I think this week I want to start out bragging on our San Saba people and all the work that they do to make San Saba what it is.

In the last two weeks, I have seen a lot of individuals who sacrifice a lot of their time for the needs of others. I saw a junior high basketball tournament that went over without a hitch. Now, you talk about a lot of work and effort on the part of a lot of parents, this tournament had it. I saw the kids having a blast and enjoying themselves and some very good sportsman- ship from all the schools. Yet, I think it was the hard work by all those involved, from the time clock to the concession stand, from the refs to those picking up trash. All of them worked hard so that these children of ours could learn and enjoy themselves.

I also saw the walk for cancer this Saturday and was very impressed with all the work that went into this project as well. The one thing that stuck out the most was not how many showed up (and there were a bunch) but the age groups that were represented. Everything from small children being pushed in strollers, to our seniors who were huffing and puffing with the best of them. This walk really showed a lot of things, but heart is what I got out of it.

I was also very impressed with the cub scouts who set up a water stand and encouraged the walkers at about the half way mark. Good job guys and I bet that water hit the spot. The sponsors and parents who are involved in our local scouting programs are truly amazing individuals. I saw their groups working all over this weekend and then a large group of our scouts were out at the Barefoot Fishing Camp this weekend as well. I'm not going to name them, but those troops and pack leaders are all amazing people with big hearts. When you see these groups, be sure to thank the leaders for all that they do, 'cause believe me, it's a lot.

One more big thank you and then on to the crime report. If you haven't been to the park lately, then you need to go. What the park crew, led by Farrel Whitley has done and are still doing is amazing, the park is beautiful. Yet, it's not about the park, but about the stuff going on inside the park. I have been here for fourteen years and have never seen such a turn around in sports as I have in the baseball and softball teams here in San Saba. Not only in our little league and the coaches involved there, but in the high school teams as well. The coaches involved with the high school softball and baseball teams have done an amazing job at building this sport back up and filling up those stands. Those coaches work long and hard hours for those kids and really put their hearts into it. Football is my sport and it always gets the headlines, but what San Saba has done in baseball and softball really shows the heart of our community. You only have to go to one of the games and see all the people and listen to all the noise and feel what is happening. Good job San Saba and to all of you coaches, paid and unpaid., keep up the good work with our kids all over our county and thank you.

Well, this week was steady and with Spring Break going on, it got steadier as the week went on. We have the usual reports of reckless drivers and loud music or parties, trespassers and so on, but with Spring Break comes new challenges.

We usually see everyone head out of town and into the hills during Spring Break and usually right up next to the water. The State Park, Barefoot Fishing Camp and Sulphur Springs Fishing Camp tend to fill up fast and stay full this time of the year and this year was no different. All three parks reported being full to capacity and then some. We put some extra patrol out into the park area this year and I believe that it paid off. We did write quite a few tickets for possession of drug paraphernalia and we did take some alcohol away from minors, who were very shocked to see us again. We spoke to a lot of people and were in a lot of camps and with the exception of a few, we had a very good time and were greeted warmly.

Now, there are always those who are not excited to see us and those who believe that just because they're from Austin or Dallas or somewhere big, that they can come down here and do as they please. They want to get as drunk as they can, build big fires and then walk off and leave them, and smoke dope and then act shocked when we do something about it. Now, I met a lot of big city people who were very nice and respectful and grateful that we were down there this week, but there always has to be a few who think that the law is not for them or that their not hurting anyone else.

I could easily avoid the situation and look the other way. I could choose to ignore the problem until it explodes and then deal with it or even be somewhere else when the lid blows off the problem. I could, but I don't and I won't! You did not elect me to look the other way or to avoid the trouble areas. You did not elect me to tremble just because someone uses the word "press" or "CBS" or threatens to call my mother on me. No, I believe that you elected me to do my job and enforce the law as fairly as possible and to seek out the problem areas and sit right on them. I only had to drive to the other end of the camp and see all those cub scouts playing and the little kids riding their bikes in the park to know one thing and that is that we have a reason to stand up and say, "No, you can't do that here because it is against the law." I don't care how much money they spend or who their friends are, if they're breaking the law then they're breaking the law and that's the bottom line.

The beautiful parks and our entire county are wonderful assets given to us from God and we are to take care of them. It is a responsibility that falls on all our shoulders and I pray that we all are on the same page here. Whether it's Rainey's Crossing or the state park, we have to take care of these assets and we must make sure that those who come here to visit understand this. We have a lot of beautiful things in this county for individuals to see and some really nice places to shop, so we must protect these assets and make sure that those individuals who are coming in here are doing so for the right reasons.

I was very excited to meet so many people who, working with us this weekend, helped us prevent fires inside the parks. That was our biggest danger and my biggest fear was to have a fire break out inside one of our parks and everyone panic. Well, it didn't and although a few individuals got their feeling hurt because their fires got put out, no one got hurt and it was a beautiful weekend.

Well, heading to a meeting, look forward to talking with you next week and ask for all your prayers and support in the upcoming weeks and months. Contact us if you need assistance or need to report anything at 325-372-5432 or 5551 and thank you for your prayers and support.