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Budget cuts to state parks are unfortunate
Published December 12, 2005
ACCLAIM AND A SHAME: Acclaim and a shame is a collection of quick hits of praise and comments on local, state and national issues compiled by Facts staff.
Rising expenses and budget reductions are making for a tough time for state parks throughout Texas, and as Scott Boruff put it, “something’s got to give.”
That, unfortunately, means less time for us to enjoy some of our state’s treasures.
Boruff, the chief operating officer for Texas Parks and Wildlife, recently broke the bad news that about 60 parks throughout the state will decrease the amount of time they are open each week.
The Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site in West Columbia is on that list and now is only open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, meaning a visit to the site on a Sunday afternoon is a thing of the past.
The state agency says it is committed to keeping parks open and retaining the “same level of quality service” at Varner-Hogg on a four-day operating service.
It’s a shame the site is faced with cutbacks, but we’re fortunate to have it and many other outstanding state parks in our area.
They truly are destinations we should take advantage of having here in our neck of the woods.
For information about Varner-Hogg Plantation, call (979) 345-4656 or follow the “Parks and Destinations” link at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Web site, www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
Angleton handling smoking ban proposal correctly
Add Angleton to the list of cities to consider curbing public smoking, and to the list of cities going about making the decision the right way.
Angleton City Council will form a committee in January to study whether it should follow Brazoria County cities Alvin and Lake Jackson in banning smoking in restaurants and other public buildings.
That committee will include council members, business owners and residents, who will gather information and public input on the pros and cons of such a move.
There are, of course, health issues to consider when allowing people to smoke indoors, but business owners already have expressed concerns that banning smoking in their restaurants could mean a drop in customers.
Angleton’s approach is quite similar to that of Lake Jackson’s in recent months and seems to be the right way to handle the proposal.
A thorough study with input from residents and business owners is necessary before any decision can be made.
Port Freeport steps up in time of need
When Chiquita’s warehouses in Gulfport, Miss., were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the company brought an increased volume of activity to Port Freeport.
Things have gone so well, that increase in business has likely found a new home.
Port officials recently announced they were leasing additional rail space and upgrading the property to accommodate the surge in business seen here since the damage to the Mississippi port.
Pat Farrell, general manager of Chiquita, said Port Freeport has done a good job for the company which found itself in a pinch because of the hurricane. Tobey Davenport, vice chairman of the Port Freeport board of commissioners, said handling the increased business means more revenue for the port, more jobs and diversification of cargo.
“It’s a very significant addition to our products that we handle through our port,” he said.
Port Freeport gained the additional business because of an unfortunate situation, but it’s encouraging to see they made the most of it — to the point that the surge in business felt after the storm might turn into a permanent flow of increased operations.
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