Tales from the West Texas Dust

Here's some of all the new that's fit to print from a number of newspapers here in Texas this week:

PLAINVIEW - The Black Awareness Committee held their annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday Feb. 21st in honor of Black History Month at Happy Union Baptist Church. The program featured ministers from several local Black churches in the city as well as special music and recognitions of African-American students and community leaders. Keynote speaker Rev. Henry Brawley of Lubbock spoke to the participants about the need for the people of Plainview to "wake up out of sleep" and "[make] noise about freedom and concern for those in poverty as the beginning of the 21st century comes." Event organizer Rubye Henderson said that the purpose of the celebration was "to reflect on our past, celebrate our present, and anticipate our future. We are trying to leave footprints for generations to follow so that the glory may go to God."...

[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal:] (1.) Trinity Church was the host recently of a special community-wide prayer service to seek divine intervention from the drought, low commodity prices, and weak foreign markets that have plagued South Plains farmers. U.S. Representative Larry Combest (R--Lubbock) spoke to the farmers, businessmen, and clergy that were present about the current crisis in American agriculture and on current legislation dealing with various agriculture issues...

(2.) A Lubbock Independent School District facilities review committee has proposed a criteria for the analysis of whether or not a school should be closed. The committee recommended that a school should be analyzed if it meets at least one of these criteria:

(a.) The number of elementary students residing in the school's attendance area is fewer than 250;

(b.) The student-teacher ratio is below 15 to 1;

(c.) There are two or less teachers per grade level.

The LISD board will soon receive the committee's report for formal action...

(3.) [THIS JUST IN!!!] A religious cult by the name of the Lubbock Christian Church (apparently connected to the International Church of Christ or what is otherwise known as the "Boston Movement") has just recently established a beachhead here in the Hub City targeting Texas Tech students. The group is apparently utilizing mind-control techniques and brainwashing and requiring those who participate to sever all friendships and ties to those who are not ICOC members. 12 student ministries, ranging from Baptist to Catholic, have signed and printed an ad in the University Daily (the Texas Tech University newspaper) in response condemning the group's presence in the city and are warning of the group's harmful effects on their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. So far, the group's local leaders have not been responsive to inquires from both local media and religious leaders. [We at the Suite will keep you abreast of details in this late-breaking story as they are available.]...

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