Opinion

The Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds (HOT) recently approved at a City Council Meeting have been the subject of much discussion. The Texas Legislature created the tax in 1959.

It’s the time of year where we think about all of the things we are grateful for. For years, I had a business and I’m grateful to have been able to exit gracefully.

Against my better judgment, I accompanied my daughter’s fourth-grade class on her field trip to Austin to visit the Capitol Building. This is kid number four in my menagerie of offspring.

As a Texas Game Warden, it has been my privilege to serve the welcoming communities of Austin County. During my daily patrols, I am often approached by curious individuals interested to learn more about fishing licenses or deer season projections.

We almost believed we had a crime wave going on, which perplexed us all, especially since it’s Christmas and all. It all began when old man Ortega’s rooster disappeared.

I have a special needs son. I write about it frequently on my social media accounts. I use those sharing moments as opportunities to increase awareness; because awareness is the greatest tool that I have in my box of tricks for helping my son live the best quality of life that he can.

From the City Manager… • Open Enrollment Completed, all have made their health selections. • Ashley Barnett, new HR administrator, started work Tuesday so Dayl’s part-time help no longer needed.

Hold onto your hats, it’s Christmas toy commercial season. That time of year that even in the middle of a docuseries on road construction being broadcast at 11 p.m., the television station will air a commercial for the latest, most noisy, unnecessary toy a person can imagine and if you have a child under the age of 12 in the house, they will somehow see the commercial.

I used to have a friend who lived in Paris. Paris is expensive.

was recently invited to join Bob Milford, manager of the prestigious Diamond W Ranch, on a drive-around tour of the place. It’s a huge, private ranch, with tiny ex-logging roads winding around through 13,000 acres of pine trees and rocks. A real paradise. I