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Glasscock County News
Appraisal District Gives Raises
The Glasscock County Appraisal District’s Board approved a 2007 budget of $106,000 Sept 9, including $600 raises for Chief Appraiser Royce Pruit and Assistant Appraiser Nancy Hillger. Pruit’s salary will go from $14,500 to $15,100 and Hillger’s from $3,000 to $3,600. Including benefits, the District’s total payroll is approximately $22,000. Other District expenses total slightly more than $83,000, with $73,400 going to Capital Appraisal in Austin. The budget is allocated among the county’s taxing entities, with the school district paying $61,468 (59 percent), the county paying $41,127 (39 percent) and the water district $2,447 (2 percent). The District’s Board of Directors is composed of Dennis Fuchs, Wilburn Bednar and Eugene Hirt, who represent the school district plus Michael Hoch and Lou Branham representing the county.
More Jailers Needed
Deputy Sheriff Keith Burnett asked the Glasscock County Commissioners Court Dec. 11 for two part-time jailers to help him manage inmates the county houses for Howard County. He said the jailers are needed mostly on weekends, so he can have occasional time off. He said there are currently no inmates, but there will be more beginning Jan. 2, if the jailer situation is worked out. For several months, the county has been intermittently keeping eight to twelve men. They work on various county projects seven or eight hours daily, but must be supervised during that time, and someone has to respond to any calls from them at night. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said if the number of law enforcement personnel in the sheriff’s department goes above 4 (excluding elected officials), time sheets would be necessary and the county will have to pay or give comp time for overtime hours, which the commissioners court opposes. Burnett asked that Tisha Burnett be changed from a jailer to a dispatcher, which is considered civil, not law enforcement, leaving only Burnett himself and Leroy Hoelscher as jailers and freeing a jailing job; the court agreed. Burnett said Hoelscher inspects the jail, but does no inmate management. Jailers are paid $100 per month. [Nancy Hillger and Tina Flores are considered tax office employees.] Housing Prisoners for Others May Stop Burnett said he has tried to get Howard County to provide some jailer help, but they have refused. Commissioners seemed to agree that unless something can be worked out to give Burnett some relief without time sheets and overtime compensation, the county will have to give up the business of housing prisoners for other counties. For now, the county intends to hire one part-time jailer. Remediation of the mold problem in the courthouse basement is underway. The court discussed a new fire truck for Garden City, to replace one that is said to be in bad shape. There is money in the budget for the truck, but no order for one has been placed. Burnett said the truck will be badly needed during the spring fire season. The court also discussed and approved an estimate of $5,300 for new carpet for courthouse offices. The estimate was from Southwest Floors at $20 per square yard. Extension Agents Warren Multer, Charlene Belew and Rebel Royall reported on 2006 programs.
County Logs 49 Percent of Voters
In the Nov. 7 General Election, 357 Glasscock County voters went to the polls, 49 percent of the county’s 728 registered voters. Kay Bailey Hutchison was the easy winner for United States Senator, with 294 votes and U.S. Representative Mike Conaway got almost as many votes, with 282. Incumbent Governor Rick Perry didn’t fare as well with Glasscock County voters, who gave him only 169 votes, while sending Carole Keeton Strayhorn 86 votes, Richard “Kinky” Friedman 50 and Chris Bell 27 votes. David Dewhurst, for Lieutenant Governor, got 289 local votes, while Maria Luisa Alvarado took 30 and Judy Baker got 7. Other local results were: State Representative, Dist. 85, Landtroop 198, Heflin 119, Schumacher 10; Attorney General, Abbott 269, Von Os 40, Roland 14; Comptroller, Combs 296, Head 30, Burris 6; Commissioner of General Land Office, Patterson 257, Hathcox 37, French 7; Commissioner of Agriculture, Staples 255, Gilbert 50, Woolam 7; Railroad Commissioner, Jones 236, Henry 55, Serrano 6. Results of other races, and number of votes by precinct, are available in the county clerk’s office.
County to Clear Fire Guards
Glasscock County’s commissioners decided at a special meeting Nov. 16 (Michael Hoch absent) to begin clearing the fire guards they graded around Garden City last year in preparation for the next fire season. They also decided to immediately install emergency radios in the county maintainers and a water truck. The radios, with exterior magnetic antennas, will receive/transmit only one channel, which will connect with other local emergency personnel. The court appointed Lou Branham and Michael Hoch as the county’s representatives to the county appraisal board. Commissioners discussed John Mills’ request for a 20 mph speed limit and speed bumps on CR 220, and decided instead to put signs with “Reduce Speed; Loose Livestock” at both ends of the road on Mills’ property. Mills has repeatedly asked the county to build a fence on the east side of CR 220, but the county has declined, saying it would set a poor precedent, Irvin Wooten told commissioners that the change in the county’s coverage for retirees’ supplemental insurance would cause him and his wife a hardship. Under the old plan, retirees paid no deductible on their county-paid Medicare supplement insurance, but under the new plan, may pay deductibles up to $2,500 per person per year. According to County Treasurer Alan Dierschke, the change was necessary because the former coverage was no longer available from the county’s carrier. Retirees may change to private-carrier insurance coverage if they choose.
Pecan Show Entries ‘Exceptional’
The quality of nuts entered in this year’s county pecan show was “exceptional,” according to Extension Agent Charlene Belew. Zane Eoff had the champion Common Pecan, with Eugene Hirt winning reserve champion; Delmar Batla took champion Classic Pecan and Deanie Craft was reserve champion; champion Seedling Pecan honors went to Katy Multer, with Craft again winning reserve champion. Winners will advance to regional competition in Stanton. With 30 entries in the pecan show cooking division, the Grand Champion Adult entry was Debbie Schraeder’s Nature Bread, with Carol Batla’s Carmel Apple Dessert taking Reserve Grand Champion. The Grand Champion Youth entry was Spiked Pecan Sticky Buns prepared by Sarah Avery, with the Reserve Champion Youth award going to Katy Multer for Pecan Butter Crunch Toffee.
Briefly
• The 70th Annual Glasscock County Jr. Livestock Show is scheduled for Jan. 4 – 6. Approximate times are: rabbit show, 4 p.m. Jan. 4; goat show, 8 a.m. Jan. 5; swine show, 10 a.m. Jan. 5; sheep show, 8 a.m. Jan. 6; pig scramble, 11 a.m. Jan. 6 and premium sale, 1 a.m. Jan. 6.
• The Bearkat Booster Club thanks everyone who helped make the Booster Club Klassic such a success. Special thanks to Duane Hirt for cooking the brisket, Jennifer Jansa for countless hours of help, Halfmann’s General Store for cooking the taco meat, Valeria Hoelscher for manning the door, parents and grandparents for making cookies and brownies, Coach Garcia for making programs, Tony and his crew for keeping the place looking so nice, all the members who put in hours of work and Coach Kirkland for organizing a great tournament. We had lots of compliments on our school and community. Go Lady Kats and Bearkats!
• A Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive to benefit the West Texas Food Bank is being held by the county’s senior citizens and the local 4-H club. Non-perishable food items are welcome at the community center weekdays from 8 a.m. until noon until Dec. 19.
• On behalf of the Miss West Texas organization, I thank everyone who donated to the very successful “Give 2 the Troops for Christmas” campaign. Due to your love, support and generosity, our brave men and women who protect our freedom and life as we know it, will enjoy a bit of holiday cheer from home. May God continue to bless each of you and our heroes; please keep them in your prayers. Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year! --- Chelsea Schwartz, Miss West Texas, 2007
In The Spotlight
• Blaine Walker is one of 20 senior 4-H members across the state to recently be named a recipient of the 2007 San Antonio Livestock Exposition Rural Youth Honor Award, which is a $1,000 college scholarship.
Varmint-Calling Contest Set for January
The high school FFA is sponsoring a varmint-calling contest between 4 p.m. Jan. 20 and 9 a.m. Jan. 21. The entry fee is $120 per team of two to four people, who must hunt out of one vehicle. There will be a 75 percent payout and 60/30/10 additional jackpots are available. Hunting can be in Glasscock County or any bordering county. Entrants should meet in Garden City at the white building west of Halfmann’s General Store between 4 and 6 p.m. Jan. 20. Hunters are responsible for all applicable licenses and game laws. Call Rusty Hollingsworth, 432/354-2244 or 354-2250.
From the Schoolhouse
Robots in Garden City
The robotics teams from Garden City participated in a regional competition in San Angelo recently. The High School Inventions Team placed 1st in their division with their invention, the D-Max, a ditch digger with an underground pipeline sensor. Team members are Cade Halfmann, Marissa Schwartz, and Erin Hirt. They were awarded a new NXT robotics kit. The Junior High Inventions Team placed 2nd. Their invention was the X-Terminator, a robotic spray rig. Team members are Hayden Halfmann, Ian Schaefer, Brittany Schniers, and Brian Hirt. They were awarded a $75 gift certificate toward the purchase of any robotics materials. The High School Arena Team competed for three rounds before losing to Sterling City. Team members are Colton Schwartz, Taylor Niehues, and Wade Jansa. The state competition will be in February in Austin. The robotics students and sponsor, Linda Jones, appreciate the Garden City Booster Club for purchasing the robotics kits that the students used for competition. The students would like to express their appreciation to Nancy Hillger, John Kinnibrugh, Brian Frerich, Jimmy Eggemeyer, Karla Hoelscher, Darren Jost, Kenneth Schniers, Gary Halfmann, Charlie Schafer, and Warren Multer for providing information that was used in the robotic presentations.
UIL Fall Math Festival
GCHS’s team placed first in the High School Math and Science Sweepstakes, Division II, at the UIL Fall Math Festival in Lubbock. The teams placed first in each of the five categories that are math, calculator, number sense, science and computer science. Individual places were: Taylor Niehues – 1st in Calculator, Number Sense, Math, Science, Chemistry, 2nd in Computer Science; Colton Schwartz – 2nd in Calculator, Number Sense, Math, Science, 5th in Computer Science; Wade Jansa – 1st in Calculator, Number Sense, Math, Science, Physics, 3rd in Computer Science; Juan Zuniga – 7th in Calculator, 8th in Number Sense, 2nd in Math, 8th in Science; Jake Schwartz – 1st in Calculator, Number Sense, Math, 5th in Science.
2006 Zone UIL Meet Results
Garden City Elementary School was the Championship school finishing with 975.91 total points. Points for the other schools were Water Valley 536.49, Robert Lee 348, Blackwell 194, Bronte 186.58 and Sterling City 57. Elementary School results: Art – 4th Grade team 1st, Maddie Hoelscher 1st, Brazos Hirt 2nd, Kadden Kothmann 3rd; 5th Grade team 1st, Lexie Schaefer 2nd, Amie Lopez 3rd, Jaquelyn Hale 5th; 6th Grade team 1st, Craig Wheeler, Sarah Hoelscher and Izamar Ocon 1st; Calculators – 6th Grade team 1st, Sarah Hoelscher 2nd, Craig Wheeler 3rd, Peyton Schaefer 4th, Izamar Ocon 6th; Creative Writing – 2nd Grade, Jackson Abney 1st, Riley Eggemeyer 4th, Kortney Halfmann 5th; Dictionary Skills – 5th Grade team 1st, Jacquelyn Hale and Ashley Halfmann 1st, Amie Lopez 4th, Cody Halfmann 5th; 6th Grade team 1st, Izamar Ocon 1st, Justin McMaster 3rd; Listening Skills – 5th Grade team 2nd, Ashley Halfmann 4th, Jacoby Allen, Shawn Walker and Brandon Gartman 5th; Maps, Graphs and Charts – 5th Grade team 1st, Lexie Schaefer 1st, Ashley Halfmann 3rd, Kellan Kirkland 5th, Cody Halfmann 6th; 6th Grade team 1st, Sarah Hoelscher 1st, Peyton Schaefer 3rd, Izamar Ocon 5th, Brody Halfmann 6th; Math – 6th Grade team 2nd, Peyton Schaefer 4th, Izamar Ocon 6th; Music Memory – 3rd Grade team 2nd, Hope Halfmann 6th; 4th Grade team 1st, Brazos Hirt 1st; 5th Grade team 1st, Jessica Martinez 1st, Brandon Gartman 2nd, Alex Salazar 4th; 6th Grade team 2nd, Craig Wheeler 2nd; Number Sense – 4th Grade team 1st, Brazos Hirt 1st, Kadden Kothmann 2nd, Hope Allen 3rd; 5th Grade team 1st, Kellan Kirkland 1st, Ashley Halfmann 2nd, Lexie Schaefer 3rd, Shawn Walker 6th; 6th Grade team 1st, Izamar Ocon 1st, Sarah Hoelscher 3rd, Peyton Schaefer 4th; Oral Reading – 4th Grade, Holly Halfmann 2nd, Maddie Hoelscher 4th, Brylie Schaefer 6th; 5th Grade, Shawn Walker 1st, Jaquelyn Hale 4h, Lexie Schaefer 5th; 6th Grade, Sarah Hoelscher 4th; Ready Writing – 3rd Grade, Carlie Hollingsworth 1st; 4th Grade, Brazos Hirt 1st, Kadden Kothmann 4th; 5th Grade, Ashley Halfmann 1st, Lexie Schaefer 2nd, Jaquelyn Hale 3rd, 6th Grade, Izamar Ocon 1st, Austin Hoelscher 5th; Storytelling – 2nd Grade, Jackson Abney 4th, Bethany Matschek 5th; 3rd Grade, Carlie Hollingsworth 1st, Brooklyn Batla 2nd, Emily Glass 5th, Hope Halfmann 6th; Social Studies – 5th Grade team 1st, Lexie Schaefer 1st, Ashley Halfmann 2nd, Amie Lopez 6th; Spelling – 3rd Grade team 2nd, Carlie Hollingsworth 2nd, Hugo Almazan 5th, Brooklyn Batla 6th; 4th Grade team 1st, Kadden Kothmann 2nd, Brazos Hirt 3rd; 5th Grade team 1st, Lexie Schaefer 1st, Alex Salazar 3rd, Jaquelyn Hale 6th; 6th Grade, Izamar Ocon 5th. Garden City Junior High won the Championship finishing with 724 total points, followed by Water Valley with 609, Bronte 227, Blackwell 190, Sterling City 61, Robert Lee 49. Junior High events: Art – 7th Grade team 1st, Sarah Avery 1st, Shanna Halfmann, Brylie Schaefer 3rd, Jessica Olveda 6th; 8th Grade team 1st, Katelyn Hoelscher, Holly Halfmann 1st, Brittany Schniers 3rd; Calculators – 7th Grade team 1st, Jessica Olveda, Shanna Halfmann 2nd, Blayne Batla 4th, Reggie Halfmann 5th; 8th Grade team 1st, Hayden Halfmann 1st, Brittany Schniers 2nd, Brian Hirt 3rd, Rachel Hirt 4th; Dictionary Skills – 7th Grade team 1st, Michael Lopez 1st, Taylor Hughes 4th, Reggie Halfmann 6th; 8th Grade team 1st, Dylan Lowery 1st, Brett Chudej 2nd; Editorial Writing – 7th Grade, Katy Multer 1st, Shanna Halfmann 2nd; 8th Grade, Josh Colunga 1st, Katelyn Hoelscher 2nd, Samantha Kellermeier 3rd; Impromptu Speaking – 7th Grade, Katy Multer 2nd; 8th Grade, Katelyn Hoelscher 3rd, Heather Havlak 4th; Listening Skills – 7th Grade team 3rd, Jessi Jones 5th; 8th Grade team 1st, Brittany Schniers 1st; Maps, Graphs and Charts – 7th Grade team 2nd, Reggie Halfmann 2nd, Katy Multer 4th, Cassie Hirt 5th; 8th Grade team 2nd, Hayden Halfmann, Dylan Lowery 3rd, Brett Chudej 6th; Math – 7th Grade team 2nd, Reggie Halfmann 2nd, Jessica Olveda 5th; 8th Grade team 1st, Hayden Halfmann 1st, Brittany Schniers 3rd, Brian Hirt 4th, Ian Schaefer 5th; Modern Oratory – 7th Grade, Jessica Olveda 1st, Jessi Jones 3rd, Sarah Avery 5th; Number Sense – 7th Grade team 2nd, Reggie Halfmann 3rd, Jessica Olveda 5th, Blayne Batla 6th; 8th Grade team 1st, Hayden Halfmann 1st, Brian Hirt 2nd, Brittany Schniers 3rd, Ian Schaefer 4th; Oral Reading – 7th Grade, Shelby Schwartz 1st, Britni Cook 2nd, Katy Multer 5th; 8th Grade, Aaron Long 2nd, M’Call Schaefer 3rd, Heather Havlak 4th; Ready Writing – 7th Grade, Katy Multer 2nd, Jacob Dalton 6th; 8th Grade, Katelyn Hoelscher 3rd; Science – 7th Grade team 1st, Taylor Hughes 4th; 8th Grade team 1st, Ian Schafer 1st, Brittany Schniers 3rd, Hayden Halfmann 6th; Social Studies – 7th Grade team 3rd, Reggie Halfmann 3rd; 8th Grade team 3rd, Brittany Schniers 6th; Spelling – 7th Grade team 2nd; 8th Grade team 1st, Ian Schaefer 2nd, Brian Hirt 5th.
Obituaries
• William W. “Willie” Hull, 74, of Garden City died Nov. 14, 2006, at the Stanton Nursing Center and was buried at the Garden City Cemetery. He was born Oct. 20, 1932, in Martin County to Orby William and Alma Childers Hull. He was raised in the Stanton area, moving to Christoval in 1946 where he graduated from high school. Willie was in the Naval Reserve, attended San Angelo College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from SMU. Willie worked for Connie and Bill Edwards in various endeavors until he retired. He married Rita Harrington in Big Spring. He is survived by his wife, Rita Hull of Garden City; a daughter, Kyrenea Hull of Big Spring; two sisters, Hazel Ann Vautrin of Ft. Worth and Myreta Buckholt of Pasadena, Texas; three nephews; three nieces; and numerous other relatives. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Elton Hull; one sister, Evelyn Hayworth; and a grandson, Matthew Webb.
• Arturo L. Talamantes, Sr., 87, of Garden City, died Nov. 15, 2006, in Midland and was buried at St. Lawrence Cemetery. He was born Aug. 20, 1919, to Manuel and Julia Talamantes in Zaragoza Coahuila, Mexico. He married the late Severiana Lopez in June, 1942, and moved from Mexico to Garden City in 1952 where he worked for John H. Cox in ranching for 47 years. Survivors include a daughter, Guadalupe Fuentes of Miles; three sons, Pedro Talamantes of Garden City, Jesus Talamantes of Pipe Creek and Arturo Talamantes of Saint Jo; 21 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; five brothers and four sisters. He was preceded in death by a son, Jose (Pepe) Talamantes and a sister, Odulia Vasquez.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Jan.10. The deadline for that issue is Jan.8, 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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