|
POWER TALK
LETTERS
Medical Article on Target
What a wonderful surprise was awaiting me as I walked into my office this morning—a copy of the February 2008 edition with the incredible cover photo of Dr. Robert Allen Youens.
Not only was I impressed with the photo, the article was first-rate. You captured the spirit of rural physicians.
Shannon McBride
Administrator, Colorado-Fayette Medical Center
Fayette Electric Cooperative
Coach an Inspiration
I am writing to say how much I enjoyed reading Jean-Cosme Delaloye’s article, “The Coach from Amarillo,” in the January issue. As the mother of a deaf daughter who inspires those around her every day, it was especially meaningful to me to read about Coach Tankersley. What a wonderful story!
Suzanne Labry
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
Teen Pressure Behind Piercing
Regarding the [February] article “Piercing Moments” by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers, I would like to challenge the idea that parents’ approval of a daughter’s requests for piercing or other fads among her teen peers is somehow allowing her to “find herself and be herself, to be independent and confident, wise and ambitious,” as in the paragraph near the end of the article. Going along with teen peer pressure is not a sign of “independence, confidence and wisdom,” in my opinion.
What has happened to the idea that adults have the right to withhold permission for things that underage dependents want to do to their bodies? Perhaps helping teens to see that they’re merely trading “dependence on their parents” for “dependence on their peers” would be more helpful to the kids’ maturing process toward true adult independence.
Georgia M. Weber
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
Sunshine Treat
I believe June Naylor’s [“Hit the Road”] article in February missed one very important place in Junction for dining. I have a small ranch outside of Junction, and every time I come and go from San Antonio I always stop in at the Sunshine Bakery and Café and get the best hamburger and banana pudding I have ever eaten.
Daryl Tanner
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
Don’t Cage Cats
I’m very disappointed that you ran “2 Sisters Raise 3 Cougars” as your cover story for January 2008.
These animals are meant to be wild. For your magazine to join in the exploitation of them is simply wrong. Not to mention the fact that by running this story you will be giving another stupid person somewhere the idea that it is OK to keep these animals in captivity.
Pam Robertson
Fentress
AND THE WINNER IS
Texas Co-op Power magazine and Editor Kaye Northcott walked away with the Oscar of statewide electric cooperative magazines, the George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award, at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting in Anaheim, California, in February.
In presenting the honor, NRECA CEO Glenn English noted the “Energy Reality Check” series in the October and November 2007 issues, saying, “Texas Co-op Power succeeded in its goal to present the complexity of current and future electricity generation in a clear, engaging fashion.”
He praised Northcott for her commitment to educating Texas’ co-op members about the hard issues the industry faces with increasing demand, diminishing reserves and the implications for future electricity generation posed by climate change legislation.
SAVE ENERGY BY EASY COOKING
I have the Salad Master pots and pans, but others will do. Cook rice on high to boiling point and then turn off burner. Put lid on and it will cook on its own. The same goes for potatoes, eggs, etc. It saves money and power.
L.M. Malek
LaGrange
Fayette Electric Cooperative
HAPPENINGS
If you grew up in Texas, you’ve probably done lots with mesquite trees—thrown the pods at your little brother, impaled your finger or foot on a thorn, eaten Dad’s brisket smoked over the wood, or even sucked on seeds for the bittersweet pulp. One thing you probably haven’t done, though, is made art out of them. Members of the Texas Mesquite Association, however, do just that, and you can find their works at the Texas Mesquite Art Festival in San Angelo, April 18–20. From dining tables to salt and pepper shakers, mesquite artists create household objects and high art from Texas’ own hardwood. This juried show represents the best in the field and gives beginners a place to show off their handiwork as well.
Held at Fort Concho, this art show will present the largest collection of mesquite art in the world. If you miss this event, a second festival will be held in Fredericksburg on October 10–12. For more information on the art festival, visit the Texas Mesquite Association’s website, www.texasmesquiteassn.org, or call (830) 997-8515.
NEW LIFE FOR SOMERVELL COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Originally constructed in 1893 at a cost of $13,500, the Somervell County Courthouse was built of locally quarried limestone in the Romanesque Revival style. The building featured design elements characteristic of the General Grant style, specifically, a mansard roof treatment, a clock tower and ornamental iron crests. In 1902, a tornado caused extensive damage to several buildings on the Glen Rose square, including the courthouse. The roof and clock tower were critically damaged, but the county did not have the funds necessary to repair their intricate design. Instead, local craftsmen fixed the roof modestly and cheaply, omitting the clock tower and ornate crests. In 1986, the Somervell County Commissioner’s Court voted to restore the courthouse back to its original splendor, bringing back the clock tower and decorative iron elements.
— From The Courthouses of Texas, Texas A&M University Press, second edition, 2007
LITTLE TOWN, BIG PRESERVE
When Mineola, population 5,611, was required by the state to upgrade its waste-treatment plant, the city ended up not only with a new plant but a 2,900-acre nature preserve along the Sabine River as well. That’s more than half an acre per citizen!
Contractors and enthusiastic volunteers, working with grants from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, are finished with Phase 1. They built a pavilion overlooking a wildlife area and cleared 3 miles of nature and walking paths, much of it along an abandoned railroad bed. There’s fishing and camping and plenty of wild critters from bluebirds to wolves. Phase II includes an equestrian trail.
E.F. Whitus, a city council member, is an enthusiastic volunteer. He says the preserve has a feeder to attract deer—just for observation, of course. There’s also a resident alligator named Taylor in the wetlands area and on higher ground, a herd of longhorn cattle and five bison.
WHO KNEW?
Horticultural Hometowns
The Texas Legislature has designated the following places as the official state “capitals” of some of the prettiest plants in Texas.
Burnet and Llano Counties–Bluebonnet
Ennis–Bluebonnet City
Denton–Redbud
Georgetown–Red Poppy
Hearne–Sunflower
Round Rock–Daffodil
Sanderson–Cactus
Temple and DeWitt County–Wildflower
Waxahachie–Crape Myrtle
|