Greetings Bulldog Families, Many of you will be experiencing Pre-Summer Time Spaghettification (I just made that up!). It makes the time between Spring Break and Summer feel like it takes forever.

In 1829, Ransom Allphin (1812-1854) and his parents moved from Illinois to Montgomery County, Texas, and that property later became part of Madison County. Alphin acquired his property in an 1835 Mexican land grant. He and a brother-in-law fought in several battles under Sam Houston’s leadership and against the Mexican government to set up the Republic of Texas. The Texas Comptrollers Military Service Record No. 626 certified that Ransom served as a member of Captain William Ware’s Company in the Texian army from March 12 to June 12, 1836.

One of the most beautiful things I have ever heard came through the words of a little tow-headed girl. I think of that moment in time often. We were walking in the large backyard of her home just enjoying the wonders of nature. We listened to the squirrels chattering in the trees and took in the myriads of scents wafting on the air. As we walked, I could feel the grass give way under the weight of my feet, and the crackling sound of small twigs breaking as I tread over them—I was immersed in nature in all of her splendor. I looked over at my walking companion and watched attentively as she slowed her pace, coming to an abrupt stop, and saw as she raised her index finger to her lips, shushing me instantly. She said, “We must be very quiet,” as she looked ahead of us with intense caution in her eyes. “You have to sneak up on the flowers if you want to really see them.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned last week the GOP risks losing its majority in the state House this November and urged party unity behind the winner of the May runoff between U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The State historical marker for Robbins Ferry sits under the Trinity River bridge on the eastern boundary of Madison County. When driving east on SH 21, you must exit to the right and before the bridge to reach the marker. Recently, the marker was vandalized, and the local historical commission plans to have it repaired. Its inscription reads “First known as “Paso Thomas (Thomas’s Ford) at the crossing of the San Antonio and La Bahia Roads and over the Trinity River.” The ferry was first established about 1821 by Joel Leakey, who was part of the first wave of settlers in Austin’s colony. Next, Nathaniel Robbins began operating the ferry in about 1827, and it was named after him. Then, in about 1852, it was acquired by Elisha Clapp, son-in-law of Nathaniel Robbins. Clapp managed the ferry until his death in 1856, and then his descendants continued to operate the ferry until 1930 when Clapp’s Ferry Bridge was built.

After public outcry, a physical border wall through Big Bend National Park appears to be on hold, The Texas Tribune reported. In February, the Trump administration waived more than two dozen environmental laws to clear the way for a 150-mile-long wall through West Texas, including Big Bend and the adjoining state park.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called for Gov. Greg Abbott to remove acting state Comptroller Kelly Hancock, calling him an “incompetent loser,” The Dallas Morning News reported. Paxton said the governor should replace him with Don Huffines, who defeated Hancock in the GOP primary race for the post earlier this month.

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” C.S. Lewis We really only see a small portion of this world as it truly is. Information received through our senses is affected by our subjectivity—actually, it would be more accurate to say it is tainted. Because of this, I have learned it is not so much what we are seeing, but rather how we are seeing things which is of far greater importance.

Four Islamic schools have been admitted to the Texas voucher program after a federal judge ordered the state to invite the schools to apply, the Houston Chronicle reported. The judge also ordered the application deadline for families be extended to March 31, citing concerns that no Islamic schools had been approved for the program.

Madison County contains over 30 historical markers commemorating topics that tell the story of Texas. Too often they are beside busy highways, making it dangerous to pull off to read them. In the next few months, I intend to provide facts in a safer format.