Columns/Opinions

By ED STERLING

AUSTIN — As contaminated waters receded and mountains of debris from flooded homes and ruined belongings grew last week, a picture of post-hurricane Texas developed and the process of weighing impacts to lives, property and infrastructure began.

Gov. Greg Abbott delivered a series of announcements and proclamations related to catastrophic flooding and wind damage brought by Hurricane Harvey to more than 50 Gulf Coast and inland counties in late August and early September.

On Sept. 7, Abbott thanked Congress for passing a $15.3 billion hurricane relief package and called the bipartisan action “an encouraging sign.”

By ROY KNOX

ONE Man's OPINION

When we look back I`m sure 2017 will be remembered as the year of the hurricanes. We have already had the costliest hurricane ever (Harvey) and the largest Atlantic hurricane ever (Irma) and we have yet made to the climatological peak of the season (Sept. 10). Hurricanes Jose (Atlantic Ocean) and Katia (Gulf of Mexico) are rolling in next. So, are we doomed? Is this the wrath of God? No, it`s just hurricane season. If you live in a coastal state, there is always a chance you will be negatively affected by a hurricane. Here in Texas, it is hard to believe, we have been extremely lucky for about the last nine years.

• The Texas Long horns and the Texas A&M Aggies managed to get into the win column this weekend after a terrible start last week. The Aggies “choked” and gave up a 34-point lead and lost by 1 point. Texas played more like zombies than Longhorns and lost to an inferior team.

People are helping because it is the right thing to do

Why are the ditches not being cleaned out at Q the Phillips 66 station on Highway 271? They are mosquito infested, and that is a health hazard.

According to City Manager Clint Hardeman: “Right of ways, including A drainage ditches, on U.S Highway 271 are maintained by the State of Texas and Department of Transportation. The state offices can be contacted at the Mount Pleasant TXDOT branch for assistance at 903-572-8511. The city will notify TXDOT of the concern and request a site visit. Although the city treats for mosquitos on city right of ways and city streets the city will try to treat the location in question until the state can provide further assistance.

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By ROY KNOX

As the old proverb goes “people who live in glass houses shouldn`t throw stones,” so you can understand my amazement with John McCain when he starts spouting out about President Trump and his pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Sheriff Joe was convicted of illegally profiling Latinos (he was suspected of many more crimes) when it came to illegal immigration. Back in 1989 McCain was being grilled about his involvement in the Keating 5. He all but sold his soul to Charles Keating for a chance to become the president. The money records are there. This has dogged him the last 25 years and I can`t believe the Arizona people keep electing him. Besides that, it is the president`s option to pardon criminals. Former President Obama pardoned several hundred, with most of them (the site claims 98 percent, bit I have no way of confirming that) being drug related.

By ED STERLING

AUSTIN — Hurricane Harvey slammed the middle Texas coast on Aug. 25, hammering the region from Rockport to Palacios before continuing inland as a tropical storm and causing widespread catastrophic flooding.

With wind speeds in excess of 130 miles per hour before landfall at Rockport, the National Hurricane Center in Miami gave the storm a rating of Category 4. As rains and flooding worsened, Harvey was widely reportedly to be the strongest hurricane to hit Texas since Carla in 1961.

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