The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 60, Ed. 1 Friday, August 1, 2003 Page: 4 of 36
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Boerne Star and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Patrick Heath Public Library.
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PAGE 4A
The Boerne Star
Friday, August 1, 2003
Editor escapes
to launch more
daunting job
Commemorate the Columbia crew
Today’s paper is a collector’s
edition — for my mother at
least. This is the last Valerie
Collins byline to appear in print
anywhere. The next thing I
write will have a new name, in
a different city.
For those of you who haven’t
yet heard, this is my last edition
as managing editor of The
Boerne Star. I will plunge into a
full-time occupation that is
more daunting that producing a
community newspaper — being
an Aggie publisher’s wife.
Boerne is a fabulous commu-
nity, and if we had absolute free
reign over where we lived, it
would have a Hill Country zip
code.
Community newspapers are
team projects, and the Star staff
is the best group of people I’ve
ever worked with. Christianne
Young and Matt Bartosh have to
stretch themselves pretty thin to
deliver stories on the most im-
portant events in your commu-
nity and they accomplish some
pretty amazing feats.
Telling the truth about your
hometown is not always an easy
task and even here in beautiful
Boerne it is a challenge to have
public entities share all the in-
formation they’re legally re-
quired to when asked.
The most cooperative agency
in this area has been the City of
Boerne. Every city needs a Paul
Kirtley.
Most government agencies are
obliging, but you all pay the
salaries of a few people who
don’t believe they have to an-
swer to you. They procrastinate,
fight, and threaten in an attempt
to keep you from reading things
that should only be a part of
everyday business for their par-
ticular office.
Taxpayers and voters should
never stand for that, and I know
the Star will continue to write
about issues and events that af-
Worth Quoting
If you can count your money,
you don't have a billion dol-
lars.
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
Valerie Collins
MANAGING
EDITOR
fect your daily life whether the
powers that be like it or not.
Christianne especially de-
serves a medal of bravery for
steadfastness after receiving a
threat for writing one story. The
story was true, the behavior by
a public servant in our office
was — even cast in the best
possible light — inappropriate.
So the question remains
whether voters want public em-
ployees who believe their mis-
sion is to provide a public ser-
vice or wield some power dele-
gated to them by an elected offi-
cial. It should be a key factor in
deciding who you want to sup-
port in the upcoming round of
elections.
The most difficult part of this
transition is leaving this beauti-
ful, prospering town full of
friendly people for staggering
unemployment and a nuclear
plant, but there is the beach.
I want to thank Dick Magers,
the self-proclaimed crusty old
man of Boerne, who stands out
as a tremendous help when I’ve
had to navigate through unfa-
miliar territory.
I’ve waded through several
Texas communities and one dif-
ficult job in all of them is the
chief appraiser. No one gets ex-
cited about paying their taxes,
but Leta Schlinke is a glowing
symbol of integrity and grace
under pressure.
This has been an eventful year
for all of us and there are
dozens of folks that have gone
to a lot of trouble to make the
past 12 months a great pleasure.
Thank you all.
— J. Paul Getty
(1892-1976)
On February 1, 2003, mil-
lions of Americans awoke to
the heartbreaking news that
the Space Shuttle Columbia
had been destroyed while
reentering the earth’s atmos-
phere. Texans were profound-
ly affected by the tragedy be-
cause the shuttle disintegrated
in our wide-open skies, scat-
tering wreckage throughout
the northeast part of our state.
August marks the six-month
anniversary of that terrible
tragedy. It is a time to re-
member, but it is also a time
to reflect on the triumph of
the human spirit that rose
from the ashes of the Colum-
bia.
When Texans learned of the
disaster, they didn’t stop and
ask, “Why us?” They said,
“How can we help?” They
pitched in with gestures large
and small. People in Sabine,
Nacogdoches and San Augus-
tine counties, areas that bore
the brunt of the disaster, rose
to the occasion to assist in the
recovery efforts.
More than 600 volunteers
descended upon the east
Texas community from
around the state to begin the
monumental task. Game war-
dens, fire fighters, sheriffs
and forest service employees
arrived at their own expense
to help. The local National
Guard unit canceled its
scheduled training that first
New state law raises concern among Texans
A new Texas law that will let
the state recover Medicaid ex-
penditures by taking the es-
tates of some of the program’s
recipients after they die is
causing concern among many
senior citizens.
Your concerns are under-
standable. Medicaid estate re-
covery is a new concept for
Texas which has not imple-
mented the federal law passed
in 1993 requiring states to re-
cover costs from the estates of
certain deceased Medicaid re-
cipients aged 55 or older. Re-
coverable Medicaid expendi-
tures include service costs re-
sulting from nursing facility,
home- and community-based
care and associated prescrip-
tion drug costs. Because Texas
was not in compliance with
the federal law, we stood to
lose $2.2 billion of federal
Medicaid reimbursement
funds.
To continue to receive feder-
al funds that help finance
Medicaid services to poor, el-
Lame duck state workers still toiling to bring jobs to Texas
IN THE U.S. SENATE
A Kay Bailey
Hutchison
U.S.
y SENATOR
weekend and lent a hand.
Restaurants and grocery
stores provided free meals to
volunteers. Business, schools
and community organizations
solicited donations and
rounded up food, water and
supplies to keep the command
center running. Churches of-
fered the homes of their
members to relief workers
seeking a warm bed after gru-
eling 12-hour shifts. Local
hotels and bed and breakfasts
donated lodging for the out-
of-town workers. VFW and
Ladies Auxiliary members
volunteered countless hours.
State and local agencies op-
erated seamlessly to deal with
the tragedy and ensure recov-
ery efforts ran smoothly and
efficiently. The local commu-
nity came together in an un-
precedented way. Texans gave
of their time, efforts and fi-
nances to help piece together
the tragedy and put their
community, and our entire na-
tion, on the road to recovery.
The outpouring of generosi-
ty comes as no surprise. Tex-
IN THE TEXAS SENATE
Jeff Wentworth
STATE SENATOR
R-SAN ANTONIO
derly and disabled Texans, we
passed House Bill 2292 during
the recent regular legislative
session. House Bill 2292’s
provisions bring the state into
compliance, ensuring that fed-
eral funds are available to off-
set the projected $1.8 billion
cost for the care of approxi-
mately 65,000 nursing facility
residents in Fiscal Year 2003,
and the $1.9 billion cost for
Fiscal Year 2004.
The Texas Health and
Human Services Commission
(HHSC) currently is reviewing
federal and state laws to deter-
mine federal requirements and
Texas’ options in implement-
ing this provision of House
ans are known for our big
hearts and welcoming arms.
When tragedy literally rained
down upon us, it was instinc-
tive to respond with charity,
generosity and kindness.
While many questions sur-
rounding the accident are still
being investigated and mea-
sures preventing future
tragedies are being undertak-
en, it is the question of
“What’s next?” that must still
be addressed. What’s next for
space exploration? What can
we learn from venturing into
the unknown?
It is that thirst for knowl-
edge that led us to explore
space in the first place. Our
curiosity, sense of wonder
and desire to improve life on
earth prompted us time and
again to defy the odds. And
our efforts have resulted in
life-saving discoveries, tech-
nological advancements and
improvements in our every-
day lives.
Satellites, smoke detectors
and bar-code scanners pro-
vide a few examples of every-
day technologies that were
developed through our space
program. NASA has also con-
tributed to the defense of our
nation by pioneering space-
based and satellite imagery
applications that have been
critical to helping our mili-
tary pinpoint the enemy on
the battlefields of Afghanistan
Bill 2292. Although many
guidelines are still being de-
termined, we know that a
Medicaid recipient’s estate
will not be taken if the de-
ceased is survived by a
spouse, a minor child or an
unmarried adult child who was
living with the family when
the Medicaid recipient died.
We also know that Medicaid
claims will rank behind other
claims, such as funeral ex-
penses, secured loans, mort-
gage liens, child support pay-
ments and taxes.
It is important to note that
estate recovery will not be im-
plemented until the Texas
Medicaid program goes
through a public rule-making
process that includes public
hearings and opportunities for
public comments.
The public will be notified
and asked to comment at a
public hearing in Austin and
by logging onto the HHSC
web site at
www.hhsc.state.tx.us. The
and Iraq. NASA is also help-
ing to develop the next gener-
ation of the unmanned aerial
vehicle, the Predator, a re-
motely controlled aircraft that
allows us to see the battle-
field, find the enemy and send
in precision-guided munitions
without endangering troops.
Perhaps our greatest achieve-
ment has been in the field of
medical science. CAT scans
and MRIs are revolutionizing
our ability to detect tumors
early and save lives. Neither
technology would be possible
without NASA research.
From 1803, when Lewis and
Clark set out to explore the
unknown lands of the west, to
1969, when Neil Armstrong
stepped on the moon, the
spirit of exploration has
shaped our history and our
culture. It has kept our econo-
my thriving through the use
and production of the fruits
that research. It is a spirit em-
bodied by Texans and knit
into the fabric of our rich
legacy of independence,
which we must preserve.
As we commemorate the an-
niversary of the Space Shuttle
Columbia tragedy and honor
the seven lives cut short, we
grieve with their families, cel-
ebrate their memories and
pledge to renew our zeal for
space exploration and hunger
for the unknown.
Secretary of State’s web site
also will provide a place for
public comment about the pro-
posed rules at
www.sos.state.tx.us./texreg.
Implementation is necessary
if the state is to continue to
provide services to poor, el- «
derly and disabled Texans,
many of whom have contacted
their legislators to express
their opposition to this law.
Representative Ruth Jones
McClendon, D-San Antonio,
filed a bill to repeal the mea-
sure, but Governor Perry did
not place it on the agenda for
the special session ending July
29.
Until we either take up the
matter again in a special ses-
sion or until the Texas Medic-
aid estate recovery rules are fi-
nalized, it is impossible to de-
termine exactly how many in-
dividuals.or in what way spe-
cific individuals and their fam-
ilies will be affected by the
implementation of the federal
law.
t
Bible Verse
Even in laughter the heart
may be in pain, and the end
of joy may be grief.
— Proverbs 13:15
The Boerne Star
WWW.boernestar.com
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Brian Cartwright
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Sports Editor
Typesetter
Valerie Collins
Matt Bartosh
Christianne Young
Kerry Barboza
Molly Meckel
ADVERTISING
Sales Brian Cartwright
Sales Joseph Casanova
Sales Anita Anderson
CLASSIFIED & FRONT DESK
PRODUCTION
Receptionist
Dana Smith
Graphic Design
Carla Wilson
Subscriptions
CIRCULATION
Dana Smith
BOOKKEEPING
Office Manager Sandra Pfeiffer
DISTRIBUTION
Circulation Manager Doug Moyer
MEMBER
2003
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
MEMBER OF Texas Press Association, National Newspaper Association,
South Texas Press Association, Texas Gulf Coast Press Association
282 N. MAIN • (UPS 059-740)
P.O. Box 820 • 830-249-2441 FAX 830-249-4607
THE BOERNE STAR is published twice weekly for $35 per year in Kendall County, $42 else-
where in Texas and $50 per year outside of Texas by The Boerne Star, 282 N. Main, Boerne,
Kendall County, TX. 780.06. Periodical postage paid at Boerne, TX. POSTMASTER: Send changes
of address to THE BOERNE STAR, P.O. Box 820. Boerne, Texas 78006-0820.
The Boerne Star welcomes letters on any public issue. Letters may be mailed, faxed, e-
mailed or hand-delivered but must contain the writer’s name, address and phone number. Let-
ters should not exceed 300 words. Addresses and telephone numbers are for verification pur-
poses only and will not be published. Names and city of residence will be published. We re-
serve the right to edit all letters for style and content.
Once Texas lawmakers final-
ly settle on a congressional re-
districting map the makeup of
the state’s representation in
Washington will be set for a
decade.
But while the battle over that
process gets most of the pub-
lic attention, behind the scenes
another effort is under way on
something that could have a
much greater and longer-last-
ing impact on the state.
The Texas Economic Devel-
opment department, soon to be
folded into the governor’s of-
fice after the lay-off of nearly
two-thirds of its work force,
has two task forces quietly
working to bring two huge
new manufacturing industries
to the Lone Star State.
One work group is out to
lure Boeing, which is seeking
a location outside Washington
state for a plant to build the
next generation of jet aircraft.
The new plant’s “raw materi-
al” will be empty fuselages
that can only be shipped by
sea. Because of that, the state
is trying to sell its port cities
as good locations.
If Boeing, like Toyota, de-
cides to come to Texas, it will
have a huge economic benefit
on wherever the airplane man-
ufacturer chooses to land. It
could turn .a city such as Cor-
pus Christi into a semi-tropi-
cal Seattle. Or do away with
the state’s highest unemploy-
ment rate, which is 14.2 per-
cent in McAllen-Edinburg-
Mission. Or make Houston,
the nation’s fourth-largest city,
even bigger.
STATE CAPITAL HIGHUGHTS
Mike Cox
. TEXAS PRESS
: ASSOCIATION
Also under way, with even
more secrecy, is a campaign to
woo another large vehicle
manufacturer to Texas.
All of this is fascinating
news to anyone familiar with
the story of Texas, which for
much of its history depended
economically on the exporta-
tion of natural resources - cot-
ton, cattle and eventually oil.
• But now, Texas is second only
to California in the number of
manufacturing jobs. And that’s
not counting the new positions
that will come with the San
Antonio Toyota plant when it
begins operation.
The last incursion...
The 11 Senate Democrats
who invaded New Mexico in
late July to stall or kill redis-
tricting are not the first Texans
to saddle up in Austin and
head for the high country in
the Land of Enchantment.
But by all accounts they are
having a much better time in
Albuquerque than their prede-
cessors did on their political-
ly- and economically-motivat-
ed trip, an incident now
known as the Texan Santa Fe
Expedition.
That happened in 1841,
when Republic of Texas Presi-
dent Mirabeau B. Lamar de-
cided to establish a robust
trade link between Austin, the
new capital, and Santa Fe, a
very old capital. The way he
intended to do that was to take
control of New Mexico, which
he and other Texans consid-
ered to be a part of the repub-
lic, but which New Mexicans
and the government of Mexico
did not.
Instead of using rhetoric in
the public prints, legislation or
treaties to get what he wanted,
Lamar resorted to arms. Or at
least the show of arms.
With an escort of five in-
fantry companies and one ar-
tillery company, a party of
Texas traders in 21 wagons
loaded with $200,000 in goods
left from Williamson County
on June 19, 1841 for Santa Fe.
Unfortunately for commerce
between Austin and Santa Fe,
the Texans were captured by
Mexican cavalry before they
reached their destination and
were marched to prison in
Mexico City. The prisoners
were not freed until April
1842.
Speaking of history...
The Texas State Historical
Association, which has been
around since 1897, had been
facing draconian budget cuts
as a result of reduced state
funding for the University of
Texas.
But according to association
director Ron Tyler, the money
problem has been resolved
with the loss of only one staff
position. That job will be ab-
sorbed by a retirement, he
said.
Meanwhile, the association
continues work on an innova-
tive project historians and
family genealogy researchers
will enjoy: The digitalization
of back issues of the South-
western Historical Quarterly.
So far, 19 of the journal’s 106
volumes are available online
(and are searchable) for free.
Tyler said plans are to get
the first 100 volumes online,
but continue to charge for the
more recent issues.
View the volumes on the
Texas State Historical Associ-
ation Web site at
www.tsha.utexas.edu.
Secretary of State resigns
Secretary of State Gwyn
Shea stepped down from of-
fice Aug. 4. She was appoint-
ed by Gov. Rick Perry in Jan-
uary 2002. No news has sur-
faced yet on a replacement.
Write us
a letter...
The Boerne Star welcomes let-
ters on any public issue. Letters
may be mailed, faxed, e-mailed
or hand-delivered but must con-
tain the writer’s name, address
and phone number. Addresses
and telephone numbers are for
verification purposes only and
will not be published. Names and
city of residence will be pub-
lished. We reserve the right to
edit all letters for style and con-
tent and refuse letters that would
be objectionable to readers. Call
249-2441 with questions regard-
ing the submission of letters to
the editor for publication.
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Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Cartwright, Brian & Collins, Valerie. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 60, Ed. 1 Friday, August 1, 2003, newspaper, August 1, 2003; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1650580/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.