Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
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WHAT DOES THE FOURTH OF JULY MEAN TO US Yesterday We Celebrated Our Independence The year was 1776 when a brave band of men put together the ‘Declaration of Independence.’ The first few lines always affects me, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among those are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” As a child these were just words, but after living all these decades, I’ve learned t...
Wow, can you believe how rapidly this year is advancing? Half the year is already behind us, and we have now celebrated our 247th Independence Day! Hopefully each of you celebrated with neighbors, family, and friends, utilizing the traditions your families have created for such a momentous occasion. Today, our discussion will be centered on 'best practices' for planting trees in SETX and timing. Let's 'dig in' (pun intended) but want to lead into the discussion by saying it...
This week, the nation celebrated Independence Day. The Fourth of July commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, establishing the United States of America. Our Founding Fathers made history in declaring our independence from Britain 247 years ago and establishing this great nation. Happy Fourth of July week! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Grand opening of improved Rusk State Hospital This month, I was thrilled to attend the...
TEXAS MONTHLY “BEST AND WORST LEGISLATORS” The new ratings are in this month’s issue. Our own senator Robert Nichols, is listed in the Best column. T.M. says “There are no Republican mavericks in Dan Patricks senate, but until a real iconoclast shows up, Robert Nichols will do.” Nichols, represents largely rural East Texas from his perch at Jacksonville, where few private schools exist. He has long opposed creating vouchers, which siphons money away from public schools....
Next to California Texas leads the nation in gun ownership as well as deaths by guns. Obviously, we have a large number of gun ownership advocates. However, I have yet to meet a gun advocate who opposes keeping guns secure and away from children or criminals. I also find no one who wants to allow mentally challenged people or known violent criminals to own guns. My question for the day is that if even the strongest gun advocate favors laws to enforce these particular things,...
Successful seed savers always ensure seeds are thoroughly ‘air’ dried before storing seeds. Removal of moisture will discourage mold and mildew formation during storage increasing the viability of seeds (image courtesy: Alamanac.com). Gardeners, another intensely ‘hot’ week is in store with daytime temperatures soaring, ‘flirting’ with triple digits throughout most of our SETX areas. Its clear summers arrived with a vengeance and in ‘full swing’, so be mindful when working out...
LUNCH BUNCH MARKS 32TH ANNIVERSARY Last week an anniversary gathering of Lunch Bunch members was held at Robert’s Restaurant after being delayed a week due to the passing and service of former County Commissioner Marcell Adams. The previous week would have also marked the 89th birthday of one of the Lunch Bunch founders and only survivor Roy Dunn. The attendance was reduced due to the delay with several members attending state required classes. Cole Michalk, with Speaker of t...
Gardeners, so you want to save your own seeds this season but don't know where to start? Some readers have requested that I write about saving seeds, but more specifically how to harvest seeds and store them but also want to share them with friends, neighbors, fellow gardeners, and family-while keeping a few to germinate next year and for future use. This is the 1st installment of a 2-part series on how to harvest and save seeds, so let's begin with some basics! Seed saving...
SUNDAY WE HONOR OUR FATHERS Even though my own father has long departed, crossed over to a place that awaits us all, I still hold some fond memories made a longtime ago. That said, I have found myself blessed through the years to have known and been befriended by salt of the earth men who either took me under their wing or looked out for my best interest, some older, some my age and others younger. Most are dads to their own children yet we have a brotherhood that bonds us....
Oliver Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, once said the only tax that people like is a tax on someone else. It seems that for many years Texas politicians have been searching for that type of tax, all to no avail. There are so many types of taxes that will furnish adequate funding for Texas government but it seems our Legislature and leadership are about to paint themselves into a corner. Our taxes to support public education in Texas are not only unfair but inadequate to p...
Gardeners, by the time you read this the official start of summer will be 3 days away, beginning June 21st . During the past week our daily high temperatures have been greater than 95 F with only a very slight chance of rain in the weather forecast. Let me be clear, as this is an indication of what we can expect over the course of the next several months. Okay, okay, I’m getting to the point, which is if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to prepare each planting area, flo...
Summers here, okay, well maybe not officially! It's easy to tell when summer arrived and not just by wiping away sweat while working outdoors as our daytime temperature rapidly increases, surpassing 90F on several occasions. I'm talking about the weed population, it seems to have exploded exponentially, over a very short period. Gardeners, I don't know if you're experiencing the same issue, but I've got weeds-a-plenty-in each garden area: vegetable patches, flower beds and...
There are many ways for our state Legislature to improve public education. Unfortunately, our statewide politicians are focusing on the wrong things. Several states, including Texas, have passed several statutes prohibiting educators from mentioning certain words or subjects in their classes. Some misguided politicians have launched an effort to purify books that are available to schools by purging what they consider offensive words. In some instances they have made criminal c...
EFFORT TO IMPEACH KEN PAXTON LED BY FELLOW REPUBLICANS The years of alleged misconduct by Paxton raise the question: Why now? House leaders have said the committee’s investigation was prompted by a $3.3 million settlement that Paxton reached with the whistleblowers in February. Paxton needed the Legislature to approve the use of state funds to settle the lawsuit — and quickly encountered resistance. House Speaker Dade Phelan was the first Republican in the Legislature to com...
Gardeners, certainly many of you (me included) have devoted an enormous amount of time outdoors this spring preparing and planting flower beds, vegetable gardens, and manicuring lawns. Crafting and detailing specific areas: flower beds, vegetable gardens, porches, and patios exactly the way we want them to appear! The official start of summer is 21June, which is about 3 weeks away, though to me summer 'feels' as though it's arrived! No need to smirk or roll your eyes-I'm not...
How and why has there has been such a shift in politics in Southeast Texas? When I was growing up and running for office, Southeast Texas was the bright spot. The capitol income in Jefferson and Orange Counties was the highest in the state and near the top in teacher pay. Unemployment was virtually unheard of. Much of this prosperity was due to the strong unionization of wage earners in the state. Almost all local elected officials were Democrats. During this period of time,...
The past couple of weeks we've discussed plant diseases and pests...enough with the 'darker side of gardening', let's redirect our focus to another area-fruit! Figs (which are a personal favorite of mine) should be ripening in the next couple of weeks, unless some gardeners are lucky enough to have already harvested a few, but for the rest of us, harvest time is nearly here. Summers' official arrival is June 21st, but it certainly seems otherwise while working outside in the...
There is not much excitement when you reach 88 years of age. But this Mother’s Day was a little different. Saturday morning I was awakened by my wife announcing that there appeared to be a cat stuck in our chimney in the living room fireplace. If you have never had a cat stuck in your chimney, you need to know that it presents quite a challenge. A few years back our neighbor moved out and abandoned a herd of feral cats who immediately adopted us as their new homestead. A...
On May 18, 1912 the USS Texas, also known as Battleship Texas, launched and quickly became one of the most powerful weapons in the world. It is credited with the introduction and innovation of advances in gunnery, aviation, and radar. She is the last surviving Dreadnought and the only battleship in existence today that fought in both World War I and World War II. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. New fund to support creation of more state parks passes House...
TODAY MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE UVALDE On May 24, 2022, Salvador Ramos and his 66-year-old grandmother had an argument over his failure to graduate from high school at their home in Uvalde, during which he shot her in the face, before taking her black 2008 Ford F-150. She survived and got help from neighbors while police officers were called in. She was then airlifted to a hospital in San Antonio in critical condition. Ramos crashed his grandmother’s truck through a barricade and i...
AMERICAN IDOL 10TH ANNIVERSARY SINCE KREE Ten years have gone by since local talent Kree Harrison was a finalist on American Idol When the just-announced top three American Idol contestants Colin Stough, Iam Tongi and Megan Danielle, compete one last time on the Season 21 finale, they’ll be surrounded by an array of old friends and famous stars. The three-hour live episode airing on May 21, will include a performance by celebrity judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy P...
Gardeners, another week has quickly passed, and we are well into gardening season! Last week we discussed 'pests' which prey upon gardeners beloved tomatoes! So, it is only fitting that this week we expand the discussion a bit. Most gardeners will agree that insect's rule! Okay, some of you rolled your eyes...then perhaps not (readers-your silence is deafening)! Seriously, did you know there are approximately 250,000 insect species in the U.S. and about one eighth of them (aro...
The first few bills have made it to the Governor’s desk for his signature, which signals the end of session is fast approaching. Of the over 8,000 bills filed this session, just over 100 bills and joint resolutions have been sent to the governor and four have been signed into law. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. House Bill 4 passes the Senate This week the Senate passed the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act which sets standards for the collection and use...
Our governor and lieutenant governor and other elected leaders could learn valuable lessons by watching some of the old westerns on TV. At my age I have begun to enjoy old western movies quite a bit as my weekly entertainment. Most of them have a basic formula featuring some well-known cowboy. Usually the hero, a sheriff or marshal, is called on to establish law and order in a town that is beset by robberies, kidnappings, assaults or other violent crimes. Our hero is to stop...
Last Friday we celebrated Cinco de Mayo! On May 5, 1862, Mexican general Ignacio Zaragoza defeated French expeditionary forces at Puebla, Mexico. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Ankle monitor bill heads to the governor This week, a bill that would increase penalties for tampering with, disabling, or removing an ankle monitor overwhelmingly passed the House. The Senate passed the measure unanimously in late March. Senate Bill 1004, authored by Senator Joan...
