A special service was held Sunday, May
27, at Concho Baptist Church to honor graduating seniors
who attend church there. The service began with Youth
Minister Michael Tollison presenting each student with
King James Study Bibles with their names on them and a
Bible study CD. Pastor Daniel Stovall gave a special
message from II Peter, Chapter 1:5-9, Hebrew 11:6 and
Hebrew 12:1.2. Following the morning service, the
students were honored with a noon meal in the Fellowship
Hall where decorations carried out the Bluecat theme.
Those honored were:
*
Jarret O'Shields,
son of James and Arletta O'Shields and the brother of
Amanda O'Shields, grandson of J.A. and Vera Owens of
Oplin and Clara Dean O'Shields of Abilene and the late
Herman O'Shields.
Jarret
plans to attend Tarleton State University in the fall to
major in Kinesiology to pursue a career as a personal
trainer.
*
Christa Marie Rodriquez,
daughter of Ruben and Tamara Rodriquez, Jr.,
granddaughter of Ruben and Bisenta Rodriquez Sr. of
Andrews and Floyd and Christine Martin of Coleman.
Christa
plans on attending Cisco Junior College and becoming
licensed as a cosmetologist and hopes to eventually be a
shop owner and instructor.
*
Luke Anderson, son
of Chipper and Paula Anderson and grandson of Matt and
Deana Anderson and K.M. Rider.
Luke's
future plans are to work for a year, then attend
Tarleton State to get a degree in Criminal Justice.
Santa Anna Municipal
Court Judge Resigns
5/30/2007
The Santa Anna City Council will hold a special meeting
at 11:00am Saturday, June 2, at City Hall, 709
Wallis, to consider the
following agenda:
* Interview selected applicants for the position of a
part-time or full-time Municipal Court Clerk, City
Secretary and/or other classification of office
employee, or any combination thereof, and may select any
applicants for hiring to fill the positions
* May interview selected applicants for the position of
part-time Municipal Court Judge and may select any
applicant for hiring to fill this position
* Act upon the resignation of employee Lori Beal and
consider exit agreements, including final compensation
* Act upon the resignation of Municipal Court Judge
Marian Overstreet. She submitted her resignation
Wednesday morning to Santa Anna City Hall after being
appointed to the position earlier this month.
Firemen Hold
Successful "Fill the Boot" Drive
5/30/2007
Last Saturday members of the Coleman Fire Department
stood at the intersection of Walnut and Commercial with
boots in hand collecting donations from passing
motorists. The total was $2,036 which the department
will use for training and equipment needs. The Coleman
Fire Department wishes to thank everyone who
contributed, it was an excellent turn out.
Rainfall Reports for
Tuesday
5/29/2007
Thunder rumbled again in the early morning hours today
bringing even more scattered showers and storms to the
county.
* Pati Barton - Highway 67 between Valera and Talpa -
.75 during the 5 o'clock hour this morning
* Colemannews.com Office - Concho and Walnut - .10 early
this morning
Hayes Edington -
Coleman's Connection to West Point
5/28/2007 (by Randy Turner)
I
had the honor recently to spend about an hour with Hayes
Edington, a 2003 graduate of Coleman High School, who has
just completed his second year at West Point, New York.
Hayes is on summer leave but is spending some of his
time promoting West Point United States Military
Academy. He is actively talking to young people in the
Coleman area who may be interested in attending West
Point. As a matter of background, West Point is an Army
post about 60 miles north of New York City, on the
Hudson River. It is a four year college education tied
to the Army. Upon completion, Hayes will be commissioned
as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army having obtained a
Bachelor degree.
Getting into West Point is a process that, ideally,
starts when the student is a junior or senior in high
school. That is when you fill out a Candidate
Questionnaire on line at
http://admissions.usma.edu. You can also
request additional information by writing the Director
of Admissions, United State Military Academy, 646 Swift
Road, West Point, New York 10996-1905. This process
should start in the winter of your junior year.
Admission to West Point is gained through a unique
system of nomination, evaluation, qualification and
selection. Hayes was nominated by former U.S. House
Representative Charlie Stenholm. Of the 10,000 or so who
apply each year, only about 1,000 - 1,250 are accepted.
There are many other guidelines which you can read about
on the West Point website by clicking
HERE.
"There is more out there and other routes to get into
the military besides enlisting," Hayes said. He is glad
to talk to any young person with an interest. You can
drop him an e-mail at
duwayne.edington@usma.edu and he'll respond as soon
as he returns to New York later this summer. Hayes is on
schedule to graduate from West Point in 2009. From
there, it's up to the Army as to where he will go but he
is proud to serve his country and happy to talk about
West Point.
Rainfall Update
5/28/2007
There were scattered
showers and thunderstorms around the county Sunday
afternoon into the evening hours.
* Bill Garrett - 5 mi. SW of Santa Anna - .20 Sunday
afternoon
* Crossroads Community - 6 mi. NE of Coleman - .25
Sunday afternoon
Panther Creek
Superintendent Retires
5/28/2007
Surrounded by faculty,
staff, friends and family, Panther Creek Superintendent
Dan Harris was given a retirement reception on Thursday,
May 24. Harris retired with 40 years of service to
school systems, the last eight in Panther Creek. He
previously served as superintendent at Seagraves and
Water Valley. Former school board member and president,
Harold Bragg, expressed appreciation to Harris on the
dedication, time and efforts he has given to Panther
Creek. Ken Smith, former board member, also expressed
his appreciation.
Harris said he plans to
spend time hunting, fishing, cowboying, spending time
with family (especially his grandchildren) and finishing
the list his wife, Mary, has for him.
CISD Staff Honored
Awards Presented
5/27/2007 (courtesy Mary Strickland)
The Coleman ISD staff and
Board of Trustees were honored with a staff appreciation
breakfast on Friday, May 25, bringing the 2006-2007
school year to a close. Royce Young, Superintendent of
Schools, addressed the staff and thanked them for their
hard work during the past school year.
Mr. Young then recognized the personnel for their years
of service at Coleman ISD.
Those employed for 5 years with CISD were Bill Habiger,
Nell Lefevere, John Montgomery, and Gary Strickland.
Employees recognized for 10 years with CISD were Rene
Faries, Janice Merrill, Norma-Dell Neff, Hannah Sumrall,
Joyce Smith, and Lorrie Smith.
Sherry Autry, Loretta Epperson, Jammie Jones, Sheila
Ogden, Boe Smith, Mary Strickland, and Tammy Swening
were recognized for their 15 years of service.
Sherrell Hazlewood and Michelle Sexton were recognized
for 20 years of service.
Recognition was given to Donna Phillips for 25 years of
service with Coleman ISD.
Mr. Young also recognized Annette Shely and Rheta Smith
as retiring at the end of this school year.
Mr. Young wished everyone an enjoyable summer and said
he looked forward to seeing everyone back on campus in
August.
Letter Carriers
Collect 2,375 Pounds of Food in Coleman
Donations Given to Loaves and
Fishes Food Ministry
5/27/2007 (by Leta Gaither)
The results are in from
the National Letter Carriers food drive in Coleman on
Saturday, May 12. After all routes completed their
pick-ups, (including some that were delayed), the total
amount of food collected was 2,375 lbs (which equals an
approximate value of over $3,500 in food). This
food is equal to about one-half the amount needed to
operate one month at Loaves & Fishes, and receipt of
this is greatly appreciated.
Sincere appreciation goes to all of the letter carriers
in the county (who overloaded their vehicles to carry to
food to Loaves & Fishes) and to the volunteers who
worked in the pantry area, weighing in the food, and
sorting and stacking the items as they came in. Workers
at Loaves & Fishes included Zack and Wanda Lawhon,
Margery Hester, Leta & Jim Gaither, Judy Kemp, and Myrt
Wells, and several who stopped by for a short time to
help out.
Bob Ray Recommended
for Public Works Director in Coleman
Will Have to Resign from City Council
5/25/2007
The Coleman City Council
held a Special Called Meeting at 5:00pm Thursday for a
budget workshop and also announced a new Public Works
Director.
Bob Ray, currently
serving on the City Council, was selected out of 18
applications received. According to Larry Weise, City
Manager, 15 of the applicants were from out of town,
three were local. Steve Autry, City Attorney, advised
the Council that he learned from Texas Municipal League
that Ray's successor must be sworn-in before Ray can
begin his duties. Ray's resignation from the Council
will be on the next agenda as well as an item to discuss
filling the Council vacancy. Autry informed the Council
that the City Charter states that the Council has the
option of appointing a qualified replacement due to the
term being less than one year or calling an election.
Weise said Ray fully met the requirements due to his 11
years experience with TxDOT, being a certified equipment
operator, capability to supervise crews and excellent
work ethic.
In other budget workshop matters:
*Jay Moses, Police Chief, advised of his desire for an
additional patrolman due to the increase in calls and
hopes to save money in overtime. The new position would
have an 18,000 to 20,000 impact on the police budget.
* Weise stated he had focused on employee compensation
and infrastructure in this budget.
* Weise discussed the possibility of increasing sewer
and electric rates.
* McCord Engineering is compiling information to assist
with setting electric rates for the future contract.
* The first reading of the City Budget will
be on June 7th.
* The City of Coleman is ranked as #2 in the grant for a
clarifier at the sewer plant.
CCMC Board Receives
Grant from Coleman County Foundation
5/25/2007 (by Sue Titsworth)
The CCMC Board of Directors met in their regular meeting
Thursday evening at 5 o’clock in the Board Conference
Room, with five members present.
The first item on the agenda was the presentation of a
grant check in the amount of $4,538 to purchase a trauma
stretcher for the hospital. The presentation was made by
Jill Atwood, a member of the Coleman County Foundation.
Ed Pineiro addressed the board under the Public Comments
section of the agenda regarding the status of his
employment. Since Pineiro was not on the agenda, the
board took no action on his statement.
The Medical Staff Report was made to the board by Darron
Atwood, MD, who advised that Dr. Locker would be
performing more surgeries at Coleman County Medical
Center, and that it was anticipated that a Speech
Pathologist would soon be on staff.
CEO/Administrator Douglas Langley presented the
financial report to the board, and advised that patient
days in skilled and acute care are down this year
compared to last year. This creates a temporary cash
shortage due to the fact that the hospital is reimbursed
on the number of patient days, and when there is a drop
in those days, it means the cash receivables have also
dropped. The hospital has struggled with that during all
this fiscal year. A recent temporary reprieve was
received from a cash report settlement of over $100,000
this past month. However, it will return in June and
July due to the slow summer months. Otherwise, finances
are going fairly normal except for one or two costly
events that have occurred this year.
Board members approved the Quality Assurance Report
presented by Melissa Gober, DON.
The board also approved the Swing Bed Department Manual
and the Respiratory Manual presented by Gober.
In other business, the board approved an amended
Ambulance subsidy for the new fiscal year which begins
October 1, 2007, and it was determined that the City and
County would be contacted in connection with this
matter.
The next regular meeting of the CCMC Board of Directors
is scheduled for June 28, 2007 at 5 PM in the CCMC Board
Conference Room.
Groundbreaking Held
for New Exposition Building
Fiesta de la Paloma to return to the Rodeo Grounds in
October
5/25/2007
Board members of the Coleman County Youth Activity
Center went ahead with a ceremonial groundbreaking
Thursday at the Rodeo Grounds, even though it was
raining and too muddy to turn the soil.
Standing underneath a covered area of the Bill Franklin
Center, board members posed with three shovels as a
symbol of work which will begin just as soon as the
rodeo is over in June. A 28,000 sq. ft. building, 160
ft. wide and 175' deep, will replace the old red brick
show barn which was torn down recently. "I think it will
mean a lot more activity here in Coleman. It will be
good for merchants, congratulations to everyone
involved," said Jimmie Hobbs, County Judge. In addition
to being an arena for the annual stock show, the
structure is designed to host various other events
throughout the year. It will have two restroom
facilities, a small concession stand area and five large
overhead doors. The building is being fabricated in
Athens, Texas by the Red Dot company. Once construction
begins after the rodeo, it is believed the facility will
be ready to use around the first of September.
It was also announced during the groundbreaking that one
of the first official uses for the new building will be
the Fiesta de la Paloma in October. The Coleman County Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors have decided to move the
Fiesta back to the site where it used to be held many
years ago, thanks to the new facility.
Rainfall Reports
Received
5/25/2007
Feel free to send
rainfall reports to mail@colemannews.com, we'll add to
the list as we receive reports.
* Colemannews.com office
- .30 Thursday
* Tex Wright in Santa Anna
- 1.00 through 6:30pm Thursday
* Bill Garrett, 5 mi. SW of Santa Anna
- .80 Thursday
* 6 mi. NE
of Coleman - .90 Thursday
* Sherita
Tabner, south of Santa
Anna - 1.10 Thursday
* B & Anita
Phelps, east of Coleman -
1.70 Thursday
Update on Shilo Harris
5/24/2007
We are always happy to
pass along updates on Shilo Harris, the Coleman soldier
critically injured when an explosive device detonated
where Harris and fellow soldiers were working in Iraq.
According to his wife, Kathreyn Phillips Harris, Shilo
is doing great. He has been in the hospital again a
couple of days this week for an infection that developed
in one of the fingers on his left hand. He was expected
to be released yesterday. He is gaining strength
everyday.
Kathreyn and Shilo wish to thank everyone for all the
prayers and support. "You can definitely tell that there
are many people lifting him up in prayer," Kathreyn
said.
A Harris Family Cat
Story
5/23/2007
(courtesy Coleman County Humane Society)
Teresa
Bentley retrieved wayward Snoopy from his temporary home
at the Block One Flea Market Tuesday. Bentley, mother of
wounded soldier Shilo Harris, said they had brought
Snoopy back from New York about two weeks ago. Shilo’s
brother had been taking care of the cat for the Harrises
while Shilo is in rehab in San Antonio for severe burns
received while serving in Iraq. Bentley said, “Snoopy
just freaked over that trip.” Snoopy disappeared once he
saw the light of day after the 3-day journey. However,
being the smart kitty he is, Snoopy knew to make his way
to the flea market where two Humane Society members
would take note of his Avid microchip tag. After calling
the national database that helps locate missing pets, it
was determined that Snoopy belonged to Kathreyn Harris.
It’s all a happy ending from that point on.
Proceedings from 42nd
District Court
5/23/2007
The following cases were presented by District Attorney
Joe Lee Rose to the Honorable John Weeks, 42nd District
Judge, on Thursday, January 11, 2007, at 2:00 P.M.:
* Alberto Guerrero Olguin, Felony D.W.I. Olguin pled
guilty and requested that the Court assess punishment. A
Pre-Sentence Investigation was ordered, with sentencing
to be scheduled at a later date.
* Rachel Nicole Row, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. Row
pled Nolo Contendre to a “A’ Misdemeanor under Sec.
12.44(b), Texas Penal Code, and was sentenced to two
years deferred adjudication and was ordered to pay a
$250.00 fine, court costs, court-appointed attorney
fees, community supervision fees, restitution to the
victim, and 80 hours community service.
* Kent Sipes Taylor, Forgery. Taylor pled guilty and was
sentenced to two years deferred adjudication and was
ordered to pay a $500.00 fine, court costs, restitution
to the victim, and 120 hours community service.
* Angelica Marie Ramos, Aggravated Assault. Ramos pled
guilty and was sentenced to seven years deferred
adjudication and was ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine,
court costs, court-appointed attorney fees, community
supervision fees, and 240 hours community service.
* Riley Clint Marks, Possession of Controlled Substance.
Marks pled guilty and was sentenced to eighteen months
confinement in a State Jail Facility, probated for three
years, and was ordered to pay a $500.00 fine, court
costs, court-appointed attorney fees, community
supervision fees, lab fees, and 120 hours community
service.
* Riley Clint Marks, Evading Arrest. Marks pled guilty
and was sentenced to eighteen months confinement in a
State Jail Facility, probated for three years, and was
ordered to pay a $500.00 fine, court costs, and
court-appointed attorney fees.
* Cindy Louise Selvidge, Possession of Controlled
Substance. Selvidge pled guilty and was sentenced to
eighteen months confinement in a State Jail Facility,
probated for three years, and was ordered to pay a
$500.00 nfine, court costs, court-appointed attorney
fees, community supervision fees, lab fees, and 120
hours community service.
* Steven Dela Rosa, Evading Arrest. Dela Rosa pled
guilty. Sentencing is scheduled for January 25, 2007, at
2:00 P.M.
* Lisa Nicole Watson, Burglary of a Habitation. Watson
pled guilty and was sentenced to three years deferred
adjudication and was ordered to pay a $250.00 fine,
court costs, court-appointed attorney fees, community
supervision fees, restitution to the victim, and 240
hours community service.
* Shane Lee Stewart, Theft of a Firearm. Stewart pled
guilty and was sentenced to two years confinement in a
State Jail Facility, probated for three years, and was
ordered to pay a $500.00 fine, court costs,
court-appointed attorney fees, community supervision
fees, restitution to the victim, and 120 hours community
service.
* John Lewis Flores, Possession of Controlled Substance.
Todd Steele was retained as defense counsel, and
arraignment was waived.
* Ramiro Flores, Retaliation. Arraignment was
rescheduled for February 8, 2007, at 2:00 P.M.
* Richard Neil Hoover, Burglary of a Habitation. Todd
Steele was appointed as defense counsel, and arraignment
was waived.
* Philip Diaz Rosales, Jr., Felony D.W.I. Jenny Henley
was appointed as defense counsel for Rosales, and
arraignment was waived.
* Willie Lee Thomas, Possession of Controlled Substance.
Arraignment was rescheduled for January 25, 2007, at
2:00 P.M.
* Aaron Ray Perez, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle.
Earnest Scott was appointed as defense counsel.
* Tyrell Harding, Burglary of a Habitation. Arraignment
was rescheduled for January 25, 2007, at 2:00 P.M.
* Eddie Glenn Turner, Jr., Burglary of a Building.
Turner failed to appear, and his bond was forfeited.
Valedictorian and
Salutatorian Named at
CHS
5/22/2007
The top two graduates and honor graduates
have been announced at Coleman High School. The
Valedictorian of the Class of 2007 at CHS is Delesa
Monroe. The Salutatorian is Katie Nixon.
County Child Welfare
Board Announces Winner
5/22/2007
(contributed)
The Coleman County Child Welfare Board had a tremendous
response to our "Let's Smoke Out Child Abuse" raffle
held on Saturday, May 19, 2007, at the Santa Anna
Funtier Day.
Winner of the picnic goodie basket, valued at $200.00,
was Dewayne Saverance of Coleman. We want to thank
everyone who supported this cause. The money will be
used to support the Coleman County children who are in
foster care. God Bless You!
New Santa Anna
Mayor and Councilmen Sworn-In
5/22/2007
The Santa Anna
City Council canvassed the May 12th election results
Monday, declared the election valid, and welcomed the
new members to the Council.
Wanda Campbell issued the Oath of Office to newly
elected Mayor Russ Fisher, (left),
newly elected councilman Harold Fahrlender and returning
councilman Curtis Fellers, who has been serving as Mayor
Pro-Tem for the last several months. A plaque was
presented to Jim Spillman who was a longtime member of
the Council until defeated by Fahrlender. A plaque
was also given to Fellers for his service as Mayor
Pro-Tem.
* The first order of business for the council was to
elect a new Mayor Pro-Tem who will be Nancy Wylie.
* The council also set the second Monday of each month
at 5:00pm as the regular monthly meeting date and time.
* The council passed an agreement to allow Fisher and
Fahrlender to be added as signatories on city bank
accounts at Santa Anna National Bank.
* In one item of old business, the Council took no
action on hiring a City Secretary. There have been 18
applications for the job and a special council meeting
is expected to be held at 5:00pm Tuesday, May 29, to
interview finalists for the job.
* The entire meeting lasted only 20 minutes.
The Wild Child is
Headed for Coleman
5/21/2007
Combine Evel Knievel,
Motocross, bullfighting and entertainment and you get
The Wild Child.
Troy Lerwill (The Wild Child) will travel to Coleman
from Payson, Utah to be a part of the 70th Annual
Coleman PRCA Rodeo.
He started bullfighting in 1994 but he uses his
experiences as a professional motocross racer to build
up funny motorcycle acts for the rodeo world.
He was the 2006 Comedy Act of the Year and served as the
barrelman at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
You can
check out his website to see pictures of him in
action, including the part of the act where he jumps his
pickup and trailer on a motorcycle.
The Coleman PRCA Rodeo is June 14, 15 and 16 at 8:00pm
nightly. Numerous events are going on during rodeo week,
the Rodeo Association website has been updated to
include events and ticket information which you can
check by clicking
HERE.
Shooting Sports
Growing in Popularity
Coleman County Shooters Place at Fort Worth
5/21/2007
On Saturday,
May 19, members of the Coleman 4-H Shotgun Club
participated in the Johnson County 4-H Fandango at the
Fort Worth Trap and Skeet Club.
Among the 100 participants were Kelby McCorkle, Hayden
Wise, Jansen Merrill, and Brent Ogden from Coleman
County.
Kelby placed 3rd in trap in the intermediate age
division and Brent placed fourth.
Jansen Merrill was the 5th place winner of the 5-stand
competition in the intermediate division.
Hayden Wise placed 2nd in the senior one division of the
trap competition.
Kelby won a 22 rifle and Brent won a shooting bag in a
raffle drawing at the awards ceremony. Each participant
received a gift bag upon arrival at the meet containing
several shooting accessories. The shotgun club will
compete next at the Kerr County 4H Invitational
Tournament June 2 and 3.
Youth Association
Responds to Letter to Editor
5/19/2007
The Coleman Youth Association is a newly formed
organization that includes several of the Youth
Activities which were previously run separately. The
reasons for combining these activities such as Youth
Football, Youth Basketball (Little Dribblers), Youth
Soccer, and Youth Baseball were many. One of those
reasons was financial. The funds of all of these
different organizations have been combined, and
hopefully this will enable the Association to set and
reach goals which will be beneficial to all of the
entities involved. Believe it or not, it has decreased
the need for fundraisers for each of these organizations
separately.
We all agree that “no fundraiser is a good fundraiser”.
However they are a necessary evil. Many different
options were discussed at CYA meetings regarding
baseball costs, signup fees and fundraisers. There is
never an easy solution. We looked at what organizations
and leagues in other cities do for funding and tried to
come up with the best solution for our kids in our
community. Ultimately, we decided to keep sign-up costs
lower and hold a fundraiser. (Sign up was $35.00 per
child which includes a cap and jersey. Our figures show
that to run the baseball league the cost is
approximately $80.00 per child.)
The company that we chose for our fundraiser has an
incentive program built into their fundraiser packet
which includes a Dugout Party for any player selling
over five items. This party is not sponsored by the CYA
Baseball League. It is not an “End of Year Baseball
Party”. It is a motivational tactic used by the company.
Each player can choose whether or not to participate in
the fundraiser and to what level.
CYA has many projects on the table right now that
require a lot of funding, time, and manpower in order to
get them done. There is always room for new members with
fresh ideas, who are willing to spend the time to help
implement them. We spend many hours meeting, discussing
and finally running the leagues for the benefit of the
young people in our community and while our choices may
not always be the best in everyone’s eyes, they are
certainly made with the best of intentions.
City Council Hears Requests
5/18/2007
The Coleman City Council
met Thursday afternoon and conducted the following
business as recorded in the minutes of the meeting:
* Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Ray presided in the absence of Mayor
Nick Poldrack
* Council approved a request from Bondo Buddies car club
to use the City Park for their annual car show on
Saturday, July 21.
* Council voted unanimously to approve $2,000 in the
city budget for the ARK of Brownwood. Laurie Chastain,
who represented The ARK, told the Council that 27
victims from Coleman had been served by their agency. A
total of 514 women and children have received help at
The ARK over the last 12 months.
* Council took no action on a request for Loaves and
Fishes to be considered for funds in the City's
2007-2008 budget. City Manager Larry Weise stated that
this item was not included in last years budget and he
recommended it not be included in this year's budget. No
one was present to represent Loaves and Fishes.
* Council conducted a Budget Workshop considering
matters related to Ordinance 1076 establishing the
budget for the next fiscal year. In regards to the
budget, Weise stated that the budget sets policy and
that the first reading will be June 7th. He presented
two documents to each councilman which included budget
numbers and year-to-date figures taken from the April
ledger for each department in General and Utilities. He
asked the Council to prioritize on what direction they
want the City to go in the next year. The Council
will have another budget workshop at 5:00pm on May 24th.
Eastern Star Sends Soldiers
Gifts
5/18/2007
(contributed)
Monday, May
15, was the final meeting of this year for Worthy Matron
Sue Sorrells and Worthy Patron, Kermit Sorrells.
As the last project of the year, Sue had asked all
members to bring something to be sent to a member of the
Armed Services. A large variety of candy, crackers,
puzzles, bath products, writing material much more was
sent to our brave young men.
A big thanks to Dennis at the Shopin Baskit for donating
some candy and Ron Stubblefield for helping too. One box
was sent to Shilo Harris and two boxes to the hospital
in San Antonio to be shared among the patients there.
Four boxes went overseas and among them are Lance Jones
and Zachary Andrade.
If you have a loved one overseas, please send us a name
and address, we will be sending more boxes later.
Student Council Conducts
Seat-Belt Check
5/16/2007 (submitted)
In the past 26 years,
safety belts prevented 135,000 fatalities and 3.8
million injuries, saving $585 billion in medical and
other costs. If all vehicle occupants had used safety
belts during that period, nearly 315,000 deaths and 5.2
million injuries could have been prevented – and $193
billion in costs saved. [NHTSA, Economic Impact of
Crashes, 2002]
The CHS Student Council conducted a seatbelt
check Wednesday morning throughout the campus entrances
of CISD. Results are as follows:
TOTALS
Adults:
Wearing seat belt - 215
NOT wearing seat belt - 37
Students:
Wearing seat belt - 184
NOT wearing seat belt - 79
Children:
Wearing seat belt - 37
NOT wearing seat belt - 19
The “Click it or Ticket” campaign will be from May 21st
– June 3rd. We encourage you all to wear your seatbelts,
you never know when it may save your life.
Letter to the Editor
5/16/2007
Coleman Youth Association
has started a fundraiser for (as the flyer states)
utilities, insurance, supplies, concession stand,
awards, future expansions etc. If funds are
needed, I believe a fundraiser is a good way to collect
monies. All players on T-ball - Senior teams have worked
and played hard and deserve a pat on the back.
A "Dug-Out" party is scheduled at the end of the season
for players, but only for players that sell at least
5 fundraiser items! That is just not right. Players
should be allowed to attend a baseball party because
they are baseball players, not salesmen. How do you
explain to the 5 year old T-baller that he /she can't
attend the party because he/she didn't sell 5 items.
There are a lot of people selling items. I'm selling
items because my son doesn't have time due to going to
school, homework, ball-practice, play, rest, meals etc.
The least expensive item is $12.00.
Some families couldn't afford to purchase socks, belts,
pants, shoes, gloves, etc. or team/individual
photographs. No matter how you say it, it is "Not Right"
to tell the kids they can't attend their party unless
they sell or buy.
Richard Dulin
The Buzz on Mosquitoes
in Coleman
5/16/2007 by Randy Turner
Rain came to Coleman and
so have the mosquitoes, big ones, but the City of
Coleman is already fighting back. At least four nights
per week, Mike Gray (left)
can be seen driving the streets of Coleman going 12 to
15mph, usually between 9:00pm and 1:00am. Mike is
spraying a solution that kills mosquitoes.
The usual nights are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Saturday, alternating between the north and south side
so that all parts of Coleman are sprayed twice weekly.
City ditches, the City Park and City Cemetery are
sprayed every night.
Mike uses a spray rig with a 15 gallon tank. In the tank
is one gallon of Bio-Mist 30+30 ULV and 14 gallons of
mineral oil. The sprayer emits six ounces of spray mist
per minute. Typically, the 15 gallons will last for
three nights. Gray said weather plays an important roll.
For the treatment to work, the temperature can be no
lower than 55 degrees and the wind needs to be 10mph or
less. This year the City has obtained a backpack sprayer
which is used to fight mosquitoes under bleachers at
ballparks, at Hufford Field and at the Rodeo Grounds.
Mike attends training schools in Dallas and San Angelo
and is a licensed applicator as is city employee Chipper
Anderson.
In addition to the sprayers, Mike will sometimes toss
bags of Vectolex in standing water areas. The treatment
results in an oily coating on the water which smothers
the mosquito larvae attempting to breath at the water's
surface.
The Enemy
-
Mike said there are 12
species of mosquitoes in Texas but among those are 85
different types. Culex and Aedes are the most common in
Coleman. Some mosquitoes never venture far from your
backyard while others can travel 2 to 3 miles. Larger
mosquitoes typically travel greater distances. The
maximum life span of a mosquito is two months.
When you are bitten by a mosquito, a female did it. Male
mosquitoes don't bit, Mike said. Female mosquitoes live
off blood while male mosquitoes live off pollen. A
female can bite four to five blood feedings during her
life.
The mosquito can spread several diseases including West
Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis, Yellow Fever, Dengue
Fever and Malaria. Certain types of mosquitoes bite
humans only, some bite only animals while other species
bite both humans and animals.
What You Can Do
-
The City of Coleman has
available at City Offices a yard and home checklist of
things you can do to rid mosquitoes in your area.
* Get rid of old tires, tin cans, buckets, bottles or
any water-holding containers
* Fill-in or drain any low places in your yard
* Keep drains, ditches and culverts clean of weeds and
trash so water will drain properly
* Cover trash containers to keep out rain water
* Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets
* Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week and
store it indoors when not in use
* Fill-in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold
water with sand or concrete
* Change the water in bird baths and plant pots or drip
trays at least once each week
* Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around
the house so adult mosquitoes will not hide there
Funding Agreement Approved for
Camp Colorado Bridge Project
5/16/2007
Coleman County
Commissioners on Monday approved a funding agreement
with the State of Texas that will allow construction of
a new bridge on County Road 140 in eastern Coleman
County.
The bridge will be built adjacent to the old historic
Camp Colorado bridge (shown left)
which will remain as a historic site. Jimmie Hobbs,
County Judge, said construction on the new bridge is
expected to start this August.
Commissioners Approve "Rodeo
Acres"
5/16/2007
In their meeting Monday
morning, Coleman County Commissioners gave approval to a
request from Needham Surveyors to develop property along
5th Avenue, just west of the Coleman Rodeo Grounds. The
housing subdivision will consist of eight lots of
approximately 2.5 acres each.
School Board Addresses Student
Insurance, Roofing and Maintenance Bids
5/16/2007
The Coleman
School Board met Monday night and accepted maintenance
bids for the ' 07- ' 08 school year.
The Board also approved a contract for student insurance
through Texas Monarch Management Corporation in the
amount of $19,219. This is the same company used last
year and it was pointed out that premiums won't be
increasing this year. "We have an excellent trainer
(James Nall) and this is part of the reason why we
didn't have an increase," said Royce Young,
superintendent.
The Board awarded JMJ Roofing of Coleman a bid in the
amount of $214,995 to repair school roofs damaged in
hail storms last May. Insurance money will pay for the
cost of repair.
Coleman County State Bank was approved as the school's
depository bank for the next two years.
Local
Teachers / Students Get Rave Reviews After TAKS Tests
5/15/2007
Preliminary
results of the recent TAKS tests have arrived and
Coleman school administrators are very happy with what
they see. "This is very much a positive thing, across
the district," said Royce Young, superintendent. In
presenting the findings to the school board Monday
night, Young said there was a tremendous amount of
improvement in the test scores compared to last year.
"It was a lot of people doing a lot of hard work, and it
paid off," Young said.
Out of 27 areas tested through various grade levels, the
district showed improvement in 20 areas, stayed the same
in 2 areas and dropped a little in five areas. The three
school principals complimented their staffs for the hard
work and dedication to the students of Coleman ISD.
Local school administrators are still busy analyzing the
results and when all the numbers are known, the local
school board will get a complete report. The school
district will also release more information to the
public in the days ahead concerning test results.
New Coaches
(Husband - Wife) Hired by Coleman School Board
5/15/2007
The Coleman
School Board Monday night approved a contract for Diana
Patton to be the new Head Girl's Basketball Coach and
Doug Patton to be Assistant Football Coach. The Patton's
come to Coleman from Karnes City ISD.
Previous head coaching jobs for Mrs. Patton have been in
Nacogdoches, Port Neches Groves, Beaumont French, Little
Elm and Seguin. She will also serve as assistant track
coach and will teach high school English.
Mr. Patton will also be the Head Powerlifting Coach and
will teach Government-Economics at CHS.
The hiring of Mrs. Patton marks the end of an era for
Bluekatt basketball. While Coach Barbara Cox will remain
Girl's Athletic Director and Head Track Coach, the ' 07
- ' 08 season will be the first time in 26 years that
anyone other than Coach Cox has coached varsity
basketball here. She came to Coleman during the
1981-1982 school year and has a total of 32 years in the
business.
DPS Driver’s License Office in
Abilene is Moving
5/15/2007
The Texas
Dept. of Public Safety Driver’s License Office in
Abilene will shut down after business Wednesday, May 16,
and remain closed until Monday, May 21.
On Monday, May 21st, the DPS Driver’s License Office
will open at a new location, the old Montgomery Ward
building, that houses several Texas State agencies. The
new location is 4649 South 1st Street, on the west side
of the building, next to the Winter’s Freeway and north
of the Putt Putt golf course.
Citizens requiring change of address or renewal of
driver’s license should come to the new location. To
avoid a wait in line, they can still simply go to the
web site for renewals or address change at
www.txdps.state.tx.us. At the left side of the
screen, please click on “Driver’s License and Online
Services" and follow the directions from there.
The office hours will remain the same, 8:00am until
5:00pm, Monday through Friday, with the exception of
Wednesday when the office will remain open until 6:00.
The new telephone number for the Texas Driver’s License
office is 325 695 0988.
Customers needing a copy of a crash report still need to
come to the old location at the corner of Industrial
Blvd. and Buffalo Gap Road.
County Sheriff Adds
Sophisticated Investigative Tool
5/14/2007
The Coleman
County Sheriff's Department is now using the AFIS
System. AFIS, an acronym for automated fingerprint
identification system, electronically transmits
encrypted information to the Texas Department of Public
Safety in Austin, Texas. This equipment will transmit
finger prints and digital pictures from the Coleman
Sheriff’s Dept. to Austin, and will be extremely
valuable in positive identification of persons that have
been charged with Criminal Offenses, or who refuse to
identify themselves, said Sheriff Wade Turner.
This system was acquired with funding from Homeland
Security through a grant process, at no cost to the
citizens of Coleman County. It was provided in an
attempt to link all 254 Sheriff’s Depts. in the State of
Texas, with the Texas Department of Public Safety. The
system uses scantron (inkless) technology and digital
photographs. "We look forward to benefits associated
with this new technology," Turner said.
Coleman County Has New Ag
Extension Agent
5/14/2007
After going
about nine months without a County Agent, Coleman County
Commissioners on Monday hired David "Luther" Dunlap of
Abilene. Dunlap, 24, tells Colemannews.com he was born
in Abilene, lived in Winters until he was eight years
old when his family moved to New Mexico.
He attended college and received his Bachelor of Animal
Science Degree from New Mexico State University. He has
been working as a horse trainer for Joe Allen in Abilene
but will begin his duties with the Extension Service
June 1. For the first month or so, Luther will work
alongside Runnels County Agent, Marty Gibbs, before
transferring to his full-time duties in the Coleman
Office. His wife, Kelsi, is an education major at
McMurry University in Abilene.
Taylor Davis Earns
Coleman Farm Bureau Scholarship
5/14/2007
Taylor Davis, daughter of
Jay and Tammy Davis of Coleman, was recently awarded the
$500 Coleman County Farm Bureau scholarship. Coleman
County Farm Bureau awards the scholarship to a deserving
graduating senior who completes a typewritten 300 word
essay on an agriculture topic.
Her high school activities have included National Honor
Society, Student Council, FFA, 4-H, West Texas Rehab
Camp Volunteer, Honor Roll, “C” awards for highest
average in agriculture classes. She has also been an
active member of our community representing the Coleman
Rodeo Association as Rodeo Queen, a member of the
Coleman County Cowgirls, and has participated in the
Coleman County Stock Show for many years. Ms. Davis will
be attending Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Tuesday is
Peace Officers Memorial Day
5/14/2007 (contributed)
I hope that in
all the show of earned support for our people serving in
the military we as a society do not forget our front
line here at home.
Peace Officers Memorial Day is May 15th.
I'd like to see some earned Thank You's for our people
in Law Enforcement.
Respectfully submitted,
A Citizen
Hit and Miss
Rain Reported Over the Weekend
5/14/2007
The afternoon
heat caused thunderstorms over the weekend. Larry
Guthrie, five miles south of Burkett, received 1.35
inches Sunday afternoon. His total from May 6 through
May 13 was 4.25 inches.
Coleman County Youth Activity Center News
5/14/2007 (Submitted by Sarah
Beal)
The Bill Franklin Community Center has a
new web link with the Coleman County Chamber of
Commerce, check it out at
www.colemantexas.org.
The old stock show barn has been demolished and a new
metal building to replace it will be going up soon.
Funds are still needed for the new barn. A
groundbreaking ceremony has been scheduled for May 24th.
The new entrance on the south end of the rodeo grounds
is under construction as well as the road leading from
the entrance to the Bill Franklin Center. Drive by and
check out our work in progress. The Bill Franklin Center
has been a busy place with such events being held there
as the Texas Deer Hunters Association Banquet, District
7 4-H Consumer Decision Making Contest, Coleman County
Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet, fund raiser
event for Chase Avants, Curtis Yates, and Myles Baker
for Australia football trip, Coleman Rodeo Association
Fish Fry, Juried Art Show (approximately 500 youth
toured show and watched demonstrations), Farm Bureau Ag
Day (all county third grade students attended), Coleman
High School After Prom Party, CCYAC Board meetings, Wind
Clean Appreciation Dinner, 4-H Shooting Sports, wedding
receptions, Elk Association, Aggie Muster, family
reunion and Federal Land Bank meeting.
The Coleman County Youth Activity Center
has received donations from the following:
David & Vicki Stewart, Travis & Millie Goree, Coleman
County Foundation, Dick & Virginia Jamison, City of
Coleman- labor and equipment for building site
preparation
Memorials: In
memory of Bill Laws by Denny & Beverly Altum, In memory
of Victor Cardinas by Denny & Beverly Altum, In memory
of Joe G. Mitchell by Lynn & Trisha Owens, In memory of
Glenn Thomas by Coleman Country Club, Don & Marian
Johnson, Ben & Debbie Scott, Taylor Real Estate/Ted &
Sonjia Taylor, Lang & Ann Martin, James C. Stokes/Bowen
Drug Store, Anna & Melton Kennedy, In memory of Voncille
Thomason by Lynn & Trisha Owens, Lowetta Pope, Dr.& Mrs.
R. M. Edington, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn &
James Nall, Dr. Johnny Needham, Virginia Jamison, In
memory of Bub & Patsy Miller by Dan & Berva Dawn Taylor,
In memory of Patsy Miller and Billie Marie Miller,
Circle C Cowbelles by Berva Dawn Taylor, In memory of
Ruth Whittington by Dr.& Mrs. R. M. Edington, Dr. & Mrs.
Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn & James Nall, Dr. Johnny
Needham, In memory of Ruth Brooks by Dr.& Mrs. R. M.
Edington, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn & James
Nall, Dr. Johnny Needham, James C. Stokes/Bowen Drug
Store, In memory of Kathryn Coffman by Dr.& Mrs. R. M.
Edington, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn & James
Nall, Dr. Johnny Needham, In memory of Eugenia Pittard
by Dr.& Mrs. R. M. Edington, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening,
Dr. Sharilyn & James Nall, Dr. Johnny Needham, In memory
of Leon Griffin by Dr.& Mrs. R. M. Edington, Dr. & Mrs.
Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn & James Nall, Dr. Johnny
Needham, In memory of Josh “ Trebark” Weaver by Dr.&
Mrs. R. M. Edington, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening, Dr.
Sharilyn & James Nall, Dr. Johnny Needham, In memory of
Laura Johnson by Dr.& Mrs. R. M. Edington, Dr. & Mrs.
Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn & James Nall, Dr. Johnny
Needham, In memory of Georgia Dalton by Dr.& Mrs. R. M.
Edington, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn & James
Nall, Dr. Johnny Needham, In memory of Haskell Clevenger
by Dr.& Mrs. R. M. Edington, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening,
Dr. Sharilyn & James Nall, Dr. Johnny Needham, In memory
of Glen Wilson by Travis & Millie Goree, Dr.& Mrs. R. M.
Edington, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn & James
Nall, Dr. Johnny Needham, In memory of Edgar Minzenmayer
by Elwood & Diane Hambright & Family, In memory of
Vollie Dickerson by James C. Stokes/Bowen Drug Store, In
memory of Betty Ellen Kemp by Dr.& Mrs. R. M. Edington,
Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn & James Nall, Dr.
Johnny Needham, In memory of Billie Guthrie by Dr.& Mrs.
R. M. Edington, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Swening, Dr. Sharilyn &
James Nall, Dr. Johnny Needham
All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax
deductible. Donations and memorials may be sent to
Patricia Owens at First Coleman National Bank, P. O. Box
552, Coleman, Texas 76834 or to Henry Dodson at Coleman
County State Bank, P. O. Box 940, Coleman, Texas 76834.
Martin, Guerrero, McIver for Santa Anna School Board
5/12/2007
Santa Anna voters chose Paul Martin, Roger Guerrero, Jr.
and Grady McIver to represent them on the Santa Anna
School Board. Four people ran for three positions
meaning incumbent Harper was defeated.
Paul Martin
-
173 - 29.32% of
the vote - received 65 early votes, 108 on election day
Roger Guerrero, Jr.
-
149 - 25.25% of
the vote - received 61 early votes, 88 on election day
Grady McIver - 142
- 24.07% of the vote - received 40 early votes, 102 on
election day
Lois Ann Harper (incumbent) - 126
- 21.36% of the vote - received 49 early votes, 77 on
election day
The Santa Anna School Board will meet at 12:00pm
Tuesday, May 15, to
canvas the election results.
Fisher, Fahrlender and Fellers in Santa Anna City
Election
5/12/2007
In a three person race for Mayor of Santa Anna,
Russ
Fisher
is the unofficial winner with
147. Ross Bradley
received
48, John Pearce received
18.
Fisher - 69.01% of the vote - received 63 early votes,
84 on election day
Bradley - 22.54% of the vote - received 18 early votes,
30 on election day
Pearce - 8.45% of the vote - received 3 early votes, 15
on election day
For Santa Anna City Council,
Harold Fahrlender
received 166
votes, Curtis Fellers
139,
Jim Spillman 47
and Cindy
Pelton 41. Spillman was an incumbent.
Fahrlender - 42.24% of the vote - received 67 early
votes, 99 on election day
Fellers - 35.37% of the vote - received 59 early votes,
80 on election day
Spillman - 11.96% of the vote - received 21 early votes,
26 on election day
Pelton - 10.43% of the vote - received 8 early votes, 33
on election day
Election results are unofficial until canvassed by the
City Council on May 21st.
Incumbents Win City of Coleman Election
5/12/2007
Incumbents Bill
Casselberry and Rodney Cole were re-elected Saturday.
Mayor Nick Poldrack was unopposed.
West Ward -
Bill Casselberry -
265 - 57.73% of
the vote - received 192 early votes, 73 on election day
Harold Skelton -
194 - 42.27% of
the vote - received 147 early votes, 47 on election day
East Ward -
Rodney Cole -
260 - 56.89% of
the vote - received 183 early votes, 77 on election day
Billie Mercer -
197 - 43.11% of
the vote - received 154 early votes, 43 on election day
Mayor -
Nick Poldrack - 387 -
100% of the vote -
received 296 early votes, 91 on election day
The
results will be declared official when canvassed during
a special meeting at City Hall at 5:00pm Tuesday.
Constitutional Amendment Passes Big in Coleman County
5/12/2007
Coleman County voters overwhelmingly
supported the lone Constitutional Amendment on the
ballot Saturday.
It passed by a vote of 395
for and 36 against.
The amendment reads as follows:
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the
legislature to provide for a reduction of the limitation
on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be
imposed for public school purposes on the residence
homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect any
reduction in the rate of those taxes for the 2006 and
2007 tax years."
Kendra Coleman - State Champion
5/12/2007
Santa Anna's
Kendra Coleman is your Class-A State Champion in the 100
meter dash. In a photo finish, Coleman won the race in
12.44 at Mike Myers Stadium in Austin. It is her
second time to the state track meet and she is just a
sophomore.
Awarded second, also with a time of 12.44, was Tiffanie
Fleming of Tenaha. Third place was won by Victoria
Wiggins of San Antonio Stacey in 12.45, what a race!
See Kendra in action and check out a very nice photo
gallery by the
Abilene Reporter-News by clicking HERE.
A Blast From the Past, Bluecat Memories
5/11/2007
by Randy Turner
Any of you
remember "The Singing Blues" from Coleman High School?
It was a singing group made up of CHS athletes some 35
to 40 years ago, led by Coach Pete Simmons. They
would sing at various functions around this area and, as
I recall, were pretty doggone good.
Anyway, one of our readers is wondering if any of you
out there in Bluecat land would, by some miracle, have a
tape of the music performed by The Singing Blues. If you
have more information, contact Lucy Diaz at 325-625-4766
as one of her son's sang in the group.
Dwin
Nanny Named Superintendent at Panther Creek
5/10/2007
A Coleman County native will return home
to lead the Panther Creek CISD. Dwin Nanny will begin
his duties as superintendent on June 1, replacing Dan
Harris. Nanny is serving as K-12 principal in Robert Lee
ISD through the end of May. Nanny told
colemannews.com he is excited about returning to Panther
Creek where he served as a principal several years ago.
Coleman Police to Enforce "Click It or
Ticket"
PD Encourages You to "Buckle Up in Your Truck"
5/10/2007
From
May 31 through June 3 the
Coleman Police Department will be out in force,
participating in the "Click It or Ticket" enforcement,
according to Jay Moses, Police Chief.
"In 2006, Texas had a safety belt use of 90.4%," Moses
said. "Using safety belts doesn't cost a dime. Not using
them will cost you a citation during this intensified
enforcement. It's simple, Click It or Ticket," Moses
said.
The Coleman Police Department is also participating in
an educational campaign to convince pickup truck
occupants in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and
Oklahoma and the Indian Nations to wear their safety
belts. Pickup trucks in fatal crashes roll-over twice as
often as passenger cars. "In Texas, safety belt use in
pickup trucks is 4 percentage points lower than overall
use in the state. In 2005, 54% of people killed in
pickup trucks in Texas were not wearing seat belts,"
Moses said.
Thursday
Rainfall Reports
5/10/2007
You can submit
your rainfall reports to us at
mail@colemannews.com. The following rain
amounts were from the storms Wednesday evening.
Also, we have moved the lake level links to the bottom
of the weather page.
* Colemannews.com office, corner of Concho and Walnut
downtown - .30
* Bill Garrett, 5 mi. SW of Santa Anna - .40
* Tex Wright, in Santa Anna - .45 best he could tell
in the fog
County
4-Hers Qualify for State Roundup
5/10/2007
Texas
Cooperative Extension's annual District 7 4-H Roundup
was held Saturday, May 5th on the Angelo State
University campus. The event attracted more than 500
members, parents and adult leaders and Extension
personnel from across a 23 county area.
Roundup is the culmination of a series of contests held
across the district in recent months. Judges for the
event test the skills and knowledge of 4-Hers from 8 to
19 years of age. Categories range from traditional
agriculture-related areas such as swine and sheep, to
non-traditional areas including fashions, family life
and public speaking. Senior winners may compete in Texas
4-H Roundup during the week of June 5 - 8 on the campus
of Texas A&M University. To qualify for State 4-H
Roundup, individuals or teams must be first, second, or
third place in the District Senior divisions of
Educational Presentations and Judging Contests and must
be 14 to 19 years old. In Fashion Show and
Share-The-Fun. Only 1st place winners qualify for State
Roundup.
Roundup sponsors include: Federal Land Bank Associations
within District 7 and AEP-Texas.
Winners from Coleman County were:
Educational Presentations Mackenzie Spake & Lisha
Merkley, 2nd place - Health
Carlie Shirk, 5th place - Open Division
Senior Fashion Show - Audrey Casselberry, 3rd place -
Formal Division
Share The Fun - Denny Fulbright, 3rd place -Vocal
Division
Photography - Complete results are not available at this
time.
Senior 4-Hers who qualify and will attend State 4-H
Roundup include: Consumer Decision Team - Casie Swening,
Rebecca Baker, Angelina Jones and Sarah Hailey, and
Educational Presentation Team made up of Mackenzie Spake
and Lisha Merkley.
Rainfall
Reports
5/9/2007
The following reports
were from the storms which moved through the county
Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. The
Coleman Police Department did not receive any reports of
damage.
* Colemannews.com, corner
of Concho and Walnut in Coleman - 1.50
* Crossroads community, six miles east of Coleman - 1.75
* Bill Garrett, five miles southwest of Santa Anna -
1.50
* Tex Wright, in Santa Anna - 1.30
* Anita Phelps, east of Coleman - 2.20
* Royce Young, northern Coleman County - 1.20
* Ken and Helen Smith, Valera - 1.30
* Gary Payne, 209 W. 4th - 1.75
Early Voting Ends
5/9/2007
The number of
early votes cast in the City of Coleman election was
347, according to Sue Burleson, City Secretary.
The
number of early votes cast in the proposition election was
261, according to Jo Ann Hale, County Clerk.
The
number of early votes cast in the City of Santa Anna
election was 85.
The
number of early votes in the Santa Anna School Board
election was 89, according to Katrina Guerrero at Santa
Anna ISD.
Fulbright Takes
3rd in San Angelo Competition
5/9/2007
Denny Fulbright,
14, of Coleman, placed 3rd in the 4-H Regional Share the
Fun Voice Competition held Saturday, May 5, at Angelo
State University.
A freshman at Coleman High School, Fulbright played lead
and rhythm on his guitar and sang three Johnny Cash
tunes which included Tennessee Flat Top Box, Folsum
Prison Blues and Got Rhythm.
Denny will play at the Coleman Senior Center Friday, May
11, during the country-western musical, at the Cancer
Walk For a Cure at the courthouse at 8:00am Saturday,
May 12, and at the Crosstimbers Opry in Stephenville at
7:00pm Saturday, May 12.
Walk For a
Cure Cancer Walk is SATURDAY
Walk Will Be in Memory of Gladys Slayton
5/11/2007
Barbara Brown and the C.H. Hale Prostate Cancer
Foundation, Inc. will hold their 6th Annual Walk For a
Cure at 9:00am Saturday, May 12.
Registration will begin at 8:30am at the Coleman County
Courthouse. The walk starts at 9:00am at the Courthouse,
proceeds to J.E. Stevens and returns to the Courthouse.
The walk this year is dedicated to the memory of Gladys
Slayton (left), a
lady loved by many in the community and a lady who
remained very active throughout her life.
You can honor someone you know by walking "in memory of"
or "in honor of" a family member, friend or loved one.
Get your family, friends, business owners or local
organizations to sponsor your participation.
Proceeds from the walk will be used to make donations to
the American Cancer Society and to fund prevention and
immediate care programs sponsored by the C.H. Hale
Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Another fundraiser for the C.H. Hale Foundation is a
Mother's Day Bake Sale at 8:00am Friday, May 11,
at
Shoppin' Baskit'.
Court Cases for
December ' 06 Reported
5/8/2007
The following cases were presented by District Attorney
Joe Lee Rose to the Honorable John Weeks, 42nd District
Judge, on Thursday, December 14, 2006, at 2:00 P.M.
* Josie Martinez,
Possession of Controlled Substance. Martinez pled guilty
and was sentenced to one year confinement in a State
Jail Facility, probated for two years, and was ordered
to pay a $500.00 fine, court costs, court-appointed
attorney fees, lab fees, and community supervision fees
and 120 hours community service.
* Wanda Joyce Daniel,
Securing Execution of Document by Deception. Daniel pled
guilty and was sentenced to six months deferred
adjudication and was ordered to pay court costs,
community supervision fees, restitution of $5,846.00 and
80 hours community service.
* Cody Joe Rowden,
Retaliation. Rowden pled guilty and was sentenced to two
years confinement in the Institutional Division of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice, probated for two
years, and was ordered to pay a $500.00 fine, court
costs, court-appointed attorney fees, community
supervision fees, and 160 hours community service. He
was also ordered to serve up to twelve months in the
Taylor-Callahan-Coleman Counties Restitution Center.
* Jacob Wayne Baker,
Burglary of a Habitation. Fred Franklin was retained as
defense counsel, and arraignment was waived.
* Welton Ray Watson, Sr.,
Felony D.W.I. Arraignment was rescheduled for December
28, 2006, at 2:00 P.M.
* Daniel Culver Conrath,
Retaliation. Arraignment was rescheduled for December
28, 2006, at 2:00 P.M.
* John Lewis Flores,
Possession of Controlled Substance. Arraignment was
rescheduled for December 28, 2006, at 2:00 P.M.
* Carl Dean Stewart, Jr.,
Possession of Controlled Substance. Arraignment was
rescheduled for December 28, 2006, at 2:00 P.M.
* Ramiro Flores,
Retaliation. Arraignment was rescheduled for January 11,
2007, at 2:00 P.M.
* Richard Neil Hoover,
Burglary of a Habitation. Arraignment was rescheduled
for December 28, 2006, at 2:00 P.M.
* Philip Diaz Rosales, Jr.,
Felony D.W.I. Arraignment was rescheduled for December
28, 2006, at 2:00 P.M.
The following
cases were presented by District Attorney Joe Lee Rose
to the Honorable John Weeks, 42nd District Judge, on
Thursday, December 28, 2006, at 2:00 P.M.:
* Melissa Kay Jackson,
Possession of Controlled Substance. Jackson pled guilty
and was sentenced to eighteen months confinement in a
State Jail Facility, probated for four years, and was
ordered to pay a $750.00 fine, court costs,
court-appointed attorney fees, lab fees, and community
supervision fees and 120 hours community service.
* Melissa Kay Jackson,
Possession of Controlled Substance. Jackson pled guilty
and was sentenced to eighteen months confinement in a
State Jail Facility, probated for four years, and was
ordered to pay a $750.00 fine, court costs,
court-appointed attorney fees and lab fees.
* Olga Suema Guerrero,
Possession of Controlled Substance. Guerrero pled guilty
and was sentenced to five years deferred adjudication
and was ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine, court costs,
court-appointed attorney fees, community supervision
fees, lab fees, and 240 hours community service.
* Welton Ray Watson, Sr.,
Felony D.W.I. Defense counsel will be appointed in this
case.
* Daniel Culver Conrath,
Retaliation. Arraignment was rescheduled for January 11,
2007, at 2:00 P.M.
* John Lewis Flores,
Possession of Controlled Substance. Arraignment was
rescheduled for January 11, 2007, at 2:00 P.M.
* Carl Dean Stewart, Jr.,
Possession of Controlled Substance. Stewart failed to
appear, and his bond was forfeited.
* Richard Neil Hoover,
Burglary of a Habitation. Defense counsel will be
appointed in this case.
* Philip Diaz Rosales, Jr.,
Felony D.W.I. Defense counsel will be appointed in this
case.
A World War II
Exhibit at CHS
5/7/2007
Each year, the
social studies classes at Coleman High School team up
for a display and demonstration of World War II
memorabilia. The students get to enjoy a hands-on
experience of history that makes the events of World War
II seem more life-like. It includes autographed books,
magazines, pictures, posters, military field gear, and
modified weapons.
Some say the exhibit is worthy of a museum but is from
the private collection of Mr. Adams. He enjoys sharing
information and allowing the students to touch and FEEL
history in their hands.
In addition, the students listen to Roosevelt's speech
to Congress asking for a declaration of war. Music from
the war era is played and students are encouraged to ask
questions and discover in a unique way.
Coleman High School juniors performed well on the TAKS
recently, in part because of the efforts of teachers
like these Social Studies teachers who try to go beyond
the book and offer a wide range of learning experiences
for students.
Noon Wreck Sends One to Hospital
5/7/2007
A two vehicle crash at 12:50pm Monday sent one woman to
Coleman County Medical Center, heavily damaged both
vehicles and damaged a fire hydrant.
According to Coleman Police Chief Jay Moses, the wreck
was at the intersection of North Nueces and Lackland on
the north side of town. The driver of a 1994 GMC Jimmy
was Tiffany Kirkpatrick, the driver of a 2001 Ford F150
pickup was Spencer Fitzpatrick. A passenger in the
pickup was Zachary Doyle. Kirkpatrick was the only one
taken to Coleman County Medical Center for evaluation.
Coleman police were assisted at the scene by the Coleman
Fire Department and EMS as shown in the photo.
A Message from Shilo Harris
5/7/2007
We heard from
Kathreyn Harris over the weekend and she gave the
following update on her husband, Shilo, injured earlier
this year in Iraq.
"Shilo is doing awesome. He has been walking to and from
his appointments. He does get worn out easily, but he is
getting better. We have had several appointments and the
results have been good," Kathreyn said.
Shilo sent these words
- "I'm in good spirits. I know that God is with me and I
thank everyone for their support and prayers. I look
forward to seeing folks from home. Take care and God
Bless."
If you would like to send correspondence to Shilo and
Kathreyn, the new address is: P.O. Box 340275, San
Antonio, Texas 78234-0275
Attorney
Admitted to American College of Trial Lawyers
5/7/2007
William A.
"Bill" Hicks has become a Fellow of the American College
of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations
in America. The induction ceremony at which Bill became
a Fellow took place recently in LaQuinta, California.
Bill, and his wife Sharon, the former City Attorney of
Abilene, are General Counsel for Frac Tech Services,
Ltd. Previously, he practiced with the Abilene law firm
of McMahon, Surovik, Suttle for 26 years. Hicks is an
alumna of Texas Tech School of Law.
Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of
the trial bar from the United State and Canada.
Fellowship is extended by invitation only and only after
careful investigation, to those who have mastered the
art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been
marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct,
professionalism, civility and collegiality.
Notes From
Coleman City Council Meeting
5/7/2007
The following
information is recorded in the minutes of the May 3rd
meeting of the Coleman City Council:
* Voted to allow NCRS to use the Coleman City Park for
their annual Fish Fry and Information Day on May 24th.
* Voted to approve a request from Chief of Police Jay
Moses to accept a grant from the Texas Comptroller of
Public Accounts for Tobacco Compliance Enforcement. The
grant is 100% funded by the State of Texas and is used
to pay for overtime for two of his officers who are
trained in tobacco compliance and to fund sting
operations.
* The Council approved a motion to allow the City
Attorney to study the settlement agreement between the
city and Charter Communications. If the agreement is
suitable, the Mayor will have authority to sign it. The
City had considered filing an action in State Court to
recover delinquent franchise fees.
City Manager's Report -
* First budget draft and workshop is scheduled for May
17
* Special called meeting to canvas the election will be
held Tuesday, May 15
* TCEQ agreed order - sewer line on Culberson Street -
rock saw cutting through a dome of limestone rock, 75%
complete
* Roofing projects going slow due to rain, shop has been
completed, recycling center 50% complete
* Wind damage reported at the airport apartment last
Wednesday, blew big tree down on a fence and awning
* Transformers were also lost during the storms last
week.
Coleman Teen
Involved in Weekend Wreck
5/7/2007
A one car
crash at approximately 2:00am Sunday resulted in a
Coleman teen being treated and released from Coleman
County Medical Center. According to DPS Trooper Chris
Delgado, Randall Lee Nix, Jr., 16, was going west on FM
568 when he failed to negotiate a curve and overturned a
1992 Geo Prism in a field. The car came to rest upright
on its tires. The wreck happened 4.8 miles east of
Coleman, Delgado said.
Early Voter
Count
5/5/2007
At the end of
the day Friday, a total of 205 early votes have been
cast in the City of Coleman election.
Tires and Waste Steadily Disappearing Around Coleman
5/4/2007
The Coleman City Council was brought
up-to-date Thursday evening about the ongoing process of
cleaning the City of Coleman through code enforcement
and grant operations. Shana Everett, city
employee, presented the Council an update on two grants.
One grant of $17,876 paid for a part-time
Code Enforcement Officer, a pickup, lap-top computer and
digital camera. So far, 120 junked vehicles and over one
quarter million pounds of solid waste have been removed.
The officer is issuing citations, 20 in the last month
alone.
Everett said the Convenience Center was the highest
scored project submitted. A $6,000 grant paid for a 100
by 100 foot pad with fence surrounding it. The grant
helps pay rental fees on disposal containers.
Concerning old tires, approximately 6,000 tires have
been removed with the County putting $4,000 towards
disposing of old tires.
Using
Rockets to Prepare for High School
5/4/2007
Gary Strickland's junior high science students have been
building and launching rockets. It is Strickland's way
of introducing the soon-to-be freshmen some concepts of
physics and chemistry in preparation for the science
courses they will take in high school. Friday morning,
students learned about Newton's Third Law of Motion
which, formally stated, is: "For every action, there is
an equal and opposite reaction."
Rocket Launching Ingredients -
A 2 liter plastic soft drink bottle
1 liter of water in the bottle
A parachute attached to said bottle
A bicycle pump
A plastic crate launch pad
Homemade launch device
Imagination
Carrying Out the
Launch -
Place the bottle of water on the launch pad
Pump approximately 40lbs of air pressure into the bottle
Release the rocket, hope for the best
Some of the rockets journeyed 50 feet or so into the
air, one made by Travis Brixey flew an estimated 200
feet high, just using water pressure as the fuel.
Next Friday, the students will fly rockets again but
this time, the fuel will be a little different to bring
some chemistry into the lesson plan.
Early Voting Update for Santa Anna /
Coleman
5/4/2007
As of early
Friday afternoon, a total of 172 early votes have been cast for
the City of Coleman election.
As of 8:45am Friday, a total of 119 early votes have
been cast in the proposition election at the County
Courthouse.
As of 8:45am Friday, a total of 56 early votes have been
cast in the Santa Anna School Board election and 54
early votes in the Santa Anna City Council election.
R E S P E C
T
5/3/2007
Miss Texas
America 2006, Shilah Phillips, spoke to Coleman students
Wednesday, part of her 12-month speaking tour titled
"Never Give Up". During
the assembly for high school students, Miss Phillips
talked about respect and got her point across by singing
Aretha Franklin's song "Respect". She was accompanied by
an impromptu group of backup singers who were volunteers
from the audience. An accomplished singer, Phillips
spent two years making demo records and even auditioned
for American Idol, making it to the top 50 during season
three of the show. Miss Texas coming to Coleman is a tradition for
the local school. As a part of the tradition, Miss Texas
is treated to lunch at Owl Drug Store in downtown
Coleman. Pictured from left: Taylor Davis, Megan Dunnam,
Amanda Brewer, Miss Texas Shilah Phillips and Katie
Nixon.
Awards Given
as Juried Art Show Ends
5/3/2007
The "Flight of
the Dragonflies Juried Art Show" closed Wednesday with
an Awards Reception at the Franklin Center. Marian
Johnson, shown below,
welcomed the group on behalf of the Fine Arts League of
Coleman County.
Starting
with the set-up for the Juried Art Exhibit on Monday
April 23, continuing with an intensive 3-day art
workshop by Ann Templeton, New Mexico artist, followed
by 2-1/2 days of demonstrations; and awards and closing
reception Wednesday, May 2. Awards were presented by
show co-chair, Virginia Bethke.
The last two days were a highlight for the Fine Arts
League of Coleman Co., who sponsored the Juried Exhibit.
480+ Coleman Independent School children attended the
demonstrations and viewed the Exhibit including the
following grades and teachers:
5th Grade - Sherry Autry, Karen Broyles, Tammy Davis,
Anna Smith, Carrie Payne
4th Grade - Paulette Connelly, Pam Cohea, Cindy
Jamison, Isabel Roberts
3rd Grade - Theresa Edington, Cindy Dean, Vanessa
Richards, Kay Parrott
2nd Grade - Pam Pannell, Kay Lynn Evans, Sherrie Love,
Donna Phillips
1st Grade - Jennifer Hinds, Susan Casey, Cynthia
Connelly, Jenny Kading, Debbie Scott, Jodie Jarvis
Kindergarten - Sandra Edington, Dusty Erwin, Debbie
Nixon, Tammy Swening.
Wind Damage Reported in the Area
5/3/2007
The squall line of thunderstorms which blew through the
area Wednesday afternoon brought very heavy rain but
also caused some damage. According to the Storm
Prediction Center, the following damage was noted in
Coleman County:
* One mile south of Rockwood - several power poles hit
and down
* Rockwood - significant wind damage
In Runnels County:
* Barn destroyed at Maverick by tornado
* Several telephone poles down 5 miles southwest of
Winters
* Several telephone poles down 4 miles north of
Ballinger
In Brown County:
* House damaged by tornado 5 miles northwest of
Brownwood
* Several trees down 3 miles southeast of Brownwood
* Numerous reports of wind damage in Brownwood