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Glasscock County News
Water District Has New
Name, Director Incumbent
Kenneth Braden, incumbent Dennis Seidenberger, and Mike Hughes will begin new
terms on the Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District’s Board of Directors
in August. Hughes replaces Mark Halfmann in Precinct 2, after Halfmann chose
not to run for another term. No election was necessary since no one else
filed for the positions. The other directors are Zane Eoff and Larry Wheat. The GGCD, formerly the Glasscock
County Underground Water Conservation District, was recently renamed to more
accurately reflect its scope and purpose. Weather Modification Program With
Glasscock County’s $13,000 semi-annual part of the weather modification
(cloud seeding) program due in July, the board discussed the program at its
regular meeting June 19. Harston and
the board have long voiced concern regarding how the weather program is run,
and whether the county has gotten its money’s worth from it. Much of their
dissatisfaction relates to the location of the group’s radar, the hours
pilots are available, and which clouds are seeded. They have said that the
radar is located too far east to find clouds west of Glasscock County and get
them seeded in time to generate rain here, that pilots are sometimes
unavailable late in the afternoon when favorable clouds start building here,
and that “marginal” clouds are not seeded. Harston said, “ Seeding a marginal
cloud may only produce a half-inch, but that’s a rain here.” GGCD
Director Dennis Seidenberger said, “If they can’t operate it [the weather mod
program] properly, we need to drop out.” Harston reported that the cloud
seeding planes now operate under new rules which allow seeding of a cloud
that has had a weather warning on it, unless the warning was for possible
“tornadic activity” in the cloud. The paths of flights taken by the planes can
be seen on personal computers by going to the GGCD’s home page, at www.angelfire.com/tx/gcuwd/ then to
“Links,” then to “Weather Modification Site,” then “Aircraft Flight Track
Images.” Click on “Flight Track
Archives” to see past flight paths.
New State
Groundwater Bill Harston reviewed the newly passed
Senate Bill 2, calling it “A home run
— almost a grand slam,” for the state’s groundwater districts. Harston said
he spent 30 nights and 41 days in Austin during this legislative session,
working with representatives from other districts to influence the bill’s
content. Some of the bill’s highlights: it
provides a process for resolving conflicts between a groundwater conservation
district’s management plan and the regional water plan; streamlines the
creation of new groundwater districts; gives water districts the option of
setting stricter rules; provides that penalties for violation of groundwater
district rules are sufficient to ensure adherence to district rules (up to
$10,000 per day per violation), and adds drought conditions to the management
goals that districts must address. An 11-page condensation of SB 2 is
available in the local water district office. County
Discusses Fence for Shooting Sports At the regular meeting of the
Glasscock County Commissioner’s Court July 9, County Extension Agent Steve
Sturtz asked the county to consider fencing the 4-H shooting sports area,
located at the county’s west dump ground. He said the fence is needed to
separate the area from the dump, and would help in obtaining a possible
National Rifle Association grant for improvements. He proposed that the area
be 850 feet deep by 600 feet wide, and have its own entrance off the county
road. Sturtz
said a 48-inch net wire fence built with T-posts and one strand of barbed
wire would be adequate. He suggested that the county provide the materials,
and that county road crew personnel and 4-H kids do the fence building. He
said he would look into the cost of materials. He said there are 10
youngsters currently active in the shooting sports program, which he hopes to
expand in the fall. After a discussion and a guess that it would cost $2300
to hire the fence built, the court seemed to agree to provide the fencing
materials, though no motion was made and no vote was taken on the matter. County Judge Wilburn Bednar
reported that a Tom’s Snacks salesman wants to put a vending machine in the
courthouse hallway. Bednar asked the commissioners what they thought about
the idea, and only Commissioner Michael Hoch voiced an opinion, saying, “It should be up to the people who work in
the courthouse.” The courthouse hallway now houses a soft drink machine and a
water fountain. The court approved Doris Schwartz,
Ann Hoelscher, Kim Hillman and Maritha Blalock as election judges. Bednar
once again asked the commissioners for their thoughts regarding an emergency
warning system (siren) in Garden City. Hoch said it needs to be looked into.
Commissioner Mark Halfmann said
the county may have to do the digging for the community center’s septic
system in order to avoid an expensive “rock clause” in a construction
contract. In
The Spotlight •
Four GCHS graduates recently received Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation
Opportunity Scholarships. Michelle
Fuchs ($10,000), Ryan Batla
($10,000), M’Lynn Niehues ($2,000)
and Tiffany Wheat ($1,000). The
daughter of Dennis and Barbara Fuchs, Michelle plans to attend Texas A &
M University, majoring in agribusiness and minoring in accounting. Ryan is
the son of Rebecca and Larry Batla and plans on an agricultural systems
management degree from Texas A & M. Daughter of Renee and Carey Niehues,
M’Lynn plans on a degree in environmental design before a master’s in
architecture, both at Texas A & M.
Tiffany, whose parents are Larry and Kathy Wheat, will major in family
and consumer science with a minor in education at Tarleton State University. • The Garden City
all-star baseball team placed third in competition in Iraan. They lost to
Eldorado 11–7 on Thursday night and beat Sanderson Friday night 9–0. Saturday, they beat McCamey 8–2, then
Eldorado 6–5. They then lost to
Ozona, who beat Iraan in the finals. Team members were: Taylor Niehues, Jason
Flores, Evan Jansa, Jared Bradford, Jacob Schmitz, Colton Schwartz, Ryan
Machicek, Sam Long, Chase O'Brien, Luis Zuniga, Juan Zuniga, Nick Sanchez,
Spencer Plagens, and Eric Hirt.
Coaches were Rory Niehues and Douglas Plagens. School Adopts 2001-2002 Calendar Meeting
in regular session July 9, with Cecilia Schwartz and Tibby Niehues absent,
the GCISD School Board adopted the school’s 2001– 2002 calendar. School
will begin Aug. 16. Fall holidays are Sept. 3, Oct. 8, Nov. 21–23 and Dec.
21–31. Spring holidays will be Jan. 1–4, Mar. 11– 15, Mar. 29, and school
will end May 23. Designated bad weather days are Mar. 8 and April 1.
In-service days for teachers will be Aug. 9 –10, 13 –15, Dec. 21, and May 24,
27–29. The
board hired Kim (Ms. Russell) Halfmann as an elementary school teacher. The
board approved paving the areas west and north of the elementary school and
the parking lot south of the administration building for a cost of $17,000. Elementary
School Principal Brad Jones reported that summer school had ended with 23
students being taken to Lubbock’s Omni Max theatre. He said it was a good
trip, even though they had trouble with the Bearkat bus. Secondary
School Principal Faith Scott said she is happy that all teachers are hired,
and is excited about the new school year. She reported that teachers seem
”delighted “ with recent improvements to their school housing, especially
those living in older houses. Long
reported that painting and repairs are continuing on teachers’ houses. He
said the district has spent $13,000 on house repairs and improvements, and
has collected $18,000 in rents. Refrigerated air was recently installed in
the duplex southeast of the administration building at a total cost of
$3,800. He also said the school’s “complex” has been painted inside and out,
and that he plans to have the high school lockers repaired and painted. The
board approved bids for property and casualty insurance, cafeteria supplies
and food, fuel, lubricants, propane, liability and student insurance, and
authorized Long to obtain janitorial supplies, copy paper and vehicle
maintenance at the most advantageous prices. The
board agreed to provide a meal for teachers on Aug. 13. In
addition to its regular meeting Aug. 13, the board will meet Aug. 6 to
discuss budget and student handbook matters. Briefly
•
The Glasscock County Clerk’s Office is taking applications until July 20 for a deputy clerk’s position. County
Clerk Rebecca Batla says the beginning salary will be $23,000, which is what
Doris Hoelscher is currently being paid for the job. Hoelscher, who is
resigning, had worked part-time in the clerk’s office four years and has been
a full-time deputy clerk three years. Applications are available in the
clerk’s office. Call 354-2371 for more information. •
GCHS cheerleaders will hold a
car wash Friday, July 13, beginning at 9 a.m. in front of the courthouse.
The price will be $10 per vehicle and donations are accepted. • Need windows washed??? The
Garden City High School girls’ basketball team is washing windows to raise
funds to attend a Levelland basketball camp in late July. To schedule the crew, call Melissa Hoch,
354-2360 or Tibby Niehues, 354-2220. •
“Thanks to all who came to our aid when Jack Hartley passed away.
The 911 service was prompt. The EMT’s were fast to respond with loving
care and concern. Each prayer, card
and phone call has meant so much.”
Virginia Hartley and Family • Correction:
In the June edition, Gerry Hartley’s name was misspelled, and her
husband, Mike Short, was not named among Jack Hartley’s survivors. We regret
the errors. •
Robert and Susan Pryor
thank everyone who drove to Sterling City to buy their fireworks and for
making it a good year. They hope you had a great Fourth of July. •
The Democratic Party in
Glasscock County needs a chairman. Anyone interested should contact the
county clerk’s office. •
A mini-cheerleading camp will be conducted by GCHS cheerleaders for
kids in grades K–6 Aug. 28 and Aug. 30 at the school complex starting
immediately after school until 6 p.m. The cost of $25 (with a $5 discount for
each additional family member) includes a camp T-shirt and refreshments. A
performance for parents will be held Aug.30 at 6 p.m. Fourth through sixth grade
participants will form a pep squad, participate in 2 pep rallies, and have
special seating at all home games.
Camp fees and forms are due by Aug. 13, and may be given to any
cheerleader. Mail orders may be sent
to Brecklyn Hughes, P. O. Box 307, Garden City, TX, 79739. •
Summer vegetables are
available from Autumn and Dana Henrichs in Garden City. Call 354-2539 for
information. •
Cantaloupe should be available
July 17 and watermelons by July 31
at the Melon Patch stand on Highway 158 east of Garden City, according to
Andrea Hillger. About This Publication The next issue will be Aug. 15. The deadline for
that issue is Aug. 13. The Glasscock
County News is published by Joe Melanie Calverley, P. O. Box 98, Garden
City, TX, 79739. Phone or Fax:
915/354-2221; e-mail: gcnews201@aol.com. Website: http://wscope.com/glasscock/ |
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