Glasscock County News

Volume 15, Number 04                                 Garden City, Texas                                    January 14, 2008

Long Gets Salary Increase

At its regular meeting Jan. 12 (Tibby Niehues absent), the GCISD board spent four hours in closed session discussing Superintendent Steve Long’s performance before voting unanimously to approve his evaluation and to increase his salary by $2,500, making it total $82,000. No contract extension was mentioned.

The board appointed a bond committee to recommend and prioritize what capital improvements the school should make if a bond issue is presented to and passed by voters in the spring. Those appointed are: Jaime Walker, Christy Seidenberger, Mitchell Jansa, Denis Calverley, Brad Avery, Karla Hoelscher, Tony Gomez, Carl Hoelscher, Andy Wheeler, Misty Kinnibrugh, Randy Gartman and Brent Kirkland.

The last date to call for a May bond election is March 9. A representative from Southwest Financial will be at the Feb. 9 board meeting to explain the bond process and options.

High School Gets Bronze Rating from National Magazine

Secondary School Principal Misty Kinnibrugh announced that GCHS recently received a bronze medal in U.S News and World Report’s list of America’s Best High Schools 2009. The recognition was based on last year’s data.

 According to a letter from the magazine, the list recognizes three categories of distinction, gold, silver and bronze based on

• standardized test performance • proficiency rates of all students, including the least advantaged and • a challenging college-ready curriculum. The bronze medal recognizes high schools that met the first two criteria, but not the third. According to the letter, these schools have demonstrated commendable performance on state tests but did not perform well enough on the college readiness index to merit identification as a top-performing high school.

Kinnibrugh said she feels strongly that the magazine “… got it wrong about our college-ready curriculum.”

Kinnibrugh also announced that Technology Coordinator Jerry Cannon has received an award from the state UIL for sponsor excellence.

Teachers Complete Laptop Training

Both Kinnibrugh and Elementary School Principal Randy Gartman reported that teachers have completed Phase I training on the new laptop computers. A second phase of training will be held in the fall. School board members were each given a wireless-equipped laptop like the teachers’ to take home for their personal use. All of them also have email addresses on the school’s server.

The board approved the annual audit presented by Tracy Tarter, CPA.  He said all the financials look good, and the district has a strong financial base.

Courthouse Gets New Phone System

                The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court (Mark Halfmann absent) on Jan. 12 approved purchase of a new telephone system for the county courthouse at a cost of $1,631. The system will mean that phones in the offices of county judge, justice of the peace, county/district clerk and county treasurer will be connected to those in the tax office and sheriff’s department.

When the new system is activated, calls can be transferred from one office to another and phone messages can be accessed from another location, among other improvements. One of the major features will be that various data can be sent from law enforcement’s in-car computers not only to the sheriff’s department, but also to the JP’s office and the clerk’s office, eliminating the need for those offices to re-enter data necessary for fines, court dates, etc. The system is being purchased from ATS Telcom in Big Spring.

Community Center Break-in

Sheriff Keith Burnett reported that a break-in occurred at the Glasscock County Community Center over the weekend, with money being taken from the Extension Service offices. Burnett said the building was unlocked during the weekend so people could care for livestock show animals at varying hours.

 He said the perpetrators removed acoustic ceiling tiles in the hallway and went into the locked Extension Service offices from the ceiling, breaking a hallway trophy case in the process. Since the county owns the building, Burnett asked the commissioners’ court whether they wanted to press charges (felony). Burnett said he has three suspects, whom he did not name, none of whom are juveniles (two are high school seniors and one is a college freshman).

                After discussion, County Judge Wilburn Bednar said he would take responsibility for handling the matter, including determining punishment.

County Buys Drug Dog

County commissioners agreed to pay Concho County $4,000 owed for Deputy Sheriff Todd Dean’s drug dog. This means the dog will belong to Glasscock County, with Dean having the option of buying the dog back for $4,000 if he leaves or is terminated from his job with Glasscock County while the dog is still in service.

Burnett said it would cost the county approximately $15,000 to buy a similarly trained dog and pay for a handler’s training. Burnett said the dog does a great job, and he thinks marijuana presence at the school has dropped because of him. He also said Dean is always willing to bring the dog out for use in backing up other officers. He said the dog is two years old and should have four more years of service time.

Funds for the dog’s purchase will come from the county’s contingency fund, since Burnett said his department’s discretionary funds are gone. But he reminded the court how much new money the department is bringing in as a result of traffic tickets. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke agreed with the increase in income.  He said he will send almost as much in traffic fines and fees to the state comptroller for the most recent quarter as he usually sends in a year.

Big $’s to House Murder Suspect

Burnett said it is costing Glasscock County $1,000 per month to keep murder suspect Rodney Mason in jail in Reagan County. So far, he said the county has spent $10,000 for Mason’s housing. Burnett said District Judge Robert Moore has not yet set a trial date. Mason is the suspect in a murder committed last year on Highway 137 in Glasscock County just south of Martin County.

The court discussed appointments to the county historical commission, and Dierschke told the court he was willing to serve on the commission, but did not want to chair it any longer. He recommended that member Mary Jo Cope become the chair. Other commission members are Dodie Mills and Laura Huitt. The court reappointed those members and decided to ask Wanda Moore to serve as well. None of the appointees except Dierschke have said if they will serve.

The court voted to add 30 minutes per day to Wanda Roberts’ hours as landfill/dump ground supervisor, giving her 30 hours per week and a full-time job with benefits. Bednar, Commissioner Michael Hoch and others spoke of the good job she does.

Extension Agents Overview 2008 Programs

The county’s Extension Service agents gave overviews of their programs in 2008. Rebel Royall said his swine program has benefited several families and will continue for another year. He is planning a range management program. He said 56 kids participated in the 2009 livestock show with a few being newcomers. He said the show’s sale was down only about $2,000, which he said was good, considering the economy.

Warren Multer said the court already knows most of his work, and that 2008 was a tough crop year, without as many studies as he had planned.

Charlene Belew said the local 4-H program is still recognized as one of the best in the state. In answer to a question from Bednar, the agents guessed that 4-H brought in $50,000 in scholarships last year.

Belew described three programs she coordinated with the school. In “Walk Across the Moon,” a competition with grades from Headstart through six, which encourages physical activity, students and teachers walked a total of 8,013 miles. This competition will be repeated in 2009 during March, April and May. Another program with third graders emphasized nutrition and physical activity will also continue another year. Belew said she coordinated the program with Phyllis Byrne, who then taught the curriculum to her class. (She said Byrne quit drinking soft drinks and lost 20 pounds.)

Another program was a one-day agriculture safety event aimed at giving youth an introduction to safety concepts related to rural living, with topics such as safety related to snakes, seat belts, tractors, sun, insects, landscapes, fires, chemicals minor and emergency care, stray animal, rodent and varmint safety. Local volunteers dealt with the various topics.

Commissioners set the 2009 holiday schedule for county employees. Courthouse offices will have holidays on Jan 1 and 19; Feb. 16, April 10, May 25, Sept. 7, Oct. 12, Nov. 11, 26 and 27, Dec. 24 and 25. The county road crew will have holidays Jan. 1, April 10, May 25, Sept. 7, Nov. 26, 27, and Dec. 24, 25 and 28 – 31.

Locals Help with Rehab Telethon

Glasscock 4-H Club senior members, county residents and popular Texas Country musician Pat Green have something special in common:  all will be working to help West Texas Rehabilitation Center on Jan. 17. Green, a three-time Grammy award nominee, will be singing on stage at the Abilene Civic Center during Rehab’s 39th annual telethon.

Senior members of the Glasscock 4-H Club will be calling county residents prior to the telethon date to ask for monetary pledges.  All pledges will be announced on television the evening of the event.  Anyone wanting to pledge a donation may contact the Extension office at 432-354-2381.

“We hope our families and friends will mail in their donations prior to the event using pledge cards mailed by the Rehab Center in early December, or make a pledge when called,” said Charlene Belew, phone bank coordinator and County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences of Glasscock County, “because the Rehab Center makes a difference every day in the lives of many area residents.”

The telethon will be carried by 10 statewide television stations, including KWES-TV, Channel 8, Midland/Odessa. Joining Green on stage will be hosts Charlie Chase and Red Steagall, as well as many other entertainers.

Also, the telethon features an auction of more than 400 items ranging from ag items and electronics to furniture and travel packages that have been donated by businesses and individuals. Items can be seen and bids placed on the website at www.westtexasrehab.org. In addition, an auction tabloid describing all items, including toll-free bidding numbers, will be published Jan. 17 in the San Angelo Standard-Times.

Traditionally, the benefit raises more than $1 million for Rehab’s operating expenses of facilities in Abilene, San Angelo and Ozona. WTRC staff provides outpatient rehabilitation treatment services to more than 23,000 patients each year – regardless of their financial circumstances.

For more information on services provided by the Rehab Center, call 325-223-6300.

4-H, Nickelodeon Launch Online Game

The National 4-H Council has partnered with Nickelodeon's "Big Green Help" to create a brand-new, interactive online game, "Flip N' Flow,” featuring the network's animated boy-genius Jimmy Neutron. The game is in support of 4 H's science, engineering and technology communication campaign to spark youth interest in science and prepare young people for America's technology workforce.

Nickelodeon's "The Big Green Help" is a kid-led movement that provides information and tools to help explain climate change to young people, and connects them to energy-saving and earth-friendly activities in their everyday lives.

The "Flip N' Flow" game is available online at 4-H.org (http://www.4-H.org). Youth can play the game and access materials to share with friends. Check out this fun activity that gives youth and mentors the opportunity to learn about water conservation and challenges them think about steps they can take to participate in going green!

Questions can be directed to Nancy Cole (301-961-2926) at National 4-H Council.

County Junior Livestock Show Winners

The 72^nd Annual Glasscock County Junior Livestock Show was held Jan. 9 and 10.

The Travis Pate, Jr. Memorial Top Hand Award, which is a rotating trophy given to the exhibitor who accumulates the most points based on placings during the livestock show, went to Cassie Hirt for the second consecutive year.

Macy Schwartz was awarded the Douglas Plagens Memorial Scholarship ($750). Glasscock County Junior Livestock Show Association Scholarships ($450 each) went to Britton Avery, Sydney Halfmann, Cole Schwartz, Jake Schwartz, and Levi Schaefer.

Top winners were: Kamie Halfmann, Grand Champion rabbit and Reserve Grand Champion rabbit; showmanship for rabbits Laura Halfmann, senior, Kamie Halfmann, intermediate, Megan Hughes, junior.  Samantha Kellermeier, Grand Champion steer; Cassie Hirt, Reserve Grand Champion steer; showmanship for steers Samantha Kellermeier, senior.  Holly Halfmann, Grand Champion swine; Rafe Royall, reserve Grand Champion swine; showmanship for swine Macy Schwartz, senior, Kamie Halfmann, intermediate, Kenzie Schaefer, junior.  Lane Halfmann, Grand Champion lamb; Paige Sturtz, Reserve Grand Champion lamb; showmanship for lambs, Reggie Halfmann, senior, Hannah Halfmann, intermediate, Quinton Hale, junior.  Cassie Hirt, Grand Champion goat; Amber Halfmann, Reserve Grand Champion goat; showmanship for goats Amber Halfmann, senior, Hannah Halfmann, intermediate, Carlie Hollingsworth, junior.

Briefly

•  Glasscock County Senior Citizens will meet Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. and the fare will be potluck.  Come join us for an evening of good food and dominos.  This will be the only meeting in February due to other community activities. 

•  The Glasscock County Sheriff’s Office issued 155 citations in December. Other activities for the month were:  arrests – 4, medical calls – 2, vehicle accident calls – 2 major, 1 minor, civil citations served – 7, fire calls – 2, livestock calls – 14, offense reports – 2 burglary of a building, 5 thefts.

                The sheriff’s office currently has four inmates, 3 jailed in Reagan County and 1 in Howard County.

•  A Take-Home Bar-B-Que Chicken Dinner will be hosted Feb. 1 by the Glasscock County 4-H Leadership Tour Group.  Items available for purchase are: fully cooked whole chicken $8, pint of sauce $4, pint of cole slaw $3, quart of beans $3 and homemade desserts.  Pick-up will be at St. Lawrence Parish Hall Kitchen at 11:30 a.m.   Delivery will be at Garden City in the Community Center parking lot at 11:30 a.m. and at St. Thomas Church in Midkiff at 10 a.m. To place an order, contact the Extension Office at (432) 354-2381, Carol Batla at 354-2654, or Karen Schaefer at 354-2564, or any junior high or high school 4-H member of the Leadership Group.

•  The Glasscock County Junior Livestock Board of Directors, the Glasscock County AgriLife Extension Office, the exhibitors and their parents thank everyone who contributed their time and/or donations to the livestock show. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the 72nd Annual Glasscock County Junior Livestock Show was a complete success!

• A Texas Department of Public Safety representative is in Garden City at the community center on the second Thursday of each month to issue driver’s license renewals, give driving tests, etc.  Hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• The last time for mail pickup from the post office in Garden City is 10:15 a.m. Saturday and 4:15 p.m. Monday – Friday.

•  “Rope for Hondo” Benefit Team Roping Saddle Series will be held Feb. 14 -- Valentine Arena, Feb. 28 -- Valentine Arena,

Mar. 21 -- Ft Stockton Coliseum, April 4 -- Alpine Sale Arena and April 18 -- Iraan. All proceeds go to medical expenses for Hondo Davis. For more information, call 432/208-6581.

•  The American Heart Association will hold a free Health Fair and Women’s Expo, with screenings, exhibits, giveaways, etc. in the old hardware store in downtown Big Spring Jan. 22 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. On Feb. 19, there will be a Go Red for Women Luncheon at the Big Spring Country Club, sponsored by Scenic Mountain Medical Center and the AHA in support of women’s cardio health. For more information regarding these and other AHA events, contact AHA Area Director Pam Hughes, 432/218-8511.

•  An online live auction to benefit West Texas Rehab Center is available now. Place your bid by going to www.rehabauction.org and registering. The auction ends Jan. 17 at midnight. Call 325/793-3508 for more information.

4-H News

From the Schoolhouse

Scheduled Events:

Check the school website at: http://www.gckats.net for a schedule of current events.

Dates to remember:  Jan. 14 – 16 semester exams; Jan. 19 – target date to begin checking out student laptop computers; Jan. 21 – report cards; Jan. 31 – BPA district meet; Feb. 7 – UIL HS meet in Midland

Basketball:

 For all game schedules see http://classroom.gckats.net/webs/athletics/home.htm

Obituaries

•  Dixie Mize Bond, 83, of Sweetwater, died Dec. 31, 2008 in a Sweetwater hospital and was buried in the Garden City Cemetery. She was born Feb. 20, 1925, in Garden City to T. M. (Coy) and Eugena McMaster Clark.  She married Joe Bond in 1970 in Champion, Texas, and he preceded her in death in 2000.

Dixie was raised and attended school in Garden City.  She was a homemaker and lived in Sweetwater off and on for the past 30 years. Survivors include three sons, Roy Mize and wife Betty of Sweetwater, Hollis Mize of China Grove Community, Texas, and Tommy Mize of Sweetwater; a sister, Vada Witkowski of Sand Springs; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

•  Mrs. A. M. (Billie) Nunley, Jr., 90, of Garden City died Jan. 5, 2009, in a Midland hospital and was buried in the Garden City Cemetery at a private service. She is survived by her son, A. M. Nunley III, of Midland.

 Memorials contributions may be sent to Big Spring Humane Society, P. O. Box 823, Big Spring, TX 79720; Permian Basin Area Foundation, Memorial Scholarship Fund, 200 N. Loraine, Suite 500, Midland, TX 79701; Lone Star SPCA, 4200 N. Fairgrounds Rd., Midland, TX 79705; The Midland SPCA, P. O. Box 4371, Midland, TX 79703.

Next Issue Date and Deadline

             The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Feb. 11. The deadline for that issue is feb. 9, 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.