Donald Carrol Symons
Donald Carrol Symons, 89, of Sherman, Texas, passed away on May 18, 2022. Don was born January 22, 1933, in Henrietta, Texas to Edward J.
June 2022
Read MoreDonald Carrol Symons
Essay: America’s first modern mass shooting never really ended
The stench of burnt powder hung in the air as the elevator doors opened, knocking Ramiro Martinez back on his heels for an instant. Having muttered a desperate Hail Mary to himself, the off-duty Austin police officer rushed into the observatory of the Tower at the University of Texas, where a depraved killer, armed with a Remington 700, a shotgun, an M1 rifle and a grudge against the world, had rained bullets down on the “Forty Acres” for nearly 90 minutes.
Go Native?
Back to Oregon with Nancy Buley and the J Frank Schmidt and Son Tree Company (JFS). Nancy explained experimental trees never go to market. They are first chosen for their unique traits including diversity of genes, adaptability to climate change, resiliency in tough urban environments, resistance to diseases and pests, easy care and profitability. These trees are grown in test blocks for potential introduction later. Trees may be cultivars, nativars and natives.
At the movies: Fire Island is a comedic vacation you can’t miss
One of the many reasons that the HBO Max program Our Flag Means Death caught on like wildfire earlier this year was because it was just the kind of pop culture property queer viewers had spent years pining for. Here was a production where basically everyone was queer, with their sexuality and genders not being solely defined by bigoted cis-het people. There was variety in their personalities while queer perspectives were the dominant ones in the frame at all times. Fire Island, a new comedy from director Andrew Ahn, is not the exact same thing as Our Flag Means Death (queer media can be varied in town and style, shocker shocker) but it does continue the welcome trend of making queer stories involving lots of varied queer perspectives in stories that aren’t about coming out or dealing with intolerant relatives. Oh, and also like Our Flag Means Death, it’s also very funny.
Campus ministries, counselors join to tackle mental health
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — As student anxiety skyrockets, campus ministries are trying to help by not only offering the comforts of faith and community, but also creating collaborations with mental health professionals.
Moments with the Minister: If not now, when?
In the Book of Acts Chapter 17, the apostle Peter is summoned to Jerusalem to appear before the other leaders of the Jesus movement. In a way he’s being called to the principal’s office. The other original disciples, now themselves Apostles, focused their ministry only on the Jewish people. Peter had breached protocol by bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. Peter’s defense to the Jerusalem Council is to simply recount the events of chapter 10. Peter says, “If God gave [the Gentiles] the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who am I?
Richard Gere helps Carnegie Hall raise money for Ukraine
NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Richard Gere hosted a benefit concert for Ukraine at Carnegie Hall that raised $360,000 for Direct Relief, a humanitarian organization providing medical aid. Soprano Angel Blue, mezzo-sopranos Denyce Graves and Isabel Leonard, pianist Evgeny Kissin, violinists Midori and Itzhak Perlman, Tony Awardwinner Adrienne Warren, singer Michael Feinstein, jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, mandolinist Chris Thile and Broadway actress Jessica Vosk were among the performers Monday night during a program whose themes included prayer and dreams.
Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction upheld by appeals court
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court on Thursday upheld Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction and 23-year prison sentence, rejecting the movie mogul’s claim that the judge at his landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced him by letting women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the criminal case.
Police: Tulsa gunman targeted surgeon he blamed for pain
A man who blamed his surgeon for continuing pain after a recent back operation bought an ARstyle rifle and opened fire hours later at a Tulsa medical office, killing the doctor and three other people in an attack that ended with him taking his own life, police said Thursday.
DIARY: One mother of many, watching the news and worrying
BOSTON (AP) — “My No. 1 job is to keep you and your sister safe.” That’s what I tell my toddler almost daily when I remind him not to jump off the couch, stand on the kitchen counter or dart across the street without me.