January is School Board Recognition month. Take this opportunity to help acknowledge thousands of public servants who make the time to share their vision and voice about the future of Texas children. A special thanks to our board members; Pres. Jason Lewis, V. Pres. Kay McKee, Secretary Tina Poe, Sally Gossett, Tana Lusty, Ann Reyes, and Rennie Mann.

The San Saba County Stock Show will begin Friday, January 18th. Gerald McKee says Richland Springs should be well represented in this year’s stock show, both in quality of animals and the number of participants. There will be an early release at 12:55 on Thursday, January 17, 2013, with no school on the 18th. Everyone is invited to the San Saba County Stock Show at the Show Barn, and the Youth Fair at the Civic Center to view student entries in this year’s event.

One Act Play directors Patsy Hall and Krystal Butler have chosen These Shining Lives for the 2013 competition. Cast members include Katelynn Teel, Brooklyn McGinty, Brooke Vaughn, Melanie Hedley, DeAnna Grady, Jacob Cohn, Trevor Tinney, Brittany Bush, Gunner Mann, and Bryan Salinas. Alternate cast members are Bralei Lewis, Ashlyn Grady, and Brooke Esquivel. Crew members are Thomas Fowler, Jonathon Patino, Remy Wood, Graciela Madrigal, and Chris Munoz.

The Lady Coyotes basketball team is 1-2 in district play. The varsity boys are 0-1 in district play. Both teams played at Lohn on Tuesday. Both varsity teams play Cherokee Friday at Richland Springs gym. The junior high teams travelled to Rochelle junior high this past Monday. The junior high Coyotes are coached by Shawn Rogers. Come to the games and watch the fast-paced action of Coyote basketball.

Many seniors are currently making plans for college or work after graduation. Here is some food for thought. Studies show that foregoing post-secondary training and education can mean a tremendous loss of income over a life-time. A student who earns an associate degree, for example, will earn an average of $340,000 more over a working lifetime than someone with just a high school diploma — and nearly $600,000 more than a worker with no diploma. Four years of college is not for everyone. More parents and students need to be aware of all postsecondary educational options, including career and technical education (CATE), and the availability of financial assistance. The number of jobs requiring technical training, certifications or associate degrees is outpacing the number of people available to fill them despite the fact that many pay above-average salaries. Many high-paying and rapidly growing profes-sions in Texas are open to persons with technical training. Texas has a number of community and technical colleges that can offer our children affordable, state-of-the-art training for jobs with a future after just one or two years. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that about 80 percent of the fastest-growing job categories in the near future will require some postsecondary training, but not a bachelor’s degree. One large petrochemical company repre-sentative said that they have needed more welders than they can hire for the past two years. Post-secondary education, whether at a two-year technical school or a four-year college, will give you more opportunities in Texas’ future workforce.

We have a great community, students, teachers and staff. It looks to be a great year at Richland Springs.

Community Involvement is the Key to Our Success