The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 102, No. 69, Ed. 1 Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Page: 4 of 31
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PAGE 4A
The Boerne STAR
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 .
Star Editorial
Put down cell phone before
entering any school zone
On Monday, kids across the state woke earlier, grabbed new
book bags and headed off for the first day of a new school
year.
Many rode buses, some walked and others were dropped off
by parents. But, no matter how they got there hopefully every
child made it there and back home safely.
For their part, the Boerne Police Department has stepped up
enforcement in area school zones, and is reminding motorists
about a new city ordinance that bans the use of mobile phones
in school zones.
Those zones where the law will apply include:
• Fabra, Curington, Kendall and Cibolo Creek Elementary
Schools.
• Middle School North and Middle School South.
• Old San Antonio Road at the new Meadowlands Charter
School.
• Charger Boulevard at Champion High School.
• School Street between Highland and the Interstate 10 frontage
at the Hill Country Montessori School
The speed limit in all school zones is 25 mph between 7 and 9
a.m. and between 2 and 4 p.m.
The fine for using a cell phone in those zones is $200, and a
ticket for speeding will cost $8 for every mile over the posted
speed limit. With the additional fees added by the state, those
tickets can be very costly.
It will definitely cost you more than being a few minutes late
for school or work.
The BOERNE Star
Online Poll
Was the Boerne Independent School Board right to
change Superintendent John Kelly's pay from bo-
nuses to a raise at this time?
Yes
No
■ No Opinion
46.6%
5.2%
Results of 58 votes cast as of Monday noon.
Visit www.boernestar.com and cast your vote today
Worth Quoting___
" My basic principle is that you
don't make decisions, because
they are easy; you don't make
them because they are cheap;
you don't make them because
they are popular; you make
them because they're right.
- Theodore Hesburgh
Bible Verse ...
'Pray without ceasing."
- Thessalonians 5:17
The BOERNE Star
www.boernestar.com
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Brian Cartwright
VIEWPOINTS
Heads of state try to solve transportation funding
AUSTIN - Their goal, they
said, is to finance a “world-class
transportation system.”
Texas’ top three elected office-
holders co-signed an Aug. 19
letter to Texas Transportation
Commission Chairman Dierdre
Delisi expressing their collec-
tive wishes for a plan to fund
transportation projects over the
next biennium.
Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David
Dewhurst and House Speaker
Tom Craddick told Delisi to pre-
pare for an Aug. 29 bond review
board meeting with certain goals
in mind:
• End the practice of funding
the Texas Department of Public
Safety with gas taxes that are
needed for road construction.
Use general revenue to fund the
DPS.
• Create a finance entity that
will allow the state’s public
investment fund managers to
put money directly into state
transportation projects that offer
a “potential solid long-term
return.”
• Pass enabling legislation and
appropriations for the Prop. 12
bonds approved by voters.
In November 2007, vot-
ers approved Prop. 12,
amending the state constitution
to authorize $5 billion in general
obligation bonds for transporta-
tion projects.
CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
Ed Sterling
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
In September 2003, voters
approved Prop. 14, allowing
short-term borrowing by the
Texas Department of Trans-
portation. Perry, Dewhurst and
Craddick instructed Delisi to
prepare to begin selling $1.5
billion in Prop. 14 bonds in
September.
EXECUTIVE ORDER
BEGINS BLUE ALERT
An executive order signed by
Gov. Rick Perry on Aug. 18
launched Blue Alert, a com-
munications network to help
track down suspects who flee
after killing or seriously injur-
ing federal, state or local law
enforcement officers in the line
of duty.
Blue Alert, based on the
AMBER and Silver Alert pro-
grams, combines efforts of the
DPS, the Governor’s Division
of Emergency Management and
TxDOT.
When Blue Alert is activated,
the suspect’s vehicle information
will be displayed across the state
primarily via TxDOT dynamic tification tests via the Internet in
message signs and media broad- the past year..
casts. Alerts instruct the public And, Texas is leading the ,
to contact local law enforcement nation in online certification
via 911 if they have information testing, the Texas Education
related to the offense. Agency reported Aug. 20.
IMMIGRATION Online testing has been avail-
POLICIES IN QUESTION able in Texas since 2004-05.
Two Republican state lawmak- Test takers have five hours to
ers have asked Attorney General complete an exam, but the aver-
Greg Abbott if the Texas Leg- age completion time is between
islature has the authority to three and four hours. The results
deter local governments from come back in about a week,
adopting policies or invalidate Karen Loonam of the State
existing policies that hinder state Board for Educator Certifica-
enforcement of federal immigra- tion said she expects online
tion laws. testing eventually will be the
In the request for an opinion, sole method for certification,
Rep. Frank Corte of San Anto- but she does not expect paper
nio and Sen. Dan Patrick of and pencil tests to disappear
Houston wrote that “sanctuary anytime soon,
cities” advocate policies that are INTERIM DPS DIRECTOR
favorable to illegal immigrants. NAMED
To support their views, the The Texas Public Safety Com-
lawmakers cited the Oklahoma mission named Texas Highway
Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Patrol Major Stan Clark of
Act of 2007, which prohibits Garland interim director of the
sanctuary cities and bars local Texas DPS on Aug. 15.
governmental bodies from creat- Clark will take office on Sept,
ing policies to limit or prevent 1 and serve until the Texas Pub-
local law enforcement officers lic Safety Commission, which
from communicating or coop- oversees the DPS, has selected
erating with federal officials a permanent director,
on the immigration status of a Clark has been with the DPS
person. since 1973. He has worked at
ONLINE CERTIFICATION DPS offices in Tyler and McAI-
TESTING GROWS len, and has been a member of
Applicants took more than the DPS Capitol Police force.
50,000 online Texas teacher cer-
020. 0/Ted Dicda
ray dal iswd.con
WISH wHe
REST OF THe
AaF GeoR
bus
Letters to tiie Editor
Citizens make a difference
Congratulations to Janis Maxymof and Ted Maxymof for their
role in initiating action that lead to the Boerne City Council passing
a stronger ethics ordinance. It is a big step in the right direction.
This initiative was citizen-driven. Janis and Ted researched the
city’s old resolution and read ordinances from other towns; then
Janis called the mayor and set up a meeting to discuss this matter
and offer solutions and help.
They stayed with it, the Mayor responded by doing additional
research and had our city attorneys draft an ethics code ordinance
that represents standards well beyond the state requirements. The
mayor and council refused to compromise on the major issue of
perception of impropriety, and, now Boerne has a more substantive
ordinance. The ordinance is important, the citizen initiation inspir-
ing. Another example of how each of us can make a difference if
we participate.
really get our attention.
I think the politicians have the ear of the newspapers more so than
we do. I thought freedom of the press was there to protect us, not to
presume such amnesia. Referendum and Recall rights for the citi-
zens of Boerne, Kendall County and the State of Texas would allow
us to deny the ability of taxing authorities (read: city, county, state,
school district, water conservation district, community college
district, etc.) to raise our taxes beyond a predetermined percentage,
based upon some index of growth, regardless of the increase in
appraised property values.
It is a procedural right which is long overdue. I think I’m ready for
that. Anybody want to join me?
- Edward L. Rogers
Boerne
- Mark Mason
A spokesperson for BoerneTogether
News Editor
Sports Editor
Copy Editor
Typesetter
Staff Writers
EDITORIAL
Mark J. Armstrong
Kerry Barboza
Kit Brenner
Molly Meckel
Dave Pasley
Elena Tucker
PRODUCTION
Graphic Design
Rebecca Kirsch
Kristyn Bergman
BOOKKEEPING
Office Manager
Sandra Pfeiffer
CIRCULATION
Subscriptions Dana Smith
ADVERTISING
Marketing Director
Sales
Sales
Sales
Sales
Frank Shubert
Kolleen Roe
Karen Morris
JT Maroney
John Newton
DISTRIBUTION
Circulation Manager Stephen Bartell
Driver Tyler Foreman
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Chris Woerner, Chris Tilton, Anya Maltsberger
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS
Mary Alice Yelverton, Dr. John Kelly, Natalie Morgan, Jan Wrede, Ed Davis, Anita
Porterfield, Vera D’Spain, Sharon Benedict, Paula White, Mary Alice Dell
Ken Nietenhocfer, Dr. James Dobson, Ellen Damstra,
Tom Harris, Tom Lanier, Lynn Pendley, Kathy Senkbeil, Ron Warden,
Krysta McDaniel, Bill Ward, Peary Perry and Oscar Garcia.
MEMBER OF Texas Press Association, National Newspaper Association,
South Texas Press Association, Texas Gulf Coast Press Association
941 N. School Street • Boerne, TX (UPS 059-740)
830-249-2441 FAX 830-249-4607
THE BOERNE STAR is published twice weekly for $49 per year in Kendall County, $57'
elsewhere in Texas and $65 per year outside of Texas by The Boerne Star, 941 N. School St.,
Boerne, Kendall County, TX. 78006. Periodical postage paid at Boerne, TX. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to THE BOERNE STAR, 941 N. School St., Boerne, TX 78006-0820.
Mathematical amnesia
Is it just me, or have we taxpayers collectively developed math-
ematical amnesia. Our city, county, and state lawmakers proudly
proclaim they haven’t raised taxes in Texas or Boerne or Kendall
County since any of them have been in office. Then tell me why am
I feeling like I’ve had a walletectomy over the past four decades. All
the money is going somewhere so that now over 43 percent of your
and my income goes to some form of taxes!
It’s not entirely the politician’s faults - it’s also on the backs of
the journalistic fourth estate. When newspaper articles have quotes
from our elected leaders who say “We’re not raising your taxes”,
we never see a headline that says, “Holding Previous Tax Rate Line
Means Your Taxes On Your Residence in Your Area will be up
percent. Oh, it’s in the small print, but, never in the point size to
Letters to the Editor Policy
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.
Addresses and telephone numbers are for verification purposes
only and will not be published. Names and city of residence will
be published. Letters should be short and concise, long enough
only to make your point. We reserve the right to edit all letters for
style and content and refuse letters that would be objectionable to
readers. We also will not publish anonymous letters. Priority will
be given to letters 300 words or less that concern local topics and
written by people who’ve not published a letter in the last 30 days.
Call 249-2441 with questions regarding the submission of letters
to the editor for publication.
Letter to the Editor
941 N. School St., Boerne, TX 78006
news@boernestar.com
WRITE EMI
KENOALL COUNTY
JUOGE GAYLAN SCHROEOER
204 E. San Antonio
Boerne, Texas 78006
249-9343
Commissioners
ANN REISSIG
GENE MIERTSCHIN
PARRELL LUX
KENNETH RUSCH
204 E. San Antonio
Boerne, Texas 78006
249-9343
BOERNE ISP
Superintendent
JOHN KELLY
123 W. Johns Rd.
Boerne, Texas 78006
830-357-2000
COMFORT ISD
Superintendent
JOHN ROUSE
232 High
Comfort, Texas 78013
995-3664
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.
Letters should not exceed 300 words. Addresses and telephone numbers are for verification
purposes only and will not be published. Names and city of residence will be published.
We reserve the right to edit all letters for style and content.
CITY OF BOERNE
DAN HECKLER
402 E. Blanco
Boerne, Texas 78006
249-9511
STATE LEVEL
GOVERNOR
RICK PERRY
State Capital, Room 200
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 463-2000
STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION
District 5
205 W. Travis
Fredericksburg, TX, 78624 •
830-997-9759
STATE REP.
NATHAN MACIAS
Oistrict 73
P.O. Box 2910, Austin, T
X 78768-2910
Office51 2-463-0325
Fax: 512-463-5899
STATE SENATOR
JEFF WENTWORTH
District 25
1250 NE Loop 410 St. 925
San Antonio, Tx 78209
(210) 826-7800
FEDERAL LEVEL
PRESIDENT
GEORGE W. BUSH
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20000
REP. LAMAR SMITH
Congressman Lamar Smith |
2409 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
| Washington, D.C. 20515-4321
202-225-4236
San Antonio Office
Guaranty Bank Building
1100 NE Loop 410
Suite 640
San Antonio, TX 78209
210-821-5024
210-821-5947 fax
lamarsmith.house.gov
U.S. SENATOR
JOHN CORNYN
Russell Bldg. Rm. 179
Washington, O.C. 20510
(202) 224-2934
KAY BAILEY
HUTCHISON
703 Hart Senate
Office Building
Washington, O.C. 20510
(202) 224-5922
San Antonio Office
145 Ouncan Or.,
Suite 120
San Antonio, TX 78226
210-340-2885
210-349-6753 (FAX)
MEETING TIMES
BOERNE
CITY COUNCIL
7:30 p.m. second and fourth
Tuesday of the month, City Hall,
402 E. Blanco
KENDALL COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
9 a.m. second and fourth
Monday of the month, Kendall
County Courthouse,
204 E. San Antonio
BOERNE ISD
Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
third Monday of the month, BISD
boardroom
COMFORT ISD
7 p.m. second Monday in the
board offices
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Cartwright, Brian. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 102, No. 69, Ed. 1 Tuesday, August 26, 2008, newspaper, August 26, 2008; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1667331/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.