There was no morning tea on the front porch this weekend! Mornings are just a tad nippy for this transplanted Texacan. I left all those cold days behind 38 years ago when I married my Texas sweetie. Our school kids come in shivering each morning, and then shed their jackets after lunch. I love that part. I get to sleep in beautiful cool temperatures, but bask in the sun at lunch. I’m sure other southern states have the same beautiful weather, but they can’t have the same great people living in them. Still, I believe that I will drink my morning tea curled up on the couch looking out the window.

Elections are over and the people of America have spoken. The same thing happened here in Richland. After the votes were counted, 11 more people had voted against the new school building than had voted for the new school. I tried to think about the reasoning behind the vote. I actually asked around and there were about three reasons that stood out of the crowd. One was the taxation issue. I understand that a number of our citizens went to the tax office to ask about the increase in their taxes. That is a sound thing to do. These are hard economic times, and we need to watch our money. The people who went must have been younger, because no one over 65 will experience a tax increase on their property. Our citizens don’t make high salaries, and they have to make sure their families are housed and fed before they can pay for a school. A second reason I heard was that too much money is spent on our sports programs. The third reason I’ve been given is that the cafetorium was built behind the backs of the local citizens, and when things went wrong we were expected to pick up the tab.

I hope everyone has a blessed week. We are all saddened by the passing of the Alston’s son. Kenneth attended school with Bro. Barry. His passing has hit hard. It is never good for a child to precede a parent to heaven. Please remember the Alston’s as you go about your week. We also need to remember Pam Starr and the David Frost family. David went home to be with the Lord last Sunday morning. John Earl McPherson has been taken to the hospital for dialysis. As Thanksgiving approaches, please keep our troops and their families in your prayers. We have a great country and a super system.