To the Editor: America had become a nation where the young people and teenagers would not listen to their parents or their teachers or their ministers. They would listen to Charlie Kirk.

Sometimes there can be a disconnect between what people say and what they do when it comes to their health. This often shows up when ranchers say they are organic but will give cattle parasite medicines that kill dung beetles. For them, organic means they are not using pesticides to kill weeds. While other ranchers say they raise organic cattle but spray the fence line and pastures with weed killers.

September 12-16, 1975 According to the tax roll prepared by Assessor-Collector Leonard Dominey, Fayette County’s property valuations jumped almost $1.9 million from 1974 to 1975. The latest assessment was $38,886.625, compared with $36,990,505 for the prior year.

On Sep. 16, 1862 Texans fought and died in a bloodsoaked cornfield at the Battle of Antietam.

“Houston, we’ve had a problem here!” Astronaut John “Jack” Swigert said during the Apollo 13 mission on April 13, 1970. The movie Apollo 13 changed the phrase to “Houston, we have a problem!” which I must admit rolls off the tongue a little easier. I’ve recently had several conversations that have brought up space travel, moon landings, and the possibility of getting to Mars. I don’t know how we managed to get there from a discussion in the Gospel of John, but I digress. It did make me think about NASAand the audacious idea of putting a person on the moon, though. It is definitely something that I don’t normally expend intellectual energy on.

The second special session of the Texas Legislature ended last Thursday with a new congressional map, flood relief and safety measures but a stalemate on whether to ban or regulate THC. The Dallas Morning News reported that lawmakers approved most of the legislative priorities Gov. Greg Abbott listed for the special session.

Oh, the joys of aging! Just now I am frustrated by the 3-pinhead-size pills my pharmacy dispenses for one of my prescriptions. And it’s not the pharmacy’s fault, but rather the unbelievable lack of sensitivity of manufacturers to what older adults need, if we are to continue to lead more or less independent lives at home.

The annual Schutzenfest celebration is coming up. Enjoy an afternoon of fun on Sunday, Sept. 21 beginning at 5 p.m., as the SchützenKönig is crowned. A dance will follow beginning at 6:30 p.m. Visit roundtoprifle.com for more information.

In 2023 Texas passed the school chaplain bill. School chaplaincy has been legal in public schools since before the colonists fought our War for Independence.

Almost every November of odd-numbered years, Texas voters are called on to do their civic duty and vote on constitutional amendments proposed by that year’s earlier Legislative session. This year is no different: On November 4, 2025, we will be voting on 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution in effect now, the seventh Constitution to be ratified in our state’s history, this one enacted in 1876.