News Archives - April 2008   

Coleman County Sheriff’s Dept. Activity Report
April 9th – May 1st (courtesy Co. Sheriff Wade Turner)
In addition to ongoing investigations and countywide patrols, the Sheriff’s Dept. responded to 42 calls for service or activities that are listed as follows:

1 Investigate loud music complaint (Novice); 1 check for possible grass fire on State 283 North of Coleman; 2 Transport (2) inmates to Texas Department of Criminal Justice ID; 3 Guard inmate admitted at CCMC; 1 Investigation of theft; 5 Cattle on the highway; 2 Courtesy Fingerprint Applications; 2 Bailiff for County Court; 1 Registration of Sex Offender; 3 Service of Arrest Warrants; 1 Investigation of 911 hang up call (Novice); 1 Transport inmate to hospital (ER); 1 Report of goats out in Santa Anna; 1 Investigate telephone harassment; 1 Assist DPS with vehicle accident; 2 Bailiff for District Court; 1 Investigate Burglary CR 120 ( made 3 arrests ); 2 Transport Juveniles to Detention Center in Abilene; 1 Execution of Search Warrant (4 arrests); 2 Accidents involving deer; 1 Severe Weather patrol; 1 Investigate burglary on CR 346; 1 Investigate destruction of gate ( White Chapel ); 1 Vehicle accident on 283; 2 Transport inmates to Runnels County Jail; 1 Investigate Burglary of Building; 1 Assist Child Protective Service with investigation; 1 Civil Stand-by.

We are currently holding (7) inmates in the Coleman County Jail:
1 charged with (2) counts of aggravated assault; 1 charged with Poss. of Controlled Substance, Criminal Trespass, and Blue Warrant; 1 charged with Burglary of a Building; 1 charged with (2) counts of Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon; 1 sentenced to Texas Department of Criminal Justice ID; 1 charged with Burg. of Building, Burg. of a Habitation, and Blue Warrant; 1 charged with Felony DWI.

We are holding 6 inmates in the Runnels County Jail due to Classification.
1 charged with (2) counts of assault; 1 charged with Violation of Protective Order, Terroristic Threat, and Blue Warrant; 1 charged with 1st degree Possession with intent to Manufacture, and MTR; 1 charged with 1st degree Possession with intent to Manufacture; 1 charged with Class B possession of marijuana; 1 charged with Assault, Aggravated Assault and Evading Arrest.

County Courthouse Master Plan Discussed
4/30/2008
The meeting of Coleman County Commissioners was attended this morning by approximately 35 people. Most were there to gain more information concerning a plan to possibly renovate the Coleman County Courthouse and return it to how it used to look 50 years ago, before the current facility was built. In what lasted about two hours, many citizens asked many questions. Below we will attempt to answer some of the questions which were brought up today.

The Texas Historical Commission has a courthouse restoration program which was established in 1999 by then Governor George W. Bush. Counties across Texas have received funding through the program to modernize their courthouses while at the same time bringing them back to their original architectural beauty. The state funds 85% of the cost, the county funds the remaining 15%. For counties wishing to apply for one of the THC grants, a master plan must be presented.

In attendance at the meeting were Devlin Shelton and Larry Irsik representing the Austin office of ArchiTexas, an architecture, planning and historic preservation firm. They have done 22 master plans for various counties in Texas, mainly and have acquired $50 million in grant money for their clients to renovate and restore courthouses.

What is the Master Plan and what does it do?
The Master Plan is required by the Texas Historical Commission in order for the county to be considered in the grant cycle for renovation. The plan includes historic research of the courthouse, how it used to look, what is there now, and how the space is used. It includes a complete mechanical engineering report on electricity, plumbing and construction. County officials will be interviewed for their opinions on how the building could best work for everyone and the amount of work space determined. The Master Plan is designed to be a working document for the next 30 years and includes a full building code analysis and whether it meets disability requirements. It will also let County Commissioners know what problems exist with the current building and what costs to expect in order to fix existing problems, even if a restoration project isn't done.

What will the Master Plan cost the County?
The estimated cost of the Master Plan is $50,000 to be paid by the county. If the county is approved for a Texas Historical Commission grant, 85% of the $50,000 will be reimbursed to the county.

How long will it take to do the Master Plan?
ArchiTexas estimates it will take 5 months to do the study and put the plan together.

If Commissioners vote to do the Master Plan, then what?
Once the Master Plan is approved by County Commissioners, it will be presented to the Texas Historical Commission for their review and comments. If they recommend changes, those can be made and then presented back to the THC. Upon final approval of the Master Plan by the THC, a grant application is made to be considered along with all the other applications. Plans are given points based on age of the facility, endangerment (how bad it needs restoring) then the courthouses with the highest points receive the grants for that particular cycle.

How long will it take to renovate?
If the county is approved for a renovation project, it will take close to two years in most cases from the Master Plan to construction is finished.

Where will county government go during a renovation?
Most counties that have taken on a restoration program have temporarily moved their county offices to other areas in town. They typically rent vacant buildings while restoration is underway. The expense for the county to move and rent other facilities is not covered in the state grant.

Will all county offices currently in the courthouse stay there or be located elsewhere?
It won't be known for sure until a Master Plan is done but it has been the experience of other counties that other annexes have been constructed, not covered in the grant, to house the offices.

Commissioners did not vote today on whether or not to approve the Master Plan.  Another area town with a courthouse renovation project is Brady.

Ashley Jameson Accepted to Phi Kappa Phi
4/29/2008
Ashley Jameson, a 2005 Coleman High School, was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi at an induction ceremony at the University of Texas at Arlington on Friday, April 18th. Ashley will complete her 2nd year at UT at Arlington in May and is classified as a Junior. Below is the letter that Ashley received:

“The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is pleased to announce that Ashley Marie Jameson of Coleman, Texas was recently initiated into the Phi Kappa Phi Chapter at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she is studying nursing. Ashley is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Attending the Phi Kappa Phi ceremony were Ashley’s parents, Rex and Debbie Jameson.  Ashley is the granddaughter of Max and Ann Jameson of Voss, and Wilbert and Jerry Dobbins of Coleman. 

Early Voting Underway
4/29/2008
Early voting is underway for the City of Coleman and Coleman School Board elections. Early voting for both elections is taking place at Coleman City Hall. The number of early voters as of 10:30am Tuesday was 69.

Hours for early voting will be 8:00am to 12:00 noon and 1:00pm to 5:00pm through Friday, May 2nd.
Monday, May 5th and Tuesday, May 6th, City Hall will be open from 7:00am to 7:00pm for early voting and won't be closed for lunch.

Election Day is Saturday, May 10th when polls will be open from 7:00am to 7:00pm at 200 West Liveoak at City Hall Council Chambers.

School Board Approved District Technology Plan
Hires Teachers
4/29/2008
Could future CHS students have their very own laptop? The Coleman School Board met Monday night and approved the District and High School Technology Plans. The board heard from Paul Martin, Technology Director, and Richard Holloway, High School Principal. They are making efforts to apply for a $500,000 grant for the high school that would, among other things, provide a laptop for every high school student in an effort to immerse and equip each CHS student with the technology to be prepared to enter college or a vocation with advanced technology skills.

In other action, the board hired the following teachers:

* Tracy Dawson - Head Girls Basketball Coach
* Danna Dawson - Jr. High and High School Art
* Shella Arnwine - 7th Grade Math and Jr. High Girl's Coach
* Steffany Fitzpatrick - 8th Grade Math
* Sarah Mason - High School Tech Applications and some first year Ag classes

The board also approved a staff development waiver and early release waiver for the 2008-2009 school year and approved a student insurance carrier for the district with little change in rates for the next school year.

Hospital To Receive $50,000 Grant
4/29/2008
The Coleman County Medical Center Board of Directors met in their regular meeting Thursday evening at 5 o’clock, with a short agenda to address.

In his Administrative Report, Doug Langley advised the board that the hospital has been awarded a grant in the amount of $50,000.00 from the Office of Rural Community Affairs for the purchase and installation of a new boiler and air handler.

Board member Charlotte Johns addressed her fellow directors concerning her decision not to run for re-election this year. She stated that she had enjoyed her time on the board, and had learned a lot about the workings of the hospital. Johns went on to say that the hospital is in good shape, and that she believes the incoming board member, Ernie Yates, will be an asset to the board.

CEO Langley presented the financial report for the month of March, 2008, stating that the finances are in pretty good condition for this time of year. He also stated that an employee survey had been done recently concerning their opinion of the operation of the hospital, and that the results of this survey would be included in the Quality Assurance Report which will be presented at the May board meeting.

In other business, board members approved the renewal of the General Liability, Automobile, and Boiler and Machinery policies with the Texas Hospital Insurance Exchange through Countywide Insurance for another year.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 5 PM on May 22, 2008.

County 4-Hers Compete in Livestock Judging
4/29/2008
The District 7 4-H Livestock Judging contest was held on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at the Angelo State University Management Instruction & Research Center at San Angelo. The students were accompanied by Luther Dunlap, Coleman County Extension Agent and parents: Nancy Baker, Jennifer Short, and Denice Rutledge.

Senior Team members placing were:
Anna Vail - 4th High Individual - Beef; 4th High Individual - Reasons
Jammie Pruitt - 6th High Individual - Sheep

Coleman County Team #2 - 3rd High Point Team - Sheep
Team #2 Members were: Jammie Pruitt, Lachelle Rutledge, Kenneth McMillan and Stephen Hoelscher.

School Board Hires New Girls Basketball Coach
4/29/2008
The Coleman School Board met Monday night and approved a contract for a new Head Girls basketball coach. His name is Tracy Dawson who comes to Coleman from the Whitewright ISD. In Whitewright he was the girls coordinator, head girls basketball and cross country coach. He also assisted in volleyball and track. Dawson has also served as head basketball coach at Jarrell, Van and Mabank high schools. He is originally from Cotton Center where, in high school, he was an all-state cornerback, on the West All-Star Basketball Team and was a regional qualifier in the 110 and 330 hurdles.

He is married to Danna Dawson and they have three school-age children. Danna was also hired Monday night to teach art next year at Coleman High School and Junior High School.

Recent "Soles for Souls" a Huge Success
4/28/2008
Coleman Jr. High held a shoe drive last week which turned out to be a very successful venture. Bridget Wakefield and the Student Council sponsored the drive and were interviewed by KTAB's Angela Taylor for a news spot.
Here are the stats from the drive:
***The total number of shoes donated was 527 pairs .
***The 8th graders donated the most shoes with 213 pairs.
***158 pairs of tennis shoes were donated to CISD and given to the school nurse for dispersal.

Nurse Rosales was thrilled to get the shoes. She said, “ I am overwhelmed and extremely grateful for your donation of these shoes. This is a great thing for these kids. They need tennis shoes so they can run and play. Thank you very much!”  CJHS wants to thank parents and students for participating in this worthwhile event.

Adam Dobbins Competes and Wins in 5K's
4/28/2008
During the month of April, Adam Dobbins ran three 5K (3.1 miles) Races in Abilene receiving 3 first place finishes. Those races were the Autism Speaks 5K Run, Abilene Mayors Round-Up 5K Run, and the March of Dimes Saving Babies 5K Run.

In the March of Dimes race he placed 1st overall beating the other 179 racers with a time of 18 minutes 45 sec., in the Autism Speaks 5k Adam received 1st place in the 13-19 age division and 2nd overall in a race of 224 people with a time of 19min.5sec. 

In the Mayors Round-Up 5K he received 1st place in the 13-19 age division and 3rd place overall in a race with 270 racers with a time of 18min.5sec. Adam began running about a year and a half ago in an effort to improve health. He hopes that he will be an example to others to get out and get healthy. Adam is now training for a 10K (6.2 miles) race in August.

Rainfall Report
4/28/2008
Rain amounts from Saturday night / Sunday morning are as follows:
* Colemannews.com - .50
* Linda Wright and Wayne Wright - just west of Glen Cove - .59
* Bill Garrett - 5 mi. SW of Santa Anna - 1.10
*  John and Earlene Dockery - 11 mi. S. of Santa Anna - 4.00 inches and some hail damage

Voting Reminder
4/25/2008
5:00 P.M., Friday, May 2, 2008, is the last day to receive application by mail for a ballot to be voted by mail in the upcoming joint election for the City of Coleman and Coleman Independent School District. Please call Sue Burleson, Early Voting Judge, at 625-4116 to request an application to vote by mail.

Also, early voting for the May 10th city and school elections begins this Monday, April 28th. More on that this weekend.

Aggie Mom Scholarships Given
4/24/2008
The Coleman County Aggie Moms have announced their scholarship recipients for this year as follows:

Whitney McMillan is a second year Animal Science major, but classified as a junior in the Department of Animal Science. Whitney is a member of Saddle and Sirloin Club and Aggie REPS. She is also a member of Project Sunshine where she works with disabled children in the Brazos Valley.

Whitney is a student worker at the Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center where she works 30 hours a week while taking 15 semester hours at A&M. She has recently accepted the position of assistant to Dr. W.S. Ramsey, professor of Animal Science at A&M. She will serve as teaching assistant as part of her duties.

Whitney is the daughter of Brent & Renea McMillan ,the granddaughter of Richard & Ellen Jo Johnson of Novice and Tony & Gail McMillan of Abilene. Her Great-Grandfather is Leonard Johnson of Coleman and proud big sister is Brittni McMillan of San Angelo. She is a member of the First Baptist Church.

Jaime Manley is a candidate for graduation from A&M in December of 2008 with a degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Applied Exercise Physiology. She is the daughter of Tim and Debbie Manley of Coleman. Her grandfather is James Peden of Ft. Worth, brother and sister-in-law are Clint and Ashley Manley of Houston.

In addition to being a full-time student, Jaime received her certification in First Aid, CPR, Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instruction and has taught swim lesson to children ages 2-12 for three years working 30-40 hours a week. In 2006, she worked as a student athletic trainer for the Texas A&M Track & Field team, working 30 hours a week. Currently she is employed at the Student Rec Center on campus.

She plans to serve an internship at Baylor Medical Hospital in Dallas in the fall in the Clinical & Cardiac Rehab area which is her career focus.  Jaime attends the Grace Baptist Church.

Patrick McMahon is a sophomore majoring in Entomology.
His parents are Kevin and Terra McMahon of Coleman. Joan Whitaker of Mason and James McMahon of Harper are his grandparents.  Patrick is a member of Reeds Rowdies. This past fall he was team coordinator for the coed football team.

In 2007 he was Fish Camp Counselor and will serve in that same position this summer. Last year he participated in “Big Event”, a weekend spent repairing homes for needy families in College Station and will be involved in that program again this month.

Beginning in May of ‘07 through the summer and early fall, Patrick worked as Lifeguard for the City of College Station working 20 to 40 hours a week while taking summer classes.  Patrick is a member of First United Methodist Church.  His goal is to eventually earn a doctorate in Entomology and teach at the collegiate level.

AND THE WINNER IS LIZ RUSH OF COLEMAN!!!!!
4/24/2008
Mrs. Rush was the lucky winner of the raffle drawing for four Texas Ranger Tickets and a $100 gift certificate to A Unique Massage. The drawing took place at 4:00 Wednesday at the Coleman County Chamber of Commerce with Amy Hinds drawing the lucky winner.

The raffle was in support of Jordan Robinson and J.D. Crowder preparing for their trip to Hawaii in June to play in the Diamond Head Football Classic for team Texas. A huge THANK YOU to all that purchased tickets and another THANK YOU to Carlos Sanchez, owner, of A Unique Massage for donating the tickets and the gift certificate.

Now….it’s time for Cow Patty Bingo!!!!! Chances for Cow Patty Bingo will be available Friday from 1 – 7 and Saturday 9 - 2 in front of the Shoppin’ Baskit or you can call now 325.625.4245!!!!! GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!!

Panther Creek Elementary Students
Jump Rope for the Heart
4/24/2008
In February, Panther Creek Elementary students raised $601.00 for the American Heart Association by participating in their yearly fund-raising event Jump Rope for Heart.

Jump Rope for Heart is an educational fund-raising event held each year in thousands of elementary schools across the nation. This event raises funds for medical research and for programs such as HeartPower that help prevent heart disease and stroke and teaches students the benefits of physical activity, how to keep their heart healthy, and that they can help save lives right in their own community.

Relative of Locals Advances to State UIL Competition
4/23/2008
Khaki Brown of Tolar High School participated in the Regional UIL competition held in Lubbock, Texas on the campus of Texas Tech University. Khaki placed first in the Prose Reading and now advances to the State UIL meet in May on the University of Texas Austin campus.

Khaki is the president of National Honor Society and will be graduating in May as an honor student and then attending The University of Texas at Austin.  She is the daughter of Debbie and Terry Max Brown of Tolar, Texas and granddaughter of Brona Brown and the late Tye Brown and the late Bud and Beverly Kelsey.

She is the niece of Patty and David Hail, Molly and Cody Norris and Terri Kelsey all of Coleman.

Gouldbusk Homemaker's "Nip Clutter in the Bud"
4/23/2008 (submitted by Lynn Corbett)
The Gouldbusk Homemaker's Club held their monthly meeting on April 10th in the home of Dean and O.G. Lanier. Members present were: Lynn Corbett, Geneva Garrett, Geneva Harris, Virginia Jamison, Wanda Jewell, Dean Lanier, Danella McBrayer, Pat Pool, Sue Ragsdale, Lynn Thompson, Pat Vance, Mona Wilson and Deborah Yates. We also had one guest Rebecca Meyer. Refreshments were served first as several members had to leave earlier than usual.
The refreshments were delicious and many of them will be featured in the cookbook we are putting together and selling later in the year.

The meeting was called to order by Deborah Yates and after a short business meeting Geneva Harris gave a presentation entitled "Nip Clutter in the Bud". There were all sorts of useful tips for those of us who tend to keep everything on ways to trim down and organize. We always manage to have interesting programs as well as a very good time. We would love to invite anyone who is interested to come and check us out. Our meeting was adjourned at 2:40pm. May's meeting will be held at the home of Jim and Pat Pool on May 8th at 1p.m. The program for May is entitled "Cultivate Your Landscape with Kindness" Hope to see you there.

Are You Tough Enough to Wear Pink ™ ?
4/22/2008
The Coleman Rodeo Association is!  Join us on Thursday night, June 19th at the 71st Annual Coleman PRCA Rodeo for our Tough Enough to Wear Pink™ night. For every ticket sold for Thursday night’s performance, the Coleman Rodeo Association will donate $1 to help fund the fight against breast cancer.

Guys, order your pink Wrangler shirt at Grammer’s today! Liz says there is a limited number available of the solid pink, so get your order in today, 625-4821.  Pink t-shirts, caps and bandanas will be available. Details coming soon.  

Rodeo fans, come out and support the efforts to find a cure and raise awareness about breast cancer.  See y’all there- IN PINK!

February "Impact Player of the Month" at Holiday Hill
4/22/2008
Raylene Watson, certified nurse aide of Holiday Hill was selected Impact Player of the Month for February 2008. Raylene was chosen by her peers as someone who was always giving of herself and working towards making an impact on the lives of those around her. Among the things Raylene has done lately is organize a bake sale for the Fire Department, create multiple photo collages of pictures of staff and residents for our halls and she also brought her miniature Chihuahuas to work. You should have seen the residents with those miniature pups, it was truly an impact on their lives. We salute Raylene and her contributions to Holiday Hill.
 

Troop 221 Campout
4/22/2008 (contributed by Barbara Hubbard)
While Troop leaders (Drew Hubbard, James Cross, and Randy Aaron) kept 60 briskets cooking, 12 scouts built and suspended a "monkey" bridge across the Jim Ned Creek at their recent campout.  Numerous guests were then treated to a brisket dinner with all the fixin's (including a dutch-oven cobbler and a dutch-oven chocolate cake) followed by an awards ceremony on Saturday evening. Special thanks to the generosity of land owner, Jerry & Jimmie Hubbard, for allowing the campsite to the troop. With only one "mysterious" brisket disappearance, the rest will be delivered to local residents who placed orders. Troop members attending the campout were Duston Crawford, Dalton Faries, Troy Hubbard, Taylor Baum, Hunter Johnson, Michael Watson, Austin Hubbard, Lane Watson, Dillon Dority, Johnathon McPherson, Wesley Willis, and Brandon McPherson.

Larry Ray Moon, Jr. Sentenced to Life in Prison
4/22/2008
Larry Ray Moon, Jr. who was found guilty in a Lubbock federal court in January of this year on four counts of drug possession and distribution, was sentenced on Monday.

As we reported on January 17, Moon was found guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine; Distribution and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises.

On count one, he received life in federal prison. On count two, he received life in federal prison. On count three, he received 240 months in federal prison. On count four, he received 240 months in federal prison. Moon was also fined and ordered to pay $411,000.00 out of the sale of his real estate used in the drug transactions to the U.S. Government.

During Moon's trial in January, testimony revealed that the drug deals in Coleman County happened in the spring of 2005 through the summer of 2006, mainly east of Santa Anna on County Road 122. The investigation involved informants and aerial surveillance. In addition to Coleman witnesses, testimony also came from an agent with the West Central Texas Inter-Local Crime Task Force and Arlington and Dallas area law enforcement.

Testimony also included a man and woman testifying that Moon had provided them with methamphetamine for distribution in Coleman County. Numerous ATF, Drug Task Force and Department of Public Safety officers testified regarding their surveillance of the Coleman County property and undercover operations there.

Soles4Souls Shoe Drive Underway at Coleman Junior High
Runs Through April 25th
4/21/2008
Monday, the Coleman Junior High Student Council kicked off their shoe drive. The junior high kids will be collecting “gently worn” shoes to be donated to Matthew 25 and Coleman Elementary. The Student Council is doing this drive in cooperation with Soles4Souls, a national charity that has donated over 900,000 pair of shoes in over 40 countries to those in need. The CJH student council spoke with Mrs. Hohmann, the elementary counselor, and she explained to the council that 25-30% of kids in Coleman Elementary either don’t have shoes or wear ill-fitting shoes to school everyday! Mrs. Hohmann advised the council that the school nurse, Debbie Rosales, hands out donated shoes to the kids quite frequently and that they are always in need of donated shoes for this reason. According to Mrs. Hohmann, “We need tennis shoes, because not all the kids wear flip flops, boots or sandals, but everyone could use a good pair of tennis shoes!”

Nurse Rosales also advised the council that proper fitting shoes are vital for good foot health for all ages, but that it begins as a child. She explained that according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, many foot problems experienced by adults began with ill-fitting shoes worn when they were children. Nurse Rosales gives this advice, “Shoes should conform to the shape of the feet with plenty of room for toes to wiggle, and should fit well in the heel. Your child's feet should never be forced to conform to the shape of a pair of shoes. There is no 'breaking-in' period either; if they are not comfortable, don't buy them.”

After hearing this information, the Student Council decided they were going to do their part to help remedy this situation here in Coleman! They are collecting all sizes and types of shoes for donation to Matthew 25 and kid sized tennis shoes for Coleman Elementary. So, if you have shoes you aren’t wearing anymore that are still in good shape, please bring them by CJH. There is a donation box right inside the door! Or an even easier way to do you part is to find a CJH student and send the shoes to school with them! The shoe drive is April 21st-April 25th!

Entertainers Announced for Coleman PRCA Rodeo
4/21/2008
The Coleman PRCA Rodeo is only two months away. In recent years, the Coleman Rodeo has attracted some of the best Texas music talent and this year is no exception.

On Friday night, June 20th, two bands will be featured. The Casey Donahew Band and Johnny Cooper will take the stage. On Saturday night, June 21st, Sonny Burgess will return to Coleman and bring the Texas fiddle and dance sound to the final night of the rodeo.

Find out more about each band at the following links:
Casey Donahew Band
Johnny Cooper
Sonny Burgess

For more information from the Coleman Rodeo web-site, go to www.colemanrodeo.com.

Paper Airplanes Anyone?
4/21/2008 (by Danny Ray)
I guess it is something that God has put in each and every one of us....the desire to fly, or enjoying things that fly. We all sing the old gospel hymn "I'll Fly Away", and other gospel songs that have the word "FLY" in them. I started working for the Lord when I was a Junior at Cooper High School in Abilene. I love working with the young people. The things that I have seen in my life and experienced (except for illegal drugs) that the old Devil throws out for temptations for the young people, my heart goes out to them. I know how hard it was for me to be a teenage Christian during the 1960s and I have seen it get worse these last 38 years. Families today are in a "rush, rush" mode and the parents do not get to spend much fun time with their children these days.

The Lord gave me an idea that the entire family can get involved in, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. The sport of golf, bowling, boomerang collecting & throwing (like I do), buying stunt kites, baseball equipment, football equipment, etc., can put a dent in everyone's pocketbook. Let's face it, to have fun today can get expensive!! The sport I am talking about here will only cost you a little time to make and one sheet of paper no larger than 11 x 17 inches according to P.A.A. (Paper Airplane Association) rules. I use to make paper airplanes in school, and those of us that did got in trouble for it. I never imagined that paper airplanes would become a big sport, but it has. Did you know they have a National Championship for this sport? I didn't know it! You should see some of the creative Japanese Origami airplanes that are being made for contests. They are works of art. This is not only for the young people, but for adults too! I tell you, these people get real serious with this sport and the planes that they create are awesome. The planes are not only judged for how far they can fly or how long they can stay up, but for how well they are created.

I am looking for any boy or girl from Elementary thru High School age in Coleman County that is interested in having a paper airplane contest. These paper airplanes are flown indoors like a High School Gym or any building of that size. I have the P.A.A. Official Rules and I have listed below some websites that you may want to look at. Some of these sites have FREE airplane pattern downloads that you can copy off. Some of these are World Record holders. If you are interested in getting involved with this contest, please contact me, Danny Ray at (325) 214-0793 or 625-1484 or you can email me at d_p_ray@verizon.net  !! I will wait and see how many I get that are interested, then I will schedule a meeting for further discussions of the sport and lining up a date for the contest that will not interfere with any other activities going on for the young people. Any adult that wants to help me, please contact me. I need Judges and Officials!! This is a very educational sport and can be a lot of fun for everybody. God Bless You All!! Bro. Danny Ray

Websites to Check Out:

http://www.easy-paper-airplanes.com/paper-airplane-history.html 
http://www.origami-kids.com/paperairplanes.html 
http://www.bestpaperairplanes.com/ 
http://www.amazingpaperairplanes.com/Favorites.html 
http://www.airplane-collectible-best-net-source.com/paper-airplane.html 
http://www.funpaperairplanes.com/PlaneDownloads.html 
http://www.theonlinepaperairplanemuseum.com/ 

City Council Addresses Numerous Requests / Resolutions
4/18/2008
The Coleman City Council met Thursday evening at City Hall with Mayor Nick Poldrack welcoming visitors and guests. The following items were addressed:

* The Council took no action on a request from Robin Black and Sheila Harrington to close College Avenue between Commercial and Concho for a concert with Jamie Richards and a street dance from 7:00 to 11:00pm on Saturday, May 10th. They are to confer with the City Manager and work out more details and return to the Council.

* The Council approved use of the City Park by the Natural Resources and Conservation Service for their annual fish fry on May 24th.

* Rev. John Stanislaw, pastor of First Baptist Church, requested use of the lower part of the City Park for the church on Sunday, May 24th from 3:00pm to 8:30pm. The Council approved and agreed to waive all fees for the church.

* The Council tabled a request, until more details could be worked out, from Emmanuel Baptist Church. Patty Watson explained that they wish to block Commercial Avenue and Liveoak in front of the Courthouse from 12:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturday, June 14, for a talent show.

* The Council also tabled a request for a Resolution which would close State Highway 153 for a local Heroes Parade on August 9th. Councilman Saverance informed the Council that the route of the parade was not certain at this time and would like to wait until later to address this item again.

* The Council authorized the Mayor to sign a resolution relinquishing the City's right to property at 201 E. Liveoak, the old Soup and Salad property. The Coleman ISD has already relinquished their rights on the property. Both the City and School convey their rights to Coleman County. The county government intends to use the building for storage.

* The Council approved first reading of Ordinance 1090 amending wording in the Junked Vehicle ordinance. The State Legislature changed the wording making it necessary to amend the ordinance.

* City Manager Larry Weise furnished the Council several fact sheets on general information, current status and manager's priorities, budget sheet on taxes, salaries, compensation, leadership and supervision and departmental fact sheets. Chief of Police Jay Moses, Public Works Director Bob Ray and Utility Office Manager Nancy Berry each addressed the Council on their needs for the coming year.

In closing comments from the Council - Mayor Pro Tem Plummer said he wants to keep the momentum going forward and place emphasis on employee compensation saying the City relies on its employees and, in return, the Council needs to take care of them.

Saverance expressed thanks to the candidates who attended the budget workshop and urged them to be yourself, think strong and hard on issues as the city's future is in your hands.

Councilman Cole did not think any of the department heads goals were unreasonable and that their has been a lot of improvement.

Mayor Poldrack said he believed the City Manager was doing a super job and that the budget was a challenge but with all working together it will succeed. He reported that the City had received a $14,069 equity check from Texas Municipal League for workers compensation and liability equity returns. The Mayor also read a Thank You letter from the Chamber of Commerce for the city's participation in the tractor pull last month.

Colorado Artist Will be Juror for 2008 Juried Fine Art Show in Coleman
4/17/2008 (by Marian Johnson)
Colorado artist Tom Lockhart will serve as the juror of the 2nd Annual Juried Fine Art Show "A Dragonfly Journeys - Art is Great in Twenty-O-8" in May, sponsored by the Fine Arts League of Coleman County, Inc. He will also teach a workshop on May 8 , 9 & 10th at the Franklin Center.

Tom is one of those talented people who comes full circle back to doing what they love. He likes to say he came to landscape painting through the back door.

Lockhart is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America (OPA), Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, and the Northwest Rendezvous.

The Fine Arts League of Coleman County and the Juried Art Show are pleased to have this exceptional artist and man to be the Juror for the May , 2008 Show in Coleman.

For Show information and tickets to the Gala Saturday,  May 10, contact Marian Johnson www.mljdj@web-access.net  325-357-4775 or Theda Rhea www.theda@thedarhea.com,  325-625-4687.  Check the web-site: www.fineartsleaguecolemantx.com. 

Coleman County Honors Military Heroes May 24th
4/17/2008 (by Herma Jean Johnson)
Wanted - Veterans of any branch of service - Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard or National Guard. We are in the progress of planning your day !! It will be May 24th, and it will honor you, Coleman County's Heroes !!!

This is an event that has been a long time in coming where every single military person from Coleman County is recognized and honored. Now how will this be done? First there will be a parade at 10:00 on that day, so get out your uniforms, if you have one, shine up your medals, decorate your vehicle, and come and join in the big parade. There will be a band or two, a color guard, representatives from all military branches, a fly over, and then YOU, the most important part of the parade. More on the details of this later, just start "getting ready".

At 1:00 in the afternoon there will be activities at the Bill Franklin Center. The Sesquicentennial Chamber Cooking Wagon will be on hand with food. Displays of various military memorabilia will be opened up to exhibit. If you have any medals, souvenirs from your tenure, uniforms, histories of battles, pictures, or any such item you might like to share. You can bring them to event. We will be accepting items on Friday afternoon or you can call one of the sesquicentennial members to take your "prizes".

We will have a period of visiting and then we will have an "open mike" so anyone can speak or tell their war stories. Several have already submitted these and they will be read. Some of the stories were written by our Heroes that are no longer with us, but were instrumental in a war effort with their own personal story.

Plan now to come out to the Big Day on May24, and be a part of this part of Coleman County History. Contact Herma Jean Johnson, Sarah Beal, Randy Turner, Raylene Carnes, or Clyde Saverance for more information.

Coleman County Sheriff’s Dept. Activity Report
April 9 - April 17 (courtesy Sheriff Wade Turner)
04/17/08
In addition to ongoing investigations and county-wide patrols the Sheriff’s Dept. responded to 19 calls for service during the week of April 9th, - April 17th. The calls or activities are listed as follows:
1 Fire investigation on CR 498; 2 Cattle on highway; 1 Stolen vehicle investigation; 5 Service of Civil Process; 3 Officers assigned in search of Missing Person (Alzheimer’s); 1 Assist Adult Protective Service; 1 Transport (2) inmates to State Jail at Bartlett; 1 Transport inmate to Doctors Office for treatment; 2 Registration of Sex Offenders; 3 Traffic Contacts; 1 Transport inmate to Runnels County Jail.

We are currently holding (10) inmates in the Coleman County Jail. Listed as follows:
1 Charged with (2) counts of aggravated assault; 1 Charged with Pos. of Controlled Substance, Crim. Trespass and Blue Warrant; 1 Charged with Burglary of a Building; 1 Sentenced to Texas Dept. of Corrections I.D.; 1 Charged with (2) counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; 1 Sentenced to Texas Dept. of Corrections I.D; 1 Charged with Burg. of a Building, Burg. of a Habitation, and Blue Warrant; 1 Sentenced to Texas Dept. of Corrections I.D.; 1 Charged with injury to a child; 1 Charged with D.W.I. (F).

We are currently holding (3) inmates in the Runnels County Jail due to over population.
1 charged with Terroristic Threat, Violation of Probation, and Blue Warrant; 1 charged with Assault (2) counts; 1 serving sentence on (3) misdemeanor charges.

Two Coleman Science Teachers Honored by Texas A & M
4/16/2008
The Texas A&M University chapter of the scientific research society Sigma Xi honored a Texas A&M professor and three local school teachers at the chapter's annual induction and awards banquet.

Gary Strickland is the recipient of the Outstanding Science Teacher-Middle School award. He is an eighth grade science teacher at Coleman ISD, in Coleman, Texas. He is the lead science teacher for the middle school and is a member of the technology planning team for the Coleman school district.

Pam Cohea is the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher-Elementary School award. She teaches fourth grade science and social studies at Coleman Elementary in Coleman, Texas. She serves as the K-5 science curriculum specialist, lead campus teacher and technology assistant for the Coleman elementary campus.

Richard E. Orville, honored as this year's "Distinguished Scientist,” is a professor and department head in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, College of Geosciences. He is one of the world’s foremost experts on lightning and is director of the Cooperative Institute for Applied Meteorological Studies.

Lana Hood is the recipient of the Outstanding Science Teacher-High School award. She teaches physics at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas.

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, was founded in 1886 and has since been active in serving the scientific community as well as general society. It is a non-profit society that has about 70,000 scientists and engineers as members in more than 100 countries.

Sigma Xi promotes science and engineering research and education, professional ethics, the public understanding of science and engineering, international research networking and the overall health of the research enterprise.

Camp Quality Update Given
4/16/2008 (contributed)
Camp Quality is a camp for kids with cancer. Orientation for camp this year is in June and Camp dates are July 13th - 18th. You will need to be 17 in order to volunteer as a companion.

It takes about $1200 cash and $1000 in-kind donated materials to send a child to camp each year. This money pays for everything needed to support that child and their family all year. Camp Quality is 100 percent free for the cancer patient and their family. We operate with the donations and volunteer hours given to Camp Quality by our sponsoring communities, volunteer organizations, and individuals all over the state of Texas.  Thank you for your support in making Camp Quality Texas such a success for children. Our motto is "Letting Kids With Cancer Be Kids Again".

Here is a list of supplies needed for this years camp:
Water goggles
Youth size life jackets
4 roll double sided tape
4 pkgs. ticky tack
4 spools fishing line (any weight)
8 white pillow cases
16 rolls duct tape (various colors)
Wide tip permanent markers (various colors)
50 Hershey chocolate bars
8 bags of marsh mellows
4 boxes of graham crackers
4 containers of baby wipes
8 large containers of Clorox wipes

Go to www.tx.campqualityusa.com  to download an application and reference forms.

Amanda Straach
3005 Southpark Drive
Coleman, Tx. 76834
325-625-2825

CJHS "Students of the Month" for March Selected
4/15/2008
Members of the Coleman Junior High School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society recently voted on students of the month for March.

Students of the month of March are:
Lizeth Garza - 6th grade girl
Derek Brown - 6th grade boy
Haylee Diaz - 7th grade girl
Seth Ryan - 7th grade boy
Lacy Hyden - 8th grade girl
Abel Vasquez - 8th grade boy

Former Bluecat Featured in FLEX Magazine
4/15/2008
While grabbing a breakfast burrito Monday morning at Lupe Lugo's Fine Burrito Cafe' on North Neches in Coleman, we happened upon a story about Sgt. Omar Leija, 30, a Coleman High School graduate now serving in the military.

FLEX magazine, devoted to the sport of bodybuilding, recently did a feature on Military Muscle, celebrating the top physiques in the United States Armed Forces.

The magazine looked inside the day-to-day life of our soldiers in Iraq as they live the bodybuilding lifestyle in the face of daunting challenges.

Lupe is very proud, as she should be. Our thanks to him for his service to our country, and congrats on the magazine feature too.

FCCLA Members Attend State Leadership Meeting
4/15/2008
Coleman High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America attended the State FCCLA Leadership Meeting April 3-5 in Galveston. The youth-developed theme "Get a Clue with FCCLA" was carried out through tracks and general sessions.

STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) are competitive events in which members participated during the state meeting. These events allowed members to showcase their life skills in different areas. Also, the new officer team for 2008-2009 was elected to lead the state to greater heights.

Winning 12th place was Gabby McKenzie, Stormie Mackey and Ryan Johnson in Focus on Children, Senior Division. They did a project with the elementary TKO program helping the children with leadership skills, working together and showing respect.  Coleman FCCLA members participated in Leadership Enhancement Opportunities, Job Interview by taking an objective test over their knowledge of job interviews and applications.

Receiving Silver Certificates were Brittany Burton, Cala Norris, Carina Landaverde, Collene Baker, Gabrielle McKenzie, Greg Brannan, Kelsey Puckett, Michelle Walters, Ryan Johnson and Stormie Mackey.

Receiving Gold Certificates were Jay Delgadillo, Kayla Barnett, Krystal Dunn, Lorena Vasquez, Ranee Cupps and Zoe Paul.

FCCLA is a dynamic youth organization that has the family as its central focus.

Big Blue Band Competes at Concert / Sight Reading Contest
4/16/2008
The Coleman High School Big Blue Band traveled to Llano for U. I. L. Concert/Sight-Reading on April 2, 2008. The band received a Division II for their concert performance and a Division I in sight-reading. The concert performance included “Kentucky Pride” by John Edmondon, “Phantom Ship” by Elliot Del Borgo, and “Variations on a Sailing Song” by Carl Strommen. In sight-reading the band was given seven minutes to learn as much as possible about a piece of music they had never seen and then play it for the judges. The students did a great job in both sections of the contest and were rewarded with a plaque for their Division I in sight-reading.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
4/15/2008 (Distributed by the Coleman County Child Welfare Board)
Children First: Safe and Secure - Report Child Abuse
Childhood should be a time of happiness and security, but for too many children, it is a time of tragedy and suffering. Unfortunately, home is not always the safe place that it should be. Become an advocate for children and work to make communities safe for all children.

If You Suspect Child Abuse or Neglect:
DO believe the child.
DON'T try to investigate.
DO report reasonable suspicions by calling the 24-hour Abuse Hotline at
1-800-252-5400, or your local law enforcement agency.

If you feel your situation is a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.

You may also file a report using a secure web site: www.txabusehotline.org.

For more information: www.itsuptoyou.org.

Coleman Band Students Participate in Cisco Festival
4/15/2008
On March 26th and 27th the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade band students traveled to the Cisco Junior College Music Festival. The 6th grade band participated in both Concert/Sight-reading and Solo/Ensemble. They received a Division II for their Concert and a Division I in Sight-reading, which earned them a trophy.

Students earning a Division I medal for playing a Solo were:
Vallari Escobar, Shay Carter, Victoria Garcia, Brady Jones, Brent Ogden, Bryan Diaz, Carley Cowden, James Stamper, Jansen Merrill, Kayla Schmeets, Marissa Vega, Michael Lanham, Shaila Lewis, Joshua Booth, Coco Smith, Tiana Thomas, Laura Mata, and Payton Salas.

Students earning a Division I medal for their Trios were:
Vallari Escobar, Aspen McConathy, Tiana Thomas, Brittney Labarge, Marissa Vega, Victoria Garcia, Shay Carter, Kayla Schmeets, Shaila Lewis, Payton Salas, and Carley Cowden.

THIRD GRADE STUDENTS VISIT THE MUSEUM
4/14/2008
The third grade students from Coleman Elementary visited the Museum and Doll Exhibit on Friday. There were approximately 80 students and their teachers in the tour, what a delight the children were. They were very well behaved and each parent and teacher should be very proud of them. Maxine Cope, Museum Director, and several volunteers were available to explain different items on display in the Museum and Tex Wright, from Santa Anna, was on hand to tell stories relating to Coleman and the area. 

Panther Creek UIL Results Given
Cheyenne Elkin Advances to State
4/14/2008
Panther Creek results from Regional competition at Texas Tech in Lubbock.
 

Computer Applications – Cheyenne Elkin – 2nd -- advances to state competition ; Heather Pope – 7th
 

Jennifer Cavanaugh – 6th in Editorial Writing
 

The Accounting Team of Elizabeth Tapia, Jennifer Cavanaugh, Cheyenne Elkin, and Cera Suggs placed fourth.

Letter to the Editor
4/14/2008
Our Humane Society wants to thank the communities in Coleman County for their participation in this year’s 4th Annual County-Wide Garage Sale and Flea Market, sponsored by the Humane Society. In particular, we thank those who planned their garage sale for our weekend. And a very special thank you to the businesses in Coleman and Santa Anna that advertised on our map and in the antique directory. The money we receive from these ads and the garage sale listings helps us offset the expenses we incur with the classified advertising we do in seven newspapers in the Big Country, plus the copying cost of the complimentary garage sale map. We were excited that all 500 copies flew out the door, and we had to rush to copy even more to meet the demand. The costs add up, and we appreciate you so much!

We were very pleased to see downtown buzzing—thanks to the efforts of Lana Kading and the Coleman Business People’s Association. We hope everyone had a good weekend. We know the Humane Society thrift store and our garage sale did very well. Bringing people downtown is possible!

More thanks go to our local radio station, KSTA; our newspaper, the Coleman Chronicle & Democrat Voice; and our local web sites, ColemanNews.com and ColemanIndependent.net. The media coverage for our weekend was more than we could have hoped for!

Most of all, the pets in Coleman County thank you for helping the Humane Society raise the money necessary to continue offering the discounted spay/neuter vouchers. Once we get over the hump of getting our building at 110 E. Pecan ready, we will be establishing a couple of new programs that will help even more of our furry friends lead the lives they deserve as God’s creatures, great and small.

Jo Ann Eddleman,
on behalf of the Humane Society board of directors

County Commissioners Table Courthouse Renovation Master Plan
4/14/2008
Coleman County Commissioners met this morning and spent the majority of their time listening to opposition to a proposal for the County to have a Master Plan done on renovating the county courthouse.

The Master Plan would cost an estimated $50,000 to be paid for by the County. Barney and Janie Popnoe and Max Horne were concerned about the cost of the plan and where county government would operate if renovation takes place. "I feel county people need more information about costs before a decision is made," said Mrs. Popnoe. Mr. Popnoe shared his concern that the old courthouse didn't have enough room and if built back to that state, the current facility wouldn't be able to house all the offices currently in the Courthouse. 

Jimmie Hobbs, County Judge, told the group that through the Texas Historical Commission, an 85/15 proposition is being considered with the State of Texas picking up 85% of the total costs of renovation and the remaining 15% would have to be raised through local donations and grants. Hobbs said the Historical Commission first has to have a Master Plan in order to proceed to see if the county can qualify for a courthouse renovation project. Hobbs commented that 80 of the 254 counties in Texas have applied for the renovation money and 40 have either completed or are in the process of completing renovations. 

Hobbs also shared information concerning the state of the current courthouse and problems commissioners will likely have to address in the near future. The old water pressurized heating/air-conditioning system "is in terrible shape," Hobbs said. "It will cost a minimum of $250,000 to fix that," Hobbs added. The ceilings have substantial leaks, the south wall of the courtroom has cracks, the west wall of the courtroom is bulging out due to water, Hobbs added.

While definite cost estimates for renovation aren't known without a Master Plan being done, a rough estimate of $5 million has been talked about. Under the Texas Historical Commission plan, the State of Texas would fund 85% of it bringing the courthouse up to current codes and technology.

When it came down to a vote, Jim Porter, Pct. 1 Commissioner, made a motion not to approve the Master Plan but it died for lack of a second. Billy Don McCrary, Pct. 2 Commissioner, was in favor of moving forward with the Master Plan but Mike Barker, Pct. 3 Commissioner, was in favor of postponing the vote until more information could be obtained. Alan Davis, Pct. 4 Commissioner, mentioned that perhaps a non-binding referendum would allow county people to have a say. The end result - the item was tabled and the Master Plan was not approved at this time.

County Supports Wind Energy Resolution
4/14/2008
County Commissioners voted 4 for and none against Monday morning to support a resolution to support Wind Energy in West Texas. The resolution for Expedited Development of Competitive Renewal Energy Zones came from Amarillo where a formal hearing on the matter is planned on April 24th. The resolution by commissioners shows support in continued development of Wind Energy in West Texas.

Missing Person Found
4/12/2008
The search is over for a missing person north of Coleman in the Goldsboro Community. Katherine Aldridge, age 60, left her house on CR 498 for a walk at 8:30 Saturday morning. She was reported missing later in the morning by her husband Phillip Aldridge. As of 4:30pm the Sheriff's office reported that she had been found.

Doug Langley is 2008 Gordon Russell Merit Award Winner
4/11/2008
In recognition of three decades of service to rural hospitals, including CEO at Pearsall, Gonzales and Coleman, Doug Langley has been named the recipient of the 2008 “Gordon Russell Merit Award.”

This award exists to recognize outstanding achievement by rural and community hospital administrators for their leadership and dedication to the profession.

Gordon Russell, the award’s namesake, was the administrator of Hi-Plains Hospital for over 40 years and a former mayor of Hale Center, Texas.

Mr. Langley was selected for his dedication to rural hospital administration, his active involvement in TORCH as a Board Member, as well as many other rural health stakeholder activities.

Mr. Langley began his career in 1978 as CEO of AHS/Sunbelt as CEO of rural hospitals. In 1987, Doug went to Frio Regional Hospital in Pearsall and successfully initiated a capital campaign that included the establishment of a hospital district which saved the hospital from bankruptcy. Langley became CEO of Gonzales Healthcare Systems in 1990 and grew hospital services, staff and revenues significantly over the next 11 years. While there, he built and promoted one of the most successful Rural Health Clinics in the state and it continues to flourish today. Currently, Langley is the CEO at Coleman County Medical Center. In addition to his service on the TORCH Board, Doug also served on the Greater San Antonio Hospital Council and the Rural Community Health System.

In the nomination letter by Chuck Norris, CEO of Gonzales Healthcare Systems, it was written, “Doug’s leadership and stern budgetary discipline has forged every facility he has served into a strong position of financial solvency and community leadership. Doug has always been a staunch supporter of TORCH and all its programs.”

Hospital Collections Are Up
Ambulance Service Operating at a Loss
4/11/2008
The Coleman County Medical Center Board of Directors met recently with a short agenda which was taken care of in an hour’s time.

CEO/Administrator Douglas Langley presented the February 2008 financial report stating that everything is looking good for this time of year. Collections are up for the hospital. However, the ambulance service is operating at a loss, even with the current subsidies from the City and County.

In other business:  the board approved the cancellation of the CCMC Board of Directors election, since there were four seats up for election, and only four candidates filed to run, those being Virginia Jamison, Gene Christian, Ken Gifford (all incumbents ), and a newcomer to the board, Ernie Yates. The board will certify these unopposed candidates, and swear them in at the first board meeting held after the May 10, 2008 election.

The board also approved a resolution to relinquish property taxing rights on the property located at 201 East Liveoak and convey the property to Coleman County. This property was offered for Tax Sale on May 1, 2007, but there were no buyers.

In his Administrative report, Langley advised the board that Jane Tindol, DDS, has requested temporary privileges to perform limited dental procedures at CCMC beginning around the middle of April, for a 90 day period. At that time, an evaluation will be done by the medical and administrative staff.

Jennifer Hubbard Makes Dean's List at A & M
4/11/2008
Congratulations to Jennifer Hubbard, attending Texas A&M University, and earning "Dean's List" recognition for the Fall 2007 semester by completing 15 or more hours with a overall grade of 3.75 or higher. Jennifer is pursuing a Speech Therapy degree.

Proud parents are Drew & Barbara Hubbard and proud grand-parents are Jerry & Jimmie Hubbard of Coleman and Earnest Newton of Kempner.

Revised 2008 Bluecat Football Schedule
4/11/2008
Bluecat fans should note the August 28th football game against Olney has been moved to Breckenridge at 7:30pm on a Thursday night. Also note that the game against Rogers will be played in Brownwood on a Saturday and only four regular season games will be played at Hufford Field this season. The Bluecat football schedule is as follows:

Saturday, August 16th - Scrimmage against Merkel - in Merkel - Time to be announced
Thursday, August 21 - Scrimmage against Eastland - in Coleman - Time to be announced

Non-District Schedule
Thursday, August 28th - Olney - in Breckenridge - 7:30pm
Saturday, September 6th - Rogers - in Brownwood - Time to be announced
Friday, September 12 - Hawley - in Hawley - 7:30pm
Friday, September 19th - Colorado City - in Coleman - HOMECOMING 7:30pm

District Schedule
Friday, September 26 - Comanche - in Comanche - 7:30pm
Friday, October 3rd - Bye Week
Friday, October 10th - Dublin - in Coleman - 7:30pm
Friday, October 17th - Bangs - in Bangs - 7:30pm
Friday, October 24th - Brady - in Coleman - 7:30pm
Friday, October 31 - Early - in Early - 7:30pm
Friday, November 7th - San Saba - in Coleman - 7:30pm

Santa Anna Self Culture Club Presents Program on Santa Anna Library
4/11/2008 (courtesy of Tex Wright)
The Coleman County Historical Commission met recently at the Santa Anna Fire Hall for a program in conjunction with the Coleman County Sesquicentennial.

The Self Culture Club has been a backer of the Santa Anna Library since its inception and continues to be one of the main fund raisers to this day.

Betty Key, Carol Herring, and Alice Spillman of the Self Culture Club were introduced and the program was turned over to them.

Mrs. Key was the first speaker, covering the first 50 years of the Library’s existence, from the first few books on the shelf in a Doctors office till their move into a building that was all their own. Before they got their own building, they shared offices and buildings with local businesses. They even shared the City Hall with the city attorneys and employees. Mrs. Key displayed one of the first books owned by the library numbered #58. It is showing its age but is in good condition for its years. Mrs. Key told the audience that in all the years of its existence, the library has been manned by volunteers, its books furnished by donations, and supplies either bought by friends or bought with donations. All books are either donated or bought with donations.

Mrs. Spillman was the next speaker. She dealt with the later years when the library was in the old army building brought in and placed next door to city hall, and when a donor gave a building to the City for the use as a library. This building was located downtown on Wallis Ave. This was a much larger building with easier access. She mentioned some of the benefactors from over the years, some of whom were the mainstays of the town.

Mrs. Herring dealt with the present and the future of the library. She brought with her a sample CD of the old Santa Anna News. These CD’s, when finished will be available for the public to look at, making it very easy to look up articles from the old papers. The reader will be able to print different articles instead of having to find the article then copy it. This will also protect the papers and keep them from being damaged. The papers on hand date from the late 1800’s till the news paper was closed a few years ago. Mr. and Mrs. W. D. (Polly) Warnock, the last owners of the Santa Anna News, donated the papers to the library when the newspaper was closed.

Also present was Carl Langford who has been transcribing and binding a diary which has much to do with area history. Mr. Langford also has put together a book on the veterans in the local Cemetery.

After the presentation, there was lots of discussion both with the speakers and in small groups.
Mr. Wright called for a motion to adjourn. James Carpenter made the motion and all approved by going to the refreshment tables. Refreshments were well appreciated.  Thanks Virginia and Alice.

Agri-Life Extension to Host Program Covering
Reproduction and Herd Health Management in Beef Cattle
4/11/2008 (by Luther Dunlap, County Agent)
Coleman - The Texas Agri-Life Extension Service in Coleman County will be conducting a Beef Cattle Reproduction and Herd Health Management program beginning at 11:30 am on Friday, April 18th, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church in Coleman, TX.

Dr. Mike Edington will be the featured speaker for the program. The Whole idea of this program is to educate beef cattle producers on how to prepare bulls, heifers and mother cows for the breeding season, and how to improve on breeding percentage in beef cattle. Herd Health Management is another topic that will be discussed during the program. We will talk about De-worming programs, BVD, Lepto, Pinkeye and other beef cattle health problems that may arise from year to year.

The program is sponsored by Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Coleman County, Coleman Chamber of Commerce and The Circle Cattle Women's Association. There will be a lunch served so we would like you to RSVP to the Texas AgriLife Extension Office in Coleman County at (325) 625- 4519.

CITY RECEIVES $250,000 ORCA GRANT
4/10/2008
The City of Coleman has been awarded a grant of $250,000 from the Office of Rural Community Affairs through the Community Development Grant Program. These monies will be used to offset a portion of the cost of building a new clarifier at the city s Waste Water Treatment Plant. The new clarifier is needed to increase the treated volume of waste water coming into the plant and to provide alternative flow, allowing for repairs and maintenance operations to be performed within existing facilities. The total cost of the project is estimated at $455,000. The City has the matching $205,000 set aside in a dedicated fund. Construction of the project is expected to start the summer.

"It Pays to be Present" Winner Announced at CJHS
4/10/2008
Winner of the “It Pays to be Present” drawing held this week at Coleman Junior High is sixth grader Aspen McConathy.  A drawing for $25.00 is held each six weeks period. To be eligible for the drawing, a student must not miss a single day of school during the period. The $25.00 is provided by the student council at Coleman Junior High School. A grand prize drawing for $100.00 is held at the end of the school year. This amount is also provided by the student council. 

Rainfall Reports
4/10/2008
* Bill Garrett - 5 mi. SW of Santa Anna - .60
* Henry and Margie Dodson - 8 mi. NE of Coleman - .40

Farmers Insurance Presents Check to CHS Jr. Class Parents
4/9/2008
Drew Hubbard, Coleman's Farmers Insurance agent, gladly presents Debbie Jameson with a $250.00 Farmers Insurance Group Grant which was received in March.

Debbie is a Coleman High School junior parent and a junior class representative, while Drew is also a junior parent and representative this year. Both have been involved in many fundraisers this school year.

As quoted by Farmers Insurance in the grant letter, "Our first concern is to provide graduating seniors a safe and memorable night without the influence of drugs and alcohol. Secondly, we want to extend a hand to the community. Finally, we want people to know Farmers is involved and cares".

The grant will help the CHS junior parents sponsor the annual "Alcohol/Drug-Free After Prom Celebration" on May 3rd. The CHS Junior Parents wish to express their sincere appreciation to Farmers Insurance Group and Drew Hubbard.

Betty Bryan Doll Exhibit at the Coleman Museum
4/9/2008
Coleman Heritage, Arts & Preservation Society is excited to present an exhibit by Betty Bryan of Rockwood of her beautiful handcrafted doll collection. The doll exhibit will be displayed during regular museum hours which are Fridays and Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through the month of April.

Betty loves the art of doll making, she began making them at the early age of 9! In 1980 she began making porcelain dolls using molds for some and sculpting others. Included in her collection are dolls of some of our Presidents and their wives, some mischievous children, precious babies and fairy tale characters such as Alice in Wonderland. Each doll is meticously dressed in the period with hand crafted clothing and accessories, such as John Wayne and his saddle. She makes bride dolls dressed in replica wedding gowns for special brides, dolls depicting real people such as her father and Elvis (there are three Elvis dolls in the exhibit)!

This exhibit is the first exhibit that Betty has done showcasing her collection of 125 dolls and everyone is invited to come by the Museum at Heritage Hall, 400 W. College, during regular hours to see this beautiful collection of Betty's talent.

The exhibit and Museum are open to the public with free admission, but, your donations are greatly appreciated. Donations help support the day to day operation of the facility. CHAPS is designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

$2.4 Million Expansion Planned at Holiday Hill
4/8/2008
Holiday Hill Inc., the 88 bed not for profit 501 (c) (3) established in 1922 here in Coleman, Texas is announcing construction of a 20 bed dementia specialty care unit. Holiday Hill has teamed up with USDA Rural Development and Stillwater National Bank for two low interest government backed loans. The total amount for the new construction will be over $2.4 million dollars. The project, which has been sought for over 2 and a half years, is finally coming to fruition this summer. Holiday Hill and its board of directors hope to break ground in July of 2008.  The addition could be completed in July of 2009. The addition of the 20 bed specialty care unit will cater to those with various levels and types of dementia, including Alzheimers. Holiday Hill hopes to have its unit certified for Alzheimers care, a regulation by the state of Texas in order to advertise as such. This unit could add up to 15 jobs from one of the already top employers in the county. To find out more, go to www.holidayhill.net. An architects concept drawing is below.

Stillwater National Bank (SNB) is a subsidiary of Southwest Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ: OKSB). Founded in 1894, SNB has assets of over $2.5 billion with offices in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Through its Healthcare Financing and Treasury organizations, it serves healthcare clients in 31 states with lending, consulting and specialized cash management solutions. For more information about SNB, please visit: www.banksnb.com .

Wind Clean / Trinity Industries Give Back to the Community
4/7/2008
Saturday night at the Bill Franklin Center, the Wind Clean Corporation held its annual appreciation gathering for employees, vendors and other invited guests. Wind Clean and Clean Blast Services now provide over 150 jobs to the Coleman economy. Besides a delicious steak meal served by Home Creek Cookin', a highlight of the evening was monetary awards given to local organizations by Wind Clean and Trinity Industries.

In making the announcement, Tim Manley of Wind Clean said "part of our commitment to the community is to try to give back to the community with volunteering or charitable contributions. Manley was joined by James Hartley and Ken Davis in presenting checks for $1,000 to the Loaves and Fishes Ministry, $1,000 to Matthew 25 Ministries and $8,000 to the Coleman County Foundation.

But the giving didn't stop there. Trinity Industries, represented by Richard Triplitt, also presented $1,000 to Loaves and Fishes, $1,000 to Matthew 25 and $8,000 to the Coleman County Foundation for a total of $20,000. "We have a great future here," Manley said.

Coleman School Board Considers Teacher Incentive Pay Plan
Accepts Resignation and Conveys Property in Special Meeting
4/7/2008
A special meeting of the Coleman School Board was held Monday morning. They have received considerable information over the past few meetings concerning the DATE Program or District Awards for Teacher Excellence. According to Royce Young, Superintendent, the $54,000 grant mandates that at least 60% of the funds will be used to reward teachers that positively impact student achievement and growth. Coleman ISD will award this money to K-8 teachers who teach a core area in a TAKS tested area. The remaining 40% will be awarded to K-8 teachers who teach a core area in a non-TAKS tested area. The monies will be distributed based on criteria that are quantifiable, reliable, valid, and objective. TAKS scores achieved during the 2008-2009 school year will be the basis for the awards. Three District Site-Based Committee Meetings were held to define the criteria and the total K-8 staff had input in the criteria. The money will not be awarded before May of 2009.

In other action, the board accepted the resignation of Diana Dobbins effective April 11. She has been named as the principal for Novice ISD.

The Board also approved the conveyance of property located at 201 East Liveoak (Soup and Salad Building) to the County of Coleman as requested by Judge Jimmie Hobbs. This property has been held as delinquent property for some time and was held for TAX Sale on the Coleman County Courthouse Lawn in May of 2007 without any takers. The County plans to use the property for storage.

City Takes First Step in Getting Water Loan
4/7/2008
In their recent meeting, the Coleman City Council acted on the following items:

* Approved Legacy Health of San Angelo as the City's health insurance carrier. They submitted a 4.4% decrease off their previous rate. Other bids were from Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Aetna and United Healthcare.
* Approved the bid of $200 from Joey Cupps for scrap metal from Lake Coleman.
* Approved, on second and final reading, Ordinance 1089 adopting a Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan for the City of Coleman.
* Approved a resolution allowing State Highway 153 to be closed for a Veteran's Parade on Saturday, May 24th, part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration.
* Passed a resolution allowing the Coleman Police Department to participate in the Texas Traffic Safety Grant with the City furnishing a match of $1,207. Chief Moses explained that this was a 90/10 grant for the 2009 calendar year and part of a five year plan.

* Approved resolution authorizing publication of notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation. City Manager Larry Weise explained that this was the first step in procuring a Texas Water Quality Board loan of over $5,000,000 and would authorize the notice of intent to be published in the local paper in order to issue certificate of obligation which would allow the city to finance the projects.
* Approved a resolution supporting the growth and development of Wind Energy in the State of Texas. Weise explained this does not commit the City to anything. It simply indicates the City of Coleman is in support of wind energy in West Texas.
* City Manager Weise advised the Council that he would address the budget at the April 17th meeting.

Eligible Consumers in 12 More Texas Towns Now Can Get
Verizon’s Fastest DSL-Based Internet Service, Coleman Included
4/7/2008 (news release provided by Verizon)
IRVING, Texas – Qualifying consumers in 12 Texas cities now have a new broadband option from Verizon, as the company introduces its ultra-fast High Speed Internet service. It more than doubles the download speed of its current fastest digital subscriber line, or DSL, service and provides an appealing alternative to cable Internet.

The new Verizon High Speed Internet service offers qualified customers a downstream connection speed of up to 7 megabits per second (Mbps) for as low as $39.99 a month when ordered with an annual service plan. Verizon now offers the new service to some 1.6 million households and small businesses across the country.

“Verizon 7 Megabit High Speed Internet is the way to go for qualifying residents in Texas who are looking for a better alternative to high-priced cable Internet,” said Trinidad Aguirre, Verizon’s senior vice president and general manager for the Central region. “Our super-fast DSL provides all the speed you need for everything you do online – and at a reasonable cost. From digital music and streaming video to photo sharing and online gaming, to video conferencing and working from home – it’s faster, easier and more affordable with Verizon High Speed Internet.”

The 7 Mbps broadband service is available in parts of Big Lake, Bonham, Coleman, Collinsville, Comanche, Denton, Garland, Georgetown, Grapevine, Kingsland, San Angelo and Whitesboro. In January, the company announced the availability of 7 Mbps service in 25 other cities across the Lone Star state.  Consumers can get more information of service availability, pricing and features by calling 877-483-5898 or visiting www.verizon.com/superspeed. 

Directory Photo Contest Being Held
by Coleman County Telephone Coop
4/7/2008
Think you have snapped the perfect picture, one that can grace the cover of the Coleman County Telephone Coop phone book? The 2008 Directory Cover Photo Contest is underway. In order to be eligible:

* Photos must be taken with a 35mm or digital camera
* Photos must be taken in the Coleman County area
* Photos must be clear with no fading
* Reproduction suitability
* Identity of location, photographer and return address
* Limit of three photographs per participant

The photograph that is chosen will be credited to the photographer in the 2008 Coleman County Telephone directory. A cash prize of $50.00 will be awarded to the winner. The winner will be required to sign a photo release form. Entry deadline is April 30, 2008. The photograph chosen will be sent to Hanson Directory Service, Inc. for cover publication.
The photograph will be returned when the publication is approved. All other entries will be returned by May 31, 2008. Mail or bring the photographs to the office of Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc., 215 N Second St, PO Box 608, Santa Anna, Texas 76878.  The Cooperative will not be responsible for loss of photos in transit, either being delivered to or mailed from the office. Please make sure to include with photo: Entry participant's name, address and telephone number.

Coleman FFA Judging Team Qualifies for State
4/7/2008
The Coleman FFA Livestock Judging team competed at the Area IV FFA Judging Contest at Tarleton State University on April 2 and qualified to compete at the state contest in College Station on April 26. Only the top 15% of teams competing at the area level get to move on to the state competition.

 Members of the team include, left to right: Meagan Ogden, Nicole Heath (6th high individual), Tanner Strickland and Kelby McCorkle. We would like to wish these kids the best of luck at state.

Statistics for Coleman Police Department for March 8
4/7/2008
Investigations
Theft-10, Burglaries-8, Assault-10, Criminal Mischief-18, Terroristic Threat-3, Deadly Conduct-1, Failure to Identify-1, Forgery-1, Cruelty to Animals-1, Injury to Child-1, Missing Juvenile-1.

Arrests
Warrants-24, Driving While Intoxicated-3, Assault-1, Possession of Marihuana-1, Driving While License Invalid-1

Accidents
With Injury-1, Without Injury-4

Tickets Issued
School Resource Officer-12 tickets with 12 charges filed, Police Department-51 tickets with 66 charges filed

Warnings Issued
Police Department-21, Animal Control, Calls for Service-30, Dogs Picked Up-23, Cats Picked Up-1, Dead Animals Removed from Roadway or Residence-6.

CJH Students of the Month Named
4/7/2008
Members of the Coleman Junior High School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society recently voted on students of the month for February.

Students of the month are:

Shaila Lewis - 6th grade girl
Brent Ogden - 6th grade boy

Nancy Barrios - 7th grade girl
Tyson Millward - 7th grade boy

Sara Clawson - 8th grade girl
Reid Needham - 8th grade boy

To be a student of the month, a student must be nominated by his or her teachers. To be nominated, students must be hard workers, act respectfully to teachers and peers in the classroom and in the hallway, and exhibit good behavior when involved in extra-curricular activities. Members of the National Junior Honor Society vote on nominees from each grade level. The male and female students from each grade who receive the most votes are the students of the month.

Coleman County Shotgun Club Competes in Brady
4/6/2008
Members of the Coleman County 4-H Shotgun Club kicked off the 2008 shooting season by competing at the McCulloch County Whizbang shoot in Brady, TX on Saturday, April 5. Representing the club at Brady were Jansen Merrill and Brent Ogden shooting in the Intermediate (11-13) age division and Kelby McCorkle shooting in the Senior 1 (14-15) age division. (All Pictured Above) Results are as follows:
Jansen Merrill
1st place American Skeet, 1st place American Trap, 2nd place 5-Stand, and HOA (High Over All Intermediate division) Jansen won a belt buckle for this award.
Kelby McCorkle
4th place American Skeet, 3rd place American Trap, 3rd place 5-Stand, and HOA (High Over All Sr. 1 division). Kelby also won a belt buckle for his HOA award.
Brent Ogden
4th place American Skeet, 5th place American Trap.
All three boys won door prizes and enjoyed the day with their parents and friends.

World War II Remembered at CHS
4/5/2008
The Coleman High School Social Studies Department will be hosting its fourth annual World War II Remembrance and Showcase Day on Monday, April 14 from 9:00 AM to 12:25 PM and 1:00 to 2:30 PM in the Coleman High School auditorium.

In an effort to make history come alive for students, the Social Studies Department often tries to present assignments in which the students become involved through research and learning by doing. One way to present World War II with a more “hands on” approach has been to set aside a special day for students to experience sights and sounds from the past. A special display of World War II memorabilia transforms a classroom into a small museum where students are free to listen to music or recorded news broadcasts from the early 1940s while handling authentic U.S. Army field gear and personal items, looking through period magazines, or contemplating the war itself while looking at autographed posters, pictures, and books. The primary focus is on World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations.

Questions abound, from the simplest to the most complex, and when students begin to ask questions, real learning takes place. Something as basic as feeling the weight of a steel “pot” helmet on one’s head or the sight of a casualty tag begins to add meaning to the sacrifices American soldiers have made to maintain our freedom. Canteens, backpacks, entrenching tools, and various other items have sparked interest in the past and promise to do so again this year as even more items will be on display.

Social Studies teachers at Coleman High School - Robert Howington, Doug Patton, Gary Gayle, and Patrick Adams - feel this is a unique and fun way for students to learn without textbooks, worksheets, or computers. It is a different kind of learning involving all the senses and even some emotion. The community is invited to come to Coleman High School on April 14th and see our youth be inspired by the past. In particular, veterans of any branch during peacetime or conflict are encouraged to attend.

City Convenience Center Now Taking Old Tires
4/05/2008
The City of Coleman’s Convenience Center will take old tires according to the following limits and fees:

The Center will take auto and light truck tires only. (No tires over 24” and no heavy truck and/or tractor tires)
Tires must have rims removed
Tires do not qualify under the one time per month free unload available to Coleman residents

The following fees will be charged:
Tires up to 17” ------$3.00 per tire
Tires 17” up to 24” ----$5.00 each

City Receives R C & D Matching Grant
4/5/2008
The Concho Valley Resource Conservation and Development Area concluded its fourth Matching Grant Program of 2007 by awarding a $500 matching grant to the City of Coleman Thursday. The funds were used to offset expenses incurred for the purpose of recycling abandoned tires collected by the City.

In order to receive a matching grant, the applying organization must be a sponsor of the R C & D and the project must benefit the public, relate to land conservation, water management, economic development or community sustainability.

At the check presentation were: Jim Hudson, District Conservationist; Larry Weise, Coleman City Manager; Nick Poldrack, Coleman Mayor; Karen Langley, Secretary to the City Manager; Jimmie Hobbs, County Judge and Tony Resendez, R C & D Coordinator for the Concho Valley area.

Good Neighbor TEEA Hears Program on Glass Design
4/5/2008
The Good Neighbor club met recently and enjoyed a program by Kay Mitchell. She showed pictures and patterns of designs she has made, displayed her cutting equipment and use of flux, copper edging and solder in the development of the designs. Various types, textures and shapes of glass are used in her projects which range in size from small jewelry to large windows and panels. In other business, the club discussed attending a fun day in Brownwood on April 17th.

P. C. Accounting Team to Regional Competition
4/4/2008
Panther Creek’s accounting team – Elizabeth Tapia, Jennifer Cavanaugh, Nancy Meyer, and Cera Suggs – that placed second at the District 12 UIL meet, has been selected as the wild card team in Region 2 Conference A and will complete at the regional completion at Texas Tech in Lubbock on April 11. To be selected a wild card team, the team must have the highest score of all the second place teams in the region. Panther Creek's score of 673 was the highest second place team score in Region 2.

Go Blue Day Raises Over $300
4/4/2008
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire community for their participation and support of the Go Blue Day to Stop Child Abuse. Because of your contributions $311.08 will be given to the Coleman County Child Welfare Board.

Thanks again for your support of this project.

Jessica Morales
CHS Student Council
VP Safety & Health Issues

Band Boosters Meet Tonight
4/7/2008
Only two meetings remain this school year for the Bluecat Band Boosters. The next meeting is at 6:30pm tonight, Monday, April 7, in the new band hall. All parents with students in band in grades 6-12 are invited.

Coleman Little League Ceremonies Tonight
4/7/2008
Coleman Little League Opening Ceremonies will be held at 6:00pm tonight, Monday, April 7, at the ballpark. Two games will follow beginning at 7:00. Please come and support the youth of Coleman County as we kick off the 2008 Little League season.

Panther Creek Students Compete in UIL
4/3/2008
Panther Creek students participated in the District 12 A UIL competition Saturday, March 29, in Zephyr. At the end of the day 7 students qualified for regional in 6 events. Places are as follows.

Second Place Accounting Team – Elizabeth Tapia 3rd, Jennifer Cavanaugh 4th, Nancy Meyer 6th, Cera Suggs 7th
Computer Applications – Cheyenne Elkin 1st, Heather Pope 2nd
Editorial Writing – Cheyenne Elkin 2nd, Jennifer Cavanaugh 3rd
Literary Criticism – Cassie Philpot 1st, Heather Pope 6th
Calculator Applications Team 1st – Jennifer Cavanaugh 6th, Benton Warren 7th, Nancy Meyer
Headline Writing – Nancy Meyer 5th
Poetry Interpretation – Elizabeth Tapia 2nd, Trevor Smith 5th
Prose Interpretation – Cera Suggs 5th
Number Sense – Cheyenne Elkin and Jennifer Cavanaugh tied for 6th
Current Events – Fred Blackwell 7th
Social Studies – Daneé Machuta and Cojo Bowman tied for 9th
The regional qualifiers will compete at Texas Tech in Lubbock on April 11 and 12.

Number One Killer of Children, under age 15, is Almost Always Preventable
4/3/2008
By: Tim Dennis, EMTP, CPST
Executive Director, Eastland County Child Safety Program
Governor’s EMS Injury Prevention Committee Member

Before you hit the open road this summer to spend time with friends and family there are a few things that you take care of. First, you check to make sure that your car is running smoothly, you check your tires for proper inflation, and that you have other items for your trip. But, what if you are traveling with children? Do you have the proper equipment to keep them properly restrained?

Traffic crashes are the number one killer of young children according to the CDC. Last year, 2,542 children ages 15 and younger died in car crashes; another 294,000 were injured. Statistics show nearly half of the deaths and injuries occurred because the children were not restrained properly.

One of the biggest problems is that patents graduate their children from car seats to seatbelts when they should really be in a booster seat. There have also been cases where children who are in car seats are not very well secured.


Every state, including Texas, requires that infants and children ride buckled up. However, state laws do not always require the safest way to transport a child. So what is the safest way? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants always ride in the back seat in car seats that can only be used rear-facing until they are at least a year old and 20 pounds.

One of the biggest mistakes we’ve seen parents make is switching their child to a forward facing seat too soon. Just because your baby has turned a year old or is over 20 pounds doesn’t mean they are ready as they must achieve both milestones before the switch is made.

There are a number of car seats on the market that are considered safe for babies at the in-between stage. Convertible car seats can be used as rear facing until the child is up to 35 pounds, or forward facing until they are 40 pounds. The most common type of seat is the 5-point harness system.

When your child reaches the top weight or height allowed for his or her car seat, that doesn’t mean it’s time for them to switch over to a regular seatbelt. At 3 or 4 years of age, most children are still too short to be safely secured by a seatbelt. If they are not at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, they need the added protection of a booster seat.

Infant Seats
 Must be used in a rear facing position until the child reaches one yr and 20 pounds.
 Should never be placed in front of an active airbag
 Rear facing infant seats reduces the risk of fatal injury in a car crash by 71%.

Toddler Seats
 Should be in the forward facing position for children between 20 & 40 pounds and over 1 yr old.
 Shoulder straps should be at or above the child’s shoulders when used in the forward-facing position.
 They should also fit snugly. If you can pinch more than an inch of the strap, they are too loose.
 Forward-facing seats reduce the fatality risk by 54%.

Booster Seats
 Forward-facing ONLY
 High back boosters with built-in harness: for children between 30 & 40 pounds. Harness should be replaced by adult lap/shoulder belt when the child reaches 40 pounds.
 Belt positioning booster seats: for children between 40 & 80 pounds and up to four feet nine inches. Never use with lap belt only – use with shoulder and adult lap belt together. Shoulder belt should cross chest, never over stomach.

If you have a seat that you would like to have inspected at no cost, call Eastland County Child Safety Program at 254-734-5989 to arrange an inspection. They also have seat available for those families that are not able to purchase a new seat for their child, and these seats are FREE. Eastland County Child Safety Program covers all of the counties surrounding Eastland County, and we are a Texas Non-Profit group.

Santa Anna One-Act Play to Compete in Area Competition
4/2/2008
The Santa Anna One-Act play of “To See the Stars” by Cynthia Mercati will compete in the UIL Area 2 competition on Saturday, April 5, 2008. The Contest will be in Santa Anna High School beginning at 2:00 P.M. There will be six schools competing for the honor of advancing to the Region II meet on Saturday, April 12. The order of performance will be: DeLeon, “The History of Tom Jones”,