Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 125, No. 73, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 20, 2007 Page: 4 of 20
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Polk County Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Livingston Municipal Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
V't,
: • ■ •■■ ■- ■ • ■ -: v .
—■
« i
OPINIONS
t&i v,
V>t>
v i’tx
jPAGE 4A
THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER tO, >0071
Humberto wreaks havoc
in three Texas counties
......... •■>.
» ■■■ ■:.«!. • ■
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry on
Sept. 13 declared Orange, Jefferson
and Galveston counties a disaster area
resulting from Hurricane Humberto.
Gov. Perry ordered state agency
and military resources and personnel
to the area before the storm hit. Relief
workers delivered generators, water
and ice to stricken areas.
Humberto took only 18 hours to
develop from a tropical depression
into a Category 1 hurricane with
sustained wind speeds in excess of 85
mph and heavy rains.
No tropical cyclone on record ever
reached the intensity of Humberto
at a faster rate near landfall, the
National Hurricane Center reported.
After striking Texas, the weather
system moved across Louisiana and
Mississippi and into Alabama.
Entergy Texas, a major power
provider in 26 counties including the
three in the disaster zone, reported
power outages to 118,019 customers.
Seventy-two hours after Humberto
struck the coast, Entergy said power
restoration to customers was almost
complete. A widely reported early
estimate of damages caused by
the hurricane came to about $500
million.
TheTexas Department of Insurance
surged - residents affected by the
, hurricane to call the consumer hotline.
I -800-252-3439 for answers to storm-
related insurance questions.
Border security council formed
Gov. Perry appointed 11 members
to the.newly created Texas Border
Security Council to serve at his
pleasure.
The council was created by Senate
Bill 11 of the 80th Legislature.
The council’s job will be to devise
performance standards, reporting
requirements, audit methods and other
procedures for homeland security
fund allocation and use.
Council members include the
presiding officer Cameron County
Judge Carlos Cascos of Brownville,
Brewster County Judge Val Clark
Beard, Hudspeth County Judge Becky
Dean-Walker, VictoriaCounty Sheriff
T. Michael O’Connor. Maverick
County Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera,
Secretary of State Phil Wilson, Texas
Commission on Environmental
Quality Commissioner Buddy Garcia
and Public Safety Commission
member Allan Polunsky.
Three private businessmen, Fred
Burton of Austi n, Scott A. MeLaughli n
of El Paso, and Robert Braxton Holt
of Midland, also were appointed to
the council by Perry.
T ‘Texans understand there can be
no homeland security without border
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
State „ Capital
HIGHLIGHTS
By Ed Sterling
security,” said Perry. “The members
of the Border Security Council will
play an important role in reinforcing
the state’s efforts to strengthen the
safety and security of Texas.”
More minorities take AP exams
The Texas Education Agency
reported minority students represented
.52 percent of all Advanced Placement
test takers in Texas in 2007.
Fifty percent of those who took the
test in 2006 identified themselves as
minorities. In 2002, the figure was 45
percent.
High school students who score
highly on AP exams can earn college
credit for courses, saving their
families thousands of dollars in
tuition costs*and giving students a
head start on a college education, the
TEA reported.
Wilson visits NYC for Texas
Texas’ new Secretary of State Phil
Wilson, on the job since July I, took
a trip east to drum up business for the
Lone Star State.
He had this to say: “During the
trip we visited the New York Stock
Exchange and discovered that Texas
has 216 companies worth $2.42
trillion that are publicly traded on the
exchange - the most of any state in the
nation.
“This is proof that the Lone Star
State truly is ‘wide open for business’
and has the potential to remain an
economic powerhouse for years to
come."
Wilson makes trips like this for
Texas One, an outreach program to
promote Texas as an attractive place
for businesses to relocate.
City dedicates Richards bridge
The city of Austin on Sept. 7
officially renamed and dedicated the
former Congress Avenue Bridge as
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue
Bridge. Richards served as governor
from 1991 to 1995. She died Sept. 13,
2006.
Nichols opposes converting existing roads into toll roads
| surlier this year, I wrote a
rH guest column describing
Jk-^Jthe problems surrounding
private equity toll projects as they
relate to Texas transportation policy.
Specifically, the column outlined how
partnering with private companies
could result in a transportation
monopoly.
During the 80th Legislative Session,
Texas lawmakers were able to avoid
this dangerous situation by placing a
nvo-year moratorium on private equity
toll projects. However, we now face an
even more dangerous transportation
scenario: forcing Texas taxpayers to
pay tolls on roads they have already
bought and paid for.
The Good
Utilizing lolls to build new roads, or
even to add lanes to current roads, is
an innovative strategy that allows our
infrastructure to keep pace with our
growing population and transportation
demand.
Current slate fuel taxes hardly cover
the cost of maintaining current roads,
much less building new ones, so a
justifiable need exists for loll projects.
There is a huge difference, however,
between using tolls to pay for new
projects and tolling hardworking Texas
taxpayers for roads they have already
purchased with their lax dollars.
-The Bad----
In 2005, legislators realized that
previous legislation had granted the
Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) the authorization to toll
existing roads - roads Texas taxpayers
have already built. At that lime, they
attempted to pass new legislation
banning the practice, but the bill died
in the House committee.
Therefore, legislators wishing to
protect taxpayers had to settle for a
compromise that would only allow
TxDOT to toll existing lanes with
the approval of local voters. In 2007,
I filed SB 1268 which would have
prohibited the conversion of existing
lanes to toll roads.
With the support of L.t. Governor
David Dewhurst. the bill passed the
Senate unanimously, but it again died
in the House committee. Because
legislation prohibiting the conversion
of existing lanes to toll roads continues
to die in House committee, the
compromise reached in 2005 continues
to serve as state policy.
This means members of a specific
community could vote to loll existing
roads coming into and out of their
community -tolls they will very rarely
have to pay unless they leave their
community, but that will obstruct the
free flow of commerce and put our state
at a competitive disadvantage toother
states in our region like Oklahoma,
New Mexico, and Louisiana.
The Ugly
As if the current situation is not bad
enough,TxDOT now wants toexpand
its authority to toll existing interstate
highways by “buying” them from
the federal government so they can
convert them to toll roads.
That’s right, TXDOT wants to use
Texas taxpayer dollars to purchase
federal highways that Texas taxpayers
paid to build and then charge Texans
a toll to continue driving on them.
According to my calculation, this
equals triple taxation.
Thankfully, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey
Hutchison passed an amendment
placing a one-year moratorium on
TxDOT’s ability to enact this plan, but
we are not out of danger yet.
Hutchison's amendment must
survive a conference committee
where numerous parties will try to
remove it from the legislation before
it becomes law.
The Solution
As we have in so many other
circumstances, it is time for Texas
citizens loitep up and demand this
unfair powey be stopped. Please
contact your representatives in
Washington, DC and ask them to
support Hutchison's amendment, and
when the state legislature re-conycncs
in January 2009,1 will work with other
members to permanently end this
unfair policy statewide.
Senator Robert "Nichols represents
Texas Senate District 3. He is a
retired engineer and former Texas
Transportation Commissioner.
Contact mt
If
rsoresentitivei
IT S. Sen. John Cnrayn;
Washington, D.C. 20510.
202/224-2934,:
FAX: 202-228-2856
IDS: Wfcav Halley
Hutchison
Room 284, Russell Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C-2Q510
.....202/224-5922
FAX: 202/224-0776
senator@hutchison.seAate.gov
ll-S; Hep K>vin Bmdv
428 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-4901
FAX: 202/225-5524
Sen. RnhertMIchnls:
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station - > . .V
Austin. TX 78711
512/463-0103
or 4100 S. Medford Dr.
Lufkin, TX 936/699-4988
State Rep. John Otto:
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
512/463-0570
*br^Da NrJacksdn. ,
Livingston. TX.77351
936/328-5222
FAX 936/328-5221
Polk County
ENTERPRISE
ALVIN HOLLEY, PUBLISHER
Ctutti p«i»» ~j
I ASSOCIATION I
Telephone Number 936-327-4357
Fax: 936-327-7156
Ttaxas
(USPS 437-340)
pRi»s"I
IATIOM
WlNNF.lt I
* ♦
WEBSITE: www.EastTexasNews.com
- * E-MAIL: polknews@livingston.net
Texas 77351 under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1987. Entered as
Periodical Matter at the Post Office at Livingston, Texas.
F.mToni ai. nr pa htmfnt
Valeric Reddell ............................
VanThomas .......................
Vicki Coker.................................
Greg Peak
Gordon LeBarron
James E Baugh
...............Editor ...............................................................Ext. 102
...............Sports I-.ditor ....................................................Ext. 107
...............Living Section Editor.........................................Ext. 104
Area News Editor ...................................Ext. 106
......Photographer
Reporter ....................................Ext. 105
pnnniKTiON dkpakimkv i
Paul Holley...................................Cameras/Ptateinaking......................................Ext. 119
Don Holeman ............................Cameras'Plateinaking .....................................Ext. 119
Adrian Dunn...............Pressman...........................................................Ext. 120
Lee Torres................................Mailroom/Circulation ......................................Ext. 120
COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT
Jennifer Kingsbury.......................Supervisor......................... Ext. 118
Nancy Hatchett..........................GraphicG ypeset.......................... Ext. 118
ADVERTISING DFPARTVIKNT
Ad Manager ........................................Ext. 117
Ad Rep Ext. 112
Ad. Rep.........................................................Ext. 110
Ad Rep..................................................Ext. 113
Manager....................................................Ext. 109
Ad Rep ............................................................Ext. 108
Linda Holley ..............................
Kay Loy Schrimther
Keitha Swann..............................
Milton Prnzak
CLASSIFIED DK.PAU IWM
Linda Jacobi...............................
Patty Hankerd........................
mtSINFSS DKPAUTMI \ I
Georgia Bailey .......................
Barbara Wilson...........................
Jennifer Tomlmaon.
Lynn Brown...............................
PRINTING DEPARTMENT
Jennifer Birdwell...........................Supervisor........................................................Ext. 114
Jcatica Martin...........................................................................................................Ext. 121
■Manager............................................................Ext. 115
Accounts Receivable Ext. 116
Circulation/Subscription...................................Ext. 105
Receptionist......................................................Ext. 100
I ■ i damaged misvinu paper or to n-port a bntkm Mining mac him callc\t 105
!,x.
SfigT
OHM '
TWneI
nefiu- QJ,
4U-THE. TIME!
I qOEss
TUEWrr
OV0L..
i
LETTER TOM
THE EDITORiiSI
• VLkf
SUBSCRIPTION RATES — $20.00 per year tax included in county: $22.00 per year out
of county: $24.00 per year out of state Published semi-weekly, Sunday and Thursday at 100
Calhoun in Livingston. Texas by the Polk County Publishing Co.
Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing or reputation of any person, firm or
corporation which may appear in this new spaper will be gladly corrected upon being brought
to the attention of the publisher
Opinions expressed in columns are those of the writer and not neccessarily those of this
newspaper
Opinions expressed in editorial are those of the Enterprise.
POSTMASTER- Periodica
PO. Box 1276. Livingston.
—r--•
pinions expressed in editorial are those of the Enterprise.
JSTMASTER: Periodical postage paid at Livingston. TX. Please send address changes to
J Box 1276. Livingston. I was 77351.
Letters to the Editor Policy
The Polk County Enterprise encourages readers to submit letters
expressing their views and opinions. The letters will be published in
the Enterprise's “Letters to the editor" column on Thursday or Sun-
day.
The letters may be written on any subject or issue of general inter-
est.
Letters must be accompanied by a name and mailing address and
will be subject to editing for grammar, punctuation, spelling and
length.
Letters must include a telephone number for verification. Wc will
not publish the telephone number.
Readers should keep their letters brief and to the point. Each letter
should contain no more than 650 words. Letters exceeding that length
will be subject to editing or withheld from publication. Letters will
also be subject to editing for libelous statements and commercialism.
This column is not meant as a forum for political candidates, al-
though wc welcome comments from the public concerning campaign
issues. During election campaigns, we will not allow reference to spe-
cific local candidates. .
Letters may be submitted in person: mailed to “Letters to the edi-
tor,” Polk County Enterprise, P.O. Box 1276, Livingston, TX 77351;
sent by fax to (936) 327-7156 or sent via e-mail to polknews@gmail.
com. I
Deadline for letters is 5 p.m. Tuesday for Thursday’s newspaper and
noon Friday for Sunday’s newspaper.
Lion stadium too
small for Lion fans
To our Livingston Community...
We have to stand together as a city/
county and do what needs to be done
to provide our community with a new
stad i u m. A R LA L stadi urn that is.able
to host the event that is being offered.
A stadium where there is actually
parking! (I realize when this stadium
was built that parking wasn’t an issue
since there were no cars.)
I would also like to add that I am
using the word “stadium” loosely
to describe our present facility. A
stadium should have proper parking,
concessions, bathrooms, scaling and
a field house for players. What we
have is a track and field.
. ’ •lJ, • ; .
crowded. It is embarrassing that the
"visitors” drive front New Caney only
to park five blocks away or more and
find that the stadium is “full” and not
allowed in. ■ ,VL
I heard a New CanCy mom say
that if you do not have the facility to
host this event then don’t! Then she
said “Don’t get me started about the
parking or lack there of!”
We need a stadium or sports
complex that pur whole community
could use — all schools, all school
sports — and someth!ng our town can
be proud of. 7
The whole town would benefit
from a new stadium just as the town
benifits from the use of Pedigo Park
and Matthews Park which were both
Nit for the community. Many school
districts build one very nice stadium
for the different schools in the eotioty
or district to share. This aHwijiqii
to optimize the most money to build
the facility and to get the most use
out of it.
When are we going to do something
as a community to truly support our
Livingston Lions and our schools?
I almost wonder if our community
think* that our Lions could not win
district or state because that's What
this stadium is saying. This stadium is
much needed and would let otgryourtl
know that we expect great things from
them. How about wc Nld a stadium
that says "WE BELIEVE IN YOU"
and give them something to Ml! IF
WE BUILD IT, I BET WE COULD
FILL IT! Instead of "saying" we
•upport our Lions let’s SHOW them
we do. If you agree, please jet jour
voice be heard.
.M:.,
Friday night was “Homecoming"
which one would think that it would be
an open invitation for the “hometown"
to come support our team, right? Not
at all, sadly.
If you did not already have a
"reserved seat ticket” you were not
allowed entrance. It did not matter
if you had a son on the field.or a
daughter in the band, at 7:30 the
general admissions were turned away
because the stadium’s capacity won
reached. If you did not have enough
pre-boughl tickets for your family
and needed to buy an extra one at the
door then too bad. The one without
a ticket was turned away. (Which is
what happened in our case.)
The faculty and staff handled the
situation in a professional manner.
It’s not their fault, but it's all of our
problem.
I can almost understand that this
little pathetic stadium could not handle
our crowd since it was homecoming
but the “visitors” side was just as
Lori Stewart >
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.
Reddell, Valerie. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 125, No. 73, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 20, 2007, newspaper, September 20, 2007; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth788221/m1/4/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.