Page 06-Thursday, February 13, 2020 email - pipernews@sbcglobal.net Hamlin Herald-Hamlin Texaswebsite: www.hamlinherald.com

The Idle AmericanCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury

State defends system of choosing presidential electors

AUSTIN — Texas Deputy Solicitor General Matthew Frederick on Feb. 6 de-fended the Electoral College system in a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Frederick, arguing on be-half of Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, maintained that Texas’ method of appoint-ing presidential electors is consistent with the U.S. Constitution’s requirement that “each state shall ap-point, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of elec-tors, equal to the number of senators and representatives to which the state may be entitled in Congress.”

As most other states do, Texas appoints presidential electors on a winner-takes-all basis to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in a statewide election.

The case, brought by the League of United Latin American Citizens and sev-eral individual plaintiffs, challenges the constitu-tionality of Texas’ system, asserting that the voting power of minorities is di-luted under winner-takes-all in violation of the Voting Rights Act and the 1st and 14th Amendments.

Study: Teens, seat beltsIn 2018, 111 of the 264

teens killed in vehicle crash-es in Texas were not wearing a seat belt, the Texas De-partment of Transportation reported on Feb. 4.

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of deaths among teenagers. One sim-ple click could help change that, TxDOT says in its current “Teen Click It or Ticket” campaign.

“For teens, getting a driv-er’s license is a rite of pas-

sage, but when they start driving, they aren’t think-ing about how their lack of experience places them at greater risk of getting in a crash,” said TxDOT Execu-tive Director James Bass. “Tragedy can strike in an in-stant, which is why we hope all parents, teachers and other influencers are urging teens to buckle up each and every time, no matter how short the trip may be.”

Hegar reports revenueTexas Comptroller Glenn

Hegar on Feb. 4 said state sales tax revenue totaled $3.08 billion in January, 8.9% more than reported in January 2019.

Growth in state sales tax revenue was led by receipts from the retail trade and information services sec-tors, while receipts from oil and gas mining were down from a year ago, Hegar said. In addition, January retail trade sector collections were higher than a year ago in part because more Christ-mas shopping days fell in December. Collections also were slightly boosted by marketplace providers and remote sellers who first be-gan collecting Texas sales taxes in October, Hegar added.

The majority of January sales tax revenue is based on sales made in December and remitted to the agency in January. Notably, to-tal sales tax revenue for the three months ending in January 2020 was up 6.6% compared to the same period a year ago.

Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 57% of all tax collec-tions.

USDA OKs hemp planTexas Agriculture Com-

missioner Sid Miller on Jan. 27 welcomed news that the U.S. Department of Agricul-ture had approved the Lone Star State’s plan for the production and regulation of hemp.

Miller referred to hemp growing as “an exciting new crop opportunity.” How-ever, he cautioned would-be growers, saying, “It is still not legal to grow hemp – so don’t put those seeds in the ground just yet. We’ve got

I never have to look at calendars or “study up” on Roman numerals to know which Super Bowl comes next. Instead, I calculate years of marriage, since “knot-tying” with Brenda occurred in 1966. Thus, I can tell you that the Next Super Bowl will be number fifty-five.

Okay, if you must, challenge me to write the “Roman numeral way”--Super Bowl LV.

My intent in this piece is to contend that this year’s “big game” may have more “side road” angles than political campaigns. That’s a mouthful.

For starters, it was the first Super Bowl played in a stadium that’s had ten names, featured a half-time show of non-stop inten-tional “wardrobe malfunctions,” was just the second one played on Ground Hog Day, and yet--despite unprecedented “hoopla”--had the lowest attendance since Super Bowl I. (Okay, I admit it, Hard Rock Stadium was filled to capacity, but when there’s remodeling to as-sure plenty of luxury suites, ordinary seats are eliminated.)

Here’s an angle, though, that might un-derstandably be overlooked. The game was “made possible” originally by a colorful mayor who may be compared to a well-known Arlington leader. Both were persistent, daring to dream of attracting major sports franchises to their cities.

In this case, only one is germane, but their “life trails” were ever so similar.

I reference Harold Roe Bennett Sturdevant (Chief) Bartle, who was the “leader” in luring the Dallas Texans’ professional football team to Kansas City, and Tommy Joe Vandergriff, who dreamed big and finally led the charge for the Washington Senators to relocate in the Metroplex, where they’d be known as the Texas Rangers. (Both were beloved, both were colorful and both are long gone. Bartle--born in 1901 and dying in 1974--saw his Chiefs win the “big one” four years earlier. Vandergriff was born in 1926 and died in 2010. If he were still living, he’d still be waiting for the Texas

Charlie Brown, disaster response coordinator for the United Methodist Church’s Northwest Texas Conference, secures the door of the Jayton church after the fire. Courtesy Photo Of The Texas Spur

Rangers to win a World Series.)Much has been written about Vandergriff,

an Arlington businessman so busy serving his community, the Metroplex and the State that he probably had stretches of rarely showing up at the Chevy dealership. Eloquent, vision-ary, people-loving, ever-smiling, and always the optimist, he looked for--and found--silver linings.

Bartle had the same traits, and literally over-shadowed Vandergriff. He stood a good 6’4”, and sometimes he nudged 400 pounds when he stepped on scales. A professional speaker, philanthropist and national Boy Scout leader, he was often kidded about having “more cubic feet than any other mayor in the country!”

Make no mistake about it: Both men were beloved, with their names adorning revered community landmarks. Only Bartle, though, has a sports team named in his honor: THE CHIEFS.

Think about it. When the late Lamar Hunt’s team left Dallas, it was beyond unlikely that supporters would “cotton” to calling ‘em the Kansas City Texans. Hunt and his honchos didn’t have to deliberate long before decid-ing to honor Bartle by calling the new world champions “The Chiefs.”

I know. Such action occurred well before “political correctness” carried the day.

If heaven has a “glass bottom,” Bartle and Vandergriff--clearly “two of a kind”--smiled down on Ground Hog Day.

Some 60 years ago, I attended the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Ath-letics) annual dinner in Kansas City. There were murmurs that Mayor Roe Bartle would provide a “leave-‘em laughing-in-the-aisle speech.” He did.

I remember his immense stature, ever-present smile and marvelous story-telling ability. One vignette has never been forgotten. He spoke of national figures, citing military leaders like Eisenhower and MacArthur, both of whom wrote books read by millions, “thrill-ing the hearts of a nation.” Then, he opined that he, too, would write a book upon leaving the mayor’s office. It won’t thrill many hearts or sell many copies, he joked, but “it’ll cause several businessmen to leave Kansas City.”

I revere the memories of Vandergriff and Bartle. Two good ‘uns.

Perhaps most happily, the pulpit Bible—left “opened to Isaiah for Christmas,” Stanaland said, appeared a likely candidate for restora-tion.

Future plans:Though the Methodist

leaders aren’t quite sure what direction their plans for a church home will take—they were still locating their insurance policy by Sunday afternoon—representatives of the Lubbock-based North-west Texas Conference’s di-

saster response team were on hand for Sunday afternoon’s service and offered financial and construction assistance.

“Whatever relief you might need, we’re here for you,” said Charlie Brown of Lub-bock.

Hymnals for the service had been loaned by the Wylie United Methodist Church. Dozens of other offers of moral and material support had come in from congre-gations of various denomi-nations. On social media, hundreds of supportive senti-

ments poured in.On Facebook, Rev. Ice

replied to one inquirer that donations may be sent to P.O. Box 335, Jayton, TX 79528.

First Baptist children had sent hand-colored cards from that morning, with prayers and well wishes.

“The town of Jayton is a family,” First Baptist pastor Jake Edwards wrote in an earlier message. “We will do any and everything we can to love and support one another.”

continued from page 1The Pipers will have at least one of their players playing college ball next year after stand-out senior, Austin Lozano, inked a Na-tional Letter of Intent with Division I Abilene Christian University. Lozano was a key player in the Pipers run to the state title game at both his defensive end position and at tight end. Depend-ing on which stat sheet you read he stands anywhere from 6’1 to 6’0 and weighs anywhere from 295 to 300 but regardless of which one of those is correct one thing is certain, he is a BIG man! For the year he was named Honorable Mention to the Associated Press Sports Editors All-State Team,

Lozano Signs Letter of Intent With ACU

Austin Lonzano signs letter of intent to play football with Abilene Christian University. Pictured are Coach Russell Lucas, Head Coach and Austin’s coach through his high school years, his mother, Cheryl Weaver, Austin Lozano and younger brother Andrew Lozano.

to get our rules approved and get our licensing pro-gram up and running, but the dominoes are dropping pretty quick. We’re almost there.”

House Bill 1325, passed by the Texas Legislature last May, created a legal path for Texas to open itself to commercial hemp farm-ing. The state submitted its hemp plan to the USDA for approval on Dec. 2. Now, with USDA approval, Texas must follow its administra-tive rule-making process, which includes public notice and public hearings, before farmers can plant hemp.

Abbott declares disasterGov. Abbott on Jan. 31

declared a state of disaster due to drought conditions in 22 counties.

Those counties include: Anderson, Bell, Blanco, Burleson, Burnet, Cherokee, Dimmit, Freestone, Hen-derson, Jackson, Karnes, Kinney, Llano, Maverick, Navarro, Real, Smith, Uval-de, Val Verde, Williamson, Zapata and Zavala.

In the declaration, Abbott authorizes the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reason-ably necessary to cope with the disaster.

The ‘Super Bowl’Re-Hashed

named District 7-2A De-fensive Line MVP and 1st team Offense at Tight End, Padilla All-State First Team Defense, All Big Country/Big Country Super Team Defensive Line, helped lead the Pipers to their first EVER state title game and catching a TD pass in the final minutes of that game in the Pipers 25-20 loss to Mart and to top it all off he is a 4 sport varsity letter winner in not only football but basketball, baseball, and track (where he shattered the school record in the discus and went to state last year). He will report to Fall camp at ACU sometime in August. Congratulations Austin and best of luck!