I have now finished two months in the office of Mayor. I am just beginning to understand the position and am very sure that I have a lot left to learn.

by Dan Eakin I have been rather sad for more than a week now, because Joe Murray, longtime editor and publisher of the Lufkin Daily News, passed away Sunday, June 25. His funeral was Wednesday afternoon, July 5, at the First Baptist Church of Lufkin.

The Texas Senate on the first day of the Legislature’s second special session unanimously passed a tax bill last Wednesday that increases the homestead exemption and includes a pay hike for teachers, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The first special session ended with the Senate and House unable to agree on how to provide property tax relief.

Special Guest Editorial This time of the year is finally here. The Fourth of July, where we celebrate our nation’s independence with cookouts and fireworks.

Texas’ power grid reported record electricity use early last week. Both the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas are urging residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce electricity use as temperatures soar above100 degrees over much of the state. So far the grid, which administers 90% of the state’s power load, has been able to keep up with demand.

by Dan Eakin The huge storm that took out the electric power for thousands on Saturday night, June 10, created some interesting situations for some churches in Hardin County and the area the following Sunday morning. Some churches had power the next morning and had services as usual.

Capital Highlights Lt. Gov.

One of the hallmarks of a Republic is freedom of speech. When I see the American flag it is not just pride I experience but gratitude for those brave men and women who bled and died on the battlefield.

From the Editors Desk I am told that the 75th anniversary of the Pines Theater in downtown Silsbee is being celebrated this month. That brings back childhood memories to me, although not at the Pines because I did not grow up in Silsbee.

From the Editors Desk Page 4 in this edition there may be an article about getting ready for the hurricane season. Just a couple of weeks before I moved to Silsbee from North Texas last winter, I texted my daughter in Lumberton a photo of a heavy snow which had fallen in front of my house and covering my car in the parking lot.