Opinion

On behalf of the Jacksboro Elementary School Gifted and Talented students, we would like to say thank you to each person who has helped us fundraise for our summer trip to Washington D.C. Whether you put your creative talents to work thinking of a fundraiser or creating an item to sell; bought something from one of our many fundraisers; helped us out by setting up, cleaning up, or taking a job for the duration of the fundraiser—we would like to say thank you so very much.

If you look closely at the Texas economy, you’ll discover that as our state flourishes, incomes in economically distressed urban and rural communities, including Jack County and Jacksboro, remain low and unemployment high. 

Too often we accept these areas as inner cities or sleepy small towns left behind. Rundown buildings, streets full of potholes and not a business in sight that pays a living wage are more common. As it turns out, there are no dedicated tools in Texas that successfully spur infrastructure and job creation in our underserved communities.

I’m probably drinking too much coffee. I say this because during the last two years I have gone through at least four coffee makers. Of course, two of them were the little cheap kind. Number three was a monstrosity which came with enough water-tight compartments to claim a submarine in its ancestry. And one was bought at the Goodwill Store in Colorado Springs while I was visiting my brother.

It’s an opinion embraced by the masses and argued by few. There are only two kinds of people in the world.

One is smaller--folks who have egos and admit it. Members of the much larger crowd likewise have egos, but argue “to the mat” that they don’t.

This eternal truth came to mind recently when I mentioned that soon I will have written weekly columns for 15 years….

My writing began when Burleson’s Kelly Clarkson was named the nation’s first “American Idol” on TV. Her recognition occurred about the time we moved to Burleson. 

Two important events that occurred last week have the potential to impact natural gas supplies significantly in the future.

First, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) increased by more than 300 percent its assessment of natural gas reserves in East Texas, Louisiana, and the Gulf Coast.

Second, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it will reconsider a new regulation covering methane emissions during oil and gas activities.

This week has been cloudy and cool with only a small amount of rain. The grass and weeds are growing so fast I can’t keep them down.

The iris are still blooming. I have had so many pretty flowers in pink, yellow, white, bronze, blue and purple, I have really enjoyed them this year and will be sad when they are finished blooming.

My brother, Nathan came and visited me Easter. He planted some tomatoes and I planted okra seeds. My mother would be happy to know her children were planting a garden together.

Abilene is about as much a Southern city as Galveston is a New England port.

With the inauguration of a controversial President and protests over the event, many Americans forget how unique a peaceful transition of power is in world history.

George Washington set an excellent precedent, for when he was called upon to serve a third term he sternly declined.  He understood that, if the Republic was truly to function, it could not rely only upon the personality and honor of a single individual.

When I’m not writing Nobel Prize-winning pieces of literature, when I am not delivering Meals- on-Wheels to the needy of our community, when I am not singing in the choir, giving my opinions in Sunday school, and warning little children not to run in the church … when I am not doing all these things, I am running my income tax business.