VOLUME THREE

I S S U E 43
10. 23.14
"
W
h
i
t
e

f
o
l
k
s
,

n
o

m
a
t
t
e
r

h
o
w

w
e
l
l
-
m
e
a
n
i
n
g

o
r

o
p
e
n
-
m
i
n
d
e
d
,

h
a
v
e

n
o

t
r
u
e

i
d
e
a

w
h
a
t

i
t
'
s

l
i
k
e

t
o

b
e

b
l
a
c
k

i
n

A
m
e
r
i
c
a
.
"

J
o
h
n

R
i
d
l
e
y




$
2
,
2
0
3
,
4
2
2
.
1
3
Mr Gr een Goes t o t he F ai r | Mus t ang L ove | Col by on Cons er vat i s m
PL US: 7 DAY NEW BRAUNF EL S L I VE MUSI C GUI DE PL US: 7 DAY NEW BRAUNF EL S L I VE MUSI C GUI DE
Scott Rolfe's
Art of Assemblage
Page 6
WEEK Seven RESULTS: PAGE 14!
PRICKLY PEAR
LOUNGE
T
X

C
I
T
I
Z
E
N
1
1
1
1

N
.

W
a
l
n
u
t

A
v
e
n
u
e

N
e
w

B
r
a
u
n
f
e
l
s
,

T
X

7
8
1
3
0
8
3
0
.
3
5
8
.
2
4
9
3
A
l
l

o
r
i
g
i
n
a
l

c
o
n
t
e
n
t

i
s

c
o
p
y
r
i
g
h
t

T
X

C
i
t
i
z
e
n
.

T
X

C
i
t
i
z
e
n

i
s

p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d

e
v
e
r
y

T
h
u
r
s
d
a
y
.
O
n
e

c
o
p
y

(
p
e
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
)

o
f

T
X

C
i
t
i
z
e
n

i
s

a
v
a
i
l
a
b
l
e

f
r
e
e

o
f

c
h
a
r
g
e
,

w
i
t
h

t
h
e

p
r
i
o
r

w
r
i
t
t
e
n

c
o
n
s
e
n
t

o
f

T
X

C
i
t
i
z
e
n

r
e
q
u
i
r
e
d

t
o

r
e
m
o
v
e

m
u
l
t
i
p
l
e

c
o
p
i
e
s

f
r
o
m

d
i
s
t
r
i
b
u
t
i
o
n

p
o
i
n
t
s
.

M
u
l
t
i
p
l
e

c
o
p
i
e
s

a
n
d

b
a
c
k

i
s
s
u
e
s

a
r
e

a
v
a
i
l
a
b
l
e

a
t

T
X

C
i
t
i
z
e
n

o
f
f
c
e
s

f
o
r

$
2
.
5
0

e
a
c
h
.
S
T
A
F
F

/

C
O
N
T
A
C
T
P
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
r
/
E
d
i
t
o
r
-
i
n
-
C
h
i
e
f


M
i
k
e

R
e
y
n
o
l
d
s

D
i
r
e
c
t
o
r

o
f

D
i
s
t
r
i
b
u
t
i
o
n

C
h
a
s
e

C
o
c
h
r
a
n
A
r
t

D
i
r
e
c
t
o
r


K
a
y
l
a

W
a
l
l
a
c
e

E
d
i
t
o
r
i
a
l
:

n
e
w
s
@
t
x
c
i
t
i
z
e
n
.
c
o
m
A
d
v
e
r
t
i
s
i
n
g
:

s
a
l
e
s
@
t
x
c
i
t
i
z
e
n
.
c
o
m

D
i
s
t
r
i
b
u
t
i
o
n
:

d
i
s
t
r
i
b
u
t
i
o
n
@
t
x
c
i
t
i
z
e
n
.
c
o
m
P
H
O
T
O

C
R
E
D
I
T
S
C
o
v
e
r
,

C
o
v
e
r

S
t
o
r
y

A
r
t
:
S
c
o
t
t

R
o
l
f
e
S
c
o
t
t

R
o
l
f
e

s

P
o
r
t
r
a
i
t
:
M
i
c
h
a
e
l

L
o
n
g
A
r
o
u
n
d

&

A
b
o
u
t
,

S
p
o
r
t
s
:
K
a
t
i
e

G
o
m
e
z
2 AD SALES 830.358.2493
table of contents
8
Citizen
Soundcheck
The ONLY gui de of i t s ki nd
for t he NB/SM Met ropl ex!
15
12
14
Line Crushers
Our NFL handi cappi ng
cont est i s back for 2014!
1st Word
Counci l man Green at t ends
fai r, wal ks i nt o possi bl e
et hi cs vi ol at i on.
3
Cover Story
The Art of Assembl age
6
Last Word
Col by l et s hi s conser vat i ve
root s show.
13
Sports
The FOCM cooks of f,
chi l i st yl e.
7
Around & About
'St angs, man. 'St angs.
The Ombudsman
Got a probl em? You wi l l .
11
Ask a Mexican
Gust avo of fends i n
t wo l anguages.
ADVERTISE
WITH US
830.358.2493
2 AD SALES 830.358.2493
24 Beers on Tap - Full Bar
Live Entertainment - Pool Tables
BLACK WHALE PUB
367 Main Plaza 830-625-6605
Karaoke Thursday & Sunday
DJs Wednesday Friday Saturday
989 Loop 337 830. 626. 2253 /SweetDreamsNB
FRIday
Johnny Burke 9pm
SATURday
Manzy Lowry Band
9pm
www.rileystavern.com
TAVERN
SINCE
1933
Texas' First Bar After Prohibition! Texas' First Bar After Prohibition!
118 Common St.
830.387.4466
Stop by for
a B
IG
, JU
IC
Y
B
U
R
G
E
R
!
S
P
U
D
RA
N
C
H
Open Mon-Sat 11 to 8
Closed Sundays


1617 BUSINESS 35 S.
GUADA COMA
830-625-2420
guadacoma@nbtx.com
AIR CONDITIONING
HEATING
SHEET METAL
Reserve your spot!
Call 830.221.5221 now!
$20 per person. nbghosttours.com
$3 OFF WITH COUPON CODE TXCITIZEN ONLINE
OR WHEN YOU MENTION THE TX CITIZEN!
215 S. Seguin Downtown NB 830.620.9188
Join us for
Breakfast & Lunch!
w w w. o l i v e s i t a l i a n ma r k e t . c o m
Tuesday-Saturday
9-3pm
/olivesitalianmarket
9103 FM 1102
San Braunfels (Hunter, TX)
512.667.7510
Weds 10.22 David Harris
Thurs 10.23 Cow-E-Oke
Fri 10.24 Biscuit Killers
Football on the 125 all weekend!
Sun 10.26
T-Bone and the Blue Tones 4-7
Open mic every Tuesday night!
HAPPY COW
B A R & G R I L L
910 Gruene Rd. #3
830.387.4378
grueneroadpharmacy.com

/GrueneRoadPharmacy
We are proud to offer:
Prescription Services, Compounding,
OTC Medication & Durable Medical Equipment
You pay the same copay and get more value!
"Bringing personalized service back to pharmacy."
46
337
E
C
O
M
M
O
N
S
T
H
A
N
Z
R
D
G
R
U
E
N
E
R
D
2 AD SALES 830.358.2493 2 AD SALES 830.358.2493 TXCITIZEN.COM 3
The Strange Case of
Councilman Green and
the Comal County Fair
Association
On the heels of last weeks
piece in support of District Two
Councilwoman Aja Edwards
personal efforts to develop a support
program for LGBT youth, were going to
dive right into race issues. Its a civil rights double
shot, yall, with all of the accompanying hazards
for your faithful writer. You see, writing about
race is like defusing a bomb. I make one move
based on a bad assumption and the whole thing
will blow up in my face. Right in it. Fortunately,
Im used to the risks, and people like to watch a
man walk a tightrope. With a bomb.
On Tuesday, September 23, I received the
following text from District One Councilman
George Green: News Flash - Comal County
Fair Association denies City Councilman
George Green entry. That got my attention. He
then requested that TX Citizen staff accompany
him to the Fair the following Friday and
Saturday. The next text that came through read,
in part, Please Recall the contract between the
City and CCFA. Holy cripes! Hardball.
Green went on to explain, via the same
text, that he was told of a code violation at the
Fairgrounds on Friday, September 19, but the
following day was denied entry to the parking
area where it occurred (an area he said he
had been using for the past 50 years). He
went on to detail how he was born and raised
here, how he is the frst African-American City
Councilman in New Braunfels history, and
how hes dealing with the same mind set as
the 60s and 70s in NB today in 2014, at
which point it became clear where this was
going. I was being handed a live bomb.
We didnt attend the Fair with Green
the next weekend, but that Friday night,
(September 26), I received yet another text from
him, reading The CCFA ordered me to leave
an area because its a restricted area for rodeo
contestants. Ive been going to that area for
years. If youre wondering what I was thinking,
it was this: Logistics and personnel change over
time, and with them, so do the rules. This didnt
look like Green was being singled out.
Green went on to let me know he had been
in touch with both a private and Texas Municipal
League attorney regarding the lease agreement
between the City and the Fair Association, and
that The consensus was I have every right to
be anywhere on the property since Im a city
offcial. This was getting real - real fast.
After another message which
included references to a past when
black and brown people (were)
not allowed to drink out of the
water fountain on the Plaza,
and the present, with both local
school districts decision to not
close for Martin Luther King, Jr
Day, and the frst elected African-
American City Offcial in 170 years denied
entry to its (the Citys) own city property, I
agreed to meet with him. After all, that thing
with the lease might have had legs.
After talking with a variety of people over
the next few days, I decided to drop the story,
because Green has a reputation for Dont you
know who I am? behavior around town, and
this was looking like more of the same. A story
with no substance in which Green was going
to end up with egg on his face for complaining
about being denied a measure of respect he
believed he deserved, justifed or not. Before I
rake a politician over the coals, which is kind of
my thing, somebody was going to have to really
go past the line - Im not going to kick the guy over
what I, a white guy whos never experienced a
quantum of racial animus, sees as a non-issue.
Its important to keep in mind that
regardless of todays situation, Green actually
lived through a time when it was way less fun
to be a black man in Texas. The fact remains,
however, that if Im going to back up charges
of racism made in this column, Ill need hard
evidence. That evidence never materialized,
but on Monday, October 13, Green took two
frm, offcial steps over the aforementioned line
when he demanded Council vote on an audit
of the Fair Associations contract with the City.
The Fair Association was at the meeting
and came out swinging, with Past-President
Arlon Hermes outright making the charge that
the proposed audit had no legitimate basis and
was purely retaliatory in nature, prompted by
the Fairs refusal to let Green park in a restricted
area. As it turned out, prior to Greens demand
for the audit, two separate City inspections
were carried out, on his behalf, on the electrical
work that he was concerned with, and both
ruled the work in compliance. City Building
Honcho, Bob The Builder Kinsey, dang near
lost it while explaining to Green that the work
that was being done, a fxture replacement
that one might do at home, did not require a
licensed electrician to carry out. Snap.
Continued on page 5.
MIKE
REYNOLDS
WITH
WORD
1
ST
1085 Kuehler 1085 Kuehler 1085 Kuehler 830-515-7575
Tues- Fri 9-5 Sat. 9-3 Tues- Fri 9-5 Sat. 9-3
830. 620. 4839 256 West Mi l l St t hemundgroup. com
Dont delay call THE MUND GROUP TODAY!
The ACA Open Enrollment period for 2015
coverage begins November 15, 2014.
During Open Enrollment, if you enroll:
Between the 1st and 15th days of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the next month.
Between the 16th and the last day of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the second
following month.
If youre enrolled in a 2014 Marketplace plan, your benefit year ends December 31, 2014. To
continue health coverage in 2015, you can renew your current health plan or choose a new health
plan through the Marketplace during the 2015 Open Enrollment period.
If you dont have health coverage during 2015, you may have to pay a fee. The fee in 2015 is higher
than it was in 2014 2% of your income or $325 per adult/$162.50 per child, whichever is more.
Est. 1986 Est. 1986
1390 McQueeney Rd, New Braunfels
830-625-0045 or wateringholesaloon.com
Become a friend @ facebook.com/theholenb
Halloween Costume Party
Saturday, Nov 1
9pm-1am
CASH PRIZES!
$100 for Most Original
$100 for Scariest
$200 for Best Couple
$100 for Most Original
$100 for Scariest
$200 for Best Couple
Best
Full Bar!
Best
Signature Shot
The Purple
Gecko!
BEST
OF THE
WURST
2014
double winner!
1528 E Common St, Ste 10 | 830.608.9111
$10 of
All Services
Expires 10/31/14, limit one.
Massage | Waxing | Facials | Makeup
4 AD SALES 830.358.2493
Continued from page 3.
Then Mayor (and Eighth Wonder of the
World) Barron Casteel got into it. Honest to
gods, my jaw dropped as Casteel chastised
Green with what might be considered the
greatest display of diplomacy since Nixon
went to China. Heres Casteel conversing with
Psychic City Attorney and You know enthusiast
Madame Val Acevado during the meeting:
Mayor Casteel: I have a question, and
I dont mean to interrupt Councilman Green,
so if Im interrupting you, tell me, because I
wanted to ask the City Attorney a question.
(To City Attorney Acevado) I want to ask
you a question. Not putting you on the spot.
If I, as Mayor, or any of the Council members
on this dais, decided to go out and do some
inspection at any location, were now doing
that outside the scope of our authority. Im not
a licensed inspector. Neither is any member of
this not for the City, Im not your City Inspector,
nor am I your City Attorney. When I step out of
my role as Mayor, or Councilperson, thats a
dangerous problem for us, correct? Youve told
me, or weve talked about some of this.
Madame Acevado: Right. You know, I
mean, a lot of times, a Councilperson is elected
to do certain things within his or her district,
so they, you know, do a lot of, you know,
inspecting in their neighborhoods. If you have a
constituent complaining about something, you
know, the Councilmember will go, as a guest,
not as a trespasser certainly. They dont have
any other rights different than any other citizen
to be on that particular property, you know.
Any job of inspector or inspecting, if
theyre going into, uh, maybe, you know, um,
private property to inspect something, make
sure somethings up to code. At that point, they
could be in danger, uh, you know, um, of being
harmed themselves, and, uh, you know, possibly
being tres being trespassed themselves,
a trespasser on private property. Um, as a
Councilperson, you can again certainly explain
to them, Oh, Im just here because I have a
complaint about fooding, from some people
down the street. And if they want to let you in to
take a look, then, then, you know, youre more
than welcome to, as a Councilperson. But you
do not have a right of entry, or anything like
that, any more than I would.
Casteel: And the same would ring true,
the Fair Association has a lease, I think the
frst option ends in 2015, the other one in
2084. It is their property
Acevedo: Yes.
Casteel: Regardless whether or not the
City has ownership, it is their property under
that leasehold interest. And if they said, No,
Mr. Casteel, youre not allowed to come in
Custom-made
Wurstfest Dresses!
Adul t & chi l dren si zes
Call May at
830.608.1215
5K PAINT RACE & KIDS RUN
Register at
ATHLETEGUILD.COM
NOVEMBER 15, 2014
Entry Fees:
$40 until November 1st*
$45 November 2-14
$50 Race Day
$25 Children 12 & under
*includes T-shirt &
Festivities following the race
TEXAS SKI RANCH
In loving memory of
Annon Drew Snider
Benefitting Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School
PRICKLY PEAR
LOUNGE
THURS & SATURDAY
Karaoke w/World Renowned Johnny V!
FRIDAY
From Vegas, Via Schertz
The Amazing DJKC
SUNDAY
Happy Hour All Day
Get Your Football On!
MONDAY
Happy Hour 'Til 7
TUESDAY
Free Darts & Pool
WEDNESDAY
Hump Day @ The Pear
Still Lookin' For the Camel
THURSDAY
Ladies Night!
KEEPIN' IT
PRICKLY
SINCE
1979
1051 N. IH-35
|
Like us!
In The Ramada 830-625-8017
Halloween Party @ The Pear!!!!
Friday Night, October 31
CASH PRIZES FOR BEST COSTUMES!
First: $25 Second: $15
Third: $5 & razzberries!
American Legion Post 179 American Legion Post 179
410 W. Coll Street 410 W. Coll Street
2nd Annual
Halloween Party
Wear yo ur co st ume! Publ i c wel co me!
CLUB ROOM WILL PROVIDE
MENUDO/PICADILLO/CHICKEN SPAGHETTI
PLUS **POTLUCK**: BRING A DISH IF YOU WOULD LIKE!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31
8-MIDNIGHT
F
u
n
!
D
a
n
c
in
g
!
Music
F ood!
BY DJ FRANK ORTEGA & SON!
830.625.0179
4 AD SALES 830.358.2493 TXCITIZEN.COM 5
Continued from page 3.
Then Mayor (and Eighth Wonder of the
World) Barron Casteel got into it. Honest to
gods, my jaw dropped as Casteel chastised
Green with what might be considered the
greatest display of diplomacy since Nixon
went to China. Heres Casteel conversing with
Psychic City Attorney and You know enthusiast
Madame Val Acevado during the meeting:
Mayor Casteel: I have a question, and
I dont mean to interrupt Councilman Green,
so if Im interrupting you, tell me, because I
wanted to ask the City Attorney a question.
(To City Attorney Acevado) I want to ask
you a question. Not putting you on the spot.
If I, as Mayor, or any of the Council members
on this dais, decided to go out and do some
inspection at any location, were now doing
that outside the scope of our authority. Im not
a licensed inspector. Neither is any member of
this not for the City, Im not your City Inspector,
nor am I your City Attorney. When I step out of
my role as Mayor, or Councilperson, thats a
dangerous problem for us, correct? Youve told
me, or weve talked about some of this.
Madame Acevado: Right. You know, I
mean, a lot of times, a Councilperson is elected
to do certain things within his or her district,
so they, you know, do a lot of, you know,
inspecting in their neighborhoods. If you have a
constituent complaining about something, you
know, the Councilmember will go, as a guest,
not as a trespasser certainly. They dont have
any other rights different than any other citizen
to be on that particular property, you know.
Any job of inspector or inspecting, if
theyre going into, uh, maybe, you know, um,
private property to inspect something, make
sure somethings up to code. At that point, they
could be in danger, uh, you know, um, of being
harmed themselves, and, uh, you know, possibly
being tres being trespassed themselves,
a trespasser on private property. Um, as a
Councilperson, you can again certainly explain
to them, Oh, Im just here because I have a
complaint about fooding, from some people
down the street. And if they want to let you in to
take a look, then, then, you know, youre more
than welcome to, as a Councilperson. But you
do not have a right of entry, or anything like
that, any more than I would.
Casteel: And the same would ring true,
the Fair Association has a lease, I think the
frst option ends in 2015, the other one in
2084. It is their property
Acevedo: Yes.
Casteel: Regardless whether or not the
City has ownership, it is their property under
that leasehold interest. And if they said, No,
Mr. Casteel, youre not allowed to come in
and do this or You may not drive on this,
they have certain rules. Whether I fnd that to
be offensive or not, that is their ability to make
that choice. And so, at that point, I depart from
my ability to investigate?
Acevado: Yes, sir. They could certainly
welcome you on. They could certainly, if they have
their rules in place, um, you know, and they
Casteel: I have to abide by those rules.
Acevado: Yes, sir. You wouldnt have the
right to enter. Neither would the City Manager.
Uh, but our Inspectors certainly would under
color of the ordinance. It gives them authority to
be there to conduct certain inspections. As we
heard from the Building Offcial, weve never
been denied access, uh, when requested, to
enter upon, regardless of the time of day.
The way Barron navigated that minefeld
was epic. Everyone got the message, and Green
was permitted to keep his dignity. Very well
done. Im starting to love this guy. #mancrush
In the end, Council voted against the
audit, with Green contributing the sole aye
to the roll. As for the Fair Association, well,
they were just getting started.
Here Comes the Pain
On Wednesday, October 15, I got a request
from a member of the Fair Association to
attend their meeting later that night. I already
knew that the Association was considering an
ethics grievance against Green, as Hermes
announced that possibility before Council, and
whether or not that was going to be a thing
was to be announced at this meeting.
First of all, let me say this: If I ever harbored
any doubt about there being two New Braunfels,
it was blown to bits at that meeting. Its clear
that there are Fair people, and then there
are Wurstfest people. Wurstfest people wear
whimsical costumes and take group vacations
to Germany and are very, very secretive about
what goes on behind Wurstfest doors. Fair
people wear blue jeans and feed caps and
clearly do physical work for a living. I dont
belong in either group. Maybe there are three
New Braunfels. Wurstfest people, Fair people,
and, um, other the third group consisting of
those that dont own leather pants, refuse to lift
things, and burn bridges for a living.
Anyway, after some formalities, it was
announced that yes, the Association would
indeed be fling a complaint with the Citys
Ethics Commission, with an eye toward
censuring Green, or whatever it is that an
ethics board in Texas Most Corrupt City can
be expected to do. But thats not all. Theyve
sent their grievance up to Americas Hottest
District Attorney, Jennifer Tharp, with the
intent of having criminal charges fled against
Green on some kind of abuse of power basis.
Association President Warren Montague
told me that should Tharp decline the case, they
have a Plan B ready to go, in which theyll fle
a complaint with New Braunfels Police, which
the Fair hopes will trigger an investigation by
Texas Rangers - although that might be a tough
row to hoe should Tharp opt out. They could
also petition the Texas Ethics Commission. This
is all going to get very, very confusing in the
coming weeks. Should be a barn burner.
What we know for sure:
1) Green told us that the Association
denied him entry. This was not true.
2) Green reported the Fair to the City for
code violation conditions which did not exist.
3) Green called for our support of the
revocation of the contract between the City
and the Fair without legitimate cause.
4) Green offcially demanded an audit of
the Association, again without cause.
5) The Fair Association is taking this
very seriously.
6) Green is, in general, a very nice person,
but he ###### up on this one.
The horrible part of all of this is that both
Green and the Fair have endured years of
abuse from people in power. Green grew up
in a time when blacks were treated so poorly
that I still cant believe the entire country didnt
suffer a violent revolution, and the Fair has
had to put up with various Council members
trying to stick it to them for decades. The now-
deceased District Four rep Robert Kendrick
and still-alive, former District Six rep Juliet
Watson before him come to mind. Green had
it worse, but thats not going to fy if this thing
winds up in court.
\m/
Mike Reynolds
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Fun Fact: I wrote the frst draft of this
article while on a road trip, at the Waffe
House in Vidor, TX. The name of the town
sounded familiar, so I asked the waitress what
they were famous for:
Waitress: Hash browns, mostly.
Me: No, I mean the town. Ive heard of
Vidor but I dont remember why.
Waitress: Oh. I dont know. Im from
Beaumont.
Me: Of course you are. (That much was
clear from the condition of her teeth.)
So I Googled Vidor, TX. The irony of
writing this, in the middle of there, wasnt lost
on me. What a world.
Best Damn Lunch Special
in New Braunfels!
12-4 Monday-Friday
$6.99 Lunch Specials
Specials Include Drink and Side
830.620.9091 www.scoresnb.com
223 W San Antonio St, Downtown New Braunfels
Live Trivia
Tuesdays 7:30 - 9:30
50 Cent Wing
Wednesdays
NFL Ticket, SEC &
Longhorn Network!
Dartslive & New Pool Tables
Come Watch
Aggies
vs. Warhawks
This Saturday at 11am!
197 S. Seguin Ave
830.629.0540
ludwigsleather.com
Beautifully M
ade
Saddles!
C
o
m
e
s
e
e
o
u
r
w
o
r
k
!
C
o
m
e
s
e
e
o
u
r
w
o
r
k
!
6 AD SALES 830.358.2493 TXCITIZEN.COM 7
When I was 10 years old, my parents took
me to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. In the
main lobby of the museum, there was a large
sculpture made of various ribbons of metal.
Initially, I couldnt quite fgure out what the thing
was. After some minutes, with sudden clarity, I
saw that it was a person piloting a kayak.
That was an extremely important moment
for me because, for the frst time, I realized
that art didnt have to be just beautiful, it could
be weird, snazzy and full of play. That metal
sculpture increased the landscape I used to
demarcate the defnitions of art.
Since then, I have seen many more pieces
of metal sculptures some brilliant, some
dreadful. The problem with metal sculpting is
that it all too often comes in one of two forms:
The frst is the Implosive Mess, which is
just a bunch of metal detritus stuck to more
metal detritus. The Implosive Mess makes art
sad. The pieces of metal, once discarded, are
happy to fnd themselves useful once again,
until they see the disturbing mutation they have
become. When walking past the sculpture, it
grabs your shirt, begging you to pick up a
sledgehammer and bring it sweet release.
The second unfortunate form is Rustic
Crap. These are a variety of brown metal
pieces stuck together to refect a past our
ancestors worked so hard to get away from.
These pieces often have razor-sharp edges
that lacerate dogs and children.
Luckily, though, I have just discovered
Scott Rolfe, an Austin artist who has restored
my foundering faith in metal sculpting. Rolfes
work, like the kayak sculpture, is fun, which is
one of the most important and often overlooked
requirements of great art. To top it off, Rolfes
pieces are also quite beautiful to look at.
Because of his use of divergent
ingredients, Rolfes work is truly surreal. He
combines a number of elements to put a project
together, things that have little relationship to
one another outside the piece.
His series of post offce boxes best
defnes the Rolfes sense of play. The artist
constructed his pieces from the doors of old
post offce boxes, often with a small animal
poking through the slot. The effect creates
a three-dimensional appearance upon an
already three-dimensional background.
Instead of mail, you get a small horse or
elephant exiting the slot, as if your post
offce box has taken on an inexplicable and
bizarre life of its own.
Rolfe often utilizes animals in his themes,
such as a collection of pieces relating to
various fables from Aesop or his Native
American trickster series.
I have often wondered why I like to
use animals, he said. I make more animal
themes than I do human. When I was a kid,
I would draw animals all the time, and it
just continued. Theres something about their
expressions Im really drawn to.
Rolfe said that some of his fascination for
animals may come from the idea that there is
more to the animal than just what we perceive.
The trickster series are based on Native
American ideas that animals, such as the
raven, are spirits, the artist said. The Native
Americans believed everything had an animist
spirit, especially animals. Each one had its
own personality and power.
Still, dont misconstrue Rolfes creative
intent. He is an artist and, as such, the priority
is on creating something that, well, looks good.
Ive often found that if I try to assign
some philosophical explanation before I start
a piece, thats probably the kiss of death for
it, he said. Your conscious mind is steering
it too much when you should just be giving
it a rest and let the unconscious take over.
Later on, after the piece is done, I might start
to see the meaning behind it. But when Im
working on it, Im just hoping it looks nice and
everythings balanced.
His heart series is a solid example of
this view. Rolfe constructed a series of hearts
made from a variety of objects: wrenches,
gears, fligree, screws and more besides. He
uses just a dash of paint, usually a pastel color,
which adds a visually pleasing touch. The use
of color on such objects is a tricky business
because use too much, and the artwork gets
overpowered by the color.
Ive cursed myself sometimes when I
over-paint, Rolfe said. With gobs of paint,
the details get lost. I try to have a balance so
I can accent the object. This way, I can tell the
story of the piece.
With his heart and post offce box
series, Rolfe said he allows the medium to
dictate the form.
Usually, I go to junk yards or thrift stores,
wherever I can fnd junk, he said. Ill fnd
certain shapes that will remind me of something,
say bat wings for example. Then I will construct
the piece around those key parts.
The next step is to ft and join the pieces
together into a whole. In a sense, Rolfes
constructions are like an Impressionist painting:
up close they are bits and pieces but step a few
feet back, and they come together cohesively.
Ive gotten very creative in the way I attach
things, he said. If the pieces can be attached
by something permanent, like a screw or nail,
thats what I will do frst. Then I will use adhesive,
like JB Weld or glue. I just try think of ways to
make the piece stay together for years to come.
However, it is the construction of the piece
that defnes the work, the in-and-of-itself of the
art. Thus, the construction is the most important
and complex process.
Looking for the parts is fun, but the most
tedious part can also be the scariest, Rolfe
said. Lets say I have to attach two things
together but I need just the right-sized screw so
they will hold together properly, I will have to
cut or shave off parts of one of the objects. If I
cut anything too short, then I will screw it up. It
can be both tedious and harrowing.
Rolfes work can be viewed and purchased
at Traveling Art in Gruene Lake Village. Besides
Rolfe, Traveling Art also has for sale a number
of intriguing pieces by other area artists.
You can also look at more of Rolfes pieces
on his website, srolfe.com, or on his Facebook
page, scottrolfeart. You can email the artist at
scott@srolfe.com, or call him at 512-453-8752.
If you choose to buy one of Rolfes pieces
(they are at various prices), it will be money well
spent. His work isnt the kind of art you hide in
the darkest corner of the basement under old
carpets lest you make eye contact with it. The
beneft of owning one Scott Rolfes works is
that it will remain interesting and attractive, so
you can display it with confdence.
The Assembler - Scott Rolfe
By Nick Rogers
TXCITIZEN.COM 7
L
iv
e
in
t
h
e
U
n
d
e
r
g
r
o
u
n
d
October 24
7-10pm
Michael OConnor!
Taylor Pie!
Jeff Plankenhorn!
$20 at the door
AROUND& ABOUT
Over 100 Mustangs graced the grounds of the Rockin' R in Gruene
last weekend, as Wild Side Stangs and Street Stylin Stangs hosted
a joint meet. Left to right above, the Wild Stangs crew:
Steve Whalen - President
Paxton Piner - Second Offcer
Craig Smith: - Vice President
Juaquin Rodriguez - First Offcer
8 AD SALES 830.358.2493
Thu 10.23
Adobe Verde
Blake Powers
6pm
Oma Gruenes Secret Garten
Jam Night
6pm
On the Rocks
Waylon Payne
7:30pm
Phoenix Saloon
Ken Raba
5pm
Rileys Tavern
Red Dirt Rebellion
9pm
AJs Ale House
Rock & Roll Sing Along Piano Bar Show
9pm
Gruene Hall
Kacey Musgraves
w/ John & Jacob
8pm, SOLD OUT
The Pour Haus
Paul Eldridge
8pm
River Road Ice House
Dolly Shine
w/ Stephen Chadwick
7pm
Fri 10.24
Adobe Verde
JJ Garrett Band
6:30pm
Black Whale Pub
Bill Ayers Band
8pm
The Happy Cow
Biscuit Killers
8pm
Oma Gruenes Secret Garten
Empty Handed Vagabonds
6pm
Michael OConnor, Jeff Plankenhorn, Tyler
Pie
7pm, Underground Show, $20
On the Rocks
Jordan Minor, Lew Card
8pm
Phoenix Saloon
Broseph
5pm
Jesse Stratton
w/ Mandy Rowden, Billy Abel
9pm
Rileys Tavern
Johnny Burke
9pm
Vino en Verde
Two Rivers Trio
8:30pm
AJs Ale House
Rock & Roll Sing Along Piano Bar Show
9pm
Alpine Haus Restaurant
Off the Grid Polka Band
6pm
Billys Ice House
Austin Meade Music
8pm
Gruene Hall
Kacey Musgraves
w/ John & Jacob
8pm, SOLD OUT
The Pour Haus
Travis Parker Band
8:30pm
River Road Ice House
Dan Adams
w/ Rosehill
8pm
Vineyard at Gruene
Buddy Boy
7pm
Sat 10.25
Adobe Verde
Bru Erdman
6:30pm
Black Whale Pub
Adam Johnson
9pm
Y
O
U
R
L
IV
E
M
U
S
IC
G
U
ID
E
8 AD SALES 830.358.2493 TXCITIZEN.COM 9
Oma Gruenes Secret Garten
Smokehouse Guitar Army
1pm
SA Blues Cats
6pm
On the Rocks
Kevin Galloway, Foxtrot Uniform
8:30pm
Phoenix Saloon
Blue Water Highway, The Merles
9pm
Rileys Tavern
Manzy Lowry Band
9pm
AJs Ale House
Rock & Roll Sing Along Piano Bar Show
9pm
Billys Ice House
Austin Gilliam
8pm
Gruene Hall
Flat Top Jones
1pm
Ziggy Marley
w/ Slim Bawb
8pm, SOLD OUT
NB Farm to Market
The New Vagabonds
9am
The Pour Haus
Whiskey Rodeo
9:30pm
Vineyard at Gruene
Ken Raba
7pm
Sun 10.26
Adobe Verde
TBA
6pm
The Happy Cow
T-Bone & the Bluetones
4pm
Oma Gruenes Secret Garten
NBBS Blues Jam
3pm
Phoenix Saloon
James Pardo
3pm
True Audio Outland
7pm
Geronimo VFW #8456
TBA
3pm
Gruene Hall
Slim Bawb
12:30pm
Ponty Bone
5pm
The Pour Haus
Paul Eldridge
8pm
Vineyard at Gruene
Jacob Clark
3pm
Mon 10.27
Rileys Tavern
Songwriter Showcase
w/ John Whipple
8pm
Gruene Hall
Jamie Wilson
6pm
The Pour Haus
JJ Villareal
8pm
River Road Ice House
Haley Cole
7pm
Tues 10.28
Watering Hole Saloon
Empty Handed Vagabonds
8:30pm
Billys Ice House
Austin Gilliam
8pm
Gruene Hall
Tres Womack & Friends
6pm
The Pour Haus
Open Mic w/ Jon Magill
8pm
River Road Ice House
Scott Morgan
7pm
Wed 10.29
Phoenix Saloon
Shand Walton, Oliver Steck
8pm
Rileys Tavern
TBA
9pm
Billys Ice House
Aaron Stephens
8pm
Gruene Hall
The Groovehounds
6pm
The Pour Haus
Dillon Myers
8pm
Vineyard at Gruene
Zack Walther
6pm
SOUNDCHECK BROUGHT T O YOU BY:
337
H
A
N
Z

R
D
G
R
U
E
N
E
R
D
H
U
N
T
E
R







R
D
LOCATED ON
GRUENE RD
BETWEEN
HANZ &
HUNTER RD
Single Origin Espresso and Brews
Handcrafted Blends Whole Bean Coffee
Pastries Breakfast Tacos Free Wi-Fi
The Gruene Grind Coffee Company is now
2348 Gruene Lake Dr. Suite B 830.643.1309
Collectibles
Old Advertising
Vintage Vinyl
OCTOBER SPECIAL
Bring in this ad for 10% off!
New Fall Hours
Tuesday-Saturday 11-5pm
830.620.4404 vinoenverde.com
2351 Gruene Lake Dr
Retail Wine Shop
Wine & Wine Tasting
Craft Beer on Tap
Live Music & Special Events
Retail Wine Shop
Wine & Wine Tasting
Craft Beer on Tap
Live Music & Special Events
10 AD SALES 830.358.2493
Fri 10.24
Cheatham Street Warehouse
Brennen Leigh & Noel McKay
w/ Charlie Stout
9pm
The Continental Club
Club Lineup:
The Blues Specialists, 6:30pm
The Mother Hips
w/ Mallett Brothers
10pm, $17
Gallery Lineup:
Robert Kraft Trio, 8:30pm
Mike Flanigin, 10:30pm, $5
Floores Country Store
Sean McConnell
w/ Thieving Birds
8pm, 18+ $12-$15
Luckenbach Dance Hall
T & C Miller
4pm
Almost Patsy Cline Band
8pm
Red Eyed Fly
The Magic Johnsons, Last Callers,
The Clastic, The Bad Notes
8pm, Outside
Sams Burger Joint
Bob Schneider
8pm, $15-$60
Stubbs BBQ
B.O.B.
w/ Kevin gates
7pm, Outside, $30-$127
Sat 10.25
Cheatham Street Warehouse
Soul Track Mind
w/ Grant Ewing
9pm
The Continental Club
Club Lineup:
TBA, 3:30pm
The Mother Hips
w/ The Bellfuries
10pm, $10
Gallery Lineup:
Hillary York, 8:30pm
Mike Flanigin, 10:30pm, $5
Floores Country Store
Kip Moore
w/ Charlie Worsham & Sam Hunt
8pm, 18+ $22-$87
Luckenbach Dance Hall
Weldon Henson
1pm
Thomas Michael Riley
9pm, $10
Red Eyed Fly
Freerunner, Veleno, Ruckus,
Machine Gun George, 86 the Sun
8pm, Outside
R & J Music Pavillion
Rebels of Texas
9pm
Sams Burger Joint
Tauk
9pm, $10-$40
Stubbs BBQ
The Damn Quails
w/ Paul Cauthen, Midnight River Choir
9pm, Outside, $12
SOUND TOWN
OUT
OF
Special Events Monthly
Private Parties- Catering
Wedding Facilities Available
Never a Cover!
Kid & Pet Friendly!
1263 Gruene Road 830.625.1045
Call for Hours!
omalovesyou.com
Special Events Monthly
Private Parties- Catering
Wedding Facilities Available
Never a Cover!
Kid & Pet Friendly!
1263 Gruene Road 830.625.1045
Call for Hours!
omalovesyou.com
OCT 23
@ 6 JAM NIGHT
OCT 24
@ 6 THE EMPTY HANDED VAGABONDS
@ 7 UNDERGROUND SHOW***
MICHAEL O'CONNOR, JEFF PLANKENHORN
AND TYLER PIE $20 AT THE DOOR.
OCT 25
@ 1 THE SMOKEHOUSE GUITAR ARMY
@ 6 SA BLUES CATS
OCT 26
3-7 NBBS BLUES JAM HOSTED
BY THE JAMIE KRUEGER GROUP
Upcoming Events:
BEST
OF THE
WURST
2014
double winner!
Best Beer Bar
& Best Bartenders
Freiheit Country Store
Karaoke
Friday Nights, 8pm
Happy Cow
Karaoke
Thursdays Nights
Koozies Icehouse
DJ
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Old Ice House
Karaoke
Thursdays, Sundays
DJ
Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays
Phoenix Saloon
Karaoke
Thursday Nights
Prickly Pear Lounge
Karaoke
Thursdays, Saturdays
DJ KC
Fridays
The Watering Hole Saloon
Karaoke
Thursdays
DJ
Fridays, Saturdays
diversions
10 AD SALES 830.358.2493 TXCITIZEN.COM 11
Executive Offce
Space Available!
Starting at $350/mo.
includes utilities,
use of reception area
& conference rooms!
N
.

W
a
l
n
u
t

A
v
e
H
o
w
a
rd
S
t
.
L
a
n
d
a
S
t.
W
o
o
d

R
d
.
Call or stop by!
830-620-7653
1111 N Walnut Ave
CASH PRIZES & DOOR PRIZES
COSTUME JUDGING @ 9PM!
1st Place - $100 2nd Place - $75 3rd Place - $50
1263 Gruene Road 830.625.1045 omalovesyou.com
Dear Karl: If a homeowner or realtor
advertises a house or property listing
Private Island Privileges with access
to Comal River as an asset to induce
someone to purchase that property,
would they be committing fraud?
Or would these benefts of ownership
be as benign as if I ofered to sell my NB
home and listed Port Aransas privileges
with access to the Gulf of Mexico and the
Intercoastal Waterway?
Don Talley

Dear Don:
Truthfully, you may very well be able to
sell private privileges to the coast from your
New Braunfels home, and you can certainly
get away with it as long as someone is dumb
enough to pay for such privileges.
The key terms here in regard to
the Forbidden Island are private and
exclusive. You can tout access to the coast
because everyone has access to the coast no
matter how many times the word private is
used in the contract.
In the same fashion, you could tout access
to the street in front of your house. If you put
in terms like private and exclusive, you
are actually insinuating that the public street in
front of your home is private. This is clearly a
lie and saying the street is private doesnt make
it so. So, the buyer can stand in the private
street, rant and rave at people who walk past,
and call the cops. The difference here is that
unlike on the Island, the police certainly wont
support this point of view.
Those who still hold that they have
exclusive Forbidden Island access show
the same kind of tenacious ignorance
that believes:
1). The moon landing was a hoax.
2). Dinosaurs never actually existed
and fossils were put there by the devil just
to confuse us into believing the world wasnt
created only 36 years ago.
3). If you didnt do anything wrong, then
you have nothing to worry about.
4). The creepy neighbor who likes to dig
in his backyard late at night, just prefers to
keep to himself.
All of these are lies, but for the people
who believe them, no amount of evidence will
make any difference. This is especially true for
the denizens of the Forbidden Island area.
In a way, its hard to blame them. They
paid for vapor-estate and no one wants to
admit to being a rube.
Liebe,
Karl

I have lived in New Braunfels for
fve years now, and there are still times
that driving here frightens me. It seems
to me that many drivers here always
think they have the right of way in any
situation.
Marcus

Dear Marcus:
While I certainly have seen worse driving
elsewhere in my time, there are still areas of
New Braunfels I avoid like French beef:
1: Walnut. This is not just because of
the eons of roadwork on the Avenue, but
also because of the spooky two-lane ride
up or down the hill. If youre heading east
and there is a wreck, you could be slammed
into an unforgiving wall of rock. If heading
west, you could tumble 700 ft. into an abyss
where demons live.
2: River Road. This road with its stunning
views is more dangerous than Syria.
3: The Downtown Roundabout (The
Squircle). The rule to the roundabout is that
you turn into the outside lane if you are turning
onto the next street. If not, you take the inside
lane until you reach the turn you want, then pull
into the outside lane. The reality is, however,
that if you get into the inside lane, you will be
there for the rest of your life.
4: Around Either High School: The
problem here is that there are a number of
teens who have licenses but little experience
behind the wheel. Its like driving with
moody monkeys where the rules of the road
are, like, whatever.
Liebe,
Karl
Got a concern? Opa Karl Esel is here to help, or
at the very least, comisserate. Send your rants to
opakarl@txcitizen.com.
with OPA Karl Esel
12 AD SALES 830.358.2493 TXCITIZEN.COM 13
By Gustavo Arellano
Dear Mexican: What do Mexicans
in the United States think of the violent
drug cartel problem currently in
Mexico? Do local Latinos cringe with
disgust or fear when they hear another
drug cartel story on the newsor do
they feel a sense of disconnect because
they are living in America now and its
no longer a concern of theirs? Do local
Latinos currently fear crossing San
Diego/Mexico border? Do they worry
about being kidnapped or carjacked
on the way to Rosario like Caucasian
people do right now?
Yo Gabba Gabacho
Dear Gabacho: Mexicans can be
scared of the cartels all they want, but far
more frightening to the majority of the
population is the Mexican legal system.
Police offcers in the state of Guerrero are
being investigated in the kidnapping of over
40 student teachers; last year, a judge set
free Rafael Caro Quintero, the notorious
drug lord implicated in the murder of DEA
agent Enrique Camarena. And the less than
can be said about President Enrique Pea
Nieto, the betteractually let me take that
back. PINCHE PENDEJO BABOSO.
By the way, you and your fellow
gabachos gotta stop thinking the mundo
revolves around you. Unless youre a meth
dealer delinquent on your payments or
a drug-war soldier, gabachos in Mexico
can walk around with impunityyoure
Quetzalcoatl incarnate. No way are the
cartels stupid enough to kidnap a random
gabacho or kill themotherwise, Obama
would drone the narcos to kingdom come,
and the Mexican government would
pretend to care about justice. But if youre
one of the many Mexicans in los Estados
Unidos kidnapped when traveling in
Mexico, or have paid ransoms for family
members? The American and Mexican
governments dont careafter all, those
victims are just Mexicans.
Dear Mexican: A friend and I
ate at Carls Jr. My Arizona Republic
newspaper was on our table. A young guy
brought our food, glanced down at the
headline and winced. It read Chorizo
new mascot for Cactus League. We
asked him why hed winced. Chorizo,
he said with disgust. You speak
Spanish? It means meat. Its a swear
word, I said, like cabrn, pinche? He
glared at the paper. Tey are so stupid.
So, chorizo = meat = prick, yes?
Su Amor Uni-lingual
Dear My Beloved Monolingual: Let me
show you my chorizo, and you can fnd out!
Dear Mexican: Why do Mexicans
ALWAYS hand-deliver invitations
to birthday parties, quinceaeras,
baby showers, bridal showers, etc.
to streetside mailboxes, rather
than mailing them through the U.S.
mail or delivering them to the door
(which is less than 20 feet away from
the streetside mail box). Regardless
of the fact that it is a felony to put
items into U.S. mailboxes, it seems
to be impractical with gasoline
at over $3 a gallon to be hand-
delivering invitations.
Mail Male
Dear Gabacho: Heaven forbid
Mexicans practice good manners! This is
a relic of Old Mexico, where mail was an
illusion and inviting people personally was
an opportunity to catch up with the invitee.
Its actually a beautiful thing, much better
than getting an eVite or overlooking an
invitation on Facebook because it got buried
in your feed under the umpteenth Candy
Crush Saga update.
Ask the Mexican at
themexican@askamexican.net,
be his fan on Facebook, follow him on
Twitter @gustavoarellano or follow him
on Instagram @gustavo_arellano!
ASK A MEXICAN!
!
TXCITIZEN.COM 13
263 Loop 337 #900 830.620.6900
Lunch Specials
Monday - Friday!
Now that you've voted
us BEST PIZZA,
it's time to try our
AWESOME BURGERS!
BEST
OF THE
WURST
2014
Winner!
Best Pizza
The Herd
BEST
OF THE
WURST
2014
Winner!
Best Pizza
The Herd

We penetrate 10,000 of these:
52 TIMEs a year
THEY LIKE WHAT THEY SEE. MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU.
ADVERTISE HERE 830.358.2493
Last weekend, the Fraternal Order of Canyon Men set up shop at Koozies Ice House out
on River Road for a two-day chili cook off. It was big, meaty, and and a huge
success, with a splendid time being had by both the cooks and the eaters!
14 TX CITIZEN 14 AD SALES 830.358.2493 TXCITIZEN.COM 15
X
o
o
O
o
o
now with a guaranteed
$500 PAYOUT!
now with a guaranteed
$500 PAYOUT!
PRICKLY PEAR
LOUNGE
Bar Results:
First Place: The Prickly Pear 70%
Second Place: The Watering Hole 69%
Third Place: The Happy Cow 62%
Fourth Place: Buffalo Wings and Rings 45%
Fifth Place: Scores 44%
Winners:
Robert Liley @ The Watering Hole: 5/5 - Perfect!
Lynn Manning @ Happy Cow: 5/5 - Perfect!
Brianne Clark @ Prickly Pear: 5/5 - Perfect!
Sean Thomason @ Buffalo Wings and Rings: 4/5
David Shefman @ Scores: 4/5
W
E
E
K
7
R
E
S
U
L
T
S
!
T
h
i
s

a
i
n
t

n
o

F
a
n
t
a
s
y

l
e
a
g
u
e
!
L
a
st W
o
rd
With Kelly Colby
TXCITIZEN.COM 15
GreenTree
Apartments
Come see us at
5000 Old Hwy 81
in New Braunfels
830-632-5627
ALL BILLS
PAID!
1 Bedroom only $670.
Thats right,
we pay your utilities!
35
337
337
46
35
35
O
l
d

H
w
y

8
1
A
u
s
t
i
n

>
<

S
a
n

A
n
t
o
n
i
o
N
e
w
B
r
a
u
n
f
e
l
s
Bring in this ad & receive
a FREE application fee!
On Conservatism
Like many libertarians, I struggle during election
time to fnd a candidate that really refects my
beliefs. Things have gotten better in recent years
as the Libertarian ticket has gained strength
and felded candidates of some consequence.
In those cases, I feel very comfortable voting
for the candidate with an L in front of their
name. Other times, the Libertarian candidate
is too far out of the mainstream for me to feel
comfortable giving them my vote even if its
unlikely that they would ever win. On those
occasions, I almost always lean Republican
simply because they are less likely to see a
government solution to every problem.
Because of this, my friends of a liberal
persuasion call me conservative, and Ive
always rejected this notion vociferously. I know
that conservative, to their mind, means socially
restrictive, prudish, and oftentimes bigoted. Im
none of those things, and my friends know
better, but they cant seem to move past their
narrow view of conservative actions on social
issues to see the larger picture of conservatism.
I am conservative in many respects, just not in
the way my friends envision it.
I am unquestionably fscally conservative.
I dont believe the government should make
defcit spending the norm. To do so devalues
our currency (both literally and fguratively).
It takes from those who are responsible
enough to save and gives to those who
spend irresponsibly. More than that, defcit
spending encourages government waste and
expansion. When our representatives feel
comfortable spending money beyond whats
in the treasury, there is no limit to what they
might spend it on, and the temptation to use
the money for their own political gain is just
too great. I can accept defcit spending in
extreme circumstances (war comes to mind),
but Im dubious of any attempts to tinker
with economic conditions or fnance massive
infrastructure or social programs in this way.
Im of the opinion that our government does,
and spends far too much now. I support efforts
to rein in that spending and shrink government
responsibilities considerably. In this respect, I
am more conservative than most conservative
candidates. Most Republicans at the very least
have sacred cows that are never touched by
cuts to government spending. I have no sacred
cows. I would like all government spending to
be carefully examined for waste, fraud, and
abuse, and such problems are not limited to only
certain sectors of government spending.
I am also conservative in a traditional
sense. Conservatives are reluctant to support
sweeping change and often look to the past
for more appropriate systems. This can be
crippling if taken to extremes, but Im not one to
believe in a Golden Age where our society was
perfect. That said, I dont watch The Pajama
Game or Leave it to Beaver and scoff at the
ignorance and backwardness of my elders.
There is nothing wrong with faith, family, and
patriotism. One doesnt have to denigrate
traditional family structures to believe that other
constructions are possible. I dont think God is
dead. I dont believe that marriage is a tool of
the Patriarchy. And, I believe that America has
been a force for good in the world.
On this last point I am adamant. There
has been no greater force for freedom in the
history of the world than America. We have
made mistakes in the past, and we continue
to make them, but the overall effect has been
decidedly positive. America has been on the
right side of history consistently and forcefully.
The liberal view seems to lack judgment in
all cases, and as a result, America holds no
special place in history for many liberals.
All too often, liberals are actually willing
to compare America unfavorably to failed
regimes like Soviet Communism or China
under Mao. I not afraid to call these people
wrong and remind them of the atrocities
perpetrated in the name of progressive
politics. Che was a butcher, not a liberator.
Im an ardent Reagan lover. I see him as
the best president of recent history, certainly far
better than Carter who he replaced and Bush
the elder who succeeded him. I give Reagan
the majority of the credit for ending the Cold
War and toppling the Soviet Union and all
of the credit for rekindling the American spirit
after Vietnam, Nixon, Ford, and Carter. I dont
even try to dispute that Reagan may have been
suffering from Alzheimers during his presidency
with my liberal peers. I fnd it amusing to point
out that even if this was true he corrected the
slide that Carter couldnt and beat Mondale in
an unparalleled landslide for his second term.
Reagan was the type of leader we see once in
a lifetime, and its unfortunate that this is true.
We could use his like in politics now.
While I am not as interventionist as many
conservative politicians, I believe in a strong
America, and that includes a strong American
military. I would caution that America should
not be involved in every confict on the globe,
and being a policeman should probably never
be our militarys role, but our enemies should
most defnitely fear us. When at war, America
should bring to bear awesome destructive
power. Our opponents on the battlefeld
should be crushed and forced to surrender
unconditionally. Thats the American way.
I believe that any war on an idea is a
mistake and the war on terror is no exception
to this. I am happy, however, to have a war
on some specifc terrorist group, and I would
expect us to bring the battle to them and
their supporters to avoid having it come to
us. Terrorism would decrease worldwide if
the terrorists experienced a little more terror
themselves. Many terrorists are willing to give
their life for their cause; we should be willing
to help them out with that.
On social issues, conservatives and I part
ways more often than not. I am not overly
concerned about a womans right to choose
or marriage equality. Many conservatives
seem preoccupied with these issues to an
unhealthy degree. I understand the sentiment
involved, but my libertarian beliefs prevent me
from supporting legislation that would involve
the government in private decisions.
Unfortunately for liberals, this attitude
fows both ways with me. The liberal mindset
also calls for government involvement in
private decisions. They hope to enforce their
value system as much as the conservatives do.
Because of this I am no more with liberals
than I am with conservatives on social issues.
In fact, I can rely on the American people and
the Constitution to hold much of conservative
overreach at bay because conservatives tend
to violate areas that already have a good
background in precedent when they go too far.
I may shy away from the conservative
label, but in many respects, I am conservative.
I dont reject the idea of conservatism, only the
presuppositions that go with the label in the
minds of liberals. But, if Im forced to choose
between a conservative vision for America
and a liberal one, there really isnt any contest.
Call me a conservative.
L
a
st W
o
rd
With Kelly Colby
You can read more from Kelly Colby at yourfrstshrug.
blogspot.com.
367 Main Plaza
830-625-6605
Local Brews
Belgian Beers
Imports
24 Beers on Tap
Full Bar
Live Entertainment
30+ TVs
100%
SMOKE-FREE
100%
SMOKE-FREE
BEST
OF THE
WURST
2014
winner!
Best Bloody Mary!
Buy 1, Get 1
50% Off!
BRING IN THIS COUPON!
1102 N WALNUT AVE THEGOURMETICECO.COM
All-Natural Shaved Ice!
N

W
a
l
n
u
t

A
v
e
Landa St
H
o
w
a
r
d
S
t
830. 214. 0728
243 N. Union Ave
830-629-2662 Like us on
New and Vintage Vinyl
and Turntables
Classic Rock Alternative Punk
Reggae - Funk Soul Country
BUY S E L L T R ADE
Half-Off One Entree
with purchase of another entree and two drinks.
One coupon per table. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 10/31/14
Huge Play Area for the Kids Live Music Thursday-Sunday
Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3:00-6:30pm
830.629.0777 1724 Hunter Road, New Braunfels
TEX-MEX COCINA Y CANTINA
BEST
OF THE
WURST
2014
winner!
Best Signature
Cocktail Dos Rita
ATTORNE Y AT L AW
JULISSA VELA JULISSA VELA
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
FREE CONSULTATION!
123 N. Seguin Ave, Suite 208
New Braunfels, Texas
830-515-2119 JVelaLaw@gmail.com
F e l oni e s
Mi sde me anors
Traf f i c ti cke ts
E xpuncti ons
gregersen
family
chiropractic
830.629.8050
1050 I-35 Frontage Rd
Next to Kohls



"
D
r.
G

is

b
y

f
a
r

th
e

b
e
s
t
c
h
ir
o
p
r
a
c
to
r

a
r
o
u
n
d
.
H
e
'
s

b
e
e
n

tr
e
a
tin
g

m
e

a
n
d

m
y

s
ta
f
f

f
o
r

y
e
a
r
s
. W
e
a
lw
a
y
s
f
e
e
l '
s
a
f
e
'
in
th
e

c
a
r
e

w
e

r
e
c
e
iv
e

a
t
G
r
e
g
e
r
s
e
n

F
a
m
ily
C
h
ir
o
p
r
a
c
tic
."
-
G
e
n
e
H
itz
fe
ld
e
r

O
w
n
e
r
- H
itz
fe
ld
e
r M
o
v
in
g

adult prenatal kids
BREAKFAST SPECI AL
$
3.55
TWO TACOS & A DRINK
DAILY LUNCH SPECI ALS
$
5.99 INCLUDES A DRINK
MENTION THIS AD FOR
FREE sopapila!
Across from Buc-ees in Town Center at Creekside!
151 Creekside Crossing New Braunfels 830.387.7232
NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Notice is hereby given
that original Letters Administration for the Estate
of David Lee Triesch, Deceased, were issued on
October 15, 2014, in Cause No. 2014PCA0182,
pending in the County Court at Law of Comal
County, Texas, to: Bernice Marie Triesch.
All persons having claims against this Estate
which is currently being administered are required to
present them to the undersigned within the time and
in the manner prescribed by law.
DATED the 16th day of October, 2014.
Frank B. Suhr, Attorney at Law,
473 S. Seguin Ave, Ste 100, New Braunfels, TX 78130
State Bar No.: 19466300, Tel: (830)625-4345,
Fax: (830)606-4511, Attorney for Bernice Marie Triesch
LEGAL NOTICES