The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 3, 1991 Page: 4 of 16
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Opinion
PAGE 4
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1991, ALBANY, TEXAS 76430
~t\
THE ALBANY NCWS
The Albany News
Since 1875
Oldest journalistic venture west of the Brazos
Editor/Publisher
Donnle A. Lucas
Managing Editor
Mellnda L. Lucas
Composition
Betty Balllew
Advertising
Letha Key
Moran Correspondent
Audrey Brocks
Office Assistant
Betty Law
Office Assistant
Jana McCoy
editorial
Local accolades
There are several thank yous in order for
the generosity of local citizens, businesses
and organizations during the Christmas
season.
The gifts of time and money were evident
this holiday season.
The annual Christmas Basket Program
helped about 90 families in Albany this year,
thanks to the Albany Ministerial Alliance
and the many local citizens who donated to
the cause.
Donations of .toys, food and money were
received by the sponsoring pastors'
organization. The pastors, alpng with other
community volunteers, then attempted to
fill the needs of each family submitting an
application.
It was a bitterly cold day when it came
time to deliver the goodies, but the job got
done thanks to the dedication of several
volunteers.
One of the most gratifying aspects of the
program is the degree of cooperation that
our local churches demonstrate through the
Alliance.
The Albany Chest also got a Christmas
present from local contributors. The Chest's
fundraising efforts had been sluggish to say
the least.
But in December the purse strings were
opened and the generosity of local citizens
prevailed. The 1990 goal of $14,000 was met
apd exceeded, making possible the funding
of many local worthy projects.
It was a long, hard struggle this year to
collect the needed funds, but when the chips
were down, Albany responded.
The cooperation of local businesses with
several Chamber of Commerce projects was
also obvious this Christmas.
The Chamber's Christmas lighting project
was again a big success. Businesses along
Main Street worked together to make the
town shine with the Christmas spirit.
Several other neighboring communities
started similar lighting programs this year.
Since Albany was the first to line the store
tops with lights several years ago, it is only
natural to assume that visitors passing
through town liked what they saw and took
the idea home with them.
Thanks again to everyone who helped
make Christmas a little brighter and hap-
pier for others this year.
policy
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AFFILIATIONS
1990 MEMBER: Texas Press Association.
West Texas Press Association.
ponderings by pat
mm
Pat Lldla Jones
On New Year's Day, it is traditional
to make resolutions for the upcoming
twelve months, but it is also a time for
writing "thank you" notes to those who
Christmas-gifted you.
I think it's a good time to say "Thank
you" to some others. If you should
wonder who, let's go through an imagi-
nary day in Albany during the Christ-
mas/New Year season.
When I awake, one of the first things
I do la open my front door and look for
the morning paper. It is always there.
It didn't just appear by magic; the
newspaper carrier whom I never see
brings it long before I rouse. Thank
you.
It's very cold, and we suffer a hypo-
thetical electrical outage. The power is
quickly restored. Thank you.
I get out in my car and naturally, I
"make a drag." There is gravel on the
bridges and highway intersections. A
highway crew was looking out for the
public interests. Thank you.
I see a trash truck in an alley. What
if they weren't doing their jobs? I was
in New York City during the third
week of a garbage workers' strike. It
wasn't a pretty sight or smell. Thank
you.
I go by the cleaners. I need some
clothes cleaned in a hurry for an unex-
pected trip tomorrow. "Can I get these
this afternoon?" "You bet." Thank you.
Next errand, to fill my car. We used
to call them "filling stations," even
though they serviced our cars. Then
we called them "service stations"
although they did nothing but fill the
gasoline tank. I go to an Albany station
where I'm treated in a friendly man-
ner; my tires are checked; the atten-
dant washes not only my windshield
but all the windows. They give atten-
tion to the equipment under the hood;
the water, oil, brake fluid, and an-
tifreeze. Thank you.
Time to go to the post office. It's
clean, and the flag is flying. My mail is
in the box. Thank you.
I love Christmas cards, especially
the ones accompanied by a photograph
or personal note. I haven't sent
Christmas cards in years, so there's no
reason for me to receive any cards —
but I do. Thank you.
I stop in several shops. People on the
street speak, people in cars passing by
wave, friends stop to chat briefly. The
merchants who are also my friends,
neighbors, and fellow townspeople, are
helpful and courteous, and they en-
courage their employees to be the
same.
At suppertime, my partner and I
take an evening drag. We appreciate
the tiny white lights that outline the
buildings, shops and windows. We win-
dow-shop from the car and admire the
wonderful displays of goods. Even the
empty buildings (a very sore subject)
are lighted and decorated, because
someone cared and did something
about it. Thank you.
We pass by churches, and we know
that volunteers, led by the Ministerial
Alliance, are taking food to people who
need a helping hand, playing Santa to
their children, and clothing for every
season. Our ministers don't just work
for one hour a week on Sundays at
eleven o'clock. Thank you.
We decide to have dinner at one of
Albany's excellent restaurants. We are
welcomed by genuine smiles, efficient
service, and appetite-boosting food
aromas. We table-hop with friends
already there, and we note all the
hunters and Big Country residents
from out-of-town. The food and fellow-
ship are great. Thank you.
We attend the Viertel family's
Christmas gift to Albany — a wonder-
ful three-generation music presenta-
tion. As K.C. says, "You haven't been
caroled until the Viertels carol you."
Thank you.
We drive around town to look at the
Christmas lights at night. It is comfort-
ing to see the Old Jail Art Center and
appreciate the docents and Reilly Nail
and his staff, who keep the place in
ready-for-company condition at all
times. We are delighted to know that
the county historical group are taking
special care of the gem of Albany, our
courthouse. We are encouraged by a
group who are working, even as I
write, to renovate the Aztec Theater.
Hopefully their efforts will provide for
our community, a new auditorium and
future home for Bobby Nail's incredi-
bly beautiful Christmas Nativity.
Thank you.
At the Christmas Candlelight ser-
vice, I watched as Bob Skelton sang in
the choir, and then removed his robe to
reveal that he was wearing his Texas
Highway Patrolman's uniform. He was
on duty. I was so impressed, and I
know all the children were too. We are
extremely fortunate to have such good
men in our town. Thank you. 1(
Perhaps you think, "Hey, those peq-
state capital highlights
By Lyndell Williams
On the eve of the inauguration of
new players in Texas government, are
we witnessing a legitimate crusade for
ethics reform or a power play for lead-
ership of the Texas House?
Two of the three most powerful fig-
ures in state government — Gov .-elect
Ann Richards and Lt. Gov.-elect Bob
Bullock — have joined forces to seek
an ethics commission with powers to
probe and subpoena state officials.
The third power-master, House
Speaker Gib Lewis, is at present the
target of such a search-and-subpoena
mission.
So far, the grand jury investigating
Lewis has produced no indictments,
but District Attorney Ronnie Earle
recently won it a 90-day extension to
continue investigating his relationship
with a San Antonio law firm.
Thus, Lewis, seeking a history-mak-
ing fifth term as Speaker on January 8,
will convene the new House under an
ethics cloud.
Signs Say Fifth Term
All signs indicate Lewis will win a
fifth term, but the extension has some
remaps you think, "Hey, those peq key lawmakers angry because, private-
pie get pfid for what they do." True, ly at least, they believe the lack of ia-
they do, put all could do the barest dictmentscletrly reveals a' Witch-huttt
A conservative Democrat, Lewis
won his first gavel in 1982 with help
from predecessor BUI Clayton's coali-
tion or rural conservative Democrats
and minority-party Republicans.
Its unshakable strength forced many
urban liberals to his side, but unlike
Clayton, Lewis shrewdly filled key
positions with legislators from all fac-
tions and balanced a consensus for
eight years.
Membership Different
But now the House make-up is dif-
ferent, enough to cause a real change of
leadership should Lewis trip, or be
tripped by Earle and the forces behind
him.
House Republicans fill nearly one-
third of the seats, but urban liberals
aligned with Valley Hispanics come
even closer to having enough votes to
elect one of their own. -
The problem for them — or for a
statewide official wishing to control
the House with Lewis out of the way —
is that he's too powerful to challenge
with an up-or-down vote.
Lewis must be knocked out by some
other means and scandal is always a
standby tool.
It /-„ >
minimum. They go above and beyond.
Thank you.
There are exceptions, of course, to
every premise, but in this case one bad
apple does,i't spoil the barrel.
As I lie in bed, it's time to give a
thought to people still awake or on call:
volunteer firemen, nurses and doctors,
law enforcement officers, etc.
Thank you. We'd be in a real mess
without you.
Texas business today
By Commissioner Mary Scott Nabers
Dear Readers: In case you have missed
the news, Texas employers can expect
a credit on their 1991 unemployment
insurance taxes. The Texas Employ-
ment Commission has completed preli-
minary calculations and is preparing to
apply over $300 million in credits.
The amount of credit received will
vary, depending on the individual tax
liability of each employer. For exam-
ple:
•A very large employer with a tax
liability of $6 million would receive a
tax credit of $1.7 million.
•A mid-sized employer with a tax
liability of $99 thousand would receive
a tax credit of $9.9 thousand.
•A small employer with a tax liabi-
lity of $261 would receive a tax credit
of $88.77.
jority of employers in the state.
The tax credit represents a SM'per-
cent reduction in liability for the. ma-
jority of employers in the state.
Dear Commissioner Nabers: The com-
pany I work for has lately been charg-
ing employees for certain expenses and
I want to know if this is legal. For ex-
ample, an employee who misses three
of the weekly scheduled office meet-
ings has $100 deducted from his check.
Also, if mileage is not correct on a gas
ticket when gas has been charged on
the company gas card, the company is
planning to charge employees $5 a
gallon for that gas ticket. Even if an
employee authorizes such deductions
from his paycheck, is this legal?
—F.S.
Fresno, Tx.
Dear F.S.: Under the state payday law,
employers may make deductions from
an employee's paycheck if the employ-
ee has given written authorization for
such deductions. This is subject,
however, to the federal minimum wage
law, and an employer may not make
even authorized deductions if that
would result in the employee's falling
below minimum wage. The kind of
deductions you are talking about can-
not be made without the employee's ex-
press, written authorization, so you
might consider simply refusing to give
such authorization.
I suggest you contact your nearest
branch of the U.S. Department of
Labor, Wage and Hour Division, for in-
formation on what avenues of com-
plaint, iff any, are available to you
under federal law.
Dear Commissioner Nabers: Is it true
that the new Workers' Compensation
law requires employers to do work-
place drug testing? If so, how are we
supposed to go about it? And, when are
the rest' of the rules going to be
available J
-J.H.
Corpus Chris ti
Dear J.H.t The new Workers' Compen-
sation statute requires employers to
have a "drug prevention program," but
it does not specifically mention drug
testing. The Workers' Compensation
Commission is in the process of pro-
mulgating rules which will more clear-
ly define what is involved in a drug
prevention program and these should
be available soon after the first of the
year. All other rules will be publicized
by then ag well:
I would also remind you that the
Texas Employment Commission
doesn't oversee Workers' Compensa-
tion issues. The agency that regulates
this law is the Workers' Compensation
Commission. You might want to con-
tact them for the new rules that will
apply to employers. Their phone num-
ber is 1-800-252-7031.
Commissioner Mary Scott Nabers
represents all Texas employers. If you
have any. questions you want ans-
wered, please write Commissioner
Nabers at Texas Business Today, 614
TEC Building, 15th and Congress, Aus-
tin, Texas 78778.
on a fishing expedition.
State Rep. Pete Laney, D-Hale Cen-
ter, who chairs the House panel that
would likely oversee ethics legislstion,
said he opposes the commission plan
because it might be used for political
purposes.
Committee chairs James Hury,
D-Galveston, and Bruce Gibson, D-God-
ley, both shot down rumors of their
candidacies to succeed Lewis, and Gib-
son called on Earle to act on what he's
got, or let the House get on with its
business.
No Visible Opposition
No speaker candidate has surfaced
to challenge Lewis for his fifth term;
though some anti-Lewis members are
always plotting, it's tough to take a
head count when many heads are duck-
ed down.
Three New Congressmen
The three new congressional seats
which Texas gets because of popula-
tion growth will likely be drawn to ac-
commodate minorities in Dallas,
Houston and the Valley.
In Houston, state Rep. Roman Mar-
tinez said he wants the new seat there
drawn for east side Hispanics, but
Republicans say the growth is inainly
on the west side where another conser-
vative seat should be sdded.
In Dallas, U.S. Rep. Martin Frost
said he supports minority expectations
for drawing a black or Hispanic district
there.
Frost said another Hispanic district
could eome out of Austin or San An-
tonio; others say growth in the Valley
will dictate a new congressman from
that area.
Community Calendar
|AN. 3 Nutrition program meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
Lions Club luncheon - Cookshack, 12 noon
JAN. 4 Chamber of Commerce luncheon - Ft. Griffin, noon
JAN. 7 Bridge games - Jackson Warehouse, t :30 pm
Shackelford County Youth & Livestock Show Associ-
ation meeting - Courthouse, 7:30 pm (Executive
Board, 6 pm)
JAN. 8 Commodities distribution - Youth Center, 11 am
Nutrition program meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
JAN. 9 Nutrition program meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
Kiwanis Club luncheon - Ft. Griffin, 12 noon
City council meeting - City Hall, 6 pm
DAR meeting - Nadine Brewster's home
JAN. 11 Immunization dink - Depot
JAN. 12 All-region band Cdr^fjrt - Abilene
JAN. 13 Albany Girls$pfjp|att Association meeting - Albany
JAN. 14 Teacher —
Commissioners courts'- Courthouse, 9 am
Albany Baseball Association meeting - Jones
Company board room, 6:30 pm
School board meeting • Supt.'s office, 7:30 pm
JAN. 21 Hospital board meeting - Clinic board room, I pm
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 115, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 3, 1991, newspaper, January 3, 1991; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth413554/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.