Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 9, 2006 Page: 4 of 20
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EDITORIAL
THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9,2006
Letters to the editor
State Capital Highlights
Border initiative boosted
May be 'silent majority'
Practiced what she preached
T» the editor:
“Mixed drink sales tax revenue
rising” and “Don’t get me
started”... The Enterprise was fair
and balanced when they put these
two articles together in the Feb. 5
issue. No doubt, Mr. Squyers, in
the second article, has a lot in info
and statistics we all need to know.
Does money in our coffers mean so
much to us that we ignore the cost
to our teens and our family struc-
tures that liquor by the drink would
.mean?
' The arguments for a “wet”
county that most put forth are for
the sales tax revenue and the as-
sumed benefit that there will be less
accidents on 190 West and Hwy.
59 because the drivers will be buy-
ing the alcohol in Polk County...
closer to home. .. I’d like to see
statistics from Onalaska before and
after it went “wet” to see what was
the change in alcohol-related acci-
dents. How about alcohol-related
domestic violence? Did it change?
I am saddened that the lust for
money brings so many to the polls
to lower the quality of life for all of
us while those who like to drink
benefit by convenience and those
that like to sell it get to benefit
from the sales. Making alcohol
easily available does a whole lot of
damage statistics won’t even cover
- damage to the fabric of our soci-
ety.
I’d like to see Polk County be the
only "dry” county around, rather
than us following the pack to please
the coffers. I’d like to see Polk
County have the courage to be dif-
ferent at the cost of more revenue.
I’d like Polk County to remember
why it is “dry” in the first place,
and stay that way. It’s a nice place
to live, and to me it seems some-
what safer by the fact that there
aren’t liquor stores at every comer,
like there are in Houston.
I know I’m in the minority on
this issue. But I hope the minority
turns out to be the “silent majority”
that just hasn’t spoken yet.
To the editor:
Last week, thousands of mourn-
ers waited for hours in freezing rain
at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist
Church and the state capitol ro-
tunda to pay their respects to the
"first lady of the civil rights move-
ment," Coretta Scott King, who
died on Jan. 30. President Bush and
former President Clinton led the list
of dignitaries at memorial services.
Coretta Scott King was much
more than a devoted wife and part-
ner of the celebrated civil rights
leader. She traveled throughout the
globe on behalf of peace and non-
violence, racial and economic jus-
tice, minority rights, religious free-
dom, the poor and homeless, edu-
cational opportunities, nuclear dis-
armament, and ecological sanity.
She helped found dozens of or-
ganizations advocating social jus-
tice, received honorary doctorates
from over 60 colleges and univer-
sities, and authored three books and
a nationally-syndicated column.
Coretta Scott King was also a
vegan, who eschewed all products
of animal suffering, including meat,
dairy, eggs, leather, and cosmetics
containing animal ingredients or
tested on animals. Her strong belief
in peace and nonviolence extended
to the violence perpetrated against
billions of innocent, sentient ani-
mals in America's factory farms
and slaughterhouses.
Her passion for justice extended
to the most downtrodden living
beings on the planet — the animals
bred, abused, and killed for food,
fur, research and entertainment.
Coretta Scott King truly prac-
ticed what she preached. And for
that, I salute her.
Marianne Chalmers
Livingston
FAIR Act vital
Elaine Barber
Livingston
To the editor:
A simple faith
To the editor:
I
J
; Your letter writer, Ms. Ashley,
> seems so mixed up about Christian-
; ity. We Christians accept the New
I Testament first because it explains
I the Old. We believe that the Crea-
; tor made all the stuff on earth. Even
; the stuff we humans invented was
made from stuff that was already
■ here! The long ago pagans held
; back this truth about God: like the
t primitive man who finds a wrist-
j watch or clock and knows that this
• invented object had a creator. The
‘ pagans knew about God because of
the created stuff, and they chose
not to accept him as creator. In-
stead they worshipped the creation.
This did not please God - then or
now. (Romans 1:18)
So, God gave them over to their
own thoughts. I guess that even
God gets fed up every once in a
while. Though he does have re-
sources to fix people - make them
into full-sized (on the inside) ma-
huinans. Even contrary and
willful people can become right
with God. God chose to send a su-
pernatural being, Jesus, to be our
way back to God. It was God’s free
gift to us that “whosoever will...”
can receive reconciliation with
God. Some people think that Chris-
tianity is a killjoy religion because
they associate it with old so-and-so
who offended them, or gave them a
list of “do nots.”
Really, Christianity is very sim-
ple. It’s just this: God loves you.
You are a sinner and need to repent
(tum around). You can’t repent by
yourself; you’ve been measuring
your thoughts and actions by other
people. Like most of us, you think
you’ve come out looking pretty
good compared to old so-and-so.
Yet, repentance is different. It's
something you are given from God,
who intervenes, or steps (usually
invisibly) into your life at the point
where you’ve begun to think about
this. Repentance shows you that
you are lost, and you can't do any-
thing to help yourself. “Lost” is an
understanding of what your condi-
tion is before God; a recognition of
your messed-up life; a certainty
that there is a God who is as real as
you are; and you throw yourself on
the mercy of the court.
Romans teaches that the laws of
God are our schoolmaster: “I was
alive without the law once; but
when the commandment came, sin
revived and I died.” (Romans 7:9)
He knew he was lost. This gift of
repentance causes us to surrender
Self and accept Jesus as the Savior,
who gave us life that we might be
reconciled with God. This accep-
tance of Jesus frees us to live here
on earth as sort of ambassadors for
Christ (Some of us do not live up
to these expectations, as you’ve
certainly noticed; but nevertheless,
God sees us as cleaned up, as if
we’ve never sinned). This is basi-
| caliy what Christians mean by
! "saved." That’s why the gospel
' means “good news."
The message of the gospel is
simple; too good to be true to some
people. They think, what do / need
to do? Or yeah! Christ plus what?
Or sometimes: I’m the worst per-
son I know; I’ve done things I can’t
be forgiven for; I’m a no good
skunk (no offense to skunks in-
tended). Yet, it is simple. Faith is a
gift!
Last thoughts about these things:
Why should we care whether Some
people want to do things or think
thoughts that disturb us? Most peo-
ple just shrug them aside, with,
well, / can’t help it what people do.
First, I can’t forget what that great,
much-maligned, non-deist third
president of our country said: “I
tremble for my country when I re-
member that God is just, and that
his justice cannot sleep forever.”
(Otherwise known as: payday
someday for the folded hands of
Christians - not in prayer - who
must watch their children’s future
forfeited in a country that has wan-
dered far away from God.
------——Wanda Janes
Warren
How to contac
Polk Count, .
U.S. Sen. John <
202/224-2934
FAX: 202-228-2856
U.S.
in 4m/f Kir ” i
C,n L'bv t|ii<.|,tuui.
Mb- Kay B«)|ey Hutyniym.
Room 284
Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202/224-5922
FAX: 202/224-0776
seiuiti)r(aihutchison.senate.fov
jL§, .Pep. Kevj" Brady:
428 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-4901
FAX: 202/225-5524
1202 Sam Houston Ave., Ste. 7
Huntsville, TX 77304
P.O. Box 22
Palestine, TX 75802
903-729-7717
FAX: 903/723-0408
State Ren. John Otto
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
512-4634)570
or
104 W. Clayton
Dayton, TX 77535
936-258-8135
FAX: 936-258-7190
or **
508 W Church
Livingston, TX 77351
(936)328-5222
:/•
The time is right for Senators
John Comyn and Kay Bailey
Hutchison to join an effort to pass
the Fairness in Asbestos Injury
Resolution (FAIR) Act.
Unfortunately, many men and
women who served in the military
and were exposed to asbestos — “a
toxic material that can lead to dev-
astating diseases” -- during their
tours of duty. Unfortunately these
veterans are prohibited from suing
the U.S. government for compensa-
tion. This leaves these sick victims
with virtually nowhere to turn.
The FAIR Act would create a
trust fund for asbestos victims fi-
nanced by defendant companies
involved in the litigation and their
insurers. Victims would not have
to hire a trial lawyer to access the
fund and therefore would not be
required to hand over more than
half of their compensation to cover
attorneys' fees and court costs - a
requirement under the current as-
bestos litigation system.
At a time when our country is
asking so much of the military, it
would behoove Senators Comyn
and Hutchison to vote for the FAIR
Act. Asbestos victims who were
exposed to the harmful material
while they served in the military
deserve to see this vital bill passed.
Tiger Lyons
Past state commander
Texas Department of the Vet-
erans of Foreign Wars
Dido
Pleased with service
To the editor:
To the residents of Precinct 4 that
are unhappy about their roads: I am
sorry for them, but happy to say we
are pleased with our service. Our
road has been better maintained on
a regular basis since this commis-
sioner has been in office....
Don and Sharon Travis
Livingston
More taxes, no help
To the editor:
I recently had the opportunity to
review the public records of com-
missioners’ court and found some-
thing disturbing.
In 2003, when property values
were raised, our current commis-
sioner sat silent. In 2005, he voted
to raise our taxes by 16 percent.
Myself and many other residents
have heard this commissioner claim
that there is no money to fix our
roads, but we know that a percent-
age of our taxes go to the road
fund. Doesn’t it seem to be good
math that if our property taxes are
higher, then there should be more
money available in our precinct's
percentage of the road fund? Where
is the money?
I have seen roads that are already
paved being repaved, but no help
for the people who live on a dirt
road. The fact is, the majority of
the roads in Precinct 4 are made of
dirt and those residents are paying
their part of the tax increases our
commissioner votes for. So, where
is our part cf the road and bridge
money? Can’t we all see that this is
not the way to go? We are just pay-
ing more taxes and getting no help.
I do realize that inflation takes a
role in this, but I live on a fixed
income, as many of us in Polk
County do. The precinct has a fixed
income for road and bridge, but as
our taxes increase, the precinct sort
of gets a raise, which is more than I
can say for Social Security. As in-
flation makes our personal lives
harder, so does it affect our road
and bridge money. I cannot live my
life doing without the necessities.
My family and I have to budget
properly to make the money we do
have work best for our needs. All I
am asking is for our commissioner
to do the same. I cannot look at my
family and say, “Well, there is just
not enough money” and I expect
my commissioner to budget prop-
erly, and find a way to make the
budget work best for the needs of
the people he is paid to represent.
Shep Green
Rye
Do you have an opinion?
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 Sunday.
The letters may be written on any subject or issue of general interest. Letters
must be accompanied by a name and mailing address and will be subject to
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telephone number for verification. We 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, although wc
welcome comments from the public concerning campaign issues. During
election campaigns, we will not allow reference to specific local candidates.
Letters may be submitted in person; mailed to “Letters to the editor,” Polk
County Enterprise, P.O. Box 1276, Livingston, TX 77351; sent to the
Enterprise by fax to (936) 327-7156 or sent via e-mail to
polknews@livingston.het.
Deadline for letters is 5 p.m. Tuesday for Thursday's newspaper and noon
Friday for Sunday's newspaper.
By ED STERLING
Texas Press Association
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry on
Feb. 2 announced an additional
$3.8 million in state funds will be
directed to Operation Linebacker, a
law enforcement initiative to stem
criminal activity along the Texas-
Mexico border.
In December, Operation Line-
backer — a coalition of 16 border
county sheriffs — received $6 mil-
lion from the federal Edward Byrne
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.
The grant money was divided so
the sheriffs received $376,500
each.
The counties are Brewster, Cam-
eron, Culberson, Dimmit, El Paso,
Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis,
Kinney, Maverick, Presidio, Starr,
Terrell, Val Verde, Webb and Za-
pata.
The governor said his criminal
justice division will disburse the
state’s $3.8 million so the sheriffs
will receive $223,000 each.
“By funding additional patrol
hours, new technology tools and
rapid deployment teams of state
troopers, we will make Texas —
and the nation — more secure,”
Perry said.
Increased surveillance along the
1,200 mile Texas-Mexico border
enabled deputies in Hudspeth
County to stop a Jan. 23 attempt by
smugglers to cross the Rio Grande
into the U.S.
At the scene, sheriff’s deputies
and Border Patrol agents spotted
three vehicles manned by civilians
and men armed with automatic
weapons and wearing military-style
uniforms.
The El Paso Times reported that
Juan Carlos Foncerrada Berumen,
the Mexican consul general in El
Paso, said the men were not Mexi-
can soldiers, but because of the
incident, the Mexican government
would not allow its soldiers within
3.2 miles of the border.
Rister named chief of agency
Milton Rister has been confirmed
as chief executive of the Texas
Legislative Council, a 14-member
nonpartisan office that drafts legis-
lation and performs a variety of
other services primarily for the
Texas Legislature, but also serves
state agencies and the citizens of
Texas.
Rister most recently worked as a
senior advisor and director of re-
search for Republican Lt. Gov.
David Dewhurst and before that as
the executive director of the Re-
publican Party of Texas. His other
legislative experience includes
serving as chief of staff for state
Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville.
Before he was confirmed, Ris-
ter’s GOP background prompted a
letter by state Rep. Senfronia
Thompson, D-Houston, urging
Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom
Craddick, R-Midland, to reconsider
the appointment.
Strayhorn critiques state
agency
Last August, state Rep. Todd
Smith, R-Euless, asked the office
of the state comptroller to investi-
gate the business practices of the
Texas Residential Construction
Commission.
After completing her review of
the agency last month, state Comp-
troller Carole Keeton Strayhorn
said she was “deeply troubled”
when she found the TRCC func-
tions as a “homebuilder protection
agency.”
Her office conducted a survey of
homeowners, and reported that 86
percent of the respondents said
their builder failed to fix construc-
tion defects in their homes.
Strayhorn offered suggestions to
improve the TRCC. She said the
agency should not shift builder fees
to the homeowner and not allow
public members of the commission
to have ties to the construction in-
dustry.
The TRCC was created by the
Legislature in 2003 to resolve dis-
putes between homeowners and
builders without the expense of
litigation.
Governor remembers Mrs.
King
Coretta Scott King, a longtime
agent for nonviolent social change
and the widow of slain civil rights
leader, the Rev. Martin Luther
King Jr., died Jan. 30, at age 78.
Gov. Perry ordered flags to be
flown half-staff on Feb. 7 in her
honor.
“Today (first lady) Anita and I
join all Texans in- celebrating the
life of Coretta Scott King, and we
extend our prayers as the nation
mourns her loss,” Perry said.
“Mrs. King ... worked right
alongside her husband, Martin Lu-
ther King Jr., to advance the cause
of freedom, and after his untimely
passing she did not pause in her
efforts to fight for economic and
social justice. ...”-------
King died from an assassin’s bul-
let after speaking at an April 4,
1968, rally in Memphis, Tenn.
Polk County
ENTERPRISE
fiSSSSsfl
L^j^J
ALVIN HOLLEY, PUBLISHER
Telephone Number 936-327-4357
(USPS 437-340)
WEBSITE: www.EastTexasNews.Corn
E-MAIL: polknevvs@livingston.net
Texas 77351 under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1987. Entered as
Periodical Matter at the Post Office at Livingston, TX.
EDITOR 1AI DEPARTMENT
Barbara White..................
.............Editor ..............
c.t in?
Emily Banks.....................
.............News Editor.....
Cut 103
VanThomas .....................
.............Sports Editor
pxi 107
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.............Area News Editor
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Vanesa Brashier................
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Ext 111
Gordon LeBarron.............
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p.i |70
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Keiths Swann.....................
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I*' Ktpt'rf a damaged ill
i l»r«'L o \« primg pj.u h m » a
Calhoun in Livingston. Text, by die Nk County PublishingCo * * 100
Any erroneous reflection upon the character .landing or reputation of any perron, firm or
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Opinion, exprcued in column, are thore of the writer and not neccessarily those of this
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 9, 2006, newspaper, February 9, 2006; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth788319/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.