Several File for Local Positions

Three local positions will be contested in the March primary election. Incumbent Precinct 1 commissioner Jimmy Strube is being challenged by James Schwartz, while Hugh Schafer, the incumbent commissioner in Precinct 3, will be opposed by Marck Schafer. The countywide constable’s race will pit incumbent Lee Roy Hoelscher against challenger Mark Frysak. County Sheriff Royce “Booger” Pruit will again run unopposed.

The special election to be held Jan. 20 to fill the unexpired term for state senator, District 31, features seven candidates: Jesse Quackenbush, Elaine King Miller, Kirk Edwards, Bob Barnes, Don Sparks, Lee Gibson and Kel Seliger. All are Republicans with the exception of Democrat Miller.

Early voting for the special election will continue through Jan. 16 in the county courthouse.

Livestock Show Winners Announced

Top winners at the 67th Annual Glasscock County Junior Livestock Show were:

Top Hand Award, Cade Halfmann; Livestock Association scholarship, Anna Flores, $500.

Marcus Cook, Grand Champion rabbit; Britni Cook, Reserve Grand Champion rabbit; showmanship for rabbits Laura Halfmann, junior, Wade Machicek, senior. Macy Schwartz, Grand Champion swine; Colby Hirt, Reserve Grand Champion swine; showmanship for swine Cassie Hirt, junior, Jake Schwartz, intermediate, Marissa Schwartz, senior. Garrett Kellermeier, Grand Champion steer; Spencer Plagens, Reserve Grand Champion steer; showmanship for steers Spencer Plagens, junior, Garrett Kellermeier, senior. Colby Hirt, Grand Champion lamb; Jordan Jost, Reserve Grand Champion lamb; showmanship for sheep Jordan Jost, junior, Levi Schaefer, intermediate, Colby Hirt, senior. Cade Halfmann, Grand Champion goat; Amber Halfmann, Reserve Grand Champion goat; showmanship for goats Brody Halfmann, junior, Amber Halfmann, intermediate, Cade Halfmann, senior.

County Opens Search for Ag Agent

At their Jan. 12 meeting, Glasscock County Commissioners decided to open the county agricultural agent’s job immediately, so the search for someone to replace Steve Sturtz can begin. County Judge Wilburn Bednar was to contact the district cooperative extension office to notify them that the job is officially available. The salary is negotiable at this time. According to Commissioner Jimmy Strube, the usual extension organization practice is to make the job available only to internal extension personnel for two or three months, then if no acceptable person has been found, open the job to people outside the system as well. Sturtz recently resigned to take the agriculture agent’s job in San Angelo. Commissioner Mark Halfmann said the county agent in Sterling County is not interested in the job, but at least two other men are interested, including one who is currently outside the extension system.

Commissioners voted to hire the Allison-Bass law firm of San Angelo to do the legal work necessary to be sure that the county has legal possession of all county roads. The work will cost $7,250, assuming no litigation is necessary.

Emergency Management Plan in the Works

A “first reading” of a county emergency management plan was approved. Emergency Management Coordinator Kenny Batla has been working on the plan, a final version of which is due to the state by Feb. 15.

The commissioners questioned a bill from the county appraisal district because the county’s share was more than $7,000 higher than last year, while the school’s portion dropped more than $5,000. No one present could explain the increase, but the bill was approved for payment.

The county’s chief tax appraiser is Royce Pruit. Members of the appraisal board are Hugh Schafer, Vernon Gill and Dale Hillger, representing the county; Dennis Fuchs, Eugene Hirt and Wilburn Bednar representing the school district.

Commissioners passed a resolution concerning an indigent defense grant. The grants provide money to assist counties in providing legal defense as necessary for indigent citizens. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said Glasscock County spent more than $700 for indigent legal defenses (court-appointed attorneys) in 2003. Dierschke said the state is building a fund for future use as needed by small counties, which could be bankrupt by a case such as capital murder involving an indigent defendant.

New Heating/Cooling for Courthouse Ground Floor; Storm Sirens for G.C.?

Bednar asked commissioners for suggestions regarding where to get bids for an air conditioning/heating unit for the offices and hallways downstairs in the courthouse. A few suggestions were made. He also asked if commissioners were interested in considering storm sirens, saying, “We’ve been talking about it for 20 years.” Commissioners Michael Hoch and Mark Halfmann said they were interested. Bednar said Deputy Keith Burnett was checking into a Homeland Security grant which might provide funding.

Briefly

• Superintendent Steve Long was given a $1,500 raise, and a one-year contract extension at the GCISD board meeting Jan. 12 (Mike Hillger absent). Long’s salary now is $73,500 with a 3-year contract. The board also hired Holly Ann Petree one day weekly to teach K-3 music and remedial math.

• Second semester school lunch fees are due no later than Jan. 31. The prices are $138 for high school students and $115 for elementary students. These prices do not include breakfast, so if your child eats breakfast at school, Kay Chandler says please send a little extra.

• Glasscock County’s Senior Citizens will not meet in January, but will return to the regular schedule Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 6 p. m. The fare will be potluck and anyone 50 or older is invited to attend.

• Glasscock County 4-H Club members participated in the goat show at the Sandhills Livestock Show in Odessa. Cade Halfmann’s goat won Grand Champion honors. Those who placed in the premium money were Amber Halfmann, Reggie Halfmann and Dusty Walker. Other participants were Colton Belew, Brody Halfmann, Lane Halfmann, Sydney Halfmann, and Blaine Walker.

• Lost. Henry Chudej has lost a three-year-old male, tri-colored, basset hound named Luther. He was last seen on Hwy. 240l at

Hwy. 137. Please call 397-2355 with information.

In The Spotlight

• A goat owned and shown by Cade Halfmann took top honors recently in a field of 400 at the Sandhills Livestock Show in Odessa. Cade, a freshman at GCHS, is the son of Larry and Kim Halfmann.

• Chelsea Schwartz was recently named Miss San Angelo 2004, qualifying her to compete in the Miss Texas pageant in July. Chelsea is a 2003 graduate of GCHS and attends West Texas A & M University majoring in business management.

• Lauren Wheeler, Brooke Halfmann, Mikela Barton, Lyza-Ann Lopez, Taylor Niehues, Colton Schwartz, Tyler Bednar, Katie Gully, David Neufeld, Amanda Hirt, Jessica Hoch and Noemi Guerrero were presented Bearkat Excellence Awards for Fall 2003 at the January GCISD board meeting. Students were selected by their teachers, administrators, counselors and support staff on the basis of scholarship, character, citizenship, humanity, and contributions to GCISD.

From the Schoolhouse

UIL Competition

GCISD students, who participated in UIL Academic competition at Sul Ross University in December, placed as follows:

Biology: Noemi Guerrero 1st, 2nd overall; Computer Science: Noemi Guerrero 4th; Editorial Writing: Amanda Hirt 3rd; Number Sense: Katie Gully 4th; Accounting: Katie Gully 5th, Amanda Hirt 6th, Viviana Gamboa 9th, Team 1st overall; Computer applications: Noemi Guerrero 4th, Kim Webb 6th, Viviana Gamboa 12th, Team 1st overall. Coaches were Linda Jones, Jerry Cannon, John Petree and Reta Bell.

Obituary

Mae Currie, 74, of Big Spring died Dec. 18 at her home and was buried at Trinity Memorial Park. She was born Aug. 14, 1929, in Big Spring to Eunice Newby and Neel Barnaby, Sr. A lifetime resident of Howard County, she was a graduate of Big Spring High School and the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Dallas. As a registered nurse, she worked for Dr. Clyde Thomas at Hall-Bennett Clinic, as well as a number of years at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. She served as director of nursing at Best Home Care from 1982 until 1997.

She is survived by two sons, Bill Currie and Jerry Jon Currie, both of Big Spring; one brother, Neel G. Barnaby, Jr. of Palestine, and two grandchildren, Natalie Nichols and William John Currie.

Her parents, one daughter, Diana Currie Nichols, and three sisters, Joy Crownover, Jo Broadrick and Cadet Griffith, preceded her in death.

Next Issue Date and Deadline

The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Feb. 11. The deadline for that issue is Feb. 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://glasscockcountynews/