Opinion

LEAD STORY THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Michael Sherwood and his son, Kyle, of Cleveland come from a long line of morticians. So a few years back, when a friend wondered how he might have his tattoos preserved after he passes away, the two came up with an idea, Oddity Central reported.

One question that has come up several times in the last few months is “Who is responsible for ___________?”. One thing is for sure…county government is complicated. In the next few articles, I’ll try to shed a little light on some of our county officials and the role that their offices play in governing Madison County. The first step would be to provide a list of County offices, so that we have a starting point. Make no mistake…EVERY county office serves a vital role. We are all members of the same team… and we serve YOU, the citizens of Madison County! At the risk of leaving someone out, I’ll offer this list of offices that are housed in County facilities as a starting point: County Judge, County Commissioners, Criminal District Attorney, County Clerk, District Judges, District Clerk, County Treasurer, Sheriff, Jail/Dispatch officers, Tax Assessor- Collector, Justice(s) of the Peace, Constable(s), County Auditor, Emergency Management, Veterans Affairs Officer, Elections Administrator, County Library, Designated Representative, County Extension Agent, Adult Probation, Juvenile Probation and the DPS Driver License Office.

LEAD STORY SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED Amou Haji, 94, of Dezhgah, Iran, also known as the World’s Dirtiest Man, refused to bathe for more than 60 years because he was afraid doing so would make him sick, Fox News reported. Apparently, he was right: For the first time, “villagers had recently taken him to a bathroom to wash,” the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

LEAD STORY WHAT BURN BAN? Things got a little heated which is to say 73 vehicles were utterly consumed by raging flames -- at the annual fall festival at the Robinson Family Farm in Temple, Texas on Oct. 15, an event that features a pumpkin patch, hayrides, live music, kids’ games and more.

Recently, the Madison County Library was recognized by the state and officially awarded accreditation from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) for Fiscal Year 2023. The library has been able to maintain its accreditation status for over 32 years, through meeting established criteria from the TSLAC including areas of staffing, collections, expenditures, and services provided to the public.

LEAD STORY -- FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus took the opportunity of a meeting at Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Oct.

Dear Editor, This past August makes three years since I retired and moved here to Madison County, Texas. I didn’t move here because of the Madisonville ISD ratings or employment. The main reason was for the family and friends I have here. I enjoy reading the Madisonville Meteor newspaper weekly. I would like to point out that at the top right-hand corner of the front page, under the Madisonville Meteor, it says “Thank a Veteran and Serviceman Every Day.” I am a proud Air Force veteran and usually wear something that states that fact. The point of this article is that the three years living here, and going about my daily life, I cannot count on one hand the number people who have thanked me for my service to this great country. This makes me wonder how many veterans in this community are not recognized for their military contributions. If you didn’t serve, it doesn’t mean anything to you. But to those of us who did, a simple thank you means a great deal. Just something to consider, especially since it is on the front page of the paper, every week.