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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Opinion

Mac McKinnon

Tuesday, April 14, 1998

OBSERVATIONS


By Mac McKinnon

People should always
try to get along


Do you have any particular words that you simply don't like
to hear or see?

I have a number of words along that line and at the top of
the list is the word "hate".

Recently in church, a responsive reading had that word. That
really bothered me and I made an explanation to my
8-year-old daughter that the word should not have been there.

I guess many of us, including myself, have been guilty of
using that word to describe certain situations. I used it
one time about a person and my wife chastised me by saying
that I didn't hate anybody and shouldn't have used that
expression.

She was right. I don't hate anyone and never have. Hate, if
it exists, can really be bad as it can eat away at a person.
If a person has wronged another person, the person who did
the supposed wrong is not going to be hurt by the hate, only
the person who does the hating.

We often hear these days about "hate crimes." I've never
known anybody personally who committed those crimes so I
don't know if they really did something out of hate. It
would seem those who did particular crimes were misguided.

Many of those crimes are race related and it would seem
there is a lot of racial hatred in our world. That could
also be applied to different cultures. I'm not sure hate can
be applied completely, possibly a person who dislikes other
races or cultures simply doesn't have an understanding of
those races or cultures.

It is so easy to jump to conclusions or be led by others
around us to get involved in this so-called hate business.
We should never be led by others, rather we should stop and
think about situations and make decisions on our own.

There are many other words and feelings that can be used to
apply to situations and people rather than using words that
can be hurtful. If we don't like a person, we should stay
away from that person as much as possible. If we don't like
a situation, change it or try to deal with it the best way
possible.

Stop and think about it for a minute. True hate can really
run deep and we can become obsessed with that feeling. I've
known people like that and they've turned into bitter,
unlikeable people.

What can you do if you believe someone hates you? I've got
this habit of approaching people directly and asking what
the problem is. Many times, the problem is a
misunderstanding that can be easily resolved.

It's unbelievable how much gossip exists about me and my
feelings and/or what I've allegedly said about something or
somebody.

I don't really believe I'm a negative or hurtful person
although some things we have printed may make people believe
we - or me - want to hurt someone. Nothing could be further
from the truth.

I don't like to print "bad" stories about what people have
done but it's news.

This is distressing to me but it goes along with printing
mostly good things that we do in the paper.

You might think this is a long column about nothing. I urge
you to think about it. Let's all get along. Life is too
short not to try to get along.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mac B. McKinnon is the Editor and Publisher
of the Pecos Enterprise. He can be e-mailed at:
bigmac@bitstreet.com

Your View

Visitors praise health fair event in Pecos

To the Editor:
My husband and I had been visiting with our daughter and
families in Van Horn and were invited to accompany them to
Pecos to attend your annual Health Fair, and what a health
fair!

We have attended health fairs at home but this was truly
amazing. The organization of the different areas for lab
procedures, EKG's, physical therapy, Beltone Hearing tests,
the mammography unit, Texas New Mexico Power display and the
safety roll-over display, the new ambulance unit, home
health agencies, and of course the free breakfast by the
Masonic Lodge was just outstanding.

And of course, all the friendly people manning these areas -
the hospital personnel and several doctors and sales
representatives, nurse and volunteers. Our hats off to them
for a job well done. Congratulations to all of you!

Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Springer
Mesa, Ariz. 85205

Your View

Publishing names can pose a danger

To the Editor:
Please advise your computerized readers to NOT publish their
children's names on the Net. I had a person in a chat room
tonight, who I'd "met" once, actually ask me for my kids'
names.

If this person has been watching my prior transmissions, he
could figure out who I am, where I live, etc. If I had given
my childrens' names, that would've possibly put them in a
lot of danger. There are a lot of sick people out there and
we never know who has bad intentions!

Name withheld by request

Your View

Perea clarifies board's position on property sale

To the Editor:
The school board and its members consist of elected
officials entrusted by the taxpayers and voters of this
school district to do and vote on what is in the best
interest of our students, schools and taxpayers.

Having stated that, I will reiterate what I stated at the
March meeting of the school board: I personnally and in my
capacity as board member would like to see the Catholic War
Veterans organization take ownership of the property in
question, "Mesquite Lounge" on 3rd Street. I am a member of
the C.W.V. organization, I support what the C.W.V. are doing
in the community, and furthermore, if it was up to me I
would give the property to the C.W.V. organization.

In your article on Tuesday, April 7, 1998, "Where do local
Catholic War Veterans meet?" Mr. Bernardo "Chaquen" Martinez
is quoted as stating that he called the school districts
attorney and was told that the school board could do
"whatever they want with the property." That may be true.
But, we have a letter from our tax attorney, Mr. Rusty
McInturff, advising the school board against accepting the
$10 bid from the Catholic War Veterans because of a previous
and higher bid of $1,100 from Mr. Salvador Hignojos, (not
Paul Hinojos as your article states).

Mr. Hignojos had submitted his bid of $1,100 months prior to
Mr. Hernandez submitting his bid of $10.

Mr. Hignojos was told by the schools tax assessor collector,
Ms. Lydia Prieto that he (Mr. Hignojos) would have to wait
until the district had a mass sale of properties and that
the Mesquite Lounge building would be on the list of
properties to be sold. Mr. Hignojos understood and agreed to
wait.

Mr. Hernandez does not seem to want to know or to understand.

Mr. Hernandez goes all over town telling anyone who will
listen to him, that Frank Perea, (not the school board),
won't let him have the property that he wants.

Mr. Hernandez needs to understand that he will not always
get what he wants. We have laws and procedures that govern
and dictate how we can dispose of certain properties.

If Mr. Hernandez cannot understand something as simple as
that, he shouldn't be commander of the Catholic War Veterans
organization.

Frank R. Perea

Your View

Information on former sheriff sought by relative

To the Editor:
I'm searching for any information on Edgar B. Kiser and his
family. In 1910 Reeves County census it lists him with three
daughters, Rela, May & Stella.

Who was his wife? Edgar was my great-uncle and I would love
to hear anything about him. He was a sheriff, serving
various years from 1918 to 1931. What happened to his
daughters? Please contact me, either e-mail at
dickens@texoma.net or regular mail to : Lisa Evans, 745
Patricia, Sherman, TX 75090.

Lisa Evans

Financial Focus

Act Now to Lower Your '98 Tax Bill



As you get ready to write that check to the IRS, you may be
asking yourself, "What was all that excitement over the new
Taxpayer Relief Act?"

True, the new tax laws didn't do much for your 1997 tax bill
- but you should see some benefits when you file your return
next year. Many of the provisions took effect Jan. 1, 1998,
so now is the time to make any changes that could lower your
tax bill next year.

Here are some of the benefits of the new law:

IRAs. Starting this year, taxpayers have three IRA options:
traditional deductible IRAs, Roth IRAs and nondeductible
IRAs.

Deductible IRAs are available for people not covered by
employer sponsored plans, as well as for those covered by
such plans but whose adjusted gross income (AGI) falls under
certain limits. The new tax law not only raised these limits
starting in 1998, but also allows spouses to make fully
deductible IRA contributions regardless of whether their
spouse has a plan at work, as long as their AGI is below
$150,000.

If you can't make a deductible IRA contribution, you may
find a Roth IRA more appropriate. Although contributions
aren't deductible, withdrawals can generally be taken tax
and penalty-free, as long as the money has been in the
account five years and you're 59-1/2 or older or meet
certain withdrawal requirements. However, the Roth is
available only to couples with total adjusted gross income
up to $150,000 ($95,000 for singles).

Those who don't quality for a deductible or Roth IRA can
still enjoy the benefits of a nondeductible IRA -- namely,
tax-deferred growth of your savings.

If you're considering switching funds from a traditional to
a Roth IRA, you'll owe taxes, but if you convert this year,
you can spread your tax liability over the next four years.

Capital gains. The top tax rate on capital gains is now 20
percent for investments you've owned more than 18 months and
sold after May 7, 1997 (10 percent for those in the 15
percent bracket). The old top rate of 28 percent still
applies to investments held more than a year but not more
than 18 months. And gains on investments held less than a
year are taxed as ordinary income.

If your portfolio is overweighted with one type of
investment or industry, or if you own investments that no
longer meet your objectives, the lower tax rates may provide
an opportunity to reposition your assets.

Education savings. Starting this year, taxpayers can
contribute up to $500 per year after taxes to education
savings accounts for each child up to age 18. Earnings in
the account grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals are tax-free
if taken for qualified education expenses.

If your kids are close to or already in college, the savings
account is probably not appropriate, but you do have two new
tax credits. The Hope credit can cut your taxes by up to
$1,500 a year per student for tuition during the first two
years of college. The lifetime learning credit lets you take
up to $1,000 a year off your tax bill. It can be claimed for
any year in which you don't take the Hope credit for the
same student.

Paying off a student loan? You can now deduct student-loan
interest in the first five years of a loan payback, up to
$1,000 in 1998. This limit will increase each year, reaching
$2,500 in 2001. The deduction, however, is only available to
joint filers earning less than $80,000 ($40,000 for singles).

These are just a few of the new tax laws. Other provisions
include lower taxes on home-sale profits, an increase in the
estate-tax exclusion and child tax credits. Consult your tax
adviser today to see how you can take advantage of the new
tax laws, and maybe next April 15 will be a little more
pleasant.

Ramblin's

Songwriter Will Hadden's star-studded night

By TUMBLEWEED SMITH
The Light Crust Doughboys were there. So was Miss Texas,
Reagan Hughes. A stage full of young violin students played
Fiddle Faddle. The house was sold out 1600 people were in
the audience. It was the final pops concert of the season
for the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale. It was called
a "Lone Star Tributes' and took place in a Confederate Air
Force Museum hanger at the Midland airport: The night raised
$100,000. Permian Basin folks are proud of their orchestra.

The evening featured the premiere of a musical number called
BIG RANCH by singer and songwriter Will Hadden. The night
culminated five years of work by Will and launched him into
a new career. Now he's headed for Nashville to try to peddle
some of the songs he has written.

Will is 80 years old.

He flew B-17's in World War Two, then was a commercial pilot
for TWA. He spent forty years as a lawyer before starting
his music career. Will is not quite through with the legal
profession. He still has one client that keeps him active.

As he was winding down his practice in 1992, Will started
listening to about twenty Eddy Arnold songs as he drove
around Odessa in his pickup. He learned them all and decided
he could write some songs himself. His first one was about a
cowboy hat which takes place Saturday nights in Odessa's
Globe Theater. He started using the name Clark Bond (for
Clark Gable and James Bond) on stage.

Two years ago Will signed up for a class in computer music
at Midland college. He took four semesters of harmony and
music theory. He learned how to compose music for an entire
symphony on computer. He took his computer version of BIG
RANCH to Rob Hunt, director of the Midland-Odessa Symphony
Orchestra, who, said if Will would shorten it (from 9
minutes to 6) and add some variety, he would have the
Symphony and Chorale perform it at the salute to Texas
concert.

Will dedicated the song to his wife who passed away
recently. For the premiere he was dressed in a western suit
that sparkled when the lights hit it. He wore a black hat
with a sparkling hat band. The chorale sang backup.

The applause for BIG RANCH was long and loud. The audience
stood.

Afterwards, at a reception his honor, Will told me, "I feel
like it went over real well. I couldn't believe it. I didn't
dream I could do something like this. The orchestra only had
three rehearsals, but everything fell into place tonight."

Will doesn't know if he will write another symphony. But he
is still going to write and sing and try to sell his songs.
"I don't plan to sit in rny rocking chair and wait for my
social security check so I can go eat at Luby's," says
Will.

I told him I hoped his star continues to rise.

Will replied, "It's sure shining bright tonight.

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Pecos Enterprise
Mac McKinnon, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.

324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net

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