Library Lines ...

The high winds of last Friday brought some excitement to us here at Rhoads Memorial Library when the trap door accessing our roof blew open. It was about 9:45 a.m. when Sulema and I heard a sickening thud up above. (It occurred to me: when is an unexpected thud or thump not sickening? But I digress.

Quinn Minute - Who’s Calling?

The phone rings several times a day at my “office,” a place under the stairs where we used to store cleaning supplies. I equipped it with a TV tray to hold my computer, and a carboard box to house my “research materials.”My hope was to attract customer calls for writing assignments.

Measles outbreak continues

There were 223 cases reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services on Tuesday, and the outbreak has resulted in the death of one unvaccinated school-aged child.

Planning for Summer Gardens

Temperatures are warming up but that doesn’t mean you should plant your garden just yet!While the weather is a lot nicer in March, it still could get cold enough to hurt small seedlings and even transplanted plants (unless they are cold tolerant).

Performance Follows People, Not Processes

Large organizations can exploit size to create an economy of scale. It is, singularly, the best argument for bigness.This may be true when making automobiles, electric coffee pots, shoes or growing corn or wheat.

Texas Senate Committee discusses bill on religion in school

The Texas Senate Committee on Education is discussing two bills, SB 10 and SB 11, that could bring religious materials into public schools.Senate Bill 10 would require all public schools to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom.Sen.

Editor’s Message

Here we go again with the daylight savings time “spring forward.”Personally, I am not a fan of these bi-yearly time changes. Fall back isn’t quite so bad, but spring forward has some real negative effects.

Rainwater Harvesting Conference registration open

Registration for the Rainwater Harvesting Conference on March 27-28 at the Amarillo Area Foundation’s Harrington Center for Philanthropy is underway.The two-day conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 27, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 28.

Quinn Minute - Wild animals as pets

Many towns now prohibit citizens from housing jungle animals.What, exactly, is a “wild pet?” That depends on your town, and what its council considers more dangerous than a roving bachelors’ party.For instance, some communities term boa constrictors “wild.

Texas SB 1652 filed to ban puppy mill sales

Texas Senate Bill 1652, called the Ethical Pet Sales Bill, has been filed by Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo).The bill is aimed at protecting puppies and kittens and would the retail sale of such pets.