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Have you ever taken your business elsewhere?

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Danny Tyree Column headBy Danny Tyree

I just heard about a local business losing a major customer over a trivial misunderstanding.

Most of us hate change and maintain loyalty to a brand or retailer through thick and thin. True, this veers into creepiness in extreme cases, such as refusing to outgrow your old pediatrician. (“But I don’t trust anyone else with my ED issues, doc. Do you happen to have a lollipop and the latest ‘Humpty Dumpty’ magazine to ease my mid-life crisis?”)

And I know it’s difficult to relinquish trusted lawyers, accountants or other professionals. Which reminds me of my friend Dinsdale, his recently deceased insurance agent and the whole séance thing. (“Is that you that Madame Zelda conjured up, Frank? I figured you could give me some advice since you’ve looked at term life insurance from both sides now…”)

But occasionally, either an unforgivable one-off customer service faux pas or the steady drip, drip, drip of aggravations pushes consumers to the breaking point and unleashes their righteous indignation.

I know my wife and I switched propane companies because of the way management fired a sick employee. And we have sworn off a local restaurant because the waiter refused to honor the price posted on the front door (and the manager was never available when we tried to get satisfaction).

Cost, quality and timeliness can all be areas of concern. Have you ever had a relationship with an independent contractor that never quite got off the ground? (“This is Joe from The Turbo-Charged Handyman. Am I speaking to Mr. Eduardo Hickenlooper? Oh, Mr. Eduardo Hickenlooper the third? I guess that was your grandfather and father who left so many messages. Anyhow, we’re ready to schedule installing your asbestos…”)

Sometimes an obnoxious or incompetent individual employee is the bone of contention. Sometimes a systemic new store policy is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Such policies might include having to scan your own groceries, losing the right to free drink refills, discovering that the business automatically tacks on gratuities for the store mannequins, etc.

Sometimes clerks, mechanics, etc. are clearly in the wrong. Sometimes the customer is demonstrably unreasonable. And sometimes there is a gray area. But if the gray area involves 10 acres of landscaping, refer back to the first point.

Don’t get trigger-happy with the old “The customer is always right” gambit. Think about it. You mean all those fun-loving Gestapo agents were invariably in the right when they ran their errands? (“Ve haff vays of making you validate parking.”)

I’m not sure which is worse: the irate customers who launch into a profanity-laced spectacle in a crowded business or the people who fade away without telling management why or warning their peers. (“Hey, look at the headline, honey. Someone ELSE disturbed that nest of boa constrictors in the restroom at O’Malley’s Gym. Guess maybe I should’ve sent that Yelp review after all. Live and learn.”)

Strive for an amicable resolution of problems. Count to 10 before saying something you may regret, but don’t forget to show some backbone. Understandably, this is difficult if the backbone is the issue. (“I know this was just supposed to be a root canal, but somehow I removed your spine as well. My bad.”)

Discuss your problems like adults. Unless some booger-head has already colored all the pictures in ‘Humpty Dumpty’! Then tantrums are downright upright.

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Legislature begins work on education

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Trent AshbyBy Rep. Trent Ashby
Representing District 9

As we approach the 50-day mark of the 88th Legislative Session, legislators are putting the finishing touches on the bills they intend to file before bill filing deadline and the hallways are bustling with visitors from across the state.

One of the highlights this week was welcoming sheriffs and Texas Game Wardens to the Capitol and recognizing them for their tireless dedication and service.

During the previous session, I authored a resolution designating the third Tuesday in February as Texas Game Warden Day, and I had the pleasure of recognizing these distinguished public servants on the House Floor for their continued efforts to preserve and protect our state parks and abundant natural and cultural resources.

With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol.

The Texas House was hard at work this week as members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article III met multiple times to consider our state’s budget as it relates to higher education.

The subcommittee heard testimony from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and numerous institutions of higher learning. Each institution and agency were given the opportunity to lay out their budget requests and answer any questions members of the committee may have. The Committee on Appropriations will continue to hold similar hearings over the next several weeks as members work to finalize the House budget.

Outside of hearings on the budget, the workload in other committees is steadily increasing after the first round of bill referrals.

If you’ve been keeping up with my columns, you’re familiar with my passion for increasing access to reliable broadband access in rural areas. Last session, I was proud to author and pass House Bill 5, which established the Broadband Development Office and charged the office with developing a plan to increase access across the state.

This week, I filed House Bill 2662, which will build upon the work we accomplished through House Bill 5 by enhancing state provisions to align with federal guidelines so that Texas can maximize our potential to receive federal dollars for broadband expansion.

I’m proud to continue working on this important policy initiative and will continue to prioritize legislative efforts to expand broadband access and infrastructure this session.

The Speaker of the Texas House recently unveiled four legislative priorities for this session. While these four bills are only a starting point, the Speaker will soon announce his complete list of priorities for the House.

The first bill, HB 4, would protect Texan’s online data by cracking down on how companies collect profit from personal data.

Another bill, HB 12, extends Medicaid eligibility to new mothers for a year after the delivery of their child.

The third bill, HB 18, would give parents more control over their children’s online data privacy by requiring companies to share access and limit data collection.

The final bill, HB 300, exempts essential baby items, diapers, wipes, and feminine hygiene products from the state’s sales tax.

The mobile office is on the road again and looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: March 1 at the San Augustine County Courthouse from 9-11 a.m.; March 8 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Court Room in Livingston from 9-11 a.m., or at the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 p.m.; March 15 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9-11 a.m., or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.

Trent Ashby represents District 9, which includes Trinity County, in the Texas Legislature.

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Livestock Auctions—fewer and fewer!

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Horace McQueen ColumnBy Horace McQueen

Back thirty and forty years ago it seemed that local livestock auction markets were in most east Texas counties. Some counties boasted two markets. Well, that has changed leaving some livestock raisers miles and miles from a sale barn. In the past few weeks, another facility—Anderson County Livestock auction in Elkhart-- closed.

In the 80’s and 90’s, Lufkin, Jacksonville and Tyler had sale barns that sold lots of cattle. There were also several other auction markets that are now just a memory. Palestine had a thriving sale just east of town for many years. Henderson had two auction markets as did Sulphur Springs. But as owners aged or due to increased competition or property tax increases, some owners made the decision to close the doors. Don’t expect new sale barns to open in our area. The cost of construction would be mind boggling and most bankers would pass on an offer to provide financing.

This is a true story that offers a look into early Texas. Once the Civil War ended, the only thing of real value in the southern part of Texas was the rough, tough and prolific longhorn cattle breed. During the war years the longhorn ran free and had little contact with two-legged Texans.  After the Civil War ended some enterprising folks figured out that the cattle had good value—if they could be herded and driven north to market centers in the mid-west. Those cattle could then be sold for their hides, tallow and beef for $15 a head or more. That price got several takers that rounded up the wary longhorns, hired a team of cowboys to drive them north and, if lucky, come back home with plenty of money. One of the herd owners was William Burks, who in 1871 rounded up 1,000 head of cattle and herded them to Abilene, Kansas. His wife Amanda Nite Burks made the long ride as well—with over a dozen Hispanic cowboys and a herd of horses. Mrs. Burks rode a buggy for her journey, and according to those who recorded her trip, she made a top hand.

William and Amanda made their home on the La Mott Ranch in La Salle County near Cotulla. William Burks passed away at age 37 in 1877 at the ranch. Wife Amanda Burks managed La Mott Ranch until age 90 in 1931 and the ranch had grown to 43,000 acres. Amanda Nite Burks was born  in 1841 and raised near Porter Springs in Houston County southwest of Crockett. She was reverently known as “the Queen of the Texas trail drivers”. That’s –30—This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Harrowing events illustrate steep price of progress

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From The Editors Desk Emily WootenOne month ago was the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster – an event many of us will never forget. Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on Feb. 1, 2003 as it reentered the atmosphere over Texas and Louisiana, killing all seven astronauts on board.

It was a Saturday morning and I was in the Enterprise office finishing up some work before we went to press with the Sunday paper. I was a little on edge. “The Battle for Long King Creek,” a Civil War reenactment in which approximately 400 reenactors from across the nation would be participating, was slated for that afternoon at Pedigo Park. I’d never seen a Civil War reenactment before, much less covered one for the newspaper, so I felt a little nervous and unsure of myself, not knowing what to expect.

Then the phones started ringing. People from various areas of the county reported hearing explosions. Someone suggested it may have been a sonic boom created when the Space Shuttle Columbia reentered the atmosphere for its planned landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Minutes later, we received word that the shuttle was overdue.

A coworker in the composition department received a call from her husband who was fishing with friends on Lake Nacogdoches. He told her they saw a big ball of fire and watched what they first thought was a meteor start breaking up. He told her there had been a sound like thunder that lasted for several minutes after the light was gone and that debris had fallen in the water within about five feet from his boat.

A man watching television from his room in the local hospital heard a newscaster say the shuttle would be flying over the area on its way to Florida. Wanting to see it, he walked to his window where he saw a bright light, at first thinking it was a jet. He then noticed the craft was separating with pieces flying off. He said he could tell something was not right.

NASA declared a state of emergency and issued warnings that any debris found by citizens should not be touched and should be reported to local law enforcement immediately. Reports of found debris were coming in from Dallas to Beaumont, including some from Polk County.

This was horrifying, completely unimaginable. Or was it? Columbia was the second space shuttle mission to end in disaster, after the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger and crew in 1986. My mind drifted back to that January day. A college student at the time, I had skipped my PE class that morning and was hanging out in the Bill Daniel Student Center watching TV with some other students. Newscasters interrupted The Price is Right to show the Challenger liftoff and then we all watched in real time as the craft exploded right before our eyes. We were stunned and speechless.

In the days that followed the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, dozens of people from Polk County – law enforcement officers, firefighters, first responders, emergency management officials – participated in the search and recovery efforts. Divided into teams, they worked 12-14-hour days, utilizing horses and multiple types of all-terrain vehicles to search the forests of East Texas for pieces of the exploded craft and, more importantly, remains of the seven crew members.

I can distinctly remember conversations with Livingston Fire Chief Corky Cochran, then-Livingston Police Chief Dennis Clifton, then-Chief Deputy Mike Nettles and then-Precinct 2 Commissioner and Onalaska Fire Chief Bobby Smith. They all commented on the reverence of the search efforts and the overall mood of respect. “Those people are a huge representative part of America and they fell right here in East Texas. If there is anything we could say to their families it would be that rest assured this search is being handled with professionalism and dignity,” Cochran said.

Days turned into weeks as many of our local citizens continued assisting with search and recovery efforts. When they would find something, they would log it, photograph it, determine the GPS coordinates and flag it. Over time, they found a four-by-four front side window that was still intact. They found a helmet, something that may have been the sole of a boot, part of an instrument board, a door from the shuttle and an oxygen sensor. Several of them commented on the emotional and mental toll of the project and the knowledge that they were a part of something that would be in future history books.

I made it through “The Battle for Long King Creek” that Saturday. The Civil War reenactment was well attended. Best estimates from those who planned it indicated that roughly 7,000 people attended the two-day event.

Approximately 2,000 school students from over eight school districts were there, viewing the many exhibits and demonstrations. Touring the general campsite, they saw a Gatling gun, a black powder rifle and cannons. They visited with a man running a sewing machine who discussed clothing of the time period and the different types of fabrics. They visited with a soapmaker. They visited with an infantry man who discussed the costliness of the Civil War in terms of lives lost.

There were medical demonstrations where doctors talked about infection and disease and why there were so many amputees during the war. There were authentic medical tools from the time period. They explained that “gut wounds and head wounds” were left on the battlefield because there was nothing doctors could do for them and that amputation of major wounds was a matter of the doctor’s choice. They said if a patient was seen within the first 24 hours, the chances of survival were better, reminding everyone that there were no antibiotics back then.

We have learned a lot and come a long way since these tragic events, but the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion and the Civil War were all steep prices to pay in the name of progress.

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An open letter to the Big Guy

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FromEditorsDesk Tony CroppedBy Tony Farkas

Mr. President:

I realize that, while Vice President, you made it very clear to the Ukrainian government that you held their monetary aid was under your direct control, but must you now continue to exercise that control, particularly since all you can seem to do is “make it rain?”

When did freedom become so important to you? As VP, you told the people of that country that you would withhold funds unless the prosecutor selected to investigate Burisma was removed. I guess since the firm that your son Hunter worked with was no longer under investigation, you felt you could open the taps and let the money flow.

The question of freedom, though, is one that’s strange to me. Freedom carries the connotation that one can direct its path, yet you feel that only happens with the blessing of the U.S., something you’ve gone all in on.

A second question is, why has the U.S. given more $75 billion in aid, with promises of more and more, when there are numerous and serious problems right here at home?

At last count, there was at least 12 train derailments in several states, including one not too far from here in Montgomery County.

Factories have caught fire, destroying towns, and lest we forget, as your administration did for weeks, the unfolding tragedy and toxic miasma that is East Palestine, Ohio.

There are veterans, as well as others, who are homeless. There is a southern border that is a sieve. Despite the claims of your administration, prices, particularly for gas, are still high and getting higher.

Speaking of your administration, you’re making quite a bit of hay claiming this is the most diverse group of people in the history of ever. We’re finding out, though, that there is an extremely large difference between diversity and ability. For instance, the performance of your Transportation Secretary was the most laughable of any I’m aware of, second only to the continuous malfeasance of your press secretary, who obfuscates, lies and misdirects instead of providing us with the information that we need.

The spending spree for other countries has to stop, Mr. President. This constant cycle of egregious spending, printing money, taxing the citizens and back to egregious spending cannot continue; the government has broken the banks, incurred trillions in debt, and failed in just about every endeavor it has assumed or subsumed, and has moved almost completely away from the strictures of the U.S. Constitution as well as common sense.

It’s almost as if the government has decided that this country was a bad idea, so it is moving on to other countries, sort of like ending the relationship. This is evidenced by your plan to cede all American authority to the World Health Organization in cases of health emergencies.

Toiling around social media shows you putting out platitudes about America’s place in the world, yet there is little evidence that is case anymore. To make that happen, we request that your focus, and our tax dollars, be used for this country, and not any others.

Tony Farkas is editor of the Trinity County News-Standard and the San Jacinto News-Times. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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