Right on, Andy Rooney!

Andy Rooney said on '60 Minutes' a few weeks back:

I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.

I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, which is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?

I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.

I have the right 'NOT' to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling; it is the Law of Probability.

I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American/Canadian/British citizen, you should have to speak English!

My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours.

I think the police should have every right to shoot or arrest you if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word 'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the above lines.

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special National Assistance, loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, corner store, or any other business.

We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations.

I don't hate the rich I don't pity the poor

I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them.

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building.

It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say 'NO!'

I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

I am sick of 'Political Correctness.' I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa ; so how can they be 'African-Americans/Canadian/British'? Besides, Africa is a continent.. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was fromEurope . I am proud to be fromAmerica and nowhere else

And if you don't like my point of view, tough...

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE CANADIAN FLAG, to the BRITISH FLAG & TO THE FLAG OF THEUNITED STATES OF AMERICA , AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTYAND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

I was asked to send this on if I agree, or delete if I don't. It is said that on average 86% of Canadians/ Americans & British believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having 'In God We Trust' on American money and having 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 15%+ to BE QUIET!!!

If you agree, pass this on, if not delete.

Okay, who shot off the fireworks?

City Council declares Munday an Anti-Litter Community, will support 2010 Census

The Munday City Council heard an array of different reports, proclamations and presentations Tuesday evening at its July meeting.

Following the invocation by member Adrin Fletcher, Bobby D. Barnett suggested to the council that we need to do something to memorialize those from the past who got us where we are today. He mentioned such things as the airport, the lake, the drainage ditch and the city hall building that we take for granted today. He said a plaque engraved with their names would be a fine gesture on our part. Barnett mentioned Mose Wiggins, Jim Reeves and Walter Hertel, but said there were many more.

David Kuehler, director of the North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority spoke about the importance of exercising water valves to keep them operational. He said mineral deposits can build up inside the valves and if they aren't opened at least twice a year they could freeze up and become inoperable. Kuehler then introduce an electric opener for those stubborn valves that refuse to open. One of these machines can save a crew up to two days off the exercising time. He is making the machine available to the city to use.

Walter Hertel, a retired Munday city administrator, volunteered his time to help the water crew when they begin exercising the valves on the city water lines. He said at one time there was only one valve for the while city, which meant if there was a problem the whole city went without water. Things have improved over the years, but things still need to be kept up. Hertel also suggested that a line needs to be added to the administrator’s job description to include the upkeep of the city’s many valves.

Tammy Copeland and Gerry Brooks from the Community Action Program in Abilene introduced their Weatherization Assistance Program. Copeland said their organization can help with weatherizing homes of low income people to help lower their utility bills. She said it is possible for a couple making $18,000 or less to be funded up to 125 percent of the costs of weatherizing their home. They can be reached at 325-673-5785 extension 109.

Randy Beyers, of Jacobs and Martin Engineering, informed the council that Munday has been awarded three grants. Beyers serves as Munday’s waste water engineer and helps the city with grant applications and all the red tape the city has to process to stay in compliance. Two of the grants will go toward the installation of aerating equipment in all of our sewage ponds. The aerators stir up the water, allowing oxygen to come in which improves the mix and gets the plant in compliance with the state. Munday will receive $419,000 for this project. The City also received a 2010 grant to fund the on-site irrigation project. Under this grant the city can rent or purchase up to 160 acres for irrigation purposes. Another grant will help Munday with its planning for the next ten years.

The city also approved a resolution on grants that covers filing of an application for a grant, another one to cover filing and authorizing a representative and another one for an application affidavit.

A proclamation on partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau for an accurate count passed the council. The proclamation spells out the importance of having an accurate count. More than $300 billion a year is allocated to states and communities based on census data.

The council approved the formation of a Complete Count Committee for the 2010 census. However, the committee was not named.

The council appointed Exa Lee Martinez to be the Census Liaison person for Munday.

A Mayor’s proclamation declaring Munday a Litter Free Community was passed by the council. Persons caught littering in Munday will face stiff fines from now on.

For the second month the appointment of a new city judge was tabled. However, two names were mentioned as prospects. Mayor Norville will contact the two persons to see if either is interested.

City Administrator, Dwayne Bearden, informed the council that the city is losing almost $1,200 a month on its commercial garbage rates. For the 1.5-yard can, one time per week, the rate will be $40per month. A 3-yard can, one pickup a week will be $50 per month, 2 times a week the charge will be $95, and the 3 times a week charge will go to $145 a month. These rates will be effective with next month’s water bill.

The council also discussed noise and litter complaints which came out of the fourth of July celebrations. There is a distinct possibility that the council could over turn the present fireworks ordinance. One possibility would be to legalize the sale of fireworks within the city and designating certain places where fireworks could be used legally. Fireworks litter left in the streets or on the roadways will also the addressed.

Munday is a good place to live. So said some of the folks questioned by members of the city council. Another person likes the way the churches and people in general work together to get things done. A fisherman said he moved to Munday to be closer to Miller Creek Lake. One person said she enjoyed the downtown sidewalks for exercise. Another said the traffic in Munday is nice and no long lines at the grocery store. No one reported a negative comment about Munday, other than we need more people so we could get more stores and restaurants.

Anti-Litter Community

WHEREAS, we are fortunate to live in a City so abundantly blessed with natural assets and we have a continuing responsibility for preserving our environment by keeping it clean, healthy, and beautiful; and

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Munday believes every citizen should contribute to keeping our environment clean and safe, by working together to preserve clean aire, fresh water and the natural beauty of our surroundings; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of citizens show their concern for the environment and their communities each year by participating in projects to clean up and rejuvenate local neighbourhoods, green spaces, vacant lots, illegal dump sites; and

WHEREAS, City of Munday volunteers believe that maintaining a quality environment and encouraging civic pride is everyone’s responsibility; and

WHEREAS, the City of Munday encourages voluntary action to keep our communitie clean and beautiful and restore and maintain a healthy environment.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, on behalf of the Council of the City of Munday, Texas, I, Mayor Buddy Norville, do hereby proclaim Munday as a Litter-Free Community and call upon the citizens of Munday, the businesses, and other organizations to join and work together to improve and preserve the natural beauty of our city, and to participate throughout the year in beautification and litter prevention efforts.

WHEREAS, Munday being a Litter-Free Community will increase awareness of the need for a cleaner Munday, emphasize the importance of not littering, and encourage recycling of solid wastes; and

WHEREAS, this emphasis on cleanliness will be a part of educating the children of Munday regarding the importance of a clean environment to the quality of life in Munday.

Dated at the City of Munday this 14th day of July, 2009.

Buddy V. Norville
Mayor

Proclamation

Whereas, an accurate census count is vital to our community and residents’ well being by helping planners determine where to locate schools, day-care centers, roads and public transportation, hospitals and other facilities and is used to make decisions concerning business growth and housing need; and,

Whereas, more than $300 billion per year in federal funding is allocated to states and communities based on census data; and

Whereas, census data ensures fair Congressional representation by determining how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the redistricting of state legislatures, county and city council and voting districts; and

Whereas, the 2010 Census creates jobs that stimulate economic growth and increase employment growth and increase employment opportunities in our community.

Now, therefore, let it be known that:

I, Buddy Norville, by the virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Munday, Texas, do hereby proclaim that the City of Munday, Texas is committed to partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to help ensure a full and accurate count in 2010 and encourage all citizens to participate in the 2010 Census count.

In testimony whereof, witness my hand and Seal of the City of Munday, Texas this the 14th day of July, 2009

Buddy Norville, Mayor

Inside City Hall, 7-15-09

The invitation for someone, anyone, to bring fresh vegetables to market is still open, although it appears unlikely to happen. I think most people would rather give their produce away than get organized to bring it to market. That is not difficult to understand. Rest assured, we have not given up on the idea of a community garden, even if it is in different yards.

I’ve had a vision for Munday since I was 17. Munday would be the Garden Capital of Texas. The soil in Knox County will grow anything. Our farmers have proved over and over again that they could grow the best vegetables. Growing the produce has never been a problem. Marketing and harvesting have been the culprits in our garden kingdom. All we need is a lot of money to build our own canneries, our own marketing system, and a trucking line to deliver MunTex Produce all over the country. Naturally we would have our own organic gardens as well, there’s a huge market there. Soy beans, same thing.

Instead of giving up why don’t we put our heads together and think our way on top again. This is no time to be giving up, but to over come. There are solutions to every problem, all we need to do is work ‘em out. This country became great because men worked hard to find ways to do things that had never been done before. They found ways to cross wide rivers and deep canyons. They conquered disease and the depths of space. No one ever said we had to get it right the first time.

Thomas Edison was believed to have “invented” the electric light bulb. Actually he improved on a 50-year-old idea, the idea of electric lighting was not new. However, nothing had been developed that was practical for home use. After a year and a half of work Edison succeeded when an incandescent lamp with a filament of carbonized sewing thread burned for thirteen and a half hours. Edison stayed with his vision until the right idea came along.

In addition to inventing the right kind of filament that would make a light bulb work, Edison invented seven system elements that were critical to the practical application of electric lights: the parallel circuit, a durable light bulb, an improved underground conductor network, the devices for maintaining constant voltage, safety fuses and insulating materials, and light sockets with on-off switches.

I don’t know if anyone hasmore patents than Edison, he had 1,093 successful inventions. He also had a few that failed. He was a curious child and taught himself much by reading about things on his own. This belief in self-improvement stayed with him throughout his life.

Munday is loaded with talented, creative, curious people. Much of this talent and creative power has been forced to the back room of our minds while we made a living using our “other” knowledge. It’s time to open the door and let it come out to play and work and dream and build and do those things we have always wanted to do. There will be obstacles in our way. Let’s think our way around them, if we can’t go over them. There is nothing more powerful than the positive thought. But there is no place for negative thoughts like, “we can’t do that.” We may just need to do “it” different.

An inventor by the name of Thomas Adams first tried to change chicle into automobile tires before making it into chewing gum. Post-It Notes came about because of a screwed-up batch of glue that wouldn’t work as a glue. Paper towels came about when a batch of toilet paper came out too thick to use as toilet paper. Who knows what our mistakes could become. There may be another use for cotton that hasn’t been discovered. Or the careless weed, who knows.

It can be done and Munday has the people who can do it. Think it - see it - do it! Let’s find it and do it.

Market Munday every chance you get.

Plan now to be in Munday on July fourth next year, for the second annual Freedom Fest.