| Archived Columns |
| The 'election board' finds a new home |
| By Brian Knox | Published Sunday, October 26, 2008 |
I had already been trying to figure out what we were going to do this year when I got a phone call.
"Will you have the election board set up somewhere this year?" the caller asked. |
| Read More... |
| Early voting's 20th year in Texas |
| By Dave McNeely | Published Sunday, October 26, 2008 |
| Voters flocked to early voting locations all over Texas as they took advantage, beginning Monday, of being able to cast their ballots in advance of the Nov. 4 election. |
| Read More... |
| Students benefit from teacher incentive pay |
| By Brooke Dollens Terry | Published Sunday, October 26, 2008 |
| Higher test scores, higher state accountability ratings, improved teacher morale and lower teacher turnover prove that students are benefiting from teacher incentive pay in Texas. |
| Read More... |
| Favoritism should not exist in law enforcement |
| By Willis Webb | Published Thursday, October 23, 2008 |
| Are you familiar with the term "rent-a-cop?" That's usually a wannabe cop who is probably involved in security work and not part of a public, tax-supported law enforcement group. |
| Read More... |
| Pollsters finding the 2008 election tough to read |
| By Dave McNeely | Published Sunday, October 19, 2008 |
| Most observers are expecting the turnout in the 2008 election to be large. The question is how large. |
| Read More... |
| Congress may be worse than Bush |
| By Donald Kaul | Published Sunday, October 19, 2008 |
| To supporters of John McCain who watched last week's debate: Your man was great. So knowledgeable, so feisty. He killed that wimp Obama, didn't he? To supporters of Barack Obama: It's all over but the shouting, baby. Barack took it to McCain and made him look like an old guy who stands on street corners, yelling at people. |
| Read More... |
| Choose to help fund the county's future |
| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, October 16, 2008 |
| The students have spoken. Civic leaders have spoken. County commissioners have spoken. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has spoken. Weatherford College officials have spoken. Now it's time to hear from you, the voters, the folks who have the power to shape the future of Wise County. |
| Read More... |
| Education's future might have something in common with past |
| By Willis Webb | Published Thursday, October 16, 2008 |
| Education must and is changing. While I can lay no claim to particular expertise in the field, it is obvious to anyone who spends a fair amount of time observing the Texas public education system that there are serious problems and, like it or not, the changes must be at least set in motion by government. |
| Read More... |
| JusPhoPhun - sometimes that's what it's all about |
| By Joe Duty | Published Sunday, October 12, 2008 |
| It has been seven years since I started shooting photos for the Messenger. I remember getting up every morning with fresh eyes - every day was a new day. |
| Read More... |
| There's more on the ballot than the presidential race |
| By Dave McNeely | Published Sunday, October 12, 2008 |
| Most of you are aware of this, but there will be a lot more on your ballot at the election this Nov. 4 than the race for president. |
| Read More... |
| Shining the light on government meetings |
| By Willis Webb | Published Thursday, October 9, 2008 |
| Just about anything you can think of has a day, week or month proclaimed for it. Newspapers are no different. This week is National Newspaper Week. |
| Read More... |
| Police repression can get costly |
| By Jim Hightower | Published Thursday, October 9, 2008 |
| To your list of reasons not to support a police state in America, add this one: It's expensive. |
| Read More... |
| Four tips for college seekers |
| By Travis Measley | Published Sunday, October 5, 2008 |
| Starting my first fall as a working man and not a student - high school, college or otherwise - I can't help but be slightly nostalgic about my days at Texas A&M University and wish that I was back there. This past year my little sister went through the process of finishing high school, choosing a college and going through all types of camps and orientations; I tell you, I was jealous. But she also went through the agonizing process of trying to decide what school she wanted to attend. |
| Read More... |
| Libertarians could help Democratic candidates |
| By Dave McNeely | Published Sunday, October 5, 2008 |
| The Libertarian getting national attention is the party's presidential candidate, Bob Barr, a former Republican congressman from Georgia. |
| Read More... |
| A bailout that sacrifices freedom for dependency |
| By Jeff Sandefer | Published Sunday, October 5, 2008 |
| Throughout our nation's history, the size and scope of government has grown by leaps and bounds during times of crisis, financial or otherwise. The political class' natural instinct is for government to rush to the rescue, particularly when an election is near. The current financial meltdown appears to be no exception, as our government responds with a $700 billion taxpayer-funded bailout that is at best a Band-Aid and at worst a more deadly strain of the same disease. |
| Read More... |
| LaHood is rare example of true bipartisanship |
| By Willis Webb | Published Thursday, October 2, 2008 |
| Frequently I have written about the polarization that has taken place in the political process in this country. It has, for the most part, destroyed bipartisanship, which I believe to be essential to solutions to the country's problems. Civility has disappeared, or at least so I thought. |
| Read More... |
| Sorry, no resting after the election |
| By Kelle Louaillier | Published Thursday, October 2, 2008 |
| This election season we will go to the polls to vote for our favorite "agent of change," or so that's how each campaign would have itself cast. |
| Read More... |
| For would-be U.S. senator, Texas a big state |
| By Dave McNeely | Published Sunday, September 28, 2008 |
| Florence Shapiro, a Republican state senator from Plano, may be in for a learning experience. She is among those eyeing the possibility of trying to succeed Texas' senior United States senator, Kay Bailey Hutchison. |
| Read More... |
| Three energy steps for a new president |
| By Andrew Korfhage | Published Sunday, September 28, 2008 |
| Next January, a new president will take office, confronting a multitude of serious issues, including rising fuel costs, energy security, climate change and rising unemployment. When you evaluate the candidates based on their proposed solutions for reinventing the way America produces its energy to deal with these issues, do you know what to look for? |
| Read More... |
| Remembering the voice of Panthers football |
| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, September 25, 2008 |
| I enjoy following the Paradise Panthers and the outstanding season they're having under their equally outstanding coach Danny Neighbors. I enjoy reading about them because it brings back so many wonderful memories of my friend Johnnie Campbell. |
| Read More... |
| Support programs for youth |
| By Willis Webb | Published Thursday, September 25, 2008 |
| When you talk to anyone about your community's children, almost all will agree we need to see they get the best education possible, and with that process, that we provide them with wholesome, fun activities outside the realm of school and family. |
| Read More... |
| Texas transparency and the growth of government |
| By James Quintero | Published Thursday, September 25, 2008 |
| James Russell Wiggins, the late editor of the Washington Post, once said that "the more that government becomes secret, the less it remains free." Thankfully, Texas is leading the way toward opening the workings of its governments, particularly when it comes to how they spend your tax dollars. |
| Read More... |
| Electoral College causes Texans to miss lots of presidential campaign |
| By Dave McNeely | Published Sunday, September 21, 2008 |
OK, every American interested in watching all the television ads that will be part of the presidential election process, take a step forward.
Not so fast, Texans. |
| Read More... |
| People lose homes, banks live richly |
| By Jim Hightower | Published Sunday, September 21, 2008 |
| Housing debt has become a financial cluster bomb. |
| Read More... |
| Introducing the next generation of journalism |
| By Brian Knox | Published Thursday, September 18, 2008 |
| You may have noticed a few changes recently to the Wise County Messenger's Web site. If you haven't checked it out lately, I invite you to visit www.wcmessenger.com. |
| Read More... |
| What kind of lessons are we teaching? |
| By Willis Webb | Published Thursday, September 18, 2008 |
| Everyone can give thanks for the wonderful opportunities for young people today. |
| Read More... |
| The wait for educational options continues |
| By Brooke Dollens Terry | Published Thursday, September 18, 2008 |
| If public charter schools are really so bad, then why are tens of thousands of Texas students standing in line for admission? |
| Read More... |
|
| |
|
 |
| BATTLE PLAN - County Judge Bill McElhaney has called a special meeting of Wise County Commissioners for Thursday afternoon to discuss how to oppose the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's planned addition of Wise County to the nine-county Metroplex "non-attainment" zone for air quality. Judge McElhaney said he will also invite the county's mayors, economic development corporation chairmen, city managers and industry representatives to the meeting set for 1:30 p.m. at the Wise County Law Enforcement Center. |
| Read More... |
|
| |
|
| It could only be explained as pandemonium Friday morning as Wal-Mart associates unveiled their special Black Friday items at 5 a.m. Shoppers grab as many boxes as they can carry. |
| Photo by Joe Duty |
| More Photos... |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Most Valuable Player: Janie Foreman |
| Dragons take two in Slidell |
| Lady Dragons open in style |
| Eagles swim team soars in Fort Worth |
|
| More Sports... |
|
| |
|
| |
|
