Comments by usn101

Written on Kitzman responds to hundreds of complaints about costly homeowner policies :

Something to be noted too - Based on the fact that "...the blocked messages resulted from an action by agency employees..." NONE of these individuals to INCLUDE Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman, Texas Department of Insurance spokesman, Jerry Hagins, and other staff members DO NOT LIVE in the 14 county area of South Texas. Betcha NONE of them even own any type of property down here - say a "vacation" home on the Island.

It is us here taking the "hit" for all these high homeowner insurance rates to include the Texas Windstorm coverage. So why should they REALLY even give a hoot and a holler.

The outrageous rates are not being paid out of their pockets. It is just all "lip service" and we in the 14 County South Texas area are going to continue being hit while the rest of the state sits back and enjoys their lower rates.

Just like a lot of other programs in the states - like the "Robin Hood Act" for money going to school districts. We get hit on that too!

South Texas is - to use an old addage - just the "Red-Headed Stepchild" for the entire state.

Written on Corpus Christi police chief, community advocates speak Thursday about curbing domestic violence :


Once convinced (after the 2nd time of being smacked around and after numerous treats of violence)to get a Restaining Order, my daughter called TIME AFTER TIME when this piece of sh*t would show up. She moved 3 times in 6 months trying to get away from him. I cannot remember the number of times she and her children stayed at our house when he would locate where she was - he knew better then to come anywhere near us or our house.

But each time he was out of jail in less than 24hrs. When it came time for court hearings, not once but 4 times, charges were dropped because the District Atty "could not locate the complaintant" - although she consistently let the atty involved and the investigating officers involved know where she was PLUS they knew our name, phone number and address - been in same house for nearly 20yrs with same phone number - and knew they could contact us if they had problems contacting her.

It took him causing injury to a child NOT ONCE BUT TWICE before they FINALLY put him away for 5 years - out in 2 because of time served and "good behavior".

If they are going to put effort towards ending domestic violence, something needs to be done at the front end also about taking immediate and serious action against the "criminal". And it doesn't matter if it is a male or female...a piece of paper WILL NOT STOP a bullet, a knife, a fist!

Written on Good job, Port of Corpus Christi, in finding buyers for all of ex-base :

Just wonder what they will do with "The Campus" part of the base with all the barracks, galley, fitness center, firefighting school, etc.

Wonder if they will use it for research and development or lease out to a school for a campus/training facility?

THEY may now have to deal with TAMU! Would make a great extension campus for TAMU or even an additionally skills training center for DelMar...wait to see...

Written on Corpus Christi police begin issuing tickets to parking scofflaws Wednesday :

Now they just have to make sure those getting tickets PAY THE FINE - WITHOUT PLEA DEALS OR PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS that are never adhered to or face more legal problems.

Written on Texas GOP chooses tea party-backed Ted Cruz for Senate:

Maybe we need to bring the Tea Party folks into local government...might change things down at City Hall a bit and BOY DO WE NEED IT!!!

Written on VIDEO: US women win 1st gymnastic Olympic title since 1996:

Congrats to TEAM USA. And the USA team members for ALL events do it with little to know help or support where as most other countries TOTALLY support their teams to include their training, housing and all living expenses. Their "profession" is the sport(s) they compete in.

The USA folks do it while attending school, college and/or working. And they CANNOT participate in anything that provides them with anything - Remember the great Jim Thorpe who played minor league baseball one summer and got room & board for it? Years later when this was found out, he was stripped of his medals because he had played minor league baseball and received "compensation" for it in the form of his food and housing.

Their support comes from their families and maybe some donors. But the blunt of everything in their lives is paid for and supported without any assistance.


Written on VIDEO: NCAA takes back all Penn State wins from 1998-2011, bans bowls for 4 years:

in response to smile:

Apparently the rest of the nation disagrees with you all and thinks it's a just punishment. A lot of innocent people were harmed and for all we know, Paterno just turned the other cheek while this happened. Penn State needs to be made an example of and the NCAA did a great job in making the statement that football does not have priority over school integrity. Check out ESPN's sports nation poll and the entire US shows that that people think the punishment was just.

You did not quote what question was asked. The question asked was:

"Was the NCAA justified in penalizing Penn State?"

There is no doubt that they were justified, what people are having problems with is the severity and the impact on 14 years of college students, staff, and future students and staff that had nothing to do with these disgusting acts. That is where people are outraged. It punished innocent individuals that had no knowledge or part in what these people did.


I am not a diehard football fan (college or professional), but think that "stripping" the school of their wins for a period of 13 years (1998-2011) is a unwarrented, uncalled for and total slap in the face of the innocent victims of this crime - the players, the trainers, the coaches (not involved), student body, and alumni as a whole - current and past.

Written on Police investigate Corpus Christi taxi cab company over wheelchair rider fee :

in response to blackguy32#441532:

It wasn't entitlement. It was illegal. Read the article.

"...Company owner Dan Stiefel said they gave riders notice in June that the fee would begin in July..."

"...The initial fee was instituted because of high fuel costs, low numbers of disabled riders and retrofitting the three minivans cost more than a typical fare could cover, Stiefel said. The $5 flat fee went to the drivers, who pay for their own gas..."


They were getting an EXTRA service and it was a lot of work for the drivers - money DIDN'T go to the company it went to the driver, they were just charging the meter rate as required by law. But providing this EXTRA service meant a LOT OF WORK for the drivers who provided the service. Plus, the routine users of the service were given notice of the charge that was coming their way.

Now look at the cost to get a limo or shuttle to/from the airport and see what a BIG CHANGE will happen now in the cost of transporting those who use the service.

I say if they did't like paying the extra money for the extra service they should have just waited for the RTA buses that are equipped to do this or gotten a friend/relative/neighbor to transport them.

A sense of VERY MISPLACED entitlement and now it is going to be more costly for those who use the service.

By the way, I am disabled and need extra help getting around, so I am not just an "unknowing person" that has no idea of the hassles faced by those of us who are in wheelchairs, use walkers, or canes.

I agree with JustConcerned - hope the complainer(s) are happy now....wonder if their pocketbooks can afford the cost of a limo or shuttle, mine sure can't!

Written on Old Walmart begins conversion to Sam’s Club:

Does this mean we will have 2 Sam's Clubs or is the one on Greenwood going away. I hope not because the building on Everhart is not even half the size of the current Sam's on Greenwood.

Written on Crews clean up after Fourth of July festivities in Corpus Christi :

Growing up and even now, my family ALWAYS follows the process - "If you brought it in, take it out". Also the Boy Scout Motto "LEAVE NO TRACE BEHIND".

What a mess it would be if the City/County started the same process they did for LaBonte Park...Charging a user fee for using the beach, parks, etc in the area to observe the various activities/events that go on for 4th of July. The same for the Christmas events like "Harbor Lights" and the parade of boats. Oh, don't forget all the Buc Day events.

The Aquarium charged $5 per member and $10 per guest this year and limited the sell of tickets to just 3,000 people. First time in nearly 20 yrs as a member our family (9 of us) had to pay to get in for the evening event.

Standby folks - if you don't help keep Corpus Christi "The Sparkling City By the Sea" you are going to have to start paying to watch such activities.

Written on Farenthold: Healthcare an excuse to tax: is a tax! Opinion of the court even says it is a tax and puts things in the hands of the irs...what is their business? oh, yeah, its taxes!!!

Written on Do you agree with the Supreme Court's decision?:

Obama says it is "not a tax", but it was passed by the court and everything goes to irs and in language from court said it is a what is it except a big rip off to everyone...

Written on Letters to the Editor: 06.27.12:

Article today "Corpus Christi to request permit so it can sell raw water to companies involved in Eagle Ford Shale"...this is also known as brackish water/portable water . not for consumption but can used for other purposes such as industrial

We could build the plant and make payments for building of the Desal Plant with the money from selling the "run-off" or raw water.

Sounds like a win-win deal to me.

Written on Mexican consulate officials filling requests Saturday in Corpus Christi :

Wonder if anyone was around from law enforcement to "observe"

Written on Driver crashed vehicle into house, Corpus Christi police say :

"...Officers said they found illegal narcotics with the man and he was arrested for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. The man is in Nueces County Jail on $500 bail..."

Here we go again...liken to the man arrested for the 5th time with drugs and kids in car...such a low bail for the driving into a house and having drugs in his vehicle.

VERY SAD...Actually outrageous!

Written on Corpus Christi police: Man driving with drugs, young children arrested early Thursday :

"...During an impound inventory search of the vehicle, police said they found a box with more marijuana cigarettes and crack cocaine. Garcia, who has 4 previous drug convictions according to Nueces County Clerk's website, is in Nueces County Jail on bail totaling $5,500 for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana..."

This is a JOKE!!! 5th arrest, from look on face obviously "out to lunch" on something other than a sweet tea or soda, and, worse of all, 2 little kids in the vehicle. No mention of if the 3yr old was even in a car seat.

The new Police Chief needs to SERIOUSLY have some conversations with someone about the fines/bail/length of sentences/etc that these dirt wads get....If he is SERIOUSLY trying to get this City cleaned up, a more serious approach needs to be taken to these wannabes and the gangbangers - pretty sure this dirt wad fails in one of those categories....

Written on Company that made bid for Naval Station Ingleside files for Chapter 11 protection :

Now the Port knows why "the check is in the mail" was undelieverable...

Written on TxDOT: Light at Saratoga Boulevard, Patti Drive to be installed Thursday :

I agree, but I think the reason they are putting it where they are at Patti is because it is almost mid-point between Staples & Cimmaron (city can't spell it right so I guess it's okay I can't!). This it breaks down the "straight away - Indie 500/NASCAR speedway" that that stretch of the road is and it is fairly close to the intersection where Luby's is anyway.

Maybe one of the VERY FEW logical things I have seen the city do in my over 20 years here!

Written on Hundreds of drivers were cited in May, who shouldn't be driving, Corpus Christi police say. :

in response to Alceman:




No good Guy awards for me.



Without insurance is one isse, the other one - I think is even more of a concern are the ones WITHOUT A LICENSE!

What I find outrageous is that even after someone like this causes an accident, they get a ticket for it and then they are allowed to get their license with little to no penalty. That INCLUDES people who are driving with a "learners permit". That seems to happen quite often. The rules say thay are SUPPOSE to be be driving with a FAMILY MEMBER OVER 21 years of age - that is a joke.

A couple of years ago my car was totalled out by a 16yr unlicensed - not even a "learners" permit. Their parents had insurance, but per witnesses - because of the weather that day - the individual was told by their parents "not to drive THAT DAY", they did anyway. The individual got a ticket for driving without a license and causing the accident. Their parents were ticketed for allowing an unlicensed person to drive their car. I found out about 4 months later, and now being 17yrs old, the individual had gotten their license.


Penalties should be MUCH GREATER then they are now for driving unlicensed and uninsured. But right now - they "plea bargain" down the cost of the ticket(s) and/or make payment arrangements and from what has been printed in the CC-T previously, they don't make the payments --- what a joke!

A few years ago I remember reading an article where Corpus Christi was listed fairly high on the list of the WORST 100 PLACES to drive in the Nation -- that is most certainly not a title I would want if I was trying to promote tourism and/or business growth.


It is great that they are honestly and earnestly enforcing the laws, but what steps are the City and CCPD going to be taken to ensure:

#1 Offenders pay the fines when last reported there was OVER a million plus dollars out there for unpaid fines that hadn't been collected. Many have gotten off with lowered ticket amounts or "payment plans (which they didn't comply with) based on their "sad stories".

#2 Make sure these folks "TAKE OF BUSINESS" and get their license, inspection and/or insurance especially when the articles states as one example "...More than 500 people were not wearing seat belts, and more than 100 of those were cited for the second and third time for not wearing a restraining device..."

Written on Border Patrol rescues undocumented immigrant Saturday, finds two sets of remains near Brooks County :

Racism has nothing to do with the fact that - no matter the country of origin - these people ARE NOT "undocumented immigrants". They are violating laws, policies, procedures that have been established FOR A VERY LONG TIME on how to enter this country LEGALLY!

There are MILLIONS of LEGAL IMMIGRANTS who have come into this country and become citizens. Some came with their family members, others came by themselves. But the point is they did it LEGALLY.

These folks - again NO MATTER their country of origin - take away from those of us who entered the country in obeyance of the laws.

To refer to them as "undocumented immigrants" is to undermine those of us who followed "the rules" and I for one get very much angered and insulted looking back at what my family went thru to come to this country and here these people are running thru the dark - sometimes working as "mules" for drug lords other times coming to "make a better life for themselves". Well the way to do that - make a better life - is to start off by OBEYING THE LAWS OF THE LAND and they AREN'T. And if they are "mules" they most certainly aren't obeying the laws even of their own country!

As I said early "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, then it must be a duck"...

Call it what it is ... THEY ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/ILLEGAL ALIENS plain and simple!


"undocumented immigrant" ... CC-T STOP being politically correct ...

Old saying " If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, then it is a duck".

These ARE NOT undocumented immigrants ... They ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/ILLEGAL ALIENS.


Written on Regional Transportation Authority agrees to pay city more for street maintenance :

Does CCISD provide any funds towards the city for street repairs and maintenance caused by all their school buses that travel our roads everyday?
How about the big rig delivery trucks for HEB and other businesses in and around the city?
How about the large construction firms?
Gasoline companies and their large transport trucks?
What about the garbage, brush removal and recycling trucks?

I am certain that these vehicles wear and tear and do much more damage then my little minivan...proof is the service alley way behind my house - repaired one day, torn up the next day because it was garbage collection/recycling worse then it was BEFORE the repairs were done.

Written on Cadets from King's disbanded NJROTC given chance to enroll in Ray under former commander :

CCISD DOES NOT support the program for any of the schools at a level even close to what MUCH SMALLER school districts do. So it is not surprising that this happened.

Ought to take a look at the level that Aransas Pass, Flour Bluff or Rockport-Fulton supports this program - THOUSANDS of dollars more for the programs from MUCH SMALLER school districts.

They couldn't even take the time to EVEN CONSIDER renaming the NJROTC Compound at Ray HS after the loss of their beloved Commander Mead. The Cadets were told "Not a priority"...great support shown to a great leader, teacher, mentor - for some even father figure - to hundreds of young men and women many of whom went on to serve honorably in our Armed Forces.

I understand that at one time King was considering moving over to be a Marine JROTC program but unfortuately USMC comes under the Department of the Navy - so the program was loss.


I understand the nightmare of the construction on Staples, but there are alternate routes like down Alameda. And as far as parking, in the 3 years our student has attended Ray, I have never seen every spot in the lot occupied, so I am sure that parking is not that much of a problem.

And as far as the other students who want to continue...ever heard of the word "carpool"?

If these young NJROTC Cadets REALLY want to continue in the program ... then there are alternate ways to do it.

Written on Corpus Christi faces obstacles with collecting nearly $5 million in unpaid parking tickets :

As I have said before, in other states if you have unpaid ANYTHING to the city, county, and/or state you DO NOT get a driver's license, insurance or car registered. Of the violators they can track down - this same type of system needs to be put in place...
- Didn't pay property taxes - no registration/license
- Didn't register vehicle(s) - no license
- Outstanding tickets OF ANY KIND - no license, no insurance, no vehicle registration

Betcha if some self-employed business person runs into situation of not being able to get their business license renewed or vehicle they use for work insured or registered...They'd pay up REAL QUICK!!!

Written on King junior, mother, Communities in Schools help Coastal Bend seniors 'Walk the Stage' :

I KNOW THIS IS NOT CHEAP - getting the caps and gowns - but is there a "proof of need" to ensure those who really need this assistance get it rather then folks who just don't want to spend the money and find an easy way out of the expenses?

We will be doing "Senior Year Expenses" next year as our son gets ready to graduate and know from our estimations that all the "stuff" that goes on during the Senior year is not cheap but we have ways to afford it.

Just wondering if those who really need the help are getting it rather the some slackers who could afford it but just want to slide by on someone else's ticket..

Other than that - GREAT program to help these young people that have worked hard to complete this phase of their educational process...CONGRATS to all!!!

Written on U.S. Border Patrol: 13 undocumented immigrants rescued in separate incidents :

in response to DJ55:

Why not? We do it for white Americans, who account for the majority of people on welfare. I wish they would stay off the intersection corners and find a job.

Good or bad...Wrong or right...the majority of the folks on welfare and street corners are here LEGALLY... also with the economy the way it is - alot of those on welfare/food stamps are there because of the economy. Yes there are those who "soak" or abuse the system, but a majority honestly need the help.


There are hospitals and urgent care places that are in BIG financial straights because of the ILLEGALS. They are REQUIRED to care for - especially those along the border like Brownsville, McAllen, etc - these ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/ILLEGAL ALIENS and they get little to no assistance to offset the cost and know they will never get paid the cost for this care.


Here we go again ... "undocumented immigrants".



No matter their situation, there ARE ENTERING THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY!!!!!!

And now those of here - either born here are came here LEGALLY - now are going to pay for ALL their needs and house them in "detention centers" that are on the level of 5 star resorts!!!!

Written on Draft flood map of downtown Corpus Christi upsets some City Council members :

Since the switch what various insurance companies would cover versus not cover a few years back, I have been buying the Federal Flood Insurance for my house.

I remember the 1st time it cost about $150 for the coverage. NOWWWWWW the same insurance is nearly $400. With nothing changed about the house at all!

Let the business, building owner, or the city/county/state office put in their budget to pay for this WITHOUT any additional funds from us the taxpayer...

I live and stay within my means/income - they need to learn to do the same without taking more money from the taxpayer....With the price of everything going up but no salary/pay increases, we have had to make adjustments...they need to do they same.

Written on Nueces County losing workers to Eagle Ford Shale jobs :

Gee could it be they are being PAID MORE by Eagle Ford then the city/county or other employers locally?

Maybe they need to look at the payscales and that will tell them EXACTLY WHY they are losing workers.

I am sure that this IS NOT the only "employer" losing workers to Eagle Ford. One employer locally historically has had to get workers from Mexico to come work because the same job up the road about 150 miles paid 3 to 5 times as much as it did here. And that just isn't restricted to physical labor type positions - applies to office workers, hotel/restaurant workers, etc. Just about any worker in this city unless you are a member of the Good Ole Boys Club or somehow connected with them...

Employers locally look strictly for cheap labor and that is what they get even if it has to come from across the border!

Written on Corpus Christi Parking Control officers start booting cars Tuesday for unpaid parking citations :

"...An estimated $3 million has not been collected in parking citations..."
WOW - if you include the other types of citations such as speeding, running red lights, etc - just think how much that would bring into the city to repair roads!

Maybe before the City Council looks at attaching any additional fees to our utilities, they need to see how this new way of ENFORCING THE LAW - which has til now NOT BEEN DONE - would put money into repairing our streets.

If the offenses that relate to being on the roadways were used to fixed those same roadways, bet we would not have to tack on additional fees to our already over weight "user fees" now!


in response to MikeWilliams:

This is a good change but certainly makes one ask what we have previously been doing to repeat violators.

Why for instance has that car with the 22 citations not already been seized for non payment of fines?

The City IGNORED them...until their once a year "Warrant Round-Up".

That's when the City "supposedly" goes through court records and finds people with outstanding warrants for various things from parking tickets to speeding tickets, etc. and notifies them to pay up by a specific date or be arrested.

From what I have been told LOTS of people come in with sad stories and get off paying minimal fines compared to what they should have been or making "payment arrangements" - wonder how many have kept up with the payments?

And we wonder why the City is hurting for money to fix roads and do other things...not sure of how much a parking ticket can cost you, but say it is $100 ... the guy with 22 tickets owes $2200 - that could be the start of a fund to fix the roads instead of the City trying to leech $20 bucks a month everyone as an addition to the utility bill. And there are A LOT of people who ignore the ticket for years and still never pay up.

In some states you cannot register your vehicle or even get your driver's license renewed if you owe any kind of taxes (Property or otherwise) or have any outstanding tickets/warrants - the city, county and law enforcement WORK TOGETHER...Might be something something CC considers. Would probably be a much needed BOOST to their revenues if they did...

Written on Storms push Hurricane Alley water park opening to Sunday :

Based on what has been in the paper and on TV, it is not surprising that there will be a delay. Besides, a lot of folks will be spending their weekend(s) cleaning up their own yards and homes. For some, just waiting for electricity...

Written on Corpus Christi ISD students discuss, suggest ideas to address bullying :

in response to STX2STJ:

"Students told district officials that in-school suspension wasn't a deterrent to bad behavior."

DUH!!!! the bullies should be suspended, let their parents be responsible for them! ISS was a stupid idea to begin with and still is! It keeps the kids coming to school, so districts can get their money, which just allows for more obnoxious behavior and the problem becomes that of the ISS teachers. Nonsense, put them out for a few days and hit the parents in the pocketbook, they may have to take a day or two or three off of work to look after their own kids!

No it won't hit them in the pocketbook ... they will leave the kid alone at home (?) to fend for themselves. That is why we have 10-17 year olds in groups of 2-3 arrested for doing "stuff" during the day/school parental involvement, "can't afford to take off a day of work", "you are big enough to stay home by yourself", etc. etc.

Just as ISS is a joke, suspension from school for most kids is a "vacation" and opportunity to run with their friends that are also suspended.


Additional comment...look at the pictures from this gathering...Where are the kids with the "pink hair", or the kid in a wheel chair, or the "whatever".

Were these kids specially/specifically selected to participate because they "fit the acceptable norm"?

Just an observation....


ISS is not necessarily the item that needs to be focused on - it is BULLYING.

Just as the article starts off ".. A group of 12 middle school students Monday were quick to judge an image depicting a young woman with pink hair.

"Class clown!" several students shouted.

The group, which included students from Browne and Grant middle schools, considered various images of people and matched each with titles such as class clown, dropout, gang member or student body president..."

Anyone who appears "different" from what is determined to be "the norm" is a prime target for bullying.
- ADHD kid who acts impulsivily
- Quiet kid
- Kid with "unseen" mental or health issues
- "The Nerd" who just wants to do their work and hopefully get top grades for college
- Over weight kid...thin kid
- Etc, Etc

TV, movies, and society dictate what is considered "the norm" and if an individual doesn't fit that "acceptable norm" then they are target for bullying.

But it should be recognized, that the students ARE NOT the only ones who "bully". Teachers/administrators do also. If a student does not fit into the standard "box", then the teachers/administrators are just are guilty. Maybe they don't hit, beat up or do physical "bullying", their approach is more mental. That needs to be addressed also. Teachers may not admit it...but they do...I have seen it and my child has experienced from grade school through high school. Most teachers/administrators understand "differences", but there are many who also DO NOT and time after time "bully" the students that don't fit into their preconceived "box" become their victim of bullying/harassment.

Teachers, administrators and students all have to be educated/taught that EVERYONE does not fit into a "standard box". Not all are square pegs that fit into square holes ... that are some that are a little bigger and then there are the rounds pegs!

Diversity is the key and there needs to be education/training to recognize that are society is very diverse.

Written on Kleberg County looks for owners not collecting hotel occupancy tax :

Shouldn't these places have a business license?

If they do, WHY do did the county hire someone to make a list - the list already exists by means of the business licenses.

Waste of money the county doesn't have...

Written on Low-income renters may pay more to open up housing for people on lengthy waiting list:

Has anyone seen the NEW "low-income" housing units that have just finished being built and people are living in? The rent for places not even close to the "perks" in these "low-income" units would be $1000 or more a month and these folks live there for less then $50 a month because YOU AND I, the working population pays the balance.

System should be such that they have to work also to get this assistance - any assistance whether it be food stamps, TANF, housing, etc. There are jobs out there. I know employers who pay as much as $3.00 an hour or more OVER minimum wage and they have people tell them that they get a better deal for NOT WORKING and getting welfare assistance.


Written on Lawsuit against Corpus Christi officers in connection with 2009 custody death dismissed :

"...After an exhaustive search, his relatives were located in Fort Worth and South Carolina..."

Seems to me that "the relatives" were not real concerned about him until AFTER his death then with the "help" of some probable ambulance chasing lawyer, decided they could make some big bucks off this.

Sad that the gentleman died, but obviously he had some problems going on based on the number of policemen it took to subdue him.

UNLESS you are ever in the situation of having to deal with an extrememly erradicate acting individual - possibly on drugs/alcohol and/or with a mental condition of some sort - you do not know what it is like to try and calm them down. He was obviously presenting a potential grave situation to himself and others - drivers on the road trying to avoid him and the people in the store not knowing what he was doing and how he was behaving. The actions of the policemen were appropriate - SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC!

Written on Students from neighboring school districts raise more than $65,000 for Premont ISD :

Have a student at W. B. Ray who donated a week's lunch money towards the cause. Parents didn't know anything about their efforts until after the fundraising was over.

Congrats to the students and staff at W. B. Ray ... The Texans truly showed their team spirit and school pride by answering the call ...

Written on Portland department head resigns over compensation plan :

Most places when a "supervisor oversees several part-time employees", that is not valid reason for increase. That means they only provide "part-time" supervision.

On the other hand for a supervisor who directly provides supervision over full-time employees who literally work 24/7, that is full-time supervision even if the department is shorthanded at the moment.

Pay should be based on complexity of the position - what is the complexity difference between a water/wastewater management on a 24/7 basis versus parks/recreation that have set hours of operation WHICH ARE NOT 24/7?

BIG DIFFERENCE between the education, experience and training of a water/wasterwater management employee and that of a life guard at the pool or the person who cleans up the skate park!!!!

Written on Corpus Christi man sentenced to nearly 18 years for producing child pornography :

in response to ds#415933:

18 years is hardly a light sentence. That is a long time. It is lighter than probably he would have got in the state system, though.

This seems to be an iron clad case. He really did it. It is a parent's worst fear. The kid apparently kids molested repeatedly at school.

Like usual, the reporting is disappointing. There is so much more I would like to know. Was this guy a janitor at the school or what? How did this guy get repeated access to the kid?

I can't help thinking there is more to this story. Something embarrassing to the school or somebody that is not being reported.

Yes, but in the state system he could be out in half that time plus whatever for "good behavior". In the federal system there is no early out...he will be in there everyday for the next 18 years...


Castration should be part of the sentence!

Written on American Bank Center Disney on Ice show evacuated after fire alarm:

in response to knotknessisary:

How long did it take to evacuate? It seems to me that the ways in and out of the ABC are inadequate.

Totally agree and the handicapp access/exits are to be well to be spoken of either.

There are NO escape routes from many of the upper have to climb or somehow get down 20 plus levels to go out the exits and everything merges into only a couple of elevators that from experience half are not always working.

There are no exits from the upper levels, everythings leads to the ground level inside the building. If you see almost any movie theater in the area you will see that there are exits at the bottom AND top rows with exterior steps to go down from both levels that do not congest exiting from eachother.

Written on Finally, headway on a solution to street funding :

This WILL NOT be an equitable spread as not EVERYONE has a utility bill to pay unless apartment complexes in the city change the way they charge for water & garbage. Are these apartment complexes going to pay an extra $20 per unit!!!! And there are A LOT of those complexes in the area.

As ALWAYS - when election time comes I WILL NOT VOTE for anyone who has INCUMBANT after their name...

Written on Corpus Christi ISD to offer bullying database for administrators next year :

I believe that the "excuse" of bullying is being way overused...

I have a child who you could say has been bullied when he was younger, but he worked through it. Working also with the school principal, teachers and counselor solved many a situation.

Our society continues to come up with "excuse after excuse" to try and explain away just plain poor parenting and guidance.

Just like a repeat criminal offender - "he had a rough youth and growing up" - as an excuse for committing various crimes.

Doesn't cut it with me ... It is called "taking responsibility for your actions" and parents do not do that as a general rule nowadays. They are always looking for and finding something else to blame their kids actions on other then themselves and their "parenting skills". Which often times are very lacking - just take a seat at any WalMart or HEB and see what the kids get away with in the clear sight and hearing of their parents!