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Glasscock County News
Court Addresses Office Separation
On Oct. 9, the Glasscock County Commissioners’ court issued the following statement regarding the proposed separation of the county sheriff’s office from that of tax assessor-collector, both of which are elected positions: “The Commissioners Court of Glasscock County has added a resolution for separating the offices of Tax Assessor-Collector and Sheriff to the Nov. 6, 2007 general election. We think this is a good proposal since our sheriff is contemplating retirement at the end of 2008. Most counties have already separated the two offices and we feel this is in the best interest of our county. We do not think there will be any added expenses from this action.” County voters will be asked to decide on the separation, with early voting Oct. 22 – Nov. 2. Discount Drug Card Available The court voted to make a free discount drug card available to anyone in Glasscock County. According to County Treasurer Alan Dierschke, the card, from the National Association of Counties (NACo) has no cost to the county, is usable at all major chain stores and is supposed to save an average of 20 percent on drugs. No application is necessary. After the court approval, Dierschke said he would get the cards ordered, and they will be available soon from most county officials and in courthouse offices. Information is available at https://naco.advancerx.com or by calling 1/877/321-2652. Paving Project Complete Consulting Engineer Don Bonifay reported that the county’s paving project is complete and “looks good.” He said the project came in under estimated costs, so the county will be getting a sizeable refund. He credited the savings to very carefully watching the quantities of materials used. Commissioner Marck Schafer asked Bonifay to document the condition of Sherrod Road before movement of wind turbines on it begins in the next few months. Schafer said the wind company has agreed to restore the road if its equipment causes damage. Fiscal Reserves Grow According to Dierschke, some $315,000 was added to the county’s reserves at the end of the 2007 fiscal year. He says the total in reserves is now approximately $1.5 million, or about six months’ worth of expenses. He said that is the minimum amount suggested by the state to adequately protect a county’s solvency. He said not so long ago, the reserves were only $300,000. Dierschke reported that the Garden City Water System added $4,900 to its reserves, which now total $59,000. Portions of clerk’s office filing fees and county justice court fines provided the following monies: $9,000 added to the Records Management account for a total nearing $42,000; the Archives Records Management account gained $8,000 and now has reserves of $24,000; courthouse security gained $3,000 for a total of $10,000 and Justice Court Technology gained $1,000 for a total of $4,900. Purchase of Maintainer Delayed Since no bids were available for a new maintainer, the matter was tabled until a later date. There was no action taken on an employee request to work another hour and be eligible for health insurance. Schafer said this isn’t the first request of this nature.
Community Center Security Discussed
On Sept. 27 (Jimmy Strube absent), the Glasscock County Commissioners Court discussed problems with security at the Glasscock County Community Center. In an attempt to solve some of the problems, Deputy Sheriff Keith Burnett suggested several changes in the center’s security guidelines: require that security be paid up front; require hiring local law enforcement or security with local authority; ban glass containers; set a noise limit and put “No Smoking” signs inside the facility. (Security personnel are required at functions where alcohol is available.) The commissioners informally agreed to the changes, and will vote on revised guidelines at a later meeting. It was announced that Christy Seidenberger, R.N, has agreed to replace Kenny Batla as Glasscock County’s Emergency Services Director for the same annual salary of $6,000. She asked that a heater/air conditioner be put in the Garden City Fire Hall office. The commissioners’ court will adopt a job description at a later date. No replacement has been selected for County Judge Wilburn Bednar as the Emergency Management Coordinator, who handles Homeland Security matters, among other things, Extension Agent Gets Pickup Although Commissioner Michael Hoch insisted that a Dodge pickup would be best for the county’s extension agent, no bid for a Dodge was available, and the commissioners took a bid of $27,875 from Jim Bass for a Ford crew cab pickup, $5,000 below the nearest other bid. The court adopted the state policy regarding indigent health care (see related information, below).
School Construction Nears Completion
At its Oct. 8 meeting, DSA construction manager Burt Sandefur told the GCISD school board that the vocational building, the last major part of the construction project, is nearing completion. However, a problem with mounting the overhead electric crane may necessitate some reworking in the building. Even though the original height of the building was raised to accommodate the crane, if mounted as originally planned, it can’t be used to its fullest capacity because overhead support beams are too close. All board members except Tibby Niehues agreed that DSA and the architect should be responsible for making whatever corrections are necessary so that the crane can operate properly, with no additional cost to the school. (Niehues indicated she had not had time to form an opinion.) The board is considering renovations to the gymnasium concession stand, which would cost $5,000 to $9,000. Board president Karla Hoelscher said board study is needed in this matter. The board voted to apply for a class size waiver for 2007-2008 due to a fourth grade which has 23 students, one more than the state allows per class. It also approved an independent contract with Linda Jones, who has a masters degree and will teach concurrent physics and robotics courses in conjunction with Howard College. She will work four days per week until May 30, 2008. Denice Bradberry is assisting Jones in addition to teaching other science courses.
Halloween Carnival Oct. 27
The local Halloween Carnival will be Oct. 27 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. at the community center, sponsored by the Lion’s Club and the 4-H Club. Tickets worth 50 cents can be purchased at the door. The Lion’s Club will host a full-meal concession, bingo, auction and “jail” booth. The 4-H Club will provide several “spooktacular” booths, including a dart throw, football throw, basketball throw, haunted house, spinning wheel, fishing pond, duck pond, outdoor train ride and memory photos. In addition, there will be a Texas Hold’em Tournament, and the ever-popular costume contest. The contest sign-up is from 6:30–7 p.m. with a $3 entry fee. The contest begins at 7:15 p.m. Age groups are: kindergarten and under; 1st – 3rd grades; 4th – 6th grades, and Themed Groups for 6th grade and under and 7th grade and up. The costume contest is a judged event with prizes awarded for 1st – 3rd place.
County Court Meets In ‘Emergency’ Session
The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court (Mark Halfmann absent) met in emergency session Oct. 2 in Judge Wilburn Bednar’s office. There, they had a conference telephone call with Sweetwater attorney Alan Carmichael to discuss matters regarding wind farm reinvestment zones and tax abatements. Carmichael outlined the process by which a county determines whether a tax abatement is in its best interest and the process necessary for granting it. At the point in the discussion where the county court indicated that it wanted to engage his law firm and have his legal advice, the meeting went into executive session and was closed to the public and to the Glasscock County News. The county is trying to develop a standard, improved contract for use with wind farm companies.
Air Evac Offers Local Memberships
Memberships in Air Evac Lifeteam are now available for Glasscock County residents. The company, which recently relocated from Sweetwater to Big Spring, is an independently owned and operated membership-supported air medical service with operations offered through 74 air medical bases across 12 states, with 19 in Texas. Lead pilot Rhyse Gehrett said, “(Air Evac) ….makes flights directly to the scenes of medical emergencies, decreasing the amount of time it takes for residents of rural communities to receive critical, life saving care.” The air ambulance crew recently flew to Garden City and held a helicopter safety and landing zone class for Glasscock County’s EMS group. They provided instruction on interacting safely with helicopters, selecting landing zone sites, guiding the helicopter to the ground and patient loading. Future educational classes and events are being planned. Annual memberships are $60 per year for a family of three or more all in the same house; $55 for a household of two, and $50 for a household of one. With memberships, there is no further charge for the air medical transportation if it is needed. For more information, or to acquire memberships, call Lynette Harman, 325/737-1051.
Briefly
• Homecoming activities are set for Oct. 12 when the Bearkats play Sands at 7:30 p.m. and ex-students will gather before the game, probably outside on the east side of the athletic building, which is north of the football field. Inquire at the concession stand for the location. An all-day get-together is planned for Saturday, Oct. 13, starting at 10 a.m. in the school cafeteria. For more information, contact Dick Cunningham, 432/689-6588 (home); 432/770-4079 (cell); or online at j4325@sbcglobal.net.
• The school district’s new and improved website may be viewed at http://gcisd.esc18.net/. The new site contains current items of interest in the district, sports schedules as well as results of sports events, the official school calendar, monthly lunch menus, an e-mail directory of school personnel, plus links to other school web pages.
• Glasscock County Senior Citizens will meet Oct. 16, at 6 p.m., and this is snack or finger food night. Due to the election being held the first Tuesday in November, the regular meeting has been rescheduled for Nov. 13. Turkey and dressing will be provided; each family is to bring something to go with this. A nurse is coming from Accolade Home Care in Big Spring on Nov. 13 and Dec. 4 to check blood pressures. She will be here around 5:30 p.m., so if you come early she can get your information and check blood pressures. There will be only one meeting in November and December due to holiday season. All seniors are invited to come enjoy the meal, games and health check.
• Glasscock County ISD will be taking nominations for the Gifted and Talented Program Oct. 9 through Oct. 26. Community members and family of students are encouraged to nominate any student they feel might qualify for this program. Nomination forms can be requested in either the high school or elementary school office. Completed forms should be turned in to Randy Gartman at the elementary office. All kindergarten students are automatically screened for the Gifted and Talented Program each year.
• GCHS juniors will be taking the PSAT test Oct. 17. Sophomores and freshmen that are interested in taking the test should sign up by Oct. 15. The cost is $13. Taking this test automatically enters students in the National Merit Scholarship Competition, and students get to preview how they might perform on the real SAT. For more information or to register for the test, contact Mrs. Kinnibrugh at 354-2243.
• The local FFA is selling raffle tickets for a weekly prize of your choice. If you win, your name will be entered for the grand prize: the deer stand which won the Permian Basin Fair. The deer stand will be on display at home football games. If you win a weekly prize, your chances are 1 in 6 for winning the deer stand. For more information, contact any FFA member or Mr. H.
• Flu Shots will be available Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. in the GCISD Cafeteria for $25. Senior citizens will need to bring a copy of your Medicare Card. Call Christy Seidenberger, 354-2243, to sign-up.
• A general election will be held Nov. 6 with the local question of whether to separate the office of Glasscock County Sheriff from that of the county tax assessor-collector. Of statewide interest, there are several proposed constitutional amendments to be decided. Early voting will take place from Oct. 22 – Nov. 2 in the courthouse. Voting on Election Day will be in the usual precinct polling places.
• Glasscock County’s recently appointed Historical Commission consists of: Glenda “Doc” Blalock, Maritha Blalock, Mary Jo Cope, Alan Dierschke and Dodie Mills.
• Tom Cunningham of West Texas Windshield Repair of San Angelo is in Garden City at Halfmann’s Store every Tuesday around 9:30 a.m. Meet him there for repair of minor dings, no appointment necessary.
• Please return any items from the community center kitchen that may have been taken home for washing and then forgotten.
In The Spotlight
• Brecklyn Hughes, a 2004 GCHS graduate, was crowned Texas Tech University 2007-08 Homecoming Queen Oct. 6, during halftime of the Tech – Iowa State football game. Nineteen candidates for queen were originally nominated by various campus organizations. Brecklyn was chosen to represent her sorority, Chi Omega. The candidates were eventually narrowed to the "Top Five" based on resumes, including campus activities and community service, and personal interviews. The student body then voted from those top five candidates. Brecklyn, a senior Personal Financial Planning major, will graduate in May 2008. She is the daughter of Mike and Pam Hughes, formerly of Garden City and now Midland, and the granddaughter of John and Carolyn Hughes of Garden City and Ray and Ethel Mickan of Walburg.
• Wade Jansa, a senior at Garden City High School, has been named a Commended Student in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program. About 34,000 Commended Students are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. These students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.4 million students who entered the 2008 competition by taking the 2006 PSAT. Wade is the son of Wayne and Jennifer Jansa.
• Glasscock County FFA members had much success at the Permian Basin Fair in Odessa. Their deer stand won first place and received “Best of Show” honors, while their trailer was second place. In addition, they won the Sweepstakes Award. These successes reflect the entire group.
• If you need some money, Mr. H says to go find Jeffrey Pierson and Kevin Hillger. Jeffrey won a $1,500 Permian Basin Fair Ag Mechanics scholarship, and Kevin won a $1,000 scholarship.
Care Packages Helpful for Soldier in Iraq
Garden City native Rhetta Alvarado Yanez has written the GC News to say that she and her husband Victor are with the U.S. Army, currently stationed in Germany, and Victor is deployed to Baghdad, Iraq helping in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She says if Glasscock County residents would like to send him Care Packages, things like magazines, books, decks of cards and personal hygiene products, such as disposable razors, baby wipes, body wash, antiperspirant/deodorant, etc, are great. Things NOT to send are chocolates, home made foods or snacks, objects not in their original packaging, or products that have an upcoming expiration date. Packages may be sent to her at the following address: Rhetta Yanez, 412 A Co., CMR 417, Box 5552, APO AE 09264, and she will get them to Victor. Please include your name and address on the package so they know who sent it.
Pecan Show; No Pecan Contest
The Annual Glasscock Pecan Show will be Nov. 19 in the community center, but because of weather conditions this year, there will not be a Pecan Division Contest due to an inadequate crop. The cooking division contest will continue as usual. Cooking Division • Entry recipes must be in the Glasscock County Extension office by Nov. 9 at noon—no exceptions! • Pecans must be in each recipe. • NOTE: Due to the school being a peanut-free zone, please avoid any ingredients that include peanut products. • No limit on number of entries per person. • Items requiring refrigeration WILL NOT be accepted. • Age categories: Adult, Youth (3rd-12th grade), Peewee (Pre-kindergarten–2nd grade) -- non-competitive. • Food categories: Cake, Pie, Cookie & Bars, Candy, Bread and Miscellaneous. • Enter food at the Glasscock County Community Center the day of the show (Nov. 19) between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. • The entire recipe must be entered for judging. • Place food on disposable dishes (they will not be returned), cover with clear plastic wrap, and place your name, division, and age category on the bottom of the container. • Ribbons awarded to top three placing entries in each category, rosettes for Reserve and Grand Champions, and participation ribbons for Peewee entries. All entries become the property of the Glasscock County Pecan Show. • In the evening of Nov. 19, a live auction of the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion food items will take place during half time of each varsity basketball game. Schedule: JVG—4: p.m.; JVB—5 p.m.; VG—6:30 p.m.; and VB—8 p.m. • Non-auction food items and recipe books will be for sale in the school gym foyer during the duration of the games. • Proceeds generated from the auctions and sales go toward financing a scholarship that Garden City High School seniors may apply for in the spring through the school counselor.
Indigent Health Care Available
By law, Glasscock County provides a County Indigent Health Care Program (CIHCP) to help people pay for needed health care. Whether a person can get this help depends on ones income and what is owned, place of residence, other help one receives or could receive, and other items. Applicants may be asked to provide proof of what he/she writes on the application or tells the interviewing person. Examples of some items an applicant may be asked to prove are: place of residence; owned property and what it is worth; income and other health care coverage. Applicants will be given help in getting proof as needed. An applicant must give information about health care insurance and any other third party financially liable for health care services paid by the county for the applicant and members of his/her household. By signing and submitting the application, the applicant agrees to give the county the right to recover the cost of health care services provided by the county from any third party. Applicants may be asked to apply for Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Supplemental Security Income benefits. If he/she is not eligible for these other programs, has answered all the questions on the application, and has provided all the proof asked for, the application can be processed. Eligibility is determined within 14 days. Applications for the program are available in the county judge’s office in the county courthouse in Garden City. For more information, call or come by County Judge Wilburn Bednar’s office, 432/354-2382 from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Monday – Friday, except holidays.
Locals Celebrate National 4-H Week
By Samantha Kellermeier Glasscock 4-H Club Senior Reporter
Glasscock County’s 4-H Club is celebrating 4-H’s work in youth development during National 4-H Week, Oct. 7 – 13. In the county, 4-H members are currently participating in programs ranging from swine to photography as well as leadership, citizenship and healthy living programs. Amy Multer, a local 4-H senior member, said her favorite 4-H project so far was “Share the Fun” and the experiences she had as part of that, like being able to talk in front of a crowd and hanging out with her friends while learning her script. She said the best part was meeting new people when her group performed at College Station. For more than 100 years, 4-H has been providing youth with the innovative research and resources from the nation’s 106 land-grant universities and colleges. Currently, approximately 1 million youth in Texas participate in 4-H. In Glasscock County, more than 80 4-H members and many volunteers are involved in the program. You can join the 4-H community today. For any youth, grades kindergarten through 12, who would like to join, membership packets are available from the Extension office or the GCISD elementary and high school offices. For more information on becoming a member or a volunteer leader in the county, contact Glasscock County Cooperative Extension at 432/354-2381 or 354-2608. To learn more about the 4-H adventure, visit www.4HUSA.org or the Texas 4-H website at http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/.
4-H News
Texas 4-H Centennial Celebration: Glasscock County won 1st place in the 2007 Texas 4-H Roundup Celebrate 4-H Share-the-Fun contest. Cast members include: Mikela Barton, Brittney Chudej, Whitney Kellermeier, Amy Multer, Halie Schaefer, Sydney Halfmann, Amber Halfmann, Kelsey Jones and Lauren Schwartz. This group was asked to perform their skit during the Texas 4-H Centennial Celebration in Jacksboro Oct. 9. (Jack County was the first county in Texas to form a 4-H Club.) State Fair of Texas: Whitney Kellermeier was recognized during the State Fair of Texas Honor Awards Banquet Sept. 29 for her leadership role in the Texas 4-H program as a member of the 2007-2008 Texas 4-H Council. Whitney also participated in the State Fair Youth Leadership Day event. She donated 52 pounds of food on behalf of Glasscock County as a statewide community service project to benefit the food bank of Dallas. 2007 District 6 4-H Fashion Show: Carlie Hollingsworth placed 2nd in the Junior Construction Specialty category in Odessa recently and placed 1st in the Junior Natural Fiber category. Hannah Halfmann received 1st place in the Junior Buying Casual category, and won 2nd place in the Junior Natural Fiber category. Permian Basin Fair & Exposition: (1) Carlie Hollingsworth placed 2nd and Hannah Halfmann participated in the junior age division of the 4-H Modeling Show. Whitney Kellermeier placed 2nd in the senior division and Samantha Kellermeier won 4th place. (2) Whitney Kellermeier won a $1,500 scholarship in the Beef Division of the fair. Kadden Kothmann placed 3rd, 4th and had two 6th places in the Meat Goat Show. In the Steer Show, Whitney Kellermeier showed a 4th place Simmental and a 5th place Charolais; Samantha Kellermeier won 1st place with her Simbrah and 2nd place with a Limousin; Cassie Hirt had a 4th place Charlois and a 5th place Hereford. South Plains Fair: Kadden Kothmann had two 6th place meat goats in Lubbock.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Nov. 14. The deadline for that issue is Nov. 12, 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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