Promising proposal for old Waco High

The fact that this project would be restricted to families with an income of between $20,000 and $30,000 has led some to be concerned. Does that make it low-income housing or public housing? Clearly, people in that income bracket are working and working consistently.

This raises a fundamental question: Who is historic preservation for? If it is only for the stately mansions of upper Austin Avenue, it is nothing more than a nice hobby for those who can afford it.

Well, historic preservation has to be for all of us. It is more than stately mansions. It’s also neighborhoods of cottages and bungalows.

It is churches and county courthouses, and schools.—Guest Columnist Ken Hafertepe, Waco Tribune-Herald

Upscale retirement community announced for Waco

Businessman and Greater Waco Chair Bob Davis is helping to bring a $65 million retirement village to far West Waco, and he knows who the first residents will be: his mom and stepdad.

Wesley Village will go up on 62 acres at U.S. Highway 84 and Old Lorena Road, on land Davis and his wife, Erin, made available to Sears Methodist Retirement System. The Davises donated some of the land and sold the balance.—by Mike Copeland, Waco Tribune-Herald

Chamber wins place at table on important energy/environmental issue

Over the objections of TXU attorneys, administrative law Judge Henry Card named the Greater Waco Chamber an “affected party” in the upcoming hearing, along with numerous environmental groups and local residents concerned about the plants’ emissions.—J.B. Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald

In a statement to members, the Chamber President Jim Vaughan said—

With the unanimous approval of the executive committee, the Greater Waco Chamber requested and won the right today to participate in the case hearings for the air permits for TXU coal-fired plants at Lake Creek and Tradinghouse. 
 
These hearings will begin in early 2007. 

Being included in this process gives the Chamber the opportunity to continue to speak as one of the economic development authorities of Greater Waco and to represent our member-businesses in the ongoing review of this critical issue. 
 
We recognize that the building of these plants can have a significant positive economic impact on our community.

However, we are concerned that at this stage of the process there has not been adequate development of the potential adverse affects of multiple plants in our area.

Accordingly, we have sought party status in these proceedings to seek proof that the proposed plants will not cause Greater Waco to move into non-attainment status, which would adversely affect our competitive advantage for new companies and expansions by existing firms. 
 
David Lacy, Rick Brophy and Sarah Roberts represented the Chamber at the hearings and we welcome your input.

A blueprint for Iraq: Will it work in the White House?

In 142 stark pages, the Iraq Study Group report makes an impassioned plea for bipartisan consensus on the most divisive foreign policy issue of this generation. Without President Bush, that cannot happen.—News Analysis by Sheryl Gay Stolberg, The New York Times

Visionary builder, developer retires; leaves huge mark on Atlanta region

Former Georgia Governor George Berry calls Tom Cousins, "one of the most influential businesss leaders in the history of the city of Atlanta.

Tom Cousins came to Atlanta in 1954 when the tallest thing in town was a church spire. Thursday, his 75th birthday, he'll retire from working life having helped build his adopted city into the pinnacle of the New South.—by Walter Woods, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

What's the definition of insantity?

Answer: Doing what you have done and expecting different results!



Chattanooga—On Friday afternoons, it takes Carol Underwood as long as 40 minutes to drive about 15 miles along Interstate 24 during her daily commute from her job in East Brainerd to her Lookout Valley home. "That's just the 5 o'clock traffic," she said. "It's horrible."

Waco—Traffic was snarled for several hours after a tractor-trailer carrying produce crashed into the Interstate 35 median between northbound and southbound traffic at 10:45 a.m. The accident happened near Robinson between Sun Valley Drive and State Highway 6.

Wow! Noles upset defending champs

For Seminoles fans who saw their football team come within a touchdown of knocking off the highly ranked arch-rival Florida Gators a week ago, Sunday night was oh-so-sweet.

Florida State's men's basketball team ended a two-game losing skid and stunned No. 4 Florida - the defending national champion - 70-66, prompting the sellout crowd to rush the Civic Center floor in a sea of garnet and gold.—Tallahassee Democrat

Rebuilding Waco's square

Of this place, our place, we need a big chunk to remain ours.

But rather that huge, asphalt parking lots used just a few times a year, imagine housing, shops, offices—all surrounding parking—bringing people to use the important downtown area 365 days a year.

Heritage Square will be significantly enhanced by having buildings surrounding it, particularly with people making it an everyday place to relax or have a sack lunch.

With more people on a regular basis will come more pretexts for gathering, like noontime music, chess competitions, walking, jogging — you know, what happens in a real city.—Based on a column by John Young, Waco Tribune-Herald