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Glasscock County News
County Mileage Rate Nears State’s
Glasscock County Commissioners (Jimmy Strube absent) voted July 10 to increase the rate the county pays for personal car use to 40 cents per mile, approaching the rate of 44.5 cents paid by the state. The previous county rate of 28 cents per mile had been in effect as long as anyone on the court could remember. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke commented that since the county now has fewer vehicles available for miscellaneous use, more employees are using personal cars for county business. Dierschke reported that the county’s contribution to employee retirement will increase to 10.41 percent, up from 10.02 percent, in the next fiscal year at the current funding rate of 125 percent. He also said the cost of employees’ optional life insurance will increase from 1.03 percent to 1.15 percent. This life insurance pays a death benefit of one year’s salary if a person dies while still a county employee, or $5,000 if retired. Dierschke said he will provide figures for both the retirement costs and optional insurance when the court begins discussion of the 2007 budget at its next regular meeting Aug. 14. Commissioners discussed, but took no action on a pipeline right-of-way near the volunteer fire department building in St. Lawrence. The court objected to language that would release the company from damages prior to the work being done. County Judge Wilburn Bednar said he would talk to the attorney who drew the agreement. Schafer says County ‘Ripped Off’ on Equipment Repair Commissioner Marck Schafer again complained about both the costs the county is being charged for repair of road equipment and the quality of the repair. He said he thinks repair companies often take advantage of public entities. He also said the county might need to look for repair work outside the Permian Basin, where most work is done for oil companies. He said the county is already well over its budget for equipment repairs, and they aren’t complete. Schafer said he thinks maybe the county maintenance could be a little better, but doesn’t think county employees abuse the equipment. The other commissioners agreed that repair costs are too high. Michael Hoch said repairs are a necessity with old equipment, and one option is to keep newer equipment and utilize buy-backs, so most is under warranty. Bednar suggested that the county may have more trucks than it needs, and that several old trucks might be sold and fewer new ones purchased. The court discussed tearing down the old, vacant house southeast of the courthouse, but took no action pending discussion with owners. A slate of election judges and alternates was approved. Election judges are: Anne Hoelscher, Jo Ann Turner, Helen Glass, Maritha Blalock and Betty Pate; alternates are: Barbara Fuchs, Doris Schwartz, Sandy Allen, Kristi Long and Kathleen Schniers.
FSA County Committee Nominations Due
The USDA is accepting nominations for eligible candidates to serve on the local FSA County Committee. The nomination period runs until Aug.1. For Glasscock County, the committee seat up for election in 2006 represents Local Administrative Area (LAA) number 3, which is the portion of the county located south of County Road 110 and Hwy 158, and east of County Road Coop and FM 3093 (A copy of the LAA boundary map is posted at the Glasscock FSA Office). Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program may be nominated for candidacy for the committee. Individuals may nominate themselves or another as a candidate. In addition, organizations representing socially disadvantaged (minorities and females) farmers and ranchers may nominate candidates. Candidates must reside in, or have farming interests in, LAA #3 to be an eligible candidate for this election. Nomination forms must be returned or postmarked no later than Aug. 1. For more information or nomination forms, contact the Glasscock County FSA Office, or visit the web at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/elections.
School Board Approves Construction Plans
The GCISD Board of Trustees, meeting in regular session July 10 (Doug Schaefer absent), approved plans for several construction/remodeling projects. Glasscock County voters recently approved bonded indebtedness to finance the work. The plans are in the school board room, and available to the public. The latest estimated costs for the projects total approximately $3 million, and are broken down as follows: retro-fitting existing campus roofing and replacing heating and cooling systems, $2 million; retro-fitting existing P.E. facility roof, $197,000; remodeling existing toilets and replacing fixtures (no replacement of existing lines), $109,000; new vocational/agricultural building, $579,000 (includes various allowances, including those for paving, fencing and a 5-ton crane). Note that these figures are estimates, and the actual costs, when bids are taken, may be more or less than the estimates. Estimates include construction management fees, but do not include architectural/engineering fees, and do not include demolition of the existing voc/ag shop. The new voc/ag building will have an 80 x 50-ft. shop area, plus classrooms, etc. for a total of 8,880 square feet. It will be built on the site of the existing voc/ag shop, with existing playground equipment being moved farther west from its present location. The construction work will begin with roofing, and Superintendent Steve Long said he is hopeful that work can begin on the voc/ag shop at the end of the coming school year.
Teachers Get State Salary Increase
The GCISD board on July 10 approved a state raise in teachers’ salaries of $2,000 plus a $500 insurance allowance. Superintendent Steve Long said the state is supposed to provide funding for the increase. GCISD teachers are paid $6,000 above state base, and Long said that differential will not change with the new state increase. The board voted to hire Joseph Sanchez as an English teacher and coach; Cary Hanson as band director and accepted the resignation of Josh Fee (English teacher/coach). See profiles below. Trustees approved both elementary and secondary school student handbooks and the faculty handbook for the coming year. School Principal Ken Hoskins, Assistant Principal Randy Gartman and Counselor Krista Hughes prepared the handbooks. There are some changes in the secondary student book and the faculty handbook was updated to reflect these. Detention after school rather than during school will be used this year on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays as needed. Hoskins said kids need to be in class during school hours. Cell phones must be out of sight and turned off. Parents and students are advised to read the handbooks carefully to be aware of changes. The board approved bids for numerous items such as fuels, supplies, services, and insurance. A complete listing is available in the superintendent’s office. Most of these costs were increased from the previous year, largely due to fuel prices, according to Long. In its annual reorganization, the board chose Karla Hoelscher, president, Tibby Niehues, vice-president and Andy Wheeler, secretary.
Meeting New Teachers
Joseph Sanchez, who will be teaching English and coaching at Garden City High School, graduated Sanderson High School and received a full academic scholarship to Sul Ross State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English and psychology. While in college, he was in the freshman leadership program, participated in track and field, and was a collegiate student government ambassador He gained his teacher certification at Texas State University. For three years, he was at Lockhart High School, where he taught Pre-AP, English II and English III. He also coached spelling, literary criticism and social studies for UIL competition. He was an Upward Bound Instructor and supervisor while at Texas State University. Band Director Cary Hanson, a graduate of San Angelo Lake View High School, earned a bachelor of music education degree from Angelo State University. He has a Master of Arts Education in Administration from the University of Phoenix Online. He has been the band director at Pecos Crockett Junior High School for the past year, and was at Menard High School from 2002-05, He has also directed bands and/or taught music at several other schools, including Wellington, Ballinger Jr. High, Roosevelt, Merkel and Snyder.
Briefly
• Welcome Dinner For All American Bowl Players and Benefit for Elizabeth Friessen: A hamburger meal will be served July 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Glasscock County Community Center. Proceeds from the benefit will help Friessen receive the gift of hearing through Cochlea implants. The meal will be followed by a benefit softball game and home run derby between local teams, as well as the introduction of players from the All American team. Additional donations can be sent to Garden City Lions Club, P. O. Box 237, Garden City, TX, 79739.
• Homecoming News: GCISD Homecoming is slated for Sept. 22. Prior to the game, a hamburger supper will be served in the school cafeteria. There will be NO SATURDAY LUNCHEON this year. Ex-students voted last year to hold the Saturday luncheon every other year in odd numbered years. A schedule of Homecoming events will be published when available.
• The county senior citizens group will meet July 18 at 6 p. m. This is snack night, so bring finger foods. Potluck is the fare for the Aug. 1 meeting. Anyone over 50 is invited.
• Thanks to everyone for your prayers and positive thoughts during my recent surgery and continuing recovery. They have helped immensely. Susie Hillger
• Tisha Burnett was recently hired to replace Donnita Coats, who is moving to Burnet, as the secretary for the Glasscock Underground Water Conservation District at a starting salary of $19,500, plus benefits.
• The first day of school for students is Aug. 14.
• Metal trash (burn) barrels are available for $10 each from the Garden City Lions Club. These barrels have the top removed and are ready for use. They may be picked up in Garden City or a Lions Club member will deliver, if requested. To obtain barrels, contact John Kinnibrugh 354-2512, Eric Seidenberger 354-2314 or Warren Multer 354-2466.
From the Schoolhouse
Counselor’s Corner
• Secondary student registration Aug. 10 in counselor’s office: seniors 8:30 – 10:00; juniors 10:00 – 11:30; sophomores 11:30 – 12:30; freshmen 12:30 – 1:30. • Junior high registration Aug. 10 in high school principal’s office: 7th and 8th grades 8:30 – 11:00.
Students need to make Aug. 10 a priority date to get their schedules in place before school starts on Aug. 14.
Family Land Heritage Deadline Nears
Applications for the Family Land Heritage Program are due to the Texas Department of Agriculture by Sept. 15. The program recognizes farms and ranches kept in continuous agricultural production by the same family for 100, 150 and 200 years or more. Since the program started in 1974, more than 4,000 farms and ranches in 229 Texas counties have been honored. Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs said, “This unique program honors the agricultural contributions of countless generations of Texans, men and women have held onto their ancestors’ land over the decades, enduring some challenging times.” Applications are being accepted for farms or ranches established in 1906 and earlier that are still owned and operated by the decedents of the founder, either through blood, marriage or adoption. The land must be 10 acres or more with agricultural sales of $50 or more a year; or if less than 10 acres, sales of at least $250 per year. The owners must reside in Texas and be actively managing the everyday operation of the land. If all the land has ever been rented or leased to someone outside the family, it will not qualify. If only a portion was leased, and as much as 10 acres retained in the family for agricultural production with sales of at least $50 annually, the property will still qualify. There is no cost for the recognition. For an application or more information, contact Melissa Blair, 512/463-2631, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, TX 78711, or the application is on TDA’s Web site at www.agr.state.tx.us under the “Producer Information” section and at county judges’ offices.
Obituary
Lonnie Allen Pruit, 45, of Christoval died June 14 and was buried in the Garden City Cemetery. He was born July 30, 1960, in Big Spring to Royce (Booger) and Beverly Pruit. Pruit, who was involved with the youth baseball program in Christoval, was a youth-oriented family man and an excellent coach, who was highly respected by his peers. Survivors include his wife, Theresa Schraeder Pruit; a son, Coty Allen Pruit; two daughters, Lindy Rae Pruit and Becky Colette Pruit, all of Christoval; his parents, Royce (Booger) and Beverly Pruit of Garden City; a brother, Van Pruit of Stanton; an honorary son, George Earl Chapman of San Angelo, and a grandson, Rylee George Chapman. Donations may be made to Scholarship Fund, Attn: Staci Jenkins, P. O. Box 162, Christoval, TX, 76935.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Aug. 16. The deadline for that issue is Aug. 14, 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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