To the Editor: I’m retired, on a fixed income and live more than 12 miles from town. I have a Bank account, car insurance, driver’s licence, electric bill, medicare, social security and many other services and activities that require verified I.D.

This story does not pertain to me but does involve my Dad, George E. Kana. He told me this story when I was a child. My Grandfather, Jon Kana, was a hard-working man but he also liked to party and do unusual things. One of these unusual things was to organize parades. Hostyn, a few miles southwest of La Grange, was known for hosting grand parades, especially during harvest time. It was customary to start off the parades with a “bang,” so to speak. Actually, it was started with three loud booms and that’s where my Dad comes in.

Years ago, we had a new neighbor, Sally, a single older woman. One night, our dog, Lily, a curious but not very bright miniature schnauzer, dug under the fence and wandered through Sally’s doggy door into her house. Lily jumped into Sally’s bed and greeted her with a kiss. Understandably, Sally was upset when she brought Lily back at 11 p.m. The next day, we apologized by bringing cookies, and she forgave us. Over time, Sally became a dear friend. She cooked for us, helped with our pets, and even asked us not to fix the hole under the fence so she and Lily could enjoy their daily visits. We helped her with chores and supported her when she was sick. We became neighbors in every sense of the word.

C APITAL Highlights A judge with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the Texas Education Agency can release its 2023A-F school accountability ratings, the Houston Chronicle reported. The ruling overturned a district judge’s injunction after more than 120 school districts sued to stop TEA from releasing the ratings.

T EXAS History A 23-year-old pianist from Kilgore gave sagging morale back home a much needed boost by winning first prize at the International Tschaikowsky competition on Apr. 12, 1958.

To the Editor: A national mass mobilization is planned for Saturday, April 5 to send a clear message to the world: “We the People” protest the power grab of the Trump/Musk administration! Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire, has been handed unchecked power over our government. Trump has given him permission to dismantle departments of the government that protect our nation, help our citizens, and stand behind our allies.

To the Editor: Some people in Texas want to tell refugees to go back to their own countries. Some of those who say this call themselves Christians.

To the Editor: On Sundays since March 1, Americans have rallied on the La Grange Square for their democracy. In November, we walked into that booth on that sacred day of voting.

To the Editor: As the House Judiciary Committee prepares to address judicial reform issues, we need to remember one key issue that has been true since the ancient Greeks first followed their gods: the goddess Justice was blindfolded for a reason. Her decisions were to be based on FACT alone, not empathy, or friendship, or personal opinion or any other potentially emotional reasons.

To the Editor: To Ms. Watt’s letter in the FCR 03/21/25.