Columns
Just a reminder
Posted on March 14th, 2013
At a Glance
by Johnny Griffin, Editor
I want to give everyone a subtle reminder that it is your right and responsibility to stay engaged with the laws, rules and regulations of our land. We elect representatives at the local, state and federal levels to (just as the names implies) represent us. Not all government is bad, but the people have to stay active.
Several years ago, a few far-sighted individuals, including our elected officials saw fit to create the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District. They have a big decision to make right now concerning the groundwater rights in Austin and Waller County. If it wasn’t for the BGCD being established as a permitting entity for our groundwater, the first time we would have heard about our water leaving would have been the economic development press conference opening the spigot in a neighboring county.
Austin County commissioners went on record this week opposing the approval of permits for wells in Austin and Waller County to produce 20 million gallons of water a day for another county.
Local organizations are gathering legislative assistance to battle permanent irrigation restrictions in the Lower Colorado River Authority instigated by representatives of more populated areas.
I read a report today predicting cities and irrigation interests in the Valley of southern Texas were very likely going to run out of water this year. That battle even includes receiving water owed under treaty with Mexico.
The Brazos River irrigation entities are also faced with severe restrictions.
Water is a very real issue in Texas. It has become even more of an issue during the current drought conditions.
There are a lot of people moving to Texas and they require water for living purposes which include recreation.
Rural Texas also requires water to grow crops, grass, livestock and a quality of life we all enjoy.
Stay informed and keep your representatives informed of your desires. All of the newcomers who use an app on their electronic device to find a lake to enjoy for the weekend or a quiet country river for a kayak trip don’t have an app that creates more water. They do have a vote.
Use your vote and your influence with your representatives. Stay informed.
Long term goals
Posted on March 2nd, 2013
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
At the informational (or one-sided theory presentation) groundwater meeting on Monday night in Bellville, local residents were asked to look at the long term benefits for the area concerning our mutual water needs. The meeting allowed end users and project developers the opportunity to explain their justification for removing, transporting and selling for profit approximately 20 million gallons of water a day.
We heard a strong argument that the Gulf Coast Aquifer has so much water in it and is so unaffected by drought that pumping 20 million gallons a day from it for the next 50 years would have negligible affects on subsidence of surface land and water levels in the aquifer.
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Water an issue? Here?
Posted on February 26th, 2013
At a Glance
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
For all of you who think West Texas and arid areas in other western states are the only places confronted with water issues, I would like to invite you to a meeting in Bellville on Monday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. It will be in the Austin County Fairgrounds Building.
This is a non-mandated informational meeting organized by the firm making application for the development of wells, The Bluebonnet Groundwater District, the end users and Austin and Waller County officials. I deeply appreciate their holding this meeting.
I am not advocating going to the meeting with the intention of stopping any activity. The State of Texas has definite laws concerning the right of capture of water under a landowner’s property. The people who own this land are not interlopers who came in to take our water out from under us. I am not sure how long the landowners have had these properties, but I grew up in Brookshire and the Waller County property has been under their ownership since I was a very young boy, maybe longer. I am pretty old.
The Austin County property is in the Brazos bottom just off FM 1458 on Coody Lane.
That is literally a stone’s throw from the Allen Creek property that is under the direction of the Brazos River Authority and the City of Houston. They have told us for years the Allen Creek property’s intention was to build a lake to provide fresh water for the area.
It seems ironic to me that land purchased and taken off the tax rolls of Austin County more than 35 years ago is so close to this project. The Allen Creek property was originally purchased (read - taken) under imminent domain for the purpose of a cooling lake for a nuclear power plant. In just a few years, that idea was scrapped. Landowners were not offered the opportunity to repurchase the land, but were told that a fresh water lake would be built there to provide water for the rapidly growing municipalities in Fort Bend and Harris Counties. Sometime along the way, the City of Houston slipped in, and reportedly with a grant, purchased a majority share of the still non-taxed property.
Now, apparently the City of Houston has told Fort Bend County they can’t help them with their water needs.
Fort Bend County Subsidence District has apparently told Fort Bend County municipalities they have pumped all the water they are going to get from under Fort Bend County.
Is water really an issue? Here?
Find out Monday, Feb. 25, in Bellville, or ask a rice farmer in the Lower Colorado River Authority.
Finally Home
Posted on May 10th, 2012
Thursday, May 3 will go down as one of the most incredible days I have ever spent.
I heard about the unidentified woman’s case written about on Page 1 of this issue for the first time in October 2010.
The case was very old (1975), but the excitement registered on Judge Dennis King’s face that day in 2010 was contagious. He had just received an image of a facial reconstruction of the unidentified woman done by Texas Ranger Forensic Artist Suzanne Birdwell.
“That’s her face,” said King. “We finally know what she looked like.”
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At a Glance - A changing world
Posted on March 8th, 2012
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Last week I dropped by Alan’s Barber Shop in Sealy for a trim. I have been going to that barber shop since it was Al’s (Brast) Barber Shop and was across the street from its current location. That is something like 35 years.
When I was growing up in Brookshire, I always got my hair cut at Mr. Frank’s. Both of these shops were old fashioned barber shops. I felt comfortable in them.
I particularly like Alan’s, because he opens at 7 a.m., earlier on Saturday, and I am a morning person. I arrived last week a little after 7 a.m. and there was one gentleman in the chair and another Wallis resident, Glen Kreitz, was waiting. We were enjoying our conversation and waiting our turn in the chair.
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At a Glance - Hope is eternal
Posted on February 22nd, 2012
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
When I wrote a column in Aug. 2010 concerning a 35-year-old cold case of an unidentified female in Austin County I quoted Dawn Workman-Duke with the DOE Network, a data website for missing persons.
“Hopefully we hear back from law enforcement,” said Workman-Duke. “If it is a negative match, we start over again. It is a daunting task, but there is a great deal of hope out there. Hope that we can help get the information to the right person who can find the person they have been searching for.”
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Happy Valentine’s Day
Posted on February 8th, 2012
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
In just a few more days everyone will celebrate Valentine’s Day. Every store you walk into has aisles of red and pink gifts of all sizes, shapes and descriptions.
Much to the dismay of my bride, traditional Valentine’s Day has never been a really big deal for me.
I looked up the history today and Valentine’s Day began as an ancient Roman fertility celebration. Pope Gelasius I apparently declared Feb. 14, Saint Valentine’s Day sometime around 496 A.D. That is a really long time ago.
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Busy October
Posted on November 3rd, 2011
At a Glance
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Hopefully as September leaves us, it will take most of the really oppressive heat we’ve had the last two months with it. Vance, the rain recorder, has taken to recording daily temperatures as well. I guess he got tired of nothing to record as far as rainfall goes. If I thought y’all would believe them, I’d publish the numbers he gave me for August. They were truly unbelievable, but probably accurate.
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At a Glance - What a Day!
Posted on September 22nd, 2011
Saturday morning I left early to travel to Palacios, primarily to shoot photos at a cross country meet. I arrived there about 7 a.m., just after sunup.
A coach from another school asked me about driving that far so early in the morning to cover a high school sporting event. My standard answer is about working outside on a beautiful morning in a beautiful location and getting to visit with kids, parents and coaches with none of the responsibilities of real work.
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A fun day
Posted on August 12th, 2011
At A Glance
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Wallis Fun Fest was a fun day.
This year’s Chamber of Commerce fund raiser was a new twist on a wonderful Wallis tradition, the WOFF.
By most accounts, vendors had some success, the auction went very well, the games and activities were enjoyed by many and the Barbecue Cookoff was very successful with 17 teams participating.
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