|
Glasscock County News
Water Board Incumbents Unopposed
Incumbents Kenneth Braden, Mike Hughes and Dennis Seidenberger are unopposed as candidates for their respective positions on the Glasscock Groundwater Conservation Board of Directors, and therefore, the May election will be cancelled. The board, at its meeting March 16, approved payment of the semiannual payment of $13,291 to West Texas Weather Modification Association for cloud seeding efforts (Seidenberger and Larry Wheat absent). GGCD Manager Rick Harston reported that the Abilene area may be interested in a partial membership in WTWMA, but not a full membership at this time, due to a lack of funds. The association has been hopeful that Abilene would join, as a source of additional monies, which will be needed to help replace state funds after this fiscal year. Hughes asked whether there are seminars which GGCD directors can attend which would help to further educate them on the intricacies of state water laws and issues. He said the board needs to prepare now for future decisions. Harston said there are various courses offered from time to time, and said he would see that the board is aware of them.
School Board Gives Some Teachers Raises
The GCISD School Board voted in its regular meeting April 12 to give a raise of $300 annually to teachers with more than 20 years teaching experience. The raises will be effective with the 2004-05 school year. After 90 minutes in closed session, the board also voted unanimously to hire Cecilia Schwartz as a special education teacher, and Josh Fee as an English/ history teacher and coach. The board cancelled the May school board election, since only two people filed for the two vacancies on the board. Incumbent Tibby Niehues and Diane Havlak will fill the two board seats. Nineteen students were approved as transfers into the school district; none of them are new to the district. The board approved the school calendar for 2004-2005. School will begin Aug. 16 with a holiday on Labor Day. Christmas break will be from Dec. 20 through Dec. 31 with an in-service day and a bad-weather day providing student holidays Jan. 6 and 7. Spring Break is set for March 7–11, and school will end May 20. Elementary Principal Ken Hoskins reported use of the exercise room Monday -Friday has averaged 66 in January, 47 in February, and 37 in March. He also reported the elementary school raised $696 for the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and that PK – 6 enrollment is 167. Secondary School Principal John Petree reported the failure rate for the last six weeks grading period has fallen to a record low for the year.
Garden City Head Start Registration
Garden City Head Start registration will be April 21 - 23 for children who are four years of age by Sept. 1, 2004. Bring proof of income, birth certificate, immunization record and Social Security card for all members of the household. Applications will be taken in the Garden City Head Start Parent Room from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Contact Delia Pierson, 354-2413 for more information. The program is primarily for four-year-old children. However, if enrollment is low, some three- year-olds may be taken. Applications will be taken now for all three and four- year-olds, but the three-year-old applicants will be on a waiting list. All applications are need now to help plan the program for the coming year to meet the needs of the community. Head Start will not deny enrollment on the basis of a child’s disability. Children will be accepted based on a point system. County to Hire Maintenance Person
The Glasscock County Commissioner’s Court decided on April 14 to advertise for a maintenance/janitorial person for the county courthouse and community center. This person also would oversee grounds maintenance for those buildings and oversee mowing at the Garden City cemetery and along Highway 158. The salary is to be $19,000 plus full county benefits. Job applications, which are available at the county judge’s and county clerk’s offices, will be taken until May 1. Commissioner Michael Hoch said the plan is to bring county road crew personnel in one day a week as necessary to do grounds maintenance and mowing. The court agreed to advertise for paving and seal coating bids. Paving is planned for two miles of County Road 195 and four miles of CR 110, and possible seal coating on five miles of CR 130. The work will be done in the summer. Charlene Belew reported on Extension office activities. She said the agricultural agent’s job has now been opened to applicants outside the Extension system. She said she knows of one applicant inside the system. Improvements to Little League Field Discussed Belew, as a director on the local Little League board, asked that the court clarify who is responsible for maintenance of the two baseball fields. The fields are owned by the county, (though the county doesn’t technically own all of the Garden City field). Hoch said the county provides the fields, and parents have traditionally kept the grounds. Commissioner Mark Halfmann said parents would like to have sprinklers on the Garden City field, so that it can be put into better shape. He said the field in St. Lawrence is in great shape, and all games will be played there this season. The court agreed to run a water line and to purchase materials for a ball field sprinkler system if parents would provide the labor for installation. County Judge Wilburn Bednar said he had declined a $1,000 estimate from an electrical company to run a line from one fire department barn to the older one on the courthouse square. He said county road crew workers could do the work instead. The court agreed that Bednar would ask the county’s senior citizens group to select a person to represent Glasscock County on the Permian Basin Aging Advisory Council. Commissioners passed a resolution opposing the sale of groundwater from state lands and another resolution opposing Governor Rick Perry’s tax plan. Central Air in Courthouse a Possibility Bednar said he had gotten estimates for installing central air conditioning and heating on the ground floor of the courthouse. He said ceilings would have to be lowered to eight feet to accommodate ductwork. The estimates ranged from$18,500 to $22,500 for two outside units, which would replace existing window units. There was little discussion and no action was taken. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke reported that recent repairs to the community center’s air conditioning system had cost $2,300. He said the repairman said the problems were due to shoddy workmanship when the system was installed. While commissioners doubt that any reimbursement is possible since the warranty period has expired, they agreed that Dierschke could write a letter to the N.C. Sturgeon Company, the building’s general contractor, outlining the county’s displeasure. The court tabled discussion of whether to join other area counties in an effort called the Texas Heritage Trails Program. The program would attempt to provide rural economic development, mostly from increased tourism, by promoting matters of historical interest or significance. Each participating county would pay $500 in matching funds if a proposed grant is secured from the Texas Historical Commission.
Varmint-Calling Contest Nets 59
The team of David Neff, Dwain Fox, Scot Sheppard and Joey Pinard won the Varmint-Calling Contest held Feb. 20 with seven coyotes and four bobcats. In doing so, the team took a prize of $850. Jim Havlak, Joe Deiterman and Kyle Schwartz won second prize with a take of 9 bobcats, pocketing a cash prize of $425. Each team pays an entry fee, which goes into a jackpot, which is then awarded 50 percent to the winning team, 25 percent to the second place team, and 25 percent to the Glasscock County Livestock, Range and Wildlife Association, which sponsors the contest as a fundraiser. This year’s 17 teams netted a total of 16 coyotes, 21 bobcats, 11 grey foxes and 11 raccoons. The contest lasts from 5 p.m. on one day until 10 a.m. the next.
Rabies Vaccination Clinic April 15
A veterinarian will be in Glasscock County April 15 to vaccinate your pets against rabies. He will be in St. Lawrence at the church from1 – 3 p.m. and in Garden City at the courthouse from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. The Texas Cooperative Extension Agency reminds that it is your responsibility, by law, to have your pets vaccinated against this disease. This is a community effort to prevent any rabies problem in this area.
‘Share-the-Fun’ Extravaganza/Benefit Set
The Glasscock County 4-H Adult Leader’s Association is presenting the first annual “Share-the-Fun” Extravaganza, a dinner theatre performed by county 4-H members, April 27 in the Glasscock County Community Center. A steak meal will be served buffet-style beginning at 6:30 p. m. Plates to go will be available for $10 each. Proceeds will benefit the Douglas Plagens family. Table reservations are on sale through April 23 from 8 a.m. to noon Monday – Friday through the Extension office, 354-2381. Seven front-row tables seating 8 people each cost $125 apiece; 17 tables seating 6 people cost $100 each and general seating costs $10 per person. You may prepay by mail or at the Extension office, or you can pay at the door. Send checks made payable to Glasscock County 4-H Adult Leader’s Association, to the Extension office, P.O. Box 299, Garden City, TX 79739. If you cannot attend, but would like to make a monetary donation to assist the Plagens family, you may do so by sending a check. Raffles for a quilt donated by Bernadette Plagens and a cedar chest donated by the Gary Jones family will be held. Contact Karla Hoelscher at 354-2449 or 354-2391 or the Extension office to purchase raffle tickets.
In The Spotlight
• Lady Kats Basketball post-season honors: Jessica Hoch, District 8-A MVP, Class A All–West Texas Team, Class 5A – A All-West Texas Super Team, TABC All-Region Second Team, TGCA All-State Team, TGCA All-State Academic Team; Leslie Jansa, District 8-A Defensive Player of the Year, TGCA All-State Academic Team; Amanda Henson, District 8-A All-District First Team, TGCA All-State Academic Team; Megan Niehues, District 8-A All-District First Team; Anna Flores, District 8-A Honorable Mention All-District.
• Nineteen Garden City students, with 13 first-place finishes in district competition, qualified to advance to UIL Regionals set for April 23 in Levelland. Individual students who placed in the top three and teams that placed first advanced. (See details, From the Schoolhouse)
• Eight GCHS students, with two teams finishing in first place in district play, will advance to the regional tennis meet in Levelland April 21 and 22. (See details, From the Schoolhouse)
• Audrey Strube Davis was honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award from Anson Jones Elementary School in Midland, and represented Midland in the Region 18 competition. Audrey, a 1994 graduate of GCHS, is the daughter of Jimmy and Carolyn Strube.
Briefly
• The 2004 Bearkat Booster Club Awards Banquet will be held May 4 at 6 p. m. at the Garden City Community Center. Tickets are $10 per person and will be available at the door or by contacting Tibby Niehues, 354-2220.
• Rent-A-Player will be held at the Bearkat Football Stadium at 6 p.m. May 11. For a minimum bid of $20 and a maximum of $80, one may rent a football player for seven hours, with proceeds going for an activity fund.
• Glasscock County Senior Citizens will meet April 20 at 6 p.m. Bring snack foods. For the meeting on May 4, bring potluck and enjoy the fellowship of your neighbors.
• Margaret J. Saunders is operating booth number 45 at the Wall Street Antique Mall, 3412 W. Wall in Midland. Merchandise includes candles by Creative Candlelight in Lubbock, picture frames, candies, wreaths/flower arrangements, books and some “old” items.
• An account to accept donations for Douglas Plagens’ family has been established at the First National Bank of Sterling City, Garden City Branch. Checks should be made payable to Douglas Plagens Fund.
• Melissa Halfmann invites everyone to her new store, Prissy’s, in Midland at 2101 West Wadley #12, Plaza Oaks Shopping Center, between Chesapeake Interiors and Antiquities.
• Tibby and Megan Niehues will teach swim lessons for 3-year-olds and older beginning May 24. Lessons will be held May 24 – 28 and May 31 – June 2. Call 354-2220 to sign up or for more information.
• Bearkat varsity cheerleaders for next year will be Amanda Hirt (head), Julie Hirt, Lyza-Ann Lopez, Kayla Medrano, K’Lann Niehues and Megan Niehues.
• Tennis Camp in Garden City is scheduled for June 14 – 17 (4 days). More information will be provided next month.
• Some school dates to remember: May 5, Kinder Roundup 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.; May 10, Band Concert 6:30 p.m.; May 21, GCHS Graduation 7:30 p.m.
From the Schoolhouse
University Interscholastic League District Academic Contest
Nineteen Garden City students, with 13 first-place finishes in district competition, qualified to advance to UIL regionals set for April 23 in Levelland. Individual students who placed in the top three and teams that placed first advanced. Noemi Guerrero dominated the science category with her first-place finish. She garnered the top spot in biology, chemistry and physics and earned second high overall individual. She also placed first in computer applications and computer science. Following close behind were teammates Taylor Niehues, who earned first in number sense and mathematics and third high individual overall; Allison Jansa, who captured first place in news and feature writing events; and Jessica Hoch, first place in accounting. Also advancing were: Amanda Hirt, second in accounting and editorial writing; Leslie Jansa, third in accounting; Kim Webb, third in computer applications; Taylor Niehues, second in science; Colton Schwartz, second in science and third in mathematics; and David Neufeld, second in computer science. GCHS advanced five teams to regional contest which were: the number sense tam of Taylor Niehues, Schwartz, Megan Niehues and Katie Gully; the science team of Guerrero, T. Niehues, Schwartz and Neufeld; the accounting Tam of Hoch, Hirt, L. Jansa and Anna Flores; the computer science tam of Guerrero, Neufeld, Yesennia Martinez and Ana Rodriquez; and the mathematics team of T. Niehues, Schwartz, Tyler Bednar and Guerrero. The spelling and journalism teams placed second in their respective events. Other results from the contest were, number sense: Schwartz, fourth; M. Niehues, eighth; Gully, 14th. Editorial writing: A. Jansa, fourth. Spelling: Brecklyn Hughes, fourth. Computer applications, Viviana Gamboa, fifth. Calculator, M. Niehues, sixth; T. Niehues, seventh; Bednar, eighth. Accounting: Flores, seventh. Computer science, Martinez, fifth; Rodriquez, eighth. Prose, Tracy Eggemeyer, fifth. Informative speaking, Eggemeyer, fourth. Mathematics, Bednar, sixth. Coaches for the GCHS team are Jerry Cannon and Shea Gartman, number sense, mathematics and calculators; John Petree, news writing, feature writing and editorial writing; Lynda Frysak, spelling. Also, Reta Bell, computer applications and accounting; Linda Jones and Randy Gartman, science; Cannon, computer science; Jill Tubb, prose and Koby Abney, informative speaking.
District 8-A Tennis Tournament Results
GCHS’s boy’s and girl’s varsity doubles tennis teams, who each placed first and second in the district meet held in Garden City April 12–13, advanced to the regional tourney in Levelland April 21 – 22. Garden City won both the boys and the girls District Team Championships. In boy’s doubles, Alex Halfmann and Taylor Niehues placed first; Blake Chudej and Evan Jansa were second. Tyler Bednar was third in boy’s singles, and Shaun Maxie also competed. Jessica Hoch and Megan Niehues placed first in girl’s doubles and Allison Jansa and Stacy Gully were second. Krystal Sullivan won third place in girl’s singles, and Julie Hirt also competed. In junior varsity competition, the girl’s doubles was won by Amanda Hirt and Brandi Halfmann; Katie Gully and Rebecca Cmerek, second; Lauren Plagens and Emily Gully, fourth. K’Lann Niehues was second in girl’s singles. Jared Bradford placed second and Chase O’Brien was third in JV boy’s singles.
Obituaries
•Douglas Edward Plagens, 47, died March 31 at a Midland hospital following a long illness and was buried at St. Lawrence Cemetery. He was born Dec. 24, 1956 in Big Spring. He graduated from Garden City High School. He farmed all his life in St. Lawrence and was a member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church. He married Connie Sheppard in 1983. He is survived by his wife Connie of St. Lawrence, two sons, Andrew Edward Plagens and Spencer Judson Plagens and one daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Plagens, all of St. Lawrence; his parents, Edd and Bernadette Plagens of St. Lawrence; six sisters, Debra Schwartz and husband Ernie, Denice Batla and husband Mike, Donna Goodwin and husband Duke and Dinette Watkins and husband Richard, all of St. Lawrence, Darla Brown of Fort Worth and Deanna Plagens of San Angelo; mother-in-law Dene Sheppard of Big Spring; two sisters-in-law, Teresa Sheppard of Big Spring and Cindy Inman and husband Mark of Midland; one brother-in-law, Scot Sheppard and wife Julie of Coahoma; 20 nieces and nephews and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.
•Juanita Alsup Klein of Kerrville died Tuesday, March 9. She was born June 23, 1922. Juanita grew up in Garden City and graduated from high school in 1940. She is survived by her husband, Leroy; one daughter, Gwen Lambert of Kerrville; one brother, Jack Alsup of Del Rio and 3 grandchildren.
Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be May 12. The deadline for that issue is May 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
|
|
|
