until they, like I. learn that
professional growers get from $15
to $35 for a single bulb that pro
duces a new. attractive variety I'm
so impressed I'd call him “Dr
Clabaugh” if I thought he wouldn't
be insulted by excessive formalism
pie. he needed a hot house for his
tender plants, and he wanted a
swimming pool So, he built the
pxxil, installed a butane heater in it.
built flower beds around it. and
covered the whole works with
plastic roof and sides.
Steve even has what seems to me
to be the perfect solution to lawn
care He lets in cattle from the
nearby Paul Ranch to graze on his
"He has the greatest intellectual
curiousity 1 have ever en-
countered." the neighbor stated
Once he has learned something, he
never forgets it He undertakes
project after project But he does
not t«M»l around with maintenance
Once he remodeled his home, he
was satisfied Now. he doesn t
seem to care if it falls down around
his ears "
Death is a regular part of ranch life An-
imals die; that is a given part of the busi-
ness. I don't like that, but I’ve learned to
accept it.
However. Spot’s death was tough to take
I had become very attached to him
As an agricultural product. Spot was
worthless He produced no income How
ever, as a pet and companion, he was price-
less His presence provided me with many
a smile, many a relaxed moment.
As a rancher. I cannot survive without
animals that are financially productive But.
as a human being. I need the occasional
Spot He may not have done anything pos-
itive for my pocket b<x>k, but my life was
more pleasant and enjoyable because he
was there
us what you think
The editorial page of the Lake Travis
View is a community forum. We welcome
opinions on any topic and will print all let-
ters to the editor, subject to libel laws and
g(xxi taste.
All letters must be signed, and an address
and daytime telephone number included for
verification. Under most circumstances, on-
ly the first name of a list of signatures will
be printed.
Send letters to the Lake Travis View; 107
RR 620 South, 5-F; Austin. TX 78734.
\t last There is one trait I share
with Dr Clabaugh
"Around here,” he commented,
"fancy amaryIllis from growers in
Holland and South America tend to
freeze or play out rapidly, but a
few older and simpler types survive
well and multiply with almost no
care in gardens I have cross-
pollinated a durable old variety and
various fancy new ones and have
raised more than 1.000 seedlings
grass “They keep it neatly
trimmed and leave a load of fcrti
lizer." he says
Dazed by the boundless achieve
cut
P
In the spring of 1986, I drove up to the
ranch house after having been away seve-
ral days. As I was unloading the pickup,
here came the cows. They thought I might
have a tasty tidbit for them.
I didn't pay them much attention, until
I heard from their midst the weak cry of
a baby goat. Looking closer. I saw a brown
and white Spanish goat kid, legs wobbly,
ribs protruding.
He was easy to catch So I put him in the
yard while I got on the phone. We run on-
ly Angora goats, but my neighbor to the
east has a large herd of Spanish goats
“We just moved all our goats," he told
me. “The kid must have been asleep and
got left behind ''
"You want me to bring him to you?” I
asked
"No. He's yours now."
Thus began a close relationship with one
of my favorite pets of all time.
I found some milk and fed the kid That
revived him The next day 1 loaded the ba
by goat m a large wire cage, put him in the
back of the pickup and took him to San
Marcos.
He stayed on the screened-in porch for
awhile. But his pellet production soon
reached the point where I was forced to
build a small wire pen in the back yard.
Since goals are frow ned upon as city pets,
I named him “Spot," assuming that if any-
one heard me calling, "Spot," they would
think I had a dog. However, his “bark"
sixm gave him away Fortunately, we have
understanding neighbors and Spot was not
reported.
1 took him back and forth to the ranch
until he got big enough to wean. Then I put
Spot with the Angora goats That was when
goat bigotry raised its ugly head. They
would not accept him — no "ifs” or
"ands,” but plenty of "butts.”
Spot was not dumb. He just crawled
through the fence and started running with
I STEPf ED H*
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Lee, Diane. Lake Travis View (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 7, 1988, newspaper, April 7, 1988; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1267358/m1/4/?q=music: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting City of Lakeway.