The Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 72, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 2, 1995 Page: 4 of 16
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PAGE 4, Seminole (Texas) Sentinel. Sunday. July 2. 1995
Opinion
Independence Day
by M. Gene Dow, Publisher
*<3££S
FROM THE SCRIPTURES■ - "H’ah a great sum
this freedom has been obtained." Acts 22:28
• m *
Tuesday, July 4. we celebrate the United States
Declaration of Independence from England and the
British Crown in 1776. For the occasion, we
thought we might reprint most of the Declaration
of Independence, since it's probably been quite a
while since any of us has read
it:
"When, in the course of
tinman events, it becomes
necessary for one people to
dissolve the political bands
which have connected them
with another, and to assume,
among the powers ol the earth,
the separate and equal station to
which the laws of nature and of
nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the
opinions of mankind, requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them to the
separation. -
"We hold these truths to be selFevidcnt, that all
men arc created equal; they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among
these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
That to secure these rights, governments are
instituted among men. deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed; that whenever
any form of government becomes destructive of
these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to
abolish it, and to institute a new government,
laying its foundation on such principles, and
organizing its powers in such form, as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their safety.and
happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate tJhrjit
governments long established should not be
changed for light and transient causes; and,
accordingly, all experience hath shown, that
mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils
are sufferable, than to right themselves by
abolishing the forms to which they are
accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object,
evinces a design to reduce them under absolute
despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw
off such government, and to provide new guards
for their future security. Such as been the patient
sufferance of these colonics and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to alter their
former systems of government. The history of the
present king of Great Britain is a history of
repeated injuries and usurpation, all having, in
direct object, the establishment of an absolute
tyranny over these States. To prove this, let the
facts be submitted to a candid world: (Here a long
list of specific charges arc detailed)...
We, therefore, the representatives of the United
States of America, in general Congress assembled,
appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for
the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and
by the authority of the good people of these
colonies solemnly publish and declare. That these
United Colonies arc, and of right ought to be. Free
and Independent States; they are absolved from all
allegiance to the British crown, and that all
political connection between them and the State of
Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved;
and that as free independent States, they have full
power to levy war, conclude peace, contract
alliances, establish commerce and do all other acts
and things which independent States may of right
do. And for the support of this declaration, with a
firm reliance on the protection of Divine
Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our
lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
THE OLD INDIAN CHIEF SAYS-' God bless
America.”
Days Past...
................;
m.
%'y/‘
Trom The
D. A.’s Desk
By Ricky B. Smith, District Attorney
106th Judicial District
Used oil must be disposed of properly, otherwise
a fine or jail time may be imposed, says DA
In Texas, a person may not collect, transport,
store, recycle, use, discharge, or dispose of used oil
in any manner that endangers the public health or
welfare or endangers or damages the environment.
It is a crime for a person to intentionally discharge
used oil into a sewer, drainage system, septic tank,
surface water of groundwater, watercourse or marine
water.
It is also unlawful to knowingly mix or commingle
used oil with solid waste that is to be disposed of in
landfills or directly dispose of used oil on land or in
landfills.
Furthermore, it is a criminal offense to mix or
commingle used oil with hazardous waste or other
hazardous substances or PCB’s.
Also, it is a crime to apply used oil to roads or land
for dust suppression, weed abatement, or oilier
similar uses that introduce used oil into the
environment.
With certain exceptions, this is a crime that carries
a penalty of a fine of up to S500. A subsequent
conviction carries a possible fine of up to $4,000
and/or up to one year in jail.
LEGAL MATTERS
Grandparents' visitation rights
Attornoy^eneral Dan Morales
_From the Files of the Sentinel
FIVE YEARS AGO
Seminole’s Sears Authorized Catalog Sales
Merchant is now a Sears Catalog Brand Center", local
owner JoAnn Villalva has announced.
Local customers can now order from the Home
catalog for appliances now available through Scar’s
"Brand Center", right from the local store.
TEN YEARS AGO
New officers were installed Tuesday at the regular
meeting of the Seminole Business and Professional
Women’s Club. The installing officer was Pauline
Ancell, who installed the new leaders in the meeting
room of the First National Bank. New officers are
Jackie Coke, corresponding secretary; Georgie
Simpson, second vice president; Toni Waldrop,
president; Allean Norris, treasurer; and Pat Taylor,
first vice president, and Betty Stevens, the new
recording secretary.
* * *
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
The Seminole Sentinel was one of four papers in
the immediate area to win awards in the annual
newspaper contest sponsored by the Texas Press
Association.
The Sentinel won second in the appearance contest
for newspapers published in towns of five to eight
thousand people. Appearance is judged on printing,
picture quality and makeup of the ads and pages of
the paper.
SIXTY YEARS AGO
An employee of the geophysical department of the
Humble Oil Company was in Seminole the latter part
of last week making preliminary arrangements for
living quarters for acrew which this company expects
lo move here soon.
It used to be that grandparents had no rights
under the law when it came to seeing their
grandchildren after a divorce. The law spoke to the
rights and obligations of parents, the children, and
other interested parties. Grandparents, however,
were not even considered, that has changed, and
state family law now makes specific reference to
grandparents’ rights of access to their
grandchildren.
An unfortunate situation
Sometimes when parents divorce or separate,
the parent granted custody docs not want the child
to see tire relatives of the noncustodial parent.
Grandparents can be caught in the middle and
denied access to their grandchildren. Slate law
provides a vehicle by which grandparents can
establish their right to visit their grandchildren.
Who determines the right to sec grandchildren?
If the custodial parent docs not want such visits to
occur, only the courts arc allowed to decide that
issue. The law says that the courts can determine
when grandchildren can be visited, and if access to
the grandparent is in the best interest of the child.
Circumstances vary too much from family to
family. However, that family lawyer should be
consulted.
llow can visitation rights be established?
The right to visit a grandchild is not automatic.
If you arc grandparents and are denied access, you
must sue the custodial parent in order to establish
your visitation rights. The family law court then
determines best interest of the child
for him or her to see you.
Do grandparents always have the right to visit
grandchildren? Not always. As a grandparent, you
may lose your right to visit your grandchild if the
child has been put up for adoption by someone
other than the child’s parents. For example, if the
child is to be adopted by someone other than a
family member, you may lose your right to visit if
you do not take timely action.
For more information
Remember every case is not the same, and it is
best that you contact a private attorney who is
versed in family law in order to determine how the
law may apply in your situation. When you hire a
lawyer, you should be very clear on what services
arc expected of him or her. Do not be reluctant to
talk business-know what the fee is going to be
before you commit yourself.
For general information, contact the Legal
Hotline for Older Texans at (800) 622-2520.
Celebrate the Fourth, respect the Flag
__ by Congressman Larry Combest
In time for the nation’s 219th birthday, the U.S.
House of Representatives has passed a Constitutional
Amendment to allow Congress and the states to enact
their own laws to prohibit the physical desecration of
other ways.
The proposed constitutional amendment makes
clear that desecration of the flag means physical
Talk of Texas
Copyrighted by Jack McGuire
Independence Day
a national holiday
for only 19 years
FOOTNOTE TO HISTORY-Whcn Texans
observed American Independence Day July 4, they
witt be celebrating a holiday that is, officially, only
19 years old!
For reasons,never satisfactorily explained, the
country wailed 199 years, ten months and two days
before declaring its birthday a national holiday. It
was not until May 6, 1976, that Senator Jesse
Helms of North Carolina got a resolution through
Congress marking July 4 as the date an
independent United Slates of America was born.
President Gerald Ford signed the bill.
Even so, die Congress picked the wrong dale to
commemorate the day.
The Declaration of Independence actually was
adopted on July 2, 1776. However, die Continental
Congress met two days later and made some minor
changes. As a result, Thomas Jefferson wrote July
4 as the official date, it was not until August 2 that
it was signed by the delegates.
Although not an official holiday for almost two
centuries, Americans celebrated the date annually ; ,
with gusto. Not so in Texas, however, until 1836.-1
Until then, Texas was a province of Mexico and :•
Dbscrving U.S. Holidays was not considered good '
politics. Once the Battle of San Jacinto assured;;
Texas its freedom from Mexico, however, July 4 ;
became a day of festivity here.
It remained "the glorious Fourth" in Texas until •
Civil War clouds hovered |avcr the South. With
sentiment growing for Texas to secede from the, -
Union, celebrations of July 4 weakened. They did
not resume until the end of die war.
* * * t
YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW-That the •
Republic of Texas was not the only foreign
government to have celebrated American
Independence Day.
Since 1914, as many as 40,000 gather each
July 4 in Denmark’s Ribald National Forest to
shoot fireworks, hear orations and listen to band
music as a part of that nation’s salute to
American independence.
* * *
CHECK-MATED-Tcxas brags that it has flown
under six flags, but the United States easily beats
that boast. *■
Historians say that 51 different standards have
flown over the U.S. beginning with the one
designed by the Vikings. Since Texas became a
state, the five flags of Texas other than the Stars, v,
and Stripes arc'Courttfctftfl the IT.SfT'otal.
* * ♦
A SPARKLING OCCASION—Texans love to
shoot fireworks on July 4 and their favorite (and
most legal) is the sparkler.
Germany, whose immigrants introduced
Christmas trees to the U.S., also is responsible
for these wires coated with aluminum powder
which give off sparkles while burning at 2,000
degrees. Invented in Germany, sparklers were
first exported to America in the 1890’s. Since
the early 1900’s, they have been produced in
America.
* * *
FLAG FACT-Tcxans will fly thousands of
them on Independence Day but they woh’t run up
the largest Stars and Stripes ever made.
According to The Guiness Book of World
Records, it is 260 feet high and 505 feel long and
weighs two tons. It was made by a Philadelphia
manufacturer and is too heavy for any flag pole yet
designed.©
the American Flag. I cosponsored and voted for the
amendment. Forty-nine states have passed resolutions
for Congress to send them what could be ratified by
three-fourths of state legislatures as the 28th
Amendment. First, the U.S. Senate must follow the
House and also approve the proposed amendment by
two-thirds vote.
The resolution simply states that Congress and the
states shall have the power to prohibit the physical
desecration of the flag of the United States. States
and Congress lost that power when the U.S. Supreme
Court struck down the State of Texas’ misdemeanor
conviction of a man who publicly burned a stolen
American Flag outside llie 1984 Republican National
Convention in Dallas. Justices voted to narrowly
reject the law as inconsistent with "symbolic free
expression." The Court also rejected Congress’1989
Flag Probation Act. The Justices found fault with the
laws, but not with the reasoning.
Conservative Justice William Rchnquist wrote in
favor of preventing flag desecration Rchnquist noted
the unique history of die American Flag is "not
simply another idea or point of view. Millions and
millions of Americans regard it with an almost
mystical reverence regardless of what sort of social
political or philosophical beliefs they may have."
Even the liberal Justice John Paul Stevens, who voted
to strike down the flag laws, noicdjhat Congress and
states may legally prevent somc^rncthods of
expression by passing laws that do not interfere with
the freedom of protesters to express their viqws in
contact with the Hag, demonstrating contempt. Law
dictionaries define desecrate as "violating the sanctity
of, to profane, or to put to unworthy use." Congress
and state legislatures would Uicn be allowed lo pass
laws prohibiting burning, shredding and other similar
desecration of die flag, such as throwing garbage or
other waste on the flag.
There is a limit to free speech and free expression
when someone shouts obscenities of "fightip’ words."
Opponents claim there is no need for our Flag
Amendment because die despicable action of burning
the American Flag is foolishly counter-productive lo
the protester’s own message. They miss the point.
Flag burners arc certainly not winning friends with
their tactic, but when dicy degrade the flag that our
schoolchildren learn to respect, the flag our soldiers
rally lo in battle, and flag covering those coffins of
American heroes, they do it precisely to say dial your
patriotism is useless, your heroism is hollow and
sacrifice for country means nothing. Now those are
fightin’ words.
Bits 'n Pieces
Speak softly and sweetly. If your words are soft
and sweet, they won’t be as hard to swallow when you
have to eat them.
When a thing is funny, search for a hidden truth.
The Seminole Sentinel
P. O. Drawer 1200 (USPS 489-400) Ph. 915-758-3667
Seminole, TX 79360 EBX No. (915) 758-2136
Oldest Established Business in Gaines County
Published each Wednesday and Sunday at The Seminole Sentinel
Building, 406 S. Main, under the act of March 3, 1879.
Entered as Second Class Matter at the Seminole, Texas, Post
Office, Seminole, Texas 79360.
—-M. GENE DOW -
Editor and Publisher
David Fisher ..............................................................News Editor
Joyce Dow................................................................ Social Editor
Rudy Leyva.............................................................. Sports Writer
Misty Ramirez.................... National, Classified & Composition
Barbara Parker........................................ Retail Advertising Sales
Patricia Roberson ...................... Office Supplies & Radio Shack
Gene Gaines ..............................................................Photography
Laura Shain.......................................... Bookkccping/Circulation
Anna Frocse & Milton Anderson.............................. Distribution
In County by Mail or Home Delivery in Seminole______$22.50
In Adjoining Counties by Mail __________________________________$26.50
Elsewhere by Mail___________________________________________$29.50
Any erroneous reflection upon the character of any person or
firm appearing In these columns will be gladly and promptly
corrected upon being brought to the attention of the manage-
ment.
Letters policy: Letters to the Editor are welcomed. All letters
should be kept as brief as possible. They must be signed with
name, address and telephone number. In case need for verifica-
tion arises (address and phone number will not be printed). The
Sentinel reserves the right to edit letters to prevent libel, Invasion
of privacy or untasteful language without changing the desired
context. If requested, editors w ill use initials only, but only rarely
and for compelling reasons. A signed letter carries more weight
with readers. Letters do not necessarily reflect the editorial
policies or beliefs of this newspaper. No letters about candidates
seeking election or "Thank You" letters will be accepted.
iiRprMEMBER ,99s
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
WEST TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
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Dow, M. Gene. The Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 72, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 2, 1995, newspaper, July 2, 1995; Seminole, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth864383/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Gaines County Library.