My last Kerrville Daily Times column

Earl Garrett Street, Kerrville, long ago

Folks: my column at the Kerrville Daily Times ended last Saturday, after a 999 column run. The reason: the owners of the newspaper sent out a contract which had a major change from previous contracts. The local folks, both the publisher, Mike Graxiola and the managing editor, Carlina Villalpando, were very helpful, but the corporate folks would not return to the contract we've used for more than 18 years.
In previous contracts the copyright on the material remained with me after publication; in the new contract, the copyright belonged to the owners of the Daily Times.
This was a problem, because, as you know, I use the material from my column here on my blog, as well as in the  two local history books I've produced.  I was reluctant to give ownership of my work to a distant corporation.
I'm glad my last column was about Fuzzy Swayze's brother -- Prentiss -- who made hummingbird feeders here in Kerrville.  I also hope my mention of Francisco Lemos' grave will prompt the community to properly mark this World War I hero's grave.
It will be odd to have this next Thursday come and go without a newspaper deadline -- for the first time since November, 1994.
On to new adventures!