Austwell – Bernice Elizabeth Settoon Jackson, 85, of Austwell, passed away Friday, July 1, 2011, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Jan. 25, 1926, in Amite, La., to the late Dudley Kenneth and Ethel Maggie Temple Settoon.

While working as an administrative assistant in New Orleans during World War II, she met a dashing Texas gentleman only weeks before his deployment-U.S. Army officer, Roger Lee Jackson. Two years-and countless letters-later, Roger and Bernice were united in marriage at the Settoon family home in Amite, La., on Aug. 18, 1945, while Roger was home on leave. Roger and Bernice celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary only months before Roger’s passing in 2006. One of Bernice’s last wishes was to be buried with Roger’s love letters.

Roger and Bernice settled in Austwell shortly after their marriage and raised a wonderful family. A devoted Christian, Bernice was an active member of the Austwell Methodist Church for over six decades. She was an accomplished oil painter, an avid bowler, and a charming traveling companion. An active member of the Home Demonstration Club for many years, Bernice was active in community affairs.

She was preceded in death by Roger, her loving and faithful husband of 60 years; her parents; her sister, Marguerite Settoon Reynolds; and her brothers, Durno Olin Settoon and Dudley Kenneth Settoon Jr.

Bernice is survived by her brother, Dr. Patrick Delano Settoon of Hammond, La.; her four children, Sandra Jackson Mahan of Austwell, Tommy (Margaret) Jackson of Point Comfort, Jane (Henry) Pongratz of Port O’Connor, and Jimmy (Debi) Jackson of Austwell. She also leaves behind seven adoring grandchildren and nine adorable great-grandchildren.

Services were held Monday, July 4, at the Austwell Methodist Church. Graveside service followed afterward at the Tivoli Cemetery. The Rev. June Cantrell and the Rev. Walter Hoke officiated.

Pallbearers: grandsons, Trace Davis, Dave Villarreal, Matthew Jackson and Thomas Nicholas Jackson, Quoc Nguyen and Timothy Rak.

Memorials: donations may be made to either the Austwell Methodist Church or Crown Hospice.

“The Way I See It” is an attempt by the guest columnist to enlighten readers on a subject, as he views it, and does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication. Comments on this article may be addressed to: Dolphin Talk, P.O. Box 777, Port O’Connor, TX 77982; Email: dolphin1@tisd.net

Understanding “Obamanomics” Part I
Federal Debt, Gross Domestic Product, Total Government Spending, & Revenue

I am not a trained mathematician or one of those propagandists that passes as “an economist”. The numbers are so large as to be incomprehensible, must be rounded off for sake of space, are constantly changing, and are frightening when reduced to what the individual taxpayers portion. The trend over the last decade, especially over the past 3 years, is terrifying! And future projections are WORSE!
The National Debt is the Federal Debt as it stands at time stated, does not include State and Local Government debt or any “Unfunded Liabilities”- Government promises to pay for programs such as Social Security, Medicare, retirements, or others.

Gross Domestic Product is the value of the total production of goods and services of the entire US economy.

Total Government Spending is State and Local government spending added to Federal spending. These are the best estimates and projections I can find, but Government agencies seldom tell the whole truth if they can hide it.

Total Revenue is the total tax load, Federal, State, and Local.

Numbers quoted are for June 18th of the year stated.

According to US Debt Clock, at this time in 2000 the National Debt was $5.72 trillion, and increased to $7.28 trillion in 2004. This was an increase of $1.56 trillion or 27.3% in 4 years or 6.8% average annual increase. This is bad, but was the time of 9/11 attack, the Afghanistan war, and the invasion of Iraq. The individual portion of the Federal debt increased from $20,000 per citizen to $24,800. The load per TAXPAYER increased from $55,000 to approx $71,300.

From 2004-2008 the Debt increased $2.63 trillion to $9.91 trillion or 36.1% for 4 years or 9%/yr. The average increase of 32% over the 2000-2004 increase. This increase of the rate of debt creation should be alarming, but not to Congress. By 2008 the citizen’s share was $32,600 and the Taxpayer’s $91,700.

From this date in 2008 to the present the Debt increased $4.53 trillion in just 3 years (4 year equivalent $6.04 trillion) to $14.44 trillion or 45.7% in 3 years for an average annual rate of increase of 15.2%! This is a 69% increase in the rate debt creation over the 9% average of 2004-2008, or 216% of the rate of debt creation IN 3 YEARS!! 2 1/2 years of Obamanomics on top of the Democrats’ take-over of Congress in 2006. The citizen’s portion of the Debt is now $46,300 each and the poor Taxpayer’s is $129,400! The Beltway Buffoons are fighting tooth and nail to stop any cuts in spending, even the tiny cuts asked for by the mostly gutless Republican leadership. These people are like a gaggle of 13 year old girls at the Mall with unlimited credit cards!

When compared with the Gross Domestic Product, in 2000 the Debt was 60.57% of a $9.44 trillion GDP, in 2004 Debt was 64.35% of a $11.31 trillion GDP, in 2008 Debt was 71.26% of a $13.91 trillion GDP, and today is 97.26% of a $14.75 GDP. This is a 60.6% increase in the percentage of Debt/GNP since this date of 2000 with no real sign of slowing. The rate of growth of the GDP has slowed, and if honestly corrected for inflation is probably a negative (shrinking). I have no “official data” to argue that, only observed increases in the costs of necessities.

Revenue, or taxes collected – Federal, State, & local Nationwide – was 37.40% of GDP in 2000, 33.97% GDP in 2004, 36.07% in 2008, but has fallen to 30.55% today. Unemployed people don’t pay taxes, underemployed and scared people don’t spend as much money and thereby pay less taxes. The tax base is shrinking, the economy (GDP) is shrinking, but “the party never ends” in the District of Corruption!
Total Government Spending is ever increasing, though. In 2000- $3.42 trillion or 36.23% of GDP, 2004- $4.43 trillion or 39.16% of GDP, 2008- $5.59 trillion or 40.59% and today, in our slowly imploding economy, increasing to $6.88 trillion or 46.61%. At the current rate, by the the time the next President of the United States is sworn in January 2013, 50% of every dollar produced in the United States will be consumed and spent by Government! If they tried to directly tax this shrinking economy, it would probably fail and there would be a revolution. Runaway Government spending is the problem. They are borrowing “money” and creating debt to buy votes from irresponsible people.

See www.usdebtclock.org/ for more info. Also check the Debt Clock Time Machine for Congressional Budget Office projections for 2015 – based on info furnished by Congress (wishes & lies) and the projections for 2015 based on actual rates. Better put a seat-belt on your chair and/or have a couple ‘Adult Beverages’!!

Chamber Ribbon Cutting at 12 Noon

Refreshments and Hor d’oeuvres served by local Restaurants from 12-4 p.m.

Come by and tour the new remodel and additions to the bank. Those up to the climb, will enjoy ascending the lighthouse tower for a panoramic view of Seadrift.

First National Bank in Port Lavaca SEADRIFT BRANCH Hwy 185 in Seadrift

Angel Food. What is Angel Food? Well, sometimes it is easier to describe what something isn’t before you talk about what it is. Angel Food is not a government program. Angel Food is not a club you join. Angel Food is not something you have to qualify for based on income, age, or anything. Angel Food is not something that you have to give your Social Security number or your Driver’s license or buy something every month. Angel Food IS good food at a good price.

Angel Food began several years ago through a church in Georgia. Today it spans most of the United States. It is a ministry designed to help people, all people, with good food at reasonable prices in the name of a loving God. Angel Food provides certain basic boxes each month, such as the Signature Box and the Bountiful Blessing box, along with childrens specialty boxes and several special boxes. The menus change each month. Orders are placed through either the website at www.angelfoodministries.com or a host site, such as Alamo Heights Baptist Church in Port Lavaca. Payment is made at the time of purchase, either by cash, credit/debit, or Lone Star card. The food arrives pre-boxed, generally on the last Saturday of the month (distribution location is the Calhoun County Fairgrounds).

Steaks and other meat products always come vacuum sealed and frozen. Vegetable packages come frozen as well, although the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable special boxes come just that way—fresh. A Signature Box, which costs $35, is designed to feed a family of 4 for a week. The same items at a local store would run between $60-70. Some items are store brands and some are name brands, but they are all good food. And the meat and fish is always good quality. Also, the Signature and Bountiful Blessing boxes ($46 for the Bountiful Blessing box) always contain eggs and milk as well as a desert item.

Orders can be placed online at the Angel Food website or through Alamo Heights Baptist Church from the end of one month through the cutoff date for the month in question. For example, for the month of July orders may be placed now through July 21st (online through July 24th). The distribution will take place Saturday, July 30th from 11:30-12noon at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds, either at the Bauer Exhibit Building or the Extension Center.

In these difficult times Angel Food is a great way to supplement your food budget. With everything increasing in price every day there is no better way to put good food on the table and keep some extra money in your pocket than Angel Food. For further information check out the website at www.angelfoodministries.com or the Alamo Heights website at www.ahbcportlavaca.org, or call Alamo Heights Baptist Church at 552-2532. Just ask about Angel Food. You will be glad you did!

The Wesley Nurses will be providing free screenings for blood pressure and blood sugar beginning in July at the Angel Food distribution site.

Victoria College’s Workforce and Continuing Education Department, in partnership with Boston Reed College, is offering a pharmacy technician course in the fall. Weekend classes are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Saturday, September 24 and continuing each Saturday through December 10.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the need for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow 25 percent by 2018.

Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists pack and mix prescriptions, maintain client records, refer clients to the pharmacist for counseling, assist with inventory control and purchasing as well as collecting payment and coordinating billing.

Students who successfully complete the course will be prepared to take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam and enroll in an optional externship with a local pharmacy.
Enrolling students must be 18 years or older and have completed high school or its equivalent. Basic competency with computers is necessary, along with internet and email access. A math and English pre-assessment test will be administered. Total cost for the course is $1,099.

For more information about admission and enrollment, please contact the Workforce and Continuing Education Division at 361-582-2528 or visit the webpage at www.victoriacollege.edu/ce.