Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 44, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 2, 2014 Page: 4 of 14
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Seminole Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Gaines County Library.
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Page 4A
Seminole (Texas) Sentinel • Sunday, March 2,2014
Editorial
Mailing Address: P.O. Drawer 1200, Seminole, TX 79360 • Email: news@seminolesentinel.com • Web Site: www.seminolesentinel.com • Phone:(432)758-3667 • Fax:(432)758-2136
Making a Difference
Paper 'n Ink:
ivritin' and remembering...
By Lynn Brisendine
So, it's March 2nd. What's the big deal?
Well, if you were in school in the state of Texas attending
the seventh grade, you know what the big deal truly is. It's Texas
Independence Day, of course.
I was thinking one day recently, trying to remember some of
the people who taught me various subjects so long ago. It is an
exercise we read or hear about often. That of someone pointing
out that special teacher who made such a big difference in their
lives.
Try as I might, I can recall only a few of those folks who put
up with me all those years ago. I suppose my favorite, and I
consider her my top teacher of all time, was Miss Ethel Womble
in the fifth grade. She, well over a half a century ago, told me on
several occasions that I must become a writer. And she pushed
me to try harder to make sense of placing English on paper.
Too many times, I have cringed after trying to put proper words
together, eyeing my finished piece and wondering what Miss
Womble would think of the composition and grade the grammar
of the attempt. I gave it my best shot, but I can't remember ever
entirely pleasing her critical eye. A challenge which continues
for me to this day. Miss Womble came from a Texas pioneering
family.
Another woman who stretched my mind and made an im-
pression lasting for decades was my Texas History teacher, Mrs.
Mildred Ramey. She was Texan with every breath, and many of
them were uttered teaching me about her favorite subject, Texas.
In Texas, every seventh grader is required to take the course
which relates the rich and varied history of the Lone Star State.
I don't know for sure, but not many, if any, other states have
classes dedicated to their state's story. And perhaps it is because
not many others would have the dramatic and compelling tale to
tell.
By Gina Kelly Ellis
What do you consider the greatest
threat to our country? Recently, we have
heard that the government wants to cut our
military to its lowest numbers since before
World War II. That is a questionable call, at
best, but that is not the greatest threat. Other
countries are developing more and more so-
phisticated weaponry. That is scary, but, still
not the biggest threat. Our national debt is
an astronomical number! Again, staggering
and yet still not the greatest threat. So what
do I consider the greatest threat? I think I
am in pretty good company when I say that
we are the greatest threat to our country
and our way of life! We, as Christians are
the greatest threat to our nation being what
God has in mind for us to be. Christians who
seem to be Christians in name only and not
in deed or action are allowing our nation to
slide further and further away from where
we are supposed to be. That is probably a
little more doom and gloom than I normally
write and it is probably a little more harsh
than I usually like to be, but, 1 believe the
time has come to do something.
There is a Christian song that I listen
to called “Do Something.” In the song,
the singer talks about all the horrible things
going on in our world and he stands and
shakes his fist toward heaven and asks
God, “Why don’t You do something!?” And
God responds to this question calmly and
quietly. “I did do something. I created you.”
Wow! I love that. We learn early in Sunday
School that we are God’s hands and feet.
Somewhere along the way, however, we
have become content to sit on our hands
and ask God, like the singer in this song,
why He doesn’t do something.
The answer is simple. If you see a need,
meet it. If you see someone hungry, feed
them. If you see someone who needs Jesus,
share Him. When you see a need, don’t
form a study committee or call your group
together to pray. Instead, do something.
Our world. Our country. Our town is on a
downhill slide. Our church parking lots are
empty. Our Bibles are dusty. Our hearts are
hard. The other side of this is that our God
is still God. He still hears our prayers and
He still has a plan. All He asks is that we do
something!
You’ve got a brand new week ahead
of you. What are you going to do with it? If
that is too overwhelming for you, then just
think about today. What are you going to do
today that will be a step in the right direction
for you and your family? For your family
and your community? For your community
and your nation? It all starts when you stand
up and say, “If not me, then who?” and do
something!
It will make a difference.
Pro Rodeo clown Kajun Kidd in my hometown
Texas Journalist...by Willis Webb
When you grow up in
1940s-1950s Texas in a rural
area or small town, chances
are rodeo will be one of your
favorite sports.
Since my father started out
as a rancher and then was a
buyer for a meat packing plant
the rest of his life, rodeo was part
of our lives.
Up until my early teens, I
regularly rode horses. We lived
less than 100 yards from the city
park which contained a softball
field, a couple of Little League
baseball fields, a pavilion, play-
ground equipment and a rodeo
arena.
Once, I decided d try my
hand in the July 4 rodeo at riding
a saddle bronc (more to hang
onto, I thought). After all, Dad
was going to ride a bareback
bronc. I knew he really wanted
me to follow him in the cattle
business although he never said
anything, because I think he
knew in his heart I wasn’t going
to do that. He entered in the
July 4 rodeo, so I decided my
entry might appease him.
My event came before
Dad’s. At any rate, 1 made it,
oh, maybe a jump and a hiccup
out of the chute before being
dumped on my keister. My foot-
ball training came in handy and I
bounced up and ran toward the
fence just in time to be bumped
into it by the bucking horse's
right hindquarter. Hurt like hell!
I had a couple of sizable
bruises and plenty of soreness
the next day but my dignity was
really hurt.
I retreated into the pen
area, behind the public address
announcer’s stand, to hide my
embarrassment and to await
Dad’s event. He lasted maybe
five seconds into a qualifying
eight-second ride. Upon hitting
the dirt, he rolled over on his
stomach to get up and when
he did, the horse’s hoof grazed
his head.
Well, even slight head
wounds bleed profusely. He
was a bit dazed, but had the
presence of mind to get up and
head for cover. As he staggered
up in front of me, I’m goggle-
eyed and my mouth’s agape, he
stopped and said, “I’ll give it up if
you will. ” My reply was quick,
“Don’t have to ask me twice.”
Teague’s July 4 rodeo at-
tracted a lot of good amateur
talent and there were one or two
pretty fair bull riders in town.
The home favorite was a dimin-
utive sort, the kind that always
seems to be most successful at it,
Billy Wills. He seemed headed
for the pro ranks and big prize
money, but he was thrown and
gored in the hip by a bull, ending
his career.
One regular pro at the July
4 rodeo was the clown.
When I returned to Teague
after two years of college to edit
the newspaper, a new resident
came to town — pro rodeo
clown The Kajun Kidd. Obvi-
ously, D.J. Gaudin (pronounced
Go-dan) was from Louisiana
and he was very good.
For years, Gaudin made
the small town rodeo circuit
and occasionally a big one. He
was invited and appeared at the
Houston Livestock Show and
Rodeo several times.
Of course, he had the
Teague crowd in the palm of his
hand and at some point retired,
but not before his son inherited
his barrel and became the new
Kajun Kidd.
I followed rodeo for a few
years and attended the famous
Huntsville Prison Rodeo where
inmates performed. It was a wild
show. If a performer suffered an
injury, say a broken arm, he got
out of working in the fields at the
prison farms. So, convict rodeo-
ers always put on a great show.
But, after a couple of Hous-
ton Livestock Show Rodeos, I
lost interest although I did shoot
queen pictures at local rodeos
wherever I was publishing for
several years after that.
Would I go now?
Don’t ask.
Willis Webb is a retired com-
munity newspaper editor-publisher
of more than 50 years experience.
He can be reached by email at
wwebbl937@att.net.
Six flags have flown over this hunk of land you and I are so
lucky to live upon. Every one of these nations left their mark on
what would become of a land which stretches from the sandy
shores of the Gulf of Mexico to the rocky tops of high peaks in
the Big Bend. The climates of this place are just as varied, as are
the landscapes. To the east, tall pines cover an immense space
blocking the sky. Hundreds of miles west sees the iconic Llano
Estacado, the Staked Plains, where prairie grasses once stretched
for thousands of square miles. Crop land has replaced much of
this natural fauna, however the sky continues to dominate, offer-
ing a special sense of freedom.
The state is presently home to over 20 million people and
sees hundreds of newcomers every day. It wasn't always so
populated. This from the net..."The total population on the eve
of the Texas revolution, in 1835, was about 35,000 people.
During the 19th century there were streams of migration into
Texas. Between 1821 and 1836 an estimated 38,000 settlers, on
promise of 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) per family for small fees,
trekked from the United States into the territory."
These were pioneers who sought land and, even more pre-
cious to them, their freedoms. A revolution ensued and began on
March 2, 1836.
A few days before the independence document was signed at
Washington on the Brazos, less than 200 Texas patriots took ref-
uge in an old Spanish mission in San Antonio. The Alamo would
fall, after a 13 day siege, to a Mexican army. It was an epic battle
which saw the badly outnumbered Texans do significant damage
to a standing army of thousands. No Texan survived.
The fight for independence, as far as I know the only state
which underwent such a struggle, won that independence a few
months later on April 21, 1836. General Sam Houston's army
took the Mexicans by surprise at San Jacinto, defeated them
soundly, and forced terms. A new nation was built, again the
only current state which once was a country of its own. In 1845,
Texas became a part of the United States.
Of course, the story is much too complicated to be recalled in
a manner to both educate and celebrate in this small space.
Still, the writer of this item is a proud product of Texas
women who passed on both their knowledge of and, even more
importantly, their love of Texas.
The second of March is the perfect time to reflect on the ap-
preciation of being Texan and knowing these great women.
Letter to the Editor
Are your taxes too high? Mine are. The reason
is th"The Compassion of Seminole Shown Through
Social Media"
Dear Sentinel:
I am a former resident of Seminole, now living
in Amarillo. On Sunday, February 16th, my cousin
Joshua Don Beasley, also a former Seminole resident,
passed away unexpectedly following a brief illness.
Our family was stunned and at a loss. And, unfor-
tunately, my cousin had no burial or life insurance.
When it comes to social media such as Twitter
or Facebook, I'm one of those who pokes fun and
criticizes it, but that doesn't stop me from using it to
no end. Before last week, my general view of Face-
book was, in a nutshell: "a place to stalk your former
classmates and post pictures of your breakfast." But
that was changed dramatically when, as a last effort
to find help for my cousin's funeral expenses, I posted
on Facebook the information concerning a donation
fund which had been set up by Boyer Funeral Home.
Numerous friends shared the post, and in just a few
short hours, I received word that all of the funeral and
burial expenses had been paid for.
My family and I are absolutely moved and
indebted to all of the individuals, churches, and
business who shared the post, donated to the fund,
and helped us lay my cousin to rest. We'd also like
to thank South Seminole Baptist Church and Boyer
Funeral Home for their patience and generosity.
My perception of social media has gone from
some lifeless way to pry into one another's business
to a medium through which the mercy and love
God instills in us can shine.
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the
law of Christ." -Galatians 6:2
Sincerely,
Bud Sturguess
Thanks for
reading the
Seminole Sentinel and
seminolesentinel
online.com
Self-Employed? Don’t Forget These Tax-Filing Tips
By Jason Alderman
Calculating income taxes
is a royal pain, even when your
situation is uncomplicated enough
that you can file a 1040EZ Form.
And if you're self-employed, be
prepared for extra layers of com-
plexity. Not only must you file
an annual return with numerous
additional forms and schedules,
you're also responsible for paying
quarterly estimated taxes, which
can mean having to write a pretty
hefty check while waiting for your
clients to pay their overdue bills.
Add in that you're also re-
sponsible for funding your own
health insurance and retirement
and you may start to miss having
an employer manage a portion of
your financial affairs. (Although
many people go into business for
themselves precisely to call their
own shots.)
Here are a few things to
remember when calculating your
2013 taxes:
First, some potentially good
news for taxpayers who claim a
home office deduction: You now
may choose between the tradi-
tional method of calculating the
business use of your home (which
involves numerous calculations,
filling out the onerous IRS Form
8829 and maintaining back-up
records for years) and a new sim-
plified option.
Under the new, so-called
"safe harbor" method, you can
simply claim a standard deduction
of $5 per square foot for the por-
tion of your home used regularly
and exclusively for business, up to
a maximum of 300 square feet - a
$1,500 limit.
Contrast that with the tradi-
tional method where you must
calculate actual expenses of your
home office expressed as a per-
centage of the square footage
your home office consumes. For
example, if your office takes up
12 percent of your house, you
can deduct 12 percent of your
electricity bill.
A few additional details:
• You can choose either
method from year to year; howev-
er, once you've elected a method
for a given tax year it's irrevocable.
• Under the safe-harbor
method you cannot depreciate
the portion of your home used
for business in that particular year.
• With the new method you
can still claim allowable mort-
gage interest, real estate taxes
and insurance losses as item-
ized deductions on Schedule A.
These deductions don't have to
be allocated between personal
and business use, as under the
traditional method.
You'll need to weigh whether
the recordkeeping hours you save
justify the potentially smaller de-
duction - especially if you have a
large home office or considerable
deductions. Suggestion: Look at
last year's deduction and compare
what it would have been using the
$5 per square foot calculation,
factoring in time spent doing the
math.
A few other self-employ-
ment tax-filing considerations:
• In addition to the home
office deduction, you generally
can deduct many other business-
related expenses, including: legal
and accounting fees; professional
dues and subscriptions; business
insurance and licenses; profes-
sional training and education;
professional equipment and soft-
ware; maintenance/repairs; and
business-related mileage, travel
and entertainment.
• You can also deduct the
full cost of medical, dental, vision
and long-term care insurance
premiums for you, your spouse
and dependents, even if you don't
itemize deductions.
Bottom line: Income taxes
are often more complicated for
self-employed people and good
recordkeeping is essential. Unless
you're an accounting whiz, con-
sider hiring a tax professional or
financial planner who specializes
in self-employment issues.
Jason Alderman directs Visa's
financial education programs. To partici-
pate in a free, online Financial Literacy
and Education Summit on April 2, 2014,
go to www.practicalmoneyskills.com/
summit2014.
Your News Leader, the Seminole Sentinel
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Wright, Dustin. Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 44, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 2, 2014, newspaper, March 2, 2014; Seminole, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth786735/m1/4/?q=%22Places+-+United+States+-+Texas+-+Gaines+County+-+Seminole%22: accessed July 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Gaines County Library.