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Glasscock County News
GCISD Hires Interim PrincipalAt its meeting Nov. 11, the GCISD Board (Brad Avery absent) voted to hire L.R. Dunn as an interim high school principal at the existing salary. School Superintendent Steve Long said Dunn and his wife, Marie, will move here and he will begin working full time next semester, though he will be doing some work between now and then. Long said the board will probably begin the search for a permanent principal in February. Dunn has a degree from Texas Tech, an administrative degree from West Texas State University, and 34 years experience in education. The Dunns, who have four children and eleven grandchildren, are presently living on a farm in Bowie. The board accepted some parent-suggested changes to the extra-curricular policy. Rose Pelzel had previously discussed the proposed changes with Wade Wesley and Linda Jones from the school’s extracurricular policy committee. The board authorized Long to take phone bids and purchase a new school car costing less than $25,000. The purchase will increase the school’s cars to three. It now has a 1996 Ford with 110,000 miles and a 1999 Ford with 65,000 miles and the board decided to keep the older car rather than trading it in because of low trade value. Long said he has purchased a lightning monitor to be used to warn when lightening is within five miles, so people can be moved indoors. He said the device is hand-held and cost less than $200. The board voted to partner with the Jim Ned school district (near Abilene) for the 2002-03 WADA contract of $2.7 million. In other action, the board accepted the annual School District Improvement Plan, which is required by the state. The plan is available for review in the school administrative office.
Perchlorate Found in Local Groundwater
By Rick Harston, Glasscock Underground Water Conservation District Manager
In recent months you may have heard of a contaminant named “perchlorate” being found in groundwater supplies across West Texas. Perchlorate was tested for on Oct. 9 at two sites in Glasscock County, the Garden City Water System and the Coop Gin in St. Lawrence. Perchlorate was not found in the water system, but was found at the Coop Gin at a level of 1.71 parts per billion (ppb). Within the last five years, this chemical has been found in the water supplies of more than 15 million people in the southwestern United States. Prior to April 1997, perchlorate could not be detected at concentrations below 100 ppb. (One ppb is the equivalent of one aspirin dissolved in an Olympic-sized swimming pool.) The Environmental Protection Agency has not established a minimum drinking water standard for perchlorate. However, Texas has reduced its standard from 22 ppb as an “interim” level in l999, to four ppb in 2002. Perchlorate originates as a contaminant in the environment from the solid salts of ammonium, potassium or sodium perchlorate. The perchlorate part of the salts is quite soluble in water. It can persist for many decades under typical groundwater and surface water conditions. Ammonium perchlorate is manufactured for use as the oxidizer component and primary ingredient in solid propellant for rockets, missiles and fireworks. It is also used in the manufacture of matches and in analytical chemistry. Other uses of perchlorate salts include their use in nuclear reactors and electronic tubes, as additives in lubricating oils, in tanning and finishing leather, as a fixer for fabrics and dyes, in electroplating, in aluminum refining, in rubber manufacturing, and in the production of paints and enamels. Chemical fertilizer also has been reported to be a potential source of perchlorate contamination. Much progress has been made in developing treatment methods capable of removing perchlorate from drinking water. Reverse osmosis (RO) was tested by researchers at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and shown to be effective in removing perchlorate. Blair Leftwich with Trace Analysis in Lubbock recently advised that RO was an accepted method of perchlorate removal. Testing for perchlorate can only be performed in an approved EPA lab. The cost for testing ranges in price from $80 to $250 per sample. For more information, call or come by the Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District office. Also, a copy of the EPA newsletter may be obtained at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/perchlor/r9699fac.pdf
County to Advertise for Maintainer
By a vote of three to one, (Halfmann opposed) the Glasscock County Commissioners voted Nov. 12 to advertise for bids on a new maintainer for Hugh Schafer’s Precinct 3 and for bids to sell the used Precinct 3 maintainer. Commissioner Mark Halfmann suggested that the county reduce the number of maintainers to three, sell the used maintainer for its guaranteed buyback of approximately $112,000 and put that money into the county’s reserve funds. Building the reserves, he said, would help the county get away from deficit budgeting. Commissioner Jimmy Strube said, “If we were going to do that, we should have done it with yours, Mark.” To which Halfmann replied, “That’s what I tried to do.” Strube said having dollars in a maintainer is just like having money in the bank, and that people want to see maintainers. Strube suggested putting in a bid of just over $5,000 for a reconditioned road sweeper being sold by the highway department in San Angelo. He said the machine has a new broom, a diesel engine, and enclosed cab with air conditioner and said the one the county has now is in bad shape. No action was taken because the item was not on the Nov. 12 agenda. Bids Accepted for Mower and Pickup The court accepted the only bid ($1,081 from Courtney Strube) for a used riding lawn mower. It also accepted the low bid ($20,704 after trade-in) from Bob Brock motor for a new sheriff’s pickup. The vehicle is to be a Ford F150 XLT 4 x 4 with crew cab, captain’s chairs and a 5.4-liter engine. County Judge Wilburn Bednar said a bronze plaque (which has been on hand for years) honoring the county’s war dead needs to be displayed. He said he will put a discussion of the matter on the court’s December agenda. The county historical committee did considerable work in the past on plans for a veterans’ memorial, which would include the plaque. The plan was to locate the memorial in an area near the old jail, where a concrete water tank had stood. Work on the project was postponed until after the construction on Highway 158 was complete. The historical committee has had approximately $8,000 earmarked for the project since the county’s centennial in 1993. Alan Dierschke, a member of the committee, said the memorial plans “just need to be implemented.” The historical committee is chaired by Helen Wilkerson; Dierschke and Mary Jo Cope are members.
Changes Made to Community Center Rules The court made some changes to the rules for using the community center, the main one of which related to security when alcohol is available. According to the revised rules, if alcohol is available after 6 p.m., two security officers must be hired by the renter at $20 each per hour, and paid until the last person leaves and the building is locked. Written requests for variance from community center rules must be submitted in writing to the county commissioners’ court no fewer than seven days prior to the rental date. Extension Agent Steve Sturtz reported he had conducted a walk-through inspection of the community center with representatives of the architectural firm, general contractor, engineering and plumbing contractors Oct. 24 to address problems (mostly involving water leaks). As a result, corrections are to be made and the general contractor has agreed to extend the warranty on the condensate piping and domestic water piping one additional year. Center Needs More Exterior Lighting Warren Multer suggested that the county install additional lighting on the east side of the community center, which he said is extremely dark at night. He said the building was great for the Halloween Carnival, and a welcome change from the bus barn. Sturtz summarized activities of his office’s livestock, range and wildlife programs, which included range demonstrations of practices such as brush control and contour ripping, plus participation in a five-year study of quail. Multer discussed activities regarding field crops and pest management, including conservation tillage, drip irrigation, and boll weevil control. He said St. Lawrence Cotton Growers is installing equipment to gather wind data, with the hope of using it in the future to bring wind farms to the county. In other action, commissioners: reappointed Dale Hillger and Vernon Gill to the district appraisal board; voted to change companies for a voluntary deferred compensation plan for county employees and decided to make no changes in county employees’ retirement plan.
Extension’s Website Gives Loads of Info
The Texas Cooperative Extension’s website offers a huge amount of information which could be of benefit to all Glasscock County residents, not just those involved in agriculture. Located at http://glasscock-co.tamu.edu (note that there is no www in the address), the site contains, or provides links to, widely diverse materials. For example, its “Hot Topics” menu, which changes as events warrant, currently has information addressing subjects ranging from West Nile virus, animal health and household mold to Farm Bill 2002. In addition, there are links to other sites related to topics such as personal health, horticulture, Glasscock County and various state agencies, including those needed for driver’s license renewal and vehicle registration, to name only a few. The TCE Bookstore and Resource Center offers a very extensive list of publications, on a wide variety of topics, many of which can be downloaded. Titles not available for download may be purchased online and delivered via the U.S. mail. Of course, the site also includes a huge amount of information regarding agriculture, agribusiness and 4-H.
In The Spotlight
• Allison Jansa placed eleventh at the state cross country meet in a field of 103 participants. She qualified for her third state cross country meet with a sixth-place finish in the Region I Championships Nov. 2 in Lubbock where she ran the two-mile course in 12 minutes, 46.9 seconds, only 11 seconds behind the first-place finisher. Jansa finished second in the District 8-A meet. Allison, a junior, is the daughter of Allen and Lisa Jansa. (See other meet results on pg. 5.)
• GCISD ‘s Students of the Month for November are kindergartener Brylie Schaefer, daughter of Doyle and Jacque Schaefer; Morgan Schwartz, fifth grade daughter of James and Cecelia Schwartz; seventh grader Cutberto Tenorio, son of Jacinta and Tereso Tenorio, and seniors Alicia Frysak, daughter of Mark and Linda Frysak, Chelsea Schwartz, daughter of Floyd and Martha Schwartz, Bonnie Pelzel, daughter of Pat and Rose Pelzel, and Lisa Hoelscher, daughter of Harold and Ann Hoelscher.
Briefly
• Thanksgiving dinner at the school cafeteria will be Nov. 21, and they will begin serving visitors at 11:30 a.m. The meal will consist of turkey, from-scratch dressing and all the trimmings, at a cost of $4 per plate. Kay Chandler says they will have lots of food, and invites everyone to come. For to-go plates, she asks that you call in advance, 354-2243.
• Glasscock County will no longer accept old tires or tire scraps at the county barn due to increased disposal costs. Tire scraps, but not whole tires, may be taken to the north landfill.
• The Glasscock County Senior Citizens will meet Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. Ham and sausage will be provided for the meal. Please bring a vegetable, salad or dessert. This will be the only meeting in December and there will be no meeting in January. Bring a $15 gift to exchange (female bring female gift, male bring male gift). Everyone over 50 years of age is invited to attend.
• Everyone is invited to the Community Choir’s musical and drama Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Glasscock County Community Center. Please bring a snack item for the fellowship following the performance.
• A January—April Master Gardening program (one day a week) will be offered for a cost of $75, if a minimum number of participants enroll. Those interested should contact Ginger Anderson, Howard County Extension Office (264-2236) by Nov. 15.
• The school will hold an auction Nov. 16 beginning at 9 a.m. in the bus barn. Various items will be sold, including tires, two buses, and furniture. These will be available for preview on Nov. 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Numerous books, videotapes, audiotapes and pamphlets of interest to senior citizens and to anyone who is a caregiver are available free in the community center’s small meeting room. The materials, some of which are free to take permanently and some are for checkout, have been made available by the Permian Basin Council on Aging. Information covers a wide variety of topics including Medicare, Medigap insurance, long-term health insurance, relaxation techniques, caregiving strategies, etc.
• John Mark Kinnibrugh, working on behalf of the Glasscock County Volunteer Fire Department, reports he has applied for a $6,500 grant from the Texas Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. If received, the money would be used to buy a pump and motor unit, hoses, nozzles and fittings to outfit a 5-ton brush truck that the National Forest Service gave to the VFD. He said the grant would pay for 75 percent of the equipment cost, with the county paying 25 percent. The assistance program is funded by the state legislature and provides $14 million annually to rural volunteer fire departments.
• Officers of the 4-H Adult Leaders Association thank all the families who helped make the Oct. 27 stew dinner a success. The event raised $792. Association officers are: Debbie and Dennis Schraeder, presidents, Harold and Ann Hoelscher, vice-presidents, and Mark and Linda Frysak, secretary-treasurers.
• A signed and numbered print by Jim Davis, creator of the “Garfield” cartoon, is the prize in a statewide raffle to raise money for 4-H activities. The Garfield print is worth $1,400 and chances can be bought from 4-H members until June 1 for $1 each or six for $5.
County Court Approves Water System Budget Due to a one-time expense totaling $17,000 of in-kind funds made necessary by terms of the grant which funded the $289,800 elevated water storage tower, the Garden City Water System will, for the first time, operate from what is technically a deficit budget. The in-kind monies will be taken from the $60,000 which is the water system’s current cash reserves, according to system administrator Alan Dierschke. The system has shown a profit of approximately $10,000 per year for the last two years, Dierschke said. The 2002-2003 budget projects income of $53,500 and expenses of $66,651. Some major items in the budget are: $15,000 for system manager Jim Havlak's salary, $6,000 for system administrator Alan Dierschke's salary, a combined $4,000 in their benefits, $7,000 for insurance, $6,000 for repairs and upkeep, and $6,000 for electricity. 2002 Indigent Grant Received; 2003 Applied For In September, the county received a 2002 Indigent Defense Grant of $5,500 from the state. These funds may only be used for improving legal defense services for indigent people. According to County Treasurer Alan Dierschke, the county was able to justify expenditures totaling $4,200 of the grant money. Purchases included a laptop computer, a filing cabinet and a fax machine for the county clerk’s office plus a fax machine for the district judge’s use. In October, the court approved applying for the same type grant for 2003, naming County Judge Wilburn Bednar the program director and contact person if a grant is received, and Dierschke the financial officer.
Letter from Al Stiefer
It is never easy to say goodbye to people you truly care about. However, it is with deep regret that Judy and I need to say goodbye. We are really going to miss the people of Garden City, St. Lawrence and Glasscock County. For in the time we have been here, you have opened your hearts and received us as family and we do indeed feel like we are leaving family. This is a rare gift that one doesn’t find every day in the world. But, due to health problems in Judy’s life, we must relocate to San Antonio, where the medical specialists of the military can give her the care she needs to save her leg. You shall always be in our prayers and our hearts. Our last day here will be Nov. 30. Our new address will be: Dr. A.B. Stiefer, 8120 Mainland Dr. # 301, San Antonio, TX, 78240, telephone 210/320-4168. We do not know what our new email address will be yet. As soon as we find out, it will be posted in the Glasscock County News. So again, thank you for everything you have done for us. We love you and pray that God will always bless you. – Bro. Al and Judy Stiefer.
From the Schoolhouse
Honor Rolls Announced
First Six Weeks • The “A” Honor Roll: seventh grade — Wade Jansa, Amy Multer; eighth grade — Sergio Guerrero, Cade Halfmann, Taylor Niehues, Colton Schwartz; ninth grade — Tyler Bednar, Katie Gully, Cory Multer; tenth grade — Megan Niehues; eleventh grade — Noemi Guerrero, Jessica Hoch, Brecklyn Hughes, Allison Jansa, Leslie Jansa; twelfth grade — Guillermina Tenorio.
• The “A—B” Honor Roll: seventh grade — Mikela Barton, Brittney Chudej, Bo Eggemeyer, Analisa Gonzales, Kevin Hillger, Eric Hirt, Whitney Kellermeier, Lyza-Ann Lopez, Nick Sanchez, Halie Schaefer, Cutberto Tenorio; eighth grade — Jared Bradford, Chance Burks, Emily Gully, Alex Halfmann, Erin Hirt, Julie Hirt, Evan Jansa, Sam Long, Ryan Machicek, JR Medrano, K’Lann Niehues, Chase O’Brien, Chasity Olgin, Victoria Ortiz, Justin Pierson, Lauren Plagens, Katie Schmitz, Marissa Schwartz, Luis Zuniga; ninth grade — Tracy Eggemeyer, Angela Hoelscher, Garrett Kellermeier, Shaun Maxie, Kayla Medrano, Angel Rodriquez; tenth grade — James Branham, Terri Branham, Rebecca Cmerek, Viviana Gamboa, Brandi Halfmann, Amanda Hirt, Colby Hirt, David Neufeld, Todd Weishuhn, Logan Willis; eleventh grade — Roseanne Alvarado, Blake Chudej, Anna Flores, Amanda Henson, Morgan Kight, Andrea Leal, Kim Webb; twelfth grade — Keith Batla, Linda Branham, Alicia Frysak, Melissa Gonzales, Marianne Halfmann, Natalie Hoelscher, Bonnie Pelzel, Pat Randal, Samuel Sanchez, Audrey Sherrill, Patricia Sullivan and Adrian Trevino.
Second Six Weeks • The “A” Honor Roll: seventh grade — Wade Jansa, Amy Multer, Mikela Barton, Whitney Kellermeier; eighth grade — Cade Halfmann, Taylor Niehues, Colton Schwartz, Marissa Schwartz; ninth grade — Tyler Bednar, Katie Gully, Cory Multer; tenth grade — Megan Niehues, Amanda Hirt; eleventh grade — Anna Flores, Noemi Guerrero, Amanda Henson, Jessica Hoch, Brecklyn Hughes, Allison Jansa, Leslie Jansa; twelfth grade — Keith Batla, Linda Branham, Alicia Frysak.
• The “A—B” Honor Roll: seventh grade — Bo Eggemeyer, Analisa Gonzales, Eric Hirt, Lyza-Ann Lopez, Nick Sanchez, Halie Schaefer, Cutberto Tenorio; eighth grade —Chance Burks, Emily Gully, Alex Halfmann, Erin Hirt, Julie Hirt, Evan Jansa, Sam Long, K’Lann Niehues, Chase O’Brien, Victoria Ortiz, Justin Pierson, Lauren Plagens, Katie Schmitz; ninth grade — Cade Doss, Tracy Eggemeyer, Shaun Maxie, Kayla Medrano, Angel Rodriquez; tenth grade — Terri Branham, Viviana Gamboa, Brandi Halfmann, Trey Hillger, Colby Hirt, David Neufeld, Todd Weishuhn, Logan Willis, Timothy Schniers; eleventh grade — Stacy Gully, Morgan Kight, Dora Martinez, Kim Webb; twelfth grade —Rhetta Alvarado, Brandon Bednar, Marianne Halfmann, Lisa Hoelscher, Natalie Hoelscher, Bonnie Pelzel, Pat Randal, Samuel Sanchez, Kaycee Schniers, Angela Schraeder, Patricia Sullivan, Guillermina Tenorio and Adrian Trevino.
Cross Country Meet Results:
• State Meet: Allison Jansa – 11th place; Regional Meet – women: Allison Jansa, 5th place, Megan Niehues, 38th; men: Shaun Maxie, 17th, Logan Willis, 18th; District Meet – women: Allison Jansa, 2nd place, Megan Niehues, 10th, Leslie Jansa, 34th, Noemi Guerrero, 45th; men: Shaun Maxie, 6th, Logan Willis, 8th, David Neufeld, 35th
• Junior High District Meet: men: Jason Flores, 5th place; women: K’Lann Niehues, 8th, Julie Hirt, 10th, Erin Hirt, 30th, Haley Schaefer, 34th, Lauren Plagens, 36th, Analisa Gonzales, 40th, Brittney Chudej, 44th, Amy Multer 57th, Marianne Trevino, 62nd, Emily Gully, 66th, Marissa Schwartz, 68th, Katie Schmitz, 83rd
Obituary
Faith Homsey Scott died Nov. 4 following a lengthy battle with cancer and was buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa. She spent her childhood in Odessa, graduating from Odessa Permian High School and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. She spent many years as a teacher in the Ector County Independent School District, and for the last eight years, was a school principal in Garden City, first in the elementary school and later in the high school. She was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Big Spring. Survivors include her son, Jeremy Scott, two daughters, Kristina Scott and Stephanie Scott, all of Garden City; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Larry Homsey and Lynn and Candy Homsey, all of Odessa, and others.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Dec. 11. The deadline for that issue is Dec. 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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