What is a community newspaper? A community newspaper is defined as a “news organization whose primary mission is to cover the important issues that affect a cohesive and well-defined geographic, ethnic or cultural community,” according to the Saving Community Journalism Project at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Dear editor, Is this really the Texas that we want? One that is defined by the legislation of only one party no matter the vote of the people? That’s exactly what we are getting with the current leader of our Senate legislative body, Dan Patrick. In 2015 when the Texas Senate was majority Republican by a 20-11 margin, Patrick changed the almost 70-year old “order of business rule” —known as the 2/3 rule — to the rule of 3/5.

As if I didn’t have enough reasons to hate 2020, Tuesday, Oct. 6, brought news which genuinely shook me to my very core. My favorite guitarist of all-time — the legendary Eddie Van Halen — succumbed to cancer at the age of 65.

The emergence of the novel coronavirus early this year presented the world with an unprecedented challenge. Not since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 have we faced such a daunting public health crisis.

Board Member Robby Robertson recently reminded me of the theme song to the 1977 classic American road comedy, “Smokey and the Bandit.” The lyrics to “East Bound and Down” say, “We’re gonna do what they say can’t be done. We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there.” That is exactly what planning for the 2020-2021 school year has felt like.

Dogs are digging in the dirt deeper and deeper to reach cool layers. You find and read instructions for your plants.

The Chad Wessels Playground in Briggs Recent renovations to the playground that is adjacent to the Briggs Community Center are almost complete. The last bit of work necessary is power washing the equipment and that was planned for Monday evening, July 27.

Our beloved Children’s Librarian, Miss Bridget Hartje, is retiring. We are giving her a big sendoff July 31 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Road Signs On a pleasant Sunday afternoon drive in the northeastern part of Burnet County we used a road sign to guide us on our route. Suddenly I was reminded of a notice that I had seen from our Commissioner, Damon Beierle.