2013 Columns Archive Stories

The past two staff meetings for PUSD have been district sponsored grade-level rollouts of the curriculum that the common core teams have drafted. As we head into summer break, teachers are considering what changes will be required to implement the new state standards in the fall. While some are excited about going back to more integrated learnin

It is fashionable among many Christians today to regard anything that is habitual to be “unspiritual.” Habitualness smacks of cold religious formalism rather than the warm, spontaneous response of the human spirit to God. To go to church out of habit is considered to be something less than true spirituality. One author speaks

Several weeks ago, just as our Wednesday evening small group was about to begin, I noticed a shiny copper goblet in front of Anthony, one of the participants in the group. The meeting started before I could ask about the shiny cup, so I had to wait until afterwards to find out more about it. “Anthony, did you make this? It’s

A rare planetary alignment is building in the western sky this spring. Those who scan the evening sky regularly have seen Jupiter, king of the planets, make his way west during the last few months, as fall became winter then turned to spring. Now, Jupiter, that bright “star” sitting just above the western horizon after sunset

I was at a birthday party here in town last week that was filled with a lot of health care providers with whom I had worked. It was a great night and we had a lot of good conversations. One of the topics that came up was the topic of our kids working in health care. First of all, as parents, we have all become concerned with the difficu

Trevor Brazile placed in all three rounds of the steer roping at the Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Rodeo in Bridgeport, Texas, and won the average title with total earnings of $4,146. Brazile won the second round with a time of 9.6 seconds, and finished with an average time of 32.3 seconds on three head, 4.2 seconds better than second-place Rocky

You may have heard the story a couple of weeks ago. A teacher in Albany, New York gave her students a writing assignment straight out of the Third Reich. They were told they must argue that Jews are evil in an effort to convince a fictitious Nazi official essentially to support the Holocaust. Students and parents were upset and the media

The new common core standards for English Language Arts differ from the previous way of instructing because they’re shifting toward new 21st century skills. These skills that support college and career readiness include: Critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration. Students who think critically reflect, analyze,

Tulare County Foster Care Licensing links hands with partner agencies nationwide to celebrate Foster Care Appreciation Month in May. Foster care parents take children into their homes at any time of the day or night. On many occasions, these children arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs, often wearing the battle scars of ab

The late John Bowman, a three-time world champion and a charter member of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association who signed the original petition and carried card No. 10 – heads the 2013 ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction class of five. Bowman is joined by the late 1962 Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion Kenny McLean, 1990 Bareback Rid

My old friend;I’m so glad that you stopped byI appreciate you caring and your not asking whyBut tonight, I’ve got to be alone…You can go home now,And just let my heartache beginNothing for you to do anyhowThis is a game that I c

April showers bring May flowers and noisy bugs that pollinate. Having completed state testing, many teachers are trying out new Common Core units such as poetry, since the new tests will place greater emphasis on interpreting poems.   The book, “Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices,” by Paul Fleishman is a Newbery Winner f

The Springville Sierra Rodeo was another rip-snorter, with Ryle Smith winning the All-Around Buckle, competing in steer wrestling, team roping and calf roping. Three of the four Wright brothers placed in the saddle bronc riding. Cody Wright continued his dominant 2013 campaign at the Clovis Rodeo Arena on April 28 when he scored 86 points on Bur

Chief Hap Meredith and his boys from Mobile Construction Battalion Five — MCB5 — had barely arrived in Vietnam, when they were pinned down in a withering firefight. The tracer bullets stitched the air in front of their trucks as they slid to a stop. Suddenly all was quiet. The smell of cordite floated through the air, but the

A lot has already been said about the recent bombings in Boston. Much of it was ridiculous, and especially early on, just wild, reckless speculation. The media showed us they still have a great deal to learn. But, amidst all the stupidity, occasionally, you get a gem of insight. Even before much was known, this event’s gem came fro

Cinco de Mayo in Spanish means “fifth of May,” and this day celebrates Mexican heritage both north and south of the border. May fifth commemorates the Battle of Puebla, when the Mexican Army successfully defended against invading French troops in 1862. It is not, as some mistakenly believe, Mexico’s Independence Day, which was

According to the weatherman, it will be in the high 80s and zero chance of rain for this weekend, just right for the 65th Annual Springville Sierra Rodeo. Friday night has Barrels and Bulls, a motorcycle barrel Race, and the Queen’s Coronation Dance with Miss Rodeo California, Dakota Skellenger, and with music by Terra Bella. (The

“‘Cause I think what they’ve done is well worth doin’And they’re doin’ it the best way that they canYou’re the only one that you are screwin’When you put down what you don’t understand.”— Kris Kristofferson, from “If you don’t like Hank Wi

Officer Mariko Williams from the police department visits classrooms to give a lesson once a week for a six-week unit on gang resistance education. Fostering this partnership between the law enforcement community and elementary students is intended to encourage a positive relationship before trouble starts. Children who display aggressiv

At the Springville Apple Festival last November, my booth was positioned near two authors — Marilyn Meredith, who has written more than 20 books, including the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery novels, and Jean Chaffee, author of the “Zoo to You” series of children’s books. Jean had an interesting collection of souven

So much for the notion of delayed gratification. Brennon Eldred, an 18-year-old Hill College (Hillsboro, Texas) freshman, earned his first professional bull riding title at the Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo April 14, just six appearances and 55 days into his tenure as a PRCA card holder. He rode west from his home in Oklahoma with Wr

It’s amazing what we could learn about an issue when we approach it without party or ideology involved.Take health care. There has been a lot written about the issue, much of which is fear-mongering and just generally unhelpful. During the debate over the Affordable Care Act, Republicans complained that the Democrats wouldn’t l

Next week on April 22 more than a billion people from 192 countries around the globe will participate in Earth Day. For 43 years now, individuals and groups have used this day to draw attention to planetary problems and the actions needed to protect our home. Last year, the theme was about going green and doing environmentally-friendly a

Are we turning the corner economically? If last month’s unemployment report that showed the county gained 3,500 jobs was not enough, reports that the local housing market is on the rebound ought to put a spring in the step of retailers. Porterville, like the rest of the nation, has gone through more than five years of econo

Shane Erickson showed up at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo as a bit of an unknown quantity. That’s no longer the case. The Columbia River Circuit cowboy stood tall when the spotlight shined brightest and walked off with all-around honors, the team roping title with Jade Corkill and a prize money total of $25,502 that broke b