August 2006

Table of Contents

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Features

96 Minutes

At 11:48 a.m. on August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman began firing his rifle from the top of the University of Texas Tower at anyone and everyone in his sights. At 1:24 p.m., he was gunned down himself. The lives of the people who witnessed the sniper’s spree firsthand would never be the same again.

The Bad Guy With the Badge

How Conrado Cantu, the sheriff of Cameron County, lived down to people’s expectations of South Texas law enforcement.

Light in the Darkness

The title of James Evans’s new series of Big Bend photographs is “The Camera Never Sleeps.” It doesn’t matter, apparently, that the photographer does.

American Idol

Although many people haven’t heard of him, Bishop T.D. Jakes is one of the most famous—and richest— preachers in the country. Whence cometh this man?

Free for All

Eighty-five incredibly fun things, from movies to museums, that won’t cost you a red cent.

My Name Is Tonnyre Thomas Joe

And I am a woman rancher. Here’s what my life is like.

Columns

Karen Olsson

The Old College Try

The mayor of El Cenizo is 23, is still in school, and lives with his mother. But he’s serious about making life better in his impoverished border hometown.

Behind the Lines

He Walks The Line

Silvestre Reyes has a plan for the border.

Michael Ennis

My Father’s War

What I learned about Iraq from World War II—and what all the president’s men could learn.

Sarah Bird

Pedal to My Mettle

Teen Boy gets behind the wheel.

Reporter

Topic A

Mapmakers, Mapmakers

Re-re-re-redistricting.

The Horse’s Mouth

Being a Character Actor

G.W. Bailey on being a character actor.

FAQ

Pay as You Grow

Does incentive pay for teachers make the grade?

A Soldier’s Story

Coming home.

I’m home. Finally.

Faith Bases

Highland Park United Methodist Church, Dallas

William Martin reviews our places of worship.

Minister of Health

The Mosquito Diaries

The buzz on mosquitoes.

Hollywood, TX

Fanfare for the Common Man

In praise of Mike Judge.

Buy This Now

Dinner Theater

Hot plates!

Street Smarts

South Padre Island

South Padre for grown-ups.

Texas Monthly Talks

Joe Allbaugh

Joe Allbaugh defends you-know-who.

Previews+Reviews

Books

The best new books from Texas.

Previews+Reviews

Music

The best new music from Texas.

The Filter

Pat's Pick

Shinsei

Miscellaneous

Web Extra

The Deadly Tower

Senior editor Pamela Colloff talks about tracking down eyewitnesses and listening to their accounts of Charles Whitman’s shooting spree from atop the University of Texas Tower.

Editor’s Letter

Change, Pardners

Web Extra

Down and Out

Writer-at-large Cecilia Ballí talks about former Cameron county sheriff Conrado Cantu.

Roar of the Crowd

Water Log

Web Extra

Free and Easy

Writer-at-large Suzy Banks on thinking about fun things to do for free.

Web Extra

A Life’s Calling

Writer-at-large William Martin on writing about T.D. Jakes, one of the nation’s most famous ministers.

Texas History 101

Today, the McDonald Observatory considers catering to star-savvy folks serious business.

Happy Trails

For most of my life as a provincial San Antonian, I had often heard about this wondrous place in Austin called Barton Springs.

Texas Tidbits

The element most conspicuously absent from our tour of the University of Texas Tower was any mention of sniper Charles Whitman.

Books That Cook

The Star of Texas Cookbook

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