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VOLUME XVII, NO. 8 |
TEXAS DAIRY REVIEW |
AUGUST 2008 |
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Check-off dollars spent wisely for milk promotion in schools Why Waco’s water war should matter to public TSU Welcomes President Dottavio High fuel prices impact statewide school transportation and food services School bus driver retires after 19 years of fond memories on Route 7 |
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CAFO permits move forward |
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By Sherry Webb The good news for Bosque River CAFOs is the permits are finally moving forward after excessive delay in the past few years. Environmental attorney Jim Bradbury of Fort Worth and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) officials agree the permits have “turned the corner.” So far, ten CAFO permits have been issued: AmeriCalf, Alliance Holsteins, Steve Vandenberg, Tex-S Dairy, Okee Dairy, Osinga Dairy, Blue Jay Dairy, B&J Cattle Co., Dennis Schouten, and Durk Zwart. TCEQ records currently show 12 dairies are in public notice, 15 have completed the technical review and are in the drafting process; and 14 are in technical review. |
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Check-off dollars spent wisely for milk promotion in schools |
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By Sherry Webb As the 2008-09 school year draws near, Dairy Max is concentrating one of its main efforts toward promotion of positive milk-drinking experiences for students while improving how milk is served and maximizing how often milk is available to students.
For back to school purposes, one of Dairy Max’s major accomplishments is the “new look” of school milk as many schools switch over to the new plastic bottles versus cartons. “The School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, mandated by the federal government, must provide milk at breakfast and at least offer it at lunch,” said Kim Price, Dairy Max program coordinator for the East Texas area. Price said Dairy Max offers grants to schools that convert from cartons to the new plastic bottles. The grant, based on the number of students and size of the school, provides cooler boxes to schools that convert. Pastic containers provide several advantages over cartons. “Plastic containers enhance the flavor of milk,” Price said. “Also, children receive adequate nutrition because the milk is visible in the plastic and they tend to drink all the milk---to the last drop.” Plastic allows milk to be served at a colder temperature (since cartons insulate it) and it stays colder for a longer period of time. “Also, children are attracted to the superior packaging of the plastic containers,” Price said. She added plastic containers are more sanitary than cartons because they are easier to open and “little fingers” are not moving all over the container. Dairy Max believes the way milk is displayed and upgrading milk boxes makes milk more appealing to students. Many schools now display a rainbow of milk that comes in new flavors, such as root beer, dulce de leche, chocolate mint, vanilla and orange dream. Dairy Max has also initiated new breakfast programs that boost milk sales in schools. Alternate styles of breakfast services include breakfast in class or convenient “grab and go” carts set up in hallways. Dairy vending machines make milk available 24-7. In 2007, Dairy Max placed more than 50 of these machines in schools. “Dairy Max is a great organization that tries hard to make sure producer ‘check-off dollars’ are spent wisely,” McKinzie said. “I’m proud to be a part of it and there’s no better way to spend ‘check-off dollars’ than on children who are our future consumers.” |
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Why Waco’s water war should matter to public |
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North Bosque River dairies located in Central Texas have been in a travesty with the City of Waco for far too long. Waco has claimed for years that Lake Waco, the city’s water supply, tastes bad and reeks of foul odor because upstream dairies pollute the Bosque River that feeds into the lake. Thus far, no scientific evidence has ever proved this to be the case. But, in an effort to prove its position, Waco recently hired a consultant to conduct a 1.8 million study that insists dairies are to blame for its poor water quality---even though it states that tons of manure has been hauled out of the watershed. Logically speaking, if all that manure has been removed from the watershed then it appears dairies are not the source of their water quality problem. John Cowan, executive director for the Texas Association of Dairymen (TAD), warns the public that this kind of contradictory evidence and mockery can happen in their communities if environmental groups or municipalities resolve to apply faulty science and misguided actions as demonstrated in the Central Texas farce. Cowan addresses the issue and recent study after it received headline attention in newspapers statewide. “Once again the City of Waco resorted to questionable tactics to pin questionable water quality problems on upstream dairies. This time, it was the issuance of a $1.8 billion water study, for which local taxpayers were forced to foot the bill,” Cowan said. “Like Swiss cheese,” Cowan said, “the study was full of holes.” Regardless of unscientific reports, people should be concerned about the issue even though they live hundreds of miles away. “Waco’s issues, whether real or imagined, have an impact on others.” Cowan said TAD believes people should especially care about the issues if they live in an area that is home to a concentration of dairies or if they enjoy drinking milk or eating dairy products. “First, if you live in parts of our state with large numbers of dairies – such as East Texas or the Panhandle – the headlines might make you wonder if you should worry about the quality of the water you drink or use for recreation,” Cowan said. “Let me assure you that dairymen and their families share your concerns – they also drink and use local water supplies and resources. Dairies operate under permits from the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality which outline strict guidelines about how farms use and dispose of water and manure in order to protect groundwater, streams, lakes and other water resources. Violations bring strict penalties. “Dairies in Central Texas must adhere to even more stringent guidelines set out by special permits. They have had to spend a lot of money to adhere to these rules, even though the water in Lake Waco (the city’s drinking supply) has never been found unsafe to drink or a threat to public health. “The fighting between the City of Waco and the dairy industry – in the media, the courtroom or regulators’ offices – has been even more costly to local taxpayers. Decisions made by a few city officials have led to more than $5 million in taxpayer spending. That’s money that didn’t go to police, street repair and other needs. “Meanwhile, upstream, dairies tired of the battle are leaving for greener pastures. Their contributions to the local economy are evaporating.” “Could this happen in your community?” Cowan asks. “Should this happen, it could drive up prices at the grocery stores and cripple an industry that adds more than $1 billion to the Texas economy. “Milk is produced in 90 of our state’s 254 counties. The more farms driven out of business – as we’ve seen in Central Texas – the longer the drive to get the milk from farm to processor to retailer. And with the cost of gas going nowhere but up, that just adds to the cost for consumers who already are feeling an economic squeeze.” Cowan added the loss of jobs on the farm can ripple through the local economy, impacting everyone and everything from related industries to the public schools. “Both the economy and the environment are concerns today for a growing number of Texans. The dairy industry continues to pledge its willingness to take reasonable steps to safeguard our state’s land, water and air. At the same time, we take seriously our responsibility to feed our fellow Texans. “The dairy industry, local governments and other stakeholders must work together to address concerns before they mushroom into costly and unproductive fighting.”
John Cowan |
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TSU Welcomes President Dottavio |
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On Aug. 1, 2008, Dr. Dominic Dottavio, officially took the reins of Tarleton State University (TSU) as new president. Dottavio comes to the TSU campus from Tiffin, Ohio, where he was president of Heidelberg College since 2003. He is TSU’s 15th president. Dottavio brings to TSU a wide range of experience and successes at Heidelberg and an exceptional track record as a research scientist. His responsibilities at TSU will be to supervise more than 1,200 employees and manage a $112 million annual budget while providing for a comprehensive curriculum for more than 9,400 students at all TSU campuses. The new president has served in many capacities and on many leadership committees including Chief Scientist and Associate Regional Director of Natural Resources, National Park Service; Committee on Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration, National Academy of Sciences; Florida Panther Interagency Recovery Team; Executive Committee of the Virgin Islands Research/Resource Management Man and the Biosphere Program. One of his main interests are national parks His favorite food is Italian and favorite college sport is basketball. He is married to Dr. Dr. C. Lisette Dottavio, a CPA, senior tax accountant, and assistant professor of accounting. They have two grown children, Aaron and Adrea. |
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High fuel prices impact statewide school transportation and food services |
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By Sherry Webb The wheels on the bus go round and round. But, as the fall school year approaches, educational institutions are suffering the impact of rising fuel prices that especially affect costs for transportation and food services Soon the proverbial yellow school bus will be in full swing, grinding and winding its way through rural, city and urban streets nationwide. As a glimpse of the bright yellow-gold catches the eye, it traditionally signifies the end of summer vacation and the start of a new fall season. Although its annual service to parents and school districts may seem inconsequential, it is a sobering thought to imagine what life would be like if these invaluable yellow creatures were not able to run their regular school routes and haul millions of students to athletic events, field trips, and other school activities. Rising fuel costs are the culprit that futuristically threatens this taken-for-granted popular mode of school transportation. Although school districts have managed to squeak by for the present, increases in fuel cost could cause school officials to seriously consider alternative plans. For the most part, school buses are a fact of life and as ingrained into our American tradition as apple pie. But, the general public should be aware school buses and the services provided are not mandated by the state. “There is no requirement that we provide school buses,” said Roy Neff, superintendent of Dublin Independent School District (DISD). “But we, and most all schools, will continue to run them for as long as we can find the money to do so. The bad thing is the state hasn’t helped us out on this.” Neff said the last bid DISD received on diesel awhile back was for $4.12 a gallon but is much higher than that now. “Our buses get about 6 to 8 miles to the gallon and we run about 700-800 miles a day on our routes. That’s not counting the miles for football games and other activities.” Neff said it is scary to even fathom the thought of school without buses. But, the escalating price of fuel is foremost on school budget agenda and causing administrators to make amendments. Dr. Darrell Floyd, Stephenville Independent School District (SISD) superintendent said fuel costs have impacted the SISD 2008-2009 school budget by 66%. “We’re in a new UIL district which doesn’t help matters since we’re going to have to travel further to football games. The state hasn’t helped us out on transportation costs since the 80s. Hopefully, in the next legislative session we can get some funding allotted to us that will help.” Maintenance on school buses is costly, especially in rural areas where buses travel over many rough roads. “We replace about two per year at $85,000 a piece,” Floyd said. Tommy Washington, supervisor of SIDS transportation department said Stephenville runs 18 routes at about 900 miles a day. That is not counting what miles will be added when football season begins. “We got a fuel bid in May for $4.03 and it went up to $4.08 in a 24-hour period. Now, it is higher than that and we are really struggling with it but we’ll still keep rolling.” An overwhelming thought is what parents would do without the services provided by school buses. Working parents would be in a dilemma trying to rearrange their schedules to drop off and pick up their school children or find alternative rides which is some rural cases would be next to impossible. Traffic would be chaotic in and around the schools, lending way to more accidents and unsafe conditions. Although Hybrid buses that utilize both diesel and electric power to reduce fuel usage and emissions are in the making, school officials said it would be very expensive to replace all school buses with these new vehicles. Fuel prices have also impacted food services. “The escalating price of fuel has drastically affected everything, including school breakfasts and lunches,” said SISD nutrionist Beccy Eckert. “I don’t know what we would do if we had any kind of major catastrophic event occur because we’re already stretched out as far as we can go.” As far as the new plastic milk containers, Eckert said she has been forced to go back to the cardboard milk cartons. “The plastic is 5-1/2 cents higher and truthfully, we just can’t afford it.” Eckert said this year’s school lunches have already gone up 25 cents across the board. “Parents need to realize that everything that is happening in their homes regarding food and supplies is happening in our schools except we’re not feeding just one family---we’re feeding 1835 students a day at lunchtime and 780 at breakfast.” Eckert said she has used every bit of the federal money allotted and it still is not enough to offset the expense increased by the federal nutrition regulations. “We have to meet the standards that require more healthy foods are served but I’ve spent every dime of the money allotted.” “For instance, it cost more to buy whole grain bread but we have to meet the nutritional standards. We’re trying to find a way to make all this work and actually counting pennies,” she said. When everything goes up 1-1/2 cents to 5-1/2 cents and multiplied by the massive amount of students, it all adds up. “When will it all end?” she asked. The American School Bus Council (ASBC) reports more than 475,000 school buses carry 25 million children to school which amounts to more than half the total population of American school children. |
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School bus driver retires after 19 years of fond memories on Route 7 |
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By Sherry Webb When Betty Anderson signed on with Dublin Independent School District (DISD) as a school bus driver, she never dreamed she would spend the next 19 years driving the same bus on the same route. But, as one year faded into another, Anderson happily settled into her career and continued to drive her route until retirement last spring. As the new fall semester begins, Anderson admits to a slight lump in her throat, fondly remembering her days spent on Route 7. “I’m sure I’ll feel sad about not driving the bus this year. But, I’m 64 years old and the time had come when I felt I needed to retire so I could still get out and enjoy doing some things, like traveling with my husband,” Anderson said. Many of Anderson’s bus children, who affectionately referred to her as “Miss Betty,” were dismayed when they learned their favorite driver would not be picking them up for school this year. “Some of ‘my children’ were really upset. I will miss all of them,” she said. While the main objective of driving a school bus is to safely transport students to and from school so they could earn an education, there’s much more to it than that, Anderson said. Life on a bus full of children is a vivid learning experience that provides a host of unforgettable events. Driving a school bus is a big responsibility that Anderson took seriously. Following the many rules and laws plus watching the kids, listening and talking to them, and making them behave, was a full time job for the short time she was with them on the bus route. She said the experiences enroute are the ones that stick in her mind. She fondly remembers the little ones boarding the bus for the first time who especially tugged at her heartstrings. Decked out in their new school attire and supplies, the first-timers were all wide-eyed and innocent in anticipation of the new school year. “They were just so sweet and cute,” she said. Anderson was a friend to her riders and a person they could trust. She was a confidante to some of the older ones and a substitute “mommy” for the very young ones. “I did everything from pulling a tooth to waking some of them up when it was time to get off,” she laughed and said. She added it was sometimes necessary to daunt their fears during a thunderstorm and assure them they would arrive home safely if it started to rain, sleet or snow. Good conduct on her bus was one thing Anderson emphasized since it was vital to their safety. “You can’t drive a bus with children up and around and doing things. They knew they had to behave and if they acted up, I’d take action.” Any kind of serious discipline problems were reported to the school office. While bus routes are primarily planned so that children do not have to cross a major highway, in some instances, it cannot be avoided. “That’s when you have to be especially careful to watch and make sure the children get to the other side safely,” Anderson said. Driving the school bus was a lifetime of experiences. “Some children who started out on my bus---now have children of their own who were riding my bus,” she said. “That’s when you know you’ve been there a long time.” |
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