Columns/Opinions

By Rebecca Smith
Daingerfield ISD recently protested a variance allowing a business owner to sell beer and wine across the street from an elementary school.
So why isn’t alcohol usually allowed to be sold across the street from a school in the first place?
The school district’s biggest concern, of course, is for their students. According to research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the number of alcohol retailers increases female students’ (but not males, oddly enough) perception of how easy they believe it will be to get alcohol. And ease of access is a known risk factor for use among minors. (The research also says that “Underage alcohol purchases from commercial sources are more likely among female buyers and at convenience stores that sell alcohol products.” I would love to know why that’s the case.)
There’s also a great amount of research on the effects of alcohol advertising on minors.

A Patriot's Opinion
By Jim Snyder
Every time I see or hear another news story of a police officer being shot it makes my blood boil. Lately, it seems to be happening on a weekly basis where we hear of another law enforcement officer being shot or killed. Why is this happening? We have got to get a grip on the cause of this epidemic and put a stop to it.
I think a lot of the blame for this hateful behavior is due to the moral and ethical decline of our society in the last three decades. I remember growing up in the 50's and 60's when policemen were respected. Every kid back then wanted to grow up to be a policeman or fireman because we thought that was a cool job to have.

A Patriot's Opinion
By Jim Snyder
Well, just as expected the left and all of their climate change fanatics are losing the minds over President Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate agreement. Within minutes of his announcement, the environment
A-listers were predicting doom and gloom on a global scale. Of course, the one thing that is never discussed is how wrong these people have been with their predictions of climate Armageddon.
Starting back in the early 70’s, they were actually predicting another ice age. But when that didn’t happen they needed a new way to milk people out of their hard-earned money. So along came their prediction of what was known at the time as Global Warming.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you probably already know that just last week, the Hughes Springs Lady Mustangs made the trip to Austin for the UIL Class 3A State Softball Championships. This marked the first time in program history that the team has made it to this point in the season.
Only four teams made the trip to Austin at the 3A level. Hughes Springs was the only team from East Texas to make the trek.
During their run to Austin, the Lady Mustangs accomplished some pretty lofty feats. The team, comprised of mostly sophomore and juniors, lost only two games during the regular season and entered the state semifinal matchup with a 34-3 record. (One of their losses was to Little River, who ended the Mustangs season in Austin.)
Of the team’s players, no regular position player had a batting average lower than .200.
As I think back on the Mustangs’ season, a few things come to mind.

The absolute disdain shown to the women in the Trump administration is shameful. The verbal and media assaults against these ladies are just the most recent example of why the women’s movement is this country needs to be overhauled. This behavior by these groups that claim to support women’s rights and issues is nothing new.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) has for decades made the claim that they are fighting for women’s rights. The sad thing is that has not always included all women.

When Sarah Palin was picked to be John McCain’s vice presidential running mate she was dragged through the mud on a daily basis. Palin was an accomplished woman, a former governor of Alaska and a successful business woman, in her own right. So when she was being brutally attacked did any of these so called women’s groups come to her defense?No, they stood by and turned a blind eye to what was happening and in some cases piled on and helped with the criticism.

From My Perspective

By Toni Walker

Anyone who has ever been arrested by police, or has seen a movie where someone is arrested, knows how this phrase ends. “…Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law.” I believe, wholeheartedly, that one should take heed of this warning when instructed by the police. But, the statement applies to life, as well.

From my perspective, the statement, and its reverse, should be one that all of us hold as a standard to remember when speaking. We do have the right to remain silent, and I am not just talking about when an officer of the law tells you to. We all have the ability to make a choice to remain silent. And sometimes, when things don’t directly affect us, it is best if we keep silent.

A Patriot's opinion
By Jim Snyder

From My Perspective
By Toni Walker