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Glasscock County News
Fireworks Unlawful from Public Roads
Due to continued extreme dry conditions, Deputy Sheriff Keith Burnett says that during the next few weeks, the Glasscock County Sheriff’s Department will be vigorously enforcing state laws against setting off fireworks from public roads. He encouraged everyone to use extra care with any fireworks, and to consider not using them at all, due to the extreme fire danger existing now. On June 9, Burnett introduced new Deputy Sheriff Todd Dean to the county commissioners’ court. Burnett said he and Dean patrolled together on Friday night, June 6, issuing 21 traffic citations and making one arrest. Burnett said Dean’s car now is equipped with radio, radar and video camera, and just needs more emergency lights to be fully outfitted. Burnett also reported that a fire during the evening of June 8 on State Highway 158 at the Midland County line was quickly contained. He said it was caused by a blowout on a boat trailer tire. Another fire, caused by lightening, was quickly put out near Tower Road on the night of June 9. Volunteer’s Work Outstanding Burnett and Constable Mark Frysak praised the local volunteer fire department and emergency medical service for their continued excellence and rapid responses. The court will meet in special session June 23 to open paving bids and to deal with other matters. Commissioner Marck Schafer said he wants to reconsider prices the county charges for work it does on private property. He said the law allows “reasonable and equitable” charges for such work, and “We’re not even close to that, considering the prices of diesel and equipment.” He wants to discuss changes at the June 23 meeting. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke wants to begin work on next year’s budget at the June 23 meeting. Also at that time, County Judge Wilburn Bednar is to present information on an automated emergency warning system that would alert county residents by telephone when emergency conditions exist. Resolution Supports Schleicher County The commissioners’ court agreed to support a resolution from Schleicher County (Eldorado) that the costs of events begun by Child Protective Services, a state agency, should be borne by the State of Texas. The resolution petitions the state legislature to appropriate funds to eliminate the financial burden on Schleicher County in the past, present and future when dealing with proceedings created by CPS in their interactions with the children and families residing at the YFZ Ranch in Schleicher County.
Kinnibrugh New Secondary Principal
At a meeting May 20, the GCISD board made Misty Kinnibrugh the secondary school principal at a salary of $60,000 for a 12-month contract. Randy Gartman was selected as the elementary school principal at a salary of $55,000 and an 11-month contract. On June 9, the board changed Kristin Schwartz’ teaching assignment to elementary physical education, hired Jana Barnes to teach secondary science, Darrell Hunt as a science teacher/coach, and Shelly Koenning to teach secondary math. Koenning holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A & M at Corpus Christi and certifications in elementary self-contained grades 1 – 8 and elementary math, grades 1 – 8. She taught at Callaghan ISD for two years and at Agua Dulce for 5 years before coming to GCISD. Barnes graduated from Angelo State University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She is certified in secondary biology and secondary life science and is a registered art therapist. From June 2007 – present, she taught biology/anatomy and physiology at Colorado City ISD, and prior to that, taught biology at Wall ISD as a substitute and did substitute work at Sterling City ISD. Hunt holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Texas State University (1969), a Masters in Education from Texas Tech University (1976) and has post-graduate hours in school administration. He is certified in physical education, health, and secondary biology, and has more than twenty years teaching experience. From August 2002 to the present, he worked in the Lubbock ISD, four years as Evans Junior High girl’s basketball coach, track coach and seventh grade science teacher. During 2006 and 2007, he was at Monterey High School as the head girls’ track coach, cross-country coach, JV basketball coach and biology teacher. Gartman reported there are 24 students attending summer school, including four in junior high or high school. He said students who miss no more than two days will be rewarded with a swim day.
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. The seat up for election represents Local Administrative Area (LAA) Number 1, which is all area of the county located north of County Road 110 and north of Hwy 158 (the LAA boundary map is posted at the FSA office). Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program may be nominated for the committee. Individuals may nominate themselves or another as a candidate. In addition, organizations representing the socially disadvantaged, minorities or females may nominate candidates. Candidates must reside in, or have agricultural interests in LAA #1 to be eligible for this election. Nomination forms must be returned or postmarked no later than Aug. 1. For more information or nomination forms, call the local FSA office, or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/elections.
Cotton Council Schedules Meetings
The National Cotton Council has scheduled the following farm bill meetings to provide our members with information on the provisions of the new law. The meetings are also open to all producers, cotton industry firms and agri-businesses. June 24: Plainview, 3 p.m., Ollie Liner Center; Midland, 3 p.m., Midland County Horseshoe. June 25: Lubbock, 10 a.m., Plains Cotton Cooperative Assn.; San Angelo, 10 a.m., Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center; Lamesa, 2 p.m., Dawson County Community Center; Abilene, 3 p.m., Abilene Christian University Cullen Auditorium.
Briefly
• Glasscock County Senior Citizens will meet Tuesday, June 17 for a finger food and snack night. At the meeting July 1, brisket will be furnished, so bring a dish to go with that. Nurses from Accolade home health service come on the first of the month and check blood pressure and oxygen. Come join us for an evening of good eats and dominoes.
• Glasscock County needs new EMTs to provide the vital service of medical care in our community. If interested, please contact Christy Seidenberger at (432) 354-2314.
• Fifty-two Glasscock 4-H Cancer Warriors participated in the Howard/Glasscock Relay for Life May 16 & 17, raising $3,080 for the American Cancer Society and winning the award for most laps walked at the event.
• The following Texas AgriLife Extension--Glasscock County Scholarships were presented to GCISD seniors during the graduation ceremony May 30: Todd Weishuhn 4-H Memorial Scholarship, $250 each to Whitney Kellermeier and Spencer Plagens; Glasscock County Pecan Show Scholarship, $250 to Whitney Kellermeier; Glasscock 4-H Volunteer Adult Leaders Association Scholarship, $250 each to Whitney Kellermeier and Halie Schaefer.
Former Airfield Under Review
Recently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a Site Inspection at the former Midland Army Airfield Target Range No. 12. This site operated as a practice bombing range for training bombardiers at Midland Army Airfield from 1942 through 1946. This target range is one of many former military installations throughout the United States that will be reviewed under the Department of Defense’s Munitions Response Site Prioritization Protocol. This protocol is used to assess sites that may have unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions or munitions constituents, and to assign priorities for any additional investigation or munitions removal that may be required. The evaluation criteria, including types of munitions that may be present, ease of access to the site and number of people living near the site, are available for public review in the Site Inspection Report located at Glasscock County Judge Wilburn Bednar’s office at the courthouse in Garden City. For more information or if you have additional information about past activities related to the former Midland Army Airfield Target Range No. 12, please contact: Randy Niebuhr, Project Manager, at (817) 886-1482 or Randy.R.Niebuhr@usace.army.mil.
It’s Everyone’s Business – Protecting Seniors from Fraud and Exploitation
Fraud by friends and family, “new best friends," thieving caregivers, religious con artists, financial abuse by family members— are examples of the many types of fraud and exploitation of the elderly or disabled which should be reported to Adult Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400. The exploitation may begin with a simple request ---but it becomes a “slippery slope” of continuing needs. Perhaps a caregiver begins by asking for a loan due to special circumstance like healthcare or school supplies for their children. The vulnerable adult receiving care feels obligated or concerned and offers help. The requests and “crisis” situations continue as the caregiver takes more and more money from the adult, resulting in exploitation. Adult Protective Services investigates these situations and others when there is an ongoing relationship between the adult and the alleged perpetrator. Often the loss of funds creates a situation of neglect ---leaving the victim with a loss of utilities or being unable to pay for medications. APS is often able to enable services to get basic needs met and to alleviate these problems while working with law enforcement to stop the perpetrator from further exploitation. Seniors and persons with disabilities are often victims of other types of exploitation or fraud such as home equity fraud, where a homeowner may be tricked into signing over the deed to his home. Often a person pretending to be a repairman or someone offering another service does this scam. The elderly person signs a contract believing it to be for roof repair, for example, and does not read it carefully enough to realize that it is a deed to their own home. Report instances of this type of fraud to the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General's office at 1-800-621-0508. Just Say, ‘No thanks,” and Hang Up Older persons may be vulnerable to some scams because they are more trusting, and some telemarketing and mail fraud schemes target the elderly. Some examples of telemarketing schemes, which often target elders, are the “You Are A Winner! " pitch, which misleads victims with a nonexistent prize in order to get them to buy something. Other examples include offers for great loans or "fixing" bad credit or any caller requesting your bank account or credit card number. The best way to avoid telemarketing fraud is to watch for “tip-off” statements and just say NO and hang up. Typical “tip-off” statements include: “Act now or the offer will expire” or “You've won a "free" gift, vacation, or prize, but you must pay for "postage and handling" or some other charge. If it’s Too Good To Be True ……. Mail fraud usually involves a situation that sounds too good to be true because it is! Watch out for fake contests, prizes, lotteries, chain letters, insurance deals, and promotions for fake health cures, beauty devices, or diets. Report scams by contacting the Postal Service Mail Fraud Complaint Center at 1-800-372-8347 or National Fraud Information Center. 1-800-876-7060. Some health fraud scams to watch for are advertisements for fake "cures" and fraudulent medical and health services marketed via the television or telephone (victims send in their money and never receive the ordered item or receive a copy rather than an authentic product). Other examples include " free" hearing tests and hearing aids, health care fraud where phony or real physicians take advantage of patients as a means of getting money from the victim's insurance company; and bogus insurance companies. It’s everyone’s business to help protect seniors and disabled adults from these types of fraud and exploitation. To report exploitation, contact Adult Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400 or through the website www.txabusehotline.org.
From the Schoolhouse
Scheduled Events:
Check the school website at: http://www.gckats.net for a schedule of current events.
June 4 – July 1: GCISD summer school; July 11: Texas Bowl basketball games at Howard College, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; July 12: Texas Bowl football game, DI vs. DII, Garden City, 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 4: GCHS football two-a-days begin.
Obituary
Ora Mae Johnson, 90, of Conroe died May 22, 2008 in a local hospital. Funeral services were Monday, May 26, 2008 at Cashner Funeral Home Chapel in Conroe with Reverend Merle Blado officiating, followed by graveside services and burial at Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana. She was born Aug. 6, 1917 in Richland, Texas to Sophie Sherrard Fetty and William Rufus Fetty. She attended school in Richland and married the late Clifton “Red” Johnson Jan. 31, 1934 in Corsicana. They lived in Emhouse, Texas until 1942 when they moved to Houston, where they raised their family. After Red’s death in 1973, she moved to Corsicana in 1975 where she resided until moving to Conroe in 1994. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Conroe and an enthusiastic member of the church’s Livewires group and Fidelis Homemaker’s Sunday School Class. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters: Verdie Calame of Wortham, Thelma Frazier of Comanche and Clyde Joy Jackson of Baytown. She is survived by two daughters, Carmen Johnson of Garden City, Sharon Longworth and husband Dennis of Houston; a son, Carey Johnson of Conroe; sister Charlene Lafevre of Wortham; brother Cecil Fetty of Corsicana; grandsons Mark and Steve Longworth and their families; special friends Joe Calverley, Jack Buckalew and Maurine Fiveash; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her wishes were that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Conroe’s building fund, 600 North Main Street, Conroe, TX 77301, the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 20448, Houston, TX 77225-0448 or a favorite charity.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be July 16. The deadline for that issue is July 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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