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Glasscock County News
School Sets $4 Million Bond Election
The Glasscock ISD school board voted Feb. 27 to call a $4 million bond election for May 13. If the bond issue passes, the money will be used for several capital projects, including new roofing (with new air conditioning and heating units), a vocational/agricultural shop, classroom remodeling, and restroom renovation. The board is not yet sure exactly how much money those projects will cost, but it plans to sell only as many bonds as necessary to finance the work. Consequently, it is possible that the total bond indebtedness could be less than $4 million. The board plans at least two public meetings to explain the necessity of the projects, advantages of paying for the projects with bond funds as opposed to using the school’s reserve funds, and to provide more specific figures regarding the cost of each project. Times and places for these meetings will be announced later. In addition, the board plans to mail explanatory material to taxpayers. According to the board’s information, bond financing will enable the district to keep more of its tax dollars at home to pay for the bonds, rather than sending so much money out-of-district in WADA payments. If the projects are paid for with reserve funds, WADA payments are not reduced. The next school board meeting is March 20 at 7 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.
Eight Apply for Job; County Postpones Decision
The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court on Feb. 28 changed its mind regarding the water system operator’s job. In closed session, the court decided to eliminate both the courthouse custodian/grounds keeper’s job and the water system operator’s job and to create a new position that combines the two. At a regular meeting March 15, the court interviewed four of eight applicants for the combination job, but the court postponed hiring anyone until a special meeting March 20. As yet, no salary has been set, although the court’s discussions would suggest that something between $25,000 and $28,000 annually is likely. The salary is to be set at the March 20 meeting. The job is to be 40 hours per week (but not necessarily 8 to 5) and will provide full county benefits. Interviewing for the job on March15 were Diane Havlak, Gary Huffman, Oscar Trevino, and Linda Frysak. Other applicants who were not present for interviews were Bryan Cypert, Rusty and Tracy Hollingsworth (together), Eric McMillan and Samuel Garcia. Commissioners Want More Building Bids Also on Feb. 28, the court decided to take bids for construction of offices at the two county dump grounds. The buildings are to be approximately 12 x 15 feet in size, metal, insulated, on concrete slabs, with a bathroom and small kitchen. However, on March 15, after opening the only bid submitted, commissioners decided they would extend the bidding period to try and get more bids. The court will meet next at 9 a.m. March 20 and will presumably review bids then. Specifications are available in the county judge’s office. County Pays Off Community Center Bonds County Treasurer Alan Dierschke reported March 15 that the bond for the Glasscock County Community Center is being processed to pay off one year early. He said paying it off early will save the county $7,223 in interest. In other action March 15, commissioners approved an increase in jurors’ pay to $40 per day after the first day at $6. Dierschke said the state is supposed to reimburse the county for $34 per day.
Courthouse Restoration Efforts to Continue
By a vote of 3 to 1 (Schafer opposed, Bednar abstaining), the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court on March 15 agreed to update and resubmit its application for a grant to finance historic restoration of the county courthouse and old jail. The plan will keep alive the county’s efforts to get state funding for the restoration project. Commissioner Marck Schafer voted against continuing the application, saying the county’s money could be better spent. When the application and master plan were originally submitted in 2000, the county’s master plan was approved, but the work was not funded because the state didn’t allocate enough money for all the courthouses needing restoration. Historic Architect Stan Klein told the court if the county had kept reapplying after the 2000 effort, the project would probably have been funded by now. Klein works with five courthouse restoration efforts and thinks more state funding for the projects statewide is likely. Klein said the county can still use its original master plan, but the application needs updating and refining, and cost projections need to be adjusted for inflation (3 percent per year) before being resubmitted. He said the county’s 15 percent share of the total project will be approximately $245,000. Klein said the county did the right thing to go ahead with roofing, which was needed to preserve the building, and installing a metal roof ($23,000), which is similar to the original in appearance. Klein said he thinks the historical commission will pay for part of the roof’s cost. A more historically accurate roof was estimated at $54,000. In related concerns, commissioners discussed enlarging the clerk’s office, which they agree is inevitable. In the historic restoration master plan, the current county treasurer’s office would become a records room for the clerk’s office and the treasurer’s office would move into the old jail building. Klein said the county will have to work with the historical commission and get their approval on any work that is done to the courthouse at all, so the county might as well try to get some of the historical commission’s money.
Bednar, Batla Win Local Primary
Glasscock County voters returned two incumbents to office in the primary election March 7. County Judge Wilburn Bednar won over challenger Kim Halfmann by a vote of 268 to 185, while County/District Clerk Becky Batla edged Ellen Seidenberger with 232 votes to 221. In other local races, incumbents were unchallenged: County Treasurer Alan Dierschke garnered 369 votes; Justice of the Peace Marilee Jost got 396; Commissioner Precinct 2 Mark Halfmann got 94 votes and Commissioner Precinct 4 Michael Hoch got 95. The vote for contested local races by precinct: Pct 1, Kim Halfmann 8, Wilburn Bednar 65, Becky Batla 31, Ellen Seidenberger 40; Pct. 2, Halfmann 18, Bednar 35, Batla 28, Seidenberger 26; Pct. 3, Halfmann 26, Bednar 23, Batla 24, Seidenberger 25; Pct. 4, Halfmann 21, Bednar 24, Batla 24, Seidenberger 21; Early voting (not recorded by precinct), Halfmann 112, Bednar 121, Batla 125, Seidenberger 109.
Briefly
• Incumbents Carl Hoelscher, Doug Schaefer and Andy Wheeler are unopposed for seats on the GCISD school board. Therefore, no school board election will be necessary in May, according to School Secretary Kathy Wheat.
• Thanks to all of the volunteers who showed up to install new radios in the fire trucks and ambulances. Keith Burnett says the radios are working great and it’s a real help to have good communications. Volunteers are: Eric McMillan, Marck Schafer, Burnett, Christy Seidenberger, Galen Schwartz, John Kinnibrugh, Bryan Cypert, Eric Seidenberger, Linda Avery, Bart Belew, Daniel Kujawski, Frankie Alvarado, Wendell Halfmann, Allen Jansa, Darren Jost, Dennis Hoelscher, Kyle Schwartz, Mark Frysak, Harold Hoelscher, Courtney Strube, Baylor Walker, Russell Halfmann, Doug Jost, Brant Murphy and Brent Gully.
• The regular GCISD board meeting was postponed until March 20, and therefore was not covered in this issue of the GC News.
• Glasscock County’s Senior Citizens will meet March 21 at 6 p.m. This is snack night, so please bring snacks or finger food.
• Spring Fling ’06 is a program for people 50 and over sponsored by the Texas Cooperative Extension April 24 – 28 at the 4-H center on Lake Brownwood. The event specializes in great food, educational workshops, tours, recreational activities, and warm, friendly people. Learn more by calling 354-2381 or 352/784-5482 or at http://texas4h-ctr.tamu.edu.
• A new scoreboard for the football field has been ordered, thanks to generous donations from area businesses. The Bearkat Booster Club has elected to buy one of the spaces on the scoreboard. If any Bearkat backers would like to donate toward the scoreboard, the Booster Club would greatly appreciate it. Please send any donations to the "Bearkat Booster Club" c/o Tibby Niehues, 1550 CR 125, Garden City, TX 79739.
• Kim Halfmann thanks the community for making the effort to vote during the recent primary election. She congratulates her opponent, Wilburn Bednar, and extends her best wishes to him for a successful term. She also sends special thanks to those who supported her campaign efforts.
• Incumbents John Phillips and Larry Wheat are unopposed for seats on the Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District’s Board of Directors. No election will be necessary in May, according to GGCD Secretary Donnita Coats.
• County Judge Wilburn Bednar thanks all the folks who supported him in the recent primary election.
G.C. Cemetery Info Available Online
Information regarding those buried at the Garden City Cemetery, along with various other county information, is now available at http://www.rootsweb.com It is also a link off this newsletter’s web site: http://www.glasscockcountynews.com and off the county’s site: http://www.glasscockcountytx.com The cemetery information includes dates of birth and death, photos of markers, and links to obituaries, if available. The photos are current through early September 2005, although a few markers were missed in the photographing and will be added later, along with photos of more recent headstones. There are also some corrections to be made in the burial information. If you have obituaries you would like posted on this site, e-mail them to Cindy Koegel, who keeps the site, at ckoegel@zipnet.us or send them via USPS mail to Koegel at 7086 Hoffman Rd., San Angelo, 76905. She also welcomes other information of interest about Glasscock County. Her work is part of the TexGenWebProject, which endeavors to make genealogical data available online across the nation.
WTWMA Reviews ‘05 Cloud Seeding
Representatives of West Texas Weather Modification Association reviewed the group’s 2005 weather modification program at a meeting at the Glasscock County Community Center Feb. 23. According to their data, 2005 cloud seeding efforts increased rainfall in Glasscock County by 3.1 inches, or 16.6 percent, providing an increase of 168,300 acre feet. Rick Harston, Glasscock Groundwater District manager, said the county uses an average of 48,000 to 55,000 acre-feet per year for irrigation. WTWMA reps said seeding appeared to improve the dynamics of seeded clouds, making their size greater and their duration longer. The data show rainfall increases in other counties in the WTWMA as follows: Sterling, 3.9 in., Reagan, 2.61 in., Irion, 3.36 in., Tom Green, 2.46 in.; Crockett, 1.66 in.; Schleicher, 1.52 in. and Sutton, 1.06 in. According to WTWMA’s annual report, seeding operations started on Feb. 22, 2005 and ended Oct. 10, with 47 operational days. (Eight of these days had corrupted data, and are not included in statistics.) Of 39 operational days, one was in February, one in March, two in April, six in May, one in June, fifteen in July, nine in August, two in September and two in October. There were 133 clouds seeded, and two missed opportunities. The website for the weather modification group is www.wtwma.com. Their radar shows cloud formations in the area and tracks seeding planes. The GGCD’s website is www.angelfire.com/tx/gcuwd/ or is available as a link off the Glasscock County News site at www.glasscockcountynews.com.
G.C. Cemetery Work Continues
Improvements at the Garden City Cemetery are continuing, with 12 trees planted on March 10. The trees, Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia) and Lacebark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia), were recommended for the harsh conditions at the cemetery. They may grow to a height of 50 feet with canopies 30 feet wide. Six of each variety were planted, three in each cemetery quadrant. The total cost, including delivery and planting, was $1,700, and Alldredge Gardens (Midland) guarantees the trees for 12 months. The trees are being watered manually until a drip system can be installed. If they do reasonably well, the cemetery committee hopes to add more trees in the future, perhaps trying a few other species as well. Forty concrete parking bumpers are being purchased ($720), and will be installed when the fence and entrance are completed.
Water Saving Tips from GGCD
• Be aware of and follow all water conservation and water shortage rules in effect in your community. Don’t assume — even if you get your water from a private well — that you need not observe good water use rules. Every drop counts. • Encourage your employer to promote water conservation in the workplace. • Report all significant water losses (broken pipes, open hydrants, errant sprinklers, abandoned free-flowing wells, etc.) to the property owner, local authorities or your water management district. • Encourage your school system and local government to help develop and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults. • Try to do one thing each day that will result in saving water. Don’t worry if the savings are minimal. Every drop counts. You can make a difference. • Conserve water because it is the right thing to do. Don’t waste water just because someone else is footing the bill, such as when you are staying at a hotel. • Support projects that will lead to increased use of reclaimed wastewater. • Support programs that encourage water conservation among tourists and visitors to Texas. • Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water-conscious community.
From the Schoolhouse
Elementary School Honor Rolls (Fourth Six Weeks 2006)
• All A’s: Jackson Abney, Riley Eggemeyer, Brycen Gartman, Ethan Goodwin, Quinton Hale, Kortney Halfmann, Christy Montes, Brooklyn Batla, Hope Halfmann, Carlie Hollingsworth, Christopher Murphy-Reed, Rafe Royall, Holly Halfmann, Brazos Hirt, Maddie Hoelscher, Kadden Kothmann, Antonio Ramirez, Ashley Halfmann, Kellan Kirkland, Lexie Schaefer, Austin Hoelscher, Sarah Hoelscher, Izamar Ocon, Peyton Schaefer, Craig Wheeler, Reggie Halfmann, Shanna Halfmann, Calleen Jansa, Katy Multer, Jessica Olveda, Shelby Schwartz.
• A Average: Agatha Friessen, Austen Lowery, Bethany Matschek, Justin Rider, Hugo Almazan, Emily Glass, Megan Hughes, Colton Jost, Bailey Matschek, Joseph McLaren, Tristin Rodriquez, Daeley Havlak, Brylie Schaefer, Brandon Gartman, Cody Halfmann, July Jost, Amelia Lopez, Shawn Walker, Colton Belew, Brody Halfmann, Blayne Batla.
UIL and TMSCA Meets
• Junior High State Qualifiers - TMSCA
Garden City Junior High was awarded second place sweepstakes in the Crane TMSCA meet in February. Students qualifying for the State TMSCA meet are: Hayden Halfmann in Number Sense, Calculator and Math; Brian Hirt in Number Sense, Calculator and Math; Brittany Schniers in Calculator, Math and Science; Adriana Ramirez in Number Sense, Calculator and Math; Kate Halfmann in Number Sense, Math and Science; Paige Niehues in Calculator and Science; Laura Halfmann in Science.
Results for GCJH teams at the Crane meet were: Number Sense Team 2nd place, Calculator Team 3rd place, Math Team 3rd place, Science Team 4th place. Individual placements were: Adriana Ramirez 6th Number Sense; Hayden Halfmann 2nd Number Sense, 2nd Calculator, 2nd Math, 6th Science; Brian Hirt 4th Number Sense, 3rd Calculator; Katy Multer 5th Math; Brittany Schniers 5th Math, 1st Science.
GCJH team results from the Plains meet were: Number Sense Team 1st place; Calculator Team 1st place; Math Team 1st place; Science Team 1st place. Individual placements were: Hayden Halfmann 1st Number Sense, 1st Calculator, 1st Math, 5th Science; Brian Hirt 4th Number Sense, 2nd Calculator, 3rd Math; Brittany Schniers 5th Number Sense, 5th Calculator, 2nd Math, 1st Science; Rachel Hirt 6th Number Sense; Adriana Ramirez 1st Number Sense, 1st Calculator, 2nd Math, 6th Science; Kate Halfmann 2nd Number Sense, 1st Math, 4th Science; Paige Niehues 5th Number Sense, 3rd Calculator, 5th Math, 2nd Science; Laura Halfmann 6th Math, 1st Science.
• Garden City Invitational UIL Meet Results:
Garden City Junior High – Championship. Junior High Teams: Number Sense – 1st place; Calculator – 2nd place; Math – 1st place; Science – 2nd place. Individual Awards; Number Sense – Hayden Halfmann 1st, Brian Hirt 2nd, Adriana Ramirez 2nd, Kate Halfmann 3rd, Noemi Gonzales 4th, Ian Schaefer 4th, Brittany Schniers 6th, Paige Niehues 6th; Calculator – Hayden Halfmann 1st, Adriana Ramirez 2nd, Brian Hirt 5th, Brittany Schniers 6th, Paige Niehues 6th; Math – Hayden Halfmann 1st, Kate Halfmann 1st, Adriana Ramirez 2nd, Paige Niehues 3rd, Ian Schaefer 3rd, Brittany Schniers 4th, Noemi Gonzales 4th, Rachael Hirt 4th, Brian Hirt 6th; Science – Brittany Schniers 1st, Laura Halfmann 2nd, Paige Niehues 6th.
Garden City High School – Championship. High School Teams: Accounting – 1st place; Computer Science – 2nd place; Social Studies – 1st place; Spelling – 1st place; Current Events – 1st place; Calculator – 1st place; Number Sense – 1st place; Math – 1st place; Science – 2nd place. Individual Awards: Accounting – Cory Multer 2nd, Katy Gully 3rd, Calculator – Colton Schwartz 1st, Wade Jansa 1st, Jake Schwartz 1st, Brooke Halfmann 2nd, Michael Clarke 3rd, Computer Science – Colton Schwartz 2nd, Wade Jansa 3rd, Katy Gully 6th, Number Sense Katy Gully - 1st, Colton Schwartz 1st, Wade Jansa 1st, Michael Clarke 1st, Brooke Halfmann 2nd, Cayla Schwartz 5th, Jake Schwartz 6th, Math – Colton Schwartz 1st, Wade Jansa 1st, Jake Schwartz 1st, Michael Clarke 1st, Katy Gully 2nd, Cayla Schwartz 5th, Brooke Halfmann 6th, Social Studies – K’Lann Niehues 2nd, Cory Multer 3rd, Current Events – K’Lann Niehues 1st, Tracy Eggemeyer 2nd, Erin Hirt 3rd, Britton Avery 4th, Science – Wade Jansa 1st, Jake Schwartz 1st, Colton Schwartz 2nd, Brooke Halfmann 3rd, Cayla Schwartz 5th, Michael Clarke 6th, Spelling – Lauren Wheeler 1st, Emily Gully 2nd, Luis Zuniga 3rd, Computer Applications – Brooke Halfmann 4th, Mikela Barton 5th, Literary Criticism – Britton Avery 4th.
BPA News:
Katie Gully, who placed first in Advanced Office Systems and Procedures, and Tyler Bednar, who placed third in Integrated Office Systems and Procedures, at the State BPA competition recently advance to the National competition in Orlando in May. In addition, the Administrative Support Team of Shaun Maxie, Brooke Halfmann, Cory Multer and Colton Schwartz placed fifth. Sixteen Garden City students, coached by Reta Bell, competed against 3000 students from across the state.
FFA Projects:
Glasscock County FFA students exhibited three of their ag mechanics projects at both the San Angelo and Houston stock shows. In San Angelo, all projects received blue ribbons for quality. The 10’ single axle utility trailer placed 1st in its class, the 16” tandem axle utility trailer placed 4th, and a restored 1941 John Deere B placed 3rd in its class. In the Houston show, both trailers earned blue ribbons for quality and the tractor received a red ribbon, but no projects placed. Special thanks to Linda Avery and Carl Hoelscher for their help and to the Burt Bruton family, who sponsored this year’s tractor. Work is progressing on a 1937 Farmall F-20 tractor, sponsored by the Jim Cmerek family, which is about 70% restored. The tractor for next year is a late 1930’s Farmall F-30, sponsored by the James Schwartz family. Plans are to exhibit both tractors next year. None of the tractor restoration would be possible without the help of sponsors, and their support of the FFA program is greatly appreciated. This year’s ag mechanics projects will be on display during the school’s open house scheduled for April 4. Rusty Hollingsworth invites those in attendance to come see the results of the students’ efforts. Hollingsworth says, “As always, you are welcome to drop by the shop any time and see what we’re up to.”
SPORTS:
Basketball: Taylor Niehues, from Garden City’s District championship team, was voted offensive player of the year in District 7-A. Named to the District first team were seniors Cory Multer and Shaun Maxie and juniors Alex Halfmann and Evan Jansa.
Track: Individuals from Garden City who placed at the Stanton Relays were: Boys: Jason Flores 2nd 800-meter run; Girls: Lauren Wheeler 3rd 200 dash; Vickie Garza 3rd 1600 run; Vickie Garza 2nd 3200 run.
Golf: Both the girls and boys golf teams took first place honors at the Sands Invitational Tournament recently. The girls team shot a 469, lead by Kayla Medrano, who scored 100 and finished first overall. Other girls scores: Macy Schwartz 116, Julie Hirt 125, Melissa Hirt 128, Kaci Coates 142. The boys team shot 343 and had four of the top five performers. Taylor Niehues with a 79 won the tournament. Other team member placements and scores: Chase O’Brien 86, third place, Eric Hirt 87, fourth place, Sam Long 91 fifth place.
Obituaries
• Ruth S. Lopez, 73, of Big Spring, died March 3, 2006, in a Midland hospital and was buried at the Garden City Cemetery. She was born Dec. 28, 1932, in Mertzon and married Rosalio Lopez on June 16, 1962, in Sterling City. He preceded her in death on March 19, 1995. She came to Big Spring in 2005 from Garden City and was a Baptist. Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Teodocita and Martin Ortiz of Big Spring and Sayra Hidrogo of Mesquite; a son and daughter-in-law, J. S. and Christina Medina of Crane; three brothers, Jimmy Sanchez of Seminole, Leonardo Sanchez and Sammy Sanchez, both of San Angelo; two sisters, Irene Zepeda and Inez Rodriguez, both of Plainview; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
• Effie Dell Parker, 87, of San Angelo, died March 4, 2006, and was buried at the Garden City Cemetery. She was born Sept. 6, 1918, in Big Spring to William Joe Williams and Zula (Lovelace) Williams. She had one brother, Wofford Williams, who is deceased. Dell (as she was known to her friends) attended school in Lucian Wells, Lomax, Big Spring and graduated from Garden City High School in 1936. She married Weldon Parker June 20, 1937, and he preceded her in death July 2, 1987. She worked for the Garden City Post Office as a postal clerk for 20 years and moved to Robert Lee when Weldon retired as Glasscock County judge. She moved to San Angelo in 1991 and bought a home at Rio Concho West. Survivors include a daughter, Sue Shields and husband, Bill of Novice; four sons, Truman Parker and wife, Betty of Fort Worth, Doug Parker and wife, Donna of Taylor, Charles Parker and wife, Patricia of Cedar Creek and Jerry Parker of Greenwood, Miss.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be April 12. The deadline for that issue is April 10, 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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