Brandon in Hohenfels, Germany (Note the church steeple, shutters on the windows, and video cameras on the building)
The Front Page
Happy Fathers Day!
Happy father's day to all of you fathers out there.
Especially to my Dad, Dan Pelton of Canton, Texas and my Step-Dad, Tex Wright, of Santa Anna.
Serving our Country - PFC Brandon Beloat
I recently received a couple of e-mails from PFC Brandon Beloat. Brandon is serving on a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo with Task Force Houston 4/112 AR 36 ID. Brandon is among more than 1,200 Texas Army National Guard 36th Infantry Division soldiers who are currently deployed to Kosovo in the Balkans. The Task Force is composed primarily of Texas soldiers, but also consist of soldiers from other states, a battalion of Greek soldiers, and a battalion of Polish and Ukrainian soldiers.
Brandon and an Albanian Girl (Note the water in the potholes of the paved street)
Brandon going for a ride in a Blackhawk Helicopter
Brandon and SPC Charles Bishop of San Angelo (Note the snow on the tents)
ATTORNEY GENERAL GREG ABBOTT WISHES TEXAS DADS A HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
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| AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today praised Texas fathers who take care of their children by paying their child support. Ninety-three percent of the Attorney General’s child support cases involve fathers who are required to make payments for their children who live in another household. Last year, the Office of the Attorney General collected a record $1.8 billion in child support, much of it made possible by fathers who make it a priority to pay their child support in full and on time. “This Father’s Day, I and the employees of the Division for Families and Children extend our sincere thanks to all fathers for giving their children the love and support they need and deserve,” said Attorney General Abbott. “You are the unsung heroes in your children’s lives.” Research confirms that fathers who pay regular child support are more likely to provide the emotional encouragement their children need to succeed in life. In addition, children with engaged, caring fathers perform better in school, are more self-confident, are more likely to exercise self-control, and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors as teens. The Office of the Attorney General helps fathers without custody stay connected to their children by establishing paternity and child support orders, by referring unemployed and underemployed fathers to job training, and by funding local “Access and Visitation” programs that help fathers build healthy relationships with their children. This year, the Attorney General awarded grants to 12 organizations that help unmarried parents work together to parent their children. The Office of the Attorney General also funds an Access and Visitation Hotline, which is staffed by attorneys who provide legal information and assistance about child custody and visitation matters. The hotline’s toll free number, 1-866-292-4636, is answered in English and Spanish, Monday - Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. The Attorney General’s Division for Families and Children is directed by state and federal law to assist families who currently receive or have received public assistance, and families who request child support services. Services include locating absent parents; establishing paternity for children born to unmarried parents; establishing, enforcing and modifying child and medical support orders; and collecting and distributing child support payments. For additional information, visit the Attorney General’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us, or call 1-800-252-8014. |
By: Lance Rasch, CEA-Agriculture Coleman County
4-H and FFA Steer Validation - June 26
The 2007 State 4-H and FFA Steer Validation date for Coleman County has been set for Monday, June 26, 2006 at the Coleman Livestock Auction. All steers competing during the 2005 - 2006 show season will be validated from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.
All exhibitors will need to have addresses, phone number, parent/guardian signatures, exhibitor signatures, and social security numbers in order to complete the validation forms. Cost will be $6.00 for each tag you ordered, payable during validation.
For more information, please call your advisor or the County Extension Office at 325-625-4519.
State Fair Validation Dates for Lambs, Pigs, and Goats - June 22
The State Fair validation dates for lambs, pigs, and goats will be on Thursday, June 22, 2006 at the Coleman Rodeo Grounds. Lamb and goat validation will begin at 5:00 P.M. and the pig validation will begin at 6:30 P.M.
All exhibitors will need to have addresses, phone number, parent/guardian signatures, exhibitor signatures, and social security numbers in order to complete the validation forms. Cost for lamb and goat tags will be $6.00 and pig tags will be $7.00 for each tag you ordered.
For more information, please call your advisor or the County Extension Office at 325-625-4519.
County Events
There are lot of things going on around Coleman County this week. The Annual Coleman PRCA Rodeo is going on. It is kind of hard to tell exactly when it is from there web site ColemanRodeo.com, but it looks like it is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday June the 15th, 16th, and 17th starting at 8:00 PM.
It is a little early this year. I remember during high school when I used to work at the Gulf station at the corner of Commercial and Santa Anna Avenue in Coleman and the rodeo was in town. The famous rodeo clown, Quail Dobbs, would come in an get gas and we would talk about clowning and rodeo and such.
The Little George Havens' Cowboy Camp Meeting is fixing to start this Friday I think. It usually lasts a couple of weeks. No web site for them that I can find but there is probably some more information in the Coleman newspaper somewhere.
I Wish...
I wish a lot of things.. most of which never come true...
One of the things I often wish I could do is play the piano.
When I was growing up one of Mom's treasures was our piano. It was a new upright piano but I don't remember the brand or anything. My older sister, Danna, was the only one of us kids that ever took lessons as best I can remember. My little sister Alys might have. I know her daughter, Sara, is taking it up and I think she is using Mom's piano.
I have always admired those that could play well. Especially those that can play in church or at special occasions. At one such recent occasion, Baccalaureate, Sandra Guthrie, played the Processional and Recessional. I told her afterwards that I wish she had taught me how to play the piano instead of how to make a sentence... not that I learned how to do that either! She, always being an educator, told me, "..it was never too late to learn."
Well it might not be too late to learn, but as I have told you all before... I have to forget something to learn something new!
Another I have always admired is our church's organist, Donnie Neff. He has played the organ at First Baptist Church as far back as I can remember. He played for mine and Cindy's wedding and our oldest daughter Chrystal's wedding also.
Donnie is also known on the rodeo circuit as an organist and every once in while he will bust one out like a bucking bronc.
Recently, I think it was Prom Night, Cindy and I were headed through town and saw old Donnie out in front of That Santa Anna Store and Leatherworks. I heard his daughter, Kyra, had recently bought out Mr. Hetzel. Mr. Hetzel of course is responsible for a lot of the rebuilding of the downtown business environment. I had good intentions about visiting Mr. Hetzel about his coming to Santa Anna but never seemed to get it done.
Donnie had his organ/electric piano fired up and was filling the downtown area with a joyful sound let me tell you. About the time we were leaving a big old gust of wind came around the corner and scattered everyone
I have said before that I couldn't wait until Santa Anna had live musicians all around town. One of my favorite things about Fredericksburg is the live musicians on the streets in the evenings.
Donnie entertains the President and a few other old timers
I Wish... Part II
I wish I could remember things a little better. But I will always have Jessica around to keep me straight I guess. She reminded me that Mrs. Guthrie played the piano at the Baccalaureate. I guess they did play recorded music at the Order of the Rose... maybe they should have got Mrs. Guthrie to play the piano instead!
She also corrected my spelling of her sister's name, "CHrystals name is spelled like this... C H R Y S T A L!!!!!!!!!!! not Crystal". They are just lucky I can still remember their names much less spell them! She also wanted to know what I had learned lately... come to think of it maybe I am forgetting more than I am learning.
Sometimes it is hard to remember things at the time of day when I am doing this stuff. As I look at the time on the computer it says 4:23... that is AM not PM. Jessica was just up making Luke a bottle and asked what I was doing up so late. I asked her is it late or is it early? I think it depends on whether or not you have been to bed yet and if you slept while you were there.
I was listening to Paul Harvey on the way home from work the other day and I heard him quote someone something like, "..hoe you own weeds." and the more I thought about it the more I liked it. I will have to see if I can find out who said it...
If you heard it or know who said it e-mail me news@santaannanews.com
ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT FILES SECOND ‘FRIEND OF COURT’ BRIEF SUPPORTING PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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| AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today filed a “friend of court” brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in California on behalf of all 50 state attorneys general, urging the justices to uphold the Pledge of Allegiance as a constitutional reflection of our national heritage. “School children across this country have begun their day reciting ‘one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,’ which is a clear and constitutional recognition of our foundation as a great nation,” said Attorney General Abbott.
The voluntary, teacher-led recitation of the Pledge with the words “under God” has been a practice among school children for over 50 years, and it symbolizes the religious heritage inherent in our country’s founding, according to the brief. The case on appeal from the Eastern District of California is the second such case brought by Michael A. Newdow, who argues that students’ recitation of the words “under God” in the Pledge violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution regarding separation of church and state. The Texas Attorney General also filed a brief in support of the Pledge in the earlier case. The states contend that the Pledge is not a state-sponsored religious display, but is an acknowledgment of patriotism and citizenship. It is a practice that mirrors the Declaration of Independence’s self-evident truths that citizens are “endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It is also a recognition that our nation is completely distinguishable from Communist nations in form and function. Attorney General Abbott elaborated, “From the earliest days of our nation’s founding, we as a people have innately understood our religious heritage as interwoven with all aspects of civil life. Our Constitution has never been interpreted to be in conflict with these precepts or to prohibit such expressions of our nationality.” The brief strongly argues that instead of conflicting with the First Amendment, the Pledge actually enhances its prescriptions regarding free exercise of religion among all people. The brief finds consistency with former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s decision in a 1985 case that the reference to God in the Pledge is an acknowledgment of religion with “the legitimate secular purposes of solemnizing public occasions, [and] expressing confidence in the future.” While government cannot favor religion over nonreligion – that is, it must remain neutral – by the same token, government cannot display a hostile disregard or indifference toward religious groups, which infers a preference for those who believe in no religion, the brief states. The brief also notes that the Supreme Court has already found that an “absolutist approach” regarding separation of church and state is unrealistic, and that the Constitution never contemplated a complete walled-off separation of church and state. The amicus brief is styled Michael A. Newdow, et al. v Rio Linda Unified School District, et al., Cause No. 05-17257. |
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Food Manager Certification Training Course in June
Statistics indicate that foodborne illness continues to be a health issue in the United States. Each year, 1 in 4 Americans will become sick, 1 in 1,000 will become hospitalized, and 5,000 will die due to a foodborne illness.
During the past legislative session, a statute was amended that allowed the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to require each food establishment to have one certified food manager.
Recently, the Texas Board of Health adopted rules to implement this statute. Many of you have already received a letter from the Texas Department of State Health Services regarding this. Under these new rules, each food establishment permitted by the Texas Department of State Health Services must have one certified food manager. New food manager certificates will be valid for 5 years.
Texas Cooperative Extension, Coleman County, is offering a food manager certification training course. This program will be offered for $79 on June 19-20, 2006 at the Coleman Housing Authority High Rise Community Room. Cost includes training, materials, and the State Food Manager Certification Examination.
This program is designed to not only prepare foodservice managers to pass the certification examination; it will provide valuable education regarding the safe handling of food. Almost 50 cents of every dollar Americans spend on food is spent on meals prepared away from home. Therefore, careful attention to food safety will help keep customers safe and satisfied.
Foodborne illnesses are estimated to cost thousands of dollars in lost wages, insurance, and medical bills. With these statistics, knowledge of how to prevent foodborne illness is essential. The benefits of improved food safety include:
· Increased customer satisfaction
· Improved relationships with health officials
· Prevention of bad publicity and law suits due to foodborne illness
By attending the course, foodservice managers will learn about:
· identifying potentially hazardous foods and common errors in food handling
· preventing contamination and cross-contamination of food
· teaching and encouraging personal hygiene for employees
· complying with government regulations
· maintaining clean utensils, equipment and surroundings
· controlling pests
Foodborne illnesses can be prevented by following simple food safety practices. For more information about the Food Manager Certification Training course of Texas Cooperative Extension, called “Food Safety: It’s Our Business,” call Debbie Hailey at Coleman County Extension Office, 325-625-4519.
2006 Homecoming
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