Organizers of the 76th annual San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo, as well as all the dedicated participants at this year's event, deserve an enthusiastic thumbs up for putting on another great set of shows at Bolado Park.
The hometown event has a San Benito County uniqueness and again showed, telling by impressive attendance throughout the weekend, that locals love their rodeo action. That kind of local enthusiasm started before the official rodeo even began, as 80 entrants took part in the annual Saddle Horse Show Parade put on by the chamber, and continued through the weekend in front of mostly-filled Bolado Park grandstands. Great job again, and we look forward to another successful year at the 77th San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo in 2010.
THUMBS DOWN: Officials decline pay cuts
The old cliches of leading by example or being a team player apparently didn't hit the necessary chord for two elected department heads, Sheriff Curtis Hill and Tax Collector/Treasurer Mary Lou Andrade. They recently declined the county's request to each accept a 5 percent pay cut. Four other elected department leaders accepted the request - the assessor, clerk, district attorney and marshal - the same reduction all 11 appointed department heads are expected to accept in the near future.
They have the right to say no, because it is a voluntary pay cut, but it might not play out well with employees in the department and other top officials taking the hit. Of course, being elected officials, Hill and Andrade understand it also might upset some voters in an electorate with 14 percent unemployment.
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San Benito Score: Football, golf, tennis and cross country
