At my age, there are few things that come along signaling a difficult day approaching than hearing aids that won’t work.
That happened this morning before I went to the courthouse for the weekly Commissioners Court meeting.
My hearing devices are reaching their own aging problems and they weren’t able to accompany me today.
So I headed for the court meeting knowing I’ll look up in court documents what was discussed – if at all.
I can look up much, if not all, the official things, I tell myself.
One reason I like the job I do is learning about our county and city through items that come up at commissioners court or city council.
I do occasionally see the hole at the table commissioners court members and county officials sit at each week.
It’s an old hole and I’ve wondered if a microphone was once used to amplify discussion so everybody in the courtroom could hear.
I’ve asked people who sat in the pews could hear what was said.
Most say they have trouble hearing.
So much that commissioners court does is important to this county.
For example, an item the court ratified Monday was an agreement for the county and the cities of Bay City and Palacios will support STP in emergency drills, emergencies and exercises.
It was unanimously approved but barely discussed.
I realize it’s old hat for many officials, but I’m glad the information is out there and I included some of that in my commissioners court meeting story this week.
One of the challenges we have with an early Tuesday deadline, is for officials to get back to us on Tuesday, when we needed the information on Monday.
That happens a lot.
But that’s my business to reach officials or get information that’s in the public’s best interest to know – and often have it in hand on Monday.
There’s an old observation in the news business – and other areas as well – about a story getting long in tooth.
What’s interesting this week, may not be next week.
The pages we produce here go to the printer primarily on Monday.
We send the front page and Page 2 early on Tuesday.
But we send those pages before businesses or government offices are even open.
So, when an official tells me he tried to reach me Tuesday, that’s too late.
Unless it’s something super explosive, then we’ll get that story out online.
At the Sentinel, MaLinda, Jessica and I feel we perform a vital service – informing the public.
I will say most officials we work with in Matagorda County share our views about getting the information out.
