Columns/Opinions

On July 21, an important public hearing will take place at Atlanta Middle School at 6 p.m.
The subject of the meeting is to give county residents personal insight into the proposal to make Cass County part of Texarkana College’s service district. More importantly, residents will be able to ask Texarkana College officials questions.
The Texarkana College Board of Trustees recently approved a service plan to expand services and benefits to TC’s service area in Cass County pending voter approval in the Nov. 8 General Election. 
Of course, passing the proposed plan would mean a tax increase for property owners, estimated at between $60 and $80 per year. The upside is if the proposed plan is passed,  students in Atlanta, Bloomburg, Linden-Kildare, McLeod and Queen City would receive in-district tuition -- an estimated savings of $795 per student per semester, and Cass County would get a new workforce training center.

By Superintendent Trevor Rogers

By Bobby Horn Jr.

news@casscountynow.com

By Tim Emmons

What does the Fourth of July mean to you?
Growing up that was a simple answer: a parade followed by a festival in the park, a hot summer day filled with ice-cold watermelons and snow cones and a spectacular fireworks display at night.
Sound like a good time?
When you think about the Fourth of July do you think about treason? Would you be willing to give up everything you own, even the people you love and risk your very life for an idea, a way of life contrary to the status quo?
That is exactly what delegates did when they signed the “Declaration of Independence.” They were committing treason against the Crown, they were saying “we freely give up everything that we have because there are things in this life, ideals, that are more important than we are.” In the most basic sense, each person who signed the “Declaration of Independence” was signing a death sentence.
Why would they do this? Simple, just read the words of the “Declaration.”

By Roy Bale
Sun Columnist

By Roy Bale
I’m one of a few people old enough to remembers when American politics was still mostly honorable and honest, compared to the fiasco in the presidential campaigning we are witnessing today. You have to be old to remember that far back. In your wildest imagination, can you visualize J.F.K. or L.B.J. or. Ronald Reagan or Dwight D. Eisenhower acting like the circus that’s taking place today? Not in your wildest dream. No way Jose.
Now this little missive is not about the present day presidential candidates, but rather it’s about the flawed and dishonest political system that has evolved from a once great and honorable system. Man is greedy and power hungry by nature and when the silent majority sits back and lets the select few take control of their vote, you have a situation like what’s happening in America today. First off, I’m going to outline my complaints, then I’m going to tell you how I’m going to repair today’s dishonest political system.

By Trevor Rogers
We are constantly looking at ways that we can improve our schools. School improvement can follow many formats from facilities, to programs, to environment. One way that we are trying to improve the environment of the school district is to encourage better performance from our students. The dates of May 31, June 1, and June 2 have been set aside as “student incentive days.” Standards have been set regarding student academic performance, student behavior, and student attendance so that students meet the set standards, they will not have to attend school on these days.
Specific criteria for each category of standards are that students:
Have passing grade averages for the 3rd and 4th grading periods
Have no more than three days of “In School Suspension”
Have not been suspended or sent to alternative school for the second semester

ELLEN JEAN GERNER
March 4, 1933 - May 5, 2016
Ellen Jean Gerner, 83, of Jefferson, died Friday, May 5, 2016.
Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Monday, May 9, in the Captain William Perry Chapel of Haggard Funeral Home.
Interment followed at Trinity Cemetery under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home of Jefferson.
MAHLON L. WALTERS III
May 21, 1942 - May 4, 2016
Mahlon L. Walters III, 74, of Burleson, formerly of Jefferson, died Wednesday, May 4. 2016.
Funeral services were at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in the Captain William Perry Chapel of Haggard Funeral Home in Jefferson. Interment followed at Oakwood Memorial Park under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home.
ELIZABETH ‘LIBBY’ HORNE CAPEL
June 1, 1946 - May 3, 2016
Elizabeth “Libby” Horne Capel, 69, of Nacogdoches, formerly of Atlanta, died Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in Nacogdoches.