The Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 61, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 26, 1993 Page: 4 of 14
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PAGE 4, Seminole (Texas) Sentinel, Wednesday. May 26,1993
Opinion
Education fixed
by M. Gene Dow, Publisher
FROM THE SCRIPTURES-And Jesus said to the
rich young ruler. ",Sell all that you have and distribute
it to the poor..." Luke 18:22
* * *
As tin* Texas Legislature tries to hammer out a
school financing bill, and with the approaching of
SHS graduation I must pass along to you two
'(gsaes
columns by Lynn Ashby of the Houston Post, that
were passed along to me. They are hilarious, but with
a lot of tongue-in-cheek truth:
"There has been a lot of
confusion over the new school
financing plan approved by the
Legislature up in Waco,
especially the use of the terms
"rich" school districts and "poor"
school districts. So once again as
the Answer Man, 1 will set the
record straight, for as President
Benjamin Franklin observed,
"The book stops here." First
question? Yes, you there in the "Ain’t School Grate?"
T-shirt.
"What exactly is a rich school district"
"It is any district which has something you don’t
have, such as a football championship, decent SAT
scores or driver’s ed with valet parking.
"What about money?
"Pay on your way out.
"No, Answer Man, I mean, do rich people live in
rich districts?"
"There is no correlation. Some districts have toxic
waste dumps in their backyards, which are heavily
taxed by the school districts. Thus the state considers
them rich districts, but if you were rich, the first thing
you would do is move. Or, as Walt Whitman wrote in
Leave the Grass. "Ask not what you can do in the
country."
"Then what is a poor district?
"A district which doesn’t have a toxic waste dump.
"So poor people can live in rich districts and
rich people can live in poor districts?
"Texas doesn’t play favorites. It is vegetarian in
the extreme.
"What will the Robin Hood plan do?
"It will take money from districts which tax
themselves and give it to those which do not. This is
to make all school districts in Texas equal.
"Will they be?
"Yes, equally bad.
* * *
THE OLD INDIAN CHIEF SAYS-”When a fellow
says, 'it ain’t the money, but the principal of the
thing,’ it’s the money."
* * *
"Answer Man, this has got to be the dumbest
idea since communism.
"Some say this is communism . It’s like Stalin had
in Ireland. ' \.v
" What happens after the plan begins?
"Everyone takes their kids out of public schools
and puts them in private schools.
"But what if I can’t afford to put my kid in a
private school?
"That’s your problem. Texas is a freedom-loving
state and does not believe in government intrusion
into private family matters. But I must point out that
while 80 percent of our students are in public schools,
the remaining 30 percent aren’t.
"We keep paying more and more in school
taxes, but our schools seem to be getting worse and
worse. Is there a solution?
"Republican legislators have one. They think if we
pay less and less maybe the schools will get better
and better.
"Let’s say that, even after Robin Hood, I live in
a good school district. What does that mean?
"It means you moved out of state.
"No, a Texas school district. Will this plan cut
our teachers* salaries?
"That’s hard to say. Are they currently getting
paid?
"Of course.
"Then that automatically makes you a rich school
district. Are your kids getting a good education? Do
parents attend the P-TA meetings, make sure their
teachers?”
L¥es-
” You may escape with just a fine.
"It is as though the Legislature had deliberately
set out to destroy the Texas public school system.
"Nonsense. If that is what they had set out to do,
they would have never done it
"Answer Man, throughout this entire Q and A,
you have gotten facts wrong, misquoted and
misstated. What do you do when you’re not
answering questions"
I write school textbooks. .
Bits 7? Pieces
Everything that is done in the world is done by
hope.
Martin Luther
***
Consumers are statistics. Customers are
people.
Stanley Marcus
•**
One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys
of life comes from being happy over the good
fortune of others.
«**
HUMANITY certainly needs practical people
who get the most out of their work and, without
forgetting the general good, safeguard their own
interests. But humanity also needs dreamers, for
whom the development of an enterprise is so
captivating that it becomes impossible for them to
devote fhf ir care to their own material profit.
Madame Marie Curie
The only thing we can never get enough of is
love. And the only thing we never get enough of
is love. .
©'93
STOP! -thisisnT
A YARD SALE WE'RE
JUST CLEANING UP
THE GARAGE!
Capitol Highlights
by Lyndell Williams
! " ' .....—
Texas House proposes
multiple-choice options
for school financing
Texas Cowboy
I met Kirby Wamock at Raul’s BBQ in Fort
Davis. He had just completed a 31 mile bicycle
ride over Wild Rose Pass from Balmorhea and was
ready for some beer and brisket.
We had agreed to meet in Fort Davis because
we could both be there on the same weekend. The
reason for the meeting was to find out about
Kirby’s book, "Texas Cowboy".
Twenty years ago, Kirby was a student at
Baylor, taking a course in oral history. As a project
for that class, Kirby spent a weekend in Fort
Stockton recording some of his grandfather’s
experiences as a cowboy in the Rio Grande Valley
and the Trans-Pecos region.
Kirby got 18 hours of his grandfather’s
reminiscences on tape. Kirby had hear some of the
stories before, since he spent most of his childhood
summers and holidays on his grandparents’ ranch
near Fort Stockton.
Kirby got a good grade on his oral history
assignment and considered writing a book about
his grandfather. He spent twenty years thinking
about the book before he finally wrote it.
Several limes over the years, he got out the
manuscript and worked on it for a few days, then
put it back in a drawer.
He talked about his book to some publishers,
who wanted him to fictionalize the material. But
Kirby wanted to do the book for what it was: the
oral memories of Roland A. Wamock and his life
on the frontier.
Kirby decided to publish the book himself. He
had 3,000 copies printed. Within four months he
had sold 1,700 copies and the book was in most
major book stores.
"One of the dealers was having good sales on
the book, so she told her book distributor, who got
it in B. Dalton and Walden Books," say Kirby.
The 128-page book contains photos of his
grandfather doing cowboy things. Photos were rare
between 1910 and 1918, so the pictures themselves
have some value.
"Texas Cowboy" chronicles the raw, harsh life
along the Mexican border during a tune of
revolution, poverty, frustration and meanness. A
person’s life just wasn’t all that important. You
had to be careful and on guard against everyone.
Justice was swift and the six-shooter was judge
and jury.
Letters to the Sentinel
Information wanted
TO THE SENTINEL:
William D. Allison was a noted "old west"
lawman who was killed at Seminole, Texas in
1923.
I wish to correspond with any known relatives
who may still be living in your area or anyone who
knows where I can reach any direct relatives. I am
trying to gather information on him for a magazine
article.
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who
can help put me in contact with living relatives.
WARREN ANDERSON
American West Archives
P.O.Box 100
Cedar City, Utah
(801) 586-9497
The Seminole Sentinel
Oldest Established Business In Gaines County
P. O. Drawer 1200 (OSPS 489-400) Ph. 915-758-3667
FAX No. (915) 758-2136
Published each Wednesday and Sunday at The Seminole Sentinel
Building, 496 S. Main, under the act of March 3,1179.
Entered as Second Class Matter at the Seminole, Texas, Post Office,
Seminole, Texas 79360.
M. GENE DOW
Editor and Publisher
David Fisher______
Joyce Dow............
--------------------------------------------------News Bditor
Robbie Blount......
.......................................Advertising M«n*g*r
Patricia Roberson
Irene Espinosa......
nmtiriri' Circulation
Gene Gaines ........
.....................................................Photography
Paula Kubicdc......
................................................... Bookkeeping
Cola Montgomery
..................................................... Distribution
Tumbleweed
Smith
Kirby left his grandfather’s words just the way
he spoke them. No effort was made to clean up the
grammar.
Roland tells about becoming a cowboy in the
valley, how he learned to understand cattle and
live with them. He talks about bandits, murders,
dances, midnight raids, mules, rattlesnakes and
chuck wagons. He explains what it’s like to be
really scared, always working within arm’s reach
of a gun.
Kirby, of Dallas, is not new to writing and
publishing. He edited Buddy, the original Texas
music magazine for eight years. In 1985 he
founded Sports Pulse, a monthly publication about
fitness activity. Along the way he freelanced
stories to magazines and newspapers; then <in 1988
he started Big Bend Quarterly, a publication
devoted to the folklore, history and tourist
attractions of the Big Bend area. He makes his
living working for the Baptist Annuity Board.
Kirby says writing his book was a lot easier
than selling it. "I’ve worked harder on the book
since I’ve written it," he says.
How to contact your
Representatives
If you have questions, and want answers, to any subject
that involves our elected lawmakers, both state and
national, here is how to gel in touch with them:
U.S. SENATORS:
Bob Krueger, Democrat phfl Gramm, Republican
Room 703, Hart Bldg. Room 179, Russell Bldg.
Washington, D. C. 20510 Washington, D. C. 20510
Telephone: (202) 224-5922 Telephone: (202) 224-2934
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Larry Combest, Republican
19th Congressional District
1511 Longwonh HOB
Washington, D. C. 20510
Telephone (202) 225-4005 - FAX # 202-225-9615
STATE SENATOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Ted Bivins Jim R„dd
31st Senatorial District District 77
P.O. Box 12068 c/e nOUiC 0f Representatives
Capitol Station Capitol Station, Room 305
Austin. Texas 78711
Telephone: (512) 463-0131
Fax: (512) 475-3733
Telephone: (512) 463-0678
Fax:(512)463-1094
GOVENOR ANN RICHARDS
Room 200, State Capitol, Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-2000 or 1-800-252-9600
LT. GOVERNOR HOUSE SPEAKER
Bob Bullock, Box 12068 petc Laney> Box 2910
Austin. TX 79811 Austin, TX 78769
Ph. (512)463-0001 (512) 463-1000
Attorney General
Dan Morales, Box 12847
Austin TX 78711
(512)463-2100
Comptroller
John Sharp, LBJ Bldg.
Austin, TX 78774
1-800-252-5555
In County by Mall 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
appealing in these columns wftl be gladly and promptly corrected
upon being brought to the attention of Use management.
Letters policy: Letters to the Editor are welcomed. All letters
should be kept as hrtaf as possible.^Thsy most be signed with name,
addraea and telephone number, In corn need for verification arlaea
(oddraaa and phone number wfll not be printed). The Sentind re-
serves the rigid to edit letters to prevent libel, Invasion of privacy
or uatesteftol language without dunging the deatred context. If
requested, editors win 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
belief* of this newspaper. No letters about candidates seeking dec-
tion or "Thank You" letters will be accepted.
MEMBER 1993
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
WEST TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
AUSTIN—After more than eight hours of ,:
debate, the Texas House last week tentatively ;
approved a multiple-choice school finance bill ,
loaded with amendments unrelated to funding. The
vote was 89-44. ^ ')!
Lawmakers repeatedly rejected attempts to use
state money to establish voucher programs. They
also defeated an attempt to dedicate state lottery,
proceeds to education.
The House measure attempts to satisfy a court '
order to equalize per-pupil funding by requiring ,
the 109 districts with the highest property wealth
to use any of five options to reduce the wealth to.;
5280,000 per pupil.
The districts could:
• Consolidate their tax base with other districts.
• Lower the wealth by sending a check to the
slate.
• Pay to educate children in other school^
districts.
• Dc-annex property and transfer the tax rolls to
a property-poor neighboring district.
The Senate, which earlier passed a business
transfer tax plan, is expected to reject the House
bill.
Party Host Not Liable
People who host parties have no legal
responsibility for the death, injuries or property
damage caused by guests who depart drunk, the
Texas Supreme Court said in a 6-2 ruling last
week.
In the majority opinion by Justice John Comyn,
the court said legal liability will remain with
guests at social gatherings and not be extended to
their hosts.
"The guest is in a far better position to know the-
amount of alcohol he had consumed, his state of
sobriety, and the consequential risk he poses to the
public," Cornyn wrote. '
Dissenting Justices Bob Gammage and Lloyd
Doggett said the majority was letting a "rattlesnake
loose on the public streets and highways."
"The television commercial says, ‘Don’t let
friends drive drunk.’" Gammage wrote. "But today
the majority says, intoxicate your friends and send
them out upon public streets and highways to drive
drunk. Don’t worry, you won’t be liable."
Senate OKs Gun Bill
After a five-hour filibuster last week, the Senate
approved a bill that will allow voters to decide
whether Texans should be allowed to carry
handguns. .......
Adopted by a 23$ v6t£, #£ ^riate vapro^jP
the controversial measure includes a provision that
would allow only registered voters who pass a
drug test to get licenses to carry a concealed
weapon.
Although the House is expected to approve the
Senate bill, Gov. Ann Richards says she will veto
the measure after the Legislature adjourns May 31.
Thus, lawmakers will have no chance to override
herveto.
Abortion Amendment Fails
With women casting the deciding votes, the
Texas House last week narrowly rejected a
proposal to require women to wait 24 hours before
getting an abortion.
The proposal, a surprise show-down on
abortion rights, came as an amendment to a
"sunset" bill reauthorizing the State Board of
Medical Examiners.
The amendment by Rep. Warren Chisum, D-
Pampa, which failed 71-68, also would have
banned abortions because of the sex of the fetus.
The House tally showed that 62 men voted for
the amendment and 51 against. But just six women
supported the proposal while 19 opposed it.
Malpractice Compromise
The Senate unanimously approved a bill aimed
at streamlining the resolution of allegations of^
medical hialpractice.
Sen. Carl Parker. D-Port Arthur, said the
measure represents a compromise between trial”-;
lawyers and doctors.
Parker said a complete overhaul of the medical’; •
malpractice law was blocked by insurance
companies and hospitals. ;>»;
The bill expedites discovery procedures before :
a trial starts and emphasizes arbitration.,
agreements.
Governor Race Begins >
Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, dean of the
House Republicans, is considering a race for.;:
governor in 1994. '*•<
Craddick, who has served in the House since.;.
1969, said Gov. Richards does a "great job of'
cutting ribbons," but he criticized her leadership;
particularly for not producing her own school-:
finance plan after voters defeated the threes
amendments May 1.
Children Bills to Governor ; j
The Senate sent Gov. Richards two bills '
dealing with children. u. $
Under one bill, employers violating the state:;
child labor law could face civil fines of up to’/
$10,000 and criminal penalties of six months iff):
jail and a $1,500 fine.
The other bill would expand a food progrant %
for poor women and children.
Other Highlights
• State Representatives honored Rep. Robert'),
Duncan, R-Lubbock, as the "best freshman" among;)
the 26 first-term members of the House. Duncan; ^
39* is an attorney and Texas Tech University ;<j
graduate.
• A state-wide poll gauging support for is,
proposed high-speed rail system found that most v
Texans are undecided. The survey of 1,000.-
registered voters found that 49 percent ares;
Undecided, 41 percent support the system and 10 ?
percent oppose it.
4a
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Dow, M. Gene & Fisher, David. The Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 61, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 26, 1993, newspaper, May 26, 1993; Seminole, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1049468/m1/4/: accessed July 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Gaines County Library.