VIEWPOINTS
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Poll Last week The Colorado County Citizen asked: “Have you ever been Geocaching before?”
This week’s Poll: How would you feel about five less days in the school year? •I love it. •I don’t like it. •I’m not sure. •What am I going to do with the kids? To vote in this week’s poll, visit our website, www.coloradocountycitizen.com.
Community Service COLORADO COUNTY CLUB CALENDAR For your club or organization to be included in this list, E-mail publisher@coloradocountycitizen.com, or bring to 513 Spring Street, Columbus. BERNARDO LODGE 243-2 Meets every third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. COLUMBUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE President – Nancy D. Stiles Executive Director – Evan Windham Meets 4th Wednesday of month at Nancy’s Steak House at 11 a.m. COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION Meets 1st Thursday of every month at the Community Outreach Center at 11:30 a.m. COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall COLUMBUS COMMUNITY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION President – Curtiss Schonenberg Third Monday, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall COLUMBUS GARDEN CLUB President – Joann Obenhaus Meets 2nd Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. (coffee), 10 a.m. (meeting) 1700 Milam Street in Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church LION’S CLUB President – Bob Stiles Every Thursday at noon at Schobels’ Restaurant ROTARY CLUB President – Will Vasser Meets every Tuesday at noon at Schobels’ Restaurant
The
Colorado County
Citizen
(USPS 122-880) Established weekly in 1857. Published every Wednesday of the year by The Columbus Publishing Co., Inc., 513 Spring Street, P.O. Box 548, Columbus, TX 78934, periodical postage paid at Columbus, Texas. POSTMASTER: send address change to P.O. Box 548, Columbus, TX 78934.
(979) 732-2304 www.coloradocountycitizen.com
Michelle Banse Publisher-Editor Shelly Pope Managing Editor Brianna Lester Reporter-Sports Gina Sides Bookkeeper Leslie Carrizales Typesetter Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing or reputation of any firm, corporation or individual which appears in this publication will be carefully corrected once brought to the attention of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement.
National Newspaper Assn.
Texas Press Association
South Texas Press Association
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
House, Senate continue with primary task: adopting budget AUSTIN — The House Appropriations Committee on March 24 unanimously approved the General Appropriations Act (House Bill 1) — the first hurdle toward passing a state budget for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. The committee’s chair, state Rep. John Otto, RDayton, and the 27-member committee’s work earned the praise of House Speaker Joe Straus, who said HB 1 is “a responsible, disciplined plan that sets the right priorities for a growing state. It addresses education and transportation, it increases transparency and it will allow the House to provide meaningful tax relief.” HB 1 awaits consideration by the full House and a long list of proposed amendments to it will be debated on the House floor in the coming days. SB 2, the Senate version of the state budget, is still under construction in the Senate Finance Committee. The two bodies must reconcile differences in SB 2 and HB 1 in order to become enrolled as law. Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s biennial revenue estimate for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 suggests $113 billion in state funds will be available for general purpose spending. Lawmakers’ promises of fiscal conservatism suggest a
finished state budget well under the available amount.
would exempt businesses that make less than $4 million in annual revenue from the franchise levy. Currently, only businesses with less than $1 million in revenue are exempt. More than 60,000 small businesses would no longer have to pay the franchise tax if SB 8 becomes law.
Senate passes tax-cut bills Senate Bill 1 and Senate Joint Resolution 1 were passed by the Senate last week and have moved to the House for consideration. The bills, by Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, seek to tie the homestead exemption to home prices and allow homeowners to write off 25 percent of the average home price in Texas in any given year. This is projected to reduce property taxes in the state by $2.1 billion over the next two years. Because this change in the law will require an amendment to the state constitution, voters will get a chance to decide on this issue in September, according to Senate documents. Two other Senate bills seek to reduce the franchise tax. Nelson’s SB 7 reduces the overall rate by 15 percent and cuts the ‘EZ Rate’ used by businesses that make less than $20 million, by 40 percent. SB 8 by Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown,
House passes cell phone bill On a vote of 104-39, the House on March 26 passed legislation regulating the use of a portable wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle. Committee Substitute House Bill 80 sets a fine of at least $25 and not more than $99 for the misdemeanor offense involving the operation of a vehicle by a person under 18 years of age while using a wireless communication device or the operation of a motorcycle or moped by a person under 17 years of age who holds a restricted motorcycle or moped license while using a wireless communication device. The bill enhances the punishment for such offense to a fine of at least $100 and not more than $200 for a previous conviction of an offense relating to the operation of a vehicle by a person under 18 years of age. One of the bill’s many effects is a requirement that the Department of Public
State capital highlights By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association
Safety include in driver’s license examinations a test of the applicant’s knowledge of the effect of using a wireless communication device or engaging in other actions that may distract a driver.
TxDOT launches campaign Texas Department of Transportation on March 27 launched an impaired driving awareness campaign titled, “Drink. Drive. Go to Jail. De Veras.” The bilingual effort runs through May 23 to overlap with Easter, Fiesta and Cinco de Mayo. The Spanish phrase, “De Veras,” meaning “For Real,” is a common expression used by Spanish speakers when responding to expressions of disbelief, TxDOT Media Relations explained. Recent census numbers show that 38 percent of the Texas population is Hispanic, the media office added. Unemployment rate decreases Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent in February, down from 4.4 percent in January, Texas Workforce Commission reported on March 27. The rate decreased thanks to the statewide addition of 7,100 non-agricultural jobs during the month of February.
I’ll stand by you, won’t let nobody hurt you Growing up in Weimar, for whatever reason, I didn’t see much of my mom’s side of the family. My dad’s parents were just across the pasture and I ended up seeing them almost every day. My mom’s brothers and sisters were scattered all across the country and family reunions were few and far between. This past week I took my mom to meet up with her family at the Miksch/Swoboda family reunion in High Hill. My grandmother was Elsa Miksch and her mother was Anna Swoboda, thereby creating the combination of families present at the reunion today. A few of my aunts and uncles were there, however several were missing from the bunch. One of my aunts is having back surgery and could not attend. My favorite uncle lives in Illinois and unfortunately he didn’t make the trip. There were also many people there that I didn’t know at all. I scanned their foreign faces for features that matched my own, but I honestly didn’t see much resemblance. Time and generations had changed everyone’s faces until we all hardly resembled the old black and white photos spread about on the table. Speaking of black and white, those words bring to mind an entirely different family drama that is going on right
Citizen Conversations By Michelle Banse Citizen Publisher
now. A female cousin of mine, who is a couple of years older than me, was not at the reunion even though her parents were. Although it had not been said out loud, I knew from the photos I had seen on Facebook why she was not there. My cousin has been dating a new man and rumor had it that her parents did not approve. Never being a timid one, I set out to ask my aunt myself if those rumors were true. As we browsed over the auction items, my aunt shared with me that they were indeed not speaking because they did not approve of her relationship. Her only child had not been welcomed home at Christmas and they had basically disowned her until she recognized the errors of her ways. Although they had never even met the man their daughter was dating, they had taken it upon themselves to judge him
based upon the only thing they needed to know. He is a black man. They were forcing her to choose, him or them. Family today is separated enough by things like miles, busy lives and a shortage of time. When we separate ourselves because of stupidity – yes, I said it – then we let hate destroy our family ties that should be held together with love. I sat frustrated in disbelief at my reunion until I glanced over at another aunt and uncle of mine with their adult son, sitting between them in love. This man also made different life choices than what his parents would have liked. Instead of my aunt and uncle shunning him and his life choices, they embraced him. There is still love in my family and they give me hope. I wonder what choices my kids will make that will leave me scratching my head. Right now I wonder if my recently married son will give me grandchildren. My daughter speaks of choosing a religious life when she grows up. No matter what path they choose, I also choose to embrace them with the loving arms of a mother. Even when they make choices I don’t agree with, I will try my best to always see my child within. Do one thing every day that scares you. ~Eleanor Roosevelt
Gratitude is a forgotten virtue The majority of us work for or have worked for someone at some point in our life. We all put our best foot forward, trying to perform to the best of our abilities. Too many times, the effort and devotion we put into a job goes unnoticed. However, there are those rare moments and even rare bosses that always make you feel appreciated. I recently attended a bookkeeper’s meeting with other peers in our newspaper family. I will be the first to admit that I dreaded going. It was two days of going over things I already knew. I might have walked away with a few new things, but that’s about it. Anyway, back to my point. While at the meeting I was recognized as Rookie Bookkeeper of the Year. Yes, me. Out of all of the other possible choices, they chose me. It was an amazing feeling to know that someone actually noticed what I do. Let me continue by saying that Michelle always shows me appreciation and always lets me know what a good job I’m doing. She even nominated me as an Out-
My side of the fence By Gina Sides Citizen Bookkeeper
standing Employee for the chamber banquet this year. I don’t need validation, but it’s always nice when you work with and for people who show they value you as a coworker or employee. The same can be said in our personal life. Too often we find ourselves taking for granted those around us. I am especially guilty of this, and I have been on both sides of the spectrum at the same time. I have felt sadness for feeling underappreciated while at the same time not showing those in my life how much I appreciate them. Neither scenario is good.
I recently felt unappreciated by someone I love very much. It started causing resentment and anger. However, as I thought about it, I realized that I never let him know just how much I was thankful for him. I was doing the same thing I was upset at him for doing. How fair is that? Life passes me by and I forget to stop and smell the roses. I forget that little acts of kindness go a long way. I think John F. Kennedy said it best. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Whether it be a friend, parent, employee or employer, child or partner, it doesn’t take much to show someone a bit of gratitude. Little things will work. Give them a hug. Bake them cookies. Send them an e-card. I’m sure whatever it is, they will embrace it. I think after today, I’ll start making sure those I love know how much I appreciate them being in my life. Will you?