Texas Census Numbers Released

On February 17th the United States Census Bureau released the population numbers for the State of Texas. The information was obtained during the 2010 Census. The State of Texas’ population increased from 20,851,820 in 2000 to 25,145,581 in 2010, accounting for a twenty percent increase or 4,293,761 new Texans. As a result of the population increase the state has seen over the past ten years, Texas’ representation in Congress has also increased from thirty two Congressmen to thirty six Congressmen. This is a gain of four seats, this resulted in the State of Texas gaining more Congressional seats than any other state in the country.

The increase in the state’s population along with the migration of people throughout the states requires that every ten years the states redraw their Congressional, State Senate, and State House seats. Due to the increase, Texas’ Congressional Representatives will now represent 698,488 individuals in their districts. While population growth allows Texas to receive more Congressional seats, the Texas Senate and Texas House seats remain constant. The Texas Senate being made up of thirty one Senators will now ideally represent 811,147 Texans, while the Texas House being composed of hundred and fifty Representatives will now ideally represent 167,637 Texans. In the coming months, the Texas Senate and the Texas House will be working in earnest to redraw the state’s legislative map.

Texas House Limited By Sixty Day Rule

Every two years the Texas Legislature meets for 140 days straight. In those 140 days the Texas Legislature will work on numerous issues, but just a select few are allowed to be addressed in the first sixty days of session. Only those issues that have been designated as emergency items by the Governor are eligible to be addressed during the first sixty days. For this session, Governor Rick Perry has designated some of the following issues as emergency items:

• Voter Identification – addressing the issuing of requiring the use of a photo ID, in order to vote on election day.
• Eminent Domain – would seek to protect the rights of private property owners.
• Sonogram – would seek to require that a woman view a sonogram before receiving an abortion.
• Sanctuary Cities – seeks to abolishing sanctuary cities in the State of Texas.

If you have questions or comments regarding any of the information mentioned in this article or any bills which have been filed, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

The first Spring Meeting of the Service Club was held Thursday, March 3rd at the Community Center at 10:00 a.m. The main item on the agenda was the Annual Spring Garage Sale which is scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. and will be held in the Pavilion of the Community Center.

Ms. Biddie Hileman, Chairman of the Sale, announced that she is able to provide storage for various items; please contact her at 983-2241 if you need her assistance. She also announced that we would be accepting furniture, books, pictures, clothes, kitchen items, dishes, fishing and outdoor gear, and Christmas decorations. And, so, ladies and other members of this community, if spring cleaning is on your calendar during this month, or if you have just run out of room to store many items, do plan to contact Ms. Hileman. We look forward to seeing any surplus items that no longer fit in your closets.

Ms. Sally Ragusin, Chairman of the Bake Sale accompanying the Garage Sale, cautioned all the members to get studying their recipe books in time for the Bake Sale. She expects to have a variety of many different baked goods for purchase. And also, there will be copies of the Service Club’s 3 volume cookbook along with several pounds of walnuts.

Ms. Shirley Gordon, a Club member and also our community’s Librarian, announced that the County has cut our funds for purchase of books and DVDs by 50%. Additionally, we no longer receive money for purchase of books for the Children’s Library. If you have books at home that you have read and DVDs you no longer wish to keep, please remember us. We strive to keep our Library current at all times; unfortunately, with the cut we will be limited as to how much we are able to spend.

The next meeting of the Service Club will be Thursday, March 17th at 10:00 a.m. and will be held in the back room of the Community Center. If any female member of this Community desires to be involved with service to our area, please consider joining the Service Club. We welcome all interested women at any time at our meetings; contact Shirley Gordon, Membership Chairman, 983-4365 or Janet Johnson, President, 983-4733 for further information. After all, you just may meet your neighbor here!

Although exact numbers are still being tallied, all indications are a large audience saw TPWD’s TV documentary “The State of the Gulf: America’s Sea” on PBS last week. For those who missed it, the entire program can now be viewed online at www.texasthestateofwater.org where anyone can see the show’s various segments posted as separate short videos, or download an order form to buy it on DVD. Among those who saw the PBS broadcast was House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, who asked Executive Director Carter Smith to tell committee members about the documentary at last week’s budget markup meeting. Smith told legislators the show is part of a 10-year TPWD water communication initiative that culminates this year. One of the largest PBS stations in Texas, Houston’s KUHT (Channel 8) has added three more air dates for the documentary: Friday March 25 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 27, 5 p.m. and Wednesday, March 30 at 10:30 p.m.

Meet Kelly, a gorgeous redhead. Actually, she’s red all over except for a titch of white on her chest. She’s a year old with many cocker spaniel features but is built like a “smallish” lab. Soft, silky coat, very sweet disposition, she’s a stunner and a sweetie.

Hershey is a male Cairn terrier mix about 5 years old. His color variation ranges from “milk” through “semi-sweet” with lots of that curly chocolate coat. Friendly? He will be your instant best friend. Lively? He has the energy and happy outlook of a puppy.
Come see Hershey, Kelly, and all the other animals at the Port Lavaca Animal Shelter, 201 Stringham Drive (across from the rodeo arena), Monday through Saturday, 10 to 2, or call the Calhoun County Humane Society, 553-8916. You can also view him and other animals ready for adoption on line at: www.calhouncountyhumanesociety.org
Thanks and we’ll be waiting for you!

The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Coleto Creek Park staff in partnership with the Victoria Photo Club have announced plans for the Annual Coleto Creek Photo Contest. The deadline for submissions is noon, May 14, 2011. Photos will be judged on May 17-18, and the winning entries will be on display at the Coleto Creek Park’s Headquarters over the Memorial Day Weekend. Winners will be selected in the Adult Division for the following categories; animals/fauna, landscapes/wildflowers, reptiles/amphibians, birds/insects, and people/recreation activities, as well as “Best of Show.” Plus this year, a new adult category called “Creative” will include images that have been obviously manipulated to present “altered” or “artistic reality”. For student entries, there will be a separate General Student Category. The Best of Show and 1st place winners in each category will each receive a cash prize. All entries for the contest should be mailed or dropped off at the Coleto Creek Park Office, 365 Coleto Park Road, Victoria, Texas, 77905. All submitted photos this year must be in a digital format.

For specific contest rules and regulations go to: www.victoriaphotographyclub.com/other-contests.asp. By submitting photos to this contest all participants agree to allow GBRA Coleto Creek Park to use and publish the entered photos without further compensation to the photographer. For additional information on this contest, please call the park office at 361/575-6366.