Mackie shares that the Bedias Library will resume regular hours the first week of August. If you would like to volunteer to help keep the library open and active, please give Mackie a call, 936- 355-0642. Please go to www.facebook.com/BediasLibrary. home for more information and updates.

With COVID restrictions lifted statewide and summer vacations still an option before school gets started next month, I sincerely hope you and your family will consider making the trip to Austin for a history and civics lesson at your State Capitol. And with the Legislature in the midst of a Special Session, there’s no better time to see your government in action. As a reminder, my Capitol office is always open to you, and my staff is more than happy to show you around. We can arrange for a tour of the State Capitol or even give recommendations of places of interest in the area, such as the Governor’s Mansion, Texas State Cemetery, or the Bob Bullock State History Museum. Hope to see you soon!

Some things at the Museum seldom change. The Truman Kimbro exhibit is permanent, as is another dedicated to the courthouses of Madison County. The case full of arrowheads stays, and one of the photos from local communities doesn’t change much or often. But if all stays the same, why should you make another visit?

As many of you know, Governor Abbott called upon legislators to return to Austin on July 8 to begin the first Special Session of the 87th Legislature. On Wednesday, July 7, the Governor announced the Special Session agenda. As expected, election integrity and bail reform were on top of that list, along with nine other items of interest.

On an unseasonably cool Thursday, July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress declared what its delegates had voted on just two days prior: total independence from King George III and Great Britain. In doing so, the founding fathers pushed back against tyranny, creating a new form of government whose power was to be derived only from the consent of those they govern. Their plan was for all citizens to be equal, and for all to have the right to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Radical at the time, the actions of men such as Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson paved the way for the United States Constitution just 13 years later, and what we know today as the longest standing democracy in the world.

This IS Musings, but I’ve started out under a different hat. Besides writing for the Museum, I am also a member of the Madison County Historical Commission, which is now separate. I am chairperson of its Publication Committee, which has been charged with putting together a third volume of Madison County history.

As you may have heard, Governor Greg Abbott recently announced that legislators will need to shelve their summer plans as we will be back in Austin on July 8th to convene our first Special Session of the 87th Legislature. In Texas, a Special Session can only be called by the Governor, and the Legislature may only consider items the Governor adds to the agenda. And while we do not officially know what policy areas will be added to the call, I feel confident saying that we will be back tackling his Emergency Items that did not pass during the 140-day Regular Session. Once the items are named, I will be sure to update you with more specific information.