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News Archives - March 2007
More
Rainfall Reports
3/31/2007
For those of you who love Coleman County but,
unfortunately, can't or don't live here, you would be
amazed at the way the country looks right now. Lush
green grass, flowers and trees in bloom, stock tanks
full, lakes on the rise, it's just beautiful.
We received the following rainfall reports Friday
afternoon and Saturday morning:
* Danny Armstrong - South Coleman - 7.00 since last
Sunday
* Bill Garrett - 5 mi. SW of Santa Anna - 1.20 total for
Friday
* Donna Goodgion - From Comanche County - 2.30 as of
9:00pm Friday
* Tex Wright - Santa Anna - 1.80 total for Friday
* Jeff Moore - White Chapel - 3.00 Friday
* Henry and Margie Dodson - NE of Coleman on 206 near
Echo - 3.40 on Friday
Brenda Wilkinson submitted this picture of a beaver on
the banks
of Hords Creek flowing through Coleman City Park. She
said he
would swim out a few yards and back again and actually
watched her take pictures.
Hords Creek on a roll in City Park around 11:30am Friday
Thanks Brenda!
Chamber
of Commerce Award Winners Announced
3/30/2007
A large crowd filled the Bill Franklin Center Friday
night for the annual Coleman County Chamber of Commerce
Banquet. Among the highlights:
* A group of about 20 students from Abilene Christian
University, all from Madagascar. They sang several songs
in their native tongue to the delight of the audience.
* Citizen of the Year Award - Given to Gene Christian -
Gene came to Coleman in 1973 as a Maintenance Supervisor
for TxDOT. More recently, he has been active in
promoting Coleman and has been active with the Chamber
* Rural Citizen of the Year Award - Given to Henry
Dodson - Born in Coleman, active in farming and
ranching, helped on the committee to make the Bill
Franklin Center a reality, President of Coleman County
State Bank
* Teacher of the Year Award - Given to Glenda Cash of
the Panther Creek CISD - In her 29th year of teaching,
ever striving to prepare young persons for a productive
adult life
* New Horizon Award - Given to Kyra Neff of Santa Anna -
Owner of That Santa Anna Store - 1992 Coleman Rodeo
Queen and 1992 Miss Coleman County - Promotes business
growth throughout Coleman County
Area
Lakes Gaining Water
3/30/2007
Lakes are on the rise, thanks to heavy rains over West
Central Texas Friday morning.
Rainfall Reports
* City of Coleman - 2.20 (as of Friday morning)
* Hords Creek Lake 1.76 (as of Friday morning)
* Anthony Strawn - 6 mi. S. of Burkett - 2.50 (as of
Friday morning)
* Anita Calk - Silver Valley - 2.50 as of 11:45am, pea
size hail (as of Friday morning)
* Ken and Helen Smith - Valera - 1.75 as of noon
* Royce Young - N. Coleman Co. on Pecan Bayou Watershed
- 3.50 - (4.00 counting yesterday)
* Margret Matthews - 4 mi. S. of Burkett - 2.50 (as of
early Friday afternoon), another 2.00 late Friday
* Dwayne and Barbara Turner - Lake Coleman - 3.00
between 9am and 11am then another 1.30 inches
Friday afternoon - Total of 4.30 Friday at Lake Coleman
* Linda and Wayne Wright - 3 mi. W. of Glen Cove - 1.48
as of 3:50pm Friday
* Tex Wright - beautiful downtown Santa Anna - .40
Rainfall reports received from our readers Thursday
included .80 from Tex Wright in Santa Anna, .30 from
Bill Garrett five miles southwest of Santa Anna, .50
from Donna Goodgion in Comanche and .50 from Linda and
Wayne Wright in Glen Cove.
Wreck Sends Brownwood Woman to Hospital
3/29/2007
Mattilyn W. Wright was traveling north on U.S. Highway
84 at 12:45pm Thursday, between Silver Valley and
Novice. According to Chris Delgado, DPS Trooper, Wright
was sleepy, drifted off the road into the ditch,
overcorrected back onto the roadway but spun around in
the process. The right rear door then hit the end of the
guard rail catapulting the 2004 Buick into the air
coming to rest upside down in the middle of the road, a
considerable distance from where it struck the guard
rail. She was wearing a seatbelt which, according to
Delgado, played a major role in allowing only minor
injuries. She was taken by ambulance to Coleman County
Medical Center, evaluated and later released. Wright was
going to Abilene to visit her husband who is in the
hospital. Her dog was with her in the vehicle but he
wasn't injured either. Rain was falling in the area.
Santa Anna One-Act Play
Advances to Area
3/29/2007
Santa
Anna's “The Women of Lockerbie” One-Act Play has
advanced to area competition which will be Saturday,
April 7, at Santa Anna High School. Jarod Jones
and Leeanda Bennett took home Best Actor and Best
Actress awards, Caylie
Robinett was named to the All-Star Cast. Molly Pritchard
received Honorable Mention.
The cast and crews are Jarod Jones, Leeanda Bennett,
Molly Pritchard, Becca Fellers, Heather McMillan,
Adelaida Dean, Caylie Robinett, Terrence Jackson, Sierra
Herrod, Brittney Morris, Michelle Wetsel, Monica Cortez,
Kendra Coleman.
One Arrested After Night of
Criminal Mischief
3/29/2007
Coleman Police
have in custody Lavell Robinson, 25, charged with state
felony criminal mischief. According to Les Cogdill,
Detective Sergeant, the Police Department received a
call at 1:51am this morning from an alarm company
concerning a window breakage at Skinny's Convenience
Store on North Neches. At 2:08am, police received
another call from an alarm company concerning window
breakage at Skinny's at 501 Commercial Avenue. With the
help from citizen reports, police located and arrested
Robinson at the corner of Commercial Avenue and Second
Street. According to Cogdill, Robinson confessed to
breaking windows at Lone Star Shop, Wash and Play
at West 3rd and Fifth Avenue. Nine windows and two doors
were damaged at laundry while one
window was damaged at each Skinny's, Cogdill said.
Miss Coleman County Wins in The
Woodlands
Bound for Florida Pageant in August
3/29/2007
Peyton
Saverance, daughter of Dewayne and Luana Saverance,
represented Coleman in the Texas American Queen Pageant
held in The Woodlands on March 11, 2007. She was crowned
American Queen Miss Teen Texas 2007 and will be
advancing to the fifth annual National American Queen
Pageant to be held in Daytona Beach, Florida in August.
She was also the Evening Wear Award winner and was
presented the Carmela Award as well. The Carmela Award
is presented to the contestant with the highest combined
overall score in fitness, evening wear and interview
within all divisions.
More information about
the American Queen pageant system is on their website:
www.americanqueenpageant.net.
Ashley Jameson Honored at UT
Arlington
3/29/2007
Ashley Marie
Jameson, a 2005 graduate of Coleman High School, has
been named to the "All A Honor Roll" for the Fall
Semester 2006 at The University of Texas at Arlington.
This award program recognizes those students who have a
minimum of 30 hours in residence at UT Arlington, take a
course load of 12 hours or more each semester, and earn
a cumulative grade average of 4.0. Two hundred and
twelve students earned this honor during the Fall of
2006 semester placing Ashley in the upper 1.1 percent of
the student body. She will be honored along with
other outstanding academic achievers at the President’s
Convocation for Academic Excellence on Thursday, April
19.
Ashley is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in
Nursing. She is presently taking a course load of 14
hours for the Spring 2007 semester. She has accumulated
a total of sixty-four semester hours, including the
current semester, since beginning college in the Fall of
2005.
Ashley is the daughter of Rex and Debbie Jameson, and
the sister of Jeremy Jameson of Coleman. Ashley's
grandparents are Wilbert and Jerry Dobbins of Coleman,
and Max and Ann Jameson of Voss.
Camp Quality News Update
3/29/2007 (by Amanda Straach)
Our "Things We
Need" list has been released. We are expecting around 30
children to attend camp so any help you can give would
be much appreciated. Let all of your friends and
co-workers know about us by posting this list around the
office or pass it around at meetings. Thank you each and
everyone for your support. A special thank you goes out
to Steve Hall and Mark Smith from the Straach family.
Small CD Player for outside use
1 large ball
6 hula hoops
12 buckets with handles
60 meter sticks
6 rubber chickens
6 stir fry pans or a cheap equivalent
18 small balls
6 plastic swords
6 hard shell kiddie pools
60 small plastic dive rings
6 bags of sand for kiddie pools
50 bandannas
600 water balloons
1 bag of regular balloons
25 cans of fragrance-free shaving cream
20 bottles of sunscreen for children
20 bottles of bug spray--deet free
It Pays to be Present
3/29/2007
The winner of
the “It Pays to be Present” drawing held this past week
at Coleman Junior High School was seventh grader Nicole
Estrada. 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 this period. The
$25.00 is provided by the Student Council at Coleman
Junior High. 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.
Students of the Month Selected
at CJHS
3/28/2007
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 (left to right) - Courtney
Brown - 6th grade girl and Charlie Thomas - 6th grade
boy; Leanna Roberts - 7th grade girl and Brooks Jones -
7th grade boy; Taylor Armstrong - 8th grade girl and A.
J. Hurtado - 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.
CCMC Board of Director's Meet
3/27/2007 (by Sue Titsworth)
The Coleman
County Medical Center Board of Directors met in their
regular meeting last Thursday evening at 5 o’clock in
the Board Conference Room, and took care of their agenda
items in short order.
CCMC Board President Mark Griffis presented Sally
(Smith) Arnold, RN, with a certificate for CCMC Employee
of the 2nd Quarter. Arnold, who is a Cardiac Rehab
nurse, also received a check for $100.00 and a day off
with pay.
CEO/Administrator presented the Medical Staff Report,
stating that the clinic would like to hire Nurse
Practitioner David Longley to cover the Emergency Room
during the day time, since Dr. Atwood and Dr. Reynolds
could not do it and take care of the patient load in the
clinic which has increased due to Dr. Bailey leaving the
practice. Dr. Darron Atwood, who was late to the meeting
due to an emergency in the ER, further explained that he
and Dr. Reynolds felt this was the only way possible to
cover the daytime emergencies until another doctor came
on board, which may be as late as the summer of 2008.
After some discussion, the board agreed that this was
the best way to handle the situation and voted
unanimously to accept the plan.
In other business, Langley presented the financial
report to the board, stating that February had been one
of the better months for the hospital this year, with 67
admissions. He also advised that eight people had been
admitted to the Swing bed program, and 35 patients to
Observation. EMS made a total of 97 runs for the month
of February.
Langley and the board members also discussed the
possibility of direct deposit on payroll. More
information will be needed before a decision is made.
Langley also presented the Infection Control Manual to
the board, who approved it.
The next regular meeting of the Coleman County Board of
Directors is scheduled for 5 P.M. April 26, 2007 in the
CCMC Board Conference Room.
Santa Anna City Council
Receives Audit Report
3/27/2007
by Randy Turner
There was bad
news and good news to come out of the annual financial
audit for the city of Santa Anna. The City Council
received the audit Monday evening for the fiscal year
ending March 31, 2006, from Joyce Cornelius,
representing Burl D. Lowery, CPA.
The summary of the auditor's results, found on pages 45,
46 and 47, identifies material weaknesses, reportable
conditions identified that are not considered to be
material weaknesses and non-compliance material to
financial statements. The financial statement findings
included:
* Revenue collections were not deposited timely
* Required bonded debt reserve funds are not not being
deposited into the reserve fund bank account
* The annual bonded debt payments are required to be
saved in the interest and sinking fund accounts monthly
* Lease purchase agreement for municipal court system
was never properly completed
* Supporting documents for disbursements are not always
available
* Minutes of the Council meetings should clearly
indicate the approval for payments of bills and invoices
* Official minutes of the Council meetings are not bound
in the official minute book
* Budget for 2006-2007 was not adopted prior to April 1,
2006
* City paid dependent health care for municipal court
judge
* Extra duty pay was not formally approved by the
Council in December 2005 and the City paid retirement on
the extra duty pay
Along with each of the findings are listed the condition
which led to the problem and recommendations on how to
fix the problem.
The good news to come out of the audit was that many of
these problems have been corrected. "This (audit) is a
year ago. I think a lot of these things have been
corrected, books are in better shape now and you are on
the road to getting things corrected," Cornelius told
the Council. "Documents for invoices are being filed,
the minutes are caught up now and bound," she said. The
Council was also told the staff at City Hall may be too
small. "You cannot ask one person to be responsible for
all of this. The big problem looming ahead is to make
sure Municipal Court is taken care of. Municipal Court
revenue helps pay debt. We can't have people coming in
constantly and going through stuff. You've got to get
some sort of procedures set then let the employees get
the job done, " Cornelius said.
The Council voted unanimously to accept the audit as
presented.
Santa Anna Council Rehires
Wanda Campbell
3/27/2007
by Randy Turner
The employment
status of Wanda Campbell was considered Monday evening
by the Santa Anna City Council. Campbell, who had been a
part-time office worker at City Hall, resigned after a
Council meeting earlier this month.
The Council went into closed executive session at 5:52pm
to discuss Campbell's status. Campbell arrived at City
Hall at 6:09pm, knocked on the council room door and
went into the closed session with the Council. The
Council came out of executive session at 6:19pm. It was
announced that Campbell will continue employment with
the City of Santa Anna.
Other business:
* Adopted new or amended Employee Job Descriptions
* Accepted resignation of Chipper Anderson
* Went into executive session at 6:21pm to review the
probationary status and compensation of Maintenance
Employee Terry Taylor. The session ended at 6:25pm with
the Council agreeing to increase Taylor's compensation
to the amount stated when he was hired
* The Council passed motions to purchase a time clock
and tape recorder - the time clock to be used by all
city employees who are not police or salaried - the tape
recorder to tape Council meetings
* The agenda item to hire immediately temporary office
help was taken care of earlier in the meeting by the
hiring of Wanda Campbell
* The agenda item to establish a timeline to solicit and
advertise to fill the position of Director of Public
Works to replace existing Interim Director of Public
Works - Sam Oswood said he is not ready to leave
employment in the capacity of Director of Public Works,
but feels the city needs to develop a plan of action.
The Council took no action pending further
investigation, the item will be put on the agenda at the
next meeting.
* The agenda item to solicit and advertise for the
purpose of hiring non-temporary office personnel - The
Council voted to take no action pending review of
current applications, one councilman opposed
* Councilwoman Nancy Wylie presented appraisals of
properties within the Downtown Reinvestment Zone. Wylie
said she will bring a written proposal from the EDC to
the next council meeting
* Council approved providing office space for the EDC at
the City Hall building
* Council approved a policy to prohibit smoking in City
Hall
Street Sign Changes Made in
Coleman
3/27/2007
The City of
Coleman’s Police and Street Departments need the public
to be aware that changes in signage have occurred at a
number of intersections in the city. These changes have
occurred primarily along East College Street. They are
as follows:
* San Saba Street now stops to East College
* Llano Street now stops to East College
* San Marcos Street now stops to East College
Please exercise extreme caution when approaching these
intersections, as it may take some time for residents to
become accustomed to the changes. Any questions about
these changes may be directed to the Police Department
at (325) 625-4114 or to City Hall at (325) 625-5114.
Dog Mayor Candidates Rally
3/27/2007 (courtesy Humane Society of Coleman
Co.)
The Dog Mayor
candidates had a good time meeting each other Saturday
at the candidates rally. All agreed that the race is
being run fair and square, and the candidates are
keeping to the issues, chief of which is “Spay/Neuter
Your Pet!”
All the candidates urge everyone to buy raffle tickets
for the very fancy Char-Broil grill this weekend at the
Shoppin’ Baskit. Volunteers will be on hand Friday from
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Votes can be cast during those hours for your favorite
Dog Mayor candidate. The election results will be
announced during Garage Sale weekend on April 14.
Local Youth
Writes About Her Texas Brigade Hunt
3/27/2007
(The following article
was written and submitted by Cassie Philpot about her
hunt in Albany on January 13, 2007. The Texas Brigades
chose eight students out of a possible 30 to go on this
hunt. She will submit an accomplishment book on April 1
to the Brigades in hopes of receiving one of the
scholarships offered through the Texas Brigades and a
spot as an assistant leader this summer. The picture is
of Cassie and her dad, Wayne, with the doe that she
shot.)
It
was about to be very dark, and the flashlight was dying.
My guide and I had already found my deer once, but she
had gotten up and ran out of sight. The blood spots on
the ground were getting bigger and darker. It was at
least 28 degrees and the wind was relentless. Nasty,
cold, sleet was falling all around us. The blood spots
were getting bigger still. The doe was getting tired.
And then there she was. About twenty feet in front of
us, lying down in a ring of cactus, was the deer that I
had shot not 30 minutes before out on the private road.
It was just my luck that she was still alive, and it
looked like she was going to run again. I cautiously
raised my rifle and put my eye up to the scope. I
couldn't figure out why my sight picture wouldn't focus,
when I realized that my scope had frozen over. With an
exasperated groan, I slung my rifle back over my
shoulder, and the deer ran away again. I looked over at
my guide, Dr. Jeff Breeden, and suggested that we head
back to the truck. With a quick look around the icy
terrain, he agreed. Whipping out his handheld GPS, we
started back towards the road. Soon after climbing back
into the truck and starting the engine, Dr. Jeff found
that the windshield had frozen over, just like my scope.
In a defeated sort of way, we headed back to the ranch.
I had learned a very important lesson on this particular
hunt: I am a very bad judge of distance.
When my dad and I had pulled up to the Stasney's-Cook
Ranch earlier that day, I first took a moment to look
around the place. The ranch holds so many memories of my
friends and me from that summer when we had been there
for the 5th Battalion of the North Texas Buckskin
Brigade. The Texas Brigades is a organization that
annually holds wildlife / youth development camps in
June and July. The Buckskin Brigade focuses on the
management of the white tail deer. I had been a member
of the only all girl "herd" (named Pretty in Camo) in
the entire place, and we had bonded in such a way, that
we are now inseparable. I was so moved by everything
that I had learned at camp that in turn, I have gone out
into my community and told people about the camp.
Because I've done the required amount of educational
programs about the camp, I was invited to come back for
a management deer hunt.
If you like a challenge and an exciting new experience,
the Texas Brigades are exactly what you would enjoy. The
Brigades are an excellent way to meet new people, learn
new things, and not to mention a great chance for
earning scholarships for college. If you or someone you
know would like more information about the Brigades, you
can go to the website
www.texasbrigades.org, or give me a call at
325-348-7249.
Jr. High Bands Compete
at Cisco
3/27/2007
The 6th, 7th and 8th
grade bands were invited to the Cisco Music Festival to
perform in concert and sight-reading. The 7th and 8th
Grade performed on Wednesday, March 21, at the Cisco Jr.
College Auditorium. The students played “33rd Street
March” and “To a New Beginning" and received a II (2) in
concert and a I (!) in sight-reading.
The 6th Grade performed on Thursday, March 22, at the
auditorium. They played “Caveman gets a Haircut” and
“Cataclysm” and received a I (1) in concert and a I (1)
in sight-reading. Mr. Lotspeich and Mr. Everett were
very pleased with all the performances.
This year the band also competed in the solo and
ensemble events at Cisco. A I is superior and II is
excellent.
In 7th and 8th, we had only one solo. Samantha Kelley
received a I in her saxophone solo. The 6th Grade I
solo’s were: flute - Erika Solis and Leah Diaz; clarinet
- Mariah Diaz, Dakotah Nation and Tiara Rosalez; trumpet
- Luis Alanis, Nancy Barrios, Sarah Casselberry, Ethan
Morris, and Cutter Windham; trombone - Syndi Stevenson,
Talon King, Emily Earl, Jace Newman, Staci Olinger, DJ
Terrell and Shelton Zarate; saxophone - Charlie Thomas.
This is their first year in band and they have excelled
in their particular instrument.
In 7th and 8th there were 8 groups performing ensemble
and duets that received a I. Those playing and receiving
a medal were: Bambi Yebra, Cheyenne Casey, Leanna
Roberts, Reid Needham, Angel Barrios, Morgan Schumann,
Nnehkai Agbor, Kassidy Dean, Samantha Jimenez, Victoria
Cruz, Sarah Jackson (medalled twice), Vicky Frausto,
Laura Martinez, Hunter Johnson, Marcelino Felipe, Manuel
Cruz, Kyle Russell, Kelby McCorkle, Angelina Marks,
Kalie Diaz, and Sadie Mackey. Those receiving a medal in
6th grade were Megan Dority, Leah Diaz, Tiara Rosalez,
Charlie Thomas, Summer Watson, Shianna Schultz, Marcus
Correa, Justin Faries and Chris Diaz.
CHS One-Act Play
Competes
3/27/2007
The Coleman High One-Act
Play did not advance last week to the next round of
competition but they did have a very good production.
The play received some individual awards. Named to the
All-Star Cast was Sara Smith. Honorable mention All-Star
Cast members were Kyle Mayo and Carrie Benedict. A Tech
Award went to Stefanie White.
Monday Rainfall Reports:
Dwayne Turner - Lake Coleman
- 1.70 as of 8:35am Monday
Ken and Helen Smith - Valera - 1.75 as of 6:45am Monday
Anthony Strawn - 6 mi. S. of
Burkett - 2.10 as of 8:10am Monday
Joan Anderson
- S. end of Commercial Ave. in Coleman - 2.80 as of 7:45am
Monday
Herma Jean and
Cecil Johnson (2:45pm Update) - 1 mi. S. of Coleman on FM
2131 - 7+ inches since
Saturday
Thomas Rutherford - Whon -
1.90 as of 8:00am Monday
Linda and Wayne Wright - Glen
Cove - 1.30 as of 12:30pm Monday
Lyndon Key - Novice - 1.87 as
of 10:00am Monday
Bill Garrett - 5 mi. SW of
Santa Anna - 2.90 between noon Sunday and noon Monday
Corps of Engineers - Hords
Creek Lake - 1.90 since Sunday night
Lake Coleman - Dwayne Turner
- As of 2:20pm, rain had ended - 2.00 inches
Chuck and Nancy Baker -
Sunrise Lane - North Coleman - 2.75 Sunday through noon
Monday
Jeff and Anita Moore - White
Chapel community west of Coleman - 2.00 as of 3:30pm Monday
Ken and Helen Smith -
Valera - 2.60 as of 4:00pm Monday
Donna Goodgion - Comanche, Tx - 3.00 as of 4:00pm Monday
Tex Wright - Santa Anna - 2.80 as of 3:30pm Monday
Dwayne Turner - Lake
Coleman - Since 2:20pm Monday, an additional .10
Anthony Strawn - 6 mi.
S. of Burkett - 3.00 as of Tuesday morning
Henry and Margie
Dodson - near Echo - 2.90 as of Monday noon
One Dead After Fiery Crash
3/25/2007
A tragic one car wreck early Sunday
morning left one man dead. The wreck was on FM 1176 south,
inside the Santa Anna city limits, and is believed to
have happened around 2:45am.
According to the investigation report, a 1993 Ford 4-door
was traveling south when the driver failed to negotiate a
curve, went off the east side of the road, overcorrected and
traveled back across the road into the west ditch where the
car hit a tree and burst into flames.
The driver was the lone occupant and was pronounced dead at
the scene at 3:25am by Nance Campbell, Coleman County
Justice of the Peace. The body was taken to the Dallas
County Medical Examiners Office by Henderson Funeral Home
for autopsy.
The driver is believed to be Bictorino Vasquez Diaz, Jr.,
56, of Santa Anna. Confirmation from the medical examiner
will assist investigators in making positive identification.
Rick Hochmann of the Santa Anna PD and Pat Salas, Coleman
County DPS Trooper, are investigating the wreck. They
were assisted by Ken Brixey with the Coleman County
Sheriff's Department, Constable Joe Watson, Coleman and
Santa Anna Fire Departments and Coleman County Medical
Center EMS.
Looked Bad, No Injuries
3/25/2007
Traffic was diverted around an
18-wheeler which jackknifed Sunday afternoon on a wet
overpass between Coleman and Santa Anna. According to DPS
Trooper Pat Salas, the driver of the rig was Ray Kevin Shaw,46,
of Elgin, Texas. Shaw was going south on Highway 84 when he
entered the overpass, failed to negotiate the curve,
jackknifed and hit a guard rail, blocking both south bound
lanes of traffic, Salas said. The driver was not injured.
At least a half-dozen wrecks have happened on the overpass
since the first of the year, all in nearly the same
location.
Fire Destroys Vacant House at Fisk
3/25/2007
Coleman and Voss fire departments responded to a house
fire at 2:23am Sunday on FM 1026, just south of Fisk.
According to Darrell Walker with the Coleman Fire
Department, they arrived to find the vacant house
already "on the ground". The property owner is Robert
Candler.
You may have also seen
smoke around the Memory Lake area in recent days.
Firemen have been doing controlled burns on property
near the lake to try to prevent another fire like the
one last August that threatened the west side of town.
Camp Quality News
3/25/2007 (by Amanda Straach)
As of today, my good friends of
Coleman, Coleman County and surrounding Counties have
contributed close to $2000 to Camp Quality. That means
that together, we are already able to sponsor two
children for this summer's camping experience.
I can hardly wait to get up each morning so that I can
check my mail. I have been receiving donations almost
daily and I have to say thank you, thank you, thank you
!
Our "Things We Need" list will not be available until
May, but as soon as I can get it, I will share it with
you. Also, I have received many donations in memory of
loved ones, and donations in honor of special people. If
you would like, you may contact me and I can get you
this information for making a donation in this form.
May God bless each and everyone for your support for
Camp Quality. If you are able to do nothing else but
pray, please remember to pray for safe travels for the
families and volunteers, pray for our safety as we go
through our activities, and remember to pray for us so
that God will continue to guide our hearts and our hands
so that we provide comfort and security to these
children and their parents.
Amanda Straach
3005 Southpark Drive
Coleman, Tx 76834
325-625-2825
ajsminis@verizon.net
Walk Across Texas Kick-Off a Success!
3/25/2007By Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS
Walk Across Texas 2007 (WAT) got off
to a great start Tuesday evening at the Kick-Off in the
courthouse with a guest speaker and door prizes.
Actually, the 8-week Walk Across Texas campaign will
begin Sunday, March 25, and end May 19, but those
who attended the Kick-Off walked a Bonus Mile around the
courthouse, which will count toward their first week of
WAT.
Guest Speaker, Linda Hyde (shown left),
owner and manager of Curves of Coleman, gave a
motivational talk about the benefits of physical
activity. Now we’re all excited about joining a team and
adding up our miles by walking, jogging, riding
bicycles, and even gardening in our own neighborhoods,
the equivalent of 800 miles across Texas.
An added bonus is the opportunity to purchase a Walk
Across Texas T-shirt for only $5.00. If you are
interested, please call the Extension Office and let us
know what size T-shirt you would like to order.
We will place the orders Friday, March 30.
Children at the Coleman schools and Coleman Head Start
will also be participating in Walk Across Texas. You can
help Coleman County to be a healthier community, by
participating and encouraging your children to
participate in Walk Across Texas!
For more information of Walk Across Texas, call the
Extension Office at 325-625-4519.
Gouldbusk Community Center for Everyone's Use
3/25/2007
We have heard from people within the
community that some feel that the community center is
only available to members of the Gouldbusk Homemakers
Club. This isn't true. While it is true that the
Homemakers club has taken on responsibility for upkeep
and maintenance of the facility, it is available to
anyone within the community who needs it. We would love
to see more people within the community use it. It would
be ideal for indoor yard sales, family reunions and
church or community meals. If you would be interested in
using the facility just call Virginia Jamison, Sue
Ragsdale, Pat Pool or Mona Wilson to arrange to use it.
All we ask in return is that it is left in as clean
condition as when you walked in and that whoever uses it
make a donation to the club to help toward upkeep,
electricity and water costs. (Submitted by the
TEEA Gouldbusk Homemakers Club)
Youth Art Month at FCNB
3/25/2007 (by Marian Johnson)
Youth Art Month is being celebrated
in March at the First Coleman National Bank lobby.
Paintings and decorated wood characters are on display.
Young artists participating are Adria Vasquez (remember
the dog painting at the Fiesta Show last year?) Ashton
Adian, Marcus Diaz, Lanell Bennett and Jessica Bennett.
Visit the bank and see the Art.
Pennsylvania Students / Soldiers Visit Coleman
3/24/2007 by Randy Turner
Just looking at Jessica Speary and
Elizabeth Reibson, both 21, you see vibrant young ladies
who enjoy life. Both attend Lock Haven University, a
small campus in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, near State
College. Jessica
is majoring in health science, Elizabeth (left)
in health science and physical therapy.
They have been best friends since high school in
Sullivan County, Pennsylvania where they joke their
hometown has one red light and one high school. There
are fewer people in their home county than there are in
Coleman. Small town girls, going to college, planning
for a career and having done more and seen more in their
brief lives than many of us ever will.
They are in college now but five years ago they joined
the Army National Guard in Pennsylvania as juniors in
high school. Though not in the same unit, somehow, they
wound up together in Iraq. You see, Jessica and
Elizabeth are also M1A1 Abrams Tank mechanics, 63
Hotels.
They
served 12 months in Habbaniyah, a small town near Ramadi
in Alanbar Province. Their location was along the
Euphrates River in a fort formerly used by Saddam
Hussein, a nice, vegetative area where temperatures
still reach 115 degrees in the summer. Their jobs
included troubleshooting, replacing engines and
transmissions on the Abrams and avoiding the occasional
mortar attacks. They were shot at a few times, worked 12
hour days and did not have a day off in the first four
months they were there. They arrived having to learn
virtually everything about an Abrams tank, but they left
with their unit having the highest level of maintenance
efficiency since U.S. troops have been over there.
They prayed a lot, had a great chaplain and church was
their second home. They feel great about what they
accomplished.
Both say they are much more appreciative of what they
have. Elizabeth said she did a lot better academically,
got involved in more school clubs and took things more
seriously after her year in Iraq. "After you have had
time away and work manual labor for a year straight, you
get pretty confident," she said.
During
Spring Break a couple weeks ago, Jessica, Liz and some
other family members drove from Pennsylvania to South
Padre Island for vacation. What brought them to Coleman
from South Padre was to visit Jessica's grandmother,
Nancy Turner, and some other family in the Bronte area.
After a couple of days here, it was back on the road to
Pennsylvania and back to college this week.
Would they return to Iraq to serve again? Absolutely. "I
wouldn't have traded the experience for the world,"
Jessica said. They are just two of the many
thousands involved in the effort in the Middle East and
we appreciate their service.
Coleman Police Blotter, March 23-24
3/24/2007 (contributed by Coleman PD)
In a
report from the Coleman Police Department, it was an
active night throughout the community.
Police responded to an assault call of a patron at
Allsup's on the south side of Coleman. This incident is
under investigation by the Coleman Police Department.
Coleman County Dispatch received information that two
dogs had been taken from the City of Coleman Animal
Shelter early Friday evening. Animal Control Officer
Mona Watts, assisted by the Coleman P.D., located and
retrieved both missing dogs and returned them to the
shelter. No charges have been filed at this time, this
case is under investigation by the Coleman P.D. and
Animal Control.
In an attempt to locate the assailant from the earlier
assault, police searched the Salt-n-Pepper Bar and Grill
in north Coleman. After the search ended with no leads,
police were preparing to leave the establishment when
Terrance Lee Brannon, 47 years old of Coleman, exited
the bar. It was apparent to officers that Brannon was
intoxicated. Brannon was placed under arrest for Public
Intoxication and placed in the Coleman City Jail with a
$1000 bond.
At approximately 10:30 Friday evening, police were
dispatched to the 200 Block of East 5th in reference to
a fight that was taking place where possible weapons
were being used. Upon officers arrival, numerous
individuals were gathered at a residence and several
people began to flee on foot. One Hispanic male
was found lying on the ground. Coleman County EMS along
with the Coleman Fire Department were dispatched to the
scene where the male was taken to Coleman County Medical
Center for unknown injuries. Police spoke with several
witnesses at the residence and continue with their
investigation.
At 4:30 Saturday morning, a female subject entered the
Coleman Police Department and spoke with police in
reference to a domestic violence situation in her home.
Police went with the lady to her residence in the 500
Block of Mountain and spoke with her boyfriend about the
situation. After speaking with both parties, it was
found that the male subject, Perry Lynn Preas, 56 years
old of Coleman, was wanted by the Coleman County
Sheriff's Department for a warrant in reference to
Assault Family Violence. Preas was arrested and placed
in the Coleman City Jail awaiting bond.
Santa Anna / Panther Creek Plays Advance
3/23/2007 (Contributed)
Zone 1, District 12-A Conference A, One-Act Play competition
was held at the Santa Anna Auditorium on March 22nd. Santa
Anna’s play, “The Women of Lockerbie”, and Panther Creek’s
“The Saga of Katy and The Gambling Lady”, advance to
District next Wednesday, March 28, at the Santa Anna
Auditorium.
All-Star Cast honors went to John Warren, Elizabeth Tapia,
Julie Hafner (Panther Creek), Megan Sadler (Novice), Becca
Fellers, Caylie Robinett (Santa Anna). Best Actor went to
Jarod Jones (Santa Anna) and Best Actress - LeeAnda Bennett.
Honorable Mention cast went to Jennifer Cavanaugh, Danee’
Machuta, Jayton VanPelt (Panther Creek) Chelsey VanPelt,
James Powell, Walker Shapland (Novice).
Hummingbird Time
3/23/2007
One of our readers, Anita Calk, said to remind folks it's time to clean
out your martin houses and put up your hummingbird feeders.
"The scouts have arrived and are looking for homes and
feeders," she says. "Some folks wait too long to get their
hummingbird feeders up and the birds settle other places to
build nests," she added.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has a portion of
their website dedicated to hummingbirds.
CLICK HERE
to go to the Texas Hummingbird Roundup.
2007-2008 CHS Cheerleaders Named
3/22/2007
The following young ladies will lead
the cheers for Coleman High School for the upcoming school
year.
Eden
Duquette, Meagan Ogden, Rynn Norris, Shelby DeLeon, Jaylon
Welch, Reagan Barr, Sarah Lofton, Angelina Jones and Nicole
Heath.
Update on Colby Chambers
3/21/2007
Colby Chambers of Coleman, 19, was
injured in a wreck last Saturday night and has been in the
ICU of Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo since then.
We talked with his mother, Jerri Ann, Wednesday afternoon
and she said that all the various procedures the doctors
have done have gone really well and they are pleased. He is
being kept under heavy sedation for an unknown amount of
time and will remain in ICU for an undetermined time. Rehab
is expected to take several months.
Jerri Ann said people have been wonderful to call or visit
and she wanted us to pass along to our readers how much your
support is appreciated by the family.
City Locks-In Electric Rate for Next Decade
3/21/2007
The Coleman City Council met in
special session Tuesday to address an issue regarding their
wholesale electricity contract.
The Council, the city attorney, Lanny Aldridge with AEP
(power company) and Steve Moffett with McCord Engineering,
spent one hour in closed session.
When they returned to open session, the Council voted 4-0 to
accept the wholesale electric contract with AEP for a full
term of 10 years with a locked-in rate. Bob Ray, Mayor
Pro-Tem, expressed that the City should be proud to get a
good contract. Councilman Plummer commended City Manager
Larry Weise and City Attorney Steve Autry for their work in
obtaining the contract.
The Council made one other decision during the meeting which
was to correct a typographical error in the codification of
City Ordinance Article 8.03.
Youth Art Month Celebrated at Coleman County State Bank
3/21/2007 (by Marian Johnson,
Publicity Chairman, Fine Arts League)
Fine
Arts League PAPP (Private Art in Public Places) chair, Pat
Slate, has placed the exhibit for Youth Art Month at Coleman
County State Bank.
Several pieces of art by Coleman County Youth including
Bailey Stokes and Emma Dyer are displayed in the bank’s
lobby. Bailey’s work is a wonderful youthful effort of
"Tiger", "Deer", and "Bobcat".
Emma’s
paintings bring forth questions which is what meaningful art
is supposed to do. The "Hear, See, and Speak" painting has
to be inspected closely to see the meaning and how the
artist wished to express it. Her other work includes, "The
Veil" and "Thinking Aside". Thanks to these young artists
for their efforts and allowing their work to be enjoyed by
all.
Say Hello to the Santa Anna
Foundation!!
Two Organizations Unite
3/20/2007
(contributed)
The Santa Anna
Ex-Students Association and the Santa Anna Foundation
have joined forces for the benefit of Santa Anna and the
surrounding area. While the Ex-Students Association has
long served Mountaineers and former Mountaineers alike,
sponsoring one of Texas’ longest running annual
Homecomings since 1953, it only began giving
scholarships to SAHS graduates about ten years ago.
Similarly, the Santa Anna Foundation has made charitable
grants to community projects—most notably our civic
center and city park-- as well as giving scholarships to
graduates from Panther Creek, Santa Anna, and CAP High
schools for about the same amount of time. It was a
natural fit for the two groups to unite in their efforts
to support the growth and prosperity of our community.
The coming together of these two organizations
necessitated some reworking of the by-laws of the
Foundation to enhance the scope of its scholarship
giving. The by-laws now state that the purposes of the
Santa Anna Foundation are:
• to support the Santa Anna Historical Development
Organization in preserving local history,
• to assist the Santa Anna Ex-Students Association in
their scholarship program and other educational
programs,
• to promote economic and community development in the
town of Santa Anna,
• other special projects as needed.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation is an
independent public charity. All donations qualify for
the maximum deduction for charitable contributions under
IRS Regulations. Foundations like The Santa Anna
Foundation enable donors to set up a charitable fund
that supports specific causes they care about. A cash
gift by check is the usual method for making a
charitable contribution. For gifts of $250 and more,
givers must have written confirmation from the
Foundation because canceled checks are no longer proof
of a deductible gift. Cancelled checks are acceptable
for gifts of less than $250.
If you want to make a gift as a memorial in the name of
a deceased Mountaineer, or if your class wants to make a
special scholarship, if you want to set up a family
endowment, or if you are thinking about having the work
you have done here go on after you are gone, you may
take your contributions at Santa Anna National Bank and
deposit them into the Santa Anna Foundation account.
Together we will make Santa Anna better.
Coleman School Board Considers
Personnel
Accepts Several Resignations
3/20/2007
In session
Monday night, the Coleman School Board unanimously
approved hiring teachers at each school campus as
recommended by the principals.
The board also accepted the resignations of Scott
Bishop, Darrin Hogue, Jim Epley, Daryl Krug, R. Dale
Pectol and Annette Shely, all effective at the end of
the school year. The resignation of Mike Royce was
previously accepted, effective March 2nd.
In other business, the board heard a presentation from
Lorene Halfmann, high school counselor, and two CHS
students on the recent Career Day held in Early and
sponsored by Coleman, Santa Anna, Panther Creek, Novice,
Early and Bangs school district.
The board will consider cancelling the May election
during the April meeting. There are no contested races
for school board this year.
Royce Young, superintendent, brought the board
information on football uniforms and possible costs
involved but no action was taken as of this time. He
also briefly touched on summer projects which include
bidding several roofing projects and doing some work on
the high school parking lot.
Wreck Injures Three Coleman
Teens, One Seriously
3/19/2007 (courtesy Sergeant Les Cogdill,
Coleman PD)
At 6:01pm
Saturday, March 17, the Coleman Police Department
received a 911 call in reference to a major accident in
the 100 Block of Santa Anna Avenue (FM 568) in south
Coleman.
A red Dodge pickup, driven by Jake Hargett, 17, of
Coleman, was traveling eastbound on Santa Anna Avenue. A
red Chevrolet pickup, driven by Robert Curtis Yates III,
18, of Coleman, was traveling westbound on Santa Anna
Avenue. Also in the vehicle with Yates was Colby
Chambers, 19, of Coleman. Chambers was trapped in the
vehicle until freed by the Coleman Fire Department and
Coleman County Medical Center EMS. Chambers was
transported to Coleman County Medical Center and later
flown by helicopter to Shannon Medical Center in San
Angelo where he remained Sunday night. Yates and Hargett
were taken to Coleman County Medical Center by family
members and later released from the hospital.
This accident is still under investigation by the
Coleman Police Department. Assisting at the scene were
the Coleman County Sheriff's Office, Coleman Fire
Department, Coleman County Medical Center EMS, and
Department of Public Safety troopers from Coleman and
Runnels counties.
Update on Shilo Harris
3/19/2007
A family
member of Shilo Harris passed along an update on his
condition. The update says the prayers are working,
Shilo had a good weekend, he was awake and could shake
his head yes or no in answer to questions. His wife,
Kathreyn, and mother, Teresa, put their hand on his
cheek and he hugged it with his shoulder. Skin graphs on
his face are doing well, the ventilator has been turned
off for now, his kidneys are improving, all in all some
good news from the weekend and family members are
feeling better about the situation. He is still in ICU
at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. He
was injured when an IED exploded in Iraq.
Don't forget there is a way to communicate with the
Harris family through the following website for Shilo:
http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=sgtshiloharris.
Dog Mayor Endorsement Announced
3/19/2007
Thor and
Freyja Hagen heartily endorse Kaiser Vasquez for Dog
Mayor 2007. Thor Hagen says "As a fellow German
Shepherd, I know that Kaiser has the hard-work ethic and
loyalty to his community that are necessary in a great
Dog Mayor". Freyja states that "Kaiser has an
inspirational bark for less fortunate canines and is a
superb role model to puppies everywhere. We wag our
tails for Kaiser!".
Ben, please forward this message to Kaiser's Campaign
Manager for her use.
Thank you,
Lars Hagen
Press Secretary for Thor & Freyja Hagen
Wreck at Valera
Investigation Continues in Coleman Wreck
Coleman Woman Injured in Wreck Near Lawn
3/18/2007
Saturday was a bad day
for wrecks involving Coleman County people.
A two-vehicle crash in
Valera Saturday night sent two Coleman County residents
to area hospitals. According to Chris Delgado, Coleman
County DPS Trooper, he was notified of the wreck around
8:45 pm. The wreck occurred at the intersection of US
Hwy 67 and FM 503, the caution light at Big O's BBQ.
The driver of the car was Marsha Gayle Turney, 51, of
Santa Anna. Eyewitnesses at the scene told
Colemannews.com she was driving West on 67 attempting to
turn left onto FM 503. Turney's car was struck from
behind by a pickup driven by Keith Wayne Copley, 46, of
Talpa.
Turney was transported by ambulance to Coleman County
Medical Center and later flown by helicopter to an area
hospital. Copley was taken by private vehicle to Coleman
County Medical Center.
A report on an accident on Santa Anna Avenue is found at
the top of the news page.
A third wreck Saturday also involved a Coleman woman.
Crystal Jennings, sister of Doris McCullough of Coleman,
was involved in an accident with a pickup just south of Lawn and was
taken to an Abilene hospital for treatment. We
were notified at 10:30am Sunday that she returned home
from the hospital around midnight Saturday night, sore,
but otherwise okay. The family in the other
vehicle wasn't hurt.
March of Dimes Money Drive
Concludes at Panther Creek
3/17/2007 (contributed)
A money drive
campaign was held for two weeks at Panther Creek CISD
with all classes, Pre-k to 12, participating for March
of Dimes. The competition ended on March 15 with the
total amount collected $322.47 The winning class was the
sophomores who received a pizza party. They raised
$145.11, an awesome job for the March of Dimes.
The class consists of John Warren, Liz Tapia, Danee Machuta, Tracey Pond,
Paulina Badillo, Chelsea Penny, Mallory Felty, Julia
Hefner, Griffin Otts
Clayton
Wilson, Sheldon Lowe, Travis Suggs, Will Copley, Mrs.
Baker-sponsor, Coach Avants - sponsor
City Council Hears Request from
CHAPS
Discovers Discrepancy in City Ordinance in the Process
3/16/2007 (by Randy Turner)
A request from
the Coleman Heritage, Arts and Preservation Society
(CHAPS) for one-third of the funds generated by the
hotel/motel occupancy tax uncovered a discrepancy in a
city ordinance.
Doodie Taylor-Knox made the presentation on behalf of
CHAPS citing City of Coleman Ordinance, Article 11.02,
which states that "1/3 of the hotel/motel occupancy tax
collected shall be allocated for the county museum and
transmitted to said entity by the city secretary". CHAPS
now operates the Coleman Museum and has transferred the
artifacts from the old museum location at City Park to
Heritage Hall, the former First Presbyterian Church.
CHAPS is in the process of getting museum pieces ready
for public viewing.
In preparing for this agenda item, City Manager Larry
Weise discovered a problem. On July 1, 1997 the City
Council passed an ordinance which gave 100% of the
hotel/motel tax to the Coleman County Chamber of
Commerce for them to administer. "We do have a current
discrepancy, we do need to clarify this policy," Weise
told the Council.
It is believed a consultant, hired in 2005 to codify the
city's ordinances to bring them into current law,
somehow missed the Council action from 1997 which didn't
transfer to what the current ordinance says.
The amount of money generated by the hotel/motel tax so
far this fiscal year amounts to about $37,000, Weise
said. The tax was first established as a 2% tax in June
1977. By April 1986 the amount of the tax had increased
to 7%.
The Council's action was to take no action at this time.
There seemed to be a spirit of cooperation between the
entities involved and a willingness to work together.
With budget time approaching for the City, it was
suggested that possible support for CHAPS be considered
in the budget cycle while it is determined how the
ordinance discrepancy should be fixed.
It was noted that both
organizations work diligently to promote Coleman County.
More City Council Notes and
Actions
3/16/2007
The Coleman
City Council, in session Thursday, March 15th, acted on
the following items:
* Passed on first reading Ordinance 1072 by a 4-0 vote.
The ordinance provides for the regulation of land uses
within the City; providing standards for the size,
height, set back and occupancy of structures;
establishing zoning districts within the city; providing
for regulations within such districts; providing for
existence of non-conforming uses and their abandonment;
imposing criminal penalties for non-compliance;
providing a severability clause and providing for the
publication of the caption and penalty.
* Council received an update from Doodie Taylor-Knox on
the progress of renovations and grants at the City
Library. She told the Council the library is waiting to
see if they are awarded a grant on March 19th from the
Tocker Foundation to help complete Phase 2. The library
is also ready to begin Phase 3 which is the Tillman
building, adjacent to the library, where the historic
LaFrance fire truck is stored. In addition to finding a
new home for the fire truck for the expansion to
proceed, the library requested the city help provide
labor for electrical work and venting as a part of the
grant application process. The city provided labor for
Phase 2 of the library improvements as time and work
schedules allowed.
* Council awarded a janitorial contract to Gayle Johnson
of Gouldbusk to provide cleaning services at City Hall.
She had the low bid of $374 per month.
Panther Creek Students "Jump
Rope for Heart"
3/16/2007 (by Mark Romine)
In an award's
ceremony Panther Creek Elementary students were honored
for their participation in Jump Rope for Heart. The
students raised $400. This money went to the American
Heart Association.
Helping were
Alicia Cody, Jacob Springer, Zane Jamison, Trotter
Harris, Allen Pricer, Nico Parra, Nathan McMahon, Caleb
Grant, James McMillan, Rylie Philpot.
CHS Students are Playing "The
Stock Market Game"
Doing a Great Job in the Process
3/15/2007
Two teams of
students from Coleman High are participating in The
Stock Market Game. They started in February and will
trade for about another month. Starting with a virtual
cash account of $100,000, students strive to create the
best-performing portfolio using a live trading
simulation.
In building a portfolio, students research and evaluate
stocks and make decisions based on what they have
learned. To determine why certain stocks perform the way
they do, or why the broader market has moved up or down,
they need to understand how the economy works. And to
calculate their returns, they need to do the math.
The
Coleman teams are in the West Central Texas stock market
game with approximately 275 other teams.
As of Thursday, March 15th,
one of the Coleman teams is in 2nd place, the other in
35th place out of 275 teams. Clarendon High School is
currently in first place. The headquarters for the
project is in Waco.
The students in the class are
Kendra Boatright, Michael
Bowers, Estaban Cervantes, Cassie Cisneroz, Steven
Conway, Matt Dillard, Kimberly Lawhon, Kara Maner, Jesse
Mata, Ben Phillips, Kelsey Valencia, and Christian
Young. Darlene Webb is the Math Models project
instructor.
The program is made possible by the support of more than
600 securities firms, combined with essential grassroots
support in schools and communities. It is the only stock
market simulation supported by the New York Stock
Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The Stock Market Game™ is a trademark of the Foundation
for Investor Education, a nonprofit organization
dedicated to developing and providing learning resources
for investors of all ages, raising the level of investor
awareness in the
U.S., supporting
research programs, and advocating the advancement of
investor education.
CHS Student / Faculty Member
Receive Awards
3/15/2007
Coleman High
School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America
attended the Region II Leadership Meeting in San Angelo
on March 2-3, 2007. The youth developed theme “Tune In
To FCCLA” was carried out through tracks and general
sessions.
STAR
Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) are
competitive events in which members participated in
during the state meeting. These events allowed members
to showcase their life skills in different areas of
competition. Also, the new officer team for 2007-2008
was elected to lead the region to greater heights.
Winning fourth place was Vanessa Clark in Chapter Service Project. Vanessa did a No Bullying
Week project for the elementary school. She will compete
at state competition in April at Dallas. Coleman FCCLA members were actively involved during the meeting
in helping conduct the STAR Event competition and
serving as voting delegate for the House of Delegates
meeting.
Sharon Watson
received honorary membership in the Region II FCCLA for
her support of the local chapter. Honorary Membership is
awarded to persons who are not active members of Family,
Career and Community Leaders of America. Honorary
membership is the highest award given by the
association. Individuals receiving this award have
rendered outstanding services in helping to advance the
Family and Consumer Sciences Program.
Attending from Coleman were Vanessa Clark, Morgan
Hurtado, Zoe Paul, Krystal Dunn, Cala Norris, Carina
Landaverde, Greg Brannon, Jay Delgadillo, and Bonnie
Brown, advisor.
Eastern Star Honors Coleman
Teachers
3/15/2007 (courtesy Eastern Star)
Cakes,
cookies, chips and dips, fruits and more goodies were
delivered to the lounges of the Elementary, Junior High
and High School teachers on Tuesday, March 13th, by
members of Chapter #360, Order of the Eastern Star.
This is another project of the chapter to show their
appreciation to the people who help rear and educate the
children of Coleman. Our teachers deserve to be treated
with such appreciation and this is only one small way to
show how very much we care. We all say a big "Thank You"
for all you do.
Members of the Eastern Star.
Duke, for Dog Mayor of Coleman
3/15/2007 (submitted)
Hi,
my name is Duke and I am seeking your vote for Coleman's
Dog Mayor. If elected, my master, Bruce Ransberger, and
I plan to attend all the functions that are included as
Dog Mayor of Coleman. I was the first big dog to run for
Mayor but I am a gentle and loving dog. Bruce and I will
be coming to see you if we can or you can vote at Block
One Flea Market or Commercial Avenue Antiques Mall. Your
help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Duke Ransberger
Ginger Test, Demonstrator for
Juried Art Show
3/15/2007 (by Marian Johnson, Co-Chair,
Juried Show)
Ginger
Test, artist, will be one of the thirteen demonstrators
for the Juried Art Show in April. Ginger is an avid
photographer and gathers her inspiration from nature.
She has photographed scenes from Hawaii to Washington,
D.C. and from Maryland to the Texas Gulf Coast. Her love
of art dates back as far as her memory when her aunt
encouraged her by giving her a set of oil paints.
Ginger has taught art since 1982 and instructs in
transparent watercolor only. Her paintings reflect her
love of color and design. Ginger’s favorite subjects to
capture in paint include flowers, landscapes, animals,
churches and western scenes. She loves to share her
skill with her students and makes an annual pilgrimage
to South Fork, Co., where she conducts the 5-day
Colorado Gold Watercolor Workshop . For information
about her classes and workshops, call Ginger at
325-723-2035.
The Fine Arts League of Coleman County is pleased to
welcome the public to the demonstrations Sunday
afternoon April 29 from 2-6 pm; Monday April 30 10-4;
Tuesday May 1, 10-4.
A.C.U. Students of Madagascar
Featured at Coleman Chamber Banquet
3/14/2007 (contributed)
Singing for the
Coleman Chamber of Commerce banquet on March 30th will be
Abilene Christian University students from Madagascar. These
students have been selected by their country to attend the
university on a presidential scholarship. Now juniors, they
have successfully completed courses for degrees in different
areas of study. Today, you would find it difficult to pick
these students out as being different than any other
university student. They are young men and women growing and
maturing in their subjects and lives. The difference is that
they have definite goals to return to their country to share
what they have learned here in America. In the meantime,
they have adjusted to America and blessed the lives of those
around them with their dedication to their studies and
respect for those around them. These students come from all
over the isle of Madagascar and together share beautiful
music in a way that thrills ones’ heart. It is a rare
blessing to hear them perform as they are shy about doing
what comes so natural to them.”
Another Santa Anna City Employee
Resigns
3/14/2007
Colemannews.com
learned Tuesday that Wanda Campbell, part-time office worker
and accountant at Santa Anna City Hall, resigned after the
city council meeting Monday night. We were unable to reach
Campbell for comment.
Santa Anna Jump Rope for Heart
Raises over $3,500
3/14/2007
Santa Anna
Elementary held its "Jump Rope for Heart" event, benefiting
the American Heart Association, on Friday, March 9th.
Approximately 130 students from kindergarten through 6th
grade participated.
Various individual rope-jumping skills were performed by the
students, from kindergarten through 3rd grade with ribbons
and medals awarded to the winners. Students from the 4th,
5th and 6th grade were divided into teams and competed
against each other for team trophies and individual
trophies.
Outstanding Individual winners: Zach Diaz and
Hannah Hartman
Kindergarten winners were:
Ivan Olguin, Brock Beal, Kamri Yancy and Kaylie Shields.
First grade winners were: Hayden Anderson, Lohn Worthington,
Madilyn Kuykendall and Mia Whaley.
Second grade winners were: Noah Garza, Blane Beal, Breanna
Michon and Delaynee Absher.
Third grade winners were: Jacob Gibson, Fabian Suarez,
Maddison Sturgeon and Taylor Libby.
Fourth grade winners were: Kolby Bland, Lucas Diaz, Kristen
Yancy and Taylor Hogue.
Fifth grade winners were: Caitlyn Murray, Heather Wetsel,
Ryan Sellers and Anthony Lopez.
Sixth grade winners were: Fernando Lopez, Charity Holland,
Hannah Hartman and Dylan Bland.
After the team competition, the following parents competed
in a jump-off, representing their child's class.
K-Chanda Rice, 1-Pam Worthington, 2-Dennis Absher, 3-Tara
Bradley, 4-Terese Isbell, 5-Shannon Robertson, and 6-Linda
Rice. The winning parent was Pam Worthington representing
first grade.
Over $3,500 was collected with all proceeds going to the
American Heart Association.
Attention Coleman County Youth
Artists !
3/14/2007 (courtesy Fine Arts League of Coleman
Co.)
March is “National
Youth Art Recognition Month.” The Fine Arts League of
Coleman County would like to do an exhibit of Coleman County
Youth artists.
Youth from sixth (6th) grade level to twelfth (12th) grade
level are eligible to display their work. There is no charge
for this activity.
These paintings will be displayed
Monday, March 19th through
Thursday April 5th
at the First Coleman National Bank, the
Coleman County State Bank and the Library. Should there not
be enough entries for the three places those they have will
be displayed at the two banks. The paintings may be picked
up on Friday April 6, 3:00 at the Art Building.
Bring your paintings and show everyone that Coleman County
may have some professional artists in the making.
Thunderstorms Bring Rain/
Wrecks/ Fire
3/13/2007
Coleman County
emergency units were busy during the noon hour today at
two wrecks and a fire.
Lightning apparently struck a tank battery on County
Road 154 northwest of Echo. Firemen were at the scene,
smoke could be seen from Coleman.
Just before noon, two single vehicle wrecks happened
within a tenth of a mile of each other on Highway 84
just southeast of town. One of the wrecks was on the
overpass bridge (above) involving a red pickup truck. One
person was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
Terry's Towing is seen loading the pickup onto the
wrecker.
The other accident was on the Santa Anna side of the
overpass bridge where a pickup ran through a fence
but no injuries were reported.
Santa Anna City Council Meeting
Attracts Large Crowd
City Secretary / Director of Public Works Keep Their
Jobs
3/13/2007 by Randy Turner
Around 40
people attended the Santa Anna City Council meeting
Monday night. Most were there for the evaluation of Lori
Beal, City Secretary, and Sam Oswood, Director of Public
Works. There was plenty of tension in the air but three
Santa Anna police officers stationed around the meeting
area kept the peace throughout the evening.
The Council went into closed session at 6:10pm to
evaluate the Public Works Director and other city
employees. At 6:48pm, Wanda Campbell was called into the
closed session but came out at 6:57pm. At 7:02pm, the
Council returned to open session at which point they
voted to continue the employment of Oswood as Director
of Public Works but his performance will be re-evaluated
in 90 days.
When it came time for the Council to evaluate the job
performance of the City Secretary, Beal requested that
her evaluation be done in open session, which it was.
Beal had a large number of family and friends there to
support her. During the course of the evaluation, Beal's
job performance was questioned, primarily by Curtis
Fellers, Mayor Pro-Tem, and John Morris, Councilman.
"That job is the most critical job in the city.
That's why I made my recommendation we replace Mrs.
Beal," Fellers said.
Beal has held the
position since late last year, taking over a job held by
Cindy Pelton for over nine years. The job is multi-faceted, from handling paperwork for Municipal Court to
water and utility payments. Oswood responded to
questions from the Council saying Beal has improved in
her performance tremendously and is very dedicated to
what she is doing.
Angie Gomez of Brownwood, representing the League of
United Latin American Citizens, urged the Council to
give Beal another opportunity. Gomez questioned whether
the Council had given Beal verbal or written warnings
pertaining to her job performance, whether she was given
a job description and whether she received any training
for the position.
At 7:29pm, the Council went back into closed session to
consult with their attorney. At 7:52pm, they returned to
open session where the Council voted 3-2 to retain Beal
for a 90 day period. Council members Bell, Spillman and
Wylie voted for the motion, Morris and Fellers voted
against. As a part of the motion, the Council directed
all future complaints from city personnel and from
citizens be given, in writing, to Oswood for
consideration by the Council. Oswood was instructed to
give a monthly report on Beal's job performance along
with reports on other applicable employees.
Burn Ban Lifted For Time Being
3/13/2007
County Judge
Jimmie Hobbs didn't waste any time Monday in lifting the
burn ban in Coleman County. Thanks to rain Sunday and
Monday, the ban is no longer in effect but Hobbs
reserves the right to reinstate the ban as conditions
warrant.
Coleman School Board Approves
Program Change
Looking to Cut Personnel Expense
3/13/2007
Due to Program
Changes, the Coleman Independent School District Board
of Trustees, with the recommendation of Superintendent
Royce Young, approved a program change to eliminate a
position in special education.
The board also approved a program change to eliminate
one professional certified position from the District
Alternative Education Program. The board followed this
action by making a motion that Junior High and High
School Special Education as the employment areas
affected by this reduction in force. Also, the board
determined SAC and DAEP programs as the employment areas
affected by this reduction in force.
Superintendent Young will follow these actions by using
board adopted policy to apply written criteria to
eliminate specific personnel positions in these areas.
Program changes are necessary due to new special
education laws that promote students be mainstreamed
into regular education classrooms. Discipline programs
are also being streamlined with less need for personnel
in the district alternative education program.
Young noted that the biggest costs in a school district
are in personnel and "we are at a point where every
dollar counts as we simply do not get as much funding
from the state as in the past. Also, the district is
down about 30 students over last year that equates to
about $4200 per student."
In addition to identifying areas that are overstaffed,
there will be some positions not replaced as teachers
leave the district or retire. "Our goal is to cut around
$200,000 in personnel from the 2007-2008 budget," Young
added.
Santa Anna City Council
Approves 2007-2008 City Budget
3/13/2007
The city
budget was approved Monday night by the Santa Anna City
Council. Revenues are budgeted to total $858,297.
Expenditures are budgeted at $856,210.
During a Public Hearing
on the budget, a few citizens asked brief questions and
copies of the budget were made available to those who
wished to have a copy.
Sam Oswood, Director of Public Works, recommended the
Council do a quarterly review of the budget as the
fiscal year progresses.
Seven Candidates Seek Election
in Santa Anna
3/13/2007
There will be
three candidates for Mayor and four candidates for City
Council on the ballot in May in Santa Anna.
Candidates for Mayor - Ross Bradley, John Pearce,
Russell Fisher
Candidates for City Council - Cindy Pelton, Harold
Fahrlender, Curtis Fellers (incumbent), Jim Spillman
(incumbent).
Coleman City Council Positions
Contested
No School Board Race
3/13/2007
Monday at
5:00pm was the deadline for prospective candidates to
file for city council and school board positions.
No new names entered the city election. For West Ward
Council, C.E. (Bill) Casselberry, incumbent, will be
opposed by Harold Skelton. For East Ward Council, Rodney
Cole, incumbent, will be opposed by Billie Mercer. Mayor
Nick Poldrack is unopposed.
For Coleman School Board, there is no contested race.
Dr. Mike Edington, current board president, filed for
re-election Monday to Place 6 on the board. Viki
Hambright, incumbent, filed previously for Place 7.
Local Youth Place at Houston
Livestock Show
3/13/2007 (contributed)
Coleman County
meat goats were represented at the Houston Livestock
Junior Meat Goat Sale by Nancy Meyers, a Junior at
Panther Creek High School, and Casie Swening, a Freshman
at Coleman High School.
Nancy placed 1st in Class 1 light-weight and Casie
placed 2nd in Class 4 medium-weight market goats. Both
are members of the Coleman County 4H Club.
How Do You Spell Success?
3/13/2007 (by Marian Johnson, Publicity
Chairman, Fine Arts League)
The success of
any new venture can often be gauged by the number of
people of various talents and skills who are involved.
If this be true, then the Fine Arts League of Coleman
County, "Flight of the Dragonflies" Juried Art Show
2007, is already a success.
After sixteen years in the open "Fiesta Art Show", the
members of the Art League, families, friends, business
people, the citizens of the county, organizations, and
people from all walks of life have become involved (in
one way or another) in creating the environment for
success of this coming event at The Bill Franklin
Center.
Many have expressed it in different ways, all of which
are most welcome and appreciated. From "How can I
help?", "I want to come see", to donation of items for
the silent auction, docent volunteers, as well as $
donations to help get the project underway. With this
type of attitude from all involved and from those who
will attend, how can it not be a success? You are
invited to attend any or all the events during the week
of April 24 - May 2. Free and entertaining!
Donations to date: Bill & Bonnie Hennig, Kaye Franklin,
Bob & Ann Turner, Don Johnson, attorney, Steve Autry,
attorney, Marian Overstreet, attorney, Friends of the
Foundation (grant), Joe & Janet Johnson - J. E. Stevens
Co. , Bob & Jo Tyson - Tyson Pharmacy, Jim Stokes -
Bowen Drug, Jim & Linda Caldwell - Owl Drug, Bucky &
Judy Duvall, Lois & Rodney McCarty, Marjorie Cloud,
Abilene West Texas Rehab auction coordinator, Lynn &
Trisha Owen - Big O’s - Valera, Mary Jo Dozier -
‘honoring the Fun Bunch’ & CCMC Aux., Charles Chesshir -
Liveoak Real Estate - "in memory of Billie Marie
Miller", Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, James & Jo Ellen Barr,
Dennis & Mary Ann Stroebel - Shoppin’ Basket - food
items.
Also, our thanks and appreciation to: Democrat Voice -
for publishing our news articles; First Coleman National
Bank - For use of Club Room for monthly meetings;
Coleman County State Bank - For use of their building
for Annual Fiesta Show; Randy Turner - Colemannews.com
for news coverage & advertising banner; Billie Mercer -
Colemanindependent.net for news coverage and
docent/Volunteers.
Local Artist Has Work in
International Juried Art Exhibition
3/13/2007 (by Marian Johnson, Fine Arts
League Publicity Chairman)
Fine Arts
League member, Sher Dunaway, has had artwork entitled,
"Tuxedo" and "And Not a Drop to Drink" (photography)
accepted in the Red River Valley Exhibition held at the
Red River Valley Museum in Vernon, Texas. This is the
fifth exhibition to be held at the Museum.
The
awards Judge for this year’s show is Tony Saladino, who
is an award winning artist, author and judge from Hurst,
Texas. His work is included in many private and public
collections Mr. Saladino has taught at the Modern Art
Museum of Fort Worth, the Kennedy Center for the Arts
and the Oxbow Summer School of Art, Saugatuck, MI. He is
listed in Who’s Whos in the South and Southwest and
Who’s Who in American Art. Galleries representing Mr.
Saladino are located in Kentucky, Texas, and Arkansas.
The opening of the current exhibition will be May
4, 2007 and will continue
through June 29, 2007. The Red River Valley Museum
promotes and supports excellence and diversity in arts
education. The museum is open free to the public,
Tuesdays through Sundays 1-5 pm.
The sixth annual exhibit will be held in May and June of
2008 with entry slides due February 5, 2008. Any artist
interested in entering the show should send an SASE to:
Red River Valley National Juried Art Exhibition, Red
River Valley Museum, 4600 College Drive, PO Box 2004,
Vernon, Texas. 76385.
Congratulations to Sher and her award- winning
photography. Pictured
is Tuxedo.
Camp Quality News
3/13/2007
I wish send a
thank you to Tommie Roberts and the rest of the members
of Tops Club #332 for allowing me to come to their
meeting and talking about Camp Quality. This is a fine
group of ladies that are well respected throughout the
community and I was truly blessed with meeting those
of you I did not already know. Thank you, too, for your
donations to Camp Quality. You have helped make a
difference in the life of a special child and their
family. God bless you each and everyone.
Amanda Straach
3005 Southpark Drive
Coleman, Texas 76834
325-625-2825
ajsminis@verizon.net
Letter to the Editor
To Coleman County Citizens
3/12/2007
Eminent Domain
bills are currently being considered in the Texas
Legislature.
Imagine all you’ve worked for simply disappearing one
day. The land your family has worked for generations,
sold for pittance, simply because the law favors that
entity that had the power to take that land at your
expense.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly how eminent domain can and
is being used all across this state. And your land could
be next.
While condemnation does have a purpose in true public
projects, too often it is yielded as a club. Instead of
a last resort when offers fail, it is used to force
families to sell out or face costly court battle.
That is simply unacceptable.
Our state legislature should write laws ensuring highest
and best use appraisals in condemnation matters.
Condemning entities should be forced to consider land
replacement costs rather than some randomly assessed
market value. And the numbers of condemning entities in
this state—which currently number in the
thousands—should be curbed. When it comes to eminent
domain proceedings, private property owners are playing
against a stacked deck. Laws need to be passed to ensure
a level playing field.
Please call your Texas State legislator and tell them
you support - House Bill 2006 by Rep. Beverly Woolley.
Board of Directors
Coleman County Farm Bureau
Coleman School Board President
Files for Re-election
3/12/2007
Dr. Mike
Edington has filed for Place 6 on the Coleman School
Board.
Rainfall Reports Welcomed
3/12/2007
If you have a
rainfall report you would like to brag about, send it to
us at
mail@colemannews.com.
* Helen & Harold Bragg- 1.50 in Glen Cove
* Carl and Patricia Lehman - 1.90 in Brownwood
* Linda and Wayne Wright - 1.57 in Glen Cove
* Tex Wright in Santa Anna - .48
* Roy Goodgion in Comanche, Tx - 1.00
* Bill Garrett - 5 miles SW of Santa Anna - .50
* Thomas Rutherford - Whon - 1.70
Look at the current Doppler radar HERE.
Coleman Police Blotter March 9th
and 10th
3/10/2007 (courtesy Coleman PD)
In a report from
the Coleman Police Department, officers were called to a
possible altercation between individuals in north Coleman on
Post Street. Upon officers arrival, no subjects were found,
however, officers could hear a loud noise coming from the
Shiloh Apartments located behind the Best Western Hotel.
Officers proceeded to check out the loud noise which was
found to be loud music. When Sgt. Brian Tompkins and Officer
Jeromy Watson made contact with individuals at the
apartment, one subject began to flee on foot and was subdued
by Officer Watson. After the suspect was detained, it was
found that the 26 year-old white male subject was in
possession of marijuana. This subject was placed under
arrest and charged with Possession of Marijuana Under Two
Ounces and Resisting Arrest.
After identifying numerous other persons at the residence,
it was found that two other people were wanted by the
Coleman Police Department. Sgt. Tompkins and Officer Watson
arrested Zachary Jimmy Brooks, 21 year old white male of
Coleman, for a Capias Pro Fine warrant.
Also placed under arrest was Jose Cervantes, 20 year old
white male of Coleman, for a Capias Pro Fine warrant in
reference to Disorderly Conduct. All three subjects are
being held in the Coleman City Jail.
Throughout the course of the evening, police responded to
domestic violence, burglary, and nuisance violation calls.
To report any suspicious activity please call the Coleman
Police Department at 325.625.4114.
Thanks
3/9/2007
Stormie Bingham
and family would like to thank everyone for their prayers
and help with her illness. She is home from Cook Children's
Hospital and doing wonderfully. She will continue to make
frequent trips to her doctor's. Please continue to pray for
her, she has a long road ahead of her. Thank you
again,
The Family of Stormie Bingham
Tibbett's Address Given
3/9/2007
As we reported
earlier, Jeff and Darla Tibbetts have returned home from the
hospital and have a long recovery period in front of them.
If you care to send them a card, the address is 901 County
Road 194, Coleman, Tx 76834.
Students of the Month Named at
Novice
3/9/2007
Students
of the month have been chosen at Novice Elementary, Junior
High and High School.
The elementary student of the month is Lance Holmquest, a
5th grader.
He is the son of Terry and Amy Holmquest of Novice.
The
junior high student of the month is Josh Arispe, an 8th
grader.
He is the son of Jerry and
Teresa Arispe of Winters.
The
high school student of the month is Ashley Belk, a senior.
She is from Winters, daughter
of Sonya Belk.
CHS Spanish Club Has Annual Spring
Trip
3/9/2007 (by Sherrell Hazlewood)
The Coleman High
School Spanish Club traveled to San Antonio on Sat., March 3
for their annual Spring trip. Sixteen members of the Club
accompanied by nine adults visited the Whitte Museum,
downtown San Antonio and El Mercado. The visit to Whitte
Museum included a special Vaquero Exhibit which was
appropriate for the Spanish Club visitors. The group also
took advantage of the historical re-enactments being held at
the Alamo throughout the day.
The group spent the night at Hawthorne Suites in San Antonio
after a very busy day. They returned to Coleman on Sunday
March 4. Adults assisting with the Spanish Club trip were
Mr. and Mrs. Pedro Flores, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Martinez,
Coach and Mrs. Mike Nunez, driver, Rick Brinson, Spanish
Club sponsor Sherrell Hazlewood and wife, Theda. The Coleman
High School Spanish Club represented Coleman High School in
a very positive way. The well organized event was enjoyed by
both students and adults.
Photo:
Left to right:
Front row: Coach Mike
Nunez, Arturo Avila, Tanner Brooks, Spanish Club President,
Rosa Avila, Club Sponsor, Sherrell Hazlewood, Theda Rhea,
Luis Lugo.
Back row: Simon
Martinez, Pedro Flores, Jeremy Jamison, J. R. Bruce, Devon
Densman, Monica Jimenez, Kimberly Lawhon, Emilie Jimenez,
Patricia Galvan, Club Secretary, Kandys Mills, Amy Fowler,
Stephanie Whier, Michael Mayo, Stephanie Cambell, Rosa
Martinez, Marilou Nunez, Adela Flores (not pictured).
Daisy Duke Wants Your Vote for Dog
Mayor
3/9/2007
Hi, there. My name is
Daisy Duke and I am the lucky dog living with Nancy Grimes.
Though I don't have a particular pedigree, it is pretty
evident I have an immediate Jack Russell relative and there
is a wire-hair terrier very close by.
My previous humans
didn't keep me in a safe place, so the nice Animal Control
lady picked me up off a busy street and took me to the City
Pound. I was glad to be in a place with good food and clean
water. However, I did not know about the reservation
limitation at this Doggy Hotel. My time had expired more
than once, but I was just so friendly and so cute, they just
could not send me over the Rainbow Bridge to Doggy Heaven.
My
picture appeared in the newspaper as a featured pound stray
and caught Nancy's eye. At that time my name was Happy and I
grinned all the time at anyone who came to see me and my
doggy friends in hopes someone would give me a good Forever
Home. As soon as our eyes met, Nancy knew I was for her and
she took me home that very day about two years ago and
re-named me Daisy Duke.
To be a responsible pet owner, we visited the vet for me to
be spayed, only to find out I was "in a family way",
SURPRISE! About three weeks later, I became a "mom" to four
beautiful puppies and raised them until Nancy found them all
good homes.
Now, however, life is sooooooooo good. I have a great fenced
yard and cat buddies to play with. Those squirrels can
really run fast, but I keep trying to catch one. Maybe one
day I am allowed to "run the neighborhood" every day for a
while and am a welcomed visitor to many homes on Rio Grande
Street.
I love all people and would be honored to represent Coleman
as its official Dog Mayor. But best of all, your $1.00 votes
will go to the Coleman County Humane Society to pay for more
spay and neutering expenses of local pet owners. Nancy
and I are planning a walking campaign to meet as many of you
as we can. However, should we miss seeing you, please go to
the Flea Market on East Pecan Street and vote for me.. The
Friendliest Dog in the Friendliest Town in Texas.
Thanks a lot,
Daisy Duke (and Nancy too)
Slate of Candidates for Dog Mayor
Grows
3/9/2007 (contributed)
Two new candidates
have announced for Dog Mayor this week. Both bring something
special to the race.
Ruffles
Frizzell (left),
managed by Sue Frizzell, hopes you will see beyond her
physical disability. She plans on representing the
physically challenged dogs that have a much harder time
finding a new home in this dog eat dog world. Ruffles
survived an unfortunate encounter with a car and although it
was feared she might have brain damage in addition to the
loss of an eye, she has rebounded and is in top form.
“Ruffles—a tough little lady for a tough job!”
Misty Dawn Watts (right),
a 6-year old Boston Terrier, brings her pedigree to the
contest. She is not high-minded about it however. In a
statement furnished by her campaign manager, Amanda Watts,
Misty states: “I, Misty, promise to do my best as your dog
mayor to provide you with as many loving and caring kisses
as you need. I will do my best to help all my little or big
furry friends of any color, shape, or size to get the
attention they deserve. This is why I think I should be your
dog mayor 2007.”
A Meet the Candidates rally is planned for Saturday,
March 24, from 1 – 3 p.m. at the Block One Flea Market, 301
E. Pecan in Coleman.
Refreshments and doggie treats will be available, and each
candidate will be putting forth their best paw to impress
the voters. Bring your pet to help you size up the
candidates!
It is never too late to sign up to be a candidate. Call the
Humane Society at 625-4724 and leave a message, or drop by
the flea market to pick up your filing statement.
Please visit the Humane Society web site
www.HumaneSocietyCC.com to meet the slate of eight
candidates to date. The election results will be announced
during the Garage Sale weekend on April 14.
Learn to Control Your Blood Sugar
3/8/2007 (by Debbie Hailey)
Are you interested
in learning more about diabetes and how to be in control of
your blood sugar? Texas Cooperative Extension, in
collaboration with Coleman Medical Associates and Hensley
Family Health Clinic, is hosting a diabetes education series
entitled "Do Well Be Well with Diabetes", to help provide
people living with diabetes with quality information on self
care and eating delicious, nutritious foods! You, too, can
learn how to do well and be well with diabetes. There are
three Saturday classes left.
Join us this Saturday morning, March 10, from 10:00
till noon, at the Santa Anna
Fire Station Community Room, for lessons on Nutrition Labels
and Eating Out. There will be a minimal $10.00 fee, to pay
for instructional materials (one charge per family). For
more information, call Debbie Hailey at the County Extension
Office, at 625-4519.
Jeff and Darla
are Home
3/8/2007
Jeff and Darla Tibbetts were
released from the hospital Thursday and arrived home in the
early afternoon. They are both doing as well as
can be expected following injuries in a wreck last Friday
night near Glen Cove. It will be a long recovery for
them both. "Neither of them will be able to do much of
anything for a while but we thank the Good Lord for watching
over all of them. Thank you again to everyone for all the
thoughts, prayers and help," said Eileen Tibbetts, Jeff's
mom.
Emergency Issues
3/8/2007 (By John Pearce, Emergency Management
Coordinator for Coleman County)
This is Storm
Awareness Week all over the state. The forecast I am seeing
shows no storms for us this week but |