The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 104, No. 89, Ed. 1 Friday, November 5, 1999 Page: 5 of 14
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Frtday, Nov. 5,1999
The Clifton Record
*tST AVAILABLE COPY
S lycLUKiJ_----
Editorial Irstf
Afninals
By David Sung
Letters To The Editor
Mr W Leon Smith, Editor,
Mr Smith, congratulations on
your editorial "Who’s lb Blame If
Hospital Closes?” published in the
Oct. 27 issue of The Clifton Record
You are squarely on target when
you encourage people to get in
volved and be heard.
Mr Editor, in the past I have
brought to your attention examples
of federal pork barrel spending for
projects that are ludicrous, outra
geous, and stupid. Democrats and
Republicans alike stuff the federal
budget with projects and programs
the nation doesn’t need and can’t
afford Finally it is coming to light
that pork barrel spending is not a
benign issue It is a real problem
which is illustrated in the all-too-
real events now surrounding rural
hospitals including our own Good-
all-Witcher
Congress has failed to explain
how it is that we don’t have money
for rural hospitals but we do have
$33 million to pump sand onto pri-
vate beaches in Miami. We are clos-
ing rural hospitals, yet we have
$144,000 to see if pigeons follow hu-
man economic laws! We don’t have
money for Medicaid but our Con-
gress Ls willing to spend $850,000 for
bicycle paths in Macomb County,
Mich. Goodail Witcher hospital is in
danger, yet we have $2.1 million to
build a National Skate Board Hall
qf Fame in Palo Alto, Calif.
We don’t have money for Medic-
aid but our Congress is willing to
spend $1.5 million for the FYanfelin
Institute for development of an ex-
hibit on astronomy. We don't have
money for Medicaid but our Con-
gress expects us to accept that the
federal government can afford $19
million to examine gas emissions
mom cow flatulence! Does the Ex-
ecutive Branch really believe that
we don’t mind spending $57,000 for
gold-embossed playing cards for
the Vice-President’s airplane9
The list goes on and on and on.
The new budget for the Veteran’s
Administrative has nearly $500 mil-
lion in Questionable projects, most
of which aren’t even remotely re-
lated to the VA. Are these things
(and the hundreds upon hundreds
more like them) more important to
the nation than rural health care?
Apparently they are, at least to our
Congress and the Administration.
What in the world has happened to
good old-fashioned priorities?
• Mr. Editor, I submit that we don’t
hive budget problems. What we
hifcve are representation problems.
(hir financial quagmire has been
vfcited upon us by both parties over
a period of many years. The fact is
tj^t over the years both parties
hive served us poorly while pontifi-
j on their own magnificence in
art of the “little people.” They
! been able to do this because
have allowed it to happen. In-
1, it has often been an occasion
f4i rejoicing when we get federal
r#ney for one of our own special
ptPjects
jjdr. Jim Smith of the Goodall-
Witcher Healthcare Foundation
h|0 it exactly right when he said,
“Both political parties are too busy
demagoguing the issues of saving
Medicare and tax cuts to really ad-
dress the issues of sensible re-
form." Well said, Mr. Smith, well
said! Let me add: I think I’ll be vio-
lently ill if I hear one more word
m either side about how wonder-
it is and how awful the other side
is
A petition is presently being dr-
Center Friday, Nov. 5
we peed to do a lot more. Instead
of meekly approaching our repre-
i hand we need to
TSTC To Dedicate
Connally Technology
sentatives hat in hand
demand that our servants serve us.
It’s our government, our money,
our hospitals. Congress needs to
get its priorities straight, and it
needs to do it now while wa still
have a sorely needed system of ru-
ral hospitals.
If ever there was a time for righ-
teous indignation that time is now.
If our elected representatives can’t
WACO — Texas State Technical
College will officially dedicate the
new, $8 million John B. Connally
Technology Center at 3 p.m., Friday,
Nov. 5.
Mrs. John B. Connally will join
college administrators, faculty,
staff, and students to celebrate the
former governor’s accomplish-
ments and his impact on TSTC. A
reception will follow the dedication.
Fbr more information, call 1-800-
792-8784.
State Capital
HIGHLIGHTS
By Ed Starting
Texas Press
Association
find money that can be dropped
from the budget I am more than
willing to help them Is it not fair to
wonder whether these people
haven’t been in Washington too
long9 We don’t need a band aid on
the problem, we need a solution and
we ought to require our represen
tatives to take the lead in finding it.
Mr Smith, I stand squarely with
you on this issue Thank you for tak
ing the lead My letters have gone
out to our so-called servants in gov-
ernment Please tell me what else
I can do to assist you
If my language is plain spoken
and offends some, I guess 1 am a
little sorry, but not much. Is it not
time for plain language?
Carl W Brul,
Clifton
<cbrul(g htcomp net>
Dear Editor:
Subject: Helen K. Hood’s letter to
the editor in Oct. 29, issue
Helen Kanz Hood, we grew up as
neighbors on farms about four
miles north of Clifton. We worked
in the cotton fields together and
your dad, Andrew Kanz, sawed our
firewood. Knowing of your growing
up amongst Norwegians, I was very
surprised to read your letter con
demning “Clifton, the Norwegian
Capital of Texas," and scorning
Norwegians like me who have great
pride in our heritage.
First of all, let’s get some facts
straight. For Clifton to grow and
prosper, it must have an aggressive
Chamber of Commerce, to bring in
new businesses and industry to ere
ate jobs. As the old expression goes,
“When you stop growing, you die."
If this is just not possible, there is
another area, tourism, Texas’ sec-
ond largest industry
The civic leaders (non Norwe
gians) of Clifton came up with the
idea of Clifton as “The Norwegian
Capital of Texas” since we have a
solid base of past and present his
tory.
The 75th Texas Legislature des-
ignated Clifton as the Norwegian
Capital of Ttexas and favorable pub-
licity began to flow in the media.
Pioneer homes, bams, buildings,
and churches still standing in good
condition for “show and tell” to
tourists and planned events with
the Norwegian theme have been
successful and continue to grow.
The hard work of Trudy Sheffield
and the Chamber of Commerce,
along with scores of working volun-
teers make these promotions work
Helen, get the November 1999 is-
sue of “Texas Highways,” and read
Lana Robinson’s write-up entitled,
“Norse, of Course," beginning on
page 38. This type of favorable pub-
licity will generate many tourism
dollars to Clifton and Bosque
County.
Do you object to this?
Helen, in our Bosque County
Chapter of the Norwegian Society
of Texas, we have quite a few non-
Norwegian members who actively
ei\joy tne fun and fellowship of the
organization. We welcome you to
join for $15 per year and see first-
hand how we are helping promote,
tourism for Bosque County.
A Bosque County native of Nor-
wegian heritage, and proud.
T. Lauris (Larry) Huse
Clifton
Attorney General
Mails Explanation
Letters On School Prayer
AUSTIN — Attorney General John
Corny
a
school i
cording to a report disseminated by
the Associated Press
Comyn’s letter, mailed last week to
school boards and school administra
tors, states that the ruling prohibits
only “school-organized prayer
In February, the 5th U S Circuit
Court of Appeals issued an opinion
banning organized prayer from foot
ball games and nonsectanan, non
proselytizing praver from graduation
ceremonies
Some school districts interpreted
the decision as a ban on all prayer at
football games, creating turmoil
where pregame prayers were a tra
dition
“The opinion does not prohibit stu
dents from engaging in voluntary
prayer and should not be construed
to prevent that type of activity as long
as the school and school officials are
not involved,” the letter states
Citing a recent ruling by U S. Dis
trict Judge Sim Lake, Comyn said
schooLs mav adopt policies allowing
a student elected by peers to deliver
a pregame message over the school’s
loudspeaker
Deer Season Begins
General deer season opens Nov 6
in North Texas and runs through Jan.
2. South Texas deer season is from
Nov 13 through Jan 16
White tailed deer attract more
than more than 500,000 hunters who
spend $2 billion a year on hunting-re
lated purchases in Texas, Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department esti
mated last week
The demand is great and the sup-
ply greater with a white tailed deer
population of more than four million,
the agency said.
Other Highlights
• Secretary of State Elton Bomer,
the state's chief elections officer, last
week visited cities across the state,
urging Tbxans to vote in the Tuesday,
Nov. 2 elections. “If you’re a proud
Texan, get out and vote. Period. No
excuses,” Bomer said. About 10 per
cent of registered voters typically
cast ballots in Texas’ biennial const!
tutional amendment elections.
• Most Texas gun owners and non
gun owners agree that guns sold in
the United States should be child
proof, according to a poll commis
sioned by the Southwest Injury
Prevention and Research Center
TNventv children under 18 died of ac-
cidental shootings last year, accord
ing to the Texas Department of
Health.
• Fhll enrollment estimates are in,
and almost 29 percent of university
students and 39 percent of commu
nity col ege students are African
Americ n or Hispanic, the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating
Board reported last week The mi
nority enrollment percentages are
the highest on record.
• The Ttexas Department of Thins
portation is studying the idea of build
mg separate lanes or roads called
“trackways” fbr tractor-trailers and
other large tracks as an alternative
to dangerous, congested Interstate
35 from Laredo to Dallas.
• The average price of a hotel or
motel room in Texas is $69.50, accord
ing to a report published by the Texas
Comptroller of Public Accounts. In
1990, the average price of a room was
$49.50. Nearly 1,000 motels and ho
tels have opened in Texas since 1990
State revenue from the six-percent
hotel/motel room tax totaled $220
million in fiscal 1999.
• With Texas Lotto sales down
nearly 40 percent in the current fis-
cal year, Texas Lottery officials are
ready to listen to players who may
have ideas on how to stimulate inter-
est in the jackpot game. The agency
has scheduled public hearings
around the state to gather input in
the coming weeks.
• A study by the University of
Texas shows the Internet may gen-
erate in excess of $500 billion in sales
this year. Internet business is a grow
ing chunk of the nation’s $8 billion
economy.
• Court of Criminal Appeals Judge
Steve Mansfield last week pleaded no
contest to trespassing and was
placed on six months’ probation.
Charges stemmed from a ticket
scalping incident last November in
which the judge was arrested by Uni-
versity of Texas police fbr trying to
sell his complimentary tickets to the
UT-TtexasA&M football game. The
judge remained on campus after po-
lice asked him to leave.
• Austin’s transit authority has
unanimously approved a proposal to
build a light ran system that would
serve the traffic-congested capital
city in about eight years. Where the
money will come from to fund the es-
timated half-billion dollar project re-
mains to be decided
Onward...thru the Net
>E-Ma. • qgy i’-
Reading Your Way
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iwww Rocket Library com)
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Boutwell Ornament Print To Be
Unveiled At Chamber After Hours
By David Anderson
CUFTON RECORD CITV EDITOR
CLIFTON — Southern Energy,
Inc of Texas, builders of a new
power plant under construction
south of the Lake Whitney Dam in
Bosque County, will host this
month's Clifton Chamber of Com
merce After Hours Social The
gathering will be held Thursday,
Nov 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m , at art
ist George Boutwell s gallery lo
cated at High View Ranch The
ranch is located approximately five
miles south of Clifton off Highway
6.
Boutwell will be unveiling a
poster print of this year ’s Chamber
Christmas ornament The poster
will be available for purchase, and
Boutwell will be on hand to auto-
graph both the posters and the or
naments
This year's Christmas ornament
features Our Savior’s Lutheran
Church in Norse.
For more information about the
After Hours or for detailed diree
tions to High View, contact the
Chamber at (254) 675-3720.
To keep things up and up
NuvoMedia requires all documents
posted to observe copyright and
other applicable laws You do not
h 've to be a registered member to
access reading material, but you
must register — at no charge — to
be able to submit writings to the
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As of Tuesday, there were over
2,000 titles available on line Cat
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music, biographies, children's
books, computers, family and rela
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And let me know if you find some
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ward, thru the Net
looking for a place to be?
Join us for worship in an enjoyable, warm, comfortable atmosphere
First presbyterian Church
Sunday School, 9:30 - 10:30 a m
Fellowship Time, 10:30 - 10:55 a nr
Worship Services, 11 a m
Nursery available, 9:15 a m 12:15 p.m
Communion first Sunday of month
r
•J-
c
*
n
*
'Vs N
Rev Tern A Matthews
Fbstor
211 S Avenue G, Clifton • 254-675-8105
Before g, to
Jutef
Hair Salon “ Antiques Gifts
Our Gift Shop Is Noui Open!
The Hoir Solon Will Be Open Soon!
LOOK FOR OUR GRAND OPENING AROUND NOV. 20th. |
Stop Sy and See Our Seautiful Selection Of
ANTIQUES. COLLECTIBLES. AND GIFT ITEMS.
714 N Ave G
Clifton, TX 76634
10 a m - 5 p.m Tues -Sat.
1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday
254/675-4476
“When we started he was
my banker. Today he’s
my neighbor.”
A big city bank
can t appreciate that
you’ve found the per-
fect acreage in the
woods, by a lake,
or on a hillside
But your local Federal Land
Hank Association can
In fact, we probably even
know a little about that bit
of country heaven vou have
your eye on
For over 76 years, Federal
l.and Bank Association offices
have been serving the needs ol
some of the most demanding
land buyers around: farmers,
ranchers, and other agricul-
ture professionals. With sensi-
ble loans for rural property.
So it vou re ready to purchase
some land in the country, start
with some neighborly advice
Call sour Federal l>and Bank
Association
FLBA of Waco
Part of the fabric of rural life.
Offices conveniently located in WACO, 254-772-6905; HILLSBORO, 254-582-3601;
LAMPASAS, 512-556-3372; CORSICANA, 903-872-2471; TEMPLE, 254-778-8111.
You can also visit us at www farmcreditbank.com •
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Smith, W. Leon. The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 104, No. 89, Ed. 1 Friday, November 5, 1999, newspaper, November 5, 1999; Clifton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth790557/m1/5/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nellie Pederson Civic Library.