The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 27, 1990 Page: 4 of 16
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Opinion
PAGE 4
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1990, ALBANY, TEXAS 76430
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THE ALBANY NEWS
The Albany News
Since 1875
Oldest Journalistic venture west of the Brazos
Editor/Publisher
Donnie A. Lucas
Managing Editor
Mellnda L. Lucas
Composition
Betty Balliew
Advertising
Letha Key
Moran Correspondent
Audrey Brooks
Office Assistant
Betty Law
Office Assistant
Jana McCoy
editorial
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AFFILIATIONS
1990 MEMBER: Texas Press Association,
West Texas Press Association.
ponderings by pat
By Pat Lidia Jones
In our part of the country we really
don't think much about it; we just take
it for granted — gate etiquette.
You might believe there's no such
thing, but think now. It's more
noticeable when you have Yankees or
city folks out to visit.
My dear friend Nancy Green pointed
out to me one of the ABC's of Gate Eti-
quette — always leave the gate like
you found it.
Another major rule is — the person
riding "shotgun" always opens the
gate. There are a few exceptions, such
as a teen-age able-bodied boy or some-
one who wishes to ingratiate himself to
the driver and/or the passenger in the
"shotgun" position.
A city slicker is apt to be judged
harshly if he ignores this rules. Dark
thoughts go through the driver's head
as he gets out of the vehicle, opens the
gate, returns to the wheel, drives
through the opening, gets out of the
car and fastens the gate before return-
ing to his driving position.
When all the passengers practice
Gate Etiquette, it is permissable, even
expected, for each to audibly fumble
with the lock and door handle, each
saying, "I'll get it." This action is faint-
ly reminiscent of check fumbling in a
cafe. It is very bad form and also ex-
tremely embarrassing to be unable to
open the gate, having freely volun-
teered to do so.
All of this brings us to the gate itself.
Most of the old wire and post gates
have been replaced by metal ones.
These sport a vast array of chains and
padlocks. Sometimes there is really no
chain at all, simply padlocks locked
upon one another. Each set-up is high-
ly individualistic. Floyd McComas' gate
off the Abilene highway is an excellent
example of this.
Always unlock your own lock, and
never lock someone else's padlock out
of the chain.
To lock someone out of his own pro-
perty is the height of breached Gate
Etiquette. This would rank on a par
with fence cutting or horse rustling.
This "no no" is equaled or surpassed
only by the following — never lock
someone into hit own property.
This last was vividly brought to my
attention the past weekend. We and
two other couples had hosted a
Christmas dinner at a property we own
jointly.
It was a wonderful evening. We have
done this for several years now. It was
such fun the first time that we try to
recreate that party each year.
We all wear comfortable clothes. The
guests decorate the house and the tree
while we ready a very simple old-
fashioned dinner. We sing carols as we
sit around the fire, and then as so many
people do this time of year, we have the
Chinese gift exchange, which is always
hilarious.
We clean up quickly, and with kisses
and hugs, we head for home, guests
first; hosts last. That's the way it's
always been, till this year.
There are two gates between the
house and the main road which are
kept locked. On this particular evening,
we left them closed but unlocked so our
guests could enter. Bob and Nancy
Green were the last guests entering.
Bob practices excellent Gate Etiquette,
as most all the area ranchers do. He
left the outer gate as he found it, closed
and unlocked.
As it happened, Bob and Nancy were
also the first car out, followed closely
by the other guests, and in rapid order,
Jon Rex and Ann, A.V. and I, and last
of all, Betty and Harold Law.
Bob was surprised when he left his
pickup to open the gate, to find it
locked, but waited thinking one of us
would have a key. One after another
the men gathered at the gate. Nothing
seemed to -be going on — at lease from
my vantage point, near the end of the
line of cars. It was too cold to indulge
my curiosity.
Finally all three landowners were
gathered. Their discovery was mind-
boggling. Someone had, after the
Greens entered, used his own two-foot-
long chain and a quite expensive pad-
lock to very effectively lock us all into
our own place.
But 1 still knew nothing of this. I saw
Bob go to the rear of his pickup and get
out what looked like and turned out to
be a most effective tool in freeing us. I
do believe the contents of most West
Texas pickups contain the means to do
or undo anything.
The "mystery" lock and chain in
hand, th« group finally were on their
way home.
As A.V. got into our car, I said,
"What in the world was wrong with the
gate?" He laughed and said, "I think
this may be a column for you."
And sure enough, it is.
Texas business today
By Commissioner Mary Seott Nabori
Dear Commissioner Nabers: I recently
read in your column that an employee
doesn't have the right to see his/her
personnel file. I thought this right ex-
isted under the Freedom of Informa-
tion Act of 197\. Could you please
clarify?
-J.K.
Dayton, Tx.
Dear J .K.: I am glad you wrote because
your question illustrates a common
misunderstanding about the Freedom
of Information Act. Under the Free-
dom of Information Act, citizens have
the right to access non-classified infor-
mation 'compiled by the federal
government.' The1 Act restricts the
ability of the federal government to
withhold information from the public.
It does not apply to individuals or en-
tities outside the federal government
and has nothing to do with the rights
and responsibilities of private sector
employers and employees. It would,
however, be available for use by
employees of the federal government
who wanted to access their personnel
files if access were being denied.
I would suggest contacting your U.S.
Congressman for further information
about the scope of the Freedom of In-
formation Act.
Dear Commissioner Nabers: The new
Worker's Compensation law which
goes into effect in January of 1991 re-
quires employers to have a drug pre-
vention program tit place. Since the
Worker's Cov.pensation Commission
has not yet finalized rules which tell
employers what to, do, will employers
be subject to any kind of penalty for
NOT having a program in place on Jan-
uary 1,1990f
-B.F.
Corpus Chris ti, Tx.
Dear B.F.: According to officials at
WCC, employers have until the middle
of June 1991 to get their drug preven-
tion program in place without penalty.
Even though the rules have not yet
been finalised, the WCC is NOT man-
dating or advocating drug testing as a
part of any drug prevention program.
Whether to drug test will remain up to
the discretion of the individual em-
ployer.
Dear Commissioner Nabers: I am 57
years old and plan to retire when I am
62. I have the feeling lately that my
employer is trying to squeeze me out
to make room for younger people in the
office. It seems to me that the more
responsible tasks are being delegated
to others and that I have less and less
of real substance to do. I have also
noticed that the president of the com-
pany ignores me while talking to other
employees about business matters.
Our business fluctuates consider-
ably in activity, and I am concerned
that if there were a reduction in force I
would be the first to be dismissed even
though I have been given no reason to
believe that my work is unsatisfactory.
I received raises steadily up until the
last five years, and no one in the office
has gotten a raise in that time due to
the economy.
Do I have any recourse at this time 1
Should I be documenting what goes on
at work1 What is your advice 1
-D.B.
Houston, TX
Dear D.B.: My first recommendation to
you is to talk frankly with your em-
ployer about your concerns. Your em-
ployer may not be aware that you feel
slighted. Or, perhaps your employer is
not happy with your work but has
found it easier to ignore the situation
than to deal with it...just as you
yourself have to this point. It is also
possible that your employer thinks you
might welcome less work or responsi-
bility. There is considerable oppor-
tunity for misunderstanding in this
situation and you will not know what is
going on until you take steps to open
the lines of communication.
The law does not protect any of us
from hurt feelings, but it does prohibit
adverse employment action being
taken against an employee strictly
because of the employee's age. If you
were to lose your job or suffer a demo-
tion or reduction in pay solely because
of your age, then you would have a
strong equal employment opportunity
complaint. Such complaints may be
filed through your nearest equal
I WON'T
MISS HIM,
EITHER...
*
state capital highlights
By Lyndell Williams
Though Gov.-elect Ann Richards
said reorganization of the state tax
base would not be an issue in the
Legislature, powerful Port Arthur
Democrat Sen. Carl Parker is planning
on reforming part of it.
Parker wants to abolish local school
property taxes and replace them with a
statewide property tax, the one law-
makers repealed during Gov. Bill
Clements' first term.
Parker plans to cap state property
taxes at $1 per $100 valuation and
allow school boards to ask voters for
approval to add an additional 25 cents
from local money.
Other legislators support county-
wide taxation, a plan also favored by
the poor school districts.
Other reforms — like expanding the
sales tax to include exempted busi-
nesses so the rate can be lowered —
may be up to Lt. Gov.-elect Boh
Bullock, now the state tax collector
who undoubtedly will be the foremas;
tax expert in the Legislature.
Workers' Comp Fight
An angry Joe Gunn, head of Texas
labor unions, likened state insurance
commissioners to a bunch of "carpet-
baggers" last week and accused them
of being in bed with the Industry they
regulate.
Gunn's remarks came as a Rio
Grande Valley state district court
opened hearings on whether the
workers' compensation insurance law
is constitutional.
Insurance board chairman James
Sexton warned Texas businessmen
that if the lawsuit brought by Gunn's
Texas AFL-CIO results in the court
throwing out the law, the board will
have to raise premiums statewide.
The suit charges the new law denies
workers basic rights and discriminates
against Hispanics by reducing benefits
for agricultural workers.
Richards' Liason
Richards surprised many observers
by naming state Rep. Jim Parker,
D-Comanche, as her legislative director
last week, a move roundly applauded.
Parker, well regarded by his col-
leagues, will be her liaison to both
House and Senate and adds a West
Texas voice to her staff.
Richards also announced that Dale
Craymer, an assistant to speaker Gib
Lewis, will become the governor's
budget director, and Austin attorney
Jane Hickie will be appointments
secretary.
Parker will resign and a special elec-
tion will be held to fill his vacancy. One
possible candidate is his wife, Martha.
A special election will also be needed
to fill the vacating seat of state Rep.
Barry Connerly, R Houston, a con-
sumer credit executive who is transfer-
rins to Washington, D.C. next year.
Scholarship Resolve
The man in the U.S. Department of
Education who created a firestorm of
controversy last week turned out to be
a Midland native and a boyhood friend
of President Bush's eldest son.
Michael Williams, the assistant sec
retary, himself an A fro-American,
upset black Americans when he
banned all racially-exclusive, publicly
funded scholarships. The scholarship
policy was later revised.
Name Game Assault
When Texas voters had an opj
tunity last month to vote for Gene .
ly and Bart Simpson, their ballots
didn't tell them if they were voting for
a dancer or a cartoon character.
ppor-
Kel-
State Rep. Warren Chisum, D-Pam-
pa, is determined to change that. He
has filed a bill that would require a can-
didate's occupation to be printed after
his or her name on the ballot.
Greyhound Track Okayed
The controversial greyhound racing
track license for Galveston County was
finally awarded to a group headed by
the son of legendary football coach
Bear Bryant, which will build Gulf
Greyhound Park in LaMarque.
The state's share is six percent of
wagers, estimated at between $250
million to $300 million yearly.
employment opportunity office or
through the Texas Commission on
Human Rights.
Community Calendar
DEC. 27
DEC. 28
DEC. 29
DEC. 31
JAN. 1
JAN. 2
JAN. 3
JAN. 5
JAN. 9
JAN. 11
JAN. 12
JAN. 14
JAN. 21
Lions Club luncheon -Cookshack, 12 noon
Chamber of Commerce luncheon - Ft. Griffin, noon
Early Albany News deadline - 4 pm
Bridge games • Jackson Warehouse, 1:30 pm
NEW YEAR'S DAY
School classes resume - 7:55 am
Nutrition program meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
Kiwanis Club luncheon - Cookshack, 12 noon
Nutrition program meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
All-area band auditions
DAR meeting - Nadine Brewster's home
City council meeting - City Hall, 6 pm
Immunization Clinic - Depot
All-region band concert - Abilene
Commissioners^ ourt - Courthouse, 9 am
Teacher workday
School board meeting - Supt.'s office, 7:30 pm
Hospital board meeting - Clinic board room, 1 pm
FIRST
NATIONAL
BANK
Albany I Brcckcnridgc
Mombor FWC
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 27, 1990, newspaper, December 27, 1990; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth393722/m1/4/: accessed July 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.