GOOD MORNING
We are here! It's Friday. It's the start of the weekend. It's Christmas Eve. The weather is going to be spectacular. We're talking about temperatures Saturday reaching 87 degrees.
WHAT'S DRIVING THE NEWS
Omicron surges to more than 12,000 cases in Texas
With more than 30,000 cases in the first five days this week, the omicron variant of COVID-19 is clearly driving the cases upward. However, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has remained mostly silent about the spread of the virus. The Texas Tribune profiled this on Thursday: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/23/greg-abbott-texas-covid-omicron/
Abbott has focused on fighting vaccine mandates. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments from states that reject mandates.
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Twitter
See @GregAbbott_TX's post on Twitter.
twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX
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The issue is particularly problematic with the Christmas holiday because most reporting agencies are taking the weekend off, including Peterson Regional Medical Center. On Wednesday, Peterson reported seven people hospitalized with COVID-19 — up from three on Tuesday.
A better look at how much it could cost
The Lead was given the cost estimates for the new public safety building for Kerrville — as presented by architect Randall Scott. The one-story building, according to Scott's estimates, will cost between $43-48 million. Add a second story and the price balloons to $61 million. On Wednesday, John Harrison, who chaired the committee to study the city's needs on the building, said the project would be presented to the City Council next month with a $45 million estimated budget.
Scott's estimates are built on a 69,000-square-foot building. The building features:
- 36,000 square feet dedicated to the police station.
- 4,400 square feet dedicated to police assets (evidence).
- 11,000 square feet for the municipal court.
- 5,900 square feet for the fire administration.
- 8,200 square feet for police expansion.
- 2,500 square feet for the information technology department.
MARK YOUR AGENDA
Monday — 10 a.m.-noon. The San Antonio Food Bank will conduct its mass food distribution at Light of the Hill Mt. Wesley Church in Kerrville, 610 Methodist Encampment Rd.
WE'RE IN A CHRISTMAS MOOD
Yes, we are! We watch "The Preacher's Wife" every Christmas and it's a reminder of the power of the late Whitney Houston's magnificent voice. If you haven't seen it, it stars Denzel Washington, Courtney B. Vance, Houston and Gregory Hines. The movie is a 1996 remake of the 1944 "The Bishop's Wife." Here's a sample:
BEFORE YOU GO INTO TONIGHT'S SERVICES
We interview St. Peter's Episcopal Church Pastor Rev. Bert Baetz on Tuesday, and part of the interview was about the historic church's stain glass windows, including the panels depicting the Nativity. Here's Baetz explaining the windows:
TONIGHT'S CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
4 p.m.
- Notre Dame Catholic Church, 909 Main St
5 p.m.
- First Presbyterian Church, 800 Jefferson St.
- Trinity Baptist, 800 Jackson Rd.
- First United Methodist Church, 321 Thompson Dr
- Hosana Lutheran Church,134 Camp Meeting Rd.
5:30 p.m.
- St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 320 St. Peter St.
- First Baptist Church, 5:30 p.m. 625 Washington St.
- St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 135 Methodist Encampment Rd.
6 p.m.
- Calvary Chapel, 1610 Sidney Baker St.
- Christ Church, 228 Earl Garrett St.
- Zion Lutheran Church, 624 Barnett St.
- First Christian Church, 1900 Goat Creek Rd.
- Western Hills Baptist Church, 2010 Goat Creek Rd.
- St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church, 2015 Singing Wind Dr.
6:30 p.m.
- Christmas Concert at First Presbyterian, 800 Jefferson St.
- First United Methodist Church, 321 Thompson Dr.
7 p.m.
- First Presbyterian, 800 Jefferson Street
- Hosana Lutheran Church,134 Camp Meeting Road
- Notre Dame Catholic Church, 909 Main St.
8 p.m.
- Light on the Hill at Mt. Wesley, 610 Methodist Encampment Rd.
- Zion Lutheran Church, 624 Barnett St.
10:30 p.m.
- St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 320 St. Peter St.
11 p.m
- First United Methodist Church, 321 Thompson Dr.
Midnight
- Notre Dame Catholic Church, 909 Main St.
All-time Christmas carols in a TV or movies
You're a mean one Mr. Grinch, 1966
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, "Meet Me In St. Louis," 1944
Judy Garland
O Holy Night, "Benson," 1982
Robert Guillaume
The Dean Martin Christmas Show, 1968
A cast that includes Dean Martin, Dennis Weaver, Dom DeLuise and Bob Newhart
White Christmas, 1954
Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen
A Christmas Song, 1961
Nat King Cole
