There are a couple of rules I live by in this profession. Rule #1Be nice, until its time not to be nice. This is a paraphrase of a line from the 1989 Patrick Swayze/ Sam Elliot film, “Road House.” It is a very simple philosophy, but yet I believe those words are the key to all human interaction. If we were kind and considerate of one another there would be far fewer times where we would need “…to not be nice.”

The last day to register to vote for the March 3 primary is Feb. 2, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. Early voting runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27, with Feb. 20 being the deadline for applying for a mail ballot. Prospective voters can visit the votetexas.gov website to find out if they are registered, discern their polling places, learn what is on the ballot and find other information.

I encourage history buffs to check out Madison County Historical Commission’s webpage, located at https://www.madisonchc. com. It was my source for the following stories but it also offers much more!

The first debate in the state’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is Jan. 24 in Georgetown, The Dallas Morning News reported. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and state Rep. James Talarico of Round Rock are vying for the nomination.

Over the past couple of decades, we have witnessed an increase in acts of defiance directed at law enforcement officers (LEOs). I suspect the root of this is found in people being exasperated and at their wits end with the many problems with our government’s actions or inactions.

A spate of new laws took effect Jan. 1, The Dallas Morning News reported.

CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS The Legislature made a host of major decisions in 2025, as The Dallas Morning News reported. Here are the highlights: • Homeowners received a break on their property taxes after approving a proposed constitutional amendment in November.

Years ago, Madison County was known as “wild and wooly”, meaning law and order often didn’t prevail. Information below was found under “history” on Madison County Historical Commission’s webpage, https:// madisoncountychc.com Antonio Rivers was one of the earliest settlers here. In a clipping from the July 27, 1854, edition of the Texas Ranger publication in Grimes County’s Old Washington stated that “We can learn from Antonio Rivers that James Wiseman was killed at Madisonville on Monday evening by a man of the name of Nash. Nash, it seems, kept a grocery, and young Wiseman, a youth of some 16 summers, called at that shop about sundown to summon 2 uncles that were there, to accompany him to supper. Being invited to participate in a drink by some of the party, he unavoidably spilled some bitters on the counter, for which trifling offense Nash drew his knife and inflicted a wound in the region of the heart, which produced death almost instantaneously. Nash was immediately arrested, and while under strict guard on Tuesday night, was shot by someone (in the dark) in the back with 9 buckshot, 4 of which passed entirely through the body. At last accounts, he was still alive, though his physician was of the opinion that he could live but a short time.”

Dear Bulldog Families, As we enter the final month of 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible semester we've had here at North Zulch High School. December is always a special time-a season of celebration, gratitude, and anticipation for the new year ahead.

As we approach the halfway mark of the 2025-2026 school year, it's hard to believe how quickly the time is flying! With the first semester coming to a close, our students are working diligently toward their academic goals while also enjoying the many fun-filled holiday activities taking place in our classrooms.