The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 19, 2007 Page: 2 of 8
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Page 2 Issue 16
Viewpoint
Thursday, April 19, 2007
readersrespond
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Sinton Nite Lions would like to thank the Sinton
Lions Club for their help with our Mexican Dinner which
was held Saturday.
Several businesses donated also, and we thank H-E-
B, Aunt Aggie De’s, Taft Super S Food Store, Circle K, the
Rev. and Mrs. Rey Rodriguez and several of the Lions
members. Our biggest thanks goes to those who bought
tickets, supporting our efforts to make money in order to
give scholarships to our area seniors.
- Connie Swartz
Assisting those who sacrifice
Texas Times
U.S. Senator
John Cornyn
Texans
enthusiastical-
ly support the
men and
women who
serve our
country in the
U.S. armed
forces. So we
were dismayed to hear news reports earlier this year of
substandard facilities at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center in Washington used by wounded soldiers return-
ing from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The reports prompted numerous questions, even in
Texas. Did those unacceptable conditions extend to other
military health care sites? Are our injured soldiers given
the best care? Is adequate assistance available as they
navigate the complicated military/veterans health care
and benefits system?
Early last month, I went over these questions with
wounded servicemen and women, their families, veter-
ans, administrators, medical personnel and veterans’ rep-
resentatives at Brooke Army Medical Center in San
Antonio. Brooke is a modern facility treating an increasing
number of those who are injured from the war against ter-
rorism, including virtually all burn victims from Iraq.
What I learned was reassuring. The quality of medical
care at Brooke is world-class. Its staff is both dedicated
and skilled. The facility is considered the crown jewel of
U.S. military medicine. Two commissions currently are
reviewing care at Defense Department facilities around
the globe, and I’m confident that Brooke will receive high
marks.
Even so, in a roundtable with veterans’ representatives,
I heard numerous helpful suggestions for improving
assistance for our wounded veterans and their families,
particularly in reducing bureaucratic hurdles as they tran-
sition to civilian life. After this visit, I also talked with
spouses of injured soldiers, who pointed out the unin-
tended consequences of some regulations.
Recommendations from the review commissions will
be published within a few months. But I wanted to ensure
that Congress addressed any issues that could be identi-
fied and corrected immediately. Those who serve are the
finest our nation has to offer, and we owe them no less.
So last week I introduced Seriate legislation that would
provide immediate assistance to wounded service mem-
bers and their families by correcting inequities and
strengthening current law.
The bill would help burn victims obtain housing and
automobile assistance, and ensure that other wounded
service members and veterans with specific needs
receive housing and other grants. As the injured await
their final Veterans Administration disability rating—a
process that can take months—it would make certain they
have suitable housing.
These adjustments are the direct result of my conver-
sations with soldiers, family members and veterans sup-
port group volunteers. The bill has been greeted enthusi-
astically by key Senators. I’m optimistic it will become law
soon.
The Walter Reed controversy, an unhappy episode,
has reminded me of several important lessons. One is
that scandal, if addressed in the proper spirit, can lead to
needed reforms that might otherwise be overlooked.
Another reminder concerns the way those of us in pub-
lic life receive information. In Washington, particularly,
there are thousands of lobbyists, interest groups, trade
associations and other interested parties pressing a par-
ticular point of view.
Yet as is often the case, the best insights my staff and
I received on this issue came from Texans who live and
deal with these concerns every day. I especially learned
from Christy Patton, a mother of five whose husband was
severely burned in Iraq, and Rosie Babin, whose injured
son will require her loving care for many years to come.
I believe this legislation, while not a major departure
from policy, will provide needed clarity and assistance for
many wounded soldiers, veterans and their families. It is
a small step toward meeting our national obligation to
those who have sacrificed to protect our freedoms.
Baby Boomer's music preferences are all over the charts
Most of my friends know I have an
extremely eclectic taste for music. That
is, I like the best music from several
venues. You’re not gonna catch me lis-
tening to country and western all day or
jazz, or hard rock.
Oh, I think I enjoy good music as well
as anybody; I just never got locked up
with one format like a lot of people seem
to do. In fact, many of my friends have
all five ‘buttons?’ on their car radios pre-
set to country, ‘easy listening,’ Tejano or
Cunjunto. But, not me. For some reason
my musical taste is all over the dial. My
first recollection of music was at First
Lutheran Church in Robstown, learning
to sing ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ and
a few other melodies. Later, I remember
band director Harold Luhman and the
Cottonpicker Band with their spirited
halftime shows at football games play-
ing ‘Prairie Jump’ and other classics.
Incidentally, the Picker Band was
always much better than the visiting
team’s band. In grade school it was ‘sox
hops’ in the school cafeteria listening to
The Drifters, Paul Anka, Chuck Berry,
Roy Orbison, Archie Bell and the Drells
and countless other performers on
scratchy 45’s playing on a rented bub-
ble-top Wurlitzer.
When we finally got wheels in high
school it was off to the Alice VFW where
they booked ‘name’ bands on Saturday
nights like Ray Price, Faron Young,
George Jones, Jim Reeves and, of
Wildman's
Wanderings
John Willoughby
course, Al Dean and the All Stars from
nearby Freer. We even caught Chuck
Berry there once. What a show! Rob’s
on Hwy. 77 was another C&W hot spot.
Then Elvis came along. I have no
idea what I was doing when he made
his only appearance in Corpus Christi at
Memorial Coliseum or why I wasn’t
there, but I should have been. I had to
settle for a dozen Elvis impersonators
for the next 40 years, most of whom
were very bad. The one notable excep-
tion was Tony Jo White, who not only
looked like Elvis, but also could very
skillfully mimic The King in both voice
and mannerisms. Tony Jo played many
gigs around south Texas before heading
for Nashville and launching a successful
singing career. His best know hit is
undoubtedly, ‘Poke Salad Annie.’
I caught Jerry Lee Lewis in Memphis
in 1985.1 had just toured Graceland and
picked up an advertising flyer at the
Presley Gift Shop across the street from
the Mansion that boldly announced:
‘Birthday Bash for Jerry Lee Lewis at
Bad Bob’s Vapors Club.’ Shazam, I was
hooked.
In Bandera, when Silver Dollar
Saloon owner Arky Blue was not on
stage, a band called Shorty Bacon and
the Scrambled Eggs were likely to be
sizzling. But, I think local residents Ed
and Brandy Shores would join me in
attesting that Vince Vance and the
Valiants are one of the wackiest show
bands in the South. Vince’s story is sim-
ply too long to tell, let’s just say he’s the
Pee Wee Herman of the music world
and leave it at that.
I also remember seeing a lot of
Robstown folks when the Beach Boys
made an appearance in the late 70s at
Buc Stadium. It was a disappointing
crowd for such a big name band, but I
think half the folks who did attend were
from Robstown. Incidentally, I wonder
how many South Texans remember the
‘Ritter Dances’ on the T-heads and lis-
tening to Claude King sing ‘Wolverton
Mountain’ at the Garner State Park
Pavilion. And, I wonder if the ‘No
Bopping’ sign is still up near the pavilion
jukebox.
I tried to avoid the horrible disco
experience by hanging out at Inza’s
Lonesome Coyote Saloon on Kostoryz
when The Little Ducks From Mars was
the house band. I was also fortunate
enough to have caught Don Williams
and the Pozo Seco Singers in Port
Aransas.
I also found time for Stevie Ray V
Vaughn, Bob Marley and the Wailers,
Kinky Friedman, Tom Waits, Jerry Jeff
Walker, Johnny Dee and the Rocket 88s -
and AC/DC. What a mix! Add to that list -
countless groups I have forgotten the
names of during trips to Nashville’s
Beale Street, Austin’s Sixth Street and
the Big Easy’s Bourbon Street.
Somehow, I finally became a >
Parrothead. Jimmy Buffett was the man ^
and there were no other. I had tuned in
to the coconut telegraph, seen the fins '
in the water, chewed a lot of Juicy Fruit
and was in full stride with the man from
Margaritaville. I caught his performanc- ...
es all over the state and bought every ^
record and CD he released. Once a .
Parrothead, always a Parrothead, and ,
regardless of his trips to Paris and the
jungles of Belize, the pirate would still *;
find time to come home to South Florida"’,
and make new music. As usual, his"-’£
camp followers would still be there. JBs
music is kinda like a tattoo, it just won’t
rub off. In the meantime, my WW II Baby ;
>8
Boomer generation has discovered
Nanci Griffin, Aaron Copland, Wagner
and the Boston Pops. What lies ahead?
I suppose there’s always Britney '
Spears. But that’s another tale to be told -
at another time.
. i.'"
John Willoughby is lifelong South Texa&r'
resident who loves to travel. Readers may
email him at johnw@stx.rr.net
H—-j—S-
worthquoting
“This is the true joy in life - being used for a purpose
recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being thor-
oughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap if
heap; being a force of nature instead of a feverish self- ft
ish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining iei
that the world will not devote itself to making you
happy.” sh
- George Bernard ShaweV
ub
blbSeverse
You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of
my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But
remember the Lord your Go<i„fpr it is He who gives, you
the ability to produce wealth. “ w
- Deuteronomy 8:17-18a (NIV) %
astlaugh
A businessman on his deathbed called his friend and
said, “Bill, I want you to promise me that when I die you
will have my remains cremated.”
“And what,” his friend asked, “do you want me to do with
your ashes?”
The businessman said, “Just put them in an envelope
and mail them to the Internal Revenue Service. Write on
the envelope, “Now, you have everything.”
Senate passes version of 2008-2009 state budget
Both houses of the 80th Texas
Legislature have fulfilled their main con-
stitutional duty: to produce a budget for
the 2008-2009 biennium.
The Texas House passed House Bill 1
by Reps. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa,
and Ryan Guillen, D-San Diego, its
$151 billion state budget, on March 30.
The Senate completed its $153 billion
version, SB 1 authored by Steve
Ogden, R-College Station, on April 12.
When adjusted for inflation, these
budgets - the largest in state history -
represent about an 8 percent increase
over the state’s 2006-2007 budget.
Under the Senate version, the
Children’s Health Insurance Program
would get an 80 percent increase, mov-
ing total funding for the program to $1.8
billion for the biennium.
Ogden said this amount plus addition-
al appropriations for state Medicaid will
ensure that every eligible child in Texas
will receive health coverage.
Now the two versions go to a confer-
ence committee of five senators and five
House members who must reconcile the
differences. Once reconciled, HB 1 and
SB 1 return to their respective chambers
for final passage. The deadline is May
28, the last day of the session.
House passes utility legislation
Capitol
Highlights
Ed Sterling
The House on April 13 passed legis-
lation supporters say will increase com-
petition and lower electric rates.
But opponents say the bill doesn’t fix
ongoing problems or necessarily help
consumers in the long run.
Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford,
serves as chair of House Regulated
Industries, the committee that molded
the legislation. King said SB 482 will
give power companies the incentive to
reduce rates and will switch to a lower-
cost rate plan for those customers who
are paying the highest rates in the state.
King also said that during hot summer
months the bill would prevent power
companies from cutting off electricity to
customers who have not paid their utili-
ty bill.
Opponents, however, pointed to high
electricity rates related to spikes in nat-
ural gas prices after hurricanes Katrina
and Rita and alleged market abuses by
TXU.
Opponents also said the proposed
acquisition of TXU by Kohlberg Kravis
Roberts and Texas Pacific Group could
be a way to remedy these past con-
cerns, but the legislation might put the
transaction at risk and leave Texas
“stuck” with TXU.
Now the legislation returns to the
Senate where members must vote on
whether to concur with the 27 floor
amendments House members made to
the bill. Any differences would have to be
worked out in a conference committee.
Marital course bill passes House
The House passed legislation
authored by Rep. Chisum to nudge cou-
ples toward taking a course on marriage
before they officially tie the knot. If a
couple passes the 8-hour course, the
marriage license would cost them noth-
ing.
But Chisum’s House Bill 2685 gives
couples an option: take the course or
just pay $60 for a marriage license.
Presently, the cost is $30.
The bill authorizes marriage educa-
tors, clergy or their designees, licensed
mental health professionals, faith-based
organizations, and community-based
organizations to provide courses.
If the Senate approves the bill, it will
become law Sept. 1.
Janek bill requires steroid test
More than 700,000 students who par-
ticipate in athletics at Texas public
schools would be subject to random
steroid testing under legislation
approved by the Texas Senate on April
10.
SB 8 by Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston,
if also approved by the House, would go
into effect Sept. 1.
Texas primary date shift in works
The House on April 13 approved a
proposal to move the state election pri-
maries from the first Tuesday in March
to the first Tuesday in February.
HB 2017 by Rep. Helen Giddings, D-
Dallas, also would shift the candidate fil-
ing period two months earlier, from
December to October.
Talk focuses on security data
At an April 13 committee hearing, law-
makers talked about moving the control
of the governor’s homeland security
database to the Texas Department of
Public Safety. The governor’s homeland
security office is tasked with gathering
information on a wide range of activities
in Texas. The database resides in
Kentucky, the Texas Observer reported.
Etaf ®mist
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The Odem-Edroy Times
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Mogonye, Kurt R. The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 19, 2007, newspaper, April 19, 2007; Sinton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1055887/m1/2/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Odem Public Library.