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Glasscock County News
Area Test Scores Compared
GCISD students’ SAT and ACT scores compare favorably with those from other area schools, according to data from the Texas Education Agency and presented to the local school board by Interim Secondary School Principal L.R. Dunn Jan. 13. Average scores on the 2001 SAT: Glasscock County 1060, Wink-Loving 1163, Coahoma 986, McCamey 939, Iraan 1056, Greenwood 901, Big Spring 1079, Midland Lee 1043 and Midland High 1031. On the ACT, local students in 2001 averaged 22 (all these figures rounded); Wink-Loving 21, Coahoma 21, Rankin 18, McCamey 20, Forsan 21, Iraan 22, Greenwood 22, Big Spring 21, Midland Lee 22, and Midland High 22.
Local USDA Payments Top $4 Million
In 2002, Glasscock County’s Farm Service Agency made payments to agricultural producers totaling $4.6 million, according to County Executive Director John Kinnibrugh. The amounts per major program were (figures rounded): production flexibility program $2.1 million; loan deficiency payments $185,000; environmental quality incentive program $132,000; non-insured crop disaster assistance program $739,000; conservation reserve program $129,000; livestock compensation program $91,000; lamb meat adjustment assistance program $35,000; emergency conservation program (fencing) $65,000 and direct counter cyclical payments $1,150,000. FSA payments were over $9.5 million in both 2001 and 2000, and in excess of $12 million in 1999.
Briefly
• Community computer classes in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel will be held at the school on Mondays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. from Jan. 13 to May 12. Brad Jones reports that the Word class is already full, and that the community will be advised a few weeks in advance when to sign up for the Excel class. He said there will be classes in basic computer skills, Internet search engines and Power Point toward the end of the spring, with dates announced later. There is no charge for the classes.
• The computer labs in Kenneth Chandler’s elementary classroom, and in the library, are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. for anyone who would like to come and work on computer skills or just surf the Internet, according to Brad Jones. There is no charge for this access.
• The Senior Citizens will not meet in January, but will meet Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. for a fajita supper. If you have not been assigned something else, bring a dip and chips or a dessert. If you have questions, call Mrs. Ed Plagens. Anyone over 50 is invited to attend.
• A barbequed “chicken to go” dinner for Super Bowl Sunday (January 26) is being sponsored by Project Graduation 2003. The chickens are $6 apiece, a pint of cole slaw, a quart of beans or a pint of sauce sells for $2 each. Food will be delivered in Garden City, St. Lawrence, and Midkiff. Call Martha Schwartz (397-2268) or Ann Hoelscher (397-2302) for more information or delivery times.
• GCISD’s school board on Jan. 13 gave Superintendent Steve Long a $2,500 a year raise and extended his contract by a year.
• Leroy Moore, who teaches piano at the First Methodist Church in Garden City, is accepting new students, both children and adults. Call Karen Wheeler, 397-2753, for more information.
• Glasscock County ISD is accepting nominations for the district's Gifted and Talented (G/T) Program's screening process. Parents and community members may nominate kindergarten students until Feb. 1 and first through twelfth graders through March 1. To obtain a nomination form or to receive more information, contact Micki Wesley, GCISD G/T coordinator, or Brad Jones, elementary principal, at 354-2243 or 354-2244.
• Students can check out computers for home use, according to Superintendent Steve Long. Contact Jerry Cannon.
• Community members are encouraged to use the school’s website at http://gcisd.esc18.net/ and the county’s site at www.glasscockcountytx.com.
• Overall enrollment in Garden City’s schools is down 16 from this time last year, according to figures presented at the GCISD school board meeting Jan. 13. Numbers are 151 in K – 6, down nine from a year ago, and 152 in grades 7 – 12, down seven.
Water District Reports Activities
Ricky Harston, general manager of the Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District, presented his annual report of the district’s action plan to the district’s board of directors (Mike Hughes absent) at its meeting Jan. 14. Some of the information from that report follows. Fifty-eight water analyses were performed during fiscal year 2002 at an average cost near $30 each; 24 mineral and 34 coliform analyses were done. Of the 76 water wells in the district’s water level monitoring network, 73 were measured. Two new water wells were permitted (more pending) and one well was registered. (New wells which pump less than 18 gallons per minute, generally for household or livestock use, must be registered but do not have to be permitted.) Harston reported that four producers used the district’s Topcon mapping equipment, mapping 814 acres, and the laser plane leveling equipment was used four times. A 2002 evaluation report from the West Texas Weather Modification Association was also discussed, and a copy is available in the water district office for public review. According to that report, 285 clouds were seeded in 47 operational days from March through October. The report states that missed opportunities represented 6 percent of seedable clouds for the season. Harston reported that his water level measurements for 2002 are almost complete, with the Edwards Trinity aquifer showing a decline of two feet from the year before, the Edwards in Reagan County down a little over one inch, and the Ogallala down about 9 inches. Harston reported that the Howard-Martin water district had inquired about consolidating with Glasscock County’s district. The board discussed the idea, but does not favor a merger.
Community Network Grant Update
Glasscock County and the Glasscock County Independent School District received $250,000 in a Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) grant July 29, 2002 for the purpose of developing a community telecommunications network (Glasscock County News, July 2002). The local school district, which put up $25,000 for the project, serves as the financial agent for the grant’s administration, Superintendent Steve Long is the project director and authorized official, Kathy Wheat is the project’s financial officer, school personnel are to maintain the system and the GCISD board is the final authority on grant-related activities. Free Public Access to Computers, Internet Available To date, Long reports that this money has been used to create a public access to computers and the Internet in Kenneth Chandler’s classroom in the local elementary school. There 26 computers, a wall-mounted large-screen monitor, projector and two printers are available for public use. Currently, in addition to school use, the lab is being used for community computer classes, held on Mondays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and is open from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for general community use, including Internet access. [The cost to establish this lab was not available.] Another public access point created with grant funds is in the school library, which has 22 computers and is also available from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for free public use, including Internet access, according to Brad Jones [Cost of these machines was not available.] Long says he has signed contracts with both Wes-Tex Telecommunications and T-Three Wireless to bring forms of broadband access to the county. He says this will hopefully allow choices for either landline or wireless access to the Internet, even in remote areas. Wes-Tex is to provide broadband service to the Community Center, while T-Three Wireless is to provide service to the school and to St. Lawrence. The total cost for the first year’s service with these companies is $45,000, to be paid with grant money. Long is not sure what future costs will be, nor what service will cost individual consumers. Long says future plans for grant monies include 8-station wireless labs for both the Community Center and for St. Lawrence. Grant Funds Purchase More Computers for School A separate, $55,000 TIF grant was received by the school and has been used for a 15-station wireless, movable computer lab ($31,000) and 10 desktop computers to upgrade the business class lab ($11,000). In addition, a classroom connection site license was obtained ($12,000) to provide access to an online site for teachers’ use in research and/or class preparation, according to Long.
County May Revisit Warning System
Glasscock County Judge Wilburn Bednar said the county court has “beaten the subject around for years,” but commissioners Michael Hoch and Mark Halfmann said they were still interested in an emergency warning system for Garden City at the regular court meeting Jan. 13. No action was taken. The court appointed a state mandated grievance committee that could be used by county elected officials. With names drawn randomly from the grand jury pool, those selected were: ReeAnn McKinnon, Kyle Newton, Wendall Halfmann, Leon Halfmann, Janie Branham, Kenneth Chandler, Rebecca Moore, Ed Plagens, Zane Eoff and Carol Batla (alternate). By law, the county judge chairs the committee, but does not vote. County Agent Steve Sturtz reported that the junior livestock show went well, and that the newly installed sound system worked fine. He said the system cost $6,750, with raised money paying $3,750 and the county paying $3,000.
In The Spotlight
• The Lady Kats basketball team ranked seventeenth in the Class A, Division I Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll, which was released Jan. 13.
• Tiffany Wheat has been inducted into both Alpha Chi and Kappa Omicron Nu at Tarleton State University. Alpha Chi is a national honor society for the top 10 percent of the junior and senior classes at smaller universities and colleges; Kappa Omicron Nu is an honor society for Tarleton’s Human Science Department. Wheat, who is student teaching at Eastland High School, will graduate in August. She is the daughter of Kathy and Larry Wheat.
• Allison Jansa recently finished second overall in the 2002 Jingle Bell 5K Run in downtown Midland and was the top female finisher while beating 175 competitors for the runner-up honors. A state qualifier at the 2002 high school state cross-country championships, she finished the run with a time of 21 minutes, 15 seconds. Allison, a senior at GCHS, is the daughter of Allan and Lisa Jansa.
• Jason Fine, a 1999 GCHS graduate and son of Jimmy and Joyce Fine, graduated from Texas Tech University in December with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise and sport sciences and a minor in history. Fine is continuing his studies at Texas Tech in the teacher certification program.
• Chelsea Schwartz competed as Miss Texas American Teen in the Miss American Teen pageant in Orlando. She was named as a top 15 semifinalist from 60 contestants in her age group and placed third in the photogenic category.
• Lauren Wheeler, who plays trumpet, was named to the Junior High All-Region Band at the Region 6 Association of Texas Small School Bands contest. She will perform with the all-region band in concert in Crane Jan. 26.
• GCISD’S Students of the Month for January are Antonio and Ismael Ramirez, kindergartener sons of Tony and Elsa Ramirez; Amber Halfmann, fifth grade daughter of Nathan and Gena Halfmann; Taylor Niehues, eighth grade son of Rory and Tibby Niehues, and Megan Niehues, sophomore daughter of Rory and Tibby Niehues.
Livestock Show Winners Announced
Top winners at the 66th Annual Glasscock County Junior Livestock Show were: Travis Pate Top Hand Award, Colby Hirt; Livestock Association scholarships: Keith Batla, $500; Alisha Frysak, $250; Angela Schraeder, $250. Shaun Maxie, Grand Champion steer; Drew Plagens, Reserve Grand Champion steer. Erin Hirt, Grand Champion lamb; Colby Hirt, Reserve Grand Champion lamb. Halie Schaefer, Grand Champion swine; Todd Weishuhn, Reserve Grand Champion swine. Wade Machicek, Grand Champion rabbit; Laura Halfmann, Reserve Grand Champion rabbit. Cade Halfmann, Grand Champion goat; Paige Sturtz, Reserve Grand Champion goat. The sale on Saturday raised approximately $37,000 according to County Agent Steve Sturtz.
Obituaries
• A.W. Schraeder, 83, died Dec. 23 in a Midland hospital and was buried in the St. Lawrence Cemetery. He was born in Lott in 1919 and married Colette Hoelscher in 1940 in Olfen. The Schraeders moved to St. Lawrence in 1947 from Rowena and were one of the first families to settle there. He farmed and for years was an agent for Catholic Life Insurance and served on their board of directors. He was a member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church and the St. Lawrence Cotton Growers Association. He is survived by his wife Colette of St. Lawrence, three sons, Dennis Schraeder and Gregory Schraeder, both of St. Lawrence and William Schraeder of Midland; five daughters, Betty Kohutek of Sonora, Carolyn Eggemeyer of San Angelo, Kay Scott of Hobbs, Antoinette Pack of Midland and Theresa Pruit of Christoval; a brother, Adolph Schraeder of Castroville; a sister, Virgie Lee Jansa of Norton, and others.
• James C. Johnson, 82, of Big Spring died Jan. 6 in a Big Spring hospital and was buried at Trinity Memorial Park. He was born in 1920 in Moulton and married Billie Jean Karl in 1951 in Yoakum. He had lived in St. Lawrence since 1954. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Garden City and was a deacon. He was a historian, enjoyed reading and telling stories and loved to chuckle at his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Billie Johnson of Big Spring; two sons, Lance Karl Johnson of Denton and Daryl Shane Johnson of Odessa; a daughter, Phyllis Dawson of Austin; three sisters, Kate Higgins of Halletsville, Nancy Hull of Moulton and Goloa Martin of Kerrville and three grandchildren, Kendra Dawson, Zoe Johnson and Naaman Johnson. About This Publication The next issue will be
Feb.12. The deadline for that issue is
Feb.10. 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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