U.S. Congressman Michael Conaway will speak at the Star Republican Women's April 18 General Meeting at Quail Point Lodge in Horseshoe Bay.  A complimentary light lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. and the program will commence at 1 p.m.

Serving his seventh term in the U.S. House of   Representatives, Congressman Mike Conaway represents 29 counties in the 11th congressional district of Texas, including Llano County and the cities of Midland, Odessa and San Angelo.

A conservative Republican, Rep. Conaway believes in the principles of lower taxes, smaller government and a secure nation. His background as a CPA gives him a unique perspective on fiscal responsibility and ensuring every taxpayer dollar is being spent wisely.

In the House, Congressman Conaway is the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and also serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

He is a deputy Republican whip, a position he has held since the 112th Congress.

A native Texan, he grew up in Odessa and graduated from Odessa Permian High School in 1966 after playing on Permian’s first state championship football team. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Texas A & M University-Commerce in 1970.

After serving in the Army at Fort Hood, he returned to the Permian Basin with Price Waterhouse and settled in Midland, later working with George W. Bush as the chief financial officer for Bush Exploration. He developed a lasting friendship with President Bush as they learned together what it takes to run a business.

Congressman Conaway and his wife, Suzanne, live in Midland and have four children and seven grandchildren.

You won't want to miss the Second Annual Star Republican Women's Casino Night Thursday evening, April 20 at St. Paul's Catholic Church's Finn Center in Horseshoe Bay from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets for this 2017 SRW fundraiser will be on sale for $30 per person at SRW's  April 18 general meeting or by mailing checks to SRW, P.O. Box 8675, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657.  Tickets include an open bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Members and guests are welcome!

Come enjoy this entertaining event and test your skills at Blackjack, Poker, Texas Hold 'Em, craps, roulette and slot machines.  

Professional dealers will be at each of the tables, encouraging guests onto big winnings!  

Gifts and prizes will be awarded at the end of the event, and attendees will have the opportunity to bid on items in a Silent Auction. Winners of the items will be announced at 9:30 p.m.

Prizes include a golf package, Spa package, designer purses, a catered dinner, a tennis camp week, jewelry, art, wine baskets, cosmetics, hotel accommodations in San Antonio and much more.

Net proceeds go to the Star Republican Women Political Action Committee to provide funds to Republican candidates seeking local, regional and state office, as well as SRW Caring for America projects to help community-based organizations.

Joining JoEllen on the committee are: Kathy Heeren, Linda Baker, Allison Sacra and Marion Gardner. 

Click on the button below for a Casino Night flyer to share with your friends and community. For more information call Jo Ellen at 806-789-2886.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Star Republican Women's Caring For America Committee is asking you to help make our communities aware of this important cause.  

"At our April 20 meeting, we will be providing additional blue ribbons for STAR members to wear and to display throughout our communities," said Bebe Piatt, committee chairman.  These blue ribbons are a reminder that strong, nurturing communities that are supportive of families can get involved and play a role in preventing child abuse and neglect and promoting child and family well-being, she said.

One More!  That is what we ask you to do in 2017.  Each of you, please bring one more woman to join Star Republican Women.​

Tell your friends about SRW and TFRW -- the fun we have, the good we do, and the power we wield. Together we can make a difference!

And when you do bring a new or prospective member to our general meetings, please introduce them to others so they can enjoy the friendship and fellowship of SRW. And if you know a former member who has not renewed, ask them to re-up!

Just click on the button below to download a membership form and send to your friends requesting them to join SRW.  Invite them to attend an upcoming meeting.   

For membership questions, please contact Emily Tobin at [email protected].​

Star Republican Women's Literacy Committee will host its second Red Shoe Book Club event this year on Tuesday, March 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Lantana Room at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Hotel.

Literacy Committee Chairman Carole White announced that the book to be reviewed will be "The Shroud Conspiracy" and it will keep you turning the pages to learn if an ancient relic promises to reveal secrets for the ages.

The thriller novel by John Heubusch is about the race between science and religion to discover the truth about Christianity’s most famous relic, the Shroud of Turin.

"The Red Shoe Book Club is a way for SRW members and associates to explore and discuss books," Carole said.  "We hope you will wear your red shoes and join us for a lively time of sharing thoughts and views about this suspenseful book." 

. . . And a fun time was had by all who attended the March Red Shoe Book Club Meeting. . . 

At the March 28 Red Shoe Book Club Meeting, Carole led a discussion about the book "News of the World" by Paulette Jiles.  Since much of the book takes place in the Hill Country, it was quite interesting to discuss the lifestyle and politics of the late 1800s and the role of the media at that time.

. . . and participated in a C.H.A.T. (Chicks Having an Awesome Time)

After the book review discussion, Awards Committee Chairman Annette Burton and Legislative Committee Chairman Tomi MacDonald led a C.H.A.T. starting with the topic "The Adorable Deplorables vs. The Indivisibles."  Time was spent discussing  the purpose of each group.  Thirteen SRW members participated and concluded that unlike the "Indivisibles", Republican Women do not get in people's faces, do not carry signs, do not block entrances and streets and do not disrupt opposition candidates or their meetings.  What Republican women should do is beat the opponents at the ballot box by becoming more active and effective supporters of Republican candidates and office holders.  The SRW members renewed a commitment to recruit new members and foster their involvement in our club.  

 SRW will host another C.H.A.T. after the Red Shoe Book on May 23.

Andrew Murr – Saving Tax Dollars While Increasing Public Safety

With all of the hot-button issues being debated in the legislature this year, I doubt that reforming our outdated pretrial detention and bail systems will get much attention in the press.  But it should, and I’ll tell you why.  If passed, my new legislation (House Bill 3011 and House Joint Resolution 98) will save Texas taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, while at the same time improving public safety.

You see, in most Texas counties only one’s ability to pay their bail determines which defendants will be released until their trial and which defendants will remain in jail.  This is an outdated and illogical way of handling pretrial detention.  My legislation will require a state-funded local risk assessment to determine whether a person will have a bail option or if the crime they are accused of is severe enough to keep them in jail without bond.  This bill will ensure that magistrates have access to information relevant to public safety and defendants’ history for missing court appearances, while still leaving discretion to the magistrate regarding whether a bond should be imposed. 

Currently, people accused of heinous crimes may still be released from jail while they await trial simply because they can afford the bail.  I’ve seen this first-hand as a former rural county judge where I performed both magistrate duties and prepared the county’s budget.  While we were wasting the taxpayer’s hard-earned dollars to incarcerate someone awaiting trial for a non-violent crime like shoplifting, another person accused of aggravated sexual assault was walking the streets until their trial.  That’s not right, and it’s not safe.

This new legislation will actually improve public safety while protecting the taxpayers as well.  It’s high-time we reformed our pretrial detention and bail system, and I encourage you to contact your state representative and urge them to co-author HB 3011 and HJR 98.

Rep. Andrew Murr is a rancher, attorney, small businessman and former Kimble County Judge who has represented District 53 in the Texas House since 2015.  House District 53 includes Bandera, Crockett, Edwards, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, Medina, Menard, Real, Schleicher and Sutton Counties.  

To get a Legislative Update from State Senator Dawn Buckingham, please click on the button below.