The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V2
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**************************May 3, 1999**********************
Congratulations to Mark Stephenson and Bob Poole for their victory in
the School Board election. If both intend to make a difference on the
Board, however, they will certainly have their work cut out for them.
With a current annual budget of $15.23 million, the premier cash cow in
Llano County is undoubtedly the Llano Independent School District
(LISD). Are the taxpayers getting any "bang" so to speak, for the buck?
Our illustrious school officials would certainly have us believe so.
With an annual expenditure approaching $10,000 per student, this is a
legitimate question that needs to be very carefully examined and
analyzed.
Standardized test scores as well as student performance and
productivity could certainly be improved. Student performance is
critical to any district, but of even greater importance to taxpayers
in ours because of the enormous tax burden. Our school officials have
whined about the need for new facilities for some time forcing two bond
elections, the second of which was successful.
Sadly, Dr. Lane and Judith Robbins were shameless in using the
students to push their agenda. Kids were offered extra credit for
school projects supporting the bonds. One child was present at at least
one bond issue forum, running a slide projector show for
administrators. Letters to the editor from school kids appeared in the
local paper urging voters to vote for the bonds. Our illustrious
administrators conveniently forgot the bond issue question was to be
resolved by the voters on the merits of the supposed need, and not by
cheap hucksterism. It took two elections, -- and poor voter turnout,
for them to finally succeed in saddling the taxpayers with what is
turning out to be another boondoggle.
With a $19 million bond issue that will ultimately cost taxpayers
some $36 million, it is fair to ask just how well are these funds being
managed? Apparently, there are some problems. I've received a number of
allegations from reliable sources recently. While I intend to carefully
investigate them over the next several months, I've decided to print a
few of them in this edition of the newsletter. It is my hope that by
doing so, more of you would be encouraged to come forward with
information. Remember, these are allegations I believe to be credible,
and not assertions of fact.
It has been brought to my attention there have apparently been some
enormous construction overruns and excessive property costs. One
glaring example is the Packsaddle elementary school. School officials
had originally intended to use donated land to build the facility. The
bond for this project is $2.225 million. Since donated land was to be
used, no provision was made in the bond for the purchase of any
property. The donated land, however was not used. An additional
$378,000 was spent by officials to buy other property. Guess who will
wind up footing the bill?
The new high school is to be built on a 48 acre industrial park
tract that was acquired for $157,500. The high school bond is $15.7
million. This figure did not include any provision for the expenditure
of funds for additional property that apparently has yet to be
acquired. While some has been obtained by landswap, officials are
looking to purchase another 50 acres, hoping to spend $1600/acre, or an
additional $80,000. These funds are also not provided for in the $15.7
million bond. Guess who will foot the bill?
Apparently, there was a $32,000 overrun in the press box
construction cost estimate. It has been alleged duplicate payments for
services were made. If true, mighty convenient for the recipients, no?
There is also some scuttlebutt the overruns and required additional
property purchases are forcing administrators to ask teachers to
curtail requisitions for needed furnishings. -- If you can confirm
this, write me. I will protect your identity.
Once again, all this is alleged, and further research will be done.
Much of it has already been printed anyway in the local papers. I will,
however, have to confirm the dollar amounts. It has also been brought
to my attention the new superintendent, Jack Patten, will be on the
Hartford as well as the LISD payroll from March to July 1. Why? If
true, why are the taxpayers being saddled with this expense? After all,
Patton will be handsomely compensated by LISD (the taxpayers) for his
services. Why should we pay for his "break-in" period? I've also been
informed the LISD Transportation and Custodial units are now supervised
by two individuals. If true, why? If one supervisor could do the job in
the past, why saddle the taxpayers with yet another salary?
I've only scratched the surface of school finances in this edition
of the newsletter. There is a lot more that will have to be very
carefully examined in the coming months. The District is apparently
rife with waste. Sadly, waste contributes nothing to the education of
our children. It only royally shafts the taxpayers, and lines the
pockets of our officials and their cronies. If you have any
information, come forward. I will certainly protect your identity. It
is critical that any waste, fraud, or mismanagement be quickly exposed.
In a recent local article, Dr. Lane decried the state lottery and its
effect on the poor. When will Lane and his cronies show as much
compassion and concern for the beleaguered taxpayers?
Tim Chorney, Publisher (Scroll Down For Earlier Edition.)
*************************April 26, 1999********************
The increasing violence in our schools nationwide is alarming and
frightening. It is a portent of things to come as these kids become
young adults. While adult violent crime is supposedly decreasing,
juvenile crime is on the rise. Why? Where are the parents?
Littleton is the latest and worst example of violence by our young
people to date. As earlier incidents elsewhere, it is another wake-up
call for the rest of us. What has gone so terribly wrong?
Being a radio talk show junkie, I've heard a variety of
oversimplistic solutions to an enormously difficult problem. The
political Left wants to ban all firearms. The Right wants school prayer
and the removal of violent programming. The oversimplistic analysis and
solutions offered by so many are nearly as frightening as the problem
itself.
Banning guns will not stop the violence in our schools. It will only
finally and totally eviscerate the Second Amendment and deprive
law-abiding citizens of the right to hunt, target shoot, or protect
themselves. There are laws on the books governing the use and
availability of firearms to our young people. If they're not being
adequately enforced, why not? If they need to be strengthened, let's
consider it.
Why aren't parents properly supervising their children and securely
locking up their weapons? Why aren't young people who target shoot and
hunt ONLY allowed to do so under strict adult supervision?
A return of prayer in the schools? Students already have the right
to pray silently. If we insist on ignoring constitutionally mandated
church/state separation or change it constitutionally, whose prayer
will be prayed? What if the child is Moslem, Buddhist, or another
non-Christian religion? What then? ... We need to think very, very,
carefully before acting precipitously.
While violence in the media may exacerbate the situation in
marginal cases, many therapists think it is a symptom of a much greater
problem, rather than the problem itself. -- It is a reflection of the
violent culture we live in. After all, we routinely use violence to
solve our problems, and then glorify it.
Violent incidents rarely occur in a vacuum, or with little to no
warning. A child with no history of violence can snap, but this seldom
happens. There is usually a long history of problems. They may have
started in pre-school, kindergarten, day care, etc. when little Johnny
or Mary kicked a teacher in the shins. If early unacceptable behavior
is not corrected, the problems only worsen. Truancy has become endemic.
Petty theft, vandalism, assault, and worse are not far behind. Where
are the parents?
Once the cycle begins, it becomes difficult to stop, -- especially
after the child has reached adolescence. Sadly, some of the behavior is
learned in the home. Many of our households are plagued by domestic
violence and abuse. If you're in this situation, do something about it
before it is too late. All domestic violence should be reported to the
police.
Many people will not do so for a variety of reasons. If you are
battered, help is available. Report it to the authorities. As critical
as I've been (and will continue to be) of local law enforcement,
prosecutors, the courts, etc. regarding a variety of other issues, they
have, however, been doing a good job handling cases of spousal and
child abuse. If I'm mistaken, send me a letter and I will print it.
Shelter and assistance for victims of family violence, abuse, and
sexual assault are available at the Family Crisis Center in Marble
Falls. The 24 hr. crisis line number is 830-693-5600. The toll-free
number is 1-800-664-3574. If you have a problem, do something before it
is too late.
The two young gunmen in Littleton apparently came from affluent
homes. Everything was provided, except what those kids needed most:
love, attention, discipline, and supervision. In most homes today, both
parents must work to survive. That, however, does not excuse them from
properly raising their children.
My late mother returned to the work force when I started high school.
My younger brother and I knew exactly what was expected of us, -- and
complied. There weren't any "excuses", "if's", "and's", or "but's"
tolerated in our household. No matter how busy, harried, hurried, ill,
etc., my parents always knew what was going on and led by example.
Although we were far from being the Beaver Cleaver family, there were
standards. Those standards were adhered to.
Being fiercely independent and a rugged individualist, I cringed when
the First Lady promoted the "It takes a village" theme. Not pushed to
its extreme, however, it is a good concept. It's exactly what happened
anyway some 40 years ago when I was a kid. If a neighborhood child got
caught doing something unacceptable, any adult present would
immediately talk to him and correct the behavior. 99% of the time it
worked. When it didn't, the adult would approach the parents. They were
always grateful, and immediately took care of the problem.
Trying something like that today can start World War III. Why?
What's wrong with us? Do we really believe our little darlings can do
no wrong? Are we that deluded? Are we really incapable of looking out
for one another? Unless we get a handle on juvenile crime, it will
devastate our country.
Tim Chorney, Publisher (Scroll down for earlier edition.)
*************************April l9, l999***********************
Just a gentle reminder: School Board elections are coming up Saturday,
May 1. Early voting has begun and will continue until April 27. Be sure
to vote!
Although I had not intended to revisit the subject of Sheriff
Nathan Garrett in this issue of the newsletter, I received an e-mail
from a Kingsland businessman late last week that led me to reconsider.
The man is well-known and related some problems he had had with the
Llano County Sheriff's Department. While I will not release his name, I
do publicly encourage him to come forward and submit a "Letter to
Editor" for publication. This is the only way these abuses are going to
end.
His e-mail came a few days after I myself had what amounted to a
"social visit" with our illustrious sheriff on the shoulder of Hwy
1431. Nothing of substance came of the incident, and I just dismissed
it as benign harassment. ... When one peacefully challenges abusive
authority, consequences usually quickly follow. Harassment is the
result, and always expected. Although expected and unpleasant, it is a
small price to pay for standing up and doing the right thing. After
all, how else can an abusive official maintain a strangle-hold on
power?
As I thought further about the e-mail, however, it occurred to me
that it might be of benefit to the community to relate my own most
recent experience with Nathan. At the very least, it would give the
public some idea of the sheriff's priorities, and how he operates. I
was also hoping that my story might encourage others to come forward
with experiences of their own that might have been more egregious. This
is the United States, -- not Nazi Germany. Honest and law-abiding
citizens don't live in fear of law enforcement, ... not even of corrupt
and abusive officers.
As many of you know, I am an avid cyclist. I can be seen all over
the county on a geriatric 10-speed that should have seen the scrap heap
years ago. -- My truck has been down for some time anyway, and I do
enjoy the exercise. What can I say? -- I'm just an eccentric, crusty,
incorrigible maverick.
I was returning from Kingsland on 1431 when the Sheriff passed me going
the other way. This has happened all over the county, but this time
Nathan made a U-turn and came up from behind. He passed and pulled over
onto the grassy shoulder, -- without his lights on. As he ran out of
the vehicle to greet me, I slowed down to a stop.
As he approached, I said to him: "Well, hello Sheriff." He
responded: "Are you Tim? I hear you've been writing some bad things
about me." I stifled a laugh, and luckily managed to maintain a
straight face while thinking to myself: "Well, duh!" I looked at him
for a moment and replied dryly: "Oh, yes sir, Sheriff. That's right,
sir!"
He extended his hand, and I shook it. He then repeated the question
saying he didn't know me (untrue), but had heard some guy on a bike was
"writing bad things" about him. I looked him in the eye and repeated
myself, desperately trying not to laugh. He nervously smiled and twice
assured me he wasn't arresting me. (... "Duh?") I looked at him and
took off, as he quickly went back to his vehicle. -- I don't know. ...
Maybe he thought I was nuts. Get with it, Sheriff. -- Everyone already
KNOWS that.
All joking aside, the "social call" took no longer than about a
half a minute at most. This was not a routine traffic stop. The sheriff
did not use his siren or lights. There was no request for
identification. No ticket. No legitimate law enforcement issue to be
discussed. No "probable cause". What if we had both been struck by a
passing vehicle while idly chatting about personal business? While
there wasn't any overt attempt at intimidation, our visit wasn't
exactly a courtesy call, now was it?
It accomplished nothing, however. I don't intend to back off,
regardless of the personal consequences. Once again, I question the
sheriff's judgement. Moreover, doesn't he have anything better to do?
What about the Pub, Sheriff? Even the Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET),
known for using Gestapo-like tactics and conveniently ignoring the
Constitution, is apparently having a difficult time stopping the flow
of narcotics there.
Don't you think it would be a better target, than an outraged and
outrageous public irritant? If there is indeed no substance to what I'm
writing, why pay any attention? Why not just ignore it, like you've
ignored the jail-rape scandal as well as the escape of the burglars? No
problem, right Sheriff? Although I'm indeed grateful, why give me
anything more to work with than I already have? After all, you only
have so many tail feathers to pluck.
All joking aside, the sheriff's assertion that he doesn't know me
isn't true. Apparently, he has a worsening memory problem. I urge his
cronies to download material from this site and kindly provide it to
him, ... if that hasn't already been done.
Nathan and I have met twice before. When he first ran for office, he
introduced himself at the Exxon Food Mart on Hwy 261. I was sitting at
a table enjoying a cup of coffee, when he and several other officers
came in for a dinner break. All of us talked for at least half an hour.
Needless to say, it was a most interesting experience, and I learned
quite a bit from all of them.
More importantly, the sheriff and I met a second time in the spring
of 1993 when I was a witness in a stalking complaint filed by an
elderly Kingsland resident against an intoxicated bully. Last year,
_The River Cities Tribune printed a letter to the editor of mine
(3-20-98) that was highly critical of both the district attorney and
the sheriff for their mishandling of the jail-rape scandal. The letter
also detailed the sheriff's conduct during the investigation of the
earlier stalking incident. It isn't very pretty.
Garrett conducted a weapon's search of both the elderly gentleman
and myself, inserting his hands into my pockets instead of asking me to
empty them for his inspection. My objection was not to the search
itself, but to the manner in which it was conducted. After all, the
sheriff already knew at the time I was publicly highly critical of
other county officials over the "kangaroo" nature of the property tax
system. His "pocket" search was an overt attempt at intimidation. It
didn't work. It only stiffened my resolve to expose our corrupt and
abusive officials.
You might be wondering whatever happened to the stalking complaint?
Surprise, surprise. Absolutely nothing. I was never called as a
witness. The now deceased stalker was deferred adjudicated at the
behest of our illustrious county attorney, Cheryll Mabray. The elderly
victim recently told me the case was finally dismissed by Justice of
the Peace Rudy Cunningham after he was pressured by the defendant's
mother. -- Another fine example of Llano County "justice", no?
I urge the readers to come forward. The only way this nonsense is
going to end is by exposing it. Keep the information coming. As
promised, I will protect your identity, regardless of the personal
cost.
It is time for District Attorney Sam Oatman and our corrupt courts
to rein in abusive law enforcement agencies that operate under their
jurisdiction. If our illustrious public officials fail to do so, they
can be peacefully removed from office at the ballot box.
Currently, our most egregious offender is the Narcotics Enforcement
Team. Sadly, this agency makes up its own rules as it goes along,
conveniently ignoring Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment
guarantees. No matter how noble, the ends never justify the means.
While I certainly hope that NET successfully stops the flow of
narcotics at the Pub, the people expect it to be done constitutionally
with respect for the rule of law. What's next, Commander? Tanks and
bulldozers? Will you even bother to get a warrant or court order, or
isn't that necessary any longer? After all, our corrupt judges and
district attorney have given you carte blanche anyway. No?
Sadly, NET Commander Brent Nichols and Sheriff Nathan Garrett have
apparently forgotten they swore an oath to protect and defend the
Constitution. As they well know, the Bill of Rights is very much a part
of that precious document. The intoxicating effect of power as well as
excessively high levels of testosterone are apparently clouding their
better judgement. Most pointedly, both men have also apparently
forgotten we live in the United States, -- not Nazi Germany. It's time
to wake up boys.
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 1:44pm EDT