cannon march 06 2014

AUSTIN Recognizing a growing traffic safety concern in the states energy-production areas, the Texas Transportation Commission has awarded a $150 million contract to Aus-tin-Angel, JV (Austin Bridge & Road and Angel Brothers) for much-needed road work re-

sulting from the states oil and gas boom. The funding, part of the $225 million provided by the Legislature through House Bill 1025 for energy sector road improvements, will allow the Texas Department of Trans-portation to begin repairing

Gonzales County Republican voters returned several incum-bents to office and generally fol-lowed the statewide trend of back-ing mainstream GOP candidates, but there was one minor upset in a judicial race.

There were three contested pri-

mary races in Gonzales County. Incumbent Precinct 2 County Commissioner Donnie Brzozows-ki turned back a challenge from Daryl Titman by a 490-154 mar-gin, while precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Jesse Almaraz defeated chal-lenger Kelly Allen 366-134.

In the GOP race for District Clerk for the 25th Judicial District and 2nd-25th Judicial District, Jan-ice Sutton defeated Carole Rieley 1,140 votes to 434.

Sutton will face Democrat Yvonne Bonnie San Miguel, who was unopposed, in Novembers general election.

The November vote will see one other contested county race, with

Democrat incumbent Sheryl A. Barbourak squaring off against Re-publican JoAnn Mercer. Both ran unopposed in the primary.

Republicans who will take coun-ty-level offices in November after being unopposed include Precinct 4 Commissioner Otis S. Bud Wuest, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Deidra D. Voigt, Precinct 4

Gonzales City Council on Monday gave its backing to a plan by the citys Economic Development board to fund a startup business center near the downtown area.

The Council held its monthly meeting a day early because of Tuesdays primary election vot-ing and gave a thumbs-up to the proposed Gonzales Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors Small Business De-velopment Center.

GEDC board president Na-than Neuse explained the idea of the center is to encourage

start-ups and give entrepeneurs a break getting started.

Neuse said the GEDC would purchase a building near the downtown area and would renovate it as office space, then offer short-term leases to new businesses and some busi-nesses relocating to town. The total earmarked for the project would be around $350,000.

The EDC would be the an-chor tenant, Neuse noted, saying that Economic Develop-ment Director Carolyn Gibbs-Baros could move her office

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The Old Eighteen meets 300on businessmans Greek trip

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Yall probably think that being named Miss Gonzales County is all glamor, dressing up and wearing a crown ... but Shenan Owens proved that some-times you have to get in the dirt and work during Saturdays Gonzales Livestock Show sale when she became an impromptu expert at posing uncooperative swine. Here she lures Michaela Malateks hog into the pic-ture. The Cannon will feature complete coverage of this years Gonzales, Nixon-Smiley and Shiner livestock shows in our March 20 issue. (Photo by Dave Mundy)

Molon Labe

A part-time Gonzales resident in town as an oil and gas attorney had the unique opportunityrecently to demonstrate the Come and Take It spirit at the site where the term was first used more than two thou-sand years ago.

Joe Manak flew halfway around the world for a whirlwind tour of Greece, including a stop at Thermo-pylae where in 480 B.C. 300 Spar-tans under the leadership of King Leonidas were ordered by a million-man Persian army to surrender their

arms, and according to legend told the Persians: Molon Labe Come Take.

Manak was able to visit the site and posed in front of the statue hon-oring the Brave 300 with the Gonza-les Come and Take It flag.

Manak said he wanted to make the pilgrimage to Thermopylae in particular becuase of his reverence for the Second Amendment, which he said is the one that protects all the rest.

A longtime historian and member

Simonides epitaph on the Kolonos hillock, which is the site believed to be the location of the last stand of Leonidas and the Brave Three Hundred: Go Tell The Spartans Passerby, That Here Obedient To Their Laws We Lie. (Photo courtesy Joe Manak)

Joe Manak unfurls the Gonzales Come and Take It flag at the foot of the statue honoring the Spartans at Themopylae, Greece.

Region

Region

DALLAS Texas Baptists endorsed Hollas and Nelda Hoffman as the first Oil Patch Chaplains on Mon-day, Feb. 24, during a meet-ing of the Executive Board. The Hoffmans, of Gonzales, will serve on the oil fields of South Texas as chaplains.

Endorsement lends in-tegrity, character, responsi-bility and accountability to a pastoral ministry in a spe-cialized setting, said Bobby Smith, director of Chaplain-cy Relations. Chaplaincy is a respected program of Texas Baptists. Endorsement provides a sense of worth and accountability and pro-vides connection with a faith group.

Hollas, an ordained min-ister and pastor for more than 30 years, retired from the ministry in August 2013. At that time, he and his wife, Nelda, felt a calling to serve as chaplains in the oil patch-es of South Texas and be-gan a new ministry in their hometown. What began as a ministry from 10-15 miles from their home has now taken the Hoffmans from East to West Texas and ev-erywhere in between.

While they did not know much about the oil fields around them when they started, We knew about people and we knew about the need, Hollas shared.

When asked to describe a typical day in their lives, Hollas says they never know what a day may hold. Some days they are delivering sandwiches to workers who might otherwise not get a meal. Other days find them kneeling beside a hospital bed ministering to a burn victim.

Our desire is to show care, concern, compassion and hope to those we meet each day, Nelda said. Peo-ple on the oil fields need to know there is someone who cares about them. It is a blessing to be the ones who get to show that care!

Working as volunteer chaplains and Hope 1:8 mis-sionaries, the Hoffmans are able to do their work with gifts and offerings they have received from area churches and Texas Baptists. In 2015, oil patch chaplains will re-ceive funds from the Mary Hill Davis Offering to pro-vide Bibles, tracts and need-based projects.

There is a great need for Jesus in the oil field, Hollas said. This ministry is grow-ing faster than we can keep up with but we are so excited about those God is raising up to do the work to further His kingdom.

As their ministry has expanded, so has the num-ber of volunteer chaplains in the area. The Hoffmans now work with three more

couples Kenny and Tawalia Humphreys, Cory and Sarah Davis, and Gary and Kim Haynes. They are continually looking for more volunteers who would like to minister in the oil patch of Texas.

The Eagle Ford Shale Play, in which Gonzales is located, is one of many areas across the state of Texas experienc-ing significant growth. Fred Ater, Texas Baptist church strategist, has worked with the oil field ministry for more than three years. Dur-ing this time, he has seen the need for chaplains arise and has partnered with the Hoff-mans, as well as many others interested in ministering to this growing mission field.

An important aspect of the oil patch chaplain min-istry is to build relationships with area oil field compa-nies. Many times the Hoff-mans drive up to a new site and ask to speak with the safety manager on duty. They share with the manager about who they are and their desire to help the workers at that company.

One day, Hollas and Nel-da drove up to an oil com-pany and the gate was open, so they drove through to the main office. When they knocked on the door, the of-fice manager asked how they were able to drive in when the gate was always closed.

The gate was open for us, Hollas told the manager. Since we are already here, would you mind if I spoke with your safety manager?

He was soon introduced to the safety manager and within a few minutes, Hol-las found himself in front of a room full of oil field work-ers with the opportunity to introduce himself and share with the workers that he was there to get to know them and help in any way that he

could. The Lord opened the

door for us that day to allow us the opportunity to meet and minister to more oil field workers, Nelda shared. This is just one example of how God goes before us each

day and allows us to meet new people and build new relationships for His king-dom.

For more information about Texas Baptist Oil Field Ministry, visit http://texas-baptists.org/oilfield.

The Cannon Thursday, March 6, 2014Page A2

Local couples oilfield ministry earnsendorsement of Texas Baptist board

Obituaries

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Rebecca Ruth Crozier, 1923-2014CROZIER

Rebecca Ruth Crozier, 90, of Waelder, passed away Sunday, March 2, 2014. Rebecca Ruth was born December 9, 1923 in her family home in Waelder to Frank William Crozier and Mary Ella Allsup Cro-zier. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Waelder and the Texas and Southwestern Cattlemens Assn.

Rebecca Ruth had worked as the Waelder City Secretary and she had worked for the Gon-zales County Tax Office. She also had served on the Waelder City Council, but her primary job was tend-ing to her ranch and raising cattle. As a youth living in Waelder and attending the Waelder Schools, Rebecca Ruth played girls basketball and softball. She grew up as a tomboy of sorts, able to excel in sports, tend to the needs of a working ranch, but also crochet and bake legendary fresh coconut cakes. It wasnt uncommon for her to bring a problem-atic calf home to hand feed and nurture to good health. She enjoyed nature; she grew oak trees from seeds and transplanted them wherever she thought there should be a grand oak. She loved her rat terriers that she always fondly kept as pets. She raised cat fish in her pond, but they werent for consumption, just for the pleasure of hand feed-ing. Rebecca Ruth kept her hands busy; if she wasnt tending to her ranch work-ing cattle, repairing fence, planting an oak seedling, she was working with leath-er to make a saddle or a bill-fold or crocheting a sweater for one of her nieces or a hot pad for their kitchen. She remained productive throughout her life; it was just the manner in which she chose to live and an ex-ample to nieces and neph-ews.

She enjoyed her family and loved having her nieces and nephews around her. She taught many of them how to ride a bicycle and a Brahma bull, though the bull was tame, enduring the bumps, bruises and scrapes of learning to ride a bicycle remains a more pleasant

memory. She showed them that a woman could drive a tractor and shred pastures all day and still bake and decorate lovely cakes in the evening. She taught them to fish and then quickly release the fish back to the pond. Rebecca Ruth taught them how to shoot turtles and the fun of shooting dry cow patties thrown in the air or up on the bank of the pond. They enjoyed riding in her pickup truck through the pastures counting calves and listening to her call up cattle in a sound only she could make that would draw the cattle home. She was an industrious woman, she made many things with her hands, but most of all she made memories.

Rebecca Ruth was indeed a caring and loving woman. She and her sister cared for their mother as well as their brothers James and Ned as they became aged and ill. It was the love of people that drove her to serve on the city council to keep her community a pleasant pace to live. She had served as a director of the Waelder cemetery association be-cause she respected those that had lived before and led the way. Because she lived, Rebecca Ruth made Waelder a better place to live, by her selfless service, by the trees she planted, by her love of children and community and by the manner in which she lived.

Rebecca Ruth Crozier is survived by her sis-ters, Mary Ella Crozier of Waelder, Patricia Pope of San Antonio, nieces, Carol Crozier Keller and her hus-band Tom of San Antonio, Patsy Crozier McMains and her husband James of Gon-zales, Eloise Pope Simms of Colleyville and Elaine Pope Bullard and her husband Tom of Waelder, nephews, Richard L. Crozier and his wife Barbara of Gonzales, Charles W. Pope and his wife Alison of San Antonio and numerous great-nieces and nephews. She was pre-ceded in death by her par-ents and brothers, William, James, Samuel Ned and Joe Crozier.

Funeral services were held at 11 am Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in the First Baptist Church in Waelder with Rev. Clint Lowery offi-ciating. Interment followed in Waelder City Cemetery. Pallbearers were: Richard Crozier, Charles Pope, Da-vid Vanderhider, Jonathan McMains, Michael Mc-Mains and James McMains. Memorials may be made to the Waelder Cemetery Assn. The family received friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday evening. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.

Sutherland to appearChristy Sutherland and her husband Matt will be ministering in song and from lifes experiences for 30 minutes in each service, 9 and 10:30 a.m., at Faith Family Church, 1812 Cartwheel Dr. in Gonzales. Chris-tian recording artist and songwriter Christy Suther-land has garnered multiple nominations and awards for her stellar vocals and anointed songwriting in-cluding an Emmy nomination for her involvement with the Hands of Hope project benefiting victims of domestic abuse. She also took home the Absolutely Gospel Award for Traditional Southern Gospel Song of the Year and the coveted BMI Award for her Sing-ing News Top Ten Song of The Year, Somebody Died For Me. Christys numerous television appearances range from The Grand Ole Opry, to TBNs Praise The Lord, The Crystal Cathedrals Hour of Power, The 700 Club, and Bill Gaither Homecoming videos. She recently made her acting debut starring in the faith based film Inspiration Pop 2929, due out this year. Christy and her husband Matthew reside in Nash-ville, TN. For more information go to www.christy-sutherland.net.

An opportunity drawing for this Texas Star Metal Bench made by Kaspar Wire Works of Shiner will be held during the Gonzales County Relay for Life on Friday, March 28. Tickets are $5 and will be on sale at the Prosperity bank employees booth (See any Bank em-ployee for an entry slip).

The CannonThursday, March 6, 2014 Page A3

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Reserve champ in San AntonioThe granddaughter of John Floyd of Gonzales, Ashley Bradley, a Junior at Boerne Champion High School, won the Reserve Grand Champion Steer at the San Antonio Livestock Show. Ashley Bradley is the daughter of Scott and Joanne Bradley of Boerne. Ashleys steer was awarded the Champion Charolais Steer on Wednesday morning, February 19, 2014 and then was named the Reserve Grand Champion Steer on Friday night, February 21, 2014 at the Rodeo Performance. Her steer named Tonto was a 1,324 pound Charolais. This years show had a total of 1,423 head of steers exhibited over a period of three days. Ashley received a $10,000 scholarship for her efforts and then received $78,000 through the Auc-tion Sale to be used for her college education. After the auction on Saturday, February 22, 2014 Scott Bradley had this to say about the experience, I am so proud of Ashley for this great success and so thankful for all the phone calls and acknowledgments of my families accomplishment at the San Antonio Livestock Show.

Nixon-Smiley 10th grader Jose Olalde has received a full scholarship to represent Nixon-Smiley and the state of Texas at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington DC (sponsored by The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists). Jose leaves to-night for Washington DC. Jose is a sophomore at Nixon-Smiley High School, where he is active in sports, a rep-resentative of the sophomore class, band drum major and part of a quartet advancing to state competition. He has also actively participated in UIL, winning 5th place as an individual and second place in team calculator in Yoakum recently. Joses family is extremely proud of his accomplishments, and so are the students and faculty at Nixon-Smiley High School.

The Obama administration says that we need to end what it calls the era of austerity in Washington. Notably excluded from this admonition is the one department of government that is actually experiencing austerity worthy of the name.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel unveiled a military budget that will reduce the U.S. Army to pre-World War II levels. The spin is that this will be a smarter force better suited to 21st-century challenges, but everyone knows that it is all about accommodating the trillion dollars in defense cuts adopted during the recent Beltway budgetary wars.

We obviously arent at the same point as the British in the 19th century, when Bismarck scoffed that if the British army invaded, hed have it arrested. But 570,000 troops were barely enough to fight the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and the Hagel budget will take us to 450,000, or -- if the defense sequester isnt further relaxed -- even fewer.

It is not quite true that the cuts are undertaken without any strategic thought. The Obama administrations strategic thought is ... that we need no strategic thought.

Understandably, we dont want to fight another grinding ground war. But this doesnt mean we wont have to, or we

wont experience other nasty surprises. It is an unfortunate part of the American tradition to convince ourselves, when we find it convenient, that the world is not a dangerous place that always demands our attention, or else.

In 1939, the United States had an Army of 185,000 men on the cusp of historys most cataclysmic war. We believed conflicts could always be worked out among nations, and that war served no ones interests, and so it was a thing of the past.

It was odd, the late historian Stephen Ambrose writes, that a nation that had come into existence through a victorious war, gained large portions of its territory through war, established its industrial revolution and national unity through a bloody civil war, and won a colonial empire through war, could believe that war profited no one.

But so it did. As soon as World War

II ended, we embarked on a carelessly precipitous demobilization that junked one of the most fearsome Western armies ever assembled. Just having liberated Europe, we still managed to find ourselves unprepared for the onset of the Korean War.

Defenders of the current defense cuts say that we still spend more on our military than anyone else in the world. True, but we arent a mere regional power. Unless we want to outsource patrolling the global sea lanes to China and the security of Europe to Russia, we will always have to spend substantially more than anyone else does.

Our allies arent in any position to pick up the slack. When the French army wants to go anywhere, we have to fly it. The entire British navy is smaller than the fleet sent to take back the Falklands in the 1980s.

President Barack Obama is a devoted believer in the efficacy of government spending as government spending -- on everything but defense. In 2009, it was $800 billion for stimulus but not a cent for defense.

We may not regret it this year or the next. But regret it we will.

Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review.


In Our View

Pay attention on the road before you go down it

RichLowry

Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review and a syndicated columnist for King Features Syndi-cate.

ScratchPad

Jim Cunningham is a former longtime Gonzales news-man and the former interim publisher of the Gonzales Cannon. He now lives in the Moulton area.

Jim Cunningham

A military budget of delusion

THE GONZALES CANNON (USPS 001-390) is published weekly each Thursday by Gonzales Cannon Inc., 618 St. Paul Street, Gonzales, TX 78629. Periodicals Postage Paid at Gonzales, TX 78629. A one year subscription costs $25 both in-county and out-of county. E-subscriptions are $15 per year.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Gonzales Cannon, PO Box E, Gonzales, TX 78629.

An erroneous reflection upon the charactor, stand-ing or reputation of any firm, person or corporation, which appears in the columns of this newspaper will be corrected upon due notice given to the publication at The Gonzales Cannon office. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Phone: (830) 672-7100. Fax: (830) 672-7111. Website:www.gonzalescannon.com.

The Gonzales CannonBOARD OF DIRECTORSBilly Bob Low Chairman

Randy Robinson, Vice ChairmanMary Lou Philippus, Secretary

Myrna McLeroyAlice Hermann

Dave Mundy - Editor & General Manager

[email protected]

Debbie Toliver - Advertising Director [email protected]

Dorothy Gast - Business [email protected]

Mark Lube - Sports Editor [email protected]

Sanya Harkey - Circulation/Classifieds [email protected]

Letters to the [email protected]

2014

The mail-bag: retailer circulars and investigationsDances withChihuahuas

Dave MundyGeneral

Manager

Time to sort through the ol mail-bag. Normally wed print questions addressed our direction as Letters to the Editor, but most of these were asked by the prover-bial A Concerned Citizen or in-clude the post-script, Please dont print my name!

Then there are the questions which get asked multiple times over multiple weeks, so its best to asnwer them en masse.

The first of the latter would read something like this: Why cant the Cannon run the H-E-B and Walmart sales circulars?

The easy answer is, we can. Wed love to. But apparently folks in San Antonio and in Bentonville, Ark., prefer our towns other publica-tion, and that has as much to do with publication days as anything.

Some of our questioners have suggested that politics has some-thing to do with it. While its true that the owner of the H-E-B chain is notorious for his extremely lib-eral politics and the Big Blue Team once included Hillary Clinton on its board of directors, both organi-zations are motivated exclusively

by profit, not politics. I very seriously doubt what ap-

pears on The Cannons editorial page has any influence whatsoever on policy at the Home Office; and besides, both local outlets have advertised with us extensively in support of community events and promoting their grand openings. And we have run with several sea-sonal Walmart flyer inserts.

The Wednesday sales circulars got their birth in the 1960s when newspapers around the country began looking for a way to ramp up mid-week sales, Wednesday being notorious as the slowest day of the week. Grocers, in particu-lar, took to the notion because it put those circulars in the hands

of readers by Friday mornings; retailers soon followed suit, since the bulk of their sales had already shifted to weekends.

The Cannon comes out on Thursdays; the other paper dis-tributes Tuesday. Despite the fact that we have the higher paid circu-lation (source: Texas Press Associa-tion), the big-box retailers prefer being on the streets on Wednes-day, not Thursday.

Our sales staff can point out all the advantages of The Cannon to those retailers, but they listen more to everyday customers. If youd like to see their circulars in our paper, send a letter to their corporate offices; letters work wonders.

+++++Then there are the letters al-

most never signed which begin: You ought to investigate ...

Im sure there are individuals or public officials somewhere with garages full of illegal drugs, ille-gal aliens, rocket launchers, stolen cattle and/or dog fights. But last I checked, breaking into their homes to find it is illegal and I have a

rather spotless record of never hav-ing been behind bars that Id like to keep intact.

Dont get me wrong: Ive done some in-depth investigative re-porting before and it involved sifting through paperwork the hard way, rather than rushing up to someone and shoving a camera in his face. Especially when youre alleging criminal activity, the best way to expose it really is to give the information to law enforcement and let them do their job; the more information you can give them, the faster it can happen.

Its the same with complaints about things that happen in school. Many of the issues which come to our attention are best handled by the people weve hired to handle them.

I cant go grab Young Thug out of class and search him for the bags of pot hes selling that everyone knows about, for example but I can guarantee that the school re-source officer can, in conjunction with established school policy.

Nor can I do much about that assistant principal who hates your

child, a fact supposedly proven by the child being ticketed for parking in the wrong spot or being unfairly assigned to ISS or some other in-cident. Thats an issue you need to run up the chain of command all the way to the school board, if nec-essary; thats one of the things we elect them for.

I have in the past done a lot of investigating on issues of curricu-lum and content, from very specific concerns such as an objectionable library book to deeper issues such as CSCOPE and Common Core.

By and large, school adminis-trators especially in our area have been very responsive to pa-rental concerns on specific content items, and I have been happy to act as intermediary to get that concern handled without needing to turn it into a splashy story.

I learned years ago, however, that the deeper issues of basic edu-cational philosophy and method-ology cant be resolved at the local level. Without going into the sub-ject too deeply and electioneering, thats why Im seeking a seat on the State Board of Education.

JOKE Circa 1910:Knicker: My car doesnt need a Klaxon.

You can always hear it coming. It has a brass band on its radiator.

Bocker: Mine doesnt need one either. Right up front, it warns you, Dodge.

Boy hidee, I say, was this consider me sexist gal in a hurry or what.

Shorthaired and stocky, the lady passed me in a no passing zone. On Hwy. 95 as I was southbound coming into Moulton on a recent Sunday afternoon. This seri-ous she-devil had her SUV hitting about 85 mph when she zoomed that sucker out and around my little Mini Cooper roadster as we approached Corncob Hill inbound to the city limits.

Darting off like a bat out of hell into the shade of the setting sun. Since daylight was ready to end, and it was late, she wasnt about to run late. Obviously this tacky and pulpy idjit had no time to tarry.

I thought. Boy hidee, she must have to pee real bad. Or perhaps she is willing to die for a cold Diet Coke. Then again, maybe shes in a snit and in a heck of a hurry to get to a Rosary.

Possibly her own.You know I reckon that in this weird and

wacky, yet wondrous world there are safer drivers. Friendlier too. Motorists that race along the Interstates and major arteries and circle cloverleafs in the big cities than there are in the rural areas these days,

It impresses me that on a daily basis jil-

lions of vehicles, say in San Antonio, Hous-ton and Dallas, can dash about in rush hour traffic with a minimum of fender benders. Granted, there are fatalities at times. Col-lisions that result in grief to families and friends. That are spotlighted by the TV news at 10.

But all in all that is a passel of people steer-ing autos here and there and everywhere at any given time. To wind up with engines shut down safely in driveways, parking lots and garages.

But here in the rural areas of South Cen-tral Texas traffic has played havoc on the highways. Especially on what was once con-sidered the laid back two-lanes. Its easy to reason as to the reason why: the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas activity.

The Eagle Ford Shale formation, accord-ing to the Texas Railroad Commission, is an area that plays across Texas from Laredo up into East Texas, roughly 50 miles wide and 400 miles long.

The first well in the formation was drilled in 2008 in LaSalle County. Since then, as of Feb. 3, rigs have drilled 5,285 oil wells and 2,617 gas wells. And the producers avow they are in it for the long run.

Apparently they are. It is projected that almost $30 billion was spent in 2013 devel-oping the play, which is currently the most active in the nation, with more than 200 active rigs pumping, according the Baker Hughes in a June 2013 update.

And in March 2013 Eagle Ford shattered a production record topping 500,000 bar-rels per day and producing 77 percent more crude oil in March than the same month of 2012, according to Bloomberg News.

Figures for the past year will definitely surpass those statistics.

As a result the small communities along the route have become severely impacted.

For the 14 counties involved in the boom in 2011, these impacts translated into nearly $20 billion in output, 38,000 full-time jobs, $211 million in local govern-ments revenues and $312 million in state revenues, according to a 2012 study by the University of Texas at San Antonio.

The study estimates that the Eagle Ford Shale, by 2021, could support:

More that 82,000 jobs in the 14 coun-ties, up from 38,000 in 2011

Generate $6 billion in salaries and ben-efits paid to workers

Contribute $1.6 billion in state revenues and $888 million in local government rev-enues

That comes to a lot of nickels and dimes.Now back to trying to steer oneself down

the road apiece. Safely. Of a personal observation it is difficult.

Here we are in an agricultural area. Spring is about to spring. Hopefully the rains will come and bless the hayfields. A problem arises with the growth of coastal when it comes to harvesting. Tractors and balers and other machinery have to share the as-phalt with gravel and tanker trucks.

The big rigs are as common to the two-

lanes as belly buttons everybodys got one.A loaded belly dump rig of gravel weighs

76,000 to 80,000 pounds and a tanker with crude oil tips the scales around 74,000 pounds. Thats a load for the roads to take. And the roads werent expected to see such traffic. Nor to accommodate such weight.

Potholes aplenty and the non-existent shoulders are caved in. Construction crews cant keep up with maintenance. Too many rigs on the paths designed for autos and light trucks and farm equipment.

Whos to bless and whos to blame. The boom for bringing about economic good-ies and the boom for impacting the re-gion. Cant have it both ways.

According to TxDot, there were 3,430 traffic crashes in the 14 counties of the Eagle Ford Shale region in 2013.

Personally I pay heed to the change in the traffic pattern. But I still travel. By motor-cycle and car. Oft times bouncing along like a truckload of starving kangaroos.

I consider myself of the age to know that there will be speeders with a high-fecal ce-rebrum content and those prime candidates for natural de-selection. Those with the pa-tience being akin to a spastic colon and the ones that cotton to hitting the send button on a cell phone while backing out into on-coming traffic with nary a glance either way.

Texas, since the 19 and 60s, has advocat-ed Drive Defensively. Its a sound and safe saying, I think.

Because when youre out and about and going about the business of getting from here to there you have to consider that be-hind a wheel is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

And for the life of me, what with gal whipping her SUV around my little car in a no passing zone, I cant comprehend her rush to ride in a hearse down the road.


Can a federal agencygive away a whole city?

In Your View

Come and Fight It, for a CureLetters to the editor

Herman Brune

Herman Brune is a freelance writer, radio personality and author based in Colorado County.

Looking Downfrom the Saddle

This is an edited transcrip-tion of an interview with Dal-las Safari Club spokesman Steve Wagner heard on The News from the Camphouse on KULM 98.3 FM.

Brune: Recently, there was a controversy earlier in the year that drew national media attention. The Dallas Safari Club (DSC) auctioned a hunt for a specific old-age black rhino bull that biologists said needed to be culled from the herd. However, this brought fire from anti-hunting and animal rights organizations. I read three different articles about this issue and knew that the biology of the subject was not being well explained. Mainstream people who dont savvy wild-life conservation would be confused.

Wagner: The black rhino is a critically endangered species. There are only 5,000 left in the world. In Namibia there are 1700. Most of the rhino poaching is in South Africa and in 2013, 1,000 rhinos were poached. But next door in Namibia the population is growing five percent a year. The biologists, in Namibia, pick out the old non-breeding aggressive bulls to harvest. These old bulls are not contrib-uting to the herd but will charge and kill younger bulls, cows, and calves. It benefits the herd and the population grows when these old bulls are taken out. So, hunting is a management tool. Most people are fa-miliar with that concept when considering species such as whitetail deer. It works with endangered species too if specific animals are culled.

Brune: Yes, but in the mainstream me-dia, the biology wasnt explained thor-oughly. Anyone should be capable of un-derstand hunting as a conservation tool if its explained correctly.

Wagner: Yes, its unfortunate and been a source of confusion for people. Our side of the issue has biology and a lot of white paper explaining concepts, the other side have a bumper sticker. The other side has no facts. They speak from emotion. Theyll say dont kill any rhinos if theyre endan-gered. And thats the sound bite for the eve-ning news. Our side needs a little time to explain how the biology works and much of the media wouldnt give us that time.

Brune: This hunt was auctioned at the DSC Convention. How did the controversy affect the auction?

Wagner: Namibia has been doing these hunts for years. They sold these hunts at auction within their own country for pric-es from $175,000 to $223,000. That money is used for rhino conservation which costs include law enforcement, game warden training, patrols, patrol vehicles, and for biologists and research.

Brune: How did the controversy affect the price at auction during the DSC show?

Wagner: Namibia, thought they could raise more money if they auctioned the hunt in the U.S. The safari club made no commission on selling this hunt. All the money went back to Namibia. When the media storm started hunters in the organi-zation decided to make a strong statement to show mainstream folks how conserva-tion through hunting is good. There was

talk that the permit would bring $1million. As the event got closer the controversy be-came ugly. There were death threats against the DSC mem-bers, staff, and families. The ugliness spilled into the me-dia. There were protesters and hackers that were trying to take down the DSC website. A lot of the guys who originally said they were going to make a statement started thinking about the safety of their fami-lies and homes. The permit eventually sold for $350,000.

Thats $125,000 more than before, and that will go a long way to help but its not $1 million. The anti- hunting groups celebrat-ed because theyd driven the price down. In our eyes that was tragic. We set a record but we could have had a lot more money to put towards black rhino conservation.

Brune: The confusion with doing con-servation for Africa in the U.S. is frustrat-ing politics. Years ago there was a ban on ivory, and a Professional Hunter from Zim-babwe related that such a ban drove up the price and increased poaching. In this case, the conservation is backed by good science and those folks specifically need money for law enforcement. One thing Americans dont realize is that the poachers are killing the game wardens. In defense, the game wardens have adopted a shoot first and ask question later approach.

Wagner: Yes, thats true. Game wardens have the authority to shoot on sight. Be-fore, game wardens were being killed at an unimaginable rate. Its a war zone and the battle is over rhinos and elephants. The game wardens need money for equipment. Poachers are using helicopters, tranquilizer guns, poisoning water holes, and are more brutal than ever. They are after the rhino horns which are in demand in Vietnam and South East Asia. The horns are used in traditional medicine. Its ineffective, but those are traditional beliefs. The idea of consuming a small vial of rhino horn in a glass of wine is also a status symbol.

Brune: Most people dont know the ac-tivities practiced by anti-hunting groups. Commonly we think of anti-hunters as someone stupid enough to send $20 to PETA or the U.S. Humane Society. But the anti-crowd has gotten more sophisticated and, as you said, ugly.

Wagner: Theres a group called Anony-mous. Its a worldwide network of hackers. They attack causes by taking down web-sites, and flooding emails, and Facebook accounts. They hack in, get names and sensitive information and make it public. Ive seen them hack a website, get a hunters name, pay for a background check, a credit report, and then made all his information public. They have focused some of their attention on hunting, and, on their web-site they have a target list of organizations and people. They are a network of cyber-terrorists around the world. They can com-promise your business through your web-site and they can compromise customers through the website. We call them online flash mobs.

Brune: Isnt that illegal.Wagner: Yes, its a job for the FBI but

many of the hackers are overseas.

Dear Editor,Fellow Citizens & Compatriots Each

year in late February and early March I am reminded of the many sacrifices made during Texas fight for independence and of the leadership shown by the citizens of Gonzales. One of the most moving and historic documents to come out of that struggle was the letter that Colonel Travis sent to Fellow Citizens & Compatriots requesting aid and reinforcements to be sent to the defenders of the Alamo. That letter was first received in Gonzales before being distributed throughout Texas and Gonzales sent the only detachment of men in response.

I am writing this letter in that same spir-it, requesting that the citizens of Gonzales once again come forward to support an im-portant struggle that has implications for us all; the fight against cancer.

The Gonzales Relay for Life, with the theme Come and Fight It for a Cure, pro-

vides a focal point for our efforts to win this war. Each year the Gonzales event achieves higher goals but there can never be too many soldiers in this battle so, like Travis, I am asking for additional support.

As has been reported in the pages of this newspaper, there are many ways to support the event. Fellow Citizens can support the various Relay teams, sponsor, contrib-ute to the silent auction or purchase lumi-narias. Even if you only attend the March 28 event your presence will be meaningful to those who are in a personal battle with cancer.

In closing his letter, Travis wrote Vic-tory or Death! These words sum up the importance of this war, just as they did in 1836. Please do your part to end the cancer fight with a victory.

Ken FischerCancer SurvivorGonzales

Let victims know helps availableDearEditor:

I wrote to the senior manager, relay for life in Austin to ask how Relay for Life funds raised here in Gonzales helped in 2013 those here in Gonzales who were can-cer patients.

My United Methodist Womens circle at First UMC Gonzales, the Lenore Boothe circle, is trying to help one of these people who was diagnosed last year and continues to be treated for cancer and this led to my writing Brad Wisdom for specific informa-tion as to how our friend can be helped from Relay for Life funds raised here.

I am herein asking those who are leaders in the Relay for Life campaign in Gonzales to please make this information available to each person in Gonzales who is diag-nosed with cancer and applies for help in Gonzales whenthey apply for help. There were 19 people here who didnt apply for help from the ACS, possibly because they didnt know there is help available.

And others who read this, please also cut it out to have for when you are trying to help someone here who is diagnosed with cancer in gonzales. Thank you.

This information is from Brad Wisdom:Last year there were 82 people diag-

nosed with cancer in Gonzales Countythe American Cancer Society provided help to 63 of those individuals. All of these patients came to us by either contacting us through our 800 number or by doctor re-ferral at their treatment center.

The other 19 patients either didnt need resources from the American Cancer Soci-ety or, unfortunately, may not have known that the American Cancer Society is there to help them. That is one of a number of reasons Relay For Life is so beneficial in the communities around the nation, including Gonzales County.

With the American Cancer Societys Re-lay For Life presence, we are able to spread the word as far as we can that there are services available for patients and their families as they go through the cancer ex-perience. While we may not be able to help with every need, we try to provide help to every patient that comes to us.

Whether it is answering their questions 24 hours a day/7 days a week so they un-derstand their diagnosis or treatment op-tions, connecting them with additional helpful resources in and around their com-munity, giving them a wig when they have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, or pro-viding them a free room when they have to travel away from home for their treatment, we strive to improve the quality of life for patients and their families when we can. Relay For Life is what makes all of this pos-sible. It also makes possible the research dollars that are working to find more and better treatments for those battling this disease in Gonzales County and beyond.

Regarding our lodging program, the American Cancer Society provides two types of lodging services; one is through our Hope Lodge. I believe this may be the program you found information on and were referring to in your previous email. We currently have a Hope Lodge in Lub-bock and are in the process of making others available in Houston and Dallas. In addition to our Hope Lodge facilities around the country, our guest room pro-gram is available in other cities such as San Antonio where your friend is receiving her treatment. Through this program, we part-ner with a network of 100 plus hotels in the San Antonio area to provide free nights to cancer patients in need of lodging when traveling away from home for their treat-ment.

Brad Wisdom | Senior Manager, Relay For Life

High Plains Division | American Cancer Society, Inc.

2433 Ridgepoint DrAustin, TX 78754Phone: 512.919.1848 | Mobile:

210.316.7284cancer.org | 1.800.227.2345

Pastor Jo Ann Leifeste, RetiredGonzales


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Office 830-672-2845

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Hallettsville Livestock Commission Co.

Where your livestock brings top $$$ everytime!

AUCTION SALE EVERY TUESDAY

Call 361-798-2542We appreciate your business!

Larry Ondrusek dOzer serviceRoot Plowing - Root Raking - Discing and Tank Building.

35 Years Experience working in Gonzales and Surrounding Counties.

Call:361-594-2493

NixoN Livestock commissioN

Sale Every Monday 10:30 a.m.All Livestock Bonded and Insured

W.E. Buck BUTLERNixon, Texas830-582-1052

Hwy. 87 E., Nixon830-582-1561 or

830-582-1562

MANAGERGARY BUTLER

830-582-1944

Vics Concrete Finishingand Backhoe Work

Any type concrete work. Commercial & Residential

We dont do cheap work; We do quality work

Free Estimates830-672-6383

25 years experience 2-5 man crewConcrete Cattle Guard Bases

Let Us Build Your New HomeCustom Residential & Commercial Builders

Re-Roof Vinyl Siding Metal BuildingsRemodeling Concrete Works

Plumbing Trenching Backhoe ServiceServing the area since 1948 General Contractors Shiner

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Honesty Integrity Fairness

Walker Plumbing&

Septic Systems123 Bright St., Gonzales

830-672-3057 or 830-857-4006Plumbing

Residential & CommercialNew

Septic Systems

[email protected]

Stoney Herchek

(361)293-19412345 Bootlegger Lane

Yoakum, TX 77995

Skid Steers and Attachments...Much More!

Jordan Equipment Co.WWW.jordanequipmentco.com

Paul J. Jordan, owner 3796 N. US Hwy 183 Gonzales, TX 78629

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830-672-8393Office

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KING RANGER THEATRESHwy 123 Bypass & E. Walnut St., Seguin

Fri., Mar. 7 thru Thurs, Mar. 13 all Shows $5.50 Before 6:00 Adult $7.50 Child & Senior $5.50 Open Daily @ 12:45ROCKING CHAIR STADIUM SEATING WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE ALL DIGITAL SOUND HEARING IMPAIRED SOUND

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LEGO MOVIE 2-D (PG)12:45, 2:45, 4:55, 7:00, 9:00

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Gonzales County RecordsGonzales County Courthouse DeedsFebruary 1-28Pettus Jr, Warren P. and Fitts, Sharon Ann Pettus to

Warron Partnership, w/d, 638.853 Acres & Pt. Lt. 2, Tier 1 & Pt. of Alsups Subdvn, D Daniels Svy & Outer Town Gonzales.

Clampit, William J. and Clampit, Lauren R. (Indiv. & Atty-in-Fact) to Steen, Delores, w/d, 424.27 Acres, Otto Von Roeder A-462 & John Oethkin A-369 Svys.

Ploeger, Mark to Gonzales Area Development Corpo-ration, w/d, 35.99, Orig. Outer Town Gonzales.

Day, Robert James (Trustee), Day, Mary Ann (Trustee), Day Living Trust, Robert, Day Living Trust, Mary Ann and Robert & Mary Ann Day Living Trust to Ward, Lloyd D. and Ward, Susan K., w/d, Pt. Lts. 5-6, Blk. 1, Davidson

Hill Addn, Gonzales.Horton, Deborah ( Remainderman), Kennon, Travis

(Remainderman) and Horton, Deborah (Remainderman) to Sabine River Energy, LLC, o/l, 28.00 Acres, Prosper Hope Svy, A-252.

L&N Investments, LLC to Edwards, Johnnie L., w/d, Pt. Lt. 2, Blk 2, Stierens Addn, Gonzales.

Koricanek, Barbara (Trustee), Fred E. Koricanek Fam-ily Trust B. and Koricanek Family Trust B, Fred E. to Brown, Brud Barrett and Brown, Karisa Brie, w/d, 12.908 Acres, Bartholomew D. McClure Svy, A-41.

Kidd, Jerry W. and Kidd, Pamela to Knox, Keith and Knox, Monica, w/d, 3.1412 Acres, Stephen Smith Svy, A-62.

Brelsford Cattle Company, Ltd., to Brelsford, Harold

Petsch, Brelsford, John Petsch, Brelsford, Susanna Me-lissa, Brelsford, Joseph Paul, Brelsford, Jefferson Slator and Brelsford, Edyth Elaine, w/d, Mineral Int. in 454.796 Acres, Benjamin Z Boon Svy, A-119.

Kotzebue, Alexander A. (Trustee), Kotzebue, Eliza-beth A. (Trustee), Kotzebue Living Trust, Alexander A. and Kotzebue Living Trust, Elizabeth A to Connell, Diane Kotzebue, w/d, Property not shown.

Espinosa, Johnny and Espinosa, Pauline to Rodriguez, Dianne Espinosa, w/d, Pt. Lt. 2, Kings 6th Addn, Gon-zales.

Kapavik, Ruby Marie (Trustee) and Kapavik Family Trust to CLPK Properties, LLC, w/d, 0.50 of an Acre (Pt. Lt. 16, Rg. 3) East of Water Street, Orig. Outer Town Gon-zales.

Kapavik, Ruby (Extrx & Trustee), Kapavik, Ernest Emil (Estate), Kapavik Family Trust and Kapavik Marital Trust to Garza, Lupe and Garza, Valentine, w/d, 1.380 Acres, Ly-man Pease Svy, A-378.

Kelso, Shirley to Halliburton, Bobby Ray and Hallibur-ton, Diane Jean, w/d, 5.979 Acres, Theophilus Hickman Svy, A-249.

Cone, Vera Ann to Shelton, David and Shelton, Kathy, w/d, 42.509 Acres, J J Treadwell Svy, A-458.

Roberts, Jessica Lynne McGown to McGown, Jaime L., w/d, Undiv. Int. in 40.00 Acres, Jose Maria Salinas Svy, A-59.

McGown, Jaime L. and Stieler, Kirk J. to Baker Jr, Em-met J. and Baker, Judy L., w/d, 40.00 Acres, Jose Maria Salinas Svy, A-59.


Area Livestock Reports

Whats Up at the GYC

Millers Autoworx

Miller BullockOwner/Operator901 East Davis St.Luling, TX 78648Work 830-875-2277Cell 512-771-6218Fax [email protected]

Complete Auto & Truck Repair

Specializing inDiesel, European

& AsianTriple AAA Certified Shop

FREESUSPENSION CHECK

Gonzales Livestock Market ReportThe Gonzales Livestock Market Report

for Saturday, March 1, 2014 had on hand: 765 cattle.

Compared to our last sale: Calves and yearlings sold steady to $2.00 to $3.00 higher. Packer cows sold steady $2.00 higher.

Stocker-feeder steers: Medium and large frame No. 1: 150-300 lbs., $245-$275; 300-400 lbs, $260-$270; 400-500 lbs, $215-$250; 500-600 lbs, $195-$205; 600-700 lbs., $180-$190; 700-800 lbs, $165-$175.

Bull yearlings: 700-900 lbs, $135-$155.Stocker-feeder heifers: Medium and

large frame No. 1: 150-300 lbs, $195-$210; 300-400 lbs, $195-$210; 400-500 lbs, $185-$190; 500-600 lbs., $170-$175; 600-700 lbs., $160-$164.

Packers cows: Good lean utility and commercial, $87-$9+2; Cutters, $97-$111; Canners, $65-$76; Low yielding fat cows, $84-$92.

Packer bulls: Yield grade 1 & 2, good heavy bulls; $101-$122; light weights and medium quality bulls, $89-$98.

Stocker Cows: $950-$1,525.Pairs: $1,050-$1,700.Thank you for your business!!View our sale live at cattleusa.com!

Nixon LivestockCommission ReportThe Nixon Livestock Commission Inc.

Report had on hand, March 3, 2014, Vol-ume, 446; Cows, 113, bulls 9.

Steers: 200-300 lbs, $207 to $217 to $265; 300-400 lbs., $222 to $232 to $265; 400-500 lbs, $194 to $204 to $235; 500-600 lbs, $176 to $186 to $220; 600-700 lbs, $157 to $167 to $192; 700-800 lbs, $135 to $137 to $139.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs, $191 to $201 to $240; 300-400 lbs, $192 to $202 to $255; 400-500 lbs, $172 to $182 to $205; 500-600 lbs, $167 to $177 to $260; 600-700 lbs, $140 to $150 to $170; 700-800 lbs, $140 to $145 to $149.

Slaughter cows: $87 to $110; Slaughter bulls: $105 to $121; Stocker cows: $950 to $1,200; Pairs, $1,050 to $1,500.

Cuero Livestock Market ReportCuero Livestock Market Report on

February 28, 2014, had 764 head.Had 119 cows and 15 bulls. The packer

market was steady with a little higher tone in line with last several weeks. Packer prices continue to be at record highs.

The calf market was again very solid as all weights in all classes were as strong or stronger than last weeks market. Last week broke all the historical records for price/lb as well as value per head. Todays market is easily $2-$6/cwt higher in a lot of classes.

Packer Bulls: Hvy. Wts., $95-$119; low-er grades, $80-$94.

Packer cows: breakers, $65-$83; bon-ing, $65-$90; canners & cutters, $82-$109; light & weak, $38-$53.

Palpated, 12 head bred, per cwt, $110-$134.

2 Pairs: $1,600 and $1,650.Steer calves: under 200 lbs, none; 200-

250 lbs, none; 250-300 lbs, $224-$262.50; 300-350 lbs, $228-$244; 350-400 lbs, $225-$250; 400-450 lbs, $207-$226; 450-500 lbs, $204-$224; 500-550 lbs, $203-$218; 550-600 lbs, $196-$218; 600-700 lbs, $177-$197; 700-800 lbs, $155-$166.

Bull Calves: under 250 lbs, $266-$300; 250-300 lbs, $233-$260; 300-350 lbs, $230-$258; 350-400 lbs, $230-$254; 400-450 lbs, $203-$231; 450-500 lbs, $209-

$226; 500-550 lbs, $195-$220; 550-600 lbs, $192-$219; 600-700 lbs, $168-$200.

Over 700 lbs. bulls, $148-$165.Heifer Calves: under 200 lbs., $257-

$285; 200-250 lbs, $212-$220; 250-300 lbs, $219-$225; 300-350 lbs, $206-$232.50; 350-400 lbs, $196-$248; 400-450 lbs, $179-$234; 450-500 lbs, $185-$211; 500-550 lbs, $180-$198; 550-600 lbs, $174-$1978; 600-700 lbs., $159-$180; over 700 lbs, $149-$162.

Hallettsville LivestockCommission ReportThe Hallettsville Livestock Commis-

sion Co., Inc. had on hand on February 25, 2014,709, week ago, 1,414; year ago, 675.

The market this week continued steady to stronger. Demand continues to be strong in all weight classes.

Packer cows and bulls sold fully steady and very active on approx. 125 hd. total.

Packer Cows: higher dressing utility & cutter cows, $88-$106 lower dressing util-ity & cutter cows, $75-$88; light weight canner cows, $58-$75.

Packer Bulls: heavyweight bulls, $112-$120; utility & cutter bulls, $100-$112; lightweight canner bulls, $89-$100.

Stocker and Feeder Calves and Year-lings: Steer & Bull Calves: under 200; $260-$300; 200-300 lbs, $230-$280; 300-400 lbs, $210-$252; 400-500 lbs, $185-$235; 500-600 lbs, $170-$212; 600-700 lbs, $162-$188; 700-800 lbs, $155-$170. Heifer Calves: under 200 lbs, $230-$280; 200-300 lbs, $205-$255; 300-400 lbs, $195-$232; 400-500 lbs, $180-$226; 500-600 lbs, $163-$195; 600-700 lbs, $151-$174; 700-800 lbs, $130-$165.

If we can help with marketing your livestock, please call 361-798-4336.

Chamber trip, open house and Ghost Tour

Please join the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce Va-cations, presented our fall vacation package Autumn in New England at teh Riv-erside Center on Tuesday. This package includes a 7 day vacation featuring Bos-ton, Salem, House of Seven Gables, Norman Rockwell Museum, Apple Orchards, Southern Vermont, Ben-nington, Vermont Farm, Vermont Country Store, Wolfeboro, Portland Head Light, Kennebunkport, and a one of a kind Lobster Din-ner! For more information, please contact the Gonzales Chamber at 830.672.6532 or online at www.gonzal-estexas.com under the cal-endar of events.

We will also be having our 1st After Hours Mixer for 2014 in conjunction with Texan Nursing & Re-habs Open House! Join us on March 6th from 6-8 p.m. Enjoy live music by the ONeal Brothers, Gon-zales Food Market will be providing BBQ with all the trimmings, beer & wine, and last but not least, stick around for their door priz-es!

First Friday Coffee will be held on March 7 at The Heights. First Friday Coffee is a casual networking op-portunity that is held once

a month at various loca-tions. Have fun and visit with other members of our business community. Those who attend will be part of our $50.00 cash drawing and other door prizes!

On March 8 the Gon-zales County Historical Commission will have their Ghost Host event at the Gonzales County Jail Muse-um. The Ghost Host experi-ence includes stories of past encounters, instruction use of paranormal equipment, and an active investigation of the Gonzales County Jail Museum. Reserve tickets at 830.203.1834 or by email at [email protected].

The Gonzales V.F.W Auxiliary Post 4817 will be having their annual chick-en, brisket, pork rib, beef fajita, Chili &Bean cook-off on March 15, 2014. For more information please contact Dorothy Gast at 254.931.5712.

Daisy Scheske is the Execu-tive Director of the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce.

ChamberChatter

DaisyScheske

San Antonio Water Systems donated $1500 to the Gonzales Livestock Show. Shown is Mike Brzozowski of the Gonzales Livestock Show and Ken Holt of SAWS. (Photo by Mark Lube)

The Gonzales Healthcare Systems Employee of the Fourth Quarter for 2013 is Diane Roxie Macias. Roxie has worked for GHS for four years, starting out in Admissions and transferring to the Business Office where she is the Charity Care Coordinator. She is very dedicated to Gonzales Healthcare Systems and is al-ways willing to help out wherever she is needed. Kristy will receive a plaque from GHS, a check for $100, 8 hours of Paid Time Off, a Cross Pen from Reeses Print Shop engraved by Storey Jewelers and a balloon bouquet from Persons Flower Shop.

Ms. Mary Hernandez was selected as the Employee of the Month for the month of January 2014 for the Transportation Department. Ms. Hernandez has been a bus monitor with the Gonzales ISD for 8 years. Her patience and compassion make her well suited to work with the children on her bus. The Transportation Department values her dedication and experience and appreciates the excellent job she is doing with our students.

Thursday March 6 Com-plaint Free Challenge

Six weekly sessions of enlightenment led by Kar-en Melton---400pts

Kick BallSPRING BREAK SCHED-

ULESaturday March 8

CLOSED TODAY - See you Monday and Tuesday for

Spring Break Field TripsMonday March 10

11:00am Field trip to Main Event in Austin for Laser Tag, Bowling, Games, Piz-za/Drink

Bring $15 Includes Piz-za & drink. Bring Socks. Bus leaves 11:00am return by 6:30pm

Those students that

have earned a Free Point Trip will be called and can use it for either trip. GYC CLOSED FOR TRIP

Tuesday March 11 12:00pm Field trip to ZDT Amusement park in Seguin- Go carts, tram-poline, video games, Water rides (weather Permitting). Bring $15 Includes Pizza & drink. Bring SOCKS, Swim suit, towel and change of dry clothes!! Get there early!! Limited space on Bus. Bus leaves noon return by 6:30pm. Those students that have earned a Free Point Trip will be called and can use it for either trip. GYC CLOSED FOR TRIP

Wed.- Sat March 12 15 CLOSED FOR SPRING BREAK!! See you when school starts on Monday March 17th.


DuBose Insurance Agency

826 Sarah DeWitt Drive, Gonzales, TX 78629

Oil & Gas Reports Page Sponsored by

(830) 672-9581 www.JDCOins.com

Regional Oil & Gas Activity ReportRecent W-1 well reports as reported by the Texas Railroad Commission for the period Feb. 21-March 5:

Status Date Status No. API No. Operator Name/Number Lease Name Well Dist. County Well.Profile Filing Purpose Amend DepthApproved 02/26/2014 778657 123-33476 SABINE OIL & GAS LLC (742142) ADAMEK UNIT 1H 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill - 14000 Approved 02/26/2014 775085 123-33432 BURLINGTON RESOURCES O & G CO LP (109333) RUCKA UNIT A 4 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill Yes 17000Approved 02/27/2014 778655 123-33475 SABINE OIL & GAS LLC (742142) BENYS UNIT 1H 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill - 14000Approved 02/28/2014 778926 123-33482 BHP BILLITON PET(TXLA OP) CO (068596) IMMENHAUSER A 12H 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill - 14000 Approved 02/28/2014 777949 123-33477 BHP BILLITON PET(TXLA OP) CO (068596) VASBINDER A 7H 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill - 14000 Approved 02/28/2014 777950 123-33478 BHP BILLITON PET(TXLA OP) CO (068596) VASBINDER A 8H 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill - 14000Approved 02/28/2014 777958 123-33479 BHP BILLITON PET(TXLA OP) CO (068596) VASBINDER A 9H 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill - 14000Approved 03/03/2014 778935 123-33481 BHP BILLITON PET(TXLA OP) CO (068596) IMMENHAUSER A 13H 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill - 14000Approved 03/04/2014 777985 123-33480 BHP BILLITON PET(TXLA OP) CO (068596) VASBINDER A 10H 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill - 14000 Approved 03/04/2014 780107 123-33489 SABINE OIL & GAS LLC (742142) LANGHOFF UNIT A 3H 02 DE WITT Horizontal New Drill - 14000 Approved 02/26/2014 778718 149-33346 SANCHEZ OIL & GAS CORPORATION (747012) PROST UNIT D 7H 03 FAYETTE Horizontal New Drill - 12500Approved 02/26/2014 778720 149-33347 SANCHEZ OIL & GAS CORPORATION (747012) PROST UNIT D 8H 03 FAYETTE Horizontal New Drill - 12500Approved 02/26/2014 778723 149-33348 SANCHEZ OIL & GAS CORPORATION (747012) PROST UNIT D 9H 03 FAYETTE Horizontal New Drill - 12500 Approved 02/25/2014 778529 177-33289 EOG RESOURCES, INC. (253162) CROCE UNIT 1H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 10100Approved 02/26/2014 778413 177-33287 FOREST OIL CORPORATION (275740) PATTESON 3 1 H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 14000Approved 02/26/2014 775468 177-33258 FOREST OIL CORPORATION (275740) MOOS-COOK 2H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 14000Approved 02/27/2014 775161 177-33251 FOREST OIL CORPORATION (275740) MOOS-BOULDIN TRUST 2 H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 14500Approved 02/28/2014 778883 177-33290 EOG RESOURCES, INC. (253162) SANTANA UNIT 1H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 10900Approved 02/28/2014 779063 177-33291 OAK VALLEY OPERATING, LLC (617112) NEWTONVILLE NORTH UNIT 1H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 10000 Approved 02/28/2014 779093 177-33293 OAK VALLEY OPERATING, LLC (617112) NEWTONVILLE NORTH UNIT 3H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 10000 Approved 02/28/2014 779085 177-33292 OAK VALLEY OPERATING, LLC (617112) NEWTONVILLE NORTH UNIT 2H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 10000 Approved 02/28/2014 779455 177-33299 FOREST OIL CORPORATION (275740) COOK-PRICE MANFORD 1 1 H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 14000 Approved 02/28/2014 779479 177-33300 FOREST OIL CORPORATION (275740) COOK-PRICE MANFORD 1 2 H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 14000 Approved 02/28/2014 778134 177-33294 EOG RESOURCES, INC. (253162) MEYER UNIT 14H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 12500Approved 03/03/2014 779158 177-33295 OAK VALLEY OPERATING, LLC (617112) NEWTONVILLE NORTH UNIT 4H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 10000 Approved 03/03/2014 4 779180 177-33296 OAK VALLEY OPERATING, LLC (617112) NEWTONVILLE NORTH UNIT 8H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 10000Approved 03/03/2014 779273 177-33297 EOG RESOURCES, INC. (253162) HB UNIT 4H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 13000Approved 03/04/2014 765585 177-33037 EOG RESOURCES, INC. (253162) DESOTO UNIT 1H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill Yes 12800Approved 03/04/2014 778450 177-33298 EOG RESOURCES, INC. (253162) PETTY UNIT 2H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 11100Approved 03/05/2014 779290 177-33301 EOG RESOURCES, INC. (253162) ZIMMERMAN UNIT 14H 01 GONZALES Horizontal New Drill - 13000Approved 02/24/2014 767824 285-33723 PENN VIRGINIA OIL & GAS, L.P. (651780) BOCK UNIT 2H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill Yes 14000Approved 02/24/2014 779743 285-33783 PENN VIRGINIA OIL & GAS, L.P. (651780) BOCK UNIT 3H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 14500Approved 02/27/2014 778946 285-33780 SANCHEZ OIL & GAS CORPORATION (747012) PROST UNIT D 4H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 12500Approved 02/27/2014 779337 285-33784 TRIO CONSULTING & MANAGEMENT,LLC (870354) NEW 1 02 LAVACA Vertical New Drill - 11900 Approved 02/27/2014 778971 285-33782 SANCHEZ OIL & GAS CORPORATION (747012) PROST UNIT D 6H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 12500Approved 02/27/2014 778965 285-33777 PENN VIRGINIA OIL & GAS, L.P. (651780) PORTER UNIT 6H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 14500Approved 02/27/2014 778954 285-33779 PENN VIRGINIA OIL & GAS, L.P. (651780) PORTER UNIT 8H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 14500Approved 02/27/2014 778960 285-33778 PENN VIRGINIA OIL & GAS, L.P. (651780) PORTER UNIT 7H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 14500Approved 02/27/2014 778949 285-33774 PENN VIRGINIA OIL & GAS, L.P. (651780) PORTER UNIT 3H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 14500 Approved 02/27/2014 778945 285-33776 PENN VIRGINIA OIL & GAS, L.P. (651780) PORTER UNIT 5H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 14500 Approved 02/27/2014 778947 285-33775 PENN VIRGINIA OIL & GAS, L.P. (651780) PORTER UNIT 4H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 14500Approved 02/27/2014 778953 285-33781 SANCHEZ OIL & GAS CORPORATION (747012) PROST UNIT D 5H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill - 12500Approved 03/03/2014 777338 285-33767 PENN VIRGINIA OIL & GAS, L.P. (651780) MARTINSEN UNIT 2H 02 LAVACA Horizontal New Drill Yes 14500Approved 03/05/2014 778772 285-33789 OTOOL OIL & GAS, LLC (616966) WOODRUFF 1 02 LAVACA Vertical New Drill - 3000

SPECIAL REPLACEMENTSPRING FEMALE SALE

Hallettsville Livestock AuctionHallettsville, Texas

Saturday, March 8, 2014 12 Noon25 F-1 Braford Heifers Pairs - Angus

15 F-1 Braford Heifers Pairs/Heavy Bred - Angus

18 F-1 Braford Heifers Pairs/Heavy Bred - Angus

30 F-1 Braford Heifers (700#) OPEN20 Gray Brahman Heifers (800#) OPEN

5 Gray Brahman Heifers - Bred5 Gray Brahman 2nd Calf Cows -

Hereford40 Black Brangus Heifers/Pairs - Heavy Bred - Angus

18 Black Brangus & Brangus Baldy heifers - Pairs - Angus

30 Black Brangus Heifers Pair/Heavy Bred - Angus

25 Black Brangus 2nd Calf Cows Pairs/ Heavy Bred - Angus

9 Black Brangus Heifers Pairs/Heavy Bred - Brangus

50 Black Brangus heifers (1000#) Bred - Angus

10 Black Brangus Baldy Heifers (1000#) Bred - Angus

13 Black Brangus Heifers (850#) Exposed - Hereford

9 Black Brangus Baldy Heifers (800#) OPEN

11 Black Brangus & Brangus Baldy Heifers - Exposed - Angus

25 Black Angus Heifers - Bred - Hereford11 Red Baldy Heifers - Exposed - Angus

20 Red Gert Heifers heavy Bred - Angus35 Crossbred Cows (3-5 yrs. old)

Pairs -Bred

Expecting 500 to 600 females

For More Information Call: Auction Barn: 361-798-4336Mike Heller: 361-293-4949/David Heller: 979-743-0436Kim Hagan: 361-293-4720/Mark Hagan: 361-293-5116

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of the Medina County Historical Commis-sion, Manak said that history is rife with tales of petty dictators seeking the disarma-ment of courageous peoples whorefuse to submit to tyranny.

The ultimate question about the term liberty was asked by Patrick Henry in 1775, Manak said. Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

The answer today is always painfully clear and simple as it was in 1775, Manak said.

The Persian army of King Xerxes, re-ported by the historian Herodotus to be a million strong, invaded Greece in 480 BC. Leonidas, with his personal guard of 300 men, led a force totaling about 7,000 men against a force modern historians believe numbered between 70,000 and 300,000. The Greeks set their defense in a narrow passage between two steep mountains and held their ground for three days before they were out-flanked. Most of the Greek force withdrew, but Leonidas and his Spartans refused to re-treat and were felled to a man.

Informed that the Persian arrows would be so numerous they would blot out the sun, Leonidas aide, Dienekes, is reputed to have jested in typical laconic fashion: Then we shall fight in the shade.


The Spartan memorial statue at Thermopylae (top), and the famed wall above) which forced the numeric al ly-superior Persian army to attack through a narrow pass, where it took them three days to overwhelm a Spartan-led force in 480 BC. At left, the hot-springs stream which supplied the Greek force and gave the pass its name, the Hot Gates. (Photos courtesy Joe Manak)

Continued from page A1

SPARTANS: Oilman gets chanceto visit legendary Thermopylae

2138 Water Street/Hwy. 183, Gonzales, Texas 78629Phone 830.672.1888 ~ Fax 830.672.1884

www.SleepInnGonzales.com

BY CHOICE HOTELS

Middle Buster RoadGonzales, Texas 78629

830-672-2777 Fax: 830-672-2888

hiexgonzales.com

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/holidayinnexpresssuitesgonzales

out of City Hall and into the new facility to help oversee it.

Councilman Lorenzo Hernandez ap-proved the idea, but said he wanted to make sure the city and EDC werent going into competititon with downtown prop-erty owners in the process. Neuse said the idea was to give new businesses time to get started and get ready to grow before taking on a more expensive lease.

It wouldnt cost them much for three or six months, and if they needed a longer lease then the cost would go up, he said.

Also on Monday, the Council approved a resolution ordering the disposition of a number of substandard buildings in the city which code enforcement officer David Ince said had deteriorated to the point the pose life and safety issues.

The Councils final order included order-ing demolition on five specific properties of 11 originally identified. Two of the remain-ing properties already have demolition un-derway, while the owners of the remaining sites were on-hand and requested during a public hearing additional time to attain authority to demolish or to repair them to bring them up to code.

In other action Monday, the Council: Approved a resolution giving a Setpe-

mer effective date for all appointments to city boards and commissions;

Changed the date of the scheduled May

meeting to May 12 to avoid a conflict with the scheduled election day and to enable Council to canvass the vote without calling a special meeting;

Extended the citys agreement with RBC Capital Markets for financial advice;

Approved an offer for an oil and gas lease of some 144 acres of city property to Acadian Land Services, LLC. No drilling will take placae on city property, and the lease is only for the minerals, not water;

Rejected all bids for the construction of soccer fields at JB Wells Park and instead directed City Manager Allen Barnes to cre-ate the fields using existing city and county resources and to negotiate with M&C Fon-seca Construction to add a wastewater line for restroom facilities;

Approved Fonsecas bid of $203,415 for the citys 2014 wastewater projects;

Approved the internal transfer of funds from a ceiling project at City Hall to pro-vide a new telephone system;

Approved the expenditure of $6,000 by the Tourism Advisory Committee to help promote this summers Gonzales PBR Bull Riding Event. That event will expand to a two-day affair this year;

Authorized the Running With Faith 5K run/walk by the Catholic Community of Gonzales and Waelder on May 3;

Approved changes to city ordinances regulating electric code to update the code to the 2011 NFPA National Electric Code, and establish a $250 fee for plat reviews.

and rehabilitating roadways damaged by heavy trucks and increased traffic in these regions.

Several of those repair projects will take place in TxDOTs Yoakum District, which incluces Gonzales and DeWitt counties. Groundbreaking ceremonies are tentative-ly set for early April, most likely at FM 443 in DeWitt County.

The energy sector provides a tremen-dous economic boost to the state of Texas, but it must be supported in a manner that is safe to everyone on our roadways, said Texas Transportation Commissioner Fred Underwood. Our decision today will get much-needed work started so that we can improve travel for drivers on these roads.

In 2012, crashes in Texas five energy sectors (Eagle Ford Shale, Permian Basin, Barnett Shale, Granite Wash and Haynes-ville/Bossier), rose by 6 percent over the previous year, while fatalities rose 13 per-cent.

While increased energy exploration and production activities are yielding tre-mendous economic benefits for Texas, the unprecedented volumes of heavy traffic are contributing to crashes and fatalities, said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive di-rector. We are pleased that our commis-sion agreed to fund some of these safety-focused rehabilitation and repair projects.

Overall, the $150 million project, set to begin in spring of 2014, will improve mobility and address safety concerns by widening damaged roadways to better ac-

commodate the increased volume of heavy vehicles. Focused on the Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Antonio and Yoakum districts, Austin-Angel, JV will reconstruct or resur-face 27 roadways and bridges in most need of restoration.

Todays $150 million award follows Sep-tembers $75 million dollar allocation that allowed repairs to begin in the Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Odessa and San Angelo districts. With this action, all $225 million provide by House Bill 1025 has been awarded to construction projects.

More about roadway needs in energy sector

As the Texas oil and gas industries help move the United States toward energy in-dependence, the state has identified more than $400 million in immediate roadway safety needs such as repairs to severe edge damage on narrow roadways, deep rutting and pavement damage caused by the in-creased traffic associated with these activi-ties. Estimates show an additional

$1 billion per year is needed to restore roadways heavily impacted by energy de-velopment to good or better condi-tions.

With more than 80,000 miles of highway, Texas has the largest highway system in the nation. In addition to the booming energy in-dustry, Texas grows by more than 1,000 new people each day, further crowding the states aging transportation system. The increasing number of vehicles combined with the states aging highways will continue to require a bal-anced program of preventative maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction.


CITY: Council orders demolitionos several substandard buildings


TXDOT: Several projects setfor Gonzales, DeWitt counties

Eagle Ford Shale Community Develop-ment Program will host a workshop covering Scenario Planning: Adapting to Unantici-pated Change that will equip all participants with tools for understanding variability and making project plans resilient and robust. The workshop will cover submitted commu-nity project ideas and then perform viability

testing by using a basic project evaluation tool

The workship is set for 11a.m.-3 p.m. Tues-day, March 18 at Gonzales City Hall Cham-bers, 820 St. Joseph Street Gonzales, TX 78629.

To register, send an email to Jason Clark at [email protected] or call 210-458-2430.

Eagle Ford workshop scheduled


Transforming ranchlandinto todays Fort Hood

Join the fight against cancer!Relay for Life of Gonzales CountyMarch 28 - March 29, 20146:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

JB Wells Showbarn2301 CR 197Gonzales, TXLog on to RelayForLife.org/GonzalesTX

Relay For Life Sponsors Show Their Fighting Spirit

As the Relay For Life of Gonzales County 2014 draws near, busi-nesses and individuals have stepped forward and made the deci-sion to Come and Fight It for a Cure! The planning committee is grateful for their sponsorship donations which will be used for cancer research and development that will lead to new medications and treatments for cancer patients. Taking this bold step in the fight against cancer are the following event sponsors:

Holmes Foods, Inc.BYK Additives, Inc.

Sage Capital Bank, N. A.Allens Body Tech

The Heights of GonzalesMercer Welding

Hochheim Prairie Farm Mutual Branch 114L RV RanchPerry L. Smith

Robin & Larry KapavikKnights of Columbus #5090

GVECFirst United Methodist Progressive Sunday School Class

Patricia FerrellSAWS

Young Farmers ChapterGonzales Herman Sons Lodge # 175

TSG Architects, AIAKitchen Pride Mushroom Farms, Inc.Delta Kappa GammaIota Xi Chapter

JDCO, Corp./DuBose Insurance AgencyGonzales Healthcare Systems Employees

Ken & Jackie FischerFrames & ThingsMunson Ranch

Graham Land & CattleLogan Insurance Agency

Other donors have made similar commitments and as their dona-tions are received, their names will be added to the growing list of those who want to Come and Fight It for a Cure! Thank you for your support of American Cancer Society Relay For Life 2014!

Edwin Sadler of Conroe was born in Killeen, TX., the son of a rancher and he is 92. Killeen, the location of Fort Hood, heavily impacted his life early (1942) when the War Department elected to purchase nearly 200,000 acres of Texas ranchland, in-cluding 2700 acres owned by his father.

Fort Hood was established to train personnel operating tank destroyers developed to counter German mobile armored units overrunning Western Europe.

Edwins military career be-gan with a surge of 100,000 other draftees that were biv-ouacked in tents and trained in the woodsbut that num-ber was never reached again. Some 95,000 were training in June, 1943 and held steady early into 44.

Probably the most famous trainee at the post (Elvis Pre-sley) arrived in March 58. Other than receiving record amounts of mail (3-4 bags/day) Elvis was treated like all trainees, and by September had shipped out to Germany.

In the early 90s, Fort Hood was billed as the largest mili-tary base in the free world, although Fort Benning had more personnel and Fort Bliss was larger in area. The swiftness and urgency of es-tablishing this new base was not without problems.

Huge ranches handed down within families for generations were suddenly government property ac-quired at estimated values that today appear confiscato-ry. Many owners resented it bitterly and a few didnt want to live at all anywhere else.

Edwin worked in the oil-field at an early age, mostly near Gatesville where he re-ceived his draft notice in 42. After 18 weeks of basic he became cavalry, just as horses were replaced by trucks. His earliest claim to fame was his signal excellence with the M-1 riflemaking him sniper eligible, and trained a year in Paris, TX.

Embarking for Europe in late 44, orders were changed transferring him to the medics and Wash-ington D.C. where he as-sisted military doctors in critical surgeries and autopsies. It was during this period penicillin was introduced saving many

military lives. Edwin also mastered

ambulance training, trans-porting G.I.s to widely separated stations/destina-tions. Before discharge in 45 he married an attrac-tive WAC (Margaretta) at Fort Belvoir. Together they had three children and ad-opted a niece, making a quartet.

Edwin served honor-ably more than three years. He had looked forward to joining the snipers over-seas having been one of two in the unit qualified, but his last duty station was White House Barracks.

As a civilian in Killeen there was no work but he reconnected with a former employer, drilling wells in Kansas, and became a driller (foreman) some five years. In the 50s he resigned to work with his brother in Illinois/Penn-sylvania for 10 yearshowever his niche became the sheet metal business lasting 14 yearsback in Killeen.

Retiring there, he be-came his own boss con-tracting metal building jobs. His last profitable ten year stretch was a marina (Lake Livingston) where he became proficient catching shad as bait fishsometimes exceeding 600 pounds daily.

In 2009 Margaretta went to be with the Lord, and it wasnt very long before Edwin re-connected with niece/daughter Teresa who had been substitute teaching in Magnolia. This was fortu-itous as he experienced high blood pressure issues and later a strokeand eventual-ly COPD/asthma symptoms especially in

cannon march 06 2014

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