News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 25, 2003 Page: 6 of 16
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Opinion
View From the Right
Bill Stevenson
Brotherly love appreciate this situation. Corps have their own jar-
J David still has the first gon, and just because there
hristmas day in penny he ever earned may be an occasional car
C1960 will always (except those absconded parked on the grinder, is
be remembered as the day with by H.S.). He is fru- no reason to call it a park-
I discovered what felt like gal, thrifty - even stingy ing lot!
to be a loser. when I tried to talk him I was sobbing that
It was not the first out of his loot. night not only because of
Christmas I had spent So it came as a great David’s situation at home,
away from home, and I was surprise that he would but because of my inability
as ambivalent this year as even consider asking me to help him.
I had been in Christmases for money -- it was always True, I was young and
past, the other way around! a long way from him. True,
I joined the Navy in My brother had finally other than brotherly love,
the late fifties and, after reached the point of des- I had no responsibility for
boot camp and radio school, peration in which I was him. True, he did not ask
I was sent to Treasure his only recourse. He had for a specific amount, so
Island, and attached to nowhere else to turn. It I could have rationalized
the communications facili- was more than the money, that no matter how much
ty serving the Commander, I understood the message money I had, it would not
Western Sea Frontier. — he could no longer deal have been enough.
Oh yes, there is a with the emotional abuse. I was crying my eyes
Treasure Island. Its only He was asking if there out because two days
connection with Long John was any way I could get before I did have the
Silver and Robert Louis him to California and stay money! Sure that I was
Stevenson is its name. with me. Unfortunately, I the world’s greatest poker
Treasure Island is had neither the means to player, I joined a game far
located in the middle of send him money, nor a way beyond my skills. Worse
San Francisco Bay, just to take care of him. San than that, I had borrowed
south of Alcatraz, the Francisco then was very from the resident slush
Federal Maximum little different that it is fund operator - $3 for $5,
Security Prison. It is a today - high rents and, or $6 for $10. The rates
man-made island. Some the forerunners of hippies, were exorbitant, but I was
say it was built on top of beatniks. There was plen-
a trash and garbage dump ty of dope and the opportu-
just off the true island nity to catch diseases that
Yerba Buena. It was con-
structed as a site for the
1939 World’s Fair.
And so it was that
about two weeks before
Christmas, I received a
letter from my brother
David. Mama, her second
husband, H.S., their two
daughters, and my broth-
still have no cure.
sure that I would win it all
back and more. I didn’t.
The one and only time
my brother really needed
I spent all that evening me, I was worthless and in
and most ofthe night walk- debt over the foreseeable
ing around the grinder, cry- future.
ing like a baby. The weath- Christmas day found
er was miserable. The me on the mess deck eating
fog was more like a heavy canned turkey with all the
ers David and Rusty, had knife.
mist. Even though I wore
my navy pea coat, the wind
cut through me like a
other sailors that couldn’t
find a way to make it home
for the holidays.
David survived that
relocated to San Antonio
As foul as the weather Christmas, served a hitch
the summer before, and was, the grinder was the in the Air Force, became
David found an after-school only place a boy-man could a tool and die maker for
job immediately go, squall his eyes out, and Chrysler Corporation, and
H.S. demanded David not get caught at it. later for General Motors,
turn over his paycheck as A grinder can vary He will retire January 1.
his share of the household from a few hundred square Along the way he raised
expenses. The result of it feet of asphalt to five or five children to adulthood.
was that he had no money more acres of asphalt used
Today, if he wanted to
to buy Christmas gifts. He for marching practice. Any waste his money, he can
asked me if I could make place on this planet, that buy and sell me -- good
him a loan so he could buy much asphalt would be thing we love each other.
his girl a present.
called a parking lot. But
Only those who know the Navy and the Marine
my brother can truly
Letters Policy
Letters to the editor on matters of public interest are welcome. Letters
should be no more than 400 words and must be signed with a phone
number. Deadline is Monday, 5 p.m. Letters are subject to editing for
length and focus. Send letters to P.O. Box 1547, Castroville, TX, 78009
or email to mvnews@stic.net
Letters to the Editor
Bulletin error
spoiled birthday
Dear Editor,
I want you and your
staff to know how disap-
pointed we are in this
newspaper. Just how
hard is it to publish one
little notice for a birth-
day party? Not just any
birthday party, but a 90th
birthday party, that had
been planned weeks in
advance. But due to
your incompetence many
of our dear friends and
loved ones missed out
on this joyous occasion dent really leaves us with
and we think you owe less and less confidence
us an apology. You were in your ability to "get the
given all the information news out".
in plenty of time to have Hopefully in the future
it published just as we you can do a better
had requested, so what job of running a news-
happened? This isn’t the paper and serving the
first time this newspaper community. To all our
has made an error on our dear friends, loved ones
behalf, the first being an and acquaintances who
incorrect address printed missed out on our spe-
up for a yard sale we were cial day, we do sincerely
having. This too created regret not having you
a lot of disappointment there to share in our cel-
and last minute scram- ebration.
bling to get signs made up Yvonne K. Williamson
and posted around town. The Grace Kempf family
But this most recent inci-
Quiet thoughts
Anne Kolmeier
Prayer at the manger
Tesus, my Savior, as I stand in
• spirit at your lowly manger, I
kneel in worship of that mystery rev-
eled in your birth in Bethlehem’s sta-
ble.
Here lies God incarnate, the Word
made flesh. Jesus, Teach me to humbly
believe what reason and logic cannot
comprehend.
Help me to accept with childlike
faith the mystery which no created
mind can fully understand.
Before your manger I joyfully praise
your love and grace. You have left
your Father’s throne-for me. You have
taken the sins of the world upon your-
self-for me. You are willing to fulfill
all righteousness-for me.
Savior, I thank you for your
unspeakable love, and I pray that your
help me to ever by faithful to you.
As love has drawn you from heaven
to earth, so let your love draw me from
earth to heaven to be yours always.
Amen.
The Rev. Anne Kolmeier is pastor of Zion
Lutheran Church in Castroville.
News Bulletin
Thursday, December 25, 2003
Page
Lo
Commentary
Under the tree
T Tnder the tree are a number
U of brightly wrapped packages.
Inside could be anything from a pair
of socks to a diamond ring. It’s fun to
shake the packages and guess their
contents.
In my family, there's a rule that
if the recipient guesses correctly, the
giver will confirm what’s inside the
box. That’s the official rule, but when
someone really does guess correctly,
we lie - shamelessly.
Sometimes the shaking and guess-
The advertising sales team spends
just as much time in the field as our
reporters. Toni, Leighanne, and Jesse
go door to door, trying to convince
businesses to advertise.
Armed with demographics, sample
issues, and bright smiles, they hear as
much rejection as they do acceptance,
but they keep smiling. . .
There's a friendly competition to
bring in the most sales for the week
or to bag the customer known to be
difficult.' .
Customers tell them what they 1
want, which is usually to cram $30001
worth of advertising into
by Natalie Spencer $29.99 worth of space.
" Thepuilblisheriathesales
paper has much in common with teams fall guy. TX: L
Christmas morning. publisher said you can't have a dis-e
There's never enough time to get count just because I like you. Sort |
it all done and we always swear to be my publisher said you have to meet
done earlier next time. But we never the deadline. Sorry, I can’t staxto
are, because we keep finding ideas and chat; my publisher set a high
working to make them better, until the goal this week
very minute we're forced to stop. Sales reps hearthe wish lists graph-
, .in artists have to actually find the
Members of our newsroom are 1C artists have 71
armed with vague ideas of what will photo ofSanta sitting on top of a 747.
happen in the coming week. They sniff Kay and Katrina turn the notes on
- 1. the legal pad into an advertisement, j
around for clues, brainstorm ideas on C ® Pe , -
, , ... , 1 They are creative on demand, finding s
who to call for the inside story, and Ine are creative on , 1 I
i ,. , , . wa to make sales on toothbrushes
trade hints on whose the naughtiest ways to make Sales 01 00
and turnips sound exciting,
about returning phone calls when they , 1 A
.-h.111 They share space and software
And so Bobbie, Vanessa, Jeff, and with Stella, who gets to unravel scribe
Albert hit the streets. . bled notes from the publisher and
They call their desk-bound pub- news editor, turning them into pages
. 1 / .. .. . . 1 ,which are easy and interesting to read,
isher from time to time with updates 1
1 1 Another hat gives her control of the
on the stories they set out to find.Doner Dar gives ner , .
.. 1 A . ., potentialdangopone classified paces.
The role of a publisher in the potentially dangerous ceP »
• j r Only a pas can stored next to the
newsroom is a varied one. In any one Cal B e "
, . , more Aammable than a
day, I'm expected to know the spelling replace is more Hamm :
or +h. 2-12t atimna name .111 reader who has a problem with his'
the district attorneys name, which 1 1
commissioner is most likely to answer classified ad.
. xi1 The person who gets first crack
a tough question honestly, and why P ® .
1 . x r L , at dousing the flames is Patti, who
the president of the (insert name of 8 C-
. , F-eens a chee-fdisposition even when
club or civic group here) is mad atP v
the paper all around her are snarling. Her sur-
the Paper.lol itinata Allhone he has
Sometimes reporters get yelled at al c ar 4 B
by the sources fussed at because of learned when it is best to stay safely
headlines they didn’t write or stories at her desk and when she is free to
deliver faxes and telephone messages
they wrote that didn L run. h 1 9
he days it's hard to be a reporter, directly to their addressee. . 1
But then there are the days when a Directly across the hall sits Albert,
man steps into the office, looks around our news editor. As all people who
furtively and says he's got to talk to a work on deadline must, Albert can
reporter because something's not right screen out distractions. People could
g 84 run by screaming “Fire!" Albert would
and he cant stand by anymore. And 1ul screaming, -IC. A0IL would
he story about a harassing super- only mumble - “Is it for page 1?”
. » a 42. im ate Albert puts in the longest hours and
visor or a crooked politician makes - P .
Its way into daylight. Maybe it’s not burns considerable mental energy fit-
so controversial, sometimes a store ting the puzzle of space and material
SO controversial, sometimes a SUOTY » . .
about a postponed overpass can make together. Sometimes it's a wonder his
someone's day, someone who worried wife still recognizes him.
their small business would go under if Despite the computer shutdowns-
the traffic sailed by overhead. staff shortages and cranky publishers.
Those are the days when it’s good this group of talented people manages
to be a reporter. to deliver a newspaper to you, week
News is only part of the team after week. It's their artistic goal, their
■ 1 4. On pare ( . way to preserve history and A
involved in putting out a weekly news- WAS 10 Preserve History, and their gift
paper. to you, our readers.
ingare almost as much fun as
the opening.
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Something to say?
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history, politics, and humor. No experience necessary; if you can craft a clear sentence "
and have the courage to stand behind your convictions, you’re qualified. Call the publisher
at 538-2556 for details.
News Bulletin
The News Bulletin is published by
Legacy Newspapers, Inc., of Castroville, Texas,
Natalie Spencer, publisher
News Editor - Albert Villegas
Reporting -Bobbie Nance
Vanessa Jones
George Troutt
Advertising - Toni
Bloomfield, Leighanne Terry
Circulation - Warre 1
McDaniel
Photography - Jeff Wilton
Graphic Design -
Kay McCullar
Katrina Gorden
Production - Stella Besa
TEXAS PRESS
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1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Serving Castroville, LaCoste and Rio Medina
501 Madrid Street
PO Box 1547
Castroville, Texas 78009
538-2556 • Fax 931-3450
The News Bulletin is published Thursdays for $21 per year in Medina
County, $28 elsewhere in Texas, $32 outside Texas. The office is located at 501
Madrid Street, Castroville, Texas, 78009, and entered as a periodical at the most ,
office in Castroville, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the News
Bulletin, P.O. Box 1547, Castroville, Texas, 78009. ISSN 10468625
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News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 25, 2003, newspaper, December 25, 2003; Castroville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1689540/m1/6/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Castroville Public Library.