Bottoms award chaos as 2000 goes to Y2K and George W Bush
A Permian Basin humor column recounts the 18th annual Bottoms of the Basin awards. The Newsmaker of the Year is declared Y2K, with George W. Bush honored for his West Texas roots and return, while several municipal and political targets receive satirical Bottoms for 2000. Local items include Odessa Council’s expensive median landscaping and a look at budgeting missteps on a $35 million Midland sports complex. Ken Brodnax’s column notes future Bottoms for 2001 and teases car washes and bake sales to fund the spoof award program.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bee Board
Y2k
Bottoms
Buster O’rear
Permian Basin
George W. Bush
West Texas
O’rear
Saad
Odessa
Mission Dorado
Midland County
Joe Lieberman
Huntsman
Midland
Perry pushes higher education drive in Texas
Gov. Perry advances a plan to expand college access in Texas and boost funding for the Texas Grant Program. He notes only one in five Texans hold a degree and calls for increasing state scholarship aid by about 211 million over the next two years. He supports recommendations from the Special Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Higher Education Commission
Commission
Graff recalls Quito trip and rise to county office
Barbara Graff, sworn in as Precinct 3 County Commissioner, recounts a 1979 Quito incident when a fuel shortage and rising prices sparked a mob scene as she drove her son to school. The former teacher and missionary describes resilience gained from global service and her diverse return to Texas public life.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Quito
Ecuador
Barbara Graff
Mitchell
Barbara
Graff
Ector County Independent School District
Tom Todd
Ector County
Ranger
Texas
Evangelical Church
Donaldson Oversees Streamlined Ector County Sheriff Office
In his first week as Ector County Sheriff, Mark Donaldson reorganized the office to reduce top-heavy management. He replaced nine staffers seen as Yearwood supporters and reclassified six positions to lower ranks to free funds for deputies and clerks. Debbie Watters was named chief deputy to lead the reorganized command structure.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ector County
Mark Donaldson
Donaldson
Reggie Yearwood
Yearwood
Sheriff's Office
Debbie Watters
Watters
Humane Society thrift shop opens to aid new shelter
The Ector County Humane Society launches a thrift shop on December 2 to raise thirty thousand dollars for a larger, renovated shelter at 7012 Mockingbird Lane, purchased from the city. Volunteers including Dr. David Weseloh say the move requires utilities upgrades, a new septic system, and a 30 by 90 foot expansion. Del Nesmith notes the project aims to improve care and adoption efforts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ector County Humane Society
David Weseloh
The
Humane Society
Mockingbird Lane
del Nesmith
W. County Road
Also Mentioned on This Page
Ken Brodnax
Link
Freedom.com
Gov. Perry
Rick Perry
Rodney Ellis
Houston
Perry
Austin
Sen. Ellis
Lara Meckfessel
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!