Columns/Opinions

Thu
16
Apr

Newspapers facing headwinds from Austin to D.C.

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on
Over The Back Fence
by Randy Mankin TPA President
 
While some lawmakers in Austin are trying to remove public notices from newspapers, our industry is also facing strong headwinds in Washington, D.C., where Congress is taking up the idea of tax reform. One proposal that seems to be gaining traction would involve limiting tax deductions for advertising expense.
Publishers from across the country gathered in D.C. on March 18-19 for the National Newspaper Association “We Believe in Newspapers” Leadership Summit with the goal of confronting that proposal and others while at the same time promoting measures that would benefit our industry. I was pleased to make the trip and was joined in Washington D.C. by Randy Keck, TPA’s second vice president and publisher of the Community News in Aledo.
Thu
16
Apr

Do you believe in Angels? I do

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on
By: Jim Snyder
A Patriot’s Opinion
 
For thousands of years angels have been depicted in the Bible, in art, and in stories passed down through the ages. So the question always remains, do you believe in angels? I’ve read many stories of people who claimed to have seen angels and stories of Hospice workers who have seen angels visiting their patients as they approach their final days on earth. As a young man I had always heard that angels appeared to people in times of great need. I doubted the stories about angels because like most young people I needed to see proof. Then came one dark Saturday night in 1968.
 
Wed
08
Apr

If only there was a GPS for life

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on
Frabjous Life
by Lydia Loftis
 
During the past few weeks of drawing closer to the Lord I’ve been able to hear His voice more clearly. He’s also placed a lot of things on my heart as well as dreamsit’s been truly amazing. Some of the dreams I have our huge while others are small. I’m rather grateful to serve and be a child of a living God who is always there for us. Over the past couple days His voice has been loud especially while I was driving on the interstate. I attend Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) in Nacogdoches and for Easter holiday I got Thursday, Friday, and Monday off from classes. I had come home on Wednesday evening after surprising a couple of my friends. (Some of the surprises came with happy tears- which were honestly utterly splendid to see.)
Thu
26
Mar

American Idol stars celebrate Motown at NTCC

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on
Stars from one of America's favorite TV talent shows are coming to Northeast Texas Community College. American Stars In Concert Celebrate Motown will feature four American Idol Stars live in concert Thursday, March 26 at the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. 
American Idol finalists Gina Glocksen (season sx), Von Smith (season eight), Melinda Doolittle (season six) and Rickey Smith (season two) will come together to pay tribute to Motown's finest. The set list includes songs from legends like Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations and Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five. Additionally, NTCC's own LaQuon McKinley will perform on stage along with the stars. McKinley, an NTCC student, won the local NTCC Idol contest in November, earning the chance to sing at the concert.
 
Tue
17
Mar

The madness is here

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on

Ramblings from the Press Box
by Cory Smith

Don’t get me wrong, I love football. There’s nothing like the fall when the weather is cooler, the scenery turns a beautiful bronze color, and the Pirates and Cowboys are out on the gridiron doing what they do best. However, if there is something that supersedes my excitement for football season, it is by far my love of college basketball. Saturday’s during basketball season, especially the NCAA Tournament, for me, consists of me sitting in front of the T.V. fervently watching games. The NCAA Tournament is the greatest sports spectacle ever devised. 12 seeds can upset a 5 seeds before they take their next breath.

To continue reading this article purchase the March 19th edition of The Pittsburg Gazette or go to our online e-edition at: http://www.etypeservices.com/Pittsburg%20GazetteID315/default.aspx

Tue
10
Mar

The impending college loan implosion

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on

I went to college, got my degree, and am now over $10,000 dollars in student loan debt. Was it worth it? Yes and no (and I’m leaning more towards the no). Now, it could be because I got a Bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts field of study, which entitled me to no real relevant skills, and I’m willing to admit that. Or, it could be because I feel the first two years of college are a complete waste of time; it’s a rehash of high school, except I had to pay money for the same classes. In any case, America has bought into the “college degree scheme” in which universities charge an astronomical amount of money for room and board and tuition. All the while,burying young adults in mountains of debt that most have no real plan on a way to pay it back. It’s easy as an 18 to 23 year old kid to say ‘Hey sign me up for those student loans, they’re easy to get.’ Then, four to five years down the road, those same students find themselves being crushed financially by student loan debt.

Tue
03
Mar

It’s white and gold people!

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on

Ramblings from the Press Box
by Cory Smith

Last week, a picture went viral on the internet; of course, things go viral on the internet all the time. The picture was of a dress in a London clothing shop that created a fiery debate over the color of the dress. Some people saw it as black and blue and some saw it as white and gold; I was in the latter category. After looking at the picture, I thought to myself ‘how does anyone see this as black and blue?’ Apparently, the answer lies in science. Our eyes are able to assign fixed colors to objects under widely different lighting conditions. This ability is called color constancy. But the photograph doesn't give many clues about the ambient light in the room. Is the background bright and the dress in shadow? Or is the whole room bright and all the colors are washed out?

Wed
18
Feb

Czech-Tex kolaches: Baked in tradition

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on
They’re tender, doughy pastries with Old World European roots that are being called one of the “it” foods of 2015 by the likes of Bon Apetit magazine. But like so many other trends, Texans have been enjoying kolaches long before they became the menu item du jour of the culinary elite.
We can thank our friends in the Texas Czech community for introducing Texans to kolaches some 150 years ago, when Czech families began settling in spots like present-day Fayette, Austin and Lavaca counties.
 
To continue reading this article purchase the February 19th edition of The Pittsburg Gazette or go to our online e-edition at: http://www.etypeservices.com/Pittsburg%20GazetteID315/default.aspx
Tue
10
Feb

Letter to the Editor

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on
Dear Editor:
 
There can be little question that the morals of our nation are considerably different from those of the past and we who have more than a few decades of experience would argue that things have gotten worse. Each of us will point to his own pet peeve as evidence of the fact-abortion, homosexuality, indifference to the church, etc. Conservative evangelicals would have to silently agree with the WestboroBaptist Church that America is in a moral crisis and would do so openly if Westboro had not crossed the line by protesting at soldiers’ funerals.
But, we concentrate on the symptoms rather than the disease. We are treating cancer with morphine. If our moral decay is to be reversed, we must address the disease itself rather than just tell people to behave better.
Tue
03
Feb

Gleaning for His glory

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on
Frabjous Life
by Lydia Loftis
 
Life can be rather stressful. Whether it be with our schools, our jobs, our finances, our friends, or even our families- it can all get pretty burdensome. School can be rather stressful at times for me. Especially when I’m going to a school where I hardly know anyone. I am approximately two hours away from home, which means that I’m away from the community of amazing friends that I have there and I now have to establish or become part of a new community filled with new friendships. It’s a new experience for me and it’s also kind of a slow process.
Even though it is a slow process I’m not getting discouraged. I’m trying my best to glean to the best of my abilities when it comes to the Lord and His word; as well as friendships. Glean means “to  gather slowly and laboriously,bit by bit.”
 

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