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The skinny

By Times Wires
Published November 9, 2007

MAN ON A MISSION

Once you get to Key West, the walk is over

Matt Gregory left his home in Bellingham, Wash., to go out for a walk on Sept. 1, 2006. On Tuesday, he finished, diving into the Atlantic Ocean after reaching Key West. He went on his walk in an effort to raise money for cancer research in honor of his mom, who died of the disease in 1999, and raised $11,000 along the way. Next he plans to write a book about his journey, in hopes of raising up to $100,000. Over the course of the 5,000-mile walk, he maintained a blog mywalkingadventure.com, went through nine pairs of shoes, had two bouts of poison oak and stayed in the homes of 109 people - only 12 of whom he knew before the walk started. "It might take me years to totally understand what went on in this walk," said Gregory.

POLITICAL ROUNDUP

Texas voters shoot down bureaucracy

Back in 1871, it was really important for Texas counties to have a hide inspector. The position was created to prevent cattle theft, and check the hides (thus the name) of animals leaving the county. But Tuesday, 77 percent of the state's voters decided they don't need hide inspectors anymore, and eliminated the position from the state constitution. "It's part of our history that could be enjoyed," said Jeff McMeans, who held the position in Fort Bend County since 1990. McMeans had no duties in the position, but liked being in the county fair parade. "It was the perfect political office," he said. "No pay, no office, no responsibility, no nothing."

It sure sounds like something I'd say

Jim Dunn, a member of the state House in Washington, has been disciplined for making inappropriate remarks to a female staffer. He lost all his committee assignments and must attend sensitivity training. He doesn't remember what it was he said that got him in to trouble, but he doesn't deny it, either. "(I'm) sure it was very inappropriate, because I do that kind of thing." He says he has no plans to resign.

Update: Big sis beats little brother

Charlotte Garman will remain the mayor of Montezuma, Ohio, after fending off a challenge from her little bother, Daniel Huffman. Garman took 43 of the votes - that's total votes, not percentage - while Huffman got 24. The town has 138 registered voters.

KKK Vs. KKK

In Alabama, a whole lot of hating

Members of the Ku Klux Klan are planning to assemble on Saturday in Cullman, Ala., to do their typical hate thing, but it might be surprising is who some of them plan on hating. Seems the Alabama chapter is not at all happy about an anti-immigration rally planned by the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, "We are opposed to the ignorance and stupidity as displayed by the individuals that thumbed their nose at the area churches by continuing to use racial slurs, threats and avoided Christian deportment," Ken Mier, of the Alabama group, said in an e-mail to the Cullman Times. The National Knights have a permit to rally that day, and Cullman officials say the Alabama group will need one, too, if it plans on assembling.

Compiled from Times wire services and other sources by staff writer Jim Webster, who can be reached at jwebster@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 9, 2007, 01:22:55]