Free Republic

Road to the Top Renaming of street spotlights sculptor's resounding success BY WILLIAM KERNS A-J ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Internationally revered sculptress Glenna Goodacre on Friday morning officially joined award-winning singer-songwriter Mac Davis with a Lubbock street renamed in her honor. Eighth Street between University Avenue and Avenue Q now is Glenna Goodacre Boulevard. Nearby is Mac Davis Lane, formerly Sixth Street. Even more streets in the same area could be renamed after Lubbock natives who shine a favorable light on the city, according to Mayor Marc McDougal. City Councilman Jim Gilbreath opened Friday's ceremony at The Centre, 2400 Glenna Goodacre Blvd.,...

Racial sparks fly at council meeting By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Lubbock City Councilman Frank Morrison was jeered during a council meeting Thursday after telling members of the audience he was outraged by their criticism of the council's efforts to hire a new city manager. Eleven speakers rebuked the council, and many said they believe race was a factor in the council's decision to reject two minority finalists for city manager, including former Interim City Manager Tommy Gonzalez. Council members sat silently until Morrison asked to speak at the end of the session. He said he had felt a number of...

Dispute fuels Tech activism By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Molding a student voting bloc to take on City Hall over a housing issue may have ramifications that go beyond purple houses and numbers of roommates, organizers say. Will students registered to vote in Lubbock begin to take more interest in local issues? Will they become a factor in local elections? That's entirely possible, says Colton Batchelor, Texas Tech Student Government Association external vice president. Historically, college students here show little inclination to vote in local elections, Batchelor says, noting that he, too, has been guilty of apathy. "I think, in general,...

Story last updated at 12:52 a.m. Wednesday, November 5, 2003 Voters buy into sales tax boost By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Lubbock on Tuesday became the latest major Texas city to adopt a sales tax for economic development, with 61 percent of the vote backing the issue that also will reduce city property taxes. "Obviously, to say I'm pleased would be an understatement," said Mayor Marc McDougal, who introduced the plan during a budget work session in July. The proposal was partly to offset new property evaluations that, in some cases, hit homeowners with 40 percent increases in taxable property values....