Published: October 11, 2008 08:30 pm            

Pot luck

Marijuana not the kind of ‘cash crop’ you take to the bank

It comes with the job — you got your ribbon cuttings, council meetings, accidents, festivals and pot raids to cover.

Except, there are generally a lot more of the ribbon cuttings and such then there are pot raids to go to. Until recently, that is.

Seems at least the northern part of our fair county — and in one case, our fair city — has become a favored “spot to grow pot” in North Texas. Recent activities of the Navarro County Sheriff’s Department have shut down several such operations in the county. And, both fortunately and unfortunately, the work continues.

Fortunately, because our law enforcement folks do want to rid the county of the illegal weed operations. Unfortunately, because as long as there is a dollar to be made, it’s likely to continue — somewhere.

I’ve personally made the trips to the Emhouse and Rice areas the last few weeks to document the finds for the newspaper. Mind boggling stuff it was, all the way from the camp sites to the weapons to the solar panels in the tops of trees to provide power for the operations.

Oh, yeah. There was all that marijuana, too.

Even though my “formative” years were in the late 1960s and early 1970s, I’m no expert on the topic of marijuana. Never really was around it, other than the occasional college party where the “stoners” in the corner were doing their thing. It just never was “my” thing.

But, make no mistake about it — getting it off the street is a “good” thing.

Of course, there will be more marijuana fields to follow. Always are. But maybe if we dole out a few more “dents” in the cash flow of those investing unwanted agricultural dollars in our county, they’ll find someplace else to go, and someplace else to grow.

I’d much rather we remain best known for being the “Fruitcake Capital of the World.”

Kudos to Les Cotten and his men and women who serve us as the Navarro County Sheriff’s Department for their efforts in recent weeks.

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Your Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce has a couple of activities particularly worthy of your attention this week.

Tuesday evening, the chamber is sponsoring the “Candidates Forum” at the Corsicana Government Center. It is your chance to submit questions to candidates running in local contested races, and hear what they have to say.

Candidates for two county commissioners races, the office of tax assessor/collector, one county constable post, and the office of district judge will be on the “hot seat” that evening.

KAND Radio is broadcasting the event live for those who can’t attend. The forum starts at 6 p.m. and should wrap up around 8:45 p.m., organizers say.

Hope you can attend.

The chamber would also like to see you Thursday at its annual “Member Reception” taking place at the Cook Center at Navarro College. Tickets for the event are still available by contacting the chamber office at (903) 874-4731.

The event is one of the chamber’s major fundraisers of the year, and features both a silent auction and a live auction of dozens of neat items, including an autographed Tony Romo jersey (although, we haven’t confirmed if the lipstick on the jersey is that of Jessica Simpson). You can find a list of all the items in the two auctions on Page 7A of today’s Daily Sun.

Just kidding, of course, about the lipstick. But we do know it will be a great evening of refreshments, networking and fun.

Hope to see you there, too.

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Bob Belcher is Managing Editor of the Daily Sun. His column appears on Sundays. He may be reached by e-mail at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com.

        

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