Copperas Cove Leader-Press (Copperas Cove, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 86, Ed. 1 Tuesday, July 31, 2012 Page: 4 of 10
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
RnotoDawg
WolographytQlM
L hmMMMM
Fund to
generate $ 1.7B
for schools:
but not yet
AUSTIN — In 2011, the
Texas Legislature cut $4 billion
from the public school budget for
2012-2013, and school districts
across the state are still adjusting
to the loss of funding.
But there is a plan in place to
pump about $1.7 billion into the
budget for Texas public schools
over the next biennium.
According to the Texas Educa-
tion Agency, the State Board of
Education
on July 20
approved
a percent-
age distri-
bution of
the Per-
manent
School
Fund of
3.3 per-
cent for
fiscal
years
2014 and
2015.
This, offi-
cials ex-
pect,
should
produce a
payout of about $830 million each
year. The funding is used to pay
for instructional materials and
general education expenses for the
state’s public school students.
The $25 billion Permanent
School Fund is the second-largest
educational endowment in the
country, behind only Harvard’s en-
dowment.
In other news, the Texas Edu-
cation Agency announced The
Foundation School Program’s new
automated bond application pro-
gram won a Best of Texas award
from the national Center for Digi-
tal Government for “best informa-
tion technology collaboration
among organizations.”
The program automates com-
ponents of the funding system fi-
nancing almost $1 billion annually
for school district construction
projects, the Texas Education
Agency reported, adding that “the
improved system now provides
prompt, accurate payments, im-
proved reporting to school dis-
tricts, on-demand ledger access
and a detailed audit trail.”
New policy restricts lobbying
Texas Railroad Commission,
the three-member state agency that
regulates the oil, gas, mining and
pipeline industries in Texas, on Ju-
ly 17 announced the adoption of a
new policy that restricts lobbying.
Under the policy, for two
years after a commissioner or ex-
ecutive director leaves the agency,
he or she may not appear before
the commission or otherwise com-
municate with current commis-
sioners, agency officers or em-
ployees with the intent to influ-
ence agency action on behalf of
any person and in connection with
any matter.
“This policy should leave no
doubt among our staff, the indus-
tries we regulate, and the general
public that the Railroad Commis-
sion is complying with both the
letter and the spirit of the Texas
Revolving Door Statute,” agency
Chairman Barry Smitherman said.
“Adopting this policy is an impor-
tant step to maintaining the public
trust.”
Commissioner Buddy Garcia
joined Smitherman in voting for
the policy. The Railroad Commis-
sion news release did not mention
the agency’s third commissioner,
David Porter.
Early voting was last week
Early voting in the 2012 Pri-
mary Runoff Elections was con-
ducted July 23 through July 27.
Secretary of State Esperanza
“Hope” Andrade, the state’s chief
elections officer, notified Texans
that Tuesday, July 31, is the day
for regular voting in the runoffs.
Care clinics held in Valley
Operation Lone Star, the annu-
al effort to provide free medical
care to people in South Texas was
conducted July 23 through July
See HIGHLIGHTS, Page 5
Ed Sterling
Capital
Highlights
Lynette
Sowell
My front
porch
Nowhere to go but down
I became an Olympics junkie when
I was nine years old. I blame my father
for that, and the 76 winter Olympics
from Austria when we sat around watch-
ing coverage of the best in the world.
Dad explained to me about the tra-
dition of the Olympics and how the an-
cient and modem events had their be-
ginnings. I was completely fascinated
with watching those who were top ath-
letes in their countries competing
against each other and winning those
coveted medals, especially gold.
Of course, being U.S. fans we've
had plenty of chances to cheer over the
years. I vividly remember the 1984 U.S.
Hockey team who at the height of the
cold war, beat the Soviet Union. All
they were was a bunch of college hock-
ey boys against the elite of another
country who was our sworn “enemy”
off the ice at the time. “Do you believe
in miracles?” was what the commentator
shrieked at the winning goal.
Do you remember Nadia, the petite
gymnast who showed the world what
perfection meant? And the track stars,
too many to name, whose feet surely
sprouted wings as they raced the track.
During the winter Olympics, if
you're like me you're a fan of the ice
skating. How do they manage to lift,
jump, and fly without killing themselves
or each other? I have my own skating
memories of a bmised butt and soggy
pride after trying to mimic a jump on a
frozen pond. Over the years, the skaters
jump higher and farther and spin with
more rotations and make the champions
of decades past look like amateurs.
Then there's the current golden boy
of the last several Olympics, Michael
Phelps. To be that decorated for so long
makes the guy clearly a one-man swim-
ming dynasty. However, I think he's
learning a truth that we all have to face.
It doesn't matter how fast we are,
how strong we are, how good we are,
eventually there's going to be someone
who can take our place. What happens
away from the pool will last a lot longer
than those few minutes of glory.
See PORCH, Page 5
‘ Stuff’ is something guys just have to have
While I was sitting at my desk
the other day, obviously just staring
into space, LifeMate asked: “What
are you doing?”
“Thinking.”
“Thinking about what?”
“Stuff.”
“STUFF! What kind of stuff?”
“You know. Stuff. Like what
kind of stuff I might want to write
about. Stuff I want to be sure I pack
for the move (we may be moved by
the time you read this, we’re down-
sizing). Just stuff. Sometime I like to
think about a lot of different stuff.”
“Hmmph! If that’s all you have
to do is think about stuff, then you
can help me pack.”
“Yeah, but what if I don’t come
up with enough ‘stuff’ to write some
columns about and, you know, that’s how I earn
a living...writing about ‘stuff’.”
“You’re supposed to be an educated man, a
writer. You mean to tell me you
can’t think of a better description of
what’s running through your mind
than ‘stuff!”
I decided not to try to explain
any further about stuff to LifeMate.
Only guys understand stuff. Guys
have to have stuff. We NEED stuff.
Having STUFF consumes us.
I had to be sure the new place
had a storage shed (outbuilding) be-
fore I signed the papers because I
knew I couldn’t keep my stuff in the
house. Stuff guys desire, need for
various functions and MUST hang
onto just won’t fit in a house. Oh,
stuff would fit maybe but no self-re-
specting woman would live with
stuff in her house.
Oh, LifeMate insists we keep a
few screwdrivers, a pair of pliers and a small
hammer in the house, along with a yardstick, but
no conglomeration of tools that just MIGHT
wind up being spread on HER granite counter-
tops. Really, she’s pretty good with tool STUFF
but don’t tell her I said that. Can’t have her
wearing a tool belt and spiffin’.
Actually, fixin’ stuff is not my thing. Psy-
chiatrists and psychologists will tell you that we
sensitive, creative types aren’t prone to tools,
machines and such. I agree up to a point. I mean
I understand my tools — a computer, camera,
copier, printing press. You know, the usual stuff
it takes to publish the printed word. Just don’t
ask me to fix one of those devices. When I said
mechanical, I told you all I know about the
workings of such stuff.
However, LifeMate can be both creative and
mechanical. The mechanical came from her
mother. She could fix just about anything. I
wouldn’t have bet against her doing a car motor
overhaul. She certainly had all the necessary
tools.
Now, don’t ask me from whence LifeMate’s
See WEBB, Page 5
Willis Webb
Webb’s
Threads
Copperas Cove Leader-Press
(254) 547-4207 Fax 542-3299
email: news@coveleaderpress.com
web site: www.coveleaderpress.com
Publisher: Larry Hauk
Graphic artist: Travis Martin
Office manager: Sandra Angulo
Distribution: Alex Perez
Staff writer: Kyle Herrera
Associate Publisher: Joyce Hauk
Staff writer: Lynette Sowell
Photographer: Dennis Knowlton
Advertising: Linda Goode
Advertising: Kimberly Cables
Sports editor: David Morris
PO. Box 370 • 2210 East Highway 190 Suite 1* Copperas Cove, TX 76522
The Copperas Cove Leader-Press (USPS563-620) is published twice each week on Tuesday and Friday for $36 per year in
Coryell County, $45 per year in Bell, Lampasas, Burnet, Hamilton and McClennan Counties, $75 for the rest of Texas and
$85 in the United States at 2210 East Highway 190 Suite 1, Copperas Cove, TX 76522. Second class postage paid at Cop-
peras Cove, TX 76522. POSTMASTER:Send address changes to the Copperas Cove Leader-Press, P.O. Box 370, Copperas
Cove, TX 76522-0370. Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing or reputation of any person, firm or corpora-
tion, which may occur in the columns of the Copperas Cove Leader-Press, will be gladly corrected upon being brought to
the attention of the publisher or editor. The publisher is not responsible for copy omissions or typographical errors which
may occur other than to correct them in the nearest issue after it is brought to the attention and in no case does the pub-
lisher hold himself liable for damages further than the amount received by him for actual space covering the error.
Copyright ©2012 The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted by the Copperas Cove Leader-Press and Copperas
Cove Newspapers, Inc. No material may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the publisher.
Want To
Write?
The Copperas Cove
Leader-Press welcomes let-
ters to the editor.
Letters may be edited
for style and grammar,
and must be signed and
include a phone number
for verification.
Send your letter to Let-
ter to the Editor, Cop-
peras Cove Leader-Press,
P.O. Box 370, Copperas
Cove, Texas 76522, or
drop it by 2210 East High-
way 190 Suite 1, Cop-
peras Cove. Letters may
also be e-mailed to
news@
coveleaderpress.com
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Copperas Cove Leader-Press (Copperas Cove, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 86, Ed. 1 Tuesday, July 31, 2012, newspaper, July 31, 2012; Copperas Cove, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth627410/m1/4/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .