Coming to terms with closing of newspaper

Depending on how you count it, I have worked for anywhere from seven to 13 newspapers in my career.

One was a group of five weeklies that shared the same stories and two would be my high school and college papers. I’ve had ink on my fingers and in my blood since 1981 when my high school typing teacher asked me to join the journalism class as a photographer.

In all that time, I’ve always been the one to leave a paper behind. With this issue, the paper is closing, leaving me behind.

What a strange feeling that is. Many of my friends and colleagues have gone through it and come out for the better on the other side. The closing of a newspaper was always something that happened to someone else. I never thought it would happen to me. It did; and now this is goodbye.

With that, I’d like to leave you with some parting thoughts (parting shots?). I’m deeply touched by all the people who have expressed sadness that the News Citizen is closing. (For a change I’m not hearing what a rag sheet it is.) I can’t help but see the irony how some of the people upset that the paper is closing are some of the same ones who quit subscribing and/or advertising.

Corrupt mayors?
Almost from the day I got here, I’ve been hearing stories about how “corrupt” Hempstead Mayor Michael Wolfe, Prairie View Mayor Frank Jackson and Brookshire Mayor Joey Vaughn are supposed to be. I have not investigated many of those claims. I do not know if there is any truth to them, but they are persistent.

I also can’t help but notice that no one is pointing fingers at the white mayors in the county. I’m not playing the race card here; it’s just an observation. The finger-pointing, however, has been done by people of all races in the county, not just whites.

Landfill finger-pointing
Most of the finger-pointing of late has been at County Judge Glenn Beckendorff and the four members of the commissioners court. There are still many people out there who are convinced that their elected officials are in cahoots with Green Group Holdings, the company that wants to build a landfill on Highway 6. I can tell you that, to the very best of my knowledge, none of them want the landfill. None of them recruited a landfill. None of them entered into secret negotiations with GGH. None of them lined their pockets to “allow” them to come to Waller County.

First of all, that would give the court a lot more power and control than it has. Secondly, what would be the motivation? No amount of money would be worth the cost to them. The loss of office, business, friendships, integrity and trust would be too great. Everything they have worked their whole lives for and the county that they love would be lost to them. So please let the conspiracy theories die a quick death.

Obama’s space out
Though the space program isn’t exactly a local matter, I have to say that I’m very unhappy with the leadership of President Obama. Former President Bush was able to take the tragedy of the space shuttle Columbia disaster and inspire NASA and the nation to new levels of adventure and exploration with the Moon, Mars and Beyond program.

Obama took a space program from its post-lunar peak with the shuttle, International Space Station and plans to explore other worlds and plunged it into nothingness. Instead of being stuck in low-earth orbit, we are dependent on Russia just to get us off the ground.

Instead of inspiration and direction, we have job losses across the board in the space industry. Instead of helping employ more people and boosting the space and technology sectors, he has put more of the country’s brain trust and other rocket scientist types on the welfare rolls. It’s no wonder his policies have this nation trillions of dollars in debt. Where Bush turned tragedy into triumph, Obama has turned triumph into tragedy.

Behind the mask
One last note before I sign off. Look for Disney’s “Lone Ranger” to hit theaters on Dec. 21, 2012. It’s got a heavyweight cast and crew and will likely be blockbuster material. When you go to the theater and watch Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp ride off into the sunset, remember me and ask “who was that masked man?”

Hi-Yo Silver, awaayyy!

Golden Rule doesn't shine in landfill fight

As the final days for the Waller County News Citizen wind down, I have taken some time to reflect on my short two and a half year stint here as the editor.
One of the first columns I wrote upon my arrival was on Hempstead suffering from a severe case of apathy. I saw that apathy evaporate when Green Group Holdings, LLC., announced its plans to open Pintail Park and the Pintail Landfill about a mile north of Hempstead on Highway 6.
The community rallied together in a show of unity against the landfill in ways I’ve rarely seen a community do. Petty bickering and squabbling have been shoved aside in order to fight what some have called a monstrosity and a life-or-death battle for Hempstead.
I found it heartwarming to hear people at the various meetings describe their love for Hempstead and Waller County. There were many passionate stories of multi-generational families, quiet country living, retirements, dream homes and a rural quality of life.
Hempstead is a community of hard-working, God-fearing folks who have invested their lives and livelihoods here to make a better place for their families and the generations to follow. This community has survived many economic and social blows and is still standing tall. Folks here work hard, play hard, look out for one another, attend church on Sundays and give of themselves to help their neighbors.
Hempstead prides itself as a community of character. Folks here live by the Golden Rule. At least that’s what they purport to do. Before coming after me with torches and pitchforks, please allow me a moment to share what I hope is an impartial observation of the way people have been behaving throughout this whole ordeal. Please let me play the devil’s advocate to see if I can’t help spread some truth and goodwill into what is a very volatile situation.
In the three big meetings that I’ve reported on so far, I’ve observed some things that I find disturbing. First of all, it agonizes me that Hempstead and Waller County have to be put into this situation, especially from outsiders who do not live here and do not know the values of the community.
Secondly, it disturbs me that people here are not responding in a way that reflects those values or their purported Christian beliefs. As Jesus says in Luke 6:27-31, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 4:26-27 “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” A couple verses later in 31-31 he says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
I fully understand and expect people to be angry about the landfill. I don’t begrudge anyone that. But I feel the anger, gossip and hype around the whole thing is a heap of hypocrisy and reflects poorly on the people who live here. I wish people would stop long enough to try and see things from the perspective of others. I wish they could see the negative image they are portraying to the rest of the world.
Life has given Waller County a load of lemons with the landfill. But instead of trying to make lemonade, residents have responded with a sour face. Oscar Allen and Ernest Kaufmann have a very thankless and undesirable job to do. Their company is behaving in a more Christ-like manner by extending all kinds of benefits, concessions and cash to the community. Rather than welcome these strangers and agreeing to work with them on solutions that are mutually beneficial, the community has responded with righteous indignation. No “Good Samaritans” are we.
A while back I suggested that the county enact ordinances governing the locations of undesirable projects such as a landfill. It did so, but in a very knee-jerk fashion. On paper it sounds good to limit landfills to locations within two miles of current or former landfills. I highly doubt, however, that anyone involved in creating this bit of legislation has done their homework on it.
Are these locations better suited for a landfill? Whose toes will be stepped on if it’s relocated? What are the environmental impacts of the “approved” sites versus the proposed site? How will the other sites better protect the groundwater and other natural resources? What will be the impact on the roads to those locations?
We need to slow down and think this through before flying any further off the handle. I know many of you will think I’m just selling out because I don’t live here and the paper is closing anyway. You can chose to believe what you like, but the truth is, I do care.
I want what’s best for the community, but in order to know what that is, we need to act and react in a civil manner. We need to treat them the way we want them to treat us. So far, we haven’t been very neighborly.

Conspiracy theories remain unfounded

The County is our government; we shall not have a dump.
It raises our taxes, it moves slowly, it stirs restlessness in our souls.
It guides us in paths of concrete and asphalt for business’ sake.
Even though we walk through the County of Waller, we will fear no landfill, for the judge and commissioners are with us; their laws and their ordinances, they comfort us.
They prepare a public hearing before us in the presence of our enemies.
They anoint the proceedings with solemnity; the crowd overflows.
Surely civility and common sense will govern all decisions, and we will dwell in a county without landfill forever. (With apologies to King David, the psalmist.)
Don’t shoot the messengers.
There is a huge outcry against Waller County Judge Glenn Beckendorff and the members of the commissioners court over the proposed Pintail Landfill. GreenFirst, LLC, has announced plans to build a landfill and industrial park about a mile north of Hempstead on Highway 6.
It was revealed at the June 28 session of commissioners court that Beckendorff had been contacted six months earlier by GreenFirst representatives and has kept it secret all that time. That launched conspiracy theories that flew faster than you can say Lee Harvey Oswald.
After all, if local government officials knew about the landfill and didn’t say anything, it proves that they are in cohorts with GreenFirst and have been making backroom deals that will line their pockets and surrender Waller County to the eternal wasteland. Judge Beckendorff has sold out and thrown Waller County under the bus. Obviously, he’s paved the way for CenterPoint Energy to string high-voltage power lines across the county and now he wants to dump on the north end of the county.
Poppycock!
Do you honestly believe that Beckendorff or any member of the commissioners court would be actively engaged in recruiting a landfill or seeking to get rich while clearing the path for its arrival? That would be social and political suicide. We’re talking about men and women who have lived here all their lives and care enough about the county and its residents to serve in elected leadership positions.
Has it ever occurred to anyone that they are legally bound from disclosing this kind of information, regardless of the nature of the business? Suppose instead of a landfill, a clean, reputable company wanted to build an environmentally-sound business that provided hundreds of high-paying jobs. Our county officials would have the same obligation to remain tight-lipped.
If Beckendorff or any of the commissioners had released the information prior to GreenFirst giving their OK, they would have set the county up for a huge lawsuit. Then the taxpayers would be out a fortune in legal fees and fines and the landfill might still be coming.
From what I understand, the commissioners have three options when it comes to the landfill. They can support it, remain neutral, or oppose it. They do not have any authority to approve or disapprove it. Those decisions rest at the state level with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. That’s where people opposing the landfill should be focusing their efforts.
The judge and commissioners are merely the messengers. I believe each one strongly opposes the idea of having a landfill in the county, especially on prime highway property so close to Hempstead. I don’t think there is anyone who wants a landfill here. I think 99.9 percent of the population is against it. I’m sure that message is getting across loud and clear.
Unfortunately, the landfill opponents are preaching to the choir when they complain about it to local government. They instead need to turn their trumpets toward Austin and give the local leadership the benefit of a doubt.