10-12-21 LDR General Excellence by Lampasas Dispatch Record

Lampasas Dispatch Record TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

VOL. 116, NO. 82 ONE SECTION

75 CENTS

Officials encourage public to learn laws for carrying guns BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH DISPATCH RECORD

fter the passage of the constitutional carry law, local officials have encouraged individuals and businesses to educate themselves in firearm safety and regulations. House Bill 1927, known as the Firearm Carry Act of 2021, allows the open, unlicensed carrying of weapons. The statute took effect 155 years after the state’s first gun control law was established. The new law went into effect Sept. 1, and it eliminates the requirement for Texans to obtain a license in order to openly carry a firearm. But firearm experts and local officials said there are still limitations. Paul Miceli, an NRA certified rifle and pistol instructor and owner of PM Firearms Instruction of Copperas Cove, said restrictions remain regarding who can carry and how individuals can carry. “I just want people to be educated,” Miceli said. “There are restrictions to it that people may not be aware of.” Lampasas Assistant Chief of Police Jody Cummings

ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH | DISPATCH RECORD

A new state law took effect Sept. 1, allowing concealed or open carry of firearms for licensed and unlicensed persons in Texas.

described the community response to the new law as “anticlimactic,” but he urged those interested in carrying to learn the finer points of the law. “Learn about these laws before you choose to carry in public,” Cummings said. “The more you educate yourself,

the better carrier you will be, licensed or unlicensed.” WHO CAN CARRY? The constitutional carry bill opened carrying rights to those who are unlicensed, but restrictions still exist about who is eligible to carry a weapon in

public. Only those 21 or older can carry. Those convicted of felonies or of Class A misdemeanors involving violence against a family member cannot carry a weapon. Those with a protective order filed against them or who are within the five-year anniversary of being convicted of deadly conduct, assault causing bodily injury, disorderly conduct related to firearms or making a terroristic threat are not permitted to carry a weapon. Miceli said many don’t know about these restrictions or make the common mistake of thinking they are restricted from carrying from the date of the offense or conviction rather than the finalization of their criminal case. “It’s not from conviction, it’s from the end of punishment,” he said, adding that if found to be carrying illegally, “they can lose their firearm privileges for five to seven years.” Cummings said his department plans to handle public firearm carry as gently as possible and make a presumption of innocence when observing or approaching a citizen carrying a firearm. “We don’t panic anymore,”

he joked. “We presume you’ve got a license to carry, or a non-license carry is still legal.” Cummings said there will be a bit of a learning curve for law enforcement officials when it comes to dealing with the new constitutional carry law. “The investigating officer decides if someone has to be arrested on scene,” he said. “I think police have gone to an attitude of not trying to ‘gig’ someone but assessing the situation first. Do we need to make an arrest, or do we need to educate the person?” Cummings and LPD Patrol Lt. Chuck Montgomery said they don’t feel the constitutional carry law will change the attitude of the criminal element toward firearms, particularly since those who carry firearms with illegal intentions typically choose to stay under the radar. “Illegal firearm carry happens very regularly,” Montgomery said. “I don’t think it will make them more brazen.” The law allows the police to question citizens about their license status and to disarm a person if necessary, during

detention or arrest. Montgomery said the department has been proactive in educating officers about the new laws. “We’re in the process of training all our officers,” he said. “We have two years to do that, but they need to know these changes now. We want to get them the information as quickly as possible.” HOW TO CARRY While both open carry and concealed carry are permitted by the new law, there still are specifications on proper holstering that Texans should know. A handgun that is carried concealed without a holster, such as in a purse, must not be even partially visible. A handgun that is openly carried must always remain holstered. “If a person is parked at the grocery store and takes his handgun out of his glove box and is in the act of putting it in his holster, and his feet are touching the ground, he is in violation,” Cummings said. If a handgun is in the carrier’s hand, it is considered display of a weapon, which is illegal under Texas law unless SEE DESPITE, PAGE 12

Constitutional amendments to appear on November ballots BY GAIL LOWE DISPATCH RECORD

In odd-numbered years, Texans go to the polls in November to consider passage or rejection of proposed state constitutional amendments that passed during the most recent legislative session. Eight proposed amendments will go before Texas voters on Nov. 2. The earlyvoting period is Oct. 18-29. Background information, with some arguments for and against, is provided below for Propositions 1-4. Analysis of Propositions 5-8 is scheduled to follow in the next edition. The source for this nonpartisan information is the Texas Legislative Council. PROPOSITION 1 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the professional sports team charitable foundations of organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues.” Background: This proposed amendment would expand the events for which a charitable raffle is allowed. In 1989, the Texas Constitution was amended to allow qualified religious societies, volunteer fire departments, volunteer emergency medical services and nonprofit organizations to conduct charitable raffles. Another amendment in 2015 permitted a professional sports team charitable foundation to conduct charitable raffles at the team’s home venue. This 2021 amendment would add the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo

WEATHER Date Oct. 7 Oct. 8 Oct. 9 Oct. 10

High 86 88 86 87

Association to the definition of “professional sports team” to allow charitable raffles at rodeo venues. Supporters say: State law already allows charitable raffles at many professional sports events, such as NASCAR races, PGA events, and professional baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer and football games. Charitable raffles also should be permitted at professional rodeo events. Opponents say: Rather than crafting an amendment around a specialized group that can hold charitable raffles, the Texas Legislature should encourage selffocused giving. Nothing prevents rodeo foundations or any other foundations from raising money for charitable endeavors in which they are interested. PROPOSITION 2 “The constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county.” Background: The Texas Constitution states that taxation shall be equal and uniform. A political subdivision may not dedicate a portion of its tax revenue from certain properties to benefit those properties – unless an exception is permitted. In 1981, the constitution was amended to allow “tax increment financing,” whereby a municipality finances improvement of a specified “reinvestment zone” using ad valorem taxes collected in the zone attributable to increased property values. These “tax increment” funds typically are used to repay bonds issued to pay for SEE CONSTITUTIONAL, PAGE 10

JESSICA MALDONADO | DISPATCH RECORD

Lometa announces Homecoming nominees

Nominees for Lometa Homecoming king are, from left, Leonel Caso, Adrian Smailus-Cruz, Copeland Brister, Dyllen Workmon and Luis Hernandez. Not pictured: Tim Juarez. Nominees for queen are, from left, Sierra Tower, Jasmine Gama, Emily Andrade, Star Davila, Emily Hobson and Shyanne Tower. The Homecoming game will be Friday against Zephyr.

Lampasas ISD expands career course offerings BY MONIQUE BRAND DISPATCH RECORD

In her annual review of the Lampasas Independent School District’s Career and Technical Education program, director Julie Salvato said the initiative is growing both in student in-

terest and courses offered. Career and Technical Education, or CTE, programs include career skills training that helps students become ready for college or the workforce. The CTE curriculum focuses on academic, employability and technical skills used in a specific occupation.

Total rainfall for 2021:

25.19 in.

Data from the Lower Colorado River Authority (site 11 miles west-northwest of Lampasas, near Nix).

SEE LAMPASAS, PAGE 12

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

BRIEFLY Low Rain 65 0 67 0 66 0 63 0.51

The program also offers opportunity for students to receive industry-based certifications in their field of study. In Texas, certificates can have different levels, often based on the number of hours required by the

BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST

KEMPNER CITY COUNCIL

The Kempner City Council will meet Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. in City Hall, at 12288 East U.S. Highway 190.

CHRISTMAS CANTATA

Rehearsals will begin Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. for the annual Christmas Cantata. Practices will be held in the choir room at First United Methodist church, located at 2 Alexander Dr. The cantata is set for Dec. 12 at 5 p.m.

Anyone who loves to sing Christmas music can join them for this community event. Masks are welcomed. For further information, email marytittle@att.net.

ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH

The Lampasas County Historical Commission will celebrate Archaeology Month in Texas with a program Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Lampasas Public Library, 201 S. Main St.

Historical commission member Boyce Cabaniss will present “Historic and Prehistoric Archaeology in Lampasas County.” He will support his presentation with artifacts he has found during numerous digs. After the program, Cabaniss will be available to answer questions from the audience. This free presentation is designed to promote the study of archaeology in the county.

AWARD WINNER 2021

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Life

LAMPASAS DISPATCH RECORD

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

Custom ride has been decades in the making for Wear

BY ANNA TIMMIS DISPATCH RECORD

avid Wear loves motorcycles and just completed his very own custom-made bike, 20 years in the making. But this bike is unique in more than one way. Wear, a Lampasas native, was three days from his 18th birthday. He had been riding since sixth grade. He had just graduated from high school, where he played football, and had a new car. He was driving to and from Fort Hood from Lampasas for work. Then, when Wear was driving home from work one day, a drunk driver hit him head-on, paralyzing him from the waist down. After he recovered, he did not let his new disability stop him from achievement. Wear played wheelchair basketball and started a team in Austin, where he now lives. He competed in the Paralympic Games in Seoul, South Korea in 1988. His events were shot put, discus, javelin and table tennis. The year before, at international games for shot put in Austria, he earned a bronze medal. Wear went to college in Kilgore before moving to Austin in 1980. He had a career as an aircraft instrument tech, and also worked as a jeweler and watchmaker. “My dream was to get back on a bike but didn’t think it would happen,” he said. Then, about 30 years after his accident, he tried a trike

his friend owned. “I was hooked,” Wear said. “I got onto his trike — a Harley trike — and I forgot about the wind blowing in my face, the sun shining through the trees.” That started a project that would take him the next two decades — as he just completing it this year. His multifaceted skillset was just what he needed to complete such a tough job. “It was crazy,” Wear said. He took the neck and motor of an old wrecked bike and the rear end of a 1944 Harley servi-car. He built the frame (steel rods) around these parts, crafting everything himself — welding, laying the joints. Everything that looks like chrome is stainless steel. Wear used a leather sewing machine to make all the leather work, including the seat and a satchel that sits between the handles on the front. He wired all the electrical, and he painted and glittered the bike. He made the disk brakes. He made slings to strap his legs into. He named the bike “Addiction.” “I had a really good friend of mine who said, ‘All you do is spend time on the bike; it’s like an addiction,’” Wear said. “I kind of put my heart and soul into it.” He even built a frame — what looks like a “sissy bar” — to hold his wheelchair on the back. “I think I got a lot of this from my mom, the creative side,” he said. “I’m kind of a self-taught person. The job I had was a lot of electrical.

David Wear is an avid Harley Davidson fan.

MONIQUE BRAND | DISPATCH RECORD

Lampasas native David Wear poses at W.M. Brook Park with his custom ride ‘Addiction,’ built by Wear himself.

I just love inventing things, making things from scratch.” For example, Wear connected an electric wheelchair to a lawn mower so he can mow his lawn. He also sews. He has developed an incredible attention to detail. For the bike’s shifter, he described how he squeezed Silly Putty as a mold of his hand, traced that to wood and then traced to metal. “The metal shifter fits my hand exactly,” Wear said. He put copies of his father’s military dog tags on the side of the bike but replaced the Social Security number with the bike’s Vehicle Identification Number. He put in a GPS for a digital odometer. There also is a power source to charge a phone, run an air pump and perform other functions. Lights all around the bike illuminate it for night riding. Wear recently drove the custom motorcycle the 130mile round trip from Austin to Lampasas and back. That was his first long trip. His sister, Dianna Hodges, lives in Lampasas with her husband, Daniel — who co-owned Hodges & Sargent Pharmacy for many years. “The cool thing about that town, when I first had my

Church to celebrate 126th Homecoming on Oct. 17 The Pearl Church of Christ will celebrate its 126th Homecoming on Sunday. Guest speaker will be Edward Schaub. A catered barbecue dinner on the grounds will be served immediately after the worship service. The church encouraged participants to bring any old photos of Pearl to share with those in attendance. Plaques will be given to the youngest and oldest in attendance, the longestattending church member, the couple married the longest and to whoever traveled the longest distance for the event. Pearl Church of Christ is located at 6790 FM 183 in Pearl. Phone is 254-865-9292.

Bend sets annual fundraiser Bend Community Center will be the site for the annual fundraiser on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. A fish fry with all the trimmings will be served by donation only. A cake auction and silent auction also will be offered. Face masks are optional.

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The Lampasas Dispatch Record (ISSN-87501759), is published semiweekly by Hill Country Publishing Co. Inc., 416 S. Live Oak St., Lampasas, Texas. Periodicals postage paid at Lampasas, TX. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Lampasas Dispatch Record, P.O. Box 631, Lampasas, TX 76550-0005. Mailing address for the Lampasas Dispatch Record is P.O. Box 631, Lampasas, TX 76550-0005. Phone (512)5566262. One-year subscriptions, payable in advance, are $50 in Lampasas; $60 elsewhere in Texas; and $70 out-of-state.

MONIQUE BRAND | DISPATCH RECORD

accident, people came out of the woodwork to help me,” Wear said. He described how the Shriners came to put up an antenna in the house so he could speak to people in town. “I mean, I’ve traveled the world with wheelchair sports,” he said. “It’s nothing like Lampasas.” He said he’s always thought he had to keep pushing himself, “go to bed at night and say, ‘You had a productive day.’ “So now I’m coaching kids and taking people out of their comfort zone,” he said. “I get them in an area to compete and forget about their problems.” Wear helps at kids’ events such as extreme sports and basketball, so youth can participate with others in wheelchairs. He wants to take the bike to these events. “The real thing is they could MONIQUE BRAND | DISPATCH RECORD see it and have a glimmer in Every part of Wear’s custom ride has sentimental value, including their eyes and see they could his father’s dog tags. build one,” he said.

tuesday, october 12, 2021

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Lampasas Dispatch Record

Sheriff Ramos proud of his Latin-American heritage editor’s note: This is the second in a series of feature stories highlighting Hispanic residents in the community during Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

by Alexandria randolph dispatch Record

heriff Jesus “Jess” Ramos said his Hispanic heritage has molded his faith, his family and his duty to community. Ramos is a fifth-generation Texan who grew up in Killeen but had family in Fort Stockton and Marfa. “Our ancestors came through Mexico to West Texas,” he said. “They were probably Texan before Texas was Texas.” In April, Ramos and two of his siblings ventured to West Texas to learn more about their family history. “We wanted to find out more about our Mom and Dad’s upbringing,” he said. What they discovered was that in decades past, baptismal records provided better documentation than birth certificates, due to the remoteness of that area. For Ramos, faith and cultural heritage have been closely tied. “We had such a strong spiritual

‘Our ancestors came through Mexico to West Texas. They were probably Texan before Texas was Texas.” Lampasas County Sheriff Jess Ramos

commenting on his family’s five-generation roots in the state

upbringing,” he said of his childhood. “It was very ‘old school,’ for lack of a better term.” Ramos’ family kept several traditions that were religious in nature. In his family of five brothers and five sisters, his mother and sisters would serve dinner to his father and brothers before serving themselves. At the dinner table, his parents would lead conversation, and the children would speak only when spoken to. His father would hold regular Bible studies with the children and at night would sprinkle holy water on their beds while they slept to offer them spiritual protection. “Those traditions you just don’t see anymore,” Ramos said. There was also a strong culture of respect and familial bond that came with this Hispanic heritage. “There was a great deal of respect for your elders,” the sheriff said. “If you were spoken to in Spanish, whether the person knew English or not, you gave them the respect of answering in Spanish.” Ramos’ parents were “very dedicated to their children,” he said. “We had a very loving upbringing.” That love wasn’t restricted to the home, he added. “My dad was such a giving man, and he instilled that in all of us,” Ramos said of a quality he hopes to pass on to his daughter and future generations. “Don’t be satisfied with what you can get from society … Set yourself apart from being a receiver and be a giver to society.” Hispanic heritage enables Ramos to give back to society in unique ways, including helping immigrants and Mexican nationals in times of need. Understanding both cultures has helped Ramos bridge the gap inside and outside

courtesy photo

Brothers Jose “Joe” Ramos, at left, Juan “John” Ramos, back center, and Jesus “Jess” Ramos pose for a photo in Texas DPS uniform with their mother, Maria Luisa Ramos.

the Lampasas community. “I have always given my number freely,” he said. “I told my wife, ‘I am the unofficial ambassador to Mexico.’ My number gets passed from one person to another. I receive a lot of calls from Mexican nationals and people from all walks of life.” Most often, these strangers need help understanding legal processes when a loved one is arrested or detained in Texas or they are looking for counsel from a law enforcement officer. Ramos said he is proud of his heritage and especially proud to be a Latin American. “So many times, I have been asked if I am Mexican. I am of Latin descent – I realize it all started somewhere,” he said. “I was born, bred and raised in the United States, and that means the world to me. I am a proud Texan American, but I’m very proud of my Latin heritage.”

Ramos’ parents, Juan and Maria Luisa Ramos -- in center of photo -- are surrounded by their 10 children.

courtesy photo

EQIP application deadline approaches The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in Texas has announced the first funding application deadline of Oct. 29, 2021, for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. A second funding application deadline will be Feb. 11, 2022. Applications are taken year round for NRCS programs, but deadlines are announced to rank and fund eligible conservation projects. Producers interested in signing up for EQIP should submit applications to their local USDA service center. If already a USDA client, a producer can submit applications online via Farmers.gov. EQIP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical

assistance to agricultural producers. Technical assistance is offered without a fee from NRCS specialists to help landowners and land managers plan and implement conservation practices to help them meet their land management goals; address natural resource concerns; and improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. For additional information visit the NRCS Texas website at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov. Applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis. Producers interested in EQIP can contact the local USDA service center at 502 S. Key Ave., 512-556-5572, or visit the NRCS EQIP web page.

Have an upcoming event to place in the Community Calendar? Send information to us at news@lampasas.com or drop it by the newspaper office at 416 S. Live Oak in downtown Lampasas.

courtesy photo

Sheriff Jess Ramos is a proud Latin American and fifth-generation Texan.

Opinion

Lampasas Dispatch Record

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Parents deserve to be heard at school meetings The Biden administration has decided to take on what it sees as an important domestic terror threat – you know, those parents who care enough about their children’s education to show up at school board meetings and ask questions. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced last week that he was directing the FBI to convene meetings within 30 days at the federal, state and local level to determine whether “a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence” at school board meetings requires federal intervention by law enforcement. What prompted such an immediate action? Apparently, it is protests by parents concerned about mask mandates, critical race theory and pornographic literature in schools. The National School Board Association, in a Sept. 28 letter to Biden, called these parent protestors “angry mobs” and said their threats against public school officials “could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes.” The incidents NSBA cited as heinous actions by angry mobs – in Round Rock, Texas; Washington; Wisconsin; Wyoming and Tennessee – consisted of parents protesting at school board meetings, and the board members walking out of the meeting rather than addressing parental concerns. The NSBA executives invoked the Patriot Act and requested federal law enforcement protection from parents and citizens – the taxpayers who fund public education. We will set aside for now concerns about the attorney general’s motivation to use FBI agents to investigate these education-focused parents. After all, it probably doesn’t matter that Garland’s son-in-law is co-founder of Panorama Education, a company that sells critical race theory resource materials to school districts. The Biden administration already has decided that parents don’t really matter when it comes to the education of their children. Biden’s Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, in testifying before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions last month, said parents should not be the primary stakeholder in their kids’ education. Because, you know, the government knows what is best for them. That may be the prevailing attitude in Washington, D.C., but it shouldn’t fly in Texas or any other state. School board members don’t need protection from us; they need to be accountable to us. When the U.S. Department of Education was created, Congress enacted statutory language stating that parents have the primary responsibility for educating their children, and that states and localities have the primary responsibility of supporting that parental role. In Lampasas, we are fortunate to have school board trustees who have students’ interests at heart. These board members are involved in our community, they own local businesses, they attend church services with us, they take care to steward their responsibilities well. But perhaps we all need a reminder that parents should be a welcome part of the education process. Parents deserve to be heard, and they deserve to play a primary role in overseeing what goes on with their children’s education, not to be marginalized or risk FBI investigation for expressing concern over questionable materials and mandates that do not advance the well-balanced education of their students.

letters

New administrator at Mission

My name is Karla Miller. I am the new administrator for Lampasas Mission. I have a background in teaching and accounting and have been serving as a volunteer in all areas of the Mission for three years. I want to serve the needy of Lampasas with dignity, respect and compassion. I have been impressed with the dedication of our volunteers and appreciate each and every one of them and the jobs they do. I am also thankful for the faithful support of our churches, organizations and businesses in Lampasas. I hope the Mission can continue to earn your trust. Should you need to reach me at times other than when the Mission is open, please call my cell at 817-312-2054. Karla Miller Administrator Lampasas Mission

Letters policy The Dispatch Record encourages letters from readers. Letters should be to the point, typed if possible, and signed. Anonymous submissions will not be printed. Address and telephone numbers also should be included for verification purposes. Only one letter per writer will be considered in a 60-day period. Letters endorsing a position on issues of local interest will be accepted, but letters endorsing a candidate for political office will not be accepted. We reserve the right to edit for length, content and potentially libelous statements. Send opinions to letters@lampasas.com, or mail to P.O. Box 631, Lampasas, TX 76550.

tuesday, october 12, 2021

Comply or die: vax-partheid in the operating room

And Jews still will vote Democrat

here is almost nothing Democrats can do to damage America, or Israel, that would change most American Jews’ political leanings. The latest example took place just last week. A college student speaking to the vice president of the United States, a Democrat, condemned America for supporting Israel, and charged Israel with committing “ethnic genocide” against Palestinians. Kamala Harris’ response? “Your voice, your perspective, your experience, your truth cannot be suppressed, and it must be heard.” “Your truth” always means “a lie.” When a person says something that is true, people don’t say, “that is your truth.” They say, “that’s true.” And indeed, what the girl said to the vice president was a complete lie. Not a partial lie, a complete lie. As a rule -- except on the political left with regard to Israel -- groups that are victims of genocide decrease in number. Yet the Palestinians have had one of the highest population growth rates in the world. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, in 1991, there were 2,783,084 Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. In 2021, there were 5,227,193. This number does not include another 2 million Palestinians who are citizens of Israel. How many other national or ethnic groups have doubled in size in the last 30 years? Yet, despite this revealing incident, it is hard to imagine that one American Jew will in any way rethink his or her commitment to Biden-Harris. One reason is that few Jewish Democrats even know it occurred. I Googled “new york times kamala harris george mason university” and the following results came up (in this order): New York Post, Politico, Times of Israel, JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency). Next came the New York Times -- an article from 2020: “Kamala Harris Makes History as First Woman and Woman of Color as Vice President.” I could find nothing about the incident in the news sections of the Washington Post or Los Angeles Times either. Some of the most powerful forces in the Democratic Party are indistinguishable in their hatred for Israel from Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iranian regime. Does this disturb American Jewish Democrats? Not nearly as much as Donald Trump disturbed them. Most American Jews loathed Trump despite the facts that he was the most pro-Israel president since Harry Truman; that his daughter and grandchildren are religious Jews; and that he engineered the Abraham Accords, a peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and Israel, which was followed by normalization of relations between Sudan and Israel and between Morocco and Israel. Most American Jews believe the Democratic Party is a good and moral

party, and that the Republican Party is immoral and perhaps even evil. This view is entirely emotional, which is why it is difficult to imagine it changing. Most American Jews identify Republicans with the right, and they assume “the right” means “fascist” or even “Nazi.” Most American Jews identify Republicans with the rich and powerful, and the Democratic Party with the poor and downtrodden, even though the rich and powerful are overwhelmingly Democrats. Most American Jews identify the Democratic Party with secularism and dennis the Republican Party with prager religion (religious Christians and Orthodox Jews). And they are as committed to secularism as Christians are to Christ. Most American Jews have signed on to just about every secular substitute for Judeo-Christian religions: feminism, environmentalism, “anti-racism,” humanism, socialism. Jews, I have often noted, may well be the most religious people in the world -- but for the great majority of them, Judaism is not their religion. And the Democratic Party is the party of all these secular religions. This is all a great tragedy -- not just for America but especially for American Jews. America has always been the best country Jews have ever lived in outside of Israel. That is why a Jew wrote “God Bless America” (and did so at a time when anti-Semitism was much more prevalent and accepted in American society than it is today). That is why the most influential religious Jew of the 20th century, the Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, described America as a medina shel chesed, a “country of kindness.” Coming from Europe, he did not compare America to Utopia but to all the other countries Jews lived in. Yet, something happened to American Jews after World War II. They veered more and more left -- supporting America-hating movements (like the Black Panthers, for whom Leonard Bernstein and other prominent Jews in music and Broadway threw an infamous fundraiser). And why did that happen? Because Jews became less and less committed to Judaism, substituted the New York Times for the Torah and went to college in greater proportions than any other ethnic or religious group in America. Colleges corrupt most students’ values. Jews are no exception. That helps explain why a Democratic vice president could praise a student who just told her that Israel commits ethnic genocide -- and have it mean nothing to most American Jews. Dennis prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist. He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com.

or nearly 20 years, I’ve reported on America’s medical welcome mat for chronically sick illegal aliens. Under a 1986 federal law, “unauthorized immigrants” with conditions such as kidney disease and cancer cannot be denied emergency room care, regardless of their immigration status or inability to pay. Open-borders politicians insist health care is a “right” that every last border-jumper is entitled to -- and that every last American taxpayer must subsidize. According to estimates from 2019 cited in a recent study published by the American Journal of Kidney Disease, there are between 5,500 and 9,000 illegals with kidney failure in the U.S. There’s now a COVID-era push to provide them not only with emergency-room dialysis (at michelle an estimated cost of $400,000 malkin per illegal alien per year) but also with outpatient dialysis under Medicaid. Conveniently, the United Network for Organ Sharing and Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network do not document immigration status, so there are no reliable estimates of exactly how many illegal aliens have received organ transplants in the U.S. At least one scientific journal article identified 400 illegal aliens who had received kidney transplants since 2005 -- most in California, at taxpayer expense. Keep all this government-backed generosity for illegal alien patients in mind as I tell you about Leilani Lutali, a law-abiding American citizen and Colorado Springs executive recruiter diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease last November. Her condition worsened over the summer, leading her to medical providers at UCHealth in Denver to begin discussion of an organ transplant. Blessed with a close-knit network of friends through her local Bible study, Leilani found a living donor in Jaimee Fougner, a former Air Force medic, triathlete and medical assistant who has spent more than two decades in the health care field. Everything was moving along smoothly until last week, when Jaimee’s donor coordinator at UCHealth asked about her vaccination status. Jaimee is unvaccinated and won a religious exemption from her employer’s jab-or-job mandate. Leilani has already had COVID-19 and told me she recently tested positive for antibodies. Like Jaimee, Leilani has religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers’ use of aborted fetal cells. No matter. “Trust the science,” stop asking questions, and comply or die. Leilani and Jaimee told me they were informed by one of the transplant coordinators that if they didn’t submit to the COVID-19 jab, their transplant “journey would come to an end.” Leilani says they were “told flat-out that there would be no exemptions.” She pushed for alternatives such as a negative COVID-19 test. No go. Leilani has now been placed on the “inactive” list -- a death sentence for someone in her condition. Welcome to vax-partheid in the operating room. In their discussions with Leilani and public relations materials sent to me, UCHealth officials have imperiously compared exercising the choice to decline the COVID-19 vaccine to irresponsible behavior such as smoking or drinking before or after an organ transplant. Ridiculous. As Leilani told friends and family in a Facebook post about her plight: “I have done the research on transplant patients, and there isn’t substantive evidence that the COVID shot can even provide antibodies to fight off the Delta variant post-transplant.” Jaimee adds that the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials excluded severely immunocompromised patients, and a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Hepatology published in August found “poor antibody response” after COVID-19 vaccination among 61% of liver transplant patients and 24% of patients with chronic liver disease. Colorado state Republican Rep. Tim Geitner heard about Leilani’s case and blasted UCHealth’s decision as “disgusting” in a Facebook livestream video (which, of course, has already been appended with the Narrative Control Freaks’ pro-COVID vaccine disclaimers). Leilani’s case “brings great concern for many of us ... where based on your vaccination status with COVID, you would actually be denied care.” Indeed. “Where does this stop?” Jaimee asked. “If it’s OK to deny life-saving transplants to the unvaxed, are cancer patients next?” Yes, my fellow citizens, we have now arrived at the insane point in America where unlawful immigration status provides more protection than unvaccinated status -- and where health care is a taxpayer-subsidized right for indigent illegal aliens but not faithful, pro-life Christians who stand up against medical tyranny. “I didn’t want to be the poster child,” Leilani told me last week. But after much thought and prayer, she came forward to “be a voice for those who have no voice.” All it takes is one to become hundreds, thousands and millions in such a time as this. Who in power will speak for Leilani? Please stand up. The clock is ticking.

michelle malkin is a columnist with Creators Syndicate. Her email address is MichelleMalkinInvestigates@protonmail.com.

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Badgers dominate Taylor Ducks to open district Dax Brookreson on a ball Mikulencak tossed high in the air. Brookreson was A rocky opening quarter under it like an outfielder, turned into a dominant and the Badgers took over at performance by the Badgers their own 21. as they have started on the On the ensuing drive, Case right foot in district play, Brister found the end zone picking up a 70-20 win over on the ground from 20 yards the Taylor Ducks Friday on out with 4:25 to go in the first Badger Field. half, and the lead went to The game turned in 35-20. Lampasas’ favor when the With just over a minute first quarter ended, and the left in the first half, the second quarter began. Lampasas offense got the The Badgers were down 20- ball again with a chance to 14 after one because of two extend the lead. Sanchez turnovers by their offense found Ethan Moreno from that Taylor was able to turn 38 yards out, and he scored into touchdowns. But just with eight seconds on the 1:30 into the second quarter, clock. The game felt like it Dylan Sanchez punched in a was in the Badgers’ control touchdown from three yards as the teams headed to the out to give the Badgers a 21locker room. 20 lead. Moreno was back in the From that moment on, the lineup after missing the Badgers never looked back. Gatesville game two weeks The defense came away ago. with five takeaways, and In the second half, the offense seemed to score the Badgers had three every time they touched the takeaways on defense and ball. outscored the Ducks 28-0, On the ensuing leaving no doubt about their Taylor possession, Josh dominance and showing the Mikulencak fumbled, and rest of the district that they Conner Keele fell on the ball can be very explosive. giving possession back to Rogers highlighted the Lampasas. takeaways as the difference Less than a minute later, in the game. Nate Borchardt got behind “I think the big difference the Taylor secondary, and is we got takeaways, and we Sanchez hit him in stride for tell kids all the time you’re a 70-yard touchdown catch. gonna win games by who Head coach Troy Rogers wins the turnover battle,” was happy with his team’s Rogers said. “Even though resilience after being tested we turned it over twice, we early. settled in and we still got the “I was proud of the way ball away from them I think they responded,” Rogers it was five times tonight, said. “The two turnovers in so I think that was the big the first half, and it was a difference in the game and close game, and they scored that’s what we needed.” off both of those turnovers. The other takeaways came Then we got two turnovers when Sosa Sokimi tackled in the second half, and we Mikulencak in the backfield, scored on both of those, so stripped the football and it was back and forth for a recovered it himself. Then while there, and then I think A.J. Torrez fell on another we settled in. fumble by the Taylor QB; “I’m really proud of the and late in the game with way they all played,” the the Badgers up 63-20, coach said. “I thought they Jonah Sanchez picked off played and fought well.” the backup quarterback, The second takeaway that Nicholas Treutor, with 7:07 Sosa Sokimi strips the ball from the Taylor quarterback during the Badgers’ win last Friday. Rogers mentioned was an to go. interception hauled in by The Badgers scored BY HUNTER KING DISPATCH RECORD

touchdowns on all three of those turnovers. They added points when Brister took a screen pass from Sanchez 42 yards to the house. and Luke Smith scored from five yards out and 10 yards out after the latter two takeaways. Lampasas finished the game with 737 total yards – 411 on the ground and 326 through the air. Along with the 326 passing yards, Sanchez threw three touchdowns. “It just takes patience, letting them get open,” Sanchez said about the touchdown tosses. “Ethan [Moreno] made a really good catch, and I had plenty of time in the pocket. The line did a really good job blocking, and it just all pieced together.” Sokimi was a leader on the defense and came away with one of the five takeaways. “We’re resilient,” he said. “We struggled a little bit, but we’re gonna keep on fighting until the end, and that’s what we did.” What did Sokimi see from the Ducks as he forced the fumble and recovery? “I’m blocked with a down block, and I see the guard pulling, so I get under him and I spill him,” the Badger said. “And the quarterback’s right there and the ball is in my hand perfect, so I strip it and picked it up. “I should have picked it up for a touchdown, but I just fell on it,” Sokimi said. On Friday, the Burnet Bulldogs will roll into Lampasas for the second district game of the year. Rogers said the Badgers need to have a good Monday practice, and that Burnet, with a new staff this year, will be ready to play. HUNTER KING | DISPATCH RECORD In their first district game, Burnet lost to Conner Keele falls on a fumble, one of the five takeaways the Fredericksburg 33-21 at Badgers came away with Friday night. home.

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STATS AND SCORING SUMMARY TAYLOR

LAMPASAS

FINAL

20 70

TEAM STATISTCS

SCORING SUMMARY First quarter LAM - Dax Brookreson 1-yard rush, (Landon Richardson kick) 8:49 TAY - Jarvis Anderson 16-yard pass from Josh Mikulencak, (Steven Portugal kick) 8:17 LAM - Dylan Sanchez 58-yard rush, (Richardson kick) 6:50 TAY - Anderson 10-yard pass from Mikulencak, (Portugal kick) 2:41 TAY - Jackson Meller 2-yard rush, (Portugal kick no good) Second quarter LAM - Sanchez 3-yard rush, (Richardson kick) 10:30 LAM - Nate Borchardt 70-yard pass from Sanchez, (Richardson kick) 7:34 LAM - Case Brister 27-yard rush, (Richardson kick) 4:25 LAM - Ethan Moreno 38-yard pass from Sanchez, (Richardson kick) 0:08 Third quarter LAM - Moreno 3-yard rush, (Richardson kick) 4:15 LAM - Brister 42-yard pass from Sanchez, (Richardson kick) 1:45 Fourth quarter LAM - Luke Smith 5-yard rush, (Richardson kick) 9:40 LAM - Smith 10-yard rush, (Richardson kick) 4:14

Total yards Rushes-yds. Passing yds. Comp-att-Int. Punts-avg. yds. Fumbles lost First downs

LAM

TAY

737 41-411 326 14-20-0 2-39.5 2 22

225 23-91 134 15-27-2 4-32 2 13

INDIVIDUAL STATISTCS Passing: Dylan Sanchez 14-20, 326 yds., 3 TD Rushing: Case Brister 12-146, 1 TD Dylan Sanchez 7-117, 2 TD Receiving: Ethan Moreno 8-151, 1 TD Nate Borchardt 2-101, 2 TD Total tackles: Dax Brookreson 7 Takeaways: Dax Brookreson 1 INT Jonah Sanchez 1 INT Conner Keele 1 fumble recovery Sosa Sokimi 1 forced fumble and fumble recovery A.J. Torrez 1 fumble recovery

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Lometa loses first game of the year; district play is next BY HUNTER KING DISPATCH RECORD

The Lometa Hornets lost their hopes for an undefeated season on Friday after falling to the Abbott Panthers, 58-12. The Hornets are 5-1 with three games left on the schedule, all of them district games that will determine their fate this season. Head coach D.T. Torres said no one wants to lose, but this setback gives the team plenty to work on as the important games come up. “My hat’s off to Abbott; they were a well-coached team, and they executed to perfection,” Torres said. “It was a good test heading into district play, and it was well worth scheduling those guys and seeing where we’re at. “We didn’t play our best football, though,” the coach said. “I’m not saying the outcome would have been different, but the score would have been different.” Torres added that he’s not even sure the Hornets have played their best football all year, which could be bad news for their district opponents if they can put it all together. “That gives us a lot to work on and a lot to look

forward to, as well,” he said. One standout for the Hornets in the loss to Abbott was Dyllen Workmon, who caught both the Lometa touchdowns on the night. He also made eight tackles on defense, the coach said. “Heading into district play, I thought it kind of humbled us a little bit,” Torres said. “I definitely think good things are going to come from this. We can either learn from it or make it a recurring thing.” To start district play, the Hornets will host the Zephyr Bulldogs Friday night. “We’re just excited to be at home on our own field with fans here at home,” Torres said. “It’s only gonna be our third home game all year.” Even though no one wants to lose, the coach said the loss doesn’t hurt the Hornets’ season in any way, and everything they want to achieve is still in front of them. “All these nondistrict games are just steppingstones to get all of the puzzle pieces put together,” Torres said. “A district championship is still on the line; the playoffs are still on the line.”

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Tim Juarez runs past Abbott defenders during the game last Friday.

Lady Badgers win home golf tournament, boys finish fourth BY HUNTER KING DISPATCH RECORD

The Lady Badgers golf team came away with first place in the tournament held last Friday and Saturday in Lampasas and Burnet. The Lampasas girls finished with a two-day score of 710 – 22 strokes better than the secondplace team, the Belton Lady Tigers. Kylee Rutledge posted

Tennis team comes up short in warm-up match before playoffs BY HUNTER KING DISPATCH RECORD

The Lampasas tennis squad traveled to Harker Heights to play in a practice match against the 6A Knights before heading to Cleburne for a firstround playoff matchup today against Decatur. Harker Heights took the match 13-6. Lady Badgers Caylin Watson/Isabel Pronovost and Alyssa Sharkey/Amore Zapata were the only two doubles wins for Lampasas. The team was able to prevail in four singles matches, including wins by Kailr Clements, Zapata, Sharkey and Nate Champion. “I am hoping the kids got something out of playing tonight and were able to focus on their shots and movement,” head coach Kenneth Peiser said. “The one that counts starts Tuesday.” The playoff match will start at 9:30 a.m., and the Badgers will be looking to move on to the second round of the team competition.

the best individual score for the Lady Badgers with a 163. She shot 76 the first day at Hancock Park Golf Course and 87 the second day at Delaware Springs in Burnet. Closely behind her was Kenlee Turner, who posted a two-day score of 168. She shot 83 on day one and 85 on day two. Shaylee Wolfe shot 84-

93—177. Avery Hopson had a two-day total of 202, and Paige Rutland shot 232. On the boys’ side, Peyton Spore was the standout golfer for Lampasas, shooting a total score of 164. He had a 76 on day one at the Hancock Park course. Coulson Plouff finished second among the Badgers, with a 172. Timber Gholson

and Jaxon Tomme both shot 178 over the two-day tournament. Day two at Delaware Springs appeared to be more difficult for the golfers, as just about every team’s scores were worse on the second day. The Lampasas girls finished 12 shots worse – from 349 to 361 – and the boys went from 334 to

358, or 24 shots worse at Delaware Springs. The next tournaments for the golf teams will be Oct. 18 at Lake Belton for the boys and Nov. 2 in Llano for the girls. The boys’ action will start at 8:30 a.m., and the girls will start at 10 a.m. Both tournaments are the last planned in the 2021 fall schedule for the golf teams.

The Badger golf teams are set to play one more tournament each this year.

Lady Badgers get back on track with a win over Four-year student trainer wins Football Sweetheart University HUNTER KING | DISPATCH RECORD

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Paige Rutland finishes on a shot from the fairway on hole 5 at Hancock Park Golf Course.

Coulson Plouff tees off on hole 4 during the tournament in Lampasas on Friday.

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Bella Guerra, a student trainer for the last four years, was named the football sweetheart last Friday.

The Lady Badgers swept the Waco University Lady Trojans in a volleyball match between their district schedule to gain momentum for the final four games of the season. The final score was 25-17, 25-17, 25-20. Leaders for Lampasas were Morgan Lovejoy with 13 kills, Bella Lindsey with 24 assists, Hadley Oncken with 18 digs, Morgan Lovejoy with five blocks and Madison Roedler with four aces. The second half of the Lady Badgers’ district schedule gets started today, when they host Gatesville at 6 p.m. Three of the final four games will be played at home, and the Lady Badgers will need to find success at home to keep their season going past district play. Head coach Christy Wiley wants everyone to come to the gym tonight to cheer on the Lady Badgers.

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“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” –Philippians 4:8

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FOR SALE: Two verticle rolling carts with 4 sections each and locking wheels. Great for stacking storage. $75 each O.B.O. See at the Lampasas Dispatch Record, 416 S. Live Oak.

Position available for RV Park Manager We are seeking a reliable, outgoing, motivated, selfstarter to join our exciting Safari team. Applicants must be someone with organization and business skills that can provide excellent customer service and loves animals. Responsibilities include making reservations, checking in/out guests, coordinating timesheets for staff, marketing, day-to-day operations, tracking inventory, maintaining the high standards of cleanliness throughout the RV Park, providing assistance with renting and collecting payments on additional commercial and residential properties around the area. Proficient computer skills required. Weekend work required. Part-time and fulltime positions are available. Send resumes to: jtdrennan@ oakcrestmgmt.com

Grazing Lease Job Training GRAZING LEASE Pasture lease WANTED for cattle grazing. Need 800-2000 ac. 254-290-1009. Feed & Hay Job Training FEED & HAY Bermuda Hay For Sale: Large Round Bales, $65. Call Jim, 512-734-3906 or Sherry, 512-734-5000. Business Services Job Training BUSINESS SERVICES REID SKID STEER SERVICES •Brush & Cedar Clearing •Post Holes •Driveways •Pipe Fencing •Entrances •Livestock Pens Kyle: 512-801-8275 Larry: 512-632-5491 reidskidsteer@yahoo.com KEMPNER MONUMENTS Personalized, Custom, Quality Memorials at Affordable Prices •Headstones •Pet Stones •Address Stones •Etc. 12205 Hwy 190 Kempner, TX Next to Dollar General Cell: 512-556-1158 Office: 512-932-8000 Paul Hall, Owner kempnermonuments@gmail.com www.kempnermonuments.com

Job Training HELP WANTED The JC Smith Co. is looking for a CDL truck driver. Please stop by 471 S. Hwy 16, San Saba for an application. Call 325372-5786 for more information.

c/o Michael Thomas Rush 7109 CR 3600 Lampasas, Texas 76550 DATED the 7th day of October, 2021. /s/Jackie Baltrun Attorney for Michael Thomas Rush State Bar No.: 24087140 304 E. 4th St. Lampasas, Texas 76550 Telephone: (512)556-6228 Facsimile: (844)318-6073 E-mail:

TACLB 023160E

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that Letters of Administration with Will Annexed for the Estate of NANCY LEE BERNHARD, Deceased, were issued on September 30, 2021, in Cause No. 7271, pending in the County Court of Lampasas County, Texas, to: JACQUELINE BALTRUN. All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. c/o Scott S. Cooley Attorney at Law 304 E. 4th St. Lampasas, Texas 76550 DATED the 7th day of October, 2021. /s/Scott S. Cooley Attorney for Jacqueline Baltrun State Bar No.: 00796394 304 E. 4th St. Lampasas, Texas 76550 Telephone: (512)556-6228 Facsimile: (844)318-6073 E-mail: Scott@LampasasLawyer.com

Constitutional amendment election includes proposal to prevent shutdown or limitation of religious services FROM PAGE 1

improvements in the zone. The proposed amendment would extend to counties the authority to engage in tax increment financing for projects in reinvestment zones. It would, however, prevent counties from using these funds to finance toll roads. Supporters say: Counties need better ways of financing transportation projects, as state funding is too low to keep pace with rapid population growth. Using tax increment financing is a means to generate funding for local projects on the basis of expected property value increases without the need to impose a new tax. Counties should have access to this funding, just as municipalities do. Opponents say: The tax increment financing proposed for counties is not limited to transportation projects but can be used for broader development purposes, further increasing the public debt owed by local governments. Once a reinvestment zone is established, financial decisions are made by an unelected board with no requirement to seek voter approval for projects. Also, the potential range of applicable projects would significantly increase counties’ power to condemn certain property. There are insufficient controls to ensure the determination of unproductive, underdeveloped or blighted areas is made consistently. PROPOSITION 3 “The constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations.” Background: When Gov. Abbott and the Texas Department of State Health Services declared a statewide public health disaster in March 2020, the governor and many cities and counties issued orders restricting business operations, social gatherings and religious services. Concerns were raised that those limitations infringed on the right to the free exercise of religion provided by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the right to worship provided in the Texas Constitution. This amendment would prohibit the state or a political subdivision from issuing an order or rule that limits religious services. Supporters say: The right to freely exercise one’s religious beliefs is enshrined in the Constitution. Allowing public officials to limit in-person religious gatherings infringes on this right. Closing places of worship negatively affects individuals who rely on church services as a means of combating their isolation and stress. Churches and places of worship are able to make their own decisions about how best to protect their

members in the event of a disaster or public health emergency. Opponents say: Religious activity can be done safely without large public gatherings. Allowing churches to remain open during public health emergencies could place all Texans in danger. State and local officials must balance religious freedom with public safety in other areas, such as with building safety codes that churches must follow. Officials should not be curtailed when it comes to protecting public health. PROPOSITION 4 “The constitutional amendment changing the eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge.” Background: The Texas Constitution establishes the requirements for a person to be eligible to serve on the Texas Supreme Court: licensed to practice law in Texas, a citizen of the United States and of Texas, at least 35, and have been a practicing lawyer and/or judge for at least 10 years. It does not specify that the 10 years of legal or judicial experience be in Texas. The proposed amendment specifies that the person must be licensed to practice law in Texas, must be a resident of Texas at the time of election, and must be either a practicing lawyer licensed in Texas for at least 10 years or a practicing lawyer in this state and judge of a state court or county court for a combined total of at least 10 years. If approved, these revised qualifications also will apply to a judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals and a justice of a court of appeals in Texas. In addition, the constitutional amendment would clarify that to serve as a district judge, a person must be a Texas resident and have practiced law in this state for at least eight years – or have a combined eight years as a practicing lawyer and judge of a court in Texas. The eight-year stipulation is an increase from the current four-year requirement. Supporters say: Requiring appellate court justices and judges to have practiced law in Texas for at least 10 years would ensure they have the necessary experience with state law to serve on one of the state’s highest courts. Doubling the length of time a district judge candidate must have practiced in Texas would better ensure these individuals have sufficient legal experience to preside over important trials. Opponents say: There is no need to revise qualifications for the judiciary. Voters can make their own choices among candidates. A person with more legal experience does not necessarily lead to being a better judge. Requiring more experience could exclude younger lawyers with more diverse backgrounds.

BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY

THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SERVICES IN THE LAMPASAS AREA.

CONSTRUCTION

INSURANCE

ORTHODONTICS

ROOFING

Ramsay Orthodontics Stephan A. Ramsay, DDS, MS

Braces • Invisalign® • Retention No-Interest Financing Lampasas Office 1206 Central TX Expressway

ELECTRICAL

LAND CLEARING

(512) 556-6694

PEST CONTROL

SEPTIC SERVICE

PHARMACY

SURVEYOR GOODSON SURVEYORS

REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR

MIKE KRIEGEL RPLS 4330

(512) 556-6885 (512) 556-6261 411 S. WESTERN AVE. POST OFFICE BOX 349 LAMPASAS, TEXAS 76550

PLUMBING

(OFFICE) (FAX)

jerry@texps.com mkriegel@mitchellinc.net

TIRE & AUTO

EXCAVATING

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

EXTERIOR CLEANING

LAWN SERVICE

FEED/SUPPLY STORES

MONUMENTS

PRE-NEED SPECIALIST

TRAILERS

FENCING

MUFFLERS

PROPANE

TRANSMISSION

TITLE COMPANIES

Towing Available

HEADSTONE LEVELING

HOME INSPECTION

OIL, LUBE & TIRE

ROOFING

TRASH SERVICE

TRUCK ACCESSORIES

TRUCK ACCESSORIES • TRAILER PARTS & REPAIR Office: 512-564-1800 Cell: 512-734-1029

901 Naruna Rd. Lampasas, Tx. 76550

LAMPASAS DISPATCH RECORD

lampasasdispatchrecord.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

Despite new law, businesses still may restrict firearms on their premises FROM PAGE 1

the person is acting in justified defense. Self-defense is an issue that Miceli feels everyone should educate themselves about. “People think they understand the law, but there are times you are justified to use deadly force, and there are times you are not,” he said. This can mean the difference between a shooting being ruled self-defense or homicide. Cummings said a civil suit can be pursued in either case. Kempner City Manager David Williams said it’s important for people to “protect themselves against legal ramifications. It’s a brand-new law; there are lots of gray areas. “The courts are really going to define what the law is, and you don’t want to be the one to go to court so they can do that,” Williams added. The city of Kempner held a public meeting last week to discuss the new law, but only two residents were in attendance. Miceli spoke at that meeting and has offered to do others. “There’s not a lot of inter-

est,” he said. “People think they don’t need to know anything.” Miceli said in several presentations he has held about the new firearm law, only three non-licensed persons were present, and all three chose to pursue a license. “Constitutional carry is not what they thought it was,” he said. While the bill provides for an elective firearm safety course offered online by the state of Texas, it does not include a portion on firearm legality or a practical range portion. Miceli believes the licensing requirements, including passing a practical exam, are there for a reason. “They’ve made it so easy to get a license,” he said. “If you fail the qualification, you don’t need to carry a gun.” BUSINESS SIGNAGE Cummings said the advent of the new law has passed with relatively little concern in the Lampasas community. He has received only a handful of questions from Lampasas business owners. “We got lots of phone calls

from businesses initially when open carry was legalized, but they’ve tapered off over time,” he said. Williams said he hasn’t had comments, positive or negative, from Kempner business owners either. “I think business imagined we were going to the Old West,” Montgomery said of the 2015 open carry law. “It went smoother than I thought, so it made me optimistic about this change.” What business owners should know, officials said, is that the new law in no way limits the right of business owners or employers to restrict firearms carry on their premises. In addition to the existing 30.06 and 30.07 signage that license holders are familiar with, the law establishes a third sign, the 30.05. While the 30.06 and 30.07 have very specific language, the 30.05 does not. “The law is very specific about license to carry signage, but not as specific with constitutional carry signage,” Montgomery said. In fact, the new sign may not require language at all.

The symbol of a handgun crossed by a bar or the phrase “No Guns!” in bold print are deemed legally effective by the U.S. LawShield in its recent summary of Texas Constitutional Law. Miceli feels this is ambiguous and will need to be settled further in court. “If a business owner writes ‘no guns allowed’ on a napkin in sharpie and tapes it to the window, will that count?” he mused. Additionally, a business owner who wants to designate the business a completely gun-free zone must be very specific. The new 30.05 sign can be posted by business owners to prevent a person from carrying a concealed or open handgun under the law of constitutional carry, but it does not prevent a license holder from carrying. For a business to prevent a license holder from carrying concealed, they must post the 30.06. And to prevent license holders from carrying openly, they must post the 30.07. However, the 30.06 or 30.07 does not prevent a person from carrying under the

constitutional carry law. “In theory, if you wanted to prevent all carry, you would need three signs,” Montgomery said. There remain public locations – including hospitals, sporting events and certain businesses – where it is illegal for a person to carry a firearm under the constitutional carry law. Violations are punishable by felony conviction, another reason why officials urge people to be educated about their carrying rights. “The state is not providing a course to educate on this,” Miceli said. Fortunately, the law provides for additional signage options to notify carriers before entry, including a 51 percent sign, which designates a business

that makes most of its revenue in alcohol sales, and the 46.03 sign, which designates a public place where a person cannot carry a firearm, such as a mental health facility. Texas still allows license holders additional privileges, Miceli said. Currently, only license holders can carry on college campuses, in open government meetings and in other states that have reciprocity agreements with Texas. “A non-licensed person won’t be allowed to carry a gun in another state,” Miceli said. The law, however, doesn’t specify that a person carrying in Texas under the constitutional carry law be a Texas resident, as long as they are in the state legally.

Lampasas school district offers 19 career, technical courses for middle, high school students FROM PAGE 1

certificate program. • Level I certificate: awarded for completing a program of at least 15 hours and no more than 42 semester credit hours. • Level II certificate: awarded for completing a program of at least 30 but not more than 51 semester credit hours. • Advanced Technical Certificate: 16-50 hours and a previously awarded associate degree, bachelor's degree or junior status toward a baccalaureate, depending on the program. • Enhanced Skills and Occupational Skills Certificate: generally 9-15 semester hours. “Industry-based certificates represent industry-valued skills and learning that lead to employment and act as a springboard for higher levels of achievement to ensure students’ independence and success in life beyond high school; hence, industry-based certifications are one of the measures to demonstrate college and career readiness,” the Texas Education Agency said in a July 2021 case study. Lampasas ISD offers 19 CTE courses to both middle school and high school students. Salvato reported 96% of Lampasas High School stu-

dents and approximately 200 eighth-graders are enrolled in a CTE class. “We have some seventhgraders enrolled as well,” she said. Last year, the school district awarded 260 IBCs. The Lampasas ISD also partners with 25 local businesses for on-the-job training portions of the program. Salvato gave her CTE review during the Lampasas ISD Board of Trustees meeting last week. For more information about the district’s CTE programs, visit, www.lisdtx.org.

MONIQUE BRAND | DISPATCH RECORD

Lampasas High School junior Reighn Webb collects flowers for a project in his floral class Friday afternoon.

Lampasas ISD Career and Technical Education courses • Accounting & Financial Services

• Animal Science

• Applied Agricultural Engineering

• Automotive

• Carpentry

• Cosmetology

• Culinary Arts

• Design and Multimedia Arts

• Digital Communications

• Emergency Services

• Family and Community Services

• Healthcare Diagnostics

• Healthcare Therapeutic

• Law Enforcement

• Marketing Sales

• Nursing Science

• Plant Science • Teaching & Training

• Welding

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