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Glasscock County News
Editor’s Note: Once again, we ask that all our readers who have e-mail register to receive the Glasscock County News online so we can omit the copy which has been sent through the regular postal service. Continuing increases in postal rates are making this more important than ever. We will send you an e-mail each month when the newsletter is posted online, which is well in advance of the standard copies going into the regular mail. You will be able to easily print your own hard copy of the newsletter from the online version. To register, go to http://wscope.com/glasscock/form.htm or e-mail us at gcnews201@aol.com or call 354-2221.
County Again Misses Courthouse Funding
The Texas Historical Commission announced its awards of grants in the third round of historic courthouse preservation funding Jan. 11, and once again, Glasscock County missed the cut. The commission awarded grants totaling approximately $39.2 million to 14 Texas counties to help preserve their historic courthouses. The next opportunity for the commission to award grants will be at its quarterly meeting in April. A total of 83 counties applied for grant money in Round III, requesting approximately $195 million in assistance. Counties are scored on a variety of areas including historical significance, architectural style and degree of endangerment. Glasscock County made its first application in Round II, and it automatically went, unchanged, into Round III. Pending additional funding from the Texas Legislature in future legislative sessions, the THC plans to continue the program with several more rounds of grant opportunities. Glasscock County’s application will go into the next round; whether it will be changed any before that time has not yet been determined. For more information, go to the THC web site at www.thc.state.tx.us, or call 512/463-6094.
School Replaces Bearkat Bus
The GCISD School Board voted Dec. 13 to buy a new activity bus to replace the ailing Bearkat Bus, which has been plagued with problems. The 44-passenger Bluebird bus, which will cost $108,000 plus $7,200 for special seats, and $2,200 for special paint, will be delivered in May. School Superintendent Steve Long reported the school has spent $9,100 to repair the old Bearkat Bus so it can be sold. He said he hopes to get $10,000 for it. Saying they were very pleased with his work, the board gave Long a $2,500 raise at their Jan. 14 meeting. They also added one year to his contract, making it a four-year one. Long’s salary is now $69,500. Approximately $2.3 million will be sent out-of-district from February to August for WADA payments. Long said some $983,000 will go to Valentine ISD and $1.3 million to Alpine ISD. In turn, those two districts send a combined $322,000 to the Region 18 Education Service Center, which benefits GCISD. Long reported that band instruments are being repaired and some replaced, and a $10,000 copier has been purchased for the elementary school to replace one which he said was constantly being repaired. New playground equipment for grades Pre-K – 3 has been ordered and should be installed in February. Long said the Head Start program would pay 97 percent of the equipment’s cost. One or more bathrooms may be built in the Head Start area of the elementary school. Deb Pelzel is checking into funding. Long also reported gate receipts of about $4,700 for the six-man playoff football game held here in December. A textbook committee made up of Brad Jones, Faith Scott, Linda Jones, Randy Gartman and Carla Hirt will select sixth through twelfth grade science textbooks for use beginning with the 2002-2003 school year. In March, they will present their recommendations to the school board for adoption. The board re-appointed Dennis Fuchs, Eugene Hirt and Wilburn Bednar to the county appraisal board.
County Road 185 Scheduled for Paving
Glasscock County commissioners plan to pave County Road 185 from CR 110 to CR 180 this year. County Engineer Dan Glass estimated the cost for paving those seven miles to be at least $140,000. Other portions of the year’s paving project will include paving around the Community Center and about two miles of seal coating on existing pavement in Precinct 3. The paving matters were discussed in the regular county court meeting Jan. 14. Precinct 3 Commissioner Hugh Schafer is preparing to propose adding a mile of new road (unpaved) to the county’s road system. He said Doyle Schaefer has agreed to give the county right of way off Hillger Road to enable an old oilfield road to become a county road. Community Center Matters Discussed County Extension Agent Steve Sturtz, reporting on Community Center matters, said a ditching contractor wants the county to pay $4,400 for two extra days of work which they say was necessary due to encountering more rock than they anticipated. Sturtz, however, said the two extra days were necessary because of poor coordination and planning on the contractor’s part, and the county should not have to pay for them. The court agreed with Sturtz. Sturtz also reported that an accessibility study of the center found only minor problems. The women’s bathroom needs two handicapped-accessible stalls (it has only one), and one needs a self-closing door. The other problem had to do with parking markers, and will be taken care of when the paving is done around the building. He said the commissioners will need to decide whether to sand and paint the concrete floors in bathrooms and in the community room/show ring.
County Insurance Woes Continue Dierschke reported that Glasscock County, Reagan County and MHMR out of San Angelo are trustees charged with formulating a plan to resolve lingering difficulties with the now-defunct Texas Rural Counties insurance organization, of which Glasscock County was a part. He said if eight members would pay their shares, things would be fine. If no solution is found, the matter will end up in Travis County, where a receiver will be appointed to settle the group’s disagreements. The court voted to leave the structure of the county grievance committee in its current form. It consists of the county clerk, county treasurer, county sheriff, county attorney and five citizens whose names are drawn from the grand jury list. The county judge serves as a non-voting committee chairman. The other option is to have all nine members of the committee be citizens drawn from the jury list. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said he preferred to have all members from the community, “Let the will of the people prevail,” he said. The grievance committee is supposed to be set up each January, and is designed for county elected officials’ use. Other county employees take their grievances to the commissioners’ court.
In The Spotlight
• Justin Schwartz graduated in December from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is the son of Ernie and Debra Schwartz.
• Seventh grader Julie Hirt, daughter of Linda and Kevin Hirt, was selected as the December junior high Student of the Month. Allison Jansa was chosen from the high school. She is a sophomore and the daughter of Allen and Lisa Jansa. From the elementary school, kindergartner Cody Halfmann, son of Becky and Ricky Halfmann, was chosen from grades K–2, while third grader Brittney Schniers was selected from grades 3–6. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Kathleen Schniers.
• GCHS Bearkat mascot Marianne Halfmann, along with 20 other all-star mascots from around the country, participated in the pre-game show at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando Jan. 1. She was selected as an all-star at the Texas A & M cheerleader/mascot camp last summer. Marianne is a junior and the daughter of Butch and Tammy Halfmann.
• Katelyn Hoelscher is the January Student of the Month from grades K–3. She is a third-grader and the daughter of Carl and Kara Hoelscher. Fourth-grader Diana Cansino, daughter of Walter and Shelly Cansino, is the student selected from grades 4–6. Chase O’Brien, a seventh-grader and the nephew of Keith and Tisha Burnett, was selected from the junior high, and Kaycee Schniers was the choice from the high school. She is a junior and the daughter of Kenneth and Kathleen Schniers.
• The Texas Math and Science Coaches Association (TMSCA) team from Garden City Junior High recently won fifth place in a Midland competition, going up against 5-A and magnet schools. The team consists of 14 kids and is coached by Linda Jones and Jerry Cannon.
Fall Rains Gave No Aquifer Recharge
Fall rains only “filled the soil profile,” and produced no aquifer recharge, according to Rick Harston, manager of the Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District. Harston offered the information at the regular meeting of the GGCD Dec. 18. At that time, he said the soil was wet to a depth of 36 inches, and moist to 40 inches. In a general discussion of area water conditions, Harston said lake water is getting lower. He said in two years, Lake Ivey has gone from full to 47 percent now; Lake Thomas has just enough water to supply Snyder; Spence is only 25 percent full and very salty; Oak Creek is very dry, and the power plant there is closed. Harston said wells on four hundred acres east of Colorado City are pumping water into Lake Colorado City in an effort to keep the TXU plant there open. He said the “water ranch” which the city of El Paso bought for “lots of money” has now been determined to bleed into Balmorea Springs and its water may not be usable due to environmental problems. At the GGCD’s January meeting, Harston reported that in fiscal year 2001, 14 producers used the District’s Topcon equipment to map 3,347 acres, and 15 producers used the laser plane leveling equipment. Ninety-seven water analyses were performed, 11 wells were permitted and 2 house wells were registered. Harston said his most recent water level information from county wells will be available in graph form in February.
USDA Provides Dollars to County
The United States Department of Agriculture paid more than $9.5 million to Glasscock County agricultural producers during calendar year 2001, according to data from the local Farm Service Agency. Approximately $4.4 million was paid for a 2000 crop disaster program, $2.4 million in 2001 marketing loss assistance, $2.2 million in 2001 production flexibility contract payments, $210,000 in conservation reserve programs, $221,000 in a 2000 livestock assistance program, and $28,000 in cotton loan deficiency payments. According to statistics compiled by the Environmental Working Group, USDA subsidies for farms in Glasscock County from 1996 through 2000 totaled $33 million. These figures, which show total payments to each producer, are available online at the EWG website at http://www.ewg.org/farm.
Beginning Computer Classes Set
GCISD will offer several Adult Continuing Education Classes in computer use, beginning with Introduction to Computers, taught by Jerry Cannon and Linda DeWitt, beginning Feb. 4. The classes will meet weekly from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the high school computer lab, and will last four to six weeks. There is no charge, but there is a class limit of 20 people. To sign up, contact Cannon at 354-2244, ext. 30. Later classes will include instruction in Microsoft Power Point, taught by Kenneth Chandler; use of Microsoft Excel, taught by Cannon, and a class in Microsoft Word, taught by DeWitt.
Briefly
• Chicken dinners for Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3 are now being offered by Project Graduation 2002. The barbecued chickens are $6 apiece, a pint of cole slaw, a quart of beans or a pint of sauce sells for $2 each. The food will be delivered at 11:30 a.m. to the ambulance barn at the county courthouse or to the St. Lawrence hall. Students are now calling for orders. If you have not been called by Jan. 25, call Lana Hirt at 397-2317 to place your order.
• Choir practice for a community Easter cantata, “Amen,” will start Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. Everyone who can sing or likes to ‘make a joyful noise’ is wanted. For more information, call Donna Donica, 354-2430 (work) or 354-2626 (home).
• The Senior Citizens will meet Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. for a pancake supper. Snacks will be served at the Feb. 19 meeting.
• An Emergency Medical Technician training class will be discussed at an informational meeting Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Center. If there are enough people interested, dates and times for the meetings will be worked out.
• The GCHS One Act Play needs well-used Victorian-style items for use in this year’s play. Among the items needed are a couch, two chairs, two end tables and two framed paintings. If you can help, please call Stacy Jones at 354-2244 or 354-2266.
• Nell Zunker will challenge incumbent Alan Dierschke for the county treasurer’s position in a March Republican primary election. Other incumbents whose terms are expiring are unopposed. They are: County Judge Wilburn Bednar, County Clerk Becky Batla, Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Halfmann, Precinct 4 Commissioner Michael Hoch, and Justice of the Peace Mary Lee Jost.
• Bill Murphy is now the Democratic Party chairman for Glasscock County.
• A state flag that has flown over the Texas Senate building in Austin was presented to Glasscock County at the official opening of the Community Center Dec. 17. Frances Wheat, aide to State Senator Robert Duncan, made the presentation.
• Dendra Maxie thanks everyone for their cards, visits, etc. after her recent knee surgery. She is now doing well.
• The Glasscock County Junior Livestock Association thanks all donors for the 2002 stock show and everyone else who helped make the show a success. Approximately $32,300 was raised for the event.
• A national correspondent with the New York Times, Peter Kilborn, spent about three hours at the Saturday session of the Glasscock County Junior Livestock Show. Steve Sturtz said Kilborn and his wife were passing through Garden City, noticed the new building surrounded by vehicles, and decided to check it out. Kilborn, who had never attended a livestock show before, talked to several kids and adults, had lunch and told Sturtz he may write a piece about the event at a later time.
• Democrat Congressman Charles Stenholm was also in attendance at the livestock show on Saturday. He is the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, which is chaired by Republican Larry Combest.
• Tina Flores thanks the community for its many gestures of kindness and sympathy at the recent death of her father. Each remembrance was sincerely appreciated.
• Recent Bearkat Booster Club activities have included purchasing new mats for the gym walls and name boards for the scoreboard, plus sponsoring a December basketball tournament.
• “We would like to express our sincere thanks to each of you for your calls, cards, well wishes and especially for your prayers last week. It has been a difficult time for us and we have truly felt your care and concern. Please continue to keep us in your prayers in the weeks ahead.” Sincerely, Tommy, Karla and family
• Everyone is encouraged to submit news items of community interest to this newsletter. Call or fax 354-2221 or e-mail gcnews201@aol.com. We publish monthly and the next month’s deadline is given at the end of each issue in “About This Publication.”
• Please notify us if your address (postal or e-mail) changes, or if you no longer want to receive this newsletter.
Livestock Show Winners Announced
The top winners at the 64th Annual Glasscock County Junior Livestock Show:
Ashley Hirt won the Top Hand Trophy, and Lori Hoelscher won both the Glasscock County Top Hand Award and the Cap Rock jacket. Darrin Hillger was awarded the Cap Rock Electric Scholarship. Angela Schraeder showed the Grand Champion rabbit; Laura Halfmann showed the Reserve Grand Champion rabbit. Paige Sturtz showed the Grand Champion swine and Erin Hirt showed the Reserve Grand Champion swine. Whitney Kellermeier’s steer won Grand Champion and Drew Plagen’s steer was Reserve Grand Champion. Ashley Hirt showed the Grand Champion sheep and Cade Doss showed the Reserve Grand Champion sheep. Amber Halfmann showed the Grand Champion goat and Cade Halfmann showed the Reserve Grand Champion goat. About This Publication The next issue will be
Feb. 13. The deadline for that issue is
Feb. 11. 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. Website: http://wscope.com/glasscock/ |
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