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Glasscock County News
Finally -- Wireless High Speed Internet Service
Many residents of Glasscock County now have access to high speed, wireless Internet service in their homes. According to Rod Slaton of T3 Solutions in Midland, installation will cost $250 in Garden City, the monthly fee will be $60 for a single, residential computer and the service will provide unlimited Internet access. A higher monthly charge will be necessary for business use or networks. Previously, high speed access was available only with more expensive digital satellite dishes. Slaton says he hopes home service will ultimately be available to most people in the county. But there can be problems, such as distance from a broadcasting point, or sight line problems, such as trees or structures interfering with broadcast signals, which could prohibit its use. Right now, he says one antenna is broadcasting off the water tower located at the school, and it should cover most of a three-mile radius around the water tower. Slaton says other antennas, pointing in different directions, will be added to the water tower later, and a broadcast point is planned for St. Lawrence. With subscription to the service, T3 Solutions becomes one’s Internet service provider, and will host both e-mail and domains. It has no dial-up access. T3 Solutions has been working for several months to install the system with funding provided by a TIF Community Network Grant the county received in July 2002. For more information, contact T3 Solutions at 620-0077.
County Moves to Improve Ambulance
The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court on May 12 authorized local Emergency Medical Service representatives to get bids for a better chassis [frame and working parts, including motor] for an ambulance stationed in Garden City. The ambulance’s lack of power has been a major concern to EMS personnel for several years. It is not clear whether the county can afford the ambulance improvements before the next fiscal year’s budget in October. Kenny Batla, the county’s emergency management coordinator, and EMS representative Alan Jansa told the court that EMS volunteers are not interested in being paid stipends for ambulance runs. They said the group prefers to have the county provide good equipment, including ambulances, and training. They said some people give the group donations, which are appreciated. The court voted to again award the county’s depository contract to the Garden City branch of the First National Bank of Sterling City. Their bid was an interest rate of 25 base points off the previous 13-week T-Bill rate. After they check into competitive prices, county commissioners plan to have repair work and painting on the roofs of both the county maintenance barn and the EMS building in St. Lawrence.
School Awarded Grants
Elementary School Principal Brad Jones reported May 12 that GCISD is the beneficiary of a KIDS Technology Innovation Challenge Grant awarded to the Allen Independent School District by the U.S. Department of Education. By participating in the KIDS (Key Instructional Design Strategies) Grant, GCISD will receive approximately $30,000 worth of computer hardware and software, plus a weeklong KIDS Institute Professional Development session in Allen, TX, for a team of four teachers, one administrator and one librarian/media specialist (including hotel, meal and travel costs). Each participant will train two other educators in the district. Jones said local educators who will attend the institute along with him are Kenneth Chandler, Bea Correa, Tanya Multer, Phyllis Byrnes and Dana Cook. Fifty school districts, most with fewer than 1,000 students, are to be included in the project. In addition, School Superintendent Steve Long said the district has been awarded an $8,500 grant for telecommunications by the Universal Service Administrative Company, Schools and Libraries Division. He said the money can be used to help pay for T-1 computer lines and some phone bills.
Briefly
• A spring piano recital will be given by Leroy Moore's piano students May 18 at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Garden City. All our friends are invited to attend. Also, Mr. Moore will be giving lessons during the summer months and has openings. Call Karen Wheeler for more information at 397-2753.
• Jamie Walker will be teaching swimming lessons June 2 – 5 and June 9 – 12. The cost is $45 per child and the lessons will be at Tibby Niehues' house. Please call to register your children and get their lesson times: 398-5430.
• My wife and I thank our dear friends for the many prayers, cards and calls during my recent illness. Your kindness has been overwhelming and is much appreciated. I will keep your thoughts with me as I continue on the road to recovery. God bless. --- Ronnie & Margarita Palmer
• Glasscock County Senior Citizens will meet May 20; bring finger foods. The June 3 meeting’s fare is potluck. All seniors are invited to meet with us to share a meal and play games. Thanks to the members of the Garden City High School National Honor Society and their sponsor, Jill Tubb, for the wonderful meal they served us recently. It was greatly appreciated.
• The PTO is taking orders for Bearkat jackets. Sample jackets will be available for viewing at the band concert May 15 and at the elementary school field day May 16. For more information or to place an order, call Kara Hoelscher 397-2658, Karen Schaefer 354-2564, or Terry Halfmann 354-2498.
• The Garden City Cemetery has been awarded an historical designation, according to Helen Wilkerson, Glasscock County Historical Committee chairman. She reports that $850 is needed for an historical plaque to be placed at the cemetery. Those who have family members buried in the cemetery and others who would like to donate to this cause should make checks payable to the committee and send them to Wilkerson at P.O. Box 32, Garden City, 79739 or to Alan Dierschke at P.O. Box 224, Garden City.
• The school library will be open to the public Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 2 – 27.
• Trash barrels are available for $10 each from the local Lion’s Club. Call Warren Multer, 354-2477 or John Kinnibrugh, 354-2391.
• Two local basketball camps will be held June 3–6. A camp for girls who are going into grades four through eight will be from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. A camp for both boys and girls who are going into grades one through three will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The registration deadline for both is May 23. For brochures or to register, call Brent Kirkland at school, 354-2244 or at home, 354-2331.
• Glasscock County will host an appreciation dinner for all county volunteers May 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the community center. Volunteers may bring their spouse or a friend.
• The school’s spring band concert is May 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ruth Cook Auditorium. The elementary school’s field day is May 16 at the school. The junior-senior prom is May 17 in the community center. The junior high awards assembly is May 22 at 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium. The baccalaureate service is May 25 at 6 p.m. and graduation is May 30 at 7:30 p.m., both in the auditorium.
• Mary Jo Cope has resigned from the county historical committee after several years of service. Committee chairman Helen Wilkerson says that Jaynie Branham has volunteered to fill the vacancy.
Computers Available for Public Use
Steve Long reports that three computers with high speed, wireless Internet access, are now available for free, public use. One is located at the Glasscock Underground Water Conservation District office, and two are in the community center. In the future, additional public-use computers are to be located in the courthouse and in St. Lawrence at the Coop Gin. In addition, Long says 10 laptop computers are available for public checkout from the school. Contact School Librarian Karen Rasco at 354-2230. Funding for the project came from the same TIF Community Network Grant that is providing high-speed wireless Internet access in the county.
GCISD Seats Three New Board Members
Carl Hoelscher, Doug Schaefer and Andy Wheeler were sworn in as new members of the Glasscock County Independent School District board May 6. Total votes in the election were: incumbent Brad Avery 98, Hoelscher 159, Schaefer 121 and Wheeler 124. The new members’ terms will expire in 2006; Mike Hillger’s and Tibby Niehues’ terms expire in 2004; Jimmy Eggemeyer’s and Karla Hoelscher’s terms expire in 2005. Also on May 6, the board held a Texas Association of School Boards training session, conducted by TASB policy consultant Kathy London. The TASB training was at the request of School Superintendent Steve Long, and was the first since GCISD started using the TASB policy updates in 1992. Prior to the board meeting, London had spent some five hours with Long, reviewing the district’s policies. She said some of the answers to Long’s questions “were not what he wanted to hear.” She reviewed GCISD’s policy manual with the board and explained how TASB updates help keep the district in compliance with state regulations. London discussed the different roles of school administration and the school board, saying the job of the board is to govern and that of the administration is to manage. London said the role of the school board is not to fix problems, but to refer people with complaints to the appropriate teacher or administrator and let the school’s policies work. She said school policy is good only if it is used and enforced. Board Legalities, Ethics Important She discussed the legalities and ethics of serving on a school board, including nepotism laws, open meetings requirements and access to information (such as student records), which is not public. Regarding nepotism laws, she said if a teacher has been working for the district for six months, a relative may be elected to the school board. However, that teacher’s contract must be dealt with separately by the board, and the board member who is a relative must abstain from discussing or voting on it. London said relatives of board members can be hired as substitute teachers and because of shortages, as bus drivers ( in districts with populations below 35,000). She said relatives of board members cannot be hired as teachers’ aides, cafeteria workers, maintenance workers, etc. She said school districts may do business with companies that have some connection to a board member if the relationship is disclosed beforehand, and if the board member abstains from any discussion or vote regarding that company.
Board Meetings Open to Public London said open meetings laws require that the agendas of all board meetings be publicly posted in advance and that meetings be open to the public. There are a few specific situations that allow, but do not require, boards to close to the public all or parts of meetings. The school superintendent and the board president are responsible for setting board meeting agendas. She said boards are not required by law to allow the public to speak at board meetings unless the matter in question is itemized on the board’s agenda. The “Open Forum” section of each agenda allows, in certain circumstances, for matters which are not agenda items to be brought before the board. However, to utilize the Open Forum, persons must sign up before the meeting and state the subject to be addressed. The superintendent is to then determine if the problem is one for which there is a policy in place, and if so, whether proper channels and chain of command have been utilized. If no policy exists to address the concern, or if proper channels have not resolved the problem, the person may be allowed to present the problem to the board. The board may not take action on Open Forum topics, but a board member can request that an Open Forum subject be placed as an item on the next agenda for further discussion and/or action.
In The Spotlight
• Daniel Martinez placed second in computer applications at the State UIL Academic competition in Austin May 3. Jessica Hoch placed fifth in accounting and Leslie Jansa placed seventh. The accounting team placed third. Reta Bell coached the students.
• Brian Hillger placed fourth at the state track meet in Class 1A 400-meter dash, timed at 49.89, missing a medal by 3/100 of one second. He placed second at the regional meet.
• Allison Jansa placed seventh at the state track meet in Class 1A girls’ 3,200-meter run with a time of 12:32.75, having placed second in Region I-1A to advance.
• Tyler Bednar, who is a freshman, placed eighteenth in Keyboarding Productions at the national Business Professionals of America competition in Dallas recently.
• GCISD Students of the Month for May were recognized at the May 12 school board meeting. They are: Mayra Rodriquez second grade daughter of Vincente and Anita Rodriquez; third grader Shelby Schwartz, daughter of Jody and Gail Schwartz; Mikela Barton, seventh grade daughter of Dinette and Richard Watkins and senior Guillermina Tenorio, daughter of Tereso and Jacinta Tenorio.
GCISD Sets Summer School
At its regular meeting May 12, the GCISD school board approved a summer school program to run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 2 – 27. Elementary School Principal Brad Jones said 20 kids would attend, which he said is about normal. Jones said either attendance or academic problems can require a student to attend summer school in order to be promoted, but teachers can also recommend summer school for those they feel it would benefit. Federal monies fund the program, with $5,500 coming from the Optional Extended Year Program and $10,000 from the Migrant Program. Teachers will be Jean Ann Kujawski, Theresa Eoff, Bea Correa and Cory Richardson. Librarian Karen Rasco will open the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays during summer school. No action was taken regarding the school counseling position, the vocational shop teaching position or Vicki Kight’s resignation. At the request of Coach Wade Wesley, the board approved an amendment to its extracurricular and athletic policy that removed the word “permanent” from Section 8-B, Disciplinary Guidelines. Although this policy is not used often, board member Tibby Niehues said it has helped everyone with knowing the consequences for certain actions. Board member Doug Schaefer said it helps the community to know that all students are treated the same, regardless of who they are.
Recruiters Sometimes Problems The board revised Section 18, College Recruitment, for clarity. School Superintendent Steve Long said recruiters, whether from colleges or the military, can be a problem by putting too much pressure on kids. He said in the past, they sometimes came unannounced and tried to sign a kid up without parental knowledge. The school board discussed a proposal termed “JR3,” which allows a school to rehire retired teachers. Long said the state legislature may kill the JR3 program in the immediate future, but there could be some grandfather provision. While the program might be advantageous for the school at some future time, the board decided to wait until they could get more information before adopting it. After the board reviewed a six-page list of bills totaling $430,000 and authorized their payment, newly elected board member Carl Hoelscher said he was glad to learn that the board looks at the bills because there is a misconception in the community that the board just authorizes payment of bills without reviewing them. The board presented Mr. and Mrs. L.R.Dunn a clock and a framed certificate of appreciation for “serving the district so well on such short notice.” Reta Bell recognized several students for their achievements in Business and Professionals of America competitions. Enrollment for grades K – 6 was 147, the same as last month and down 11 from this time last year. Grades 7 – 12, with 139 students, were down two from last month and down 16 from the same time last year. Total enrollment is 286. The board again elected Jimmy Eggemeyer president, Tibby Niehues vice-president and Karla Hoelscher secretary.
From the Schoolhouse
University Interscholastic League Awards, 2003
Many GCHS students received awards at the annual UIL banquet, held in the Glasscock County Community Center May 13. In football, the outstanding players were Brian Hillger (offense), Drew Plagens (defense) and Josh Schmitz (lineman). Outstanding players for girls’ basketball were Jessica Hoch (offense) and Leslie Jansa (defense). Blake Chudej won the boys’ basketball award for offensive player and Brandon Bednar took the defensive award. Allison Jansa and Stacy Gully were named outstanding girls’ tennis singles players, while Megan Niehues and Jessica Hoch won the girls’ doubles award. Tyler Bednar took the award for boys’ singles, and the boys’ doubles award went to Brandon Bednar and Donato Gonzales. The outstanding power lifter was Dusty Walker. Allison Jansa was named the outstanding athlete in girls’ cross-country and in girls’ track. Angela Schraeder won for girls’ field events. Shaun Maxie and Logan Willis were the outstanding boys’ cross-country runners. Brian Hillger took the award for boys’ track, and Trey Hillger and Jackie Reese won the boys’ field events awards. The award for boys’ golf went to Drew Plagens and Alicia Frysak won for girls’ golf. The Kat’s Paw Award for girls went to Kaycee Schniers and for boys to Daniel Martinez. Noemi Guerrero was named the Outstanding UIL Student for girls, and Daniel Martinez for boys. The Fighting Heart Award for girls was won by Dendra Maxie and Brian Hillger took that award for boys. Nancy Hillger was named Booster of the Year.
Regional Tennis Results
The doubles team of Megan Niehues and Jessica Hoch reached the semi-finals of the Region I-A tournament before being defeated by the team that eventually won the state title. Not advancing out of the first round in girl’s singles were Allison Jansa and Stacy Gully, and the boy’s doubles team of Donato Gonzales and Brandon Bednar.
Drama Club Competes
The Bearkat Drama Club performed Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at the District 8-A West Zone Competition in McCamey. Named to the all-star cast were Leslie Jansa and Chelsea Schwartz; Lisa Hoelscher received an honorable mention. Taylor Willis was named to the all-star crew. Other cast members included Brecklyn Hughes, Blake Chudej, Carolyn Sullivan, Timothy Schniers, Amanda Henson, Vanessa Medrano, Alicia Frysak, Megan Niehues, Trey Hillger, Ashley Gonzales, Krystal Sullivan and Kim Webb. The crew included Kaycee Schniers and Terri Branham. Alternates were Brandi Halfmann, Amanda Hirt, Logan Willis and Viviana Gamboa. Directors were Stacy Jones, Jill Tubb and Brad Jones.
Obituaries
• Matt Webb of Midland died April 19 and was buried April 24 in Big Spring. He was born Jan. 30, 1981 in Big Spring, and graduated from Garden City High School in 2000. He is survived by his father, David Webb of Austin; mother, Kyrena Webb of Abilene; grandparents, Gilbert and Alice Webb of Big Spring and Rita and Willie Hull of Garden City, several aunts, uncles and cousins.
• James David Glass, 98, died May 2 in Sterling City and was buried at the Montvale Cemetery. The last surviving son of pioneer rancher J. L. ‘Jeff” and Mattie Kellis Glass, he was born April 14, 1905 in Sterling City. He graduated from high school there and attended Texas Christian University for two years before entering the sheep and cattle ranching business with his father. He married Willie Lee Key Dec. 29, 1931, and they made their home on the Glass Ranch in Sterling County. She preceded him in death on March 10, 2000, after 68 years of marriage. He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Larry and Lynda Glass of Sterling City, Lynn and Helen Glass of Garden City and Willene and Allen Boger of Argyle; seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
• Audna Joann Neely Davis, 73, of Sugarland, died April 28 at her residence and was buried May 3 at the Garden City Cemetery. She was born Jan. 11, 1930, in San Angelo to Clifford Henry and Vera Bigby Neely and was a former resident of Glasscock County. She taught school in Garden City and in Midland in the 1950s and 1960s before moving to Sugarland. Her parents preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Frank Davis of Sugarland; one daughter, Andra Stull of Wimberly; one sister, Zylphia Graham of Hobbs, N.M., and two nephews.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be June 11. The deadline for that issue is June 9, but earlier material is helpful. Send information to: P.O. Box 98, Garden City, TX 79739; phone or fax: 432/354-2221; 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: 432/354-2221; e-mail: gcnews201@aol.com; web site: http://wscope.com/glasscock/
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