|
Glasscock County News
Football Issue Brings Crowd to Board Meeting
The likelihood that the Bearkats will be playing six-man football for at least the next two years brought approximately 15 parents to the GCISD School Board meeting Oct. 13 to question that change. The administrative decision to put the reclassification into effect will not officially be made until after Oct. 31, but the board has indicated its desire for change to Superintendent Steve Long, after surveys of both students and the community showed strong support for the idea. The student survey was 66 percent for six-man, 34 percent against; and the community survey was 81 percent for six-man, 19 percent against. Long said 317 surveys were mailed to the community, using voter registration and tax lists for names, and 151 were returned. The Texas University Interscholastic League, which governs all extracurricular activities, realigns school districts every two years, and if a school’s enrollment falls at or below a certain cutoff figure, the district can choose to play six-man football. According to High School Principal John Petree, placement for all other sports, and for all UIL academic activities, is determined solely by enrollment, and the school has no choice. It is possible for a school to be in different districts for various activities. Currently, GCHS is in Class 1-A, playing eleven-man football. If enrollment is 99.9 or below, a school is in Class 1-A, but may opt to play six-man. The local high school enrollment for 2003 is 90.
Lack of Information, Community Input Criticized Warren Multer acted as spokesman for the group in opposition to the change. Looking at pros and cons for the two choices, Multer cited as reasons for 11-man the number of boys (38 to 42) expected to participate in football in the next two years, the experience the players have now, the close proximity of 11-man schools, and a greater possibility of playing college ball with11-man experience. As a reason against 11-man, he said we often have to play schools larger than we are. Multer said the only reason he’s heard for 6-man is being able to play schools our size or smaller. His reasons against 6-man were the expense of renovating facilities; increased travel expenses if we have multiple teams, and parents being pulled between them; the possibility that few competitors will have multiple teams; a possible loss of enrollment, and distant travel to 6-man schools. Multer said it isn’t good to tell kids they can’t compete well against larger schools. He said every classification has some big schools which don’t compete well and some smaller ones that do very well. He said he would like a chance for the group of kids who have done so well in junior high and junior varsity the last couple of years to stay together and continue to compete in eleven-man.
Multer: Decision Process Not Fair In addition, Multer said the decision process in the matter was not handled fairly. He said speculation of change started when the board hired a six-man coach (Ken Hoskins), in the summer, and the area media spread the idea that Garden City was preparing to play six-man. He said he was told no decision would be made until a public meeting was held and community input was gathered. But, he said no public meeting was held, and no information was given the public except what was in the survey, which he said was timed too late for much opposition to be organized before the October board meeting. The deadline for exercising the school’s option is Nov. 4. Multer said the survey went to many people, including students, who didn’t understand the facts about what they were voting on. He said the matter of which football to play should be a matter for the players and their parents to decide. Board President Jimmy Eggemeyer said it was not the school board’s place to call a public meeting, and asked Multer why he didn’t call one. Eggemeyer said the board was very lucky to be able to hire Hoskins, especially after Wade Wesley left suddenly, and said Hoskins can coach either six or eleven-man football. Multer said he has nothing against Hoskins. Several other people voiced opposition to the change, with most complaining of a lack of information. Those included Kenny and Kathleen Schniers, Kim and Larry Halfmann, and Jesse Flores.
Board Stays With Plan to Move to Six-man In response to the group’s concerns, the school board indicated that it understood the parents’ concerns, but was unwilling to do another survey, or to change its intent to move to six-man football. Carl Hoelscher said he wishes more information had been made available, but that the survey results were not even close, and another survey would only further agitate the problem. Tibby Niehues said the results of another survey would be much the same as the first. Mike Hillger said kids go through both winning and losing, and they will have plenty of competition in six-man ball. He said the survey, showing 81 percent for the change “is heavy.” Doug Schaefer said even with the shortage of information, “I want what’s best for our kids, and in my opinion, that’s six-man.” Jimmy Eggemeyer said, “It’s a tough decision. I wish everyone could be here to discuss it.”
Briefly
• The Lion’s Club Halloween Carnival is scheduled for Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Glasscock County Community Center. Activities include games, bingo, a raffle and refreshments. The ever-popular costume contest will be at 7:30 p.m.
• Senior Citizens will meet Oct. 21; bring finger foods. On Nov. 4, we will have a Thanksgiving dinner. If you were not assigned anything or were not at the Oct. meeting, bring a dessert; the rest of the dinner will be furnished. Anyone 50 years or older is invited.
• Glasscock County’s War Memorial will be dedicated Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at the memorial at the courthouse. Everyone is invited to the ceremony.
• GCISD’s web site is said to be new and improved. Check it out at http://gcisd.esc18.net. Note that the school board policy manual is available at the site.
• Trick or Treat night is set for Thursday, Oct. 30. In addition to the normal routine, 4-H members will be trick or treating for canned goods to help the needy, as well as candy. There will also be a “Trunk or Treat” during halftime of the junior high football game. If you would like, bring your treats in your vehicle to the band parking lot north of the elementary school. Students will be encouraged to dress up and come see you there. Feel free to decorate your trunk for the event!
Water District Holds Line on Taxes
Meeting in regular session Sept. 16, the Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District’s Board of Directors decided to keep its 2004 tax rate at .034806 per $100 valuation, the same as in 2003. That rate will generate $66 more revenue than last year, due to increased valuations. Directors Mike Hughes and Larry Wheat were absent. The board also adopted a 2004 budget with expenditures totaling $133,707, an $800 increase over last year. Total projected revenues will be approximately $131,000, and any deficit at year’s end will be taken from the district’s reserves, which currently stand at approximately $132,000. Both Directors Dennis Seidenberger and John Phillips opposed an increase in the tax rate, with Phillips saying that he had no problem with the projected budget, “I just hate to raise taxes.” He said when taxes go up, they never seem to come back down. Phillips said oil and gas valuations may well go up next year and provide some added revenue. Director Kenneth Braden voiced concern that the district not get too far behind with its tax rate, as he said it did a few years ago, because of expenses creeping up. But, he said keeping the same rate as last year, rather than going to the lower effective rate, would provide a little revenue increase, with no tax increase. The board gave manager Rick Harston a raise of almost $2,000 per year, but denied a raise for secretary/bookkeeper Donnita Coats. Seidenberger said he would rather Coats work for the district at least a year before getting a raise. Neither the manager nor the secretary/bookkeeper was given a raise last year.
County Adopts New Budget; Sets Tax Rate The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court, meeting in special session Sept. 26, accepted a budget based on expected income of $2.3 million and expenses of $2.5 million. The budget includes annual raises of $600 each for full-time county employees and elected officials. The court denied Extension Agent Charlene Belew’s July request for a $3,000 raise, giving her only the $600 increase, though they did double the funds allocated for 4-H activities under her supervision to $3,000. The court set the new tax rate at $.5425 (54 cents) for maintenance and operation plus five cents debt service for the community center, for a total of $.5925 (59 cents) per $100 valuation. The current total tax is $.5788. As expected, the court adopted a new budget projecting $54,000 in income and $56,000 in expenses for the Garden City Water System. On Sept. 30, the court passed 36 amendments to the county’s 2003 budget in order to bring each account into balance. Most involved moving funds from one account to another within the same department County Judge Wilburn Bednar reported that the county’s appraisal firm is conferring with lawyers regarding whether Glasscock County should join in the suit filed by Midland County and others against several oil companies. The suit alleges lost tax income due to the companies under-reporting the value of their oil and gas properties during several past years. Prior to the Sept. 26 meeting, the court reversed an earlier decision and decided to allow a tool company to rent the community center after the company offered to pay $400 in rental rather than the original $100 fee.
In The Spotlight
• Brecklyn Hughes was recently named GCHS Homecoming Queen 2003. She is a senior and the daughter of Pam and Mike Hughes. Blake Chudej was named Mr. Bearkat. He is a senior and the son of Shelly and Henry Chudej. Roseanne Alvarado was selected Band Sweetheart. She is the daughter of Jamie and Cecelia Alvarado. Runners-up for Homecoming Queen were Stacy Gully and Allison Jansa. For Mr. Bearkat, runners-up were Trey Hillger and Todd Weishuhn. Krystal Sullivan and Kimberly Webb were the runners-up for Band Sweetheart.
• Delmer and Marcie Batla were honored by their children and grandchildren on their 50th wedding anniversary Sept 20. The celebration included a special family ceremony followed by a reception, dinner and dance with music provided by their band, The Havlak-Batla Polka Time Band. Their family also gifted them with a cruise to Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
• Chelsea Schwartz, a GCHS 2003 graduate, has pledged Chi Omega at West Texas A&M University, where she has also been accepted into P.U.L.S.E. (peer understanding, listening, speaking, educating), an organization to promote and encourage responsible decision-making skills through interactive and entertaining programs. She is also pictured on the cover of the current WTAMU information brochure.
School Lands Fitness Grant
School Superintendent Steve Long announced at the school board meeting Oct. 13 that the school has been awarded a $221,000 National Fitness Foundation grant which will provide Nautilus and comparable exercise equipment for use by both the community and students. The equipment, which is to be located in the weight room of the athletic complex building at the school, includes 17 pieces of strength equipment; 6 pieces of cardiovascular equipment; emergency medical response equipment, plus in-service training and certification. The grant money is part of a fitness program, which will require the school to keep records and file monthly reports of use and results. Long said after the equipment is installed, and technicians are trained, hours for public use will be made available. He hopes to have it all ready for use by Christmas, he said. The school will be required to take out a loan for the equipment, and then the NFF will reimburse each payment, including interest. If the NFF should fail, the school is responsible for repaying the money. The GCISD school board approved the grant, pending approval by the school district’s attorney. Long said a projector, software and screen, plus a 'polycam’ for distance learning, have been purchased with other grant money for use at the community center. Dollars to be Moved to Certificates of Deposit Long reported that he had found interest on certificates of deposit ranging from .80 to 2.18 for terms of six months to two years. The board voted to move $1 million from the First National Bank of Sterling City to the Bank of the West in Coahoma for 12 months at 2.18 percent interest. Long said the school is considering upgrading its vocational facilities, and he gave the board a drawing of a possible floor plan. He said the drawing, which was done by vocational teacher Rusty Hollingsworth, was a starting point for determining costs. If such a facility were built, Long said the existing one would probably become an auto mechanics/ bodywork shop. Long said the school needs to provide more vocational training for students who don’t want to pursue a traditional college education. School’s Web Site New and Improved Secondary Principal John Petree reported that the school has its web site up and running with lots of new content. He encourages everyone to check out GCISD on the web at http://gcisd.esc18.net. He says it takes a few minutes for the site to load the first time, so be patient. There are several links, and more to come as the webmastering class works on the site. Petree notes that the GCISD’s Board Policy Manual is online at the site, and will be kept updated there. Petree reported a 97 percent parent attendance rate at the recent “Report Card Night” at the school. The event is designed to involve parents with their kids’ teachers and to deal with any problems or academic needs that may exist. Petree said aides are helping in kindergarten and first grade, both of which have 22 students. He said awards were given in an Oct. 8 awards assembly for Spanish, PE, Technology, Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance. More Emphasis on ACT and SAT Exams Koby Abney presented a manual he has developed for kids and their parents which is designed to help them make preparations for taking the ACT and/or SAT tests. He said the sooner a student starts getting ready for the tests, the better. He said students should begin taking the preliminary versions of those tests as early as possible, so they become familiar with the kinds of questions the tests will present. He said ACT and SAT tests measure different types of knowledge, and students should choose which test to ultimately take based on their own strengths. School Board President Jimmy Eggemeyer and Abney agreed that colleges are concerned about things other than test scores, such as community involvement and extracurricular activities. But both said the colleges’ bottom line in choosing students is the score from one of these tests. Public Hearing Nov. 10 for School’s State Financial Report Long reported that the state’s financial indicator for school districts gave the local school a negative rating on only one of 21 points: that the district had not spent at least 54 percent of its funds for instruction. Long said he called the Texas Education Agency and asked how we were supposed to spend 54 percent for instruction, when we are required to give away 52 percent to other schools. Long said he was given no real answer. A public hearing on school's state financial report will be Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. According to Long, we will be sending $2.7 million to Jim Ned ISD this year. By agreement with Jim Ned, 25 percent of this money will go to “Ed Link 18,” a technology arm of the Region 18 Service Center, of which GCISD is a part. Board member Doug Schaefer commented that he would like to be sure that, in the future, our WADA money goes to a district that taxes at the maximum level. He said he was upset to learn that some districts get money from others without taxing to the maximum in their own districts. GCISD taxes at the maximum level of $1.50 per $100 valuation. Jim Ned’s taxing rate is $1.41 plus 11 cents for bond debt service, totaling $1.52 per $100 valuation. Long announced Region 18 has received an $809,000 “Technology on Wheels” federal grant. He says part of that money will outfit a Greyhound-type bus with equipment for taking technology to remote schools in the region that might not otherwise have it. Long said Kenneth Chandler is GCISD’s contact person for the project. School enrollment figures are: K–6, 146 (plus 14 in pre-kindergarten); 7–8, 40 and 9–12, 90, for a K–12 total of 276.
Courthouse gets Security System
The court voted to hire Guardian Securities to install a courthouse security system at a cost of $11,300. The system will provide several alarm buttons throughout the building which will be wirelessly connected to the sheriffs’ office radio dispatch system, plus smoke alarms which will trigger the same emergency response. The system is being paid for by a $12,000 fund built by fees collected in the clerk’s office for several years. The fund is state-mandated and earmarked for courthouse security. Commissioners voted to add $5 to the clerk’s office recording fee, bringing the total to $14 for the first page; subsequent pages remain at $2. The state recently made the increase a county option. County Adds Dollars to Reserves County Treasurer Alan Dierschke told the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court Oct. 14 that the county was able to put $166,000 into its reserves at the end of fiscal year 2003. Those reserves now total $465,000, Dierschke said. He reported that he was also able to put $42,000 into the interest and sinking fund reserves for the community center debt, bringing that total to $143,000, almost enough for one full payment on the debt. This means that the county may be able to pay off the community center bond sooner than planned. Dierschke said the Garden City Water System ended the fiscal year with a $6,500 loss, due to a $16,000 expense for the water storage tower. He said the system now has $54,000 in reserve. Donations, Volunteers Help with Cemetery Fence Joe Calverley showed commissioners a drawing of the new fence, entrance and gates that the cemetery fence committee plans to build on the southern boundary of the Garden City cemetery. The fence is to be made of pipe, with an entrance of four rock columns and a metal arch with the cemetery name above. Plans include a double gate and single gate at the main entrance, plus a new service entrance and road at the far east side of the property. Calverley said the pipe, sandblasting, priming and painting and most of the labor of installation has been donated. She said the committee hopes to complete the project within the $2,000 allotted in this year’s county budget, but isn’t sure of all expenses at this time. T he court approved the cemetery committee’s plans, and authorized it to proceed with the project. In other action, the court voted to leave the county’s retirement plan unchanged for the coming year; decided to advertise for bids on galvanized metal roofs for the courthouse and the old jail and to advertise for bids on a new pickup for Steve Sturtz. The bids will be opened at the court meeting Nov. 10.
Computer Class Still Available
Space is still available in a computer class, free to anyone in the community, which began Oct. 13. The class meets on Mondays from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in the elementary school computer lab. Topics to be covered include basic computer skills, keyboarding and how to use the Internet. Later sessions will cover Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Class size is limited to 25, so call 354-2230 or 354-2243 to sign up now.
Thanks for War Memorial Help
By Helen Wilkerson Chairman, Glasscock County Historical Committee
We wish to express our gratitude to everyone who helped with the war memorial plaza. A very special thanks is in order for Jaynie Branham, who designed and planted the landscape; also to James Cypert who installed the lighting and helped install the stones. We also want to thank Mary Jo Cope for designing the plaza. Alan Dierschke has worked tirelessly with our finances and with the installation. A special thanks goes to TexaStone Quarries for donating the lovely stones. Their generosity made the project possible. Thanks to each one who made suggestions and helped in any way. We are proud of you.
Economic Development Meeting Held
Glasscock County’s Cooperative Extension held a Community Economic Development meeting Sept. 30 coordinated by Dr. Gene Theodori of Texas A & M and Steve Sturtz. Discussion included collaborating with Howard College and twelve other surrounding counties on community development through a national grant with Howard College and Texas A&M Universities. Water quality and quantity were discussed, with networking with Dr. Theodori, Texas A&M’s petroleum engineering department and San Angelo on purifying brackish water being part of the discussion. Other topics discussed were senior citizens’ programs, day care, health care and youth programs. Theodori will work with Cooperative Extension agents Sturtz, Warren Multer and Charlene Belew and with area committees to keep abreast of grant and funding opportunities in these areas. If you have any questions concerning these topics, please contact the Extension office.
From the Schoolhouse
FFA Chapter Formed at GCHS
There are 27 members in the newly created FFA chapter at GCHS, according to sponsor Rusty Hollingsworth. Officers are: Taylor Willis, president; Logan Willis, vice-president; Blake Chudej, secretary; Travis Coats, treasurer; Dusty Walker, reporter, and Marissa Schwartz, sentinel. The group will compete in Leadership Development contests including junior creed speaking, radio team, skills team, job interview and agricultural issues team. In addition, students are preparing for Career Development Events in livestock judging, poultry judging, agriscience fair projects, ag mechanics and tractor restoration. In addition, eighth graders have formed a club of their own: Leaders of Tomorrow (LOTS), and they will be assisting the FFA, doing community projects, and raising money to buy FFA jackets for next year. Three classes of ag mechanics (tractor restoration) are being taught, along with two classes of welding and two classes of woodworking. Projects planned are: restoration of a 1958 model 340 Farmall tractor, building FFA signs and a welding trailer (to be raffled off), and a storage building. The FFA students thank James “Cookie” Machicek for helping with their tractor restoration.
Obituaries
• Jimeree “Jimmy” Permenter, 78, of Garden City died at her residence Sept. 9 following a sudden illness and was buried in the Garden City Cemetery. She was born June 9, 1925, in Jena, LA. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, a homemaker, active in senior citizens’ line dancing, water aerobics, Citizens’ Police Academy, Alzheimer’s Association and R.S.V.P. She is survived by her husband, Bob, of Garden City; two daughters, Jo Ann Permenter and Vivian Kerr, both of Big Spring; one brother, David Jones of Mobile, Ala.; one sister, Beth Preston of Houston; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
• Bob Frizzell, 68, of Hobbs died Oct. 1 will be buried at a later date at Prairie Haven Memorial Park. He was born March 3, 1935, in Garden City. He moved to Hobbs in 1966 from Seminole. He married Jackie Page in 1983 in Las Vegas, Nev. He was a drilling supervisor for Noble Energy for 35 years, a member of the Eagles Lodge and the Vista Pointe Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife and two sons, Robert and Charles Frizzell, all of Hobbs, and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and a brother.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Nov 12. The deadline for that issue is Nov.10, 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://glasscockcountynews.com/
|
|
|
