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VIEWPOINT
El Campo Leader-News • Saturday, March 7, 2015
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Top citizen, MLB pitcher inspire with values What do a heavily bearded 21-year-old Major League Baseball pitching prospect who lives in a VW van and a local grandmother have in common? Obviously just based on those descriptions, one would say not a whole heck of a lot. But as I discovered this week, just because two people are different, doesn’t mean they can’t inspire you in the same manner. The local grandmother is Patty Jensen, who is making local headlines after deservedly being named 2014 El Campo Citizen of the Year Thursday night for her volunteer work and countless good deeds throughout the area. Daniel Norris, on the other hand, is making national headlines because even though he has a couple million dollars in the bank from his
MLB signing bonus, he chooses to spend spring training inside a van parked at Walmart. Norris is a bit of an unconventional dude. He prefers hiking and surfing over television and the bar scene. The Blue Jays’ top minor league prospect lives simply and is all about thoughtfulness and kindness while living a minimalist, Earth-friendly lifestyle. Even though his VW van and crunchy granola appearance caused some to suspect he’s a hippie, he doesn’t drink or use drugs and is in outstanding physical shape. Because he does not behave like most professional athletes, Norris has garnered a lot of attention. Because she’s so well-liked and giving of her time, Jensen has garnered a lot of attention. I got to know each of these individuals a little bit better this week while
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STRASNER INK BY THE BARREL
reading some of their accolades. Those nominating Jensen for COY provided insight into all that she does for our community. One of the quotes particularly struck me. “Many people depend on her for the special contributions to their lives that she makes,” said Hubert Kaiser of Jensen. “... by her life she exemplifies the difference that one person can make.” Let that soak in for a second. I mean, that just might be the single
greatest compliment I’ve ever heard. And I’m certain it’s deserved. I also discovered that even with all the good works that helped fuel those to nominate her for COY, there are countless other hand-written notes, positive thoughts, prayers and acts of service that Jensen has selflessly performed that go unmentioned. That’s just part of who she is and what she believes in. Likewise, Mr. Norris – a Christian who was baptized in his baseball jersey – provided a mantra for living that he tries to adhere to. “Be kind. Be courteous. Love others and be happy. It’s that simple,” he said. Good advice. While visiting in my office Friday morning, Mrs. Jensen echoed a quote that we all have heard in Sunday school.
“I just try to do unto others as I would have them do unto me,” she said. “The golden rule was very big in how my parents raised me.” So while these two individuals have very different lives, I find it interesting that they can inspire others with similar messages. Love of country, love of our planet, love of humanity. Work hard, be nice. Trust in God to handle the rest. Whether you’re more comfortable on a Major League pitching mound or behind the piano at the El Campo Heritage Center, it doesn’t matter. These two individuals prove that a kind spirit and respect for others are the best ingredients for a happy, productive and fulfilling life. Jay T. Strasner is publisher of the Leader-News.
Sweet ‘spell’ of success found w-o-r-d by w-o-r-d Well-known Houston radio personality Rich Lord’s familiar Brooklyn voice, tinged with a touch of Texas twang, perked up my ears as I rolled down the highway this past Thursday. The former KULP sportscaster and his on-air partner, Mark Vandermeer, posed the following provocative question on their afternoon drive-time sports call-in show: “Which would you rather have happen for your son – win the National Spelling Bee championship or play on the Little League World Series championship baseball team?” Despite a flurry of one-handed cell phone dialing, I never got through, and the All-American Pastime posted a shutout over the spellers. One dude called in with what he considered the perfect retort. “Baseball is a game of skill. While these days with Spellcheck, spelling is about technology, and who cares if some kid can spell ‘mnemonics’?” Well, I beg to differ just a bit. A couple of East Bernard third graders spelled out the answer I like while competing in the spelling segment of the Academic Rodeo at the recent Wharton County Youth Fair. The two classmates and friends Cole Koppen and Blake Hlavinka battled head to head, neither one blinking at the challenges.
JERRY AULDS
As they went on and on and on, spelling word after word after word without a miss, the judges grew nervous. The boys had used up all the words in one list, so they found a second list, and still they spelled on. “We allotted just so much time for each grade level, and the fourth graders were waiting for their competition time. But neither one of them could be stumped,” one official proudly lamented. Finally, with the third grade spelling competition running almost an hour overtime and judges running out of words, Cole captured the first place trophy. Preparation? “We study the lists. We gave up our recess time every day except Friday.” That spells s-u-c-c-e-s-s. No Spellcheck needed. –This Jerry Aulds column first ran June 4, 2005.
Opinions or views expressed by individual columnists or
while the Leader-News strives for accuracy, errors may
in Letters to the Editor are those of the writers and do not
occur, and will be promptly corrected once they are brought
necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper. Also,
to the attention of the editor.
Ferguson ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ theme in reverse Eric Holder’s Justice Department has completed its investigation into whether Ferguson cop Darren Wilson killed Michael Brown in cold blood for racist reasons when he shot the black teenager last August. What did the massive six-month FBI investigation discover? According to the Washington Post, “after canvassing more than 300 homes and reviewing physical, ballistic, forensic, medical and crime-scene evidence” and examining “Wilson’s personnel records, audio and video recordings,” Justice concluded Wilson told the truth about what happened that Saturday in Ferguson. Officer Wilson is innocent of the endless libels and slanders in the press and on television, and by street demagogues and the pack of liars who, under oath, told a St. Louis County grand jury that Brown had his hands up, crying, “Don’t shoot!” when Wilson cut him down. The liars, however, will not be called out, nor will the perjurers be prosecuted. For Holder says, in the words of the Post, that “the discrepancy” between what happened and what the liars testified to “was due, in part, to a deeply rooted pattern of
racial bias in the police department that had left the Ferguson community polarized.” Holder is saying that we must cut slack for folks who lied to get an innocent cop indicted for murder, because their community had been badly treated by Ferguson cops and courts. And what about the nights and days of rioting, looting, arson and anarchy in Ferguson and beyond following the death of Brown? Holder has an explanation for that, too. “[A]mid a highly toxic environment, defined by mistrust and resentment [of police], stoked by years of bad feelings and spurred by illegal and misguided practices, it is not difficult to imagine how a single tragic incident set off the city of Ferguson like a powder keg.” This, said Holder, was the root of the rage in Ferguson. Sorry, Eric, that dog won’t hunt. When a powder keg goes off, there is a single explosion. And one can understand how, in the first or second night after the death of Michael Brown – originally seen as a shooting by a berserk cop who unloaded his weapon in broad daylight on a teen-
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BUCHANAN ager – this could set folks off. But this lawlessness went on, week after week after week, and involved not only rioting and rampages in Ferguson, but the blockage of streets, malls and stores, hundreds of miles away, up to Christmas. And this rampant criminality was accompanied by the complicit silence of the president of the United States and his attorney general. When, if ever, did either come down hard on the hoodlum element that exploited Ferguson? Yet, while Wilson may be innocent, says Holder, the Ferguson police department and courts are steeped in white racism. The proof of this? Though AfricanAmericans are 67 percent of the population of Ferguson, they account for 93 percent of all arrests.
But these figures prove nothing. According to the FBI crime statistics of recent years, though AfricanAmericans are 13 percent of the population, they account for one-third to one-half of all violent crimes. In Washington, D.C., AfricanAmericans are half the population. But they are responsible for a huge percentage of all the robberies, rapes, assaults and murders, and especially the interracial crimes of violence. Why should it be any different in Ferguson? And if Ferguson is such a racist hellhole, why have black folks moved there from St. Louis, and why did only 6 percent of African-Americans go to the polls in the election prior to the Brown shooting? Does that sound like a community on fire with resentment over a racist city regime? As evidence of the racism in the Ferguson Police Department, Justice produced, seven, count ‘em, “seven racist e-mails,” said the Post. Here, to the Post, are three of the most horrible: “A November 2008 e-mail, for instance, stated that President Obama could not be president for very long because ‘what black man holds a
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steady job for four years?’ Another e-mail described Obama as a chimpanzee. An e-mail from 2011 showed a photo of a bare-chested group of dancing women apparently in Africa with the caption: ‘Michelle Obama’s High School Reunion.’” This is it? The FBI plowed through eight years of emails from the Ferguson P.D. and came up with this? And for this, Ferguson goes into the history books alongside the Sand Creek and Fort Pillow massacres? In its March 5 editorial, “A Chilling Portrait of Ferguson,” The New York Times bewails the “entrenched racism in the Ferguson police force.” But the real story of Ferguson is the entrenched bigotry that propelled a mob-like rush to judgment by journalists and race hustlers that ruined the life of an honest cop who did his duty and told the truth. In this version of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Darren Wilson is Tom Robinson – the victim of anti-white racism – and St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch is Atticus Finch. Think Hollywood would be interested in doing this terrific story? Copyright 2015 Creators.com
THE EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS (USPS 169520) is published semiweekly on Wednesday and Saturday for $48 per year in Wharton County; $63 per year out of county; $87 per year out of state; and $48 per year for the online edition by Wharton County Newspapers, Inc., 203 E. Jackson St., El Campo, Texas 77437. Periodical postage paid at El Campo, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS, P.O. Box 1180, El Campo, Texas 77437. © 2015 Wharton County Newspapers, Inc. Email address: lettertoeditor@leader-news.com
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Top Stories
—ECISD still hoping for restroom relief (Continued from Page 1-A)
The variance requested is 66. “It has been my opinion that 96 toilet fixtures is an unrealistic number for a facility that is used on a limited basis throughout the year,” Pool said. “Requiring that number of fixtures is an inefficient use of taxpayer resources.” During the fall, the stadium is usually used two nights per week (20 times) for middle school, freshman, junior varsity and varsity football.
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“We may have a capacity crowd for a varsity game against Wharton or Bay City, but other games are less than capacity,” Pool said. “For subvarsity games, we are never near a capacity crowd.” The stadium is also used for 10-12 soccer games and about three track meets annually, he said, adding they are never anywhere near capacity. “We also occasionally rent the stadium for playoff games and marching contests,” the superintendent said. “We may have a capacity crowd at a football playoff game, depending on the teams playing, and for the area band marching contests the home side is usually full.” With the code-required number of restroom fixtures, RWS Architects estimated the cost at $2,548,040. “We asked the architects to
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HIRING!
L-N Photo by Shannon Crabtree
Opposing Views
Councilmembers (l-r) Gloria Harris, Steve Ward and Ansia Vasquez question why El Campo ISD should be allowed to bypass building standards during the recent meeting on the issue. The district wants to install fewer restroom facilities than typically required as part of a stadium upgrade and was rejected in its first bid. At far right is City Manager Mindi Snyder. provide us with an alternate proposal with a reduced number of fixtures,” Pool said. “To do so, they surveyed a number of recently renovated or new stadium restroom facilities.” The percentage of fixtures required by the code actually constructed in each one includes: • Griggs Field, Columbia Brazoria – 32.76 percent. • Maddry Memorial, Channelview – 65.49 percent. • Tully Stadium, Spring Branch – 39.29 percent. • Waller Stadium – 66.67 percent. • Klein Memorial Butch Theiss Field – 63.85 percent. • Thorne, Aldine – 54.75
percent. • Turner Stadium, Humble – 102.84 percent. “Based on the survey data, RWS prepared another opinion of probable cost for a reduced fixture count at 68.75 percent of the fixtures required by the code,” Pool said. That number included the proposed new restrooms plus the 16 in the Physical Education Building, he said, but not the fixtures in the existing restrooms underneath the home or visitors side. With the reduced amount of fixtures, the district would save $424,085 and still have a higher fixture to capacity ratio than all stadiums save
Turner Stadium. This number was then recommended by the Community Facilities Advisory Committee and presented to the public prior to the bond election.
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Lifestyle
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, July 29, 2015
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Page 3-B
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Stories Worth Sharing
Chad Waligura of El Campo holds the first issue of Able Outdoors, a magazine he and co-editor Dawn Ziegler of Wisconsin just published. Able Outdoors tells the stories of other disabled sports/outdoor enthusiasts. Waligura, who has been in a wheelchair since his pool diving accident at age 17, does not let his disability keep him from enjoying the things he loves to do. He wanted to share stories much like his own with readers. Other columnists throughout the U.S. are featured writers in the magazine. You may also see Waligura out and about in his truck with the magazine’s website: www.ableoutdoors.net
Waligura taking ‘dis’ out of disability By QUALA MATOCHA lifestyle@leader-news.com
W
hat began as a hobby in the early 1990s has now become Chad Waligura’s passion ... writing about experiences of the disabled in the great outdoors. Waligura’s journey started with his online site Follow Me Outdoors where he wrote about his adventures and big game hunts. Some of his stories have been published in about nine other magazines. “I started writing as a way to chronicle some of my trips and provide an information source for anyone who might be looking to get back into the outdoors the way I did,” Waligura said. As an avid sportsman, Waligura has never let his disability keep him from enjoying the things he loves. Over the years, he has met countless people with varying degrees of disability also passionate about life, traveling and sports. He began to write their stories, too. His love of the outdoors started on that first trip when his dad Randy took him duck hunting. He was almost 12 years old at the time. Then in 1986, his life changed when he be-
Super Heroes It was a “super” fun morning at the El Campo Branch Library on a recent Friday. Young superheroes abounded throughout the library as they showed off their superhero cuffs, belts, masks and capes! Little Anaya Essani and Yorid Rosida were excited to be practicing their super powers with the more grown up Alice and Nicole Wilkerson. About 45 children and adults came to the program and created their fun artwork. All library programs, including the reading clubs, end on Aug. 1. So be sure to check the website or come by the library and get a schedule of the remaining programs that are happening at the library. Contributed Photo by Donna Merta
“I’ve discovered that there are amazing stories from people all across this country that need to be told. That’s really why we created Able Outdoors,”
– Chad Waligura came paralyzed after a diving accident in a swimming pool. He was 17. “Three months later, I was back in the woods with my dad learning how to hunt again,” he said. While Waligura continues to hunt, fish and write, he wanted to share other people’s stories. So for the past four years he has been working on a new venture, a magazine entitled Able Outdoors. “I’ve discovered that there are amazing stories from people all across this country that need to be told,” he said. “That’s really why we created Able Outdoors.” He and co-editor Dawn Ziegler of Wisconsin have just published their first issue of the magazine. Waligura became acquainted with Ziegler who was writing an online newsletter about recreation and outdoor activities for the dis-
abled. He approached her about putting an outdoors/recreation magazine together. This was after another partner had dropped out. It took a couple of years, he said, to plan and find a publisher and printer suitable to produce the magazine. Ziegler took him up on the offer and they met a couple of times to continue the planning process. “It’s a learn as we go thing. We have to build from the ground up,” he said. “When Dawn and I got together we tried to come up with up the perfect name for the magazine. It took us several months.” The premise of the magazine is to share stories about people with disabilities who are finding ways to hunt, fish, kayak and enjoy various outdoor activities. “There are other writers who are disabled in some way,” he said.
Able Outdoors will feature columnists of varying backgrounds and expertise. Waligura said the magazine will include their articles. “We have columnists for every section,” he added. Stories by others with disabilities may also be submitted and considered for publication. “Their stories may need a little tweaking, though,” he said. Able Outdoors, and their sponsors and advertisers, will provide information on equipment, outdoor opportunities and events for the disabled like the Abilities Expo (www.AbilitiesExpo.com) this weekend in Houston. The magazine will be published three times per year, January, May and September. Volume one, issue one, however, is dated June/ July 2015. Waligura hopes the magazine will be inspiring and helpful to those with disabilities. “We want to tell the stories from other challenged outdoors men and women who would otherwise never have the chance to be published in mainstream media,” he said. “We believe they need to be told.” For more information, or to subscribe, visit www.ableoutdoors.net
Pull out the water sprinklers, it’s time to irrigate your landscape Dry times are sneaking up on us. Our cool, mild, extended early spring weather is a faint memory and a normal Texas summer is upon us. The hot, dry weather is perfect for farmers with mature crops ready to harvest, but tough for everyone else. It’s time to give your irrigation system, hoses and sprinklers a test for proper condition and operation. Hot, dry summer is knocking on the door. I observe that at least 50 percent of installed irrigation systems need repairs and maintenance. It is time to turn on each sprinkler zone for a test. This is not difficult. If you study your controller box, its dials, buttons and switches for a few minutes, you will likely be able to figure it all out. If you cannot, just put on
your swim wear, get a lawn chair and a cold beverage ... turn the system on, sit back and watch. Look for: • Heads trapped under the grass and not popping up. • Heads that don’t pop up and spray or rotate. • Heads with damaged or broken parts due to lawnmowers, weed-eaters, car tires, foot traffic. • Heads partially stopped up with sand and trash. • Spray patterns aimed at your house wall, sidewalk, or street. • Shrub growth that blocks the spray pattern. Many of these problems can be fixed by the average home handyman or woman. If not, then your local irrigation system contractor can quickly make these problems disappear. Get your name on his list soon. He is a busy guy
Leon Macha
The Practical Southern Gardener
at this time of year. Time your irrigation to start during the wee hours of the morning, ending by about 8 a.m., before the hot winds play havoc with spray patterns. Water deep and less often. I find that 50 to 60 minutes twice a week for each turf zone works pretty well at this time of year. Your lawn needs at least 1 inch of water or more per week in mid-summer. Your landscape (See USE QUALITY, Page 5-B)