Gary Borders
Texas Press Association
Robertson County News
Nearly three-fourths of cyclosporiasis cases detected in Texas have been confined to two regions, The Dallas Morning News reported. The Texas Department of State Health Services provided numbers for each of the state’s eight public health regions. Most cases this year, from the beginning of May until late July, have been reported in two regions: Region 11 and Region 6/5S. Region 11 includes Corpus Christi and the southernmost part of Texas. Of the 106 lab-confirmed cases statewide, 48 were reported from that region — or 45%. Region 6/5S includes the city of Houston and Harris County, and an additional 29 cases were reported in that region. Together, the two regions account for roughly 73% of the state’s cases. The diarrhea-inducing parasite has hit other states hard. Michigan, for example, has reported thousands of cases. Texas thus far has seen cyclosporiasis cases at about the same level as in the past few years. THC hemp products once again banned in Texas Effective July 31, products containing cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC and THCP are banned in Texas, following a years-long legal fight over state hemp regulations, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The Texas Supreme Court on May 1 upheld the authority of the Texas Department of State Health Services to adopt rules that in effect ban those THC products. The Texas Hemp Business Council warned businesses on July 15 to prepare for the change. “Businesses should evaluate their inventory and prepare to remove or sell through products containing more than trace amounts of delta-8, delta-10, delta-6, THCP, and other cannabinoids that fall within the reinstated definition before the July 31 effective date,” the council said. Texas consumers are now largely limited to ingestible and topical hemp products made with compliant delta-9 THC. Gummies, edibles and beverages containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight remain legal. Paxton says he will debate Talarico Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said last week that he will debate state Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, in the state’s U.S. Senate race, though no date has been set, The Texas Tribune reported. Talarico, the Democratic nominee, said he had accepted invitations from Texas media groups for three debates. The Paxton campaign confirmed it had received the same debate invitations and said the attorney general plans to debate but did not commit to specific dates. “Of course, we are going to debate James Talarico, and we look forward to engaging with potential debate hosts,” Paxton senior adviser Nick Maddux said in a statement. Talarico has agreed to televised debates on Sept. 22 in the Rio Grande Valley; Oct. 6 in Dallas; and Oct. 13 in Austin. Maddux said the Paxton campaign was “close to terms with one outlet now and expect an announcement to be forthcoming shortly.” Meanwhile, a new Fox polls shows Talarico with a slight lead, according to the Houston Chronicle. The poll shows him leading Paxton by three points, 51-48, boosted by strong leads among independent voters and other key constituencies. Measles outbreak reported in Montgomery County The Texas Department of State Health Services issued a health alert after four cases of measles were reported in Montgomery County. All were members of the same family, were unvaccinated, and became infected after a person with measles traveled to Texas from out of state. Because measles is highly contagious, DSHS is warning that additional cases could occur among unvaccinated people in the area. The agency encouraged health care professionals and the public to remain vigilant to the signs and symptoms. Measles is spread through coughing and sneezing. It can be caught by simply being near someone who is infected. Voters wrongly flagged as potential noncitizens Election officials across Texas should immediately reinstate some voters who were incorrectly flagged as possible noncitizens through a federal program, according to The Tribune. Christina Adkins, the state elections director, told county officials in a phone call that Texas Department of Public Safety records have confirmed the citizenship of some of the 2,724 registered voters singled out as potential noncitizens. The voters were flagged after the state checked its voter roll through a federal program called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, that is used to verify the citizenship of registered voters. Former Secretary of State Jane Nelson sent a letter in April to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that raised concerns about the accuracy of the SAVE program, after county election officials found citizens wrongly labeled noncitizens.
Cyclosporiasis mostly in two regions in state
Dennis Phillips
Publisher
Robertson County News
Weekly column by Dennis Phillips — featuring local news, hilarious misadventures, strange life events, and the occasional mind-numbing, head-scratching, possibly thought-provoking ramble.
Capitol Highlights
A weekly, bullet-point look at the Texas Capitol — covering the antics, actions, and aftermath of each legislative session. Gary delivers a straight-shooting news report on the state government issues that matter most to Texans.
Inspirational Perspective
Don Forrester
Minister
Robertson County News
For more than 30 years, Don Forrester—pastor of Henly Baptist Church and a longtime spiritual guide from Dennis Phillips' hometown—has shared wisdom, humor, and a touch of divine insight. His perspective is often shaped (and sharpened) by his wife, affectionately known as “The General.”
A note on first impressions
I like to think that I can roll with the punches. I went to church yesterday morning and was “taken aback” by our pastor’s introduction to his message. I love our pastor and know that he would never knowingly poke fun at anyone. He’s not that kind of guy, but he was dangerously close to digging a hole that some might find offensive. I could have been one of those people, but I don’t live in that camp. He noticed on Facebook this week that a parent was attempting to find a used mouthpiece for a French horn. School is starting soon, and a would-be French horn player needed a mouthpiece. He was certain that the mouthpiece was for a girl. He said with some certainty that no boy with any level of self-esteem would ever consider playing the French horn. Those are my words, not his, but I don’t think he’d disagree that was his implied intention. I will even go a step farther than that. He didn’t exactly say that a male musician who played a French horn had a testosterone deficit, but reading between the lines, it was not too much of a stretch to draw that conclusion. Did I mention that I played the French horn in the high school band? Pastor Lonny was obviously unaware that the French horn is one of the most gender balanced instruments in school music. There is mostly an even number split of boys and girls who play the French horn with a slightly higher percentage of boys. The trombone and tuba are mostly male dominated. The saxophone falls in the 50% to 70% range for boys. In contrast, the flute, piccolo and clarinet are highly female dominated. Double reed instruments like the Oboe / Bassoon are balanced or slightly leaning to female. In terms of youth, more girls than boys take piano lessons. It is around a 60/40 split. Interesting, in adulthood, male concert pianists heavily dominate the international stage. Research shows that men on average have larger hand spans than women, thereby perhaps giving them an advantage over females. Honestly, when I think of concert pianists, my frame of reference leans exclusively toward men. Female career concert pianists represent roughly 23% of the professional field, meaning men make up about 77% of high-level career concert pianists. • Men win roughly 82% of top international piano competition prizes, with women taking only 18% to 25% of top awards. • Student enrollment in music schools or conservatories often starts near a 50/50 gender split, but the ratio shifts heavily toward men at the professional soloist level. • Roughly 80% of professional piano concertos, recitals, and commercial recordings feature men. During the morning message, pastor Lonny mentioned that when he was in high school, he lived one year with his paternal grandmother to provide him an opportunity to play high school basketball in Texas. When I think of basketball, I think of tall players. Perhaps height is only one of several characteristics including leadership skills, seniority and maturity that determines selection of the team’s captain. Yesterday, I learned through happenstance of a high-profile well-known individual that reached his peak height at 5’ 7,” Interestingly, he was captain of his high school basketball team. Somehow that surprised me. Whether it is the gender of student playing the French horn or the height of the basketball’s team captain, figuratively it works best to never judge a book by its cover. All My Best!
50-Year's Ago Today
Margaret Salvaggio
Hearne Chamber of Commerce
Robertson County News
Margaret Salvaggio is a lifelong resident of Hearne and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Hearne Chamber of Commerce. While working as an editor for the Robertson County News, she discovered her passion for history, and she is now the curator of all the back issues of the historic newspapers.
$100,000 Loan Approved for Hospital Improvements
On August 4, word arrived from the office of Congressman Olin E. Teague that the Department of Agriculture had approved a loan of $100,000 through the Farmers Home Administration for the Robertson County Community Hospital. The funds will be used to finance improvements throughout the hospital, which will include a new air conditioning system, acoustical ceiling tiles, and a fire alarm and sprinkler system. Milton Aalen, the hospital administrator, stated that additional upgrades will be made to comply with the Life Safety Code required by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare for participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Aalen also mentioned that the improvement project is about 95 percent complete and an open house will be held soon, inviting the public to attend. Hearne Hospital, the only hospital in Robertson County, transitioned to a non-profit organization on October 1, 1973. The board of trustees includes Charles Miller of Hearne as president, Cooper Wiese of Calvert as vice president, Jim Florence of Hearne as secretary-treasurer, and members B.K. Harris Jr. of Bremond, Elton Easterly of Franklin, Fred E. Tidemann, and Dr. Ray Cruse of Hearne. Lifetime Doors Ships to Nigeria The first shipment of products from Lifetime Doors of Hearne departed by boat from Houston to Nigeria on July 18. A second shipment is scheduled to follow on August 16, completing the contract with a total of 18,000 doors. Dick Shear, manager of the Hearne plant, explained that Nigeria, now an oil-rich country, is seeing its leaders work to improve housing and other aspects of the rapidly evolving conditions there. There are four housing developments in Nigeria, and the U.S. supplying agent for the Lifetime Doors contract is Aladdin Development based in Los Angeles, California, which is collaborating with the Messerschmidt Development Company in Nigeria. Shear noted that if the overseas contract proves successful, it could mark the beginning of something very constructive. Scott Bossier Visits California Scott Bossier, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Bossier, returned home on Sunday, August 3, from a two-week vacation in Ventura, California, with his uncle, Floyd Bossier. During his trip, Scott had the opportunity to tour many beautiful sights in Ventura and ventured into Los Angeles, where he enjoyed sightseeing at Universal Studios, where a Glenn Ford movie was being filmed. Other attractions included Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Magic Mountain before he returned home by bus. Robert Chavez Named Outstanding Airman Airman First Class Robert Chavez, a member of the 20th Medical Service Squadron Reserve Unit at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, was named ‘Outstanding Airman of the 20th’ at the conclusion of his two-week annual summer tour. The 20th MSS has been recognized as the Outstanding Service Squadron in both the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve for 1974-1975. A-1c Chavez is married to Mary Jane Hernandez, who is originally from Hearne. Coming Out Party for Maria Sifuentes Miss Maria Magdalena Sifuentes was celebrated for her fifteenth birthday—a coming out party hosted by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Delfino Sifuentes, on Saturday, July 26. The festivities began at 8 p.m. at the Fireman’s Hall, where approximately 150 guests gathered for the special occasion. Miss Molly Solis managed the registry table, while Miss Shirley Beaty recorded the lovely gifts presented to the honoree. Miss Martha Barrera gifted her a kneeling pillow; Mrs. Susana Gonzalea, the celebrant’s grandmother from Austin, presented a beautiful silver tiara adorned with sculptured flowers, each centered with a pearl. Her aunt, Mrs. Beatrice Goss, also from Austin, gifted her a birthstone ring. Other cherished gifts included a necklace, a bouquet of crystal rosettes set against scalloped flowers, accented with rainbow-colored ribbons, as well as a book, rosary, and a beautiful hand fan made in Spain. The stunning birthday cake featured a rainbow theme, surrounded by 14 miniature dolls, with a birthday doll designed to match the honoree’s gown. Maria was dressed in a floor-length, white sleeveless gown with a fitted bodice, bordered by a single lace ruffle at the scoop neckline; a white satin bow cinched her waist, and tiers of ruffles cascaded from the waist to the floor-length hemline.
Paul Baker
Veteran's Affairs
Robertson County News
A Summer Vacation
Starting today, I will be out of the office for a couple of weeks while traveling outside the country. I expect to return to the office on August 10, provided my flights remain on schedule and there are no unexpected travel delays. While I am away, veterans, family members and others needing assistance may still call or text me at 979-701-6900. Please leave your name, telephone number and a brief message explaining what assistance you need. I will review all messages and return calls after I am back in the office. If you have an urgent matter that cannot wait until my return, please contact the Madison County Veterans Service Office at 936-348-2244. Their staff may be able to answer questions, provide assistance or connect you with the appropriate resources while I am unavailable. Please understand that I may have several messages waiting when I return, so it may take a little time to respond to everyone. I appreciate your patience and understanding. Thank you for your continued support. I appreciate the opportunity to serve our local veterans and their families, and I look forward to returning to the office on August 10.
