Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 24, 1997 Page: 15 of 34
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By Jennifer Schiffcn
Jen 'n' Tonic
Aavfl Herald, TiMnday, July 24,1997, See. 2, Page 5
Candidates file finance Reports
Giving and recievingis beneficial for everyone
so successful, that she plans to
expand the program next year.
Although I would enjoy doing
more, I just don't have time. I
have managed to incorporate
some volunteer work by doing
things that allow me to spend
more time with my daughter,
Megan.
Last yecr I was convinced to
coach Megan's soccer team. Al-
though I began the season with
qq knowledge of the game (ask
Jeff if you don't believe me), I
learned a lot about soccer and
had a great time playing with the
kids. I think the whole team
learned patience while they tried
to teach their coach some of the
finer points of the game. I
couldn't have done it without the
help of some of the other parents
who volunteered as well.
Everyone who has a child in an
With all the bad things that are
happening in the world we
should all try to do a few more
nice things to help people in our
community.
The Hondo Anvil Herald runs
a listing of area memorial funds
and scholarships that have been
set up to help others.
r Donations to these and other
worthy causes, no matter how
small, are beneficial to every-'
one. The person making the
contribution feels good about
themselves and the individual
who receives the donation is also
helped when they need it most.
Volunteering is another way
to give something to your com-
munity. Several local students
gave their time at Medina Com-
munity Hospital over the sum-
mer. Director of Nursing Sharon
Schirmer said the program was
Capital
Comment
By Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison ™
MAKING OSHA A PARTNER,
NOTAN ENEMY
alvin Coolidge once said, “The business of the
■ American people is business." Therefore, our gov-
emment should be working with business not
against it. Nowhere does this ring truer than in current
debate over reforming the Occupational Health and Safely
Administration (OSHA).
As a former small business owner, and having spoken
with literally thousands of employers and employees
throughout Texas, I am convinced employers and workers
alike would benefit if OSHA functioned in a way that
helped establish workable safety standards and enforced
those standards fairly and reasonably.
Rather than look to OSHA as a partner in safety, many
employers I know fear the agency and its random inspec-
tions that turn their work sites upside down. We need to put
behind us the days of Byzantine regulations and “gotcha"
enforcement practices. We must recast OSHA into a mod-
ern, effective partner in the rapidly evolving American
workplace.
The fundamental, statutory flaw in OSHA is that
activity should do as much as
they can to take pan.
During the school year I vol-
unteer to read to Megan's class. I
especially enjoyed going to Mrs.
Annie Wiemers second grade
class to read to the students be-
cause Megan always looked for-
ward to the days that I came. We
would spend time together se-
lecting the stories that I was
going to read to the class the next
day. I think the kids enjoyed the
stories too. I know I had a lot of
fun reading and talking to the
students.
Making contributions of any
kind to your community is not
only good for your neighbors
but you are also rewarded by
helping others. Do one small act
of kindness for others, the re-
warded are numerous and mean
so much to the recipients.
State ff Capital
HIGHLIGHTS
By Lyntftll Wllliims « Ed Stirtlni
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
current law does not require the agency to consider the
feasibility and unintended consequences of its regulatory
actions. Nor does current law provide the agency with any
incentive to do so.
1 have a bill before the Senate, the Occupational Safety
and Health Reform Act, to transform OSHA from an
agency based on fear to one based on cooperation, from an
agency of arbitrary procedures to one focused on common
sense.
Key elements of my bill would:
* Require OSHA to consider the feasibility of the
requirements it seeks to impose on employers before pro-
mulgating any new regulation.
* Require OSHA to weigh the costs and the expected
benefits of new regulations and articulate (he results each
regulation would achieve.
* Require OSHA to determine whether it has chosen
the most cost-effective means of meeting those goals.
On the enforcement side of the equation, my bill would
allow and encourage employers to lake their own steps to
improve health and safety, as well as to utilize government
approved safety consultants to help them improve the
workplace. Employers who demonstrate this commitment
through low injury rales would be exempt from some of the
more unfair and burdensome requirements.
Make no mistake: 1 realize that there are employers out
there for whom safety is not a priority. To them, I say:
Beware. My bill will lice OSHA to concentrate its re-
sources and enforcement efforts on those employers who
willlully disregard workplace safety and health.
Bat the vast majority of employers want to do right by
their employees. They should have the ability to work on
meeting health and safety objectives in a way that makes
the most sense for
their company. For this vast majority of American busi-
nesses, we’re trying to send relief.
AUSTIN — Tfexas’ top off tee-
seekers filed campaign finance
reports with the Tfexas Ethics
Commission last week.
Gov. George W. Bush’s report
shows the incumbent Republican
amassed $7 million to spend on his
re-election campaign. He hopes to
become the first Texas governor in
two decades to win a consecutive
four-year term.
Texas Land Commissioner Garry
Mauro, a Democrat who appears
to be Bush’s main challenger, has
about $155,000 on hand.
Mauro reported raising $272,000
and spending $385,000 from june
2 to June 30. Bush raised $305,000
and spent $822,249 during the
same period.
State law allowed legislators and
statewide officeholders to begin
fundraising after the legislative
session ended on June 2.
Texas Comptroller John Sharp,
a Democrat who is running for
the office of lieutenant governor,
has raised $530,000. Rick Perry,
a Republican who also seeks the
lieutenant governorship, has raised
$731,000.
Sharp’s war chest was estimated
at $2.7 million, while Perry has
about $1 million for the race, so
far.
In the race for state comptroller,
Republican Carole Keeton Rylan-
der said she raised $327,000 in the
three weeks after the June 6 an-
tff fear caridktecy.
Sum Combs, a former state
representative, mid die had raised
$194,641 in her bid for state agri-
culture commissioner. A second
OOP hopeful, state Rep. Harvey
HUdeibtan of Kerrville, has raised
about $120,000.
Crista It Candidate's No. 11ssue
Barry Williamson, a Republi-
can member of the Ibxas Rail-
road Commission, said that if
elected Ibxas attorney general,
crimefighting will be his top pri-
ority.
In announcing his candidacy last
week, Williamson said he decided
to run because “I care about the
safety of the citizens of the state,
the children.”
In his bid to succeed Democrat
Dan Morales as the state’s top law
enforcement officers, he joins state
Republican Party Chairman Trim
Pauken in the race, and also could
face Supreme Court Justice John
Corayn in the party primary.
In addition to a contemplated
focus on crime, Williamson said he
would work to move the attorney
general’s child support collections
duty to the private sector.
"You bring competition to it and
I guarantee you it will become more
efficient/ he said.
Morales also faces a challenge
in the primary from within the
Democratic Party — from Court
of Criminal Appeals Judge Morris
Oversteet. Overstreet is the only
black ever elected to a statewide
office in Ibxas.
Militiamen Captured Near Base
A plot to attack Fort Hood
and other U.S. military bases was
quelled with the arrests in four
states of seven members of a so-
called militia group.
The seven people, taken into
custody in separate arrests, targeted
military bases they thought were
training United Nations troops,
said Jim Keathlcy, a captain with
the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Those arrests included Bradley
Play ford Glover, 57, and Michael
Leonard Dorsett, 41, who were
reized July 4 in a campground in
San Saba County, jute west of Fort
Hood.
Authorities said the men were
enioute to the huge Army post
near Killeen, where they planned
an assault to coincide with an
Independence Dqy open house.
Hobby Lams LBJ School
Former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby last
week left his teaching position at
the Lyndon B. Johnson School of
Public Affairs at the University of
Ibxas.
Hobby was one of five finalists
to be dean of the LBJ school to
replace Max Sherman, who retires
at the end of August.
In his resignation letter to
Sherman, Hobby wrote, “The time
has arrived to move on, and I do so
with considerable regret.’’
He was on leave from the school
during the past academic year to
complete a two-year period as
interim chancellor of the University
of Houston System.
Lottery Seeking Contractors
The Texas Lottery Commission
is looking for contractors to
help run the state’s gambling
enterprises.
An advertisement placed in news-
papers in Houston, San Antonio,
Dallas, El Paso and Austin by the
commission asks “qualified” ven-
dors to send their names and ad-
dresses to get copies of bid re-
quests.
Lottery functions are currently
contracted with GTECH Holding
Corp. of Rhode Island.
Other Capital Highlights
■ The Texas Public Utility Com-
mission last week ordered Texas
Utilities Electric Co. of Dallas to
refund almost $150 million to its
2.4 million customers, including
2.1 million residential customers.
The refunds will amount to about
$28 per customer.
■ Busts of Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock
and House Speaker Pete Laney, D-
Hale Center, were unveiled in a
Capitol reception last week. The
sculptures join a who’s who pan-
theon of Texas leaders immortal-
ized in bronze.
Your Turn
P.O. Box 400, Hondo TX 78861
Fax (830) 426-3348
A band-aid is not the solution
Dear Editor,
I will not vote for the property tax*
cut amendment in the upcoming
election. While I do back George W.
Bush on most occasions, I think that
this is just a band-aid and the real
way to solve the problem of school
tax is with a state income tax.
Also being a senior citizen, this tax
cut will not benefit me or my hus-
band in any way. My school tax was
frozen on my homestead when I
reached age 65. He lost his home-
stead status when we married and he
moved in with me. We do use both
properties for our personal use. He
has never rented his house, nor has
he ever had a child in school. His
property values were also frozen, but
since lie did not sleep in his own
house he lost his homestead rights.
His property value reverted back to
„ present day values and his school tax
has gone up 63%. Imagine paying
$772.40 school tax for a two bed-
room frame house.
I do think that senior citizens who
earn $50,000 or more a year could
pay more for their Medicare Insur-
ance. But hold the age limit to 65 as
it has always been. Also how will
they determine who would be in this
category and how much can the gov-
ernment spend to find out.
I opt for a state income tax to sup-
port the school and replace all prop-
erty tax. Let those pay who earn big
bucks.
The senior citizen Social Security
checks and other pensions are based
on salaries earned 20-30 years ago.
We do not get big checks. We have
to depend on our other personal re-
sources to live on or get welfare.
The first thing our law makers do
when they try to reduce the budget
is talk about cutting the Social Se-
curity and Medicare benefits. This
is a scare tactic. Their plans are for
a state income tax in a year or two,
so why not have it now. They don’t
like this because they are the ones
making big salaries.
I never hear them say anything
about cutting federal retirement ben-
efits.
The biggest drain on our country’s
budget is all the giveaways. This is
a vote getter. Many people in this
country live just as well or better
than those that work and never work
a day in their life. They get every-
thing free.
A state income tax will not have
to be paid by everybody. There will
be a base allowance for living ex-
penses according to family size that
will protect those who do not earn
much money.
So let’s vote NO to this amend-
ment and opt for the state income
tax instead or maybe the lottery
funds. If this amendment fails they
will have to come up with some
other way. Also I do not think that a
tax refund should be made to any-
one who never paid income lax in
the first place. These child credits
should be handled another way.
Please, write your congressman
on how you feel.
Ruth Grollimund-Ney,
Hondo
Information and mis-information
Dear Editor,
Someone said this is the informa-
tion age and citizens should be in-
formed so they will care about what
is going on around them. Then some-
one says people just don’t care, pe-
riod, as they have been misinformed
or not informed at all too many
times.
First: The info maps available on
the Medina County flood plains are
fairly accurate on those I checked.
Drive the roads on the Hondo, Verde,
and Quihi creek areas now and you
can certainly see the 100 yr. cover-
age. Property owners in these flood
plains were and are now certainly
aware and can better prepare or ex-
pect a repeat in the future.
Second: someone said we should
get our computer on the internet and
get worlds of information. Sorry, but
Medina County news is not on the
internet and not everyone has a com-
puter or the patience to fool with one,
especially us old folks.
Right now I want to know what is
going on at the court house, the wa-
ter districts and other news of
Medina County that is of interest and
would affect us.
This leaves us only the local news-
papers to keep us informed. All pub-
lic entities should be covered as most
of their activity is public informa-
tion that should be published.
Congrats to the county newspapers
for the public information last week
about the auditor and total court-
house situation. The salary schedule
and the comparison of monies spent
in the three neighboring counties is
essential information.
What shouldbe of prime interest
to citizens with road problems is the
story on Uvalde county’s unit sys-
tem for Commissioners and road
maintenance. Would this work for
us? Is there enough interest out there
for someone to pursue facts and fig-
ures of our information? Please don’t
settle for the stock answer we have
heard for several years - “It won’t
work for us”.
Third: To end this topic on a
lighter note, we need all the infor-
mation we can get to make it better
and easier for everyone. The news-
papers should cover it fairly with the
full cooperation of all officials.
You folks at the Courthouse all
have responsible jobs, work hard and
should be able to work as a team.
Show us how you can improve
things without spending too much
money. You will get a raise.
For the auditor story I have sym-
pathy. I was an auditor for Interna-
tional Harvester before spending 34
years with ARCO. Any auditor, if he
does his job well, earns his money.
He or she will not win popularity
contests with those he or she audits.
Believe me, I caught hell and was
only the assistant internal auditor,
one of only three in the entire com-
pany. Thanks to the Korean war, Int’l
fell on hard times, did away with the
auditor jobs, but then went out of
business.
I say thanks because those circum-
stances brought me to Dallas for a
34-year career in Purchasing with
ARCO, early retirement, and back
to Hondo in 1985 to be able to be
with my Dad for his last eight years.
Faithful Reader,
R.J. Schulte
Ruffled feathers and pet peeves
Dear Editor:
You finally managed to ruffle my
feathers enough to respond to your
17 July 1997 "Jen’n’ Tonic.”
First of all, the only reason I’m not
still a member of PETA, the Ameri-
can Humane Society and a few other
animal oriented organizations is
purely monetary. I can’t tell you why
people against abuse to children and
women are not as vocal as animal
rights people. I haven’t heard any-
one come out lately and complain
about husband abuse either. It does
exist, there are even safe houses for
abused husbands.
I can tell you that we all have a
right to protest those activities that
affect us the most. I agree that it’s'
sad what people do to people, BUT,
abuse to animals is also sad. Before
you downplay what animal rights ac-
tivists are against you should inves-
tigate what they are talking about.
Some of the things done to ani-
mals in the name of science and food
is not necessary. For instance the
Draze test where they strap down a
conscious rabbit and drip caustics in
their eye to see if they bum. They
have the ability to do the test on the
eyeballs from dead animals and still
get the same results. An article just
came out in the San Antonio paper
about the Japan based Yamanouchi
company planning to use 36 Beagle
pups in an experiment to test a frac-
ture healing drug. They planned to
smash the puppies’ legs and then kill
them after the 10-week experiment.
I admit that there are all kinds of pros
and cons to animal research, but a
lot of it is unnecessary.
The wanton abuse of animals,
beating, burning slicing their hides
off while they are still conscious,
starving them, blowing them up with
fireworks and dumping puppies and
kittens out on country roads is com-
pletely uncalled for.
We talk about being Gods chil-
dren, well they are Gods creatures
and sooner or later we have to an-
swer to him for our deeds and mis-
deeds. And yes, I grew up out in the
country, with livestock, but my fa-
ther taught me to respect animals,
they were our livelihood. Animal
abuse was verboten!
Now for my other pet peeve.
Smokers! Scientists proved years
ago that tobacco was as addictive as
heroine. If I still had the studies I’d
give names and article titles.
Now I’m all for freedom of speech
and expression. If you wish to die
fine, go for it! But don’t try to take
me with you! 1 do not want to breathe
your filthv air, and I don’t want to
smell like you cither!
You may have a right to smoke
and kill yourself, but 1 have a right
to clean air. I’m one of those people
who gets sick around smoke; head-
aches, runny nose, burning sinuses,
nausea. Both my parents and two
uncles died of lung cancer along w ith
complications such as brain cancer
and emphysema.
It is not pleasant to watch some-
one wither away and die in great
pain. So until you’ve been there,
don’t assume cancer doesn’t happen
or that the smoker and his family
doesn’t suffer. The family has to
watch and can’t do a thing to help. I
hear people say’T smoked for fifty
years and I don’t ha* any prob-
lems.” Well, some peo1 ie are luckier
than others, or maybe you just
haven’t been stricken yet.
As for the effect of second hand
smoke, how do you explain the prob-
lems away that family members ex-
perience. Both of my parents were
heavy smokers, I had one cold and
sinus infection after another, until I
left home. I once knew someone that
had never smoked, but alter a chest
x-ray the doctor told her to stop
smoking. Her husband was a heavy
smoker.
Accepting the fact that second
hand smoke is deadly is not acting
like sheep, you just have to open
your eyes and look around. A lot of
things in this world can’t be seen but
do exist..
Mary Martinez,
Hondo
t
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Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 24, 1997, newspaper, July 24, 1997; Hondo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth818181/m1/15/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hondo Public Library.