This is the second of several Opinions to outline the consequences of King Buddy and his Court Commissioners Timmins, Oliver, and Moon actions when they took over the indirect responsibility for City staff hiring and reductions.

King Buddy and his Court of Commissioners made it very clear to City Manager Frank Johnson to retain the unnecessary and very costly position of Winston Robinson. One of the consequence of this over-reach by the King and his Court is all City employees now recognize the City Manager as a figure head not the boss. I believe this past Thursday night's actions of King Buddy and his Court Commissioners Timmins, Oliver, and Moon makes it very apparent that when it comes to hiring and firing of City employees the City Commissioners will make the final decision.

At least twice during last Thursday's meeting the King or one of his Court Commissioners reminded the City Manager they did not have the responsibility to hire or make decisions concerning staff reduction. Of course, the King's very next sentence was along the lines, "However, we can fire you". The City Manager at this point in time had two options: (1) resign or (2) make a position for the $116,000 Mr. Robinson.

By Ron Munden

Last April City Manager Frank Johnson reorganized the city staff. There was a significant shift in responsibility. EastTexasTowns.com requested information from the City Manager to see if the employees' position descriptions (PD) and salaries were adjusted to reflect the change in responsibilities.

The major change in responsibility was in the position held by Winston Robinson. His PD documents that he was responsible for Building Inspection, Code Enforcement, Planning & Zoning, and Community Development programs. Although the City Secretary reported that no new PD was available, we do know that three of the four areas of responsibility were taken away from Mr. Robinson. He now is responsible for the Community Development program. The City reports that his salary before the reorganization was $81,883.36. Today, months after the reorganization, his salary HAS NOT BEEN ADJUSTED.

By George Smith

As a 50-year veteran of newspaper wars, I prided myself on always being upfront and honest and truthful in all respects.

In writing more than 3,000 editorials and 2,000 columns in those years, I fully acknowledge the remote possibility of slipping up occasionally and bending the truth into a pretzel, if not busting it all to pieces.

I was talking "newspapering" recently with a long-time East Texas publisher and I was rambling on about something or other and he said, "What was the real scoop on the column you wrote about newspaper theft?"

Well, there were three actually and two happened in Marshall.

Any newspaper can expect a seven-to-eight percent theft from newspaper racks. That's a pretty good universal number for the percent of thieves that read papers. That number is a given and is figured into circulation budgets.

A good deal of time was spent by commissioners talking about reinstating Winston Robinson, who was the director of inspection services, into the budget.

Doing that would add $116,000 that is not now in the budget; a budget, we would add, that has already been extremely difficult to balance.

The money is a concern, to be sure, but it is worse that city commissioners are trying to get into the day-to-day business decisions of the city.

That is not their business. And when they make it so, it should send up red flags to everyone involved.

Opening the door in this regard would set an extremely dangerous precedent.

If commissioners can pressure City Manager Frank Johnson to hire a certain person, it only stands to reason that they can exert such pressure to get another person fired, which opens up an entirely new area to worry about.

City commissioners are elected to set the policy of the city. It is up to the city manager to see these policies are carried out. Hiring decisions do not qualify as policy, and city commissioners need to butt out.

The Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau approved an new online hotel booking engine for the www.visitmarshalltexas.org site during its regular meeting Monday afternoon at City Hall.

"The Web site has been designed to handle booking and will use Jack Rabbit Systems recommended by the Las Vegas CVB," said Brand Manager John Arend. "The proprietary technology will display the best rates in Marshall and tourists will technically be booking directly with the hotels."

Arend added that the system will appear as a frame within the Web site and make strides in assisting the MCVB in monitoring its success rate in generating room nights during tourism events in the city.

Work began Tuesday morning to create a new performance venue downtown in what has been Rotary Park, 100 N. Washington Ave., as the city continues its support of downtown development and tourism.

"Bright and early this morning, the public works crew began preliminary work by removing and salvaging some of the plants and soil tests have been ordered in preparation for the new event space planned for that location," said Main Street Director Bo Ellis.

The city plans for work at the site to be complete ahead of its annual Wonderland of Lights festival which begins just after Thanksgiving with some features slated to be active on Whetstone Square through the end of January.

Funding for the redevelopment of the area is expected to be about $200,000 and will be by both the city and private funding, said City Manager Frank Johnson.

The Chain Gang has weekly rides on Thursday evenings, Saturday mornings, and Sunday evenings. Call Jim Bates at (903) 938-8166 for info.

Jim Bates, Pres.
Marshall Chain Gang

By George Smith

For more than 10 years it was my pleasure ... and sometimes my pain ... to have been in direct competition for Marshall's advertising dollars with Tony Bridge of KMHT AM/FM radian station.

A native of Avinger (which is, like Avery, my growing-up town, so small there is no town idiot ... everybody takes turns), Bridge started a radio station as a youngster. Later, as a junior at Marshall High, he hosed a weekly radio program on KMHT.

A graduate of Southern Methodist University (journalism), Bridge served a stint in the Navy where he produced several weekly radio and show and a television show for his naval unit. And on weekends he found time to be an on-air personality for two Virginia radio stations.

I first met Tony almost 30 years ago. He was an established community leader in Marshall and I was a hotshot (and least I thought so) newspaper publisher of the Marshall News Messenger. At the time, to be honest, I had never met a radio owner, on-air personality or worker bee that I liked. Radio stations I visited were sterile: No smell of ink or paper lint, no bustle-bee swarm of reporters or ad reps. It was, well, serene, and not to my liking.

The August 21st edition of the Marshall News Messenger covered statements made by several candidates at a local reception. My opponent's remarks reported in this article included several inaccurate and misleading statements, as well as personal attacks.

I believe in clean, honest campaigns that focus on providing voters with accurate information about your record of service and the work that has been accomplished to benefit the people you represent. I appreciate this opportunity to set the record straight.

In the article, it is stated that my opponent " ... said as county judge he would make it mandatory to hear from each department head and elected official when it comes to their budget line ups." This statement is misleading because it implies that department heads and elected officials are not currently consulted about the budget. This implication is false.

This website up and running for some time. It is an incredible resource for people with Medicare. This is not just a site for Cross Medical. The site answers common questions about senior citizens Medicare benefits. It is in English and Spanish and has videos that explain options about staying in the home instead of a nursing home. The site has a online catalog with close to 4,000 items. The site provide extensive information to seniors.

The site has a guide for Medicare and Insurance; a help section for patients and caregivers; a glossary of medical terminology and much more valuable information. Do yourself a favor and take a little time to visit the site.

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