I sometimes wonder if they’re still teaching about what local governments can and cannot do for citizens in civics classes. To be honest, if I weren’t involved in the newspaper’s coverage of our local governments, I’m not sure how familiar I’d be with the subject.
Several of our local governing bodies are taking a stab at fixing that by holding a series of public forums in different areas of Snyder. The first will be Monday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church’s fellowship hall at 6 p.m.
During the Make A Difference Forums, the public will learn a little bit about what our local governments are up to, and then have the opportunity to ask questions. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the public to get a better understanding of how their local tax dollars are being put to work.
Organizers should be commended for taking their messages to the people, rather than the usual tactic of trying to bring the people to the message.
I hope to see many of you there and I hope you’ll come prepared with lots of constructive questions. Hopefully we’ll all walk out with a better understanding of what our local governments can and cannot do to improve citizens’ lives.
**
Not long after the first Make A Difference Forum, the newspaper and Snyder Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a mayoral forum featuring incumbent Tony Wofford and challenger Stephanie Ducheneaux.
College on the Square is hosting the April 18 forum, which is open to the public. I’m still gathering questions to ask the two candidates during the forum, as well as in the Candidate Q&A the newspaper will publish in that weekend’s edition. My email address is at the end of this column or you can scribble your question down on a scrap of paper and drop it off at the newspaper office.
There are some opportunities on the horizon, as well as issues facing our town, and the forum will be a great way to get a feel for how the two candidates will approach those.
The forum will begin at 5:30 p.m. and like Monday’s forum, I hope to see many of you there.
**
I guess I picked a good time to have a daughter decide to pursue her college education in Lubbock.
Last month Georgiana learned she’d been accepted into the music program at Texas Tech and last week for my birthday she gave me a red and black “Double T” T-shirt to wear when we go to games to see her perform as a member of the Going Band from Raider Land.
Because I’m writing this Friday, I’m not sure how the Red Raiders will do in their Final Four game Saturday night, but I’ll be wearing my new T-shirt and rooting for my new second favorite university when they tip off against Michigan State.
**
In honor of award-winning columnist Steve Reagan pouncing on a story I sent him earlier this week, this Associated Press story out of Michigan includes a bonus lesson for Towle Park visitors.
Police at Eastern Michigan University say potentially aggressive geese have been spotted on campus and posted a video on social media showing one goose attacking and chasing a person in a school parking lot. Police say the attack happened on the north end of the school’s campus in Ypsilanti. Two geese are nesting in the area, and the birds are protective.
University spokesman Geoff Larcom says it’s not unusual for geese to nest on campus this time of year.
He says several students have reported goose attacks, but no injuries have been reported.
“A few students have tried to take selfies of the geese when they are hissing, but we advise against that,” Larcom told MLive.com.
The moral of the story: When you’re visiting the pond at Towle Park, watch where you step and maybe think twice before taking that selfie.
Bill Crist is the publisher of the Snyder Daily News. Comments about his column may be emailed to publisher@snyderdailynews.com.