The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 103, No. 42, Ed. 1 Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Page: 4 of 51
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
TUESDAY, May 26, 2009
Guest Editorial
Listen to the voice of
experience - Buckle up!
Ethan Mitchell
Junior in High School
Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about safety belts. For
me, buckling up is such a habit that I don’t even notice doing it. But
one morning earlier this year, I couldn’t help but notice being buckled
up. That’s because I was on the side of the road, hanging upside down
in my truck, held in place by nothing but my safety belt.
I was driving me and my friend Trey to the Bell County Youth Fair
and Livestock Show early that morning to show our hogs. Out of
nowhere, there was a loud pop, and the truck went out of control, spun
end over end and landed upside down, broken in half.
I reached for Trey, who was also held upside down by his safety belt,
too. We were both scared to death, but alive. Looking back, I know we
probably would have been thrown out of the truck and probably ended
up dead if we hadn’t been buckled up.
I always felt safe driving my pickup because it’s so big, but after
it happened, someone told me that pickup trucks are twice as likely
as cars to roll over in a serious crash. I learned that most people who
aren’t buckled up when they’re in a rollover pickup truck crash end
up dead.
I’m in high school and Trey’s in junior high, and I know that lots
of kids our age don’t buckle up. What happened to us could happen
to anyone, so Trey and I have been trying to make sure everyone we
know buckles up every time, no matter how far they’re going.
That’s why we’re helping to make sure people know about TxDOT’s
Click It or Ticket campaign. From May 18 to May 31, troopers, sher-
iff’s deputies and police officers are going to work long hours giving
tickets to people who aren’t wearing their safety belts.
You can get a ticket whether you’re in the front seat or if your kids
aren’t buckled up, and you might have to pay up to $200, plus the cost
of going to court.
Trey and I are proud to help TxDOT get Texans to buckle up, espe-
cially people our age. Our crashed truck has been part of special Click
It or Ticket events at high schools, and thousands of kids and teachers
have seen it.
When people see how messed up the truck is, they can’t believe we’re
still alive. We did get a little beat up -1 had a sprained ankle, Trey had
some cuts on his head, a sprained wrist and a tom-up shoulder.
But the next day we were still able to go back to the Bell County
Livestock Show and show our own animals. We even won Grand
Reserve in our class.
We hope that our story and Click It or Ticket will remind more
people to buckle up every single time they go anywhere. More than
1.7 million Texans who are 17 and younger aren’t buckling up, so you
probably know someone who needs to hear our story. Pass it on and
buckle up, Texas. It really could save your life.
Thb BOERNE Star
Online Poll
Should the city regulate the size of assembly buildings
including churches?
■ Yes - Churches should be regulated
like any other building. 45%
■ No - It violates people's right to assembly. 55%
■ No opinion.
0%
Results of 11 votes cast as of Friday noon.
Visit www.boemestar.com and cast your vote today
Worth Quoting
“Graduation is only a concept. In
real life every day you graduate.
Graduation is a process that goes
on until the last day of your life. If
you can grasp that, you’ll make a
difference.”
- Arie Pencovici
Bible Verse ..
VIEWPOINTS
Senate bill puts brakes on TxDOT’s toll promoting
AUSTIN - The Texas House
tentatively approved HB 2142,
legislation to prevent the Texas
Department of Transportation from
promoting toll roads.
Now the bill, by Rep. Ruth
Jones McClendon, D-San Anto-
nio, moves to the Senate for
consideration. An identical bill,
SB 384 by Sen. John Carona,
SENATE PASSES CAMPUS
GUNS BILL
The Texas Senate on May 19
approved a bill that would allow
students who possess a concealed
handgun permit to carry a firearm
on college and university class-
rooms, dormitories and other public
buildings on campus.
Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San
CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
. Ed Sterling
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
R-Dallas, gained Senate approval Antonio, author of SB 1164, said
and has moved to the House for shootings at colleges in other states
consideration. inspired his bill.
Either bill, if passed, would put “They were picked off like sitting
a clamp on TxDOT’s practice of ducks in the classroom in Virginia,”
using various means to influence he said. “I just think we ought to be
public opinion in favor of toll road able to defend ourselves from that
construction. kind of situation. It happens very
Under the legislation, TxDOT rarely, but when it does happen, it’s
no longer would be authorized to catastrophic.”
engage in marketing, advertising
or other activities for the purpose
of influencing public opinion
about the use of toll roads or
the use of tolls as a financial
mechanism.
“TxDOT needs to be committed
to the goals of the public, not just
promoting its own goals,” McClen-
don said.
TxDOT would continue to have
SHOW HELPS IN
APPRAISAL PROTEST
The Texas Comptroller’s Office
Internet site, www.cpa.state.tx.us,
features a new slide show to help
homeowners who are protesting
their property tax appraisals.
“How to Present Your Case at an
Appraisal Review Board Hearing:
A Guide for Homeowners” makes
the property tax process more
the authority to conduct marketing transparent by providing easy-to-
and advertising activities to inform understand information about what
the public in regard to the status of to expect at a property appraisal
pending and ongoing toll projects. protest hearing.
“Homeowners are empowered by
understanding the protest process,
knowing what information to pres-
ent to the local Appraisal Review
Board and how to present it,” Texas
Comptroller Susan Combs said. “It
helps homeowners make convinc-
ing appeals and helps the review
boards make better decisions.”
Appraisal review boards gener-
ally hear property appraisal protests
between May 15 and July 25, except
in major urban areas with extended
protest periods.
AG JOINS IN ‘FALSE CHAR-
ITY’ SWEEP
Texas Attorney General Greg
Abbott on May 20 joined 33 state
attorneys general and the U.S. Fed-
eral Trade Commission in an effort
to stamp out fraudulent charitable
solicitations nationwide.
Abbott launched an online portal
that gives Texans greater access
to information about law enforce-
ment organizations that rely upon
telemarketing to raise funds from
the general public: www.oag.state.
tx.us/consumer/charitysearch_info.
shtml.
“Operation False Charity” targets
solicitors that mislead Texas donors
into believing their contributions
will directly benefit law enforce-
ment, firefighters, veterans groups,
military personnel and organiza-
tions that serve them.
DPS IS ON BUCKLE-UP
CAMPAIGN
The Texas Department of Public
Safety is conducting its eighth state-
wide “Click It or Ticket” enforcement
campaign, May 18-31.
Nine percent of Texans are not
buckling up, Texas Highway Patrol
chief David Baker said.
Drivers who are pulled over for
seat belt and child safety seat viola-
tions by troopers will receive tickets
for those violations.
SENATE APPROVES
STEM CELL BILL
Scientists working on adult stem
cell research would be able to col-
laborate more easily under a bill
approved by the Senate May 20.
SB 73 by Sen. Jane Nelson,
R-Flower Mound, creates a frame-
work to promote cooperation
among organizations involved in
finding medical cures through adult
stem cell treatments.
IREPEAT
ibu CANNOT
GET SWINE
FLU FROM
PORK.
NHEW:
wIscurcscie
1911
<1>98
Letters to the Editor
Proposed gas tax increase amounts
to $30 per year
Regarding Mr. Wood's letter to the Editor "Stop Gas Tax Hike Proposals',
your stance sounds wonderful until you consider the reality of our state's
infrastructure.
First let's consider that the gas tax has NOT been raised since 1991.
In that time, cars and trucks have become much more efficient, so most
My youngest son graduated from Boerne High School with Erik and
was chosen this past summer to be an alternate delegate to a statewide
political conference for the recent presidential election. As he attended
precinct meetings, county meetings, and the state meeting, so many people
came up to him and told him that they wished more young people would
get involved in government. Was not this what Erik was trying to do? It
is amazing to me that people bemoan the fact that the younger /generation
does not get involved, and then when they DO get involved on a school
board, run for re-election, and sometimes have contrary or unorthodox
people are paying considerably less in gas tax than in 1991. In fact, the views, they are slammed for their youth, lack of a high power, long term,
average motorist pays less than $300 per year for the privilege of using the professional resume, and/or their typical desire to question and frequently
states roads and bridges. buck the status quo.
views, they are slammed for their youth, lack of a high power, long term,
“The tongue has the power of life
and death, and those who love it
will eat its fruit.”
- Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)
Second, we are a donor state, so every federal gas tax dollar we contrib-
ute, we get $.92 back. However, state tax stays here. Our legislation also
takes about 40 percent of the gas tax and uses it for public education and
public safety. Doesn't leave much for our roads. We will be out of money
for new roads and bridges in 2012, two and a half years. WOW.
We are a growth state, and there has been a major increase in lane miles
traveled, with fewer and fewer dollars to address the increasingly danger-
ous situation. We will begin to see more bridge calamities as in Minnesota.
If we raised the gas tax, the average motorist will only pay about $30 per
year more, that's about $2.50 a month for safe roads and bridges. How
can we NOT support the increase in this critical tax! Or we can just make
every road a toll road on a pay as you go basis...mmmmm.
- Kirstin Shine,
Fair Oaks Ranch
buck the status quo.
It is my hope that Erik will not let the low personal blows of the cam-
paign negatively impact his desire and willingness to continue to help
make Boerne and its schools the best they can be in some future capacity.
We need Erik and his generation to care about and to be involved in the
government of our schools, city, county, state and country. We need the
energy, passion, innovative ideas and, yes, experience and technology
skills this generation has to offer. I ask everyone reading this letter to
encourage and mentor someone in a generation younger than your own to
be involved in public service to our community, whether or not that young
person agrees 100 percent with your own views or not. We will have a bet-
ter community and better schools if we do!
Thanks Erik for caring enough to get involved! Please keep up your good
work in a new capacity in Boerne!
The BOERNE Star
www.boernestar.com
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Brian Cartwright
EDITORIAL
BOOKKEEPING
Managing Editor
News Editor
Sports Editor
Copy Editor
Staff Writers
Candace E. Velvin
Mark J. Armstrong
Kerry Barboza
Kit Brenner
Dave Pasley
Elena Tucker
Office Manager
Sandra Pfeiffer
CIRCULATION
Subscriptions Dana Smith
ADVERTISING
PRODUCTION
Graphic Design
Rebecca Kirsch
Kristyn Bergman
Marketing Director
Sales
Sales
Sales
Frank Shubert
Kolleen Roe
Karen Raye Brown
JT Maroney
DISTRIBUTION
Circulation Manager Stephen Bartell
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Chris Woemer, 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 Nietenhoefer, 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.
U.S.P.S.059-740
A public thanks
I would like to publicly thank Erik Thormaehlen for his dedicated work
on the school board, for having the desire to run again for another term,
choosing a popular opponent to run against rather than run unopposed, and
for his courage to question, speak out, follow his conscience, and be the
"squeaky wheel" that rarely got the grease. It is not often that today's young
person in their 20s is impelled to seek a position on a school board when
many of their peers are content with other more fun, recreational ways to
spend their spare time.
I thought it was a particularly low blow when a paid political ad during
the campaign, in the form of a newspaper insert, asked if the public wanted
a "24 year old, substitute teacher living at home" to make important deci-
sions on school planning and funding issues.
Boards make much better decisions when their composition is a mix of
ages, genders, experience, professions etc. Being a relatively recent gradu-
ate of Boerne High School, who else on the board knew better the current
experiences and needs of students and how well we are transitioning our
high school seniors into college? Erik was right on with his comments
about the need for Boerne High School students to improve their writing
skills to better enable them to write lengthy college research papers and
essays as my own three BHS grads found out upon entering college. Who
would better know this than a recent grad? Did his classroom experience
as a substitute teacher mean he could not make good decisions? Did his
living arrangements with family in today's volatile economy and job mar-
ket make a difference in his ability to make practical, economic decisions
on a school board?
WRITIC EM!
KENDALL COUNTY
JUDGE GAYLAN
SCHROEDER
204 E. San Antonio
Boerne, Texas 78006
830-249-9343
Commissioners
ANN REISSIG
GENE MIERTSCHIN
DARRELL LUX
KENNETH RUSCH
204 E. San Antonio
830-249-9343
BOERNE ISD
Superintendent
JOHN KELLY
123 W. Johns Rd.
Boerne, Texas 78006
830-357-2000
COMFORT ISD
Superintendent
JOHN CHAPMAN
232 High St., Comfort
830-995-3664
-Carol Ames Sewell,
Boerne
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.
The Boerne Star does not accept letters to the editor urging vot-
ers to vote for or against candidates in local elections. Endorsements
should be displayed in political advertising. In light of this policy,
we reserve the right to reject or edit letters for references to can-
didates and whether or not they should be elected.
Call 249-2441 with questions regarding the submission of letters to
the editor for publication.
Letter to the Editor
PO Box 820 Boerne, TX 78006
news @boernestar. com
CITY OF BOERNE
MAYOR DAN HECKLER
402 E. Blanco
830-249-9511
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 SENATOR, DIST 25
JEFF WENTWORTH
1250 NE Loop 410 St. 925
San Antonio, Tx 78209
210-826-7800
STATE REP., DIST 73
DOUG MILLER
Room E1.216, Capitol Ext.
Austin, TX 78701
512-463-0325
FEDERAL LEVEL
PRESIDENT
BARACK OBAMA
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20000
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
703 Hart Senate
Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5922
San Antonio Office
U.S. SENATOR
JOHN CORNYN
Russell Bldg. Rm. 179
Washington. D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2934
RER LAMAR SMITH
Congressman Lamar Smith
2409 Raybum House Office
Bldg. | Washington, D.C.
202-225-4236
San Antonio Office
Guaranty Bank Building
145 Duncan Dr., ,Suite 120 1100 NE Loop 410, Ste. 640
San Antonio, TX 78226
210-340-2885
210-349-6753 (FAX)
San Antonio, TX 78209
210-821-5024
210-821-5947 fax
lamarsmith.house.gov
MEETING TIMES
BOERNE
CITY COUNCIL
7:30 p.m. second and fourth
Tuesdays, City Hall, 402 E.
Blanco, Boerne.
KENDALL COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
9 a.m. second and fourth
Monday, Kendall County
Courthouse, 204 E. San
Antonio, Boerne
BOERNE ISD TRUSTEES
6:30 p.m. third Monday,
BISD boardroom
COMFORT ISD TRUSTEES
7 p.m. second Monday in the
board offices
COW CREEK
GROUNDWATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
second Monday at the
District Office. 216 Market
Ave., Ste. 105 Boerne
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Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Cartwright, Brian & Velvin, Candace E. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 103, No. 42, Ed. 1 Tuesday, May 26, 2009, newspaper, May 26, 2009; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1667407/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.