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Glasscock County News
School
Board Hears Gloomy Forecast Glasscock
County's School Board on July 15 heard a school finance specialist paint a
dark picture of Texas school finance, especially in West Texas.
Doug Karr, who is employed by the Midland and Lubbock educational
service centers, said the entire area is "on a slippery slope"
because families are moving, largely to Central and East Texas, and state
educational funds go where kids are. Karr
said the Midland service center's area, consisting of 34 school districts, led
the state in enrollment decline from 1994-95 through 1999-2000, with a 5.4
percent loss of students. Other West Texas areas had the state's next highest
declines: Lubbock (-4.9); Abilene (- 4.3); Wichita Falls (- 3); San Angelo (-
2) and Amarillo (-1.3). Only El Paso registered a gain (+ 4.5). Karr said
school districts need a steadily growing enrollment and steadily growing tax
base, neither of which exists now in most of West Texas. Conservative
Local Policies Praised Karr
praised GCISD's board and administration for raising taxes, reducing
expenditures, balancing the budget and building cash reserves, even while
sustaining a 12 percent drop in average daily attendance over the last three
years. He encouraged the board to continue its conservative fiscal policies,
to keep the district from being "behind the [financial] eight ball,"
where he said most West Texas districts already are. Karr
said the Texas legislature's passing the nation's first public school fiscal
accountability system, to begin in 2003, has made it even more important that
schools not operate from a deficit budget. He said a tax rate at the state
maximum of $1.50 per $100 valuation is in GCISD's best interest. (The current
rate is $1.307.) He said using cash reserves for operating funds is the
beginning of the financial end for schools. "Stay Alive 'til '05" is
the name of the game right now, Karr said, since the state legislature is not
likely to increase school funding before then, when an overhaul of school
finance is a possibility. Parents
Confront School Board Before
Karr’s presentation, a group of approximately eight parents told the school
board they thought the school should hire a second teacher for the incoming
class of first graders. Rebecca Halfmann and Sharon Halfmann, speaking for the
group, said they didn't think any one teacher would be able to manage this
particular class of 24 youngsters. (In
grades K – 4, the state mandated ratio of students to teachers is 22 to 1.
However, the state can grant a waiver for one class.) They said the
class is very diverse in its needs, with several children having both learning
and discipline problems. The
board, while sympathetic to the parents' concerns, made no move to hire
another teacher for first grade, apparently comfortable that the
administration's and faculty’s plan for the class was adequate. Elementary
School Principal Brad Jones and teachers Tanya Multer and Micki Wesley met
with parents July 18 to explain how the school plans to manage the class.
School Superintendent Steve Long said in no case will budget constraints
compromise student services. County Considers Pay
Raises
The Glasscock
County Commissioners’ Court began work on the 2002-2003 budget at their
regular meeting Aug. 12, and will continue it at a called meeting Aug. 20.
Several pay raises are among budget items being considered, with
nothing yet finalized. Sheriff
Royce “Booger” Pruit has requested a $1,500 raise for himself and each of
the four other people in his department. With that increase, Pruit’s
sheriff’s salary would be $34,700, the two deputy sheriffs would each make
$29,100, while office personnel would make $24,800 and $23,300.
County/District Clerk Rebecca “Becky” Batla has also asked for a $1,500
increase for herself and the deputy clerk, which would put their salaries at
$29,000 and $24,800 respectively. County Judge Wilburn Bednar, whose salary is
$22,620, plus a state supplement of $10,000, did not budget a raise for
himself, but is requesting a $2,400 increase for his secretary, taking her
salary to $9,000. Constable LeRoy Hoelscher asked for an increase of $2,400,
which would make his salary $10,200. Note:
Readers should go to the September, 2001 issue of the Glasscock County News,
“County Adopts Budget…” for a recap of county salary matters last year. Not
asking for increases to their current salaries are: Justice of the Peace
Marilee Jost ($15,600) County Treasurer Alan Dierschke ($22,200), Courthouse
Custodian Douglas Plagens ($24,000), County Agent Steve Sturtz ($20,000),
extension service secretary ($20,400), and county entomologist ($1,750). The
four county commissioners, who currently make $19,200 each, have not yet
determined whether they will increase their own salaries. Nor have they
indicated if they will increase the salaries of other county employees, such
as the twelve on the road crew, the jail custodian, two jailers, three fire
department chiefs, or two trappers, among others. County May
Purchase Property The
court again discussed buying property immediately east of the post office.
Commissioner Mark Halfmann said Tony Rameriz wants to sell three lots there
for $1,000 each. The court seemed in agreement to purchase them but no vote
was taken. Bednar was to check into availability of other lots on that
property. The
county will soon paint parking spaces and place concrete bumpers around the
community center. Handicapped spaces will be marked, and doorways will be
designated as no parking zones. The alley east of the building will be one-way
going south, with diagonal parking next to the building, and parallel parking
on the east side of that alley. Commissioners
decided to allow Steve Sturtz to go ahead with fencing an area for 4-H
shooting sports on county-owned property at the west dumpsite without waiting
any longer for a survey, which isn’t legally necessary. In
The Spotlight • Christie
Brown was selected Color Guard Co-Captain
by the Tarleton Texan Band for 2002-2003. Christie is the daughter of Dean and
Claudia Brown, and is a senior with a criminal justice major. •
Blake Chudej was among 350 students who recently attended the
National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. A junior at GCHS, he is
the son of Henry and Shelley Chudej. •
Darren Hillger, Lori
Hoelscher and Angela Schraeder
recently attended the Texas 4-H Congress in Austin. The congress is a four-day
simulated legislative experience. •
Chelsea Schwartz was
recently named Miss Texas American Teen at the National American Teen Pageant
in Dallas. She also won the Most Promising Model Award and the Volunteer
Service Award. A senior at GCHS, Chelsea is student body president, a varsity
cheerleader, and has been named to Who’s Who Among American High School
Students. Homecoming
Festivities Set Garden City’s Homecoming is set for Sept. 27-28 and all exes
(students and teachers plus their families and friends) are encouraged to
attend. The Class of 1952 is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and all classes
ending in “2” are being honored. Before the homecoming football game, a meal will be served in the
school cafeteria from 5 to 7 p.m., and the library will be open for those who
want to visit afterward. Senior citizens will be given passes for the game. On Sept. 28, GCISD exes will gather at the school cafeteria,
starting at 10 a.m. A Bar-B-Q
meal, catered by Kenny Blanek of San Angelo, will be served at noon, at a cost
of $10 per plate. Please make your reservations by Sept. 16 so the caterer has
an accurate head count. Reservations not cancelled must be honored. Chances for a $50 gift certificate from Cattleman’s Steak House
in Midland will be sold for $1 each, or six for $5. Call or mail your reservations to: Bonnie Cox Bednar, 3751 CR 125,
Garden City, TX 79739, 915/397-2221 or Wanda Wilkerson Moore, 2181 CR 220,
Garden City, TX, 915/354-2439. Local Center to Gain More Equipment The Community Development Committee of the Glasscock County Lions
Community Center and Historical Foundation met Aug. 13 and voted to expend
most of its funds ($5,000) for more tables and other miscellaneous equipment
for the community center. The committee is an arm of the foundation which
raised money for the center over several years before a bond election finally
provided construction funds. Eugene Hirt, president of the foundation’s board, said he will
check into the legalities of restructuring the foundation, so that it can
focus on different issues in the future, or dissolving it and passing its
funds to another community organization. Since some of the foundation’s
current board members want to resign now that the community center is a
reality, some new members will be appointed. Currently,
the committee consists of Hirt, Steve Sturtz, Warren Multer, Candy Jones,
Delia Pierson, Michael Hoch, George Schwartz, Tommy Hoelscher, Wilburn Bednar,
and Maritha Blalock. Sturtz said he wants an active community and economic development
committee, functioning either under the umbrella of the foundation or the
extension service. Committee
Discusses Center’s Current Needs The committee discussed how the available funds should be spent to
continue furnishing and equipping the center.
Pierson suggested that the school’s shop teacher might agree to have
his classes design and build rolling chair storage carts as a project, with
the foundation buying the materials. Multer is to check into that possibility.
Pierson, along with Jones and Sturtz, will check into decorating
strips to be used for attaching decorations without marring the center’s
walls. Sturtz said the school plans to donate some computer lab furniture for
use in the center, and he would have the kitchen furnishings list updated to
see what is most needed.
Sturtz also said he would design an “Application for Use” of the
community center, and would get Douglas Plagens to prepare a “Cleaning
Checklist.” Rules for use of
the center refer to both of these documents, which have not yet been created. School Board Plans Tax Rate Increase The school plans a tax rate increase from $1.31 to the state
maximum of $1.50 per $100 valuation. A
public hearing regarding the increase will be Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. in the
school’s boardroom, with a board meeting to follow, at which time the rate
will be set. Superintendent Steve Long presented the school board with an
overview of current finances at its meeting Aug. 12 in preparation for
approving a tax rate and budget later in the month. He said taxable values in the county are down more than $8 million
from last year. Due to the loss in valuations, last year’s tax rate of
$1.306 per $100 valuation would have to go to $1.85 to generate the same
revenues, but the state cap is $1.50. Local monies (assuming a $1.50 tax rate
and 95 percent collection) will be $5.2 million, down $297,000 from last
year’s amount collected on a $1.30 tax rate. Long noted that the WADA, money that must be sent out of the
district each year, is based on the previous year’s values. This year, the
WADA amount will be $2.6 million, up $116,000 from last year. Various federal monies, which are earmarked for specific programs,
will total $195,000 this year, up $46,000. State funds will total $89,000,
down $2,300. Federal funds comprise 3 percent of the school’s funds, state
money provides 2 percent, and 95 percent of the school’s funds are generated
locally. Fifty-five
Percent of Revenues Sent Out Long said the instructional program takes 28 percent of the total
budget, 3 percent goes to principals’ expenses, 3 percent to transportation
costs, 2 percent to the superintendent’s expenses, 8 percent to maintenance,
55 percent to WADA, and 1 percent to all other expenses combined. Long said the school’s cash reserves, which had decreased $1.6
million over the five years from 1996 to 2001, got an infusion of $806,000 in
2001 after a tax increase, and now stands at $2.6 million, its highest point
since 1996, when it was $2.7 million. (It was $3.4 million in 1995, before
monies were used for major construction projects and revenues from minerals
taxes decreased.) Briefly
•
Meet the Bearkats and faculty at
a Kick Off Pep Rally Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. Ice cream and
cookies will follow. The entire community is invited to come and show your
Bearkat Spirit! (Parents, please bring homemade ice cream or cookies.)
• A
base and yield update analyzer (BYA) for planning under the new farm bill
is available online. Go to glasscock-co.tamu.edu
(no spaces), then click on “Farm Bill 2002 Extension Site,” and
then on “Base and Yield Update Evaluation Software.”
After continuing through several preliminary pages, enter individual
farm information and the program analyzes available options. •
Glasscock County’s Senior Citizens will meet Aug. 20 at the Senior Citizens’ Center.
Bring finger food and snacks. They
will also meet Sept. 3 when officers for the group will be elected.
Bring potluck for the Sept. 3 meeting. •
Glasscock County’s Soil and Water Conservation District has
openings for directors in Subdivisions #1 and #2. Jerlene Frysak (#1) and
Allen Jansa (# 2) currently hold those seats and have not indicated if they
will run again. Among other criteria, directors must live in the district and
own land in the subdivision they represent. Anyone who lives in the district
may nominate a candidate and may vote. Contact GCSWCD Bookkeeper Shirley
Braden to see the district’s subdivision maps. Candidates must file in the
Cooperative Extension office in the Community
Center by Aug. 31. If a position is contested, the election will be held Oct.
15. •
Those interested in singing in the Community
Christmas Musical should notify Donna Donica immediately, since she needs
a count before ordering music. Practice for the Dec. 8 event will begin in
mid-October. Call Donica 354-2430 (work) or 354-2626 (home). •
August 1 was the deadline
for sheep and many goats to be identified with a scrapie ear tag approved by
USDA when the animals are moved from the farm for exhibition or sale. For more
information regarding scrapie regulations, voluntary scrapie flock
certification or to report clinical signs of the disease, contact the Texas
Animal Health Commission, 1-800-550-8242. •
"We thank everyone for
your calls, cards, words of encouragement, and especially your prayers over
the last six months. Your support has been most appreciated. It’s great to live
in a place where so many people care."
The Karla and Tommy Hoelscher Family •
GCISD students will use new
cafeteria seating when school begins. Cafeteria Manager Kay Chandler has
purchased fourteen folding, rolling tables with attached stools. The new
seating cost $3,600, and several of the old tables and chairs were sold for
$409. • Octoberfest
2002…Christmas-in-October is offered for those over 50 at the Texas 4-H
Center on Lake Brownwood Oct.
21-24. Call the county extension office (354-2608) or the Texas 4-H Center
(1/800/432-8342) for more information. •
Members
of the Junior Livestock Association
wish to thank everybody who purchased sausage at their fundraiser.
They sold approximately 1,500 pounds.
Special thanks to Charles Braden and Mitchell Jansa for their help. • The
family of M. A. Braden thanks everyone for their gifts of prayers, cards,
flowers, services and memorials that have helped greatly.
You will be remembered in their prayers. • The
county’s west trash dumpsite accepts only burned or bagged trash, with
no exceptions, according to Curtis Palmer. •
A tour of the Texas Stone Quarry and
a presentation by Dr. Jack DeLoach from the Grassland Research Center in
Temple on the biological control of salt cedar will highlight the West Texas
Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ meeting in Garden City
Aug. 20, according to Allen Jansa, association president. The meeting, to be
held at the Community Center, is being hosted by Glasscock County’s SWCD. • The
Big Country Resource Conservation and Development Area Board of Directors
will hold their quarterly meeting at the Glasscock County Community Center
Sept. 10 at 11:30 a.m. according to director Michael Hoch. They will hear a
speaker from the Texas Forest Service. Hansons Named
Pioneer Family
The Will Hanson family was recently honored as Glasscock County Pioneer
Family of the Year for the 78th annual Howard-Glasscock Old Settlers Reunion. In
1886, young Will Hanson from Portage, Wisconsin was hired to oversee a train
shipment of horses from Wisconsin and heard of land that was available for
homesteading. He returned to Wisconsin to marry Cora Preston, and the couple
returned to homestead a parcel of land about eight miles west of Garden City.
Over the years, Hanson was active in the efforts to form Glasscock
County, serving as county clerk and county judge.
The Hanson’s children are Phoebe Clark, Christine Bigby, Bud Hanson,
Katherine Heath and Willie Edith (“Tump”) McDaniel. Grandchildren are
Billie Clements, Leonard Hanson and Bruce Hanson.
The 100-year-old-plus Hanson ranch, which raises sheep, cattle and
horses, is still operated by their family. GCISD Approves Handbook Changes
After lengthy discussion, the GCISD school board unanimously
approved several changes for the 2002-2003 student handbook July 15. Of
greatest interest may be changes to the policy which governs all
extracurricular activities, including sports, UIL academic events, band, etc.
The board and administration emphasize that the new rules are “no
joke,” and will be enforced.
Coaches, administrators and board members said that with the tightened
rules, they are not attempting to replace parental authority, or to be
punitive, but rather trying to teach responsibility, accountability and
honesty.
Some board members reminded that participation in extracurricular
activities is not a student’s right, but a privilege. Athletic
Director/Football Coach Wade Wesley said, “ If you want to represent your
school in extracurricular activities, you have to be held to a higher
standard.” Meetings with
Parents Held
Participants in extracurricular activities and their parents will be
required to sign the policy. Wesley will hold meetings Aug. 20 and August 22
at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria to discuss the policy with parents. Two
previous meetings were held on Aug. 6 and Aug. 8. Parents were asked to attend
at least one of the meetings.
Four parents were at the Aug. 12 school board meeting to voice their
concerns regarding the new extracurricular policy. Rose Pelzel suggested that
coaches, teachers, board members and parents sign the same policy the kids
sign, and lead by example.
Susan Carlisle said she was totally taken by surprise by the new
policy, and wanted to know if it is “set in stone.”
Donnita Coats said she was upset that parents rights are being taken
away, and that wording is too vague, saying, for example, that kids would
“probably” would not be turned in for drinking alcohol with their
parents’ consent.
Doug Coats said he opposes “too much stuff in writing,” calling it
“ a can of worms,” and said he doesn’t like giving his parental rights
away. He said, “I believe in the law of the land, and I will legally test
this document if necessary. Rules are for coaches, and parents are tired of
paying for those who don’t control their kids.” He said he was willing to
work with the school if there is an open path.
School Board President Jimmy Eggemeyer said the policy could be
fine-tuned if necessary. He suggested that parents come up with specific,
written suggestions for improvements to the policy and submit them to the
board for consideration.
Also at the Aug. 12 meeting, the board had a lengthy discussion prior
to revising some rules regarding the student council. Residents Support
Hiring FCS Agent
Approximately
36 people came to the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court meeting Aug. 12
to show their support for hiring Charlene Belew as the county’s Extension
Agent for Family and Consumer Science. That job has been vacant since May
2001, and no effort has been made to fill it, though the county’s portion of
the salary ($8,000) and expenses ($5,600) is still budgeted.
Kim Halfmann, speaking on behalf of the group at the meeting, said
Belew is highly qualified and would bring both experience and continuity to
the job. She said Belew grew up here, and has come back to the area with the
intention of staying. Halfmann said Belew would put her three children in
school here, providing a badly needed enrollment increase. She said the County
Agent for Agriculture, Steve Sturtz, is spread too thin, and an additional
agent would provide needed relief for him. Halfmann said Belew would do more
than 4-H work, providing help with senior citizens’ and various other
programs of benefit to the whole county. Belew, who is the daughter of Glasscock Co. residents Dennis and Debbie Schraeder, is currently the FCS
agent in Upton County, where her husband manages the Midkiff Farmers’ Coop
store.
Keith Batla, Bobbie McDaniel, Donna Donica and Hubert Frerich each
spoke in favor of hiring Belew, and Halfmann said she has signatures of 121
county residents who are also in support of the hiring.
Sturtz told the court that the extension service must be notified that
the county wants the job opened again, and it must be officially opened before
anyone can be hired. The court took no action in the matter, but will
presumably act on it Aug. 20.
From the Schoolhouse Partial
Varsity Football Schedule:
Aug. 23 Bronte (Scrimmage) 6:00
Aug. 30 Sterling
City
8:00
Sept. 6 At
Forsan
8:00
Sept. 13 Robert Lee
8:00 Partial
Jr. High Football Schedule:
Sept. 5 Forsan
5:00
Sept. 12 At Robert Lee 5:00 Obituaries
•
Bernice Irene “Bunny “ Whetsel Little, 86, died July 15 at her
home in Midland and was buried in Mt. Olive Memorial Park in Big Spring.
Born in 1915 in Taylor County, she moved to Glasscock County with her
family in 1929. After graduating
from Forsan High School, she married Marion Vernon (Sandy) Little in 1938.
Following his death in 1967, she remained in Glasscock County until
1988, when she moved to Midland. Survivors
include a daughter, Doylene Little Raney of Midland, two grandchildren, two
great grandchildren and a large extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her brothers,
Doyle and Douglas. • Lloyd Carroll Hardy,
90, of Garden City, died July 17 at his home and was buried in Garden City
Cemetery. Born in 1912, he moved to Glasscock County in 1925. After high
school, he went to electrical school in Chicago before returning to work in
West Texas ranching. In 1939, he became an independent rancher and married
Hazel Marguerite Cook. In the 1950’s, along with ranching, he bought and
operated the Humble Service Station in Garden City. He also farmed, and later
operated a trucking business. He is survived by his wife, Marguerite, two
daughters and sons-in-law, Reta and Steve Bell of Garden City and Paula and
Guy Talbot of Big Spring, three granddaughters, Stephanie Dobbs, Neiman Hill
and Krystal McDaniel, and a brother, Dave Hardy. Preceding him in death were
his parents, James and Corrillia Hardy, five brothers, Brandon, Erman, Murrary,
Tom and June, and one sister, Cornelia Edwards. •
Melvin A. Braden,
85, of San Angelo died July 28 in San Angelo and was buried in St. Lawrence
Cemetery. He was born in1916 in Poth, Texas to Andrew and Mary Braden and
married Lorine M. Hoelscher in1945 in Olfen, Texas. They came to Reagan County
in 1946 and were one of the original families to settle in the St. Lawrence
area. He farmed and ranched for more than 30 years, retiring in 1981. He was a
member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and helped build the original church
building. Survivors include his wife, Lorine Braden of San Angelo; two
daughters and sons-in-law, Melva and Wilbert Halfmann of Rowena and Marilyn
and Dalton Moeller of Wall; two sons and daughters-in-law, Alton and Joyce
Braden of Garden City and Arnold and Deborah Braden of Imperial; five
brothers, Elmer Braden, Milton Braden and Clifton Braden, all of Wall, Onifer
Braden of Austin and Forest Braden; one sister, Vertis Mesecke of Temple; 15
grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one
brother, Earl Braden, and one sister, Leona Braden.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Sept 11. The deadline for that issue is Sept 9, but earlier material is helpful. Send information to: P.O. Box 98, Garden City, TX 79739; phone or fax: 915/354-2221; e-mail: gcnews201@aol.com. The Glasscock County News is published by Joe Melanie Calverley, P. O. Box 98, Garden City, TX, 79739. Phone or fax: 915/354-2221; e-mail: gcnews201@aol.com; web site: http://wscope.com/glasscock/ |
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