[Marlin Democrat] -- City Council creates Bulldog Day

City Council creates Bulldog Day

By Denise Schoppe
Staff Writer

The Marlin Democrat
November 17, 2004

The Marlin City Council unanimously approved a resolution that declares every Friday from November 12, 2004 until the end of the year as "Bulldog Day" at their regular session on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

The Resolution states that all citizens will be allowed to show their support of the Marlin Bulldogs by wearing purple and gold every Friday until the end of the year.

"The Bulldogs of Marlin High School have embodied the tenacity of Bulldogs by defeating all corners trying to claim the crown on 18-3A champions," the resolution says. "The Bulldogs of Marlin High School have exhibited that all important team spirit and proved teamwork is the defining character of champions."

The resolution is a way for the citizens to show their support for the Bulldogs, who were crowned District Champs of 18-3A and recently defeated China Springs in playoff action.

In other action, the council:

-- approved in a vote of five for and two against the use of Rehab funds to purchase new water meters

-- approved in a vote of five for, one against and one abstaining putting filters back on line and add media to current filters at the water treatment plant.

-- unanimously approved accepting the Step Wave Grant that will allow the Marlin Police Department to have two extra officers on duty on holidays to catch speeders, DWIs and seat belt violations.

-- took no action on altering the current Curfew Ordinance, and discussed enforcing the current ordinance.

-- tabled possible changes to the cemetery procedures.

[Marlin Democrat] -- Marlin students to participate in People-to-People Forum in D.C.

Marlin students to participate in People-to-People Forum in D.C.

By Denise Schoppe
Staff Writer

The Marlin Democrat
November 17, 2004

Marlin ISD will be represented in Washington DC as two students participate in People-to-People World Forum in the spring.

Sixth grader Johnathan Martinez and Eighth grader Henry Silva have been invited to be a part of the World Leadership Forum (WLF) which "helps prepare our nation's most promising young people for the opportunities and reponsibilites ahead."

The boys were nominated by Staci Trojacek of Marlin Middle School. Martinez is on the A/B honor roll and Silva was 1 of 17 studnets chosen to take a pre-SAT.

As part of WLF, according to the organization's website, the boys will represent their school, community and state as a People to People Student Ambassador. They will explore defining moments in American history, study governing traits and styles that have built the nation, discover the meaning within the monuments, memorials and museums of the nation's capital.

It will be a seven day forum, and the boys are still waiting to find out when they will be attending. They have requested the first session, which runs from March 7 - 13 as it will coincide with Marlin's Spring Break.

The cost of the trip is approximately $2000, not including the flights there. The boys' families have approached local businesses about sponsorship and have received a positive response. They will also hold a fundraiser in the future to help raise money to send the two boys on the trip.

Both Silvas and Martinez have attended Primirea Iglesia Bautista since they were little.

Among the places the boys will visit are Capitol Hill, Arlington National Cemetery, Gettysburg National Cemetery, Jamestown Settlement, the Smithsonian Institute, National Air and Space Museum, and will attend daily Leadership Delegation Meetings.

"There are kids [in Marlin] doing really well," Lisa Silvas, Henry's mother, said. "They can do it."

[Marlin Democrat] Column -- Never enough time

Never enough time
Nise Note's
By Denise Schoppe

The Marlin Democrat
November 17, 2004

The length of a minute is relative to what is going on at the moment.

When you're bored or you are somewhere you'd rather not be, time slows to a crawl. Seconds last a little longer, making the minutes and hours stretch to unbelievable lengths. Things that need to be done seem to have an endless amount of time in which to get them completed.

Then suddenly, something happens and time speeds up. Hours become minutes; minutes become seconds. A good time ends far too quickly, or the time allowed to get a job done shrinks to an impossible level.

Why can't some of that time to spare be given to the time that goes too quickly?

Procrastination can be partially blamed for this phenomenon when it comes to deadlines. I know I am one of the worlds worst procrastinators. I can always find "something else" to do until it reaches a point that there is no more time to get things done. That is not a good thing to do, and I admit it.

Then there is the saying, "Time flies when you're having fun." It's so true. I have often wished I could just make time stop for awhile, and make a single moment last as long as possible.

It's funny, though, how time does at times seem to stop when there is nothing to do but stare at the clock and attempt to will the second hand around the dial faster.

I know it all comes down to what is going on within a moment as to how fast time appears to move. Time moves at a steady pace 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I have a pet theory that time stays a steady speed only because there are an equal number of people who feel time is going too fast in relation to people who feel like is dragging. In reality, though, there is no great conspiracy in which the world spins faster or slower depending on if someone is having a good time or a bad time.

The trick is to make the most of every moment you have, whether you are bored or having a good time. There really is never enough time, even when you feel like there is nothing to do but "kill time". Once a moment has passed, it is gone for good. You can't get it back, and you can't make up for it later. Live in the moment, and make each one count... even those ones that seem to last an eternity.