I’ve had some writer’s block lately. Part of it’s my continuing disbelief/anxiety over political events/climate, hatred and division in our country. I suppose I’ll just have to learn to live with it, for now. There doesn’t seem to be much else I can do. Helplessness isn’t a happy human condition.

What a blessing it is to be here in Bosque County, Texas. When I was offered the position here as publisher of the Clifton Record and the Meridian Tribune, I was thrilled by the very thought of coming back to Texas. In addition, I was delighted to hear that the communities of Clifton and Meridian were such great supporters of the newspaper.

Amid a pandemic that led to school and business closings, thousands of Central Texans opened their hearts and wallets and donated a record amount of nonperishable food to fill the shelves of 19 pantries in nine area counties during this year’s Food For Families drive.

Texas is ready to distribute 1.4 million doses as soon as the COVID-19 vaccine receives federal government approval. Gov.

Humans are a very enterprising bunch. Everywhere I turn, there’s an ad for some new or re-purposed product available for sale that in some way is connected to remaining safe from COVID-19. Masks seem to be center stage. Guess we have a new, must have fashion category. The styles range from neck gaiters like skiiers wear to basic paper masks to homemade versions with wild patterns to svelte, black or white knit jobs. There are ties and elastic, and various choices there too.

Zack and I both had appointments with our ophthalmologist, so we masked up and headed to Waco for the first time in quite a while. Seems like doctors’ appointments have been one of the only reasons these last few months to don anything but work clothes. Otherwise, who’s dressing up these days?

The Texas Enterprise Fund took a hit for lack of transparency in a new research paper from the National Freedom of Information Coalition. The paper by journalist Steve Miller is titled “Invisible Incentives: How Secrecy Impedes Evaluation and Accountability of Economic Development Subsidies.” Part of the paper spotlights the Texas Enterprise Fund, which the Legislature created in 2003 to provide taxpayer money to companies in exchange for the promise of jobs.