Glasscock County News

Volume 12, Number 3                                Garden City, Texas                                    December 14, 2005

GCISD Board Planning for Bond

Apparently continuing its planning for a bond election for capital improvements, the GCISD board on Dec. 12 heard a presentation from DSA, a construction management company out of Cleburne, TX. Their representative, Don Gibson, told the board that his company could oversee all aspects of any construction project, but there would be contracts between the school and individual contractors. DSA’s fee would likely be around eight percent of the total project cost, with travel included and no fee up front. If DSA is hired, and a bond issue fails, nothing is owed DSA.

Gibson suggested that a committee of community people be formed, representing both those who are likely to be for and against a bond issue. That committee would be divided into subcommittees, whose chairmen/women, after the committees study the matter, would meet with the board to recommend whether to hold a bond election, and if so, what to include in the overall project. (Please see “Wish List” on page 3 of the November, 2005 Glasscock County News.)

The board will need to call for a bond election in February in order to hold an election May 6.

County Creates Second Reinvestment Zone; Gives Tax Abatement

At its meeting Dec. 12, the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court created a second reinvestment zone, this time for a proposed wind farm to be operated by Flying Cloud LLC of Austin (Commissioner Marck Schafer abstaining). They also granted Flying Cloud a tax abatement of 70 percent for 10 years.

According to Flying Cloud’s application with the county, the proposed project is to be located on approximately 18,000 acres in northeastern Glasscock County. According to the application, the project will have an estimated total taxable value between $20 million and $105 million. In the first year after the expiration of the abatement, the estimated taxable value will be between $12 million and $65 million. The application states that these dollar figures may vary greatly depending upon county appraisals and other factors.

Flying Cloud’s application estimates that installing the wind turbines will create 125 construction jobs over 6 to 12 months. It anticipates an operations and maintenance facility in Glasscock County that will create four to six full-time jobs. The project’s life is estimated at 20 years.

Patrick Woodson, Flying Cloud’s representative, told the court that because a planned project in Idaho had fallen through, the company might be able to put some turbines planned for that project in use in Glasscock County, increasing the total number here to between 33 and 45. He said a substation, operations building and storage yard are planned here, with project completion within a year. The buildings and yard are to be located on McDonald Road, about 200 yards off Highway 87.

Possible Changes to Retirees’ Health Insurance

The commissioners will discuss possible changes in county retirees’ health insurance coverage at their Jan.10 meeting. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said the county’s insurance carrier is dropping all drug coverage for retirees 65 and over as of Jan. 15, and will change them to Medicare, Part D’s drug coverage. He said the county has three choices of supplemental plans from which to choose for its retirees. County Judge Wilburn Bednar said he doesn’t think the county should choose, but rather, let each retiree choose for him or herself, if that’s possible.

Currently, the county pays for retirees’ health insurance until they are 65, after which time the county pays only for their Medicare supplemental insurance.

Schafer questioned how the county got involved in the retiree insurance business. Bednar said that decision was made years ago, when both salaries and insurance premiums were lower, and it could be changed.

In other matters, Bednar reported that Hwy. 87 Auto in Big Spring had raised its bid for a 1999 county car from the $1,530, which the court had previously rejected, to $2,000. The court took no action.

Briefly

• Local Senior Citizens will NOT meet in January or February 2006 due to other events being held in the community.  Regular meetings will resume the first Tuesday of March 2006.

•  Glasscock County’s EMT’s are organizing an EMT certification course. Howard College will teach it in Garden City if there are enough people enrolled. If you are interested, call Linda Avery, 354-2206, and leave a message on her answering machine. Once there is a list of those interested, options will be discussed with Howard College. Please consider taking this course.

•  As of Dec. 12, the following people have filed for elected positions in Glasscock County, according to the County Clerk’s office:  for clerk, Becky Batla and Ellen Seidenberger; for Judge, Kim Halfmann (incumbent Judge Wilburn Bednar says he is going to file); for Justice of the Peace, Marilee Jost; and for Treasurer, Alan Dierschke. To date, no one has filed for commissioners’ seats. The last day to file is Jan. 2.

•  Incumbent Ernie Schwartz was recently reelected to his seat on the Glasscock County Farm Service Agency County Committee in Local Administrative Area #1. Only sixteen percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the election, according to County Executive Director John Kinnibrugh, who said he was disappointed in the voter turnout, especially since the election was given more publicity than ever. However, he said this LAA traditionally has a lower voter percentage than the others due to its large number of non-resident landlords.

• The Glasscock County Junior Livestock Show will be Jan. 5 – 7 at the community center. Events will begin with the rabbit show Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. The goat show will be Jan. 6 at 8 a.m. with the swine show to follow. On Jan. 7, the sheep show begins at 8 a.m.,

followed by the steer show; the pig scramble at 11 a.m., lunch at 12 and the premium sale at 1 p.m.

•  The James Cypert family thanks everyone who came to their celebration of 50 years in business, and to those who called or sent cards, as well.

In The Spotlight

•  The Garden City Bearkat football team (10-2) advanced to the six-man regional playoff round where they were defeated by Grandfalls/Royalty 59 – 48 in a hard fought battle. (See pg.3 for district honors.) 

•  Vernon Gill celebrated his 90th birthday Dec. 9. He was born in Nolan County in 1915 and moved to Glasscock County in 1928.

• Hubert Frerich was honored in October at the Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board meeting in Corpus Christi for his 25 years service on the Glasscock County SWCD board.

From the Schoolhouse

Elementary School Honor Rolls Announced (Second Six Weeks 2005)

•  All A’s:  Jackson Abney, Riley Eggemeyer, Bryce Gartman, Ethan Goodwin, Quinton Hale, Kortney Halfmann, Austen Lowery, Bethany Matschek, Christy Montes, Justin Rider, Brooklyn Batla, Hope Halfmann, Carlie Hollingsworth, Brazos Hirt, Ashley Halfmann, Kellan Kirkland, Amie Lopez, Lexie Schaefer, Austin Hoelscher, Sarah Hoelscher, Agatha Koethler, Izamar Ocon, Craig Wheeler, Reggie Halfmann, Calleen Jansa, Shelby Schwartz.

•  A Average:  Nohemi Cardenas, Danny Rodriquez, Erik Rodriquez, Hugo Almazan, Isaac Enriquez, Emily Glass, Karen Hernandez, Megan Hughes, Colton Jost, Bailey Matschek, Joseph McLaren, Talia Mier, Christopher Murphy-Reed, Sixto Ocon, Tristin Rodriquez, Holly Halfmann, Maddie Hoelscher, Kadden Kothmann, Antonio Ramirez, Cody Halfmann, Shawn Walker, Colton Blew, Franz Friessen, Brody Halfmann, Justin McMaster, Bianca Montes, Peyton Schaefer, Shanna Halfmann, Cassie Hirt, Michael Lopez, Katy Multer, Jessica Olveda.

Basketball Action

•  The Bearkat varsity placed third and the Lady Kats varsity was second at the Garden City Booster Club Klassic Tournament. Senior Cory Multer was named to the boys’ all-tournament team. Juniors Erin Hirt and Lauren Plagens earned spots on the girls’ all-tournament team.

• The Bearkat varsity won the Water Valley Basketball Tournament, defeating Menard 74 – 52 in the championship game. Taylor Niehues was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Cory Multer was named to the all-tournament team. The Lady Kats won the consolation trophy, defeating Veribest 68 – 30.  Erin Hirt was named to the girls’ all-tournament team.

• At the Crane Junior High tournament, the 8th grade girls placed first, the 7th grade girls placed third and the boys Black Team was third.

Bearkats Take All-District Football Honors

                Alex Halfmann, a junior, was named District 8 Six-man Player of the Year recently, while senior Cory Multer was chosen as the district’s defensive MVP and junior Jared Bradford was offensive MVP.  Head coach Ken Hoskins won Coach of the Year.

                First team selections were quarterback/safety Halfmann, sophomore running back Bo Eggemeyer, tight end/lineman/kicker Multer, senior center Dusty Walker, wide receiver Bradford, junior special teams/cornerback Jason Flores, junior lineman Blaine Walker, senior linebacker Cade Doss, junior utility player Colton Schwartz.

                Second team honors went to tight end Schwartz and junior utility back Evan Jansa.

District Junior High and Elementary School UIL Literary Results

Garden City Junior High was the District Champions, West Zone, finishing with 859 points; other schools competing were Borden County 693.33 points, Grady 472.33, Sands 224, Ira 162, and Klondike 99.33.

Junior high events:  8th grade Oral Reading Paige Sturtz 1st, Amanda Trevino 5th; 7th grade Impromptu Speaking Leticia Ramirez 2nd; 8th grade Paige Sturtz 3rd; 7th grade Maps, Graphs, and Charts team 1st, Dylan Lowery 2nd, Hayden Halfmann 5th, Brett Chudej; 8th grade team 1st, Amber Halfmann 2nd, Kelsey Jones, Noemi Gonzales; 7th grade Dictionary Skills team 2nd, Brett Chudej 3d, Josh Colunga 5th, Dylan Lowery 6th; 8th grade team 1st, Ever Martinez 3rd, Laura Halfmann 5th, Dylan Jansa; 7th grade Mathematics team 1st, Hayden Halfmann 1t, Brian Hirt 3rd, Brittany Schniers; 8th grade team 1st, Adriana Ramirez 2nd, Noemi Gonzales 3rd, Kate Halfmann 6th;  7th grade Numbers Sense team 1st, Hayden Halfmann 1st, Brittany Schniers 2nd, Brian Hirt  5th; 8th grade team 1st, Adriana Ramirez, Noemi Gonzales 4th, Kate Halfmann; 7th grade Modern Oratory Katelyn Hoelscher 6th; 7th grade Science team 1st, Brittany Schniers 1st; Ian Schaefer 2nd, Hayden Halfmann 3rd; 8th grade Paige Niehues 1st, Laura Halfmann 2nd, Kate Halfmann; 7th grade Calculators team 1st, Hayden Halfmann 1st, Brian Hirt 2nd, Brittany Schniers 4th; 8th grade team 1st, Adriana Ramirez 1st, Paige Niehues 1st, Kelsey Jones 6th; 7th grade Listening Skills team 2nd, Brittany Schniers 1st, Ian Schaefer, Brett Chudej; 8th grade team 1st, Noemi Gonzales 4th, Adriana Ramirez 4th, Amber Halfmann; 7th grade Spelling, Ian Schaefer 4th; 8th grade team 2nd, Paige Niehues 2nd, Kate Halfmann 6th, Lauren Schwartz; 7th grade Ready Writing, Dylan Lowery 2nd, Katelyn Hoelscher 6th; 8th grade, Kelsey Jones 1st, Kate Halfmann 2nd; 7th grade  Editorial Writing, Josh Colunga 1st, Samantha Kellermeier 2nd, Dylan Lowery 3rd, 8th grade, Kelsey Jones 1st, Amber Halfmann 2nd, Kate Halfmann 3rd.

Garden City Elementary School placed second, finishing with 387.1 total points; points for other participants were Grady 389, Borden County 325.2, Sands 281.7, Ira 131 and Klondike 88.

Elementary school results: Oral reading, 1st grade Jackson Abney 3rd; 2nd grade Brooklyn Batla 3rd, Hope Halfmann 3rd; 3rd grade Kadden Kothmann 3rd, Holly Halfmann 4th; 5th grade Colton Belew 3rd, Austin Hoelscher 4th; 6th grade Shelby Schwartz 2nd, Britni Cook 3rd, Katy Multer 4th; Impromptu Speaking 6th grade Katy Multer 1st; 5th grade Maps, Graphs and Charts team 3rd, Peyton Schaefer 4th, Sarah Hoelscher 5th, Brody Halfmann 6th, 6th grade team 2nd, Cassie Hirt 4th, Reggie Halfmann 5th, Katy Multer; 5th grade Dictionary Skills team 2nd, Izamar Ocon 3rd, Brody Halfmann 4th, Kimberly Mier; 6th grade team 2nd, Michael Lopez 2nd, Jessica Olveda, Sarah Avery; 6th grade Mathematics Jessie Olveda 4th; 4th grade Numbers Sense team 1st, Ashley Halfmann 1st, Kellan Kirkland 2nd, Lexie Schaefer 3rd; 5ifth grade team 2nd, Izamar Ocon 1st, Peyton Schaefer 6th, Sarah Hoelscher; 6th grade team 3rd, Reggie Halfmann 1st, Blayne Batla 5th, Jessica Olveda; 2nd grade Storytelling Carlie Hollingsworth 2nd; 3rd grade Kadden Kothmann 1st; 3rd grade Brazos Hirt 2nd; 6th grade Science Katy Multer 5th; 6th grade Calculators team 1st, Shelby Schwartz 1st, Reggie Halfmann 2nd, Jessica Olveda 3rd; 5th grade Listening Skills team 3rd, Agatha Koethler 5th, Izamar Ocon, Andrew Hicks; 6th grade team 2nd, Reggie Halfmann 2nd, Jessi Jones, Jacob Dalton; 3rd grade Spelling Brazos Hirt 3rd; 4th grade team 1st, Lexie Schaefer 1st, Alex Salazar 3rd, July Jost 6th; 5th grade team 3rd, Izamar Ocon, Agatha Koethler, Craig Wheeler; 6th grade team 3rd, Michael Lopez 5th, Shanna Halfmann, Sarah Avery; 3rd grade Ready Writing Brazos Hirt 1st, Antonio Ramirez 3rd, Maddie Hoelscher 5th; 4th grade Jaquelyn Hale 1st, 6th grade Katy Multer 3rd, Jessica Olveda 4th; 6th grade Editorial Writing Katy Multer 1st, Shelby Schwartz 2nd, Shanna Halfmann 3rd; 4th grade Art team 1st, Ashley Halfmann 1st, Amy Lopez 3d, Lexie Schaefer; 5th grade team 3rd, Sarah Hoelscher 1st, Izamar Ocon 1st, Agatha Koethler, Brody Halfmann; 3rd grade Music Memory team 3rd, Hope Allen, Brylie Schaefer, Colten Hare, Daeley Havlak; 4th grade team 3rd, Shawn Walker 5th, Vanessa Cardenas, Brandon Gartman, Kamie Halfmann, Jessica Martinez; 2nd grade Creative Writing Carlie Hollingsworth 4th; 6th grade Modern Oratory Jessi Jones 2nd, Jessica Olveda 3rd.

Obituaries

Mildred Mitchell Harris, 96, died Dec. 2 in Florence and was buried Dec. 6 at Sweetwater Cemetery.  She was born July 9, 1909 in Victoria, LA. and married Richard Mitchell in 1928. He preceded her in death. She married Bryant Harris in 1979 and he preceded her in death. Mildred lived in Garden City for 50 years, and had also resided in Sweetwater and Florence.  She taught music in Garden City and was a member of First United Methodist Church.

                She is survived by two daughters, Mary Alice Pritchard of Joshua and Kay McCorquodale of Florence; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Garden City.

Sheri Beth Jackson Redwine, 63, died Dec. 4 at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene after a brief illness and was buried in Old Lubbock Cemetery.  She was born Sept. 23, 1942 to Rev. C. T. and Joyce Jackson.  Beth graduated from Garden City High School in 1960 and Texas Tech University in 1964. She taught school for 30 years before spending the past six years as a successful businesswoman in Hobbs, NM.

She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a past president and board member of The Friend to Friend Conference and was currently a board member and secretary of Opportunity House in Hobbs.

Her parents, a brother, a sister and a niece preceded her in death.  She is survived by her son, Bob Redwine and wife Angela of New Jersey; 2 nieces, Tracy Clark and Paula Howe and 2 nephews, Mark Schneider and Chuck Jackson, all of California.

Next Issue Date and Deadline

             The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Jan. 11. The deadline for that issue is Jan. 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