Health Initiative A Good “Fit” For San Angelo

With health care costs sky-rocketing, preventative healthcare and fitness agendas are all the rage. On the heals of President Obama’s plans to increase funding for preventive medicine, the San Angelo City Council has voted unanimously to create a local health initiative. The program will be headed up by local health expert Randy Coleman whom you may recognize from the television news segments.

Doctors and healthcare professionals agree that regular excercise and a healthy diet can solve many health problems. Obesity is a growing problem in our city and all across our country.  Health care costs related to obesity and obesity related diseases has prompted rising insurance premiums. It seems that most people would rather sit at home watching television or playing video games than take a walk in the park.

Diet is also a major concern for staying healthy. Portions are outrageously large and contain high amounts of fat and sugar. In a world dominated by convenience, is being obese the desired result? I think not. For more information on how to maintain a healthy diet and excercise regime, contact your doctor. Many local gyms also offer personal fitness plans and dietary consultations.

Fuel Surcharges a Bunch of Bologna!

Does anyone remember six months ago when gas prices were hovering around $4 per gallon? It seemed like everything got more expensive. Produce, clothes, and just about every consumer good or service increased their price citing fule cost increases.

Now with oil below $40 a barrel and nearing the $1 per gallon mark, where are the savings that we should be getting? Anyone? Nowhere to be found. Check your trash bill next time you get a chance. Chances are you will find some sort of fuel surcharge tacked onto your bill.

I must hand it to these companies. They have it pretty good now since the gas prices fell. You don’t really care that their prices are still at gas crisis level and don’t show signs of going anywhere but up! Sure sales are down. Profit margins that once allowed executives of corporations to bathe in the hard earned dollars of everyday Americans are now dwindling. Boo hoo! If your sales are down, lower prices. If your profits are shriveling, try cutting the CEO’s million dollar bonus.

I have no sympathy for the failed companies. Only heartfelt compassion for the workers who so diligently gave their time and energy. For them I am truly sorry.

San Angelo School Board Ignores Needy Elementary Schools

Last week the San Angelo School Board unanimously and unilaterally accepted an approximately $6,000,000 bid to build a new field house facility for San Angelo Stadium. According to an article from the Standard Times, Trustee Max Parker is quoted as saying that the field house “…is like a classroom for these kids that take this elective course.” Where were the $6 million dollar bids for better science labs in the junior and senior high schools? Or for an expansion of library facilities in elementary schools? Or for teachers who regularly use money from their own pocket to buy classroom supplies not provided by the district?

Your answer may be that these will be covered in the bond money passed by the voters.

Fact: We have still yet to see a definitive and concrete plan for the construction/renovation of any school facilities or the allocation of these funds.

The argument against the field house construction project is simple. The project in no way enriches the academic advancement of the children in our schools. And as we enter one the scariest economic times in the history of our nation, is it smart to raid the savings account for a new locker room when we may need these funds for things such as utilities and payroll sometime in the near future? (nevermind a new beach house for Dr. Bonds)

Bottom line: If the plumbing or roof is broken, fix them. If the building is about to fall down, bulldoze it and build a new one. In the meantime let’s think about investing in REAL EDUCATION.

Comments welcomed.

New Look, New Direction!

Hello San Angelo!

I am revamping this blog to make it a broad collection of goings on around San Angelo. Topics will include national and local politics, education, charity events, nightlife, and just about everything else going on in San Angelo. So subscribe to my feeds and bookmark this page to keep up with everything. Thanks for reading,

Andrew