Opinion

My granddad worked for Buffalo Bill Cody.

No, he didn’t travel the nation with the old scout’s famous Wild West Show. But when the shoot-‘em-up extravaganza came to Austin in the fall of 1908 and again in1910, my granddad (L. A. Wilke, 1897-1984) played a role both important and minor – he helped reload the blank rifle ammunition so copiously expended during the performances. 

Years later, around 1975, Granddad recalled: 

Dear Editor,

It’s a crying shame that as of January 1st, older Americans and people with disabilities have been having to pay completely out-of-pocket for physical, occupational, and speech therapy as soon as a few weeks after a stroke or a fall.  

Many older individuals may be forced to ration their care. There’s no excuse for Congress to leave them out in the cold when they are struggling to cope with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, or other serious conditions.  

Thanks for the kitchen help

Following the water damage to our kitchen Jan. 17 many have worked to help Concerned Citizens. The Concerned Citizens Board of Directors and Director Russonna Jones-Briscoe would like to thank the following:

Jacksboro Fire Department, Duane and Janet Norvill, James Corbett, Church of Christ, Joe Underwood, Joe Henry Underwood, Kirby Stubbs, Chino Gutiérrez, Libby Gonzales, Greg Lewis, Mary and David Rix, Jennifer Myers, The Parish, Jacksboro Elementary School and Bill and Judy Stamper.

And on the fourteenth day, God approved the use of Duct Tape. At least that’s the way I see it. For a woman with three screwdrivers, a vice grip, and a circle saw that doesn’t have the regulation three prong plug, Duct Tape is the answer to many a dilemma. One such event happened a couple of weeks ago.

Rarely do guests at funerals “buy” officiants’ claims that we “gather together to celebrate the life of ____.” You fill in the blank. We’ve all “been there, heard that.”

Most are prone to think of funerals as marking ends rather than beginnings. Usually, grief engulfs us, dragging us far below the state of joy we’d prefer. Our spirits don’t seem to be on wings of eagles, soaring across sun-splashed skies.

Rarely do guests at funerals “buy” officiants’ claims that we “gather together to celebrate the life of ____.” You fill in the blank. We’ve all “been there, heard that.”

Most are prone to think of funerals as marking ends rather than beginnings. Usually, grief engulfs us, dragging us far below the state of joy we’d prefer. Our spirits don’t seem to be on wings of eagles, soaring across sun-splashed skies.

Just two days after President Trump proclaimed the end of the federal government’s war on energy produced in the U.S., the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration announced domestic crude oil production has reached record levels.

He also boasted about his aggressive deregulation agenda during his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday.

“We have ended the war on American energy, and we have ended the war on beautiful, clean coal,” Trump proclaimed.

Folks in East Texas like to say they live behind the “Pine Curtain.”

The Pine Curtain is not like the old Iron Curtain during the Cold War days. No one tries to shoot you if you desire to flee the eastern third of the Lone Star State, but in the pines you might indeed get shot if you get caught trespassing. (Well, that’s not really legal unless a land owner were in fear of his life, but a good lawyer from San Augustine could argue that a landowner with a shotgun became frightened when he found someone poaching deer on his place.)

I’m not sure what it’s like to live at the North Pole, but it can’t be very different than it is here in Texas these last few weeks. I’m not new to the area. I grew up just south of the Red River … where the wind comes whistling down from Canada, unhampered by large mountains, tall trees or skyscrapers. Nothing stops the cold wind from skimming over the Red River and shrieking into North Texas when it is cold outside. We have summer from early May to late September. We have spring in April and fall in October.