Giddings, Texas, Times & News - Thursday, February 13, 2020 - Page 7b Man still believes it was black jaguar he saw here Turaj Zaim thinks it was female protecting cubs Turaj Zaim, who became its waiting, flanking, and towards re-categorizing it the latest to report the measured approach were as for convenience. sighting of a jaguar, or hallmarks of the South 2. “Scientific evidence” black panther, here in Lee American jaguar’s behav- is not necessary when County, responded to a ior,” Zaim stated. multiple sightings from follow-up story published “There is a killer of kill- people as reputable as a in the Times & News. ers roaming Lee County, local judge correlate with Zaim, like a half dozen and in my opinion it be- no discrepancy. The ap- or more Lee County resi- haved as a mother de- propriate conclusion is dents who over the past fending cubs, so soon that there probably is such decade or longer, is con- there will be more. My a cat there and a scientist, vinced this was no large theory is there must be like I don’t know, maybe A LARGE CROWD was housecat that he encoun- several jaguars who have one employed by the Park in attendance at the 100th tered one night north of returned to North America & Wildlife department, year celebration of the Gid- Giddings on Hwy. 77 near (whence they probably should assemble a team dings Public Library and the Hwy. 21 intersection in came) because of Brazil’s to investigate the anomaly. Cultural Center. the Lincoln area. deforestation of the great- 3. Most people don’t ­-- Times & News Photos Zaim said there is abso- est natural treasure, and I know anything about the lutely a black jaguar of the have already read reports jaguar, and shouldn’t com- South American variety in of one in the southwest, ment on cats or on any Lee County, and he knows and know of a hunter who animal you cannot bother what he heard when he spotted a third one outside to do 15 minutes of brush- was on the top of his truck. of McAlister, Oklahoma,” ing up on. (Start with the He added that the jaguar he added. half dozen sightings over or black panther darted Let me clarify the issue the past couple decades in sideways through the for you, Zaim stated the Mexico). shadows when he scared following: 4. A black jaguar only it (by accident) just before 1. It is a black panther, a generation or two re- its pounce, and returned to or a black jaguar, that moved from the heart of its observation spot within is roaming Lee County, the Amazon almost killed VERDETTA JOINER, to Library Director Pam the foliage from where it and in my opinion raising me last year for getting right, president of the Lee Hutchinson for her long had watched him and his children -- which would too close to her cubs. I County Historical Com- and dedicated service to the girlfriend before. necessitate the recent ex- didn’t even see her and I mission, presents a plaque local library. “The woman I was with istence of a healthy male can assert that. I offer it has a helicopter pilot’s somewhere in the state or to you now as a warning, TIM KLEINSCHMIDT, bordering states as well. a longtime city attorney, 20/20 vision, and she saw should this letter inspire was the keynote speaker at a cat of jaguar length but It is not a black cougar you to engage in the type the Library’s 100th birth- only in silhouette, and or black mountain lion or of thinking and explo- day celebration. only because its body was whatever other mammal ration that is being de- darker than the shadows your field-wide psycho- funded and evaporating it moved through. That’s logical tendency toward from American sciences a black panther whether reductionism would sub- in general. you like it or not, and consciously drive you Bumblebees could be facing extinction LONGTIME Giddings dings Public Library and Library board members Cultural Center are Sue Climate change has con- we offer an answer to the in attendance at the 100th Placke, left, and Minnie tributed to drastic declines critical questions of how anniversary of the Gid- Simmang. in the population and di- and why that is,” Soroye versity of bumblebees said. “We find that (bee) across North America and species extinctions across WATER delivered to District board Europe, according to a two continents are caused members last Friday. Post LIBRARY Director Pam new long-term study of by hotter and more fre- (FROM PAGE ONE) Oak Board President Sid- Hutchinson speaks to the more than 60 bee species. quent extremes in tem- ney Youngblood had pre- crowd at the Library’s In fact, the researchers peratures.” testing of the pipeline has viously ruled that no ad- 100th birthday. discovered that bumble- The study found that commenced with deliver- ditional public comment bees are disappearing at in the course of a single ies of water to the city be- would be received at the Pickup hits sign rates “consistent with a human generation, the ing discharged by SAWS Thursday hearing. pole in parking lot mass extinction.” likelihood of a bumblebee to a local creek during the Last week’s letter was A 65-year-old man was MAYOR John Dowell The scientists said that population surviving in a testing. delivered by Milam Coun- North America’s bumble- given place has declined Once official deliveries ty landowner and attor- not injured in a minor one- welcomes the large crowd vehicle wreck Thursday, in attendance at the Gid- bee populations fell by 46 by an average of over 30 begin, the San Antonio ney, Judith McGeary, on percent between the two percent. Water System (SAWS) re- her own behalf and on Feb. 6 at 7:07 p.m. dings Public Library’s 100th anniversary. time periods the study Bumblebees are the best portedly expects to use the behalf of Milam County Samuel Z. Damon of Smithville was driving a used -- from 1901 to 1974 pollinators we have in full 50,000 AFY in its sup- members of the Farm and from 2000 to 2014. wild landscapes and the ply system. Critics of the and Ranch Freedom Alli- 2013 Chevrolet Silverado pickup in the Walmart Bee populations were most effective pollinators 30-year supply contract ance (FARFA). McGeary Step Into the hardest hit in warming for important crops like fear the very expensive serves as the Executive parking lot when he turned left and struck a sign pole, southern regions such tomato, squash, and ber- water will unduly burden Director of Cameron- Past ... 1963 as Mexico, due to more ries, Soroye said. “Our ratepayers. based FARFA. said Sgt. Stephen Stem. April 11, 1963 frequent extreme warm results show that we face Draws critical audience FARFA’s website lists years, which exceeded the a future with many less The Post Oak District its work as helping inde- may be attempting to add species’ historical tem- bumblebees and much less pendent family farmers water to its permit to avoid ‘Million Dollar’ headquarters was filled rainfall soaks Lee perature ranges. diversity, both in the out- at the October hearing as well as protecting a permit cutbacks in future. “If declines continue at doors and on our plates.” healthy and productive Post Oak Rules allow such county area by landowners and oth- A bountiful rain, which this pace, many of these In an accompanying per- ers who uniformly spoke food supply for consum- cutbacks under certain cir- species could vanish for- spective article in Science, against the proposed ers. McGeary is a fre- cumstances, but a SAWS’ could be termed a “mil- ever within a few de- Jonathan Bridle and Al- amendments, primarily quent speaker at Post Oak representative has been lion dollar rainfall” in cades,” said study lead au- exandra van Rensburg of the pumping increase. meetings and has been public quoted that SAWS Lee County, soaked the thor Peter Soroye, a PhD the University of Bristol Lee County Judge Paul involved in its rulemaking will not be bound by any area last weekend with student at the University write that “the new study Fischer spoke to the Board and permitting programs. cutbacks. from two to over four of Ottawa. adds to a growing body about the need to protect Letter covers concerns McGeary makes the case inches in several com- “We’ve known for a of evidence for alarm- our mutual groundwater McGeary’s full letter that SAWS has also al- munities. while that climate change ing, widespread losses of resources. is posted on the FARFA ready publicly stated it “The rain was just per- is related to the grow- biodiversity and for rates Prior to the hearing, Bur- website at http://farman- has no “need” for at least fect,” said one coun- ing extinction risk that of global change that now leson County landowner dranchfreedom.org/cat- 15,000 AFY of the origi- ty farmer, “and we animals are facing around exceed the critical limits Sidney Zgabay filed a for- egory/water-2/. nal 50,000 AFY it agreed couldn’t have ordered a the world. In this paper, of ecosystem resilience.” mal protest and requested In the letter’s summary to buy. SAWS has tried to more perfect one.” a contested case hearing. of her concerns, McGeary sell to third parties either It was a near perfect Zgabay cited concerns the noted several deficiencies this surplus Vista Ridge seasonal rain that was pany’s general office in Brenham ISD, city to well his family depends in the amendment applica- water or Edwards Aqui- fairly general through- Brownwood. offer anti-vaping session fer water that is rendered on will be damaged from tion, which form the basis out most parts of the Plans for development The Brenham ISD and increased pumping. for the District to refuse surplus to SAWS because state. With the sun com- and expansion of rural of the Vista Ridge supply. city of Brenham are invit- Zgabay later dismissed granting the amended per- ing out again imme- telephone service in the ing citizens of the commu- his protest due to personal mits. In addition to alleged Raised similar concerns diately after the two- Northrup and Dime Box nity to learn more about and family reasons in ad- failures to comply with Several representatives day slow rain which areas have been under the dangers of vaping and vance of a State Office of District Rules, Vista Ridge of the central Texas-based began early Thursday way for some time now. how to keep their children Administrative Hearings has not publicly revealed Simsboro Aquifer Wa- morning, everything is Some Long Distance safe. decision on whether his why it needs more water. ter Defense Fund spoke Calls Now Cost Less “We believe that parents protest would be allowed. McGeary’s letter essen- against the Vista Ridge looking good as far as crops and grassland are Many out-of-state long and educators have shared Another formal protest tially concludes the extra amendments at the Oc- distance calls placed responsibility to shape our was filed by Dr. Curtis water will be wasted and tober hearing. Written concerned. Dial Phone Contract after 9 pm now cost children’s future, includ- Chubb, a Milam County not used beneficially, as is comments by the group’s ing educating them about rancher and retired profes- required under the Texas director, Lee Coun- for Northrup less. The “after 9” rates A contract for manu- became effective on the potential dangers and sor. Dr. Chubb often pub- Water Code. ty landowner Michele consequences,” said Su- lishes articles and reports The additional water Gangnes, are published facture and installation April 4. of central office equip- Officials of Southwest- perintendent Walter Jack- about the need to protect may be needed either be- on the SAWDF website son. aquifers in the Post Oak cause of evaporative loss- at https://simsborowa- ment for a new dial ern States Telephone District. es in the cooling system terdefensefund.org, and telephone system in the said lower interstate Chubb dismissed his that precedes the piping raised some of the same Northrup area has been rates will be in effect SURPRISE own protest at the October of water to San Antonio, concerns that McGeary’s awarded to Automatic from 9 pm until 4:30 am SOMEONE WITH 3 hearing, after expressing or the pipeline incurs leak- letter addressed in detail. Electric Company. daily on station to sta- A BIRTHDAY AD public frustration with the age, or both. A hydrolo- The website also includes tion calls of more than AND PHOTO IN THE G.M. Brennan, divi- TIMES & NEWS!!! operations of the District. gist’s report buried in the Mr. Zgabay’s original pro- sion manager for South- 220 miles. Increased permit Vista Ridge application test of the amendments. western States Tele- Telephone officials A detailed letter pro- offers both explanations, phone, said the con- pointed out that calls to station basis, for $1 testing the permit for in- according to McGeary. E-MAIL GIDDINGS tract was awarded a may be made to the for 3 minutes where the creased pumping in the She offered as a third TIMES & NEWS AT few days ago after bids most distant point in the lowest charge for such a Simsboro was reportedly possibility Vista Ridge [email protected] were opened at the com- United States, on station call has been $1.75.