Elgin Courier (Elgin, Tex.), Vol. 127, No. 51, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Page: 4 of 16
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ELGIN COURIER - ELGIN, TEXAS
PAGE 4
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017
All the stories fit to print
ELGIN
COURIER
8 ft
(U.S.P.S. 172-740)
P.O.V.
Out of county
$44
$49
I
Abbott requests
look into reports
of misconduct
Random
Thoughts
Capital
Highlights
Kevin
WRIGHT
Hospital is building a
medical clinic in our
town. It was going to
be old news by the time
this issue was published.
We put the word out
on our social media
platforms. It reached
over 9,000 people who
wanted to read the
story. Our writers try
to get to everything
because we know 9,000
people are waiting for
the news.
Still, we understand
our limitations. So,
here’s the deal:
If you are involved in
a church, civic organi-
zation, fundraiser or are
attending, say, a 50th
wedding anniversary,
send your news to us.
You can even send a
picture. When you do,
we’ll publish it because
every story is a good
one. If you need a cam-
era, we’ll loan you one.
It’s that important to us.
Our town may have
grown, but its char-
acter hasn’t changed
because the narrative
is always positive, in-
spiring, creative and
fun and important. We
are a unique place. As
the community news-
paper, we aren’t joking
when we say we want
at least 100 faces and
names in each issue of
the Courier. That’s the
minimum. We’ll publish
more, if you help.
We understand if
you think, “I’m not a
writer,” or, “This is not
important.” We would
beg to differ, though.
If it is news to you,
we want it. I promise
you, even if it’s an an-
nouncement about a
Abbott, DHS chief meet
Gov. Abbott on Dec. 12
met with U.S. Depart-
ment of Homeland Secu-
rity Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen
at the state Capitol.
The two discussed
the ongoing recovery
efforts following Hur-
ricane Harvey, border
security and cyber secu-
rity. Joining them were
John Sharp, head of the
Commission to Rebuild
Texas, Land Commis-
Work agency sets rates
The Texas Workforce
Commission on Dec. 12
announced the average
unemployment insurance
tax rate for all employers
would be 1.37 percent
for calendar year 2018,
dropping from 1.64
percent in calendar year
2017 to its lowest point
since 2009.
Unemployment insur-
ance taxes replenish the
Texas Unemployment
Compensation Trust
Fund, which provides
temporary income for
Texas workers who lose
their jobs through no
fault of their own.
The vet performed a
thorough exam. The
puppy, who by now was
named Raven for her
black shiny coat, had
pretty much every type
of worm possible plus
coccidia. And the vet
was concerned that she
may be coming down
with an upper respira-
tory infection (URI). It
was already getting late
by the time we learned
that due to the possibil-
ity of URI, we would
need to isolate Raven
from our dogs for two
weeks. We realized that
we would have to make
some adjustments to
accommodate an isola-
tion ward, so we left the
veterinary office with
Raven, her medications,
some puppy food, and
a few ideas of how we
could make changes to
keep our dogs safe from
“typhoid Raven.”
After eight days, the
vet determined that
Raven did not have a
URI, so we were able to
delete typhoid from her
name and she became
just Raven. At the two-
week mark, she was
judged to be parasite
free. I suspect that she
was even happier about
that than we were, but
I’m not sure that our
dogs shared our merri-
ment when we released
her into general popu-
lation. The scene was
more like releasing a
wolverine on a flock of
nesting chickens than
bringing a five-pound
puppy into the den. To
say that her introduc-
tion to our dogs, two
Ridgebacks and a three-
legged mutt, did not go
as expected would be
an epic understatement.
But after a week or so,
the Ridgebacks had
“mostly” decided to let
her live, and resumed
their primary job of
guarding the couch.
We were still talking
about how long we
should wait before we
began the process to
find a forever-home for
her, when we received
an unexpected call
from someone look-
ing for a small dog or
puppy. They came over
the same day and fell
in love with Raven as
soon as they met her.
How could they not?
We rushed the approval
process, talked to ref-
erences and delivered
Raven to her new home
that day. It was a spe-
cial day; it even snowed
in Texas when we de-
livered her. I knew then
that it was supposed to
be!
A compassionate ex-
terminator found Raven
under a home’s front
porch while working
near Elgin. The home
owner told him there
should be three pup-
pies and the mother
living there. What he
found was one live and
one deceased puppy.
No other puppy or the
mother was to be seen.
He was so concerned
for the remaining puppy
and so upset with the
conditions she was liv-
ing in, that he asked the
homeowner if he could
take the puppy with
him. Thankfully, the
homeowner agreed.
After searching the
Internet for local ani-
mal rescues, the Good
Samaritan brought the
puppy directly to our
animal rescue, Com-
panion Connection.
The puppy was covered
with fleas and shaking
uncontrollably from the
cold. We immediately
washed her in Dawn
and hot water to kill
the fleas and warm
her. We dried her, then
wrapped her in a fresh
warm towel. It was
getting late in the af-
ternoon, but we were
able to get her into the
Elgin Family Pet Center
before the end of the
day. Many thanks to the
Elgin Family Pet Center
for staying late to see
her.
sioner George P. Bush,
FEMA Region 6 Admin-
istrator Tony Robinson
and Texas Division of
Emergency Management
Chief Nim Kidd.
“After today’s produc-
tive meeting,” Abbott
said, “I am confident
that we have a dedicated
partner in Secretary
Nielsen and this admin-
istration, and I look for-
ward to working closely
with them on issues im-
portant to Texas and the
United States.”
And so, this is Christ-
mas...
Writing this, I look
back and see how eas-
ily I could get caught
up in so many national
issues. We’ve all been
consumed by politics,
wars, refugee crisis -
all types of pain and
suffering. We witnessed
the good, as well. We
watched the Houston
Astros win the most
exciting World Series in
decades and...
Well, we have the As-
tros.
This is why I love
small newspapers. The
news is always better.
The stories are more
fun to tell. During the
last few weeks I met a
woman whose build-
ing was destroyed by
Hurricane Harvey. She
looked at the ruins and
saw a chance to create
art out of what re-
mained.
I found out a man
down the street sells
his cowboy hats world-
wide.
At the nursing and
rehabilitation center, I
saw the joy residents get
when we give them free
newspapers and meet
their stories.
It’s the fun part of the
job but it’s also the most
challenging because,
frankly, we have more
stories than we can
tell; and our friends at
the Elgin Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center
(as well as everyone on
every street in town)
want to read them.
That is why we want
to make a deal. Elgin
has grown exponen-
tially and we’re still a
small newspaper - but
with a big reach. There
are many things we are
required to cover.
Last week, we scram-
bled to cover the an-
nouncement that Seton
new grandchild, I will
print it. If somebody
gets a service award at
work, it should be pub-
lished. If your students
make the honor roll,
we’re going to press
with that (With the help
of Elgin Pediatric Cen-
ter - who generously
sponsors those pages.).
It is Christmas. And
we are a wonderful
community tied by
common bonds and un-
common achievements,
plans and happenings.
You’ve given us a year
of gifts through ev-
erything you’ve done.
Thank you.
Next year, we don’t
want to miss a thing.
This is your paper. Send
all your good news, let-
ters, photos to us. We’re
sick of politics and
suffering. We keep up
with that stuff enough
already. We want to
read about you. Each of
you has a good story.
Interesting too.
Merry Christmas,
from all of us at the
Courier.
CHERYL MADEWELL
ADVERTISING SALES
adselgincourier@outlook.cotn
KEVIN WRIGHT
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
publisher@elgincouner.com
LAUREN JETTE
MANAGING EDITOR
lauren.jette@elgmcouner.com
F ■
I
Jerry
VINYARD
Thoughts on animal rescue
GAIL SCHOBEY
OFFICE MANAGER
gaiLschobey@elgmcouner.com
DSHS urges
immunization
With flu-like illness on
the rise, it’s not too late
for everyone 6 months
old and older to get vac-
cinated, the Texas De-
partment of State Health
Services announced Dec.
15.
Texans can learn where
flu shots are available at
texasflu.org or by con-
tacting their health care
provider.
People can help stop
the spread of flu by get-
ting vaccinated, washing
hands frequently, cover-
ing coughs and sneezes
and staying home when
they’re sick, the agency
said.
Vaccination is espe-
cially important for older
adults, infants, pregnant
women and people with
chronic health condi-
tions because they are
at greater risk of devel-
oping serious complica-
tions from the flu, said
DSHS Infectious Disease
Medical Officer Dr. Jen-
nifer Shuford.
Ed
STERLING
One year ....................
Out of state
One year ....................
FERNANDO CASTRO
REPORTER &
PAGE DESIGN
fernando.castro@elgincourier.com
"If you are
involved in a
church, civic
organization,
fundraiser or
are attending,
say, a 50th wed-
ding anniver-
sary, send your
news to us.
You can even
send a picture.
When you do,
we'll publish it
because every
story is a good
one."
Tax payments spreadable
Taxpayers with hurri-
cane-damaged homes and
businesses may pay their
2017 and 2018 property
taxes in installments, Lt.
Gov. Dan Patrick said in
a Dec. 13 statement.
Patrick said the op-
tion is open to residents
with damaged homes
and businesses in the 60
Texas counties declared
disaster areas following
Hurricane Harvey.
Ordinarily, taxpayers
are expected to pay their
taxes in a lump sum due
by Feb. 1.
“This will not lower
appraisals or property
taxes, but it will spread
out what is owed over
several months and elim-
inate penalties and inter-
est,” Patrick said.
Eligible property own-
ers must take the follow-
ing steps in order to pay
their property taxes in
installments:
— By Jan. 31, pay 25
percent of your property
tax bill and inform your
local taxing unit that you
intend to pay the balance
in installments;
— March 31, the second
25 percent payment is
due;
— May 31, the third 25
percent payment is due;
and
July 31, the final 25
percent payment is due.
© 2017 Elgin Courier.
All rights reserved.
Material may not be reproduced
without written permission.
www.elgincourier.com
Opinion
Email the Editor at lauren.jette@elgincourier.com
You can
reach us at:
512-285-3333
Fax 512-285-9406
publisher@elgincourier.com
The Elgin Courier is
published weekly by
Blacklands Publications,
Inc. at 105 North Main,
Elgin, Bastrop County,
Texas 78621. Established
in 1 890. Periodical post-
age paid at Elgin, Texas,
78621. Any erroneous
reflection upon character,
standing, or reputation
of any individual, firm or
organization that may ap-
pear in the columns of this
paper will be corrected if
brought to the attention of
the publisher. We do not
hold ourselves responsible
for the views of our corre-
spondents.
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OPINION POLICY
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to the Editor column is
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opportunities to the public
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community. They should re-
frain from making personal
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The deadline for Letters to
the Editor is Friday at noon.
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deadline is Fridays at noon.
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One year .................... $41
Concern: Winter safety
The Texas Department
of Public Safety on Dec.
5 encouraged Texans in
all regions of the state
to make preparations for
winter weather.
“While we’ve all heard
the joke about Texas
only having two seasons
— hot and hotter — all
Texans need to prepare
now for the serious
threats that the upcom-
ing winter could bring,”
said DPS Director Ste-
ven McCraw.
A few among a long list
of potentially lifesaving
tips offered by the DPS
are these: Winterize
vehicles by checking
the battery, windshield
wipers, anti-freeze, tire
pressure and tire tread,
and by lubricating door
and trunk locks to pre-
vent freezing.
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg
Abbott has asked the
Texas Rangers to inves-
tigate reports of sexual
misconduct and inappro-
priate relationships by
Texas Juvenile Justice
Department personnel.
On Dec. 13 Abbott sent
a letter to Texas Depart-
ment of Public Safety
Director Steven McCraw
requesting the investiga-
tion.
“Recent reports of sex-
ual misconduct and in-
appropriate relationships
by state employees at the
Texas Juvenile Justice
Department are repre-
hensible and necessitate
an appropriate response,”
Abbott said.
“Action is needed to
guarantee the protection
of the youth in the care
and custody of the State
of Texas. I am requesting
that our esteemed Texas
Rangers immediately
open a detailed inves-
tigation to determine
the extent of the alleged
misconduct at the Texas
Juvenile Justice Depart-
ment.”
Abbott also sent a letter
to Camille Cain, newly
named executive director
of the Juvenile Justice
Department, urging her
to work with his office
to ensure that the youth
in the state’s care are
protected, and to carry
out the agency’s mission
to transform young lives
and create safer commu-
nities.
-
T.
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Wright, Kevin & Jette, Lauren. Elgin Courier (Elgin, Tex.), Vol. 127, No. 51, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 20, 2017, newspaper, December 20, 2017; Elgin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1555419/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Elgin Public Library.