The President is talking about finacial reform. Why doesn't he start collecting all of those Billions of dollars that have acured durring his first 4 years in office and collt all the interest due. Like TEXAS loaning all that water we loaned MEXICO that we have not collected any type of paymints on this deal. But the Congress wants to do away with gun.

I've never traveled abroad; but, I still hope to travel to Europe sometime in my life. And, when I go, I really want to travel to Britain. With its many historical and ethnic connections to the United States, the British Isles holds an important spot in the lives of most Americans. Till such time as I make my travel plans, I make do with British television imports.

Time to warm up the phone The Christmas season sales figures are in, and it isn’t pretty. During Thanksgiving weekend, in which retail sales were strong, a 7% increase in sales was predicted nationwide. However, as December progressed, sales fell off everywhere. The final figure was 0.7% increase, way, way below the prediction.

Mel, what ya got cookin? A few blocks north of the town square on Live Oak street you will find the North Side Café. For the past six years I would stop by about once a month for a juicy hamburger, fries, and a drink. Recently, the café changed ownership, and Mel Polk became the proprietor.

We have a lot of images in our archives. When I say a lot, I mean thousands of images. Since we started producing the paper digitally, I have been saving all of our images. Not just the pictures that appeared in print; but, all of the photos from the various events, gatherings and ceremonies.

I've been watching a PBS "American Experience" series recently about New York City. The program follows the history of the city all the way from its early founding as a Dutch colony (purchased not for $24, but for 120 guilders), on through to just after 9/11. It was interesting to discover that New York, unlike many of the other British, French and Spanish colonies on the American continent at the time, was founded on the doctrine of commerce.

Ger. In re;Kendall It was only a matter of time, I guess. We had only to wait a little for the predictable knee-jerk to begin, wherein the usual suspects proceed to whip their horse. Almost any excuse will do, but a Massacre of Children seems too much to pass up,I guess, for those who would have us go backwards. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.

As the new year has kicked off, Mason is poised to begin with a few changes of its own. Even as I compose this column on Tuesday morning, there are optimistic rain chances for this evening that could bring respectable rain totals to the entire area. That is a change that affects not only Mason County; but, could help change the direction for a good part of central Texas. Just across the road from the News office, the anchor of the south side of the square has become Mason Bank, dropping the "N ...

When one year ends and the new one begins, I always enjoy reflecting on the good things that have occurred in the prior year. I choose not to focus on the bad, as there is no changing those things now, I can only learn from them and move forward. The good things, however, offer hope and promise for even more good things and give me hope for what could be in the coming year. During 2012, we finally got some rain.

My letter is in response to Julie’s letter last week. Stricter gun control is not the answer to protecting our children. In fact it will do more damage than good. You asked “If in the end the solution makes it harder for a person to buy a gun, so what?” Well I will tell you what, Adam Lanza didn’t have guns that HE legally obtained.

Gerry, I couldn’t believe it but it’s true. An Evangelest who is well known posted on Facebook that Christian litterature was not allowed in walter Reed Hospital, he had gone there and was thrown out so I sent a card to Recovering American Soldier % Walter Reed Army Med Center 6900 Georgia Ave N W Washington D C 20307-5001 It was returned marked Refused Unable to Forward Do we havve no rights at all anymore, not even to thank the service people for putting their lives on the line ...

I am horrified by the shooting in Newtown, Ct., as I am sure everyone that heard about it is. An incident like this is beyond imagining, and my heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragedy. When something like this happens, aside from the expected media frenzy, the next thing we start hearing about is “guns need to be more regulated.” Well, that hasn’t helped much - as the old saying goes, “if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.” I propose that the knee-jerk anti- ...

Dear Mr. Gamel: We live in a generous community! Thank you to everyone who gave to the Mason County Child Welfare Board’s tuition assistance program. I am a senior this year. This fall semester I took Anatomy & Physiology, College Algebra, English 4, and Government & Economics. Next semester I will be taking Anatomy & Physiology and Government & Economics.

Dear Mr. Gamel I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Mason County Welfare Board for assisting me in my education. Without their generous offer I would never have been able to take my dual credit course in American History. This is my first dual credit class I have been enrolled in, and it is a wonderful experience.

Dear Mr. Gamel: I am a junior taking a college class, and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Mason Country Child Welfare Board for paying for half of my dual credit class. I would have not been able to take American History without their assistance.