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Rutledge seeks Reelection to Bridge City School Board

Becky Rutledge is seeking reelection to the Bridge City School Board

NOT AN ENDORSEMENT

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My name is Rebecca Rutledge.  My husband David & I met when we were both at Bridge City High School; soon we will celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary.  We have been blessed with three daughters, three son-in-laws, and five grandchildren.

We are members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where I serve on the Vestry (governing board).  I also serve as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, serve on the Altar Guild, and participate in the Daughters of the King, which is an Order of prayer & service.

Since 2007 I have been associated with Leadership South East Texas and currently serve on the Governing Board.  This organization does a phenomenal job of promoting Southeast Texas.  In 2014, I received the Frances K. Monk Award for lifetime service to this group. 

I serve as team captain on a USTA adult tennis league.  I also play golf occasionally.  My other hobbies include gardening and cooking.

I recently retired after working 48 years in the road building industry.  I spent most of my career in management serving as Materials Sales Manager for the last 15 years.   

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It has been an honor to serve as a Trustee of the Bridge City Independent School District. My work on this Board has enabled me to give back to this community that means so much to our family.

During my time on the Board, I have earned close to 400 continuing education hours in School Governance.  In 2013 I was chosen to participate in the Leadership TASB program.  TASB is the Texas Association of School Boards. My participation in this group took me all over the State touring schools and interviewing great educators. Upon completion of the course, I earned the designation of “Master Trustee.”

Being on the Board is like balancing on a three-legged stool.  We must balance the interests of our taxpayers, our employees, and our students.  My tenure on the Board of Trustees brings valuable experience.  I have a comprehensive understanding of complex school finance issues and know how to navigate fluctuations and shortfalls in funding from the State of Texas.  

Fiscally, I am very conservative when it comes to spending the district’s money.  When I was first elected to the Board our funds were at an all-time low.  Through some tough decisions and belt-tightening, our fund balance began to grow.  We must be diligent in how and when we use our fund balance.  But the good news is the funds are available in case of an emergency, and for important capital projects for our district.

We have so much to celebrate in our District.  Our test scores are up, our children are engaged, and good things are happening on every campus.  In every program, our kids are not only able to compete, but they excel.

I am very proud of all that we have accomplished during my time on the Board, especially in creating opportunities to show our appreciation for the dedication and hard work of our employees. We have implemented a longevity bonus, as well as free lunches for all employees. 

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These achievements don’t happen by luck.  They happen because we have dedicated teachers and administrators committed to bringing out the best in our kids.  It happens because Board members are willing to step up and make hard decisions for the betterment of our schools.  

I am looking forward to working with our new Supt., Mike Kelly and I share his fantastic vision for our District. I want to encourage everyone to “Get on the Bus” and help move our District forward.  

I sincerely thank you for allowing me to serve on the Board of Trustees.  I humbly ask for your vote and promise to do everything in my power to “keep Students first.”

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A few thoughts

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I won’t even pretend I understand all of the book of Revelation…but I do understand quite plainly that I do wish to spend eternity in Heaven…..

Keep in mind. The rapture comes before the anti christ.  I have been reading the Bible and it really does always come down to this. I have been hearing about the second coming of Christ and the events unfolding since I was a child. The “Mark of the Beast” Artificial Intelligence,  microchips, no cash/digital currency, Total Government dependency/control. When we are raising a family, working long hours, some two jobs, lots of things go unnoticed or just get ignored.

No one can comprehend how bad it will be, but we see it happening, bit by bit, on the news everyday.

While the devil is preparing people for the Anti Christ, God is preparing people for the Rapture. I don’t know when the rapture will take place but I know that I won’t be left behind when that trumpet sounds!

I also believe right now that God is giving us a chance to repent. We need to get the Gospel message out!!! Until the Good Lord calls me away from this world to go home, I want to make it clear that I believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only True Lord and Savior. Despite the fact that I am human, and I fail a lot, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

This is the best challenge I have seen on Facebook; so, if the Holy Spirit moves you and you’re not ashamed, just copy, and make this your status update.

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I’m a believer in God The Father,  Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit Amen! 🙏♥️🙏

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Preparing for Disasters in Orange County, Texas

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Submitted by Wendy Garrison of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

As Many of us know, here in southeast Texas, August is the time we focus on the Gulf. Many of us have experienced hurricanes, flooding, tornados, and industrial disasters and we are reminded by our county and city officials to have a plan in these cases. Materials are available online and packets are located at the Orange County Emergency Management at 11475 FM 1442, Orange, TX 77630, and have been distributed throughout the year but remember you may need to modify your plans based on your family’s needs. Registering for the STAN helps us be updated on emergencies and major events happening in our area. If you need more guidance, each of our communities has personnel who train year-round to manage emergencies and assist residents. Contact your local emergency management office for more information.

So, what now? Hopefully, you have a plan to keep your family safe. Pets may be considered by us to be family; however, domesticated animals require other considerations when preparing for emergencies. Some accommodations we seek may not accept or have facilities for our pets. If by chance you need to go to a temporary shelter: identification, leashes, shot records, and if possible, portable kennels are key. Places such as this have limited space and pets will need to be housed in a separate facility from you. If your pet has been separated from you due to unforeseen events, visible identification with your contact information and a microchip may help in a quicker reunion with your pet after an emergency.

Livestock owners who can transport their livestock prior to an emergency should be prepared and know the places and contact numbers of the facilities they choose to go to. Consider the amount of food and water needed to travel with your animal. As with pets, you may be separated from your animal. Visible markings, as well as microchips, will aid in a quicker reunion with your animal.

Make sure your animals are in good health and updated on their vaccinations prior to transport. Best practice, check with your vet about what vaccines are needed to be boarded, or sheltered in a facility with other pets, and keep the records with you.

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Here is a list of websites that will help you make a plan that fits your needs:

Texas Animal Health Commission: https://www.tahc.texas.gov/emergency/naturaldisaster.html

AgriLifeLearn.com: https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/global-search/disaster?c__results_layout_state=%7B%7D

Orange County Disaster Rebuild: https://www.ocdisasterrebuild.com/

Texas Department of Emergency Management: https://www.tdem.texas.gov/

Ready.gov: Plan Ahead for Disasters | Ready.gov

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Observations

Sen. Robert Nichols: My Five Cents for 2 February 2023

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Submitted by State Senator Robert Nichols

It’s Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this week, indicating six more weeks of winter; unwelcome news after ice storms covered much of the state this week. The iconic groundhog made his 137th appearance and records of his predictions go back to 1887.

Here are five things happening around your state:

  1. Abbott names new border czar

This week Governor Abbott named long-time Border Patrol agent Mike Banks to be the new Texas Border Czar. He will report directly to the governor and ensure border security strategies are fully executed in Texas. He will work collaboratively with the Texas Military Department, the Department of Public Safety, and other relevant agencies to continue Operation Lone Star. Mike Banks was the Border Patrol Weslaco Station Patrol Agent in Charge. He has over 30 years of federal law enforcement experience. He’s worked in multiple stations stretching the length of the US-Mexico border. Before joining the Border Patrol, he was a member of the US Navy Military Police. The unprecedented crisis at our southern border demands action and Governor Abbott has stepped up to the plate to address it. I appreciate his continued leadership on this issue.

 

  1. SFA Board of Regents approves change to salaries

At a recent meeting, the SFA Board of Regents approved mid-year salary increases for university employees, an increase in non-resident fees, and an increase to university meal plans and housing. Employees will receive a six percent increase to their base salary after the board approved the $3.5 million expenditure. Interim President Dr. Steve Westbrook said the board requested this increase from the University of Texas System after they decided to affiliate. The SFA board voted last year to affiliate with the University of Texas System rather than remaining independent. The transition requires legislation, which I am excited to carry with Rep. Travis Clardy this session. The legislation will ensure that the university retains the name Stephen F. Austin– a measure of great importance to the university, the community, and to me.

  1. Comptroller receives $363 million in grants for broadband

 

Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced this week that the agency will receive $363 million in federal grants to increase access to affordable, reliable broadband to more than 150,000 homes and businesses in Texas. The US Treasury’s award will go to the Bring Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) program. The BOOT program is a competitive grant program administered through the Texas Broadband Development Office. The program is designed to fund broadband infrastructure projects that cover the last few miles to your home or business. Qualified projects will be located in a designated areas, invest in capital assets, and address critical needs in the community it serves. The office will begin accepting applications for the funds later this spring.  

 

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  1. Caleb’s Law filed in Senate

 Senate Bill 129, also known as Caleb’s Law, was filed by Senator Drew Springer recently. The bill would strengthen penalties for offenders who possess child pornography. Child pornography laws have not been updated since 1989 and the current laws are ill-equipped to handle changes in modern technology. The changes will work to keep kids safe and strengthen punishments for those convicted. The bill includes degrees of punishment based on the amount of materials possessed. It also has enhancements for materials depicting children under the age of 10 and for those taking care of children and receiving money from the state. The law’s name comes from Caleb Diehl, a high school senior who went missing in March 2015.

 

  1. Winter weather resources, TDEM resources

 Winter Storm Mara swept through much of Central and Northeast Texas, causing dangerous driving conditions and power outages across the state. Ice accumulated on roadways, tree branches, and power lines, which caused some outages and many fallen branches. Many state agencies monitored the ongoing weather situation and worked to keep Texans safe, including the Public Utility Commission, Texas Division of Emergency Management, and ERCOT. It is important to note that any power outages experienced during this storm were not a result of lack of capacity on the grid. Those were due to power lines being down due to the storm. We appreciate the hard work of all our first responders and everyone who worked around the clock to keep Texans safe and warm. For more information from TDEM about resources available to you, visit https://tdem.texas.gov/disasters/january-2023-winter-storm.

 

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