Covenant vs Blue Cross

Is it just me or does it seem odd that it is only Covenant that has a problem with Blue Cross?

If practically all the other clinics across Texas are accepting Blue Cross payments, why would they make an exception for Covenant and pay them more?

Could it be because Covenant clinics are so poorly run that they can’t make ends meet?

And yet in all their mail-outs, they made it sound as if Blue Cross is a villain trying to deprive innocent victims of their insurance.

By coincidence, Covenant wants the hospital to take over the clinic.

Just a coincidence of course.

I don’t think the hospital has any choice but to take over the clinic.

I just hope they drive a hard bargain and don’t let Covenant hurt the hospital as they once did in the past.

Gov. Perry's Outrageous Veto

Gov. Rick Perry has dealt a crippling blow to junior colleges in general and WTC in particular in his decision to veto funds approved for health insurance.

His decision took legislators by surprise as he had given no warning of a veto and legislators had followed commission guidelines.

There is great cynicism as to his stated reason for the cuts of fraud by the junior colleges when it has been shown that most colleges are actually in compliance with rules governing health insurance.

Speculation as to his real motivations range from pressure by the large colleges to bring junior college costs in line with theirs to a personal vendetta against certain people who supported his opponent in a previous election.

Whatever Gov. Perry’s motivation, his actions hurt education in Texas at a time when having an educated workforce is one of our most important assets.

Junior colleges educate well over half the students in the state at a very reasonable cost compared to four year colleges.

Large junior colleges in the cities near major universities may be able to absorb the cost and keep running without cutbacks, but rural junior colleges such as WTC who have to scramble for their students cannot afford the large unexpected cuts.

Gov. Perry’s actions are outrageous.

They harm education in the very region where he grew up.

They hurt economically disadvantage students.

They hurt education in Texas.

If you want to protest his actions, there are petitions being circulated in Snyder.

You can also call or e-mail Gov. Perry’s office. (www.governor.state.tx.us/contact/)
(800-252-9600).

Or you can call state representative Drew Darby (325-653-8830) or state senator Robert Duncan (800-546-9928).

We need to keep pressure on Gov. Perry and hope he will do the right thing for education in Texas.

Save Travis Gym

I noticed in the paper a plea by Paula Hatfield to save the old Travis gym from demolition.

She made two good arguments for keeping the building.

One is that we need it as a community gym, both for our older and younger members.

When the elementary schools are torn down, there will be that many less places for Little Dribblers to practice.

The one huge gym at the new elementary school will be insufficient.

The second argument is that we need to preserve our history.

History is what gives us a sense of community.

How many Snyderites have played ball in that old gym?

Even if they have moved away from here, they have a certain attachment to the building.

It gives one a sense of connectedness to Snyder.

That goes for the elementary schools.

I know many people who attended West Elementary who felt a sense of loss when it was destroyed.

I am not saying that we could have avoided tearing it down.

I am just saying that it affected people.

The Travis gym is another story altogether.

It is still a functioning building supplying the needs of our town.

It is an historic building.

Why should we tear it down?

Snyder needs its old buildings to retain its identity.

We have a movement going to save the Santa Fe Depot.

This also needs to be supported.

The depot can be a tourist attraction, but more importantly it reminds us of our history and contributes to pride in our community.

It is even sad to some that the West Texas State Bank tore down the 1950' s facade for their drive-in.

Back to the Travis gym.

The ultimate power to save the gym is the SISD school board.

I am sure that if approached in a non-confrontational manner, they would listen to all reasonable arguments and then make their decision.

Snyder is in the midst of a booming economy.

Times are good.

Let’s not forget how we got here and preserve our history and our architectural treasures.

And let’s keep the things that make for a good quality of life in a small community.

Let Her Rain

It has been a long time since we’ve had a spring like this one.

Rain every week.

Lake Thomas even caught some water.

It doesn’t even look like West Texas, the pastures are so green. And it is the good grasses that are growing.

Normally when we have this much rain, the weeds start to crowd out the good stuff, but due to a combination of early moisture and low temperatures, the weeds are the ones getting crowded out.

Even the mosquitoes haven’t yet shown their ugly heads.

Of course, the oil field service companies have been shut down at times and the farmers are starting to holler about planting.

But in West Texas, it’s hard to complain too much if it’s raining

Snyder Needs New Housing

In the city council debate the point was brought up by Jack West that lack of good residential housing is hurting growth in Scurry County.

For example, recently I met a lady who had moved here from Levelland.

All she could find was a small apartment.

She commented that if she had known the housing situation in Snyder was so bad, she would have hesitated to move.

Jack West believes that the city should help housing developers by paving the roads and running utilities to new developments.

The would encourage new housing developments.

The general policy, not just in Snyder, is for developers to pay the cost of paving, curbing and running utilities to new housing.

The city then pays for upkeep.

The argument is that the tax payers should not have to bear this expense.

The developer should.

I had always assumed that the city paved any new roads within the city limits where houses were located

I was interested to find that developers usually bear this cost and pass it on to the house buyer.

There are instances, however, where cities bear the cost for the developer.

Who is right?

If the city is badly in need of housing, should the they pay the cost of street paving, curbing and getting utilities to a development site or is this a legitimate expense of the developer as part of the cost of building houses?

It would then be passed on to the house buyer.

In any case there is one thing that I think we can all agree.

We need new housing in Snyder.

What's Up Snyder: An Internet Video Newscast

What’s Up Snyder is an new feature on SnyderTexas.NET.

It is an Internet video newscast.

Using a camcorder and uploading the video to Google or Utube, we can actually create a TV station online.

Our first feature includes a tour of the new school, interview with the parks manager and a talk with the new boys club manager.

It will take a broad band connection to view the video.

The newscast will be biweekly and will cover events and personalities of interest to the Snyder community.

To view the video, go to Snydertexas.NET and click on What’s Up Snyder.

Tell us what you think and give us suggestions for future news casts.

Our second newscast will be out this week.

Square Renovation and the Santa Fe Depot

Our square can be renovated and its history preserved.

The Ritz Theatre is a jewel.

The Manhattan Hotel is a jewel in progress.

Hopefully someone will buy the old CADA building where the new Hard Hat Café and Barb’s Books are located and keep those going.

There is movement on the “burned out spot” with a less ambitious initial restoration plan to be proposed by the chamber.

Some newly relocated architects are willing to donate their time to the project.

Many dream of restoring the courthouse back to its original state.

Ironically, the fact that we even have a literal “square” is unique.

Many small towns have done away with theirs.

If we could restore ours, it would be a tourist attraction and a community gathering place.

It is right on Highway 180, a heavily traveled state road.

Another opportunity has opened up.

It has nothing to do directly with the square but a lot to do with preserving Snyder history.

The historic Santa Fe Depot is scheduled to be demolished in 2008, but would be given to an interested group if they would move it.

To me the ideal place would be with the other historic buildings at the coliseum.

We even have a train engine already in place!

What a tourist attraction that would make.

Not to mention that we are preserving the history of our county.

We have a year to work to save this landmark.

We need an expert in moving old buildings.

Are you one or do you know of someone?

Are you interested in this project?

Call 325.573.1200; 325.573.2763; 325.573.9729; 505.280.5784 or e-mail mrandals3@comcast.net.

Or you can comment on this blog entry.

It only takes desire and commitment.

The money will follow.

Let’s act now to preserve history and attract tourists to our community.