PECOS ENTERPRISE

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OPINION

Mar. 12, 1997

LOOKIN'

ROSEY


By Rosie Flores

Kids need new gym

to stay busy and fit


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Plans for a recreational gymnasium in Pecos have already begun with
county officials looking for an appropriate site. For some time now,
this has been an ongoing project that others have tried to achieve.

Certainly this type of recreation is needed in Pecos, not only for the
youth in the community, but for those who want to stay healthy and fit.

And at a time when the youth are being criticized for everything from
their clothes to their hairstyles, it was refreshing to see two
youngsters stand up for their beliefs at a recent commissioners court
meeting.

One such youngster, Chris Bryant, told commissioners how much this type
of facility would mean to all the youngsters out there who enjoy
physical activity and the interaction that playing sports brings.

Bryant spoke of the fact that now, without an appropriate gym, he and
his friends go play basketball at a local elementary school. But this
seems to interfere with a younger group who would like to play at the
same court at the same time.

A new gym would provide a place for all age groups to gather and enjoy
different activities at the same time, with no interference of one with
the other.

It took a lot of courage for this youngster to speak out on behalf of
something he deems very important. There are more youngsters like him in
the community, but the focus seems to be on the troublemakers or the
ones that dress differently. More focus should be put on those
youngsters who are striving to achieve something in a smaller town and
on a smaller scale.

These are the ones who will become the leaders of tomorrow, the ones
who should be recognized and applauded.

Students who didn't comply with the recent dress code staged a walk-out
recently. One student who was shown on the news stated, "It's what's up
here in our head that counts, not the clothes we wear." How well put
that was!

Not everyone can be a fashion plate, and certainly not everyone can
afford to dress elegantly everyday.

But maybe these same students who enjoy wearing baggy clothes, strange
hairstyles, (they're the "in" hairstyles), and dark colored lipsticks
have a lot more to offer than what can be seen on the outside.

Never judge a book by it's cover!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Rosie Flores is an Enterprise writer and editor of
Lifestyles and Golden Years. Her column appears each Wednesday.

YOUR VIEWS

Dress code now may save lives later


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Dear Editor:
Let me assure you that I am extremely proud of the children in our
schools who try every day to make the grades as well as those who excel
and are recognized for it. All our students deserve praise for their
efforts but the "class clowns" need attention and teachers and
administrators must identify and address the underlying issues.

As a substitute teacher in P-B-T ISD, I have become aware of the tough
job at hand. I thank you now, whether you decide to print my letter or
not, as you may need to edit. Please do not print my address or phone
number.

The future of our youth should and must be safeguarded in the community
by educators, business people, the clergy and friends and neighbors
because one child led astray can and will have tragic consequences. The
importance of educating our children should be a top priority for every
parent of school-age children. Sadly, in Pecos some promising futures
may already be following the wrong path. Most of us parents, educators,
etc. can recall adolescence as a time of fierce, growing independence.
It wasn't easy, and the most effective way to declare individuality was
and continues to be personal style; ie., fashion trends, fads and
novelty. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on where you stand,
the "dress code" has always been a topic of controversy and lately we've
been hearing and seeing a lot of "attitude."

Parents be aware that there is a prevalent attitude of indifference at
the Pecos High School and also a certain percentage of attention seekers
who are disrespectful of teachers, rude to each other, and are unwilling
to do their work. This is disruptive in the classroom environment. All
it takes is one distraction, be it vocal, appearance or attitude, to
disrupt the education process, and everyone's time is being wasted. Most
students reflect the attitudes of the home environment. Where love,
attention and support exist, the child brings to school an appreciation
for the educational opportunities available regardless of how she/he is
dressed. Those lacking support or positive role models at home will
surely seek attention elsewhere and are usually motivated by peer
pressure to perform; they continually seek what is missing. Besides
friends, other measures may influence our children negatively - some
music, television to a great extent, glossy ads in certain publications,
irresponsible adults, and the list goes on.

Be aware that the baggy look in clothes as well as the dark shades of
lipstick and nail polishes are part of the fashion industry's current
theme in promoting the deathlike appearance of emaciated figures
glorifying the effects of drug addition. Thank God most of our students
appear too healthy to give this look credence; nonetheless, some are
surely abusing today. It's only a matter of time before this age-old
disease destroys the lives of those whose needs are not being met today.

Certainly the whole issue is a much more complex one; a parent's job is
a truly tough one. Teachers and administrators have limited time in
which to administer knowledge and need to concentrate on that. But
children will grow up to be adults whether we do our jobs or not. It is
our responsibility as a community to promote healthier issues for our
children's futures and yes, I believe it does "take a village." it
begins with open communication at all levels. Give and take; it's a
two-way street.

YOUR VIEWS

Bill would give Texas fair share of funds


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Dear Editor:
On September 30, the 1991 law that determines how highway funds are
spent will expire. Earlier this month, I joined several senators in
introducing the Integrity Restoration Act of 1997, to continue our
highway program, but also to give Texas a fair shake.

For years, Texas has been contributing far more to the federal Highway
Trust Fund than it has received in return. In fact, between 1992 and
1996, Texas got back only 77 cents of each dollar that we contributed to
the trust fund. By comparison, Massachusetts received $2.49 for every
dollar paid in gas taxes. That's more than just unfair: it's highway
robbery.

That is why Texas and other so-called donor states - those that
typically provide more money to the highway trust fund than they get
back - have formed a coalition called STEP-21 (Streamlined
Transportation Efficiency Program for the 21st Century). The basic
objectives of STEP-21, through the enactment of our bill, are to ensure
that each state receives a minimum of 95 percent of its share of
payments to the trust fund, and to give states a bigger say in how the
money is spent.

In addition to promoting our fair formula proposal, I will also be
working to end the diversion of gasoline tax revenues from financing
infrastructure to subsidizing big government. Since its creation in
1956, the Highway Trust Funds' primary source of revenue has been the
federal gasoline tax, which had been used exclusively for transportation
infrastructure. Then, in 1993, President Clinton and the Congress
permanently raised the gas tax by 4.3 cents per gallon and diverted the
proceeds - some $4.6 billion per year - to support other government
spending.

A gas tax used to fund these other, non-highway programs, is inherently
unfair to Texans, who often must drive long distancees to work or to buy
groceries, but now have to pay higher taxes just to get to the store. By
directing these revenues to the highway trust fund, we will be able to
assure a fairer distribution by increasing the amount of money dedicated
specifically for highways.

-- Phil Gramm
United State Senator

CRITIC'S CORNER

Breakfast treats in getaway locales

Marcy Claman's Rise & Dine; Savory Secrets from America's Bed &
Breakfast Inns, caught my eye because I have stayed in a bed &
breakfast where the food looked so delicious, it tempted me to stray
from my all-fruit breakfast diet. I didn't but I've wondered ever since
what I missed.

Inns from 40 states are featured in the thick book that offers over 300
easy and mouth-watering recipes for breakfast, brunch and snack time.
Some recipes were handed down by generations of the innkeepers' families.

Claman began her bed & breakfast adventures on her honeymoon and has
traveled the country since, collecting recipes along the way. She picked
only two Texas inns, one in Austin and one in Houston, but many recipes
have that Southwest flavor: huevos rancheros, (Spokane,
Wash.) and Tex-Mex eggs (from South Dakota) among them.

Descriptions of each inn accompany the recipes they provided, so you
can use it as a guide to help you plan a getaway trip. An index of inns
by state makes it easy to pinpoint areas of interest.

Armchair travelers can enjoy reading through the recipes, B&B profiles
and innkeeper anecdotes about their recipes.

ISBN 1-896511-05-8, Softcover $14,95, distributed by Firefly Books.

--Peggy McCracken

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Copyright 1997 by Pecos Enterprise
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324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
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