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Glasscock County News
Notice: The Glasscock County News will NOT be published in June. If you have events or items of interest scheduled for July, they can be included in the May issue.
County, Wind Turbine Company To Meet
The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court will meet with a representative of a wind turbine company April 28 at 1 p.m. in the courtroom of the courthouse. The company is considering an installation on private land in the county, and will discuss their plans with the court. Possible tax abatements could be part of the discussion, but so far, the company has not asked for abatements, according to commissioners. The meeting is open to the public. Engineer Dan Glass discussed paving bids, which will be opened at the special meeting April 28. The county plans to pave 3.67 miles of County Road 270 from R.M. Highway 33 east to the road’s end, one-half mile of Sherrod Road and 1.96 miles of C.R. 495 from C.R. 490 north to the Martin County line.
No Civilians, Family with On-duty County Personnel County Treasurer Alan Dierschke gave commissioners copies of a memo from West Texas Rural Counties Association regarding risk management. The memo’s focus was that when a county public official or county employee is acting in the scope of his/her official duties, there should never be a civilian and/or family member riding in the car. A policy statement to this effect will apparently be put into the county’s personnel manual, which is currently undergoing revision. According to WTRCA, if an accident occurs under such conditions, the liability cannot be assumed by the employee or official, but will always rest on the county and is not covered by the county’s insurance. Dierschke also presented a legislative alert from the Texas Association of Counties asking that local officials and county residents contact their state representatives and ask them to vote no on three bills which are before the legislature: HJR 35, which proposes a constitutional amendment setting a five percent appraisal cap, HB 784, which is the enabling legislation for HJR 35, and HB 1006, which proposes a three percent revenue cap. According to TAC, if either revenue caps or lower appraisal caps become law, counties could no longer use tax abatements for economic development and there would be budget cuts to such things as EMS, fire protection, sheriffs’ patrols and road maintenance, plus senior’s and other discretionary services. County Judge Wilburn Bednar said he would contact representatives.
Volunteers Provide Services for Extension Program County Agent Randall Rakowitz, noting that National Volunteers Week is approaching, reported that Glasscock County’s cooperative extension program records 7,400 volunteer hours per year. He said using a national figure of $17.55 per hour, volunteers provide almost $130,000 worth of volunteer work to the programs each year. Bednar said his office would issue a proclamation recognizing the volunteers. Rakowitz gave the court 4-H caps in appreciation of their support of the program. Note: Next month’s commissioners’ court meeting has been changed from May 9 to May 10 and will be held at 9 a.m. in the community center due to district court being scheduled May 9 – 11 in the courtroom.
Holland’s Resignation Accepted
The Glasscock County ISD school board accepted counselor Jan Holland’s resignation with regrets at its April 11 meeting. The district will immediately open a search for coaching, computer teaching and counseling positions. The board approved both a 2005 – 2006 school calendar and an early start date waiver (2005-06) allowing school to start Aug.15, five days earlier than the date set by the state (after holding a public hearing, which no one from the public attended). The board also cancelled the board election previously scheduled for May 7, since there were no contested positions. Karla Hoelscher and Kevin Hirt filed for the two available at-large positions. The board approved an agreement by the Texas Association of School Boards to enter an electricity pool if current Texas Utilities rates get too high.
Volunteers Improve Baseball Field
Proving once again that volunteers make a small community work, the local baseball field has recently seen major improvements. County employees bladed the field in preparation for county-supplied water and sprinklers. In addition, many others gave their time, use of equipment, or supplies. Carl Hoelscher helped to design and order supplies for the sprinkler system; Eugene Jost supplied a ditcher to Doyle Schaefer, who dug the trenches. Schaefer, Darrell Halfmann, Ricky Halfmann, Bart Belew, Warren Multer, C. Hoelscher and Nathan Halfmann installed the sprinkler system, the pipe and fittings for which were donated by Eco-Drip. Cody Hare and Bryan Cypert tilled the outfield, Helena Chemical gave fertilizer that Belew and N. Halfmann applied and N. Halfmann leveled the field with a drag loaned by James Cypert. Bednar Turf Farm donated the grass that D. Halfmann, R. Halfmann, N. Halfmann, Hare and Belew cut, chopped and planted. Brad Avery sent a crew to get lights working. Stacy Hare and Don McCombs helped by raking and picking up rocks. Belew is keeping the newly planted sprigs watered. Helping behind the scenes were: Charlene Belew, Becky Halfmann, Stacy Hare, Danielle Halfmann, Paula Dalton and Gena Halfmann. In total, some 300 man-hours were donated to improve the ballpark.
Kindergarten Registration Set
GCISD’s kindergarten registration will be May 11 from 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. in the kindergarten classroom. Kids will meet the teacher and participate in fun activities while their parents take care of registration. Parents should bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate, immunization record and social security card. Anyone who is unable to register children during this time should go by the elementary school office or call 354-2243.
In The Spotlight
• Brandon Hoskins recently finished ninth in the NCAA Division I men’s heptathlon at the 2005 National Indoor Track and Field Championships. The heptathlon consists of seven events conducted over two days: 60-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60-meter hurdles, pole vault and 100-meter run. Hoskins, a red-shirt freshman at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., is the son of Ken and Melanie Hoskins.
• The Garden City students participated in One Act Play Zone competition in March. Awards received were: All-Star Cast Tracy Eggemeyer, Honorable Mention All-Star Cast Tyler Bednar and Outstanding Crew Member Viviana Gamboa.
Head Start to Register in April
Garden City’s Head Start registration will be April 25 – 27 for children who are four years of age by Sept. 1, 2005. Applications will be taken at the Head Start parent room/office from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Parents should bring proof of income, the child’s birth certificate, immunization record, social security cards (for all members of the household) and documentation of Medicaid or other health insurance, if any. Head Start is primarily a program for four-year-olds. However, if enrollment is low, some three-year-olds may be included. Applications for both three and four-year-olds will be taken at this time, and three-year-olds will be put on a waiting list. Applications for both ages are needed to help in planning the program for the coming year. For more information, call Delia Pierson at 354-2413. Children are accepted based on the Head Start point system. Enrollment is not denied on the basis of a child’s disability.
West Texas Opportunities Here Monthly West Texas Opportunities will be sending a representative from its Stanton office to Garden City on the second Tuesday of each month beginning April 12. The representative will be at the Glasscock County Community Center from 10 a.m. – noon and from 1 – 2 p.m. WTO offers services to elderly, disabled or low-income residents, which include help in managing utility bills, repairing heating/cooling equipment, and weatherizing homes to help lower utility bills. In addition, WTO provides assistance with GED testing, picture ID’s, birth certificates, food vouchers and transportation. Residents should bring proof of income, earned or unearned for the past 30 days for anyone in the household 18 years of age or older; identification such as a driver’s license; social security numbers and birthdates for everyone in the household; proof of residence, physical address and mailing address; current utility bills and landlord information if renting. For more information, call Edna Ringener, center director, at 432/756-2588, ext. 11, or Sandra Price, outreach worker, at ext. 10, or go to the WTO office at 101 N. St. Francis in Stanton. Also, check their website at http://www.gowto.org. WTO was created for the purpose of administering the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and its subsequent amendments.
Pet Vaccination Clinic April 21
A pet vaccination clinic will be held April 21 from 1 – 3 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Church Hall and from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. at the community center in Garden City. For cats, prices are $6 for Rabies, $12 for Distemper. For dogs, $6 for Rabies, $12 for Distemper/Parvo, and worming costs are determined by weight. Equine vaccine is also available for West Nile Virus and Coggins. It is your responsibility to keep your animals’ vaccinations current! For more information, contact the county extension office at 354-2381 or 354-2608. The clinic will be administered by Dr. Sid Hanslik and is sponsored by the Glasscock County Extension Program Council.
County Sells Surplus Equipment
At its regular meeting April11, the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court opened sealed bids for various pieces of surplus equipment. Highest bids were as follows: Mark Frysak, $2,060 for a 2003 Crown Victoria; J & B Equipment, $4,000 for a haul trailer; Pete Talamantes, $1,500 for a 1978 Ford F703 cab and chassis and $200 for a 1975 Ford F610 cab and chassis; Wayne Cypert, $350 for a 1977 Mack cab and chassis; James Cypert, $288 for a six-yard dump bed and $3 for three A/C units, and John Wayne Roberts, $30 for a two-row shredder. The court rejected the following bids: $6,200 from Sammy Kellermeier for a 1994 Ford F350 cab and chassis; $75 from James Cypert for a 1989 F350 four-door pickup; $25 bids from two people for a 1984 F150 extended cab pickup, and $2.50 each for two 1985 F150 pickups. No bids were received on a 1984 International truck, a 1976 Mack cab and chassis, a 1985 International cab and chassis or a 2,000-gallon water tank. A combined total of $148 was bid by several people for various pieces of office equipment. The remaining surplus office equipment is to be given away or thrown away.
Pruit Encourages Associate Memberships
Glasscock County Sheriff Royce Pruit invites county residents to become Associate Members of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas. Membership materials will be mailed shortly. He says the funding provides critically needed technical resources, training and legislative support on key criminal justice issues. In addition, dues will be used to support crime prevention and awareness programs, promote public safety, fight drug abuse, provide additional training for sheriffs and their deputies and provide scholarships for children of law enforcement officers. Contributions are tax-deductible. Pruit encourages every citizen and business to consider joining forces with law enforcement by becoming an Associate Member. More information is available at www.txsheriffs.org. Founded in 1874, the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas is a non-profit professional and educational organization dedicated to the preservation of peace and the protection of lives and property of the citizens of Texas. The Sheriffs’ Association does not make solicitations by telephone. If you receive a phone call from someone using their name, report it to the local sheriffs’ office.
Local Dinner Theatre Set for April
The Second Annual Share-the-Fun Summer Mummers (In the Spring)… A Magical Experience, a dinner theatre performed by Glasscock county 4-H members, will be held April 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the community center. Proceeds will benefit the Todd Weishuhn 4-H Scholarship Memorial Fund. Table reservations will be taken at the county extension office April 11 – 22 from 8 a.m. to noon only. They may be made by phone, mail, or in person, and may be prepaid or paid at the door. There will be 7 tables seating 8 people for $125 each (front row); 17 tables seating 6 people for $100 each and general seating is available for $10 per person. A country-style rib meal with all the fixings will be served and intermissions will be full of door prizes, a live auction and plenty of popcorn to throw. If you cannot attend, but want to make a donation to the memorial fund, you may do so at the Glasscock County Bank.
Briefly
• The Bearkat Booster Club will host the annual awards program on May 2nd at the community center at 6 p.m. Tickets will be $10 each and can be purchased from any officer - Tibby Niehues, Marianne Hirt, Tammy Halfmann or Andrea Hillger - or at the door. Be sure and bring your ticket with your name on the back to be eligible for door prizes.
• A garage sale hosted by the National Guard Family Support Group will be held May 21 at the National Guard Armory in Midland. To donate your “unwantables,” call Vickie McCombs, 354-2492 or Stacy Hare, 354-2387. (Pick-up service available.) All proceeds help fund the National Guard Family Support Group that currently supports 155 soldiers and their families in our area.
• Swim Lessons: Megan and Tibby Niehues will be having swim lessons at their house again this year. They will be May 24-27, May 31-June3 for all levels, 3 years old and up. The cost will be $40 for the 8 days. For more information or to sign up, call Tibby, 354-2220.
• The Glasscock County Bank will host a customer appreciation luncheon April 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the bank.
• Senior Citizens will not meet April 19 due to the 4-H Summer Mummers. They will meet May 3 at 6 p.m. Please bring potluck.
TIPS FOR CONSERVING WATER OUTDOORS
If you have a lawn, chances are it is your biggest water user. Typically, at least 50% of water consumed by households is used outdoors. (Inside your house, bathroom facilities claim nearly 75% of the water used.) • Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street. Don’t water on windy days. Check and maintain your sprinkler system regularly. • Water your lawn every third day. Always water during the cool time of the day to minimize evaporation (early morning is best). • A good rain means you don’t have to water at all. • Minimize grass areas in your yard because less grass means less water demand. Replace grass with low-water-use landscaping. • Adjust your irrigation schedule to accommodate changes in seasonal water demand. Install an automatic timer. • Buy a rain gauge to determine how much rain or irrigation your yard has received. •When mowing, raise the blade on your lawn mower to at least three inches high, or to its highest level. Closely cut grass makes the roots work harder, requiring more water. • For landscaping, use low-water-use plants. Check with your local nursery for the best native or low-water-use trees, shrubs and plants. •Using a layer of mulch around plants reduces evaporation and promotes plant growth. Water retaining basins also allow water to be concentrated around the plants. • Use the principles of Xeriscape (pronounced ZERE-AH-SCAPE). This landscaping method uses native and drought-tolerant plants, mulch to hold in moisture and groups plants according to water and light needs. • For more water-efficient cooling, check your evaporative coolers annually. •When washing the car, use soap and water from a bucket and use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for the final rinse. • Use a broom, not a water hose, for cleaning your driveway. Tips are from the Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District.
From the Schoolhouse
District UIL Academic Meet Results
Results of the District UIL Academic Meet for those students placing in the top six in their events are: Accounting: Amanda Hirt-1st, Megan Niehues-2nd, David Neufeld-3rd, Timothy Schniers –4th, team paced 1st and advances to regionals; Calculator Applications; Taylor Niehues-1st, Megan Niehues-2nd, Wade Jansa-3rd, Tyler Bednar-4th, team placed 1st and advance to regionals; Computer Applications: Viviana Gamboa-1st, Taylor Niehues -3rd, Megan Niehues- 4th, no team competition, Gamboa and T. Niehues advance; Computer Science: Taylor Niehues-1st, David Neufeld-2nd, Colton Schwartz-3rd, Angel Rodriquez-4th, team placed 1st and advance; Current Issues: Travis Coats-5th; Mathematics: Taylor Niehues-1st, Wade Jansa-2nd, Colton Schwartz-4th, Megan Niehues-6th, team placed 1st and advance; Number Sense: Taylor Niehues – 1st, Wade Jansa-2nd, Colton Schwartz-3rd, Katie Gully-4th, team placed 1st and advance; Science: Taylor Niehues-1st, Wade Jansa-2nd, Colton Schwartz-4th, Cory Multer, Top Biology-Wade Jansa, Top Chemistry –Taylor Niehues, team placed 1st and advance; Social Studies: Cory Multer-5th; Spelling: Emily Gully-3rd, Luis Zuniga-4th, Mikela Brton-6th, team placed 2nd, Gully will advance; Headline Writing: Analisa Gonzales-3rd, Sam Long-4th, Gonzales advances; News Writing: Krystal Rodriquez-6th, Jared Bradford-6th; Informative Speaking: Tracy Eggemeyer-3rd; Poetry: Angela Hoelscher-5th; Prose: Tracy Eggemeyer-5th.
TMSCA State Meet
Garden City students won third place Sweepstakes in the high school Texas Math and Science Coaches Association meet in San Antonio in March. Top Gun Awards, which are the highest score by grade level in all four contests, went to Taylor Niehues, tenth grade, and Wade Jansa, ninth grade. Colton Schwartz placed second in the tenth grade. Team members and their places in competition were: Calculator Team – T. Niehues, Jansa, Schwartz and Tyler Bednar, 3rd; Number Sense Team – T. Niehues, Jansa, Schwartz, and Katie Gully, 5th; Math Team: T. Niehues, Jansa, Schwartz, and Megan Niehues, 2nd; Science Team – T. Niehues, M. Niehues, Cory Multer and Jansa, 7th. The following students placed in the top ten individually: Bednar – Calculator 8th; Gully – Number Sense 9th; T. Niehues – Calculator 1st, Number Sense 1st, Math 1st, Science 1st, Biology 2nd, Chemistry 3rd, Physics 5th; Schwartz – Calculator 3rd, Number Sense 3rd, Math 3rd, Physics 4th; Juan Zuniga – Math 10th; Jansa – Calculator 1st, Number Sense 1st, Math 1st, Science 3rd, Biology 5th, Chemistry 2nd.
BPA News
Seventeen Garden City students participated in the state Business Professionals of American competition in Arlington. Timothy Schniers, placing 4th in Advanced Accounting, Megan Niehues, 7th in Advanced Accounting, and Taylor Niehues, 2nd in Spreadsheet Applications advanced to the national competition in Anaheim, California, April 24 – 26. Other students who placed in the top eight in their competitions were: Amanda Hirt, 7th Computerized Accounting; Mikela Barton, 6th Keyboarding Productions; and Katie Gully, 7th Advanced Office Procedures and Skills. The coach is Reta Bell.
Golf Teams Advance to Regional Tournament
Both Garden City ‘A’ golf teams placed in the District 9-A meet and advance to the regional tournament in Abilene April 25-26. The Lady Kats took first place, winning their third consecutive tournament. Girls ‘A’ team members are: Kayla Medrano (who took top medalist honors), Amanda Hirt (who was third in individual standings), Erin Hirt, Rebecca Cmerek and Brandi Halfmann. The boys took second place in their division. Boys’ ‘A’ team members are: Taylor Niehues and Chase O’Brien (who took top six medalist honors tying for sixth), Eric Hirt, Sam Long and Cory Multer. Garden City’s #2 girls team placed fifth and the #2 boys’ team was sixth. The top two teams and the top six medalists from the regional tournament advance to state. Earlier, both Garden City golf teams placed first at the Garden City Invitational held in Stanton.
Junior High District Track Results
Garden City’s Junior High girls’ team finished in first place at the District Track Meet. Results were: 3200 meter race - Vicki Garza, 1st; 400 meter relay - Jessica Barnes, Adrianna Ramirez, Andy Olivarez, Amanda Trevino, 2nd; 800 meters - Morgan Schwartz, 3rd; 100 meter hurdles – Kaci Coats, 1st, Britton Avery, 2nd; 100 meters - Jessica Barnes, 3rd, Andy Olivarez, 4th, Adrianna Ramirez, 6th; 800 meter relay – Kate Halfmann, Jessica Barnes, Andy Olivarez, Amanda Trevino, 1st; 400 meters – Lauren Wheeler, 1st, Melissa Hirt, 4th; 300 meter hurdles – Britton Avery, 2nd, Kaci Coats, 3rd; 200 meters – Lauren Wheeler, 1st, Amanda Trevino, 4th, Kate Halfmann, 5th; 1600 meters – Vicki Garza, 1st; 1600 meter relay – Lauren Wheeler, Morgan Schwartz, Britton Avery, Melissa Hirt, 1st; High jump – Britton Avery, 4th; Long Jump – Lauren Wheeler, 3rd; Shot Put – Brooke Halfmann, 5th; Discus – Brooke Halfmann, 6th. Also participating were: Samantha Pitts, Macy Schwartz, Sydney Halfmann, Kelsey Jones, Laura Halfmann and Lauren Schwartz. The team is coached by Josh Fee.
The Junior High boys’ track team finished second at the District meet. Result of the events were: 200 meter dash – Jake Schwartz, 4th, Marcus Cook, 6th; 400 meter dash – Jake Schwartz, 2nd; 800 meters – Israel Ocon – 3rd, Levi Schaefer, 5th; 1600 meters – Marcus Dalton, 2nd, Dylan Jansa, 5th; 2400 meters – Israel Ocon, 1st, Marcus Dalton, 3rd; 110 hurdles – Cole Schwartz, 1st; 300 hurdles – Cole Schwartz, 2nd; 400 meter relay – Diego Mendoza, Marcus Cook, Dylan Jansa, Quinton Havlak, 5th; 800m relay – Diego Mendoza, Levi Schaefer, Marcus Cook, Marcus Dalton, 3rd; 1600m relay – Israel Ocon, Levi Schaefer, Jake Schwartz, Cole Schwartz, 2nd; Pole vault – Jake Schwartz, 1st; Long jump – Cole Schwartz, 5th; High jump – Jake Schwartz, 1st; Triple jump – Cole Schwartz, 1st, Israel Ocon, 4th; High jump – Jake Schwartz, 1st; Shot Put – Buddy Dawes, 5th. Also running were Johnny Gutierrez and Kendall Brem. Koby Abney coaches the team.
Tennis Tourney Results
Results of the tennis meets leading up to the District Meet currently being played in Garden City were: Irion County Meet: Boys’ Doubles – Alex Halfmann, Taylor Niehues 1st; Evan Jansa, Nick Sanchez 2nd; Boys’ Singles – Shaun Maxie 3rd; Girls’ Singles – Megan Niehues 2nd (default). Big Lake Meet: Boys’ Doubles – Alex Halfmann, Taylor Niehues 1st; Evan Jansa, Nick Sanchez 2nd. Garden City Meet: Boys Doubles – Alex Halfmann, Taylor Niehues 1st; Evan Jansa, Nick Sanchez 3rd; Boys’ Singles – Jeffery Pearson 3rd, Shaun Maxie 4th; Girls’ Singles – Megan Niehues 1st; Krystal Sullivan 6th.
Dates to Remember:
Regional Golf Tournament: April 25 – 26, Maxwell Municipal Golf Course, Abilene Regional Tennis Tournament: April 27 – 30 – Abilene Annual UIL Awards Banquet: May 2 at the community center 6 p.m. School Open House: May 3, 4 – 7 p.m. Junior High Tennis: May 7 District Junior High Tourney Band Concert: May 12, Ruth Cook Auditorium, 6 p.m.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be May 11. The deadline for that issue is May 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: glasscockcountynews.com
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