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Columns & Opinions

On Second Thought

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Looking for some pen pals

“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

One Man's Ramblings

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Light a candle. Say a prayer

Tell me we are ok.

For some reason, this thought came to me Monday night. I had just sat through a school board teleconference meeting, making notes and also checking various news sites for that day’s news.

And so I wrote that down, and I’m keeping it in. Because, scholars or doctors or politicians are all talking about COVID-19, and we are having to absorb a lot of information. And now I’m wanting to hear that statement at the top from a serious authority figure.

Letter to the Editor

White House grants disaster declaration for state of Texas

AUSTIN — President Trump on March 25 issued a major disaster declaration for the state of Texas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump’s action came at the request of Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking additional federal assistance to combat the disease. In recent days Abbott issued multiple waivers of state laws to remove barriers limiting the response to the pandemic. He also activated the Texas National Guard to be prepared to assist with response efforts.

One Man's Ramblings

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I have made a number of observations throughout the past two weeks as we work through this COVID-19 crisis.

Kidwell now offering full-day pre-kindergarten

Kidwell Elementary is now offering full-day prekindergarten.

Snake sightings up at Lake Gordon

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There are many recent sightings of snakes at and around Lake Gordon recently, but according to Iowa Park Parks Director Jason Griffin most of the snakes are harmless.

On Second Thought

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There is no crying in baseball.

On Second Thought

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My specific non-talents

With no good news anywhere for me to grift off of, I have decided to free-form and dig into my sordid past for a story.

More to the point, I have two specific non-talents, both with an ironic twist. Also, these are both things that probably didn’t make my mother proud.

Those two things are: I do not understand basketball, even a little; and, I cannot read music with the exception of the middle C.

I said it out loud, but not in front of my mother.

Capital Highlights

Governor issues statewide disaster declaration

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on March 13 declared a state of disaster in all Texas counties and listed actions agencies are taking to contain and minimize the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, a contagious flu-like respiratory disease.

Abbott said agency actions would include:

—Provide immediate ability to move resources around the state, including resources obtained through the Strategic National Stockpile, an emergency supply of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies;

One Man’s Ramblings

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No regular routine here

Well, this has certainly been an interesting week.

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak is becoming more and more real to people around the globe, and Iowa Park is not being spared.

We were right in the middle of my busiest time of the year, covering Spring sports and academics, when the lid was slammed on those activities.