Opinion

The current Texas Constitution was written in 1876 and has been amended over 500 times. Compare that to the United States Constitution, which has only 27 amendments.

THANK YOU so much for the coverage of the recent fires. I can only imagine the duty you feel cover the countless stories you encounter, and the desire to find the viewpoints of everyone involved. From my eyes, the stories and announcements are deeply felt and appreciated.

Larry Dunnam, 81, of Canadian, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2022, at his home in Canadian. Services were held on Wednesday, April 13, at Jones Pavilion in Canadian with Donald Hill, pastor of The River Ministries, officiating.

The Fire Whistle went off a couple of weeks ago. Again. That’s really no surprise, given that now we seem to have red flag/high-wind warnings on a daily basis. I was at a meeting, and a gentleman standing near me observed that, “They really should do away with that thing. Everybody has cellphones, so this is a totally unnecessary disruption of the public peace. It serves no purpose anymore.”

IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS since the fire. Things are slowly greening up.

THE SIRENS WAILED, and we all reached for our scanners. Where’s it at?! Which way is the wind blowing?! Then an eerie call came over the radio. “Everyone come to Mendota road; this may be our only chance to make a stand.” Mendota road?! We thought. That’s right by our place!!

THE PUBLIC WILL VOTE May 7 on Sen. Bettencourt’s Constitutional Amendments Proposition 1 and 2. I have included some frequently-asked Q&A on propositions that are less than a month away from being voted on. The election will be held Saturday, May 7. Early voting will begin Monday, April 25.

Melynn Huntley, Elections Administrator, Potter County IF YOU ARE A Texas voter who has cast your ballot by mail in recent years, you may have noticed some differences on your mail ballot materials this year. Voting by mail had substantial changes beginning with the March 2022 Primary Election.

THIS WEEK, my father, Raymond Broadbent, will be traveling to Ukraine to volunteer in the Emergency Field Hospital operated by Samaritan’s Purse. My father is a Nurse Anesthetist and is passionate about serving others in some of the neediest places on earth.

EDITORIAL CARTOONIST BEN SARGENT once penned a masterful sketch of a newspaperman—a skinny, bug-eyed fellow in a baggy suit with a press card in the band of his porkpie hat. The unnamed journalist was depicted in the simple act of entering a dark room at city hall and switching on a light.