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DELIVERING THE MAIL IN COLD WEATHER--Floydada mailman Tracy Turner, is shown Tuesday morning delivering the mail in single digit weather. Temperatures were 8 degrees and below on Monday and Tuesday mornings. The high for Tuesday in Floydada was predicted to be 33 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Lubbock. The cold weather was blamed on a cold front pushing through the Panhandle of Texas and bringing heavy sleet to the Dallas area.
The member cities of West Texas Municipal Power Agency (WTMPA) will be hiring an outside utilities auditing firm to do a complete audit on the agency, in an effort to clear up controversy surrounding transactions between Lubbock Power & Light (LP&L) and WTMPA. WTMPA was organized in 1983 for the purpose of uniting Lubbock, Brownfield, Floydada, and Tulia in regulatory issues before federal and state agencies. The cities later contracted with SPS to buy power in bulk for less than the cities would pay individually. The City of Floydada gets all of their power from WTMPA. "In 1998 WTMPA sold bonds to build a generating plant to help provide electricity needs for its member cities," said Floydada City Manager Gary Brown. "The generator was to be located on LP&L property and steam from the generator plant (Unit #8) was to be used by generators already owned by LP&L. "When Unit 8 was tested there were problems with the gas supply and the filters cleaning the gas supply. This caused damage to the generator and delayed start-up by several weeks." Subsequently, WTMPA brought a lawsuit against General Electric (who built the generator), and ATMOS Energy (the natural gas supplier). "We sued for approximately $5.5 million in damages," said Brown. According to Brown during this time of repair LP&L paid bills in the approximate amount of 5 million dollars. "This was for operating, maintenance, and repair," said Brown. The lawsuit was settled, but for significantly less than 5.5 million. "All the money went to WTMPA," said Brown. "Our thoughts were that after the lawsuit was settled we would pay our debts to LP&L," said Brown. "When it was settled the money went to make bond payments to WTMPA. LP&L paid thinking they would get paid back. Now they (LP&L) have a shortfall of 5 million. "WTMPA member cities assumed the City of Lubbock was being kept informed about the transactions." Controversy has now surrounded the WTMPA and LP&L because the Lubbock City Council say they have not been kept informed. "There has been a lack of communication between WTMPA, LP&L, and the City of Lubbock," said Brown. "There has developed a misunderstanding on how WTMPA operates. "The City of Lubbock feels LP&L is paying more than their share on WTMPA. "We thought we were paying our part. We were paying a surcharge and were never notified that there was a problem in what we were paying. The City of Lubbock now says they feel the other 3 member cities owe them $800,000." It is these questions that WTMPA hopes to answer with the outside utilities auditing firm. The City of Lubbock has also hired an auditing firm. Local Minister to Speak at Lockney Banquet Steve McLean, the minister of the West College and 3rd Street Church of Christ will be the guest speaker at Lockney's Chamber of Commerce Banquet, March 8. McLean has been with West College and 3rd Church of Christ since April 1, 2001. He has been a minister for almost 30 years, serving several West Texas congregations. He holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree in Speech Communications from Texas Tech. He and his wife, Darla, have two children: Caleb, 16 and Seth 14. Other local attractions will be songs from Caitlyn Lane, and dinner music by Lucy Dean Record and her music students. The steak meal will be catered by the Chamber, with the help of Mac Sherman. The banquet starts at 7:00 p.m. in the Lockney Elementary Cafeteria. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Children will be served chicken strips. Tickets can be purchased at City Bank in Lockney, or they can be bought at the door. The Chamber will recognize the Citizen of the Year and Fireman of the Year. Lockney Pursues Sanitation Program During their regular council meeting, February 21, Lockney Council members continued their pursuit of developing the city's own sanitation program. Ron Croomer, of Triple C Waste Disposal, presented a price to the city to sell them the dumpsters currently in Lockney's alleyways. Triple C is currently the company that collects and hauls the trash for Lockney. The Council members decided to price new dumpsters and come prepared to make a decision at the next council meeting. The Council also agreed to advertise for bids for a dump truck. An estimate presented to the council by Ron Hall, of the city's Parks Department, was approximately $32,000 for a used truck and $110,000 for a new truck. The Council has come to the agreement that the city could generate revenue by operating their own sanitation program. "I believe we can increase the money retained inside the city limits," said Mayor Roger Stapp. "Our whole purpose in pursuing this is to increase our cash flow." said Stapp. "We may bring in an additional $30,000 into the city. Right now we are sending out $90,00 for this service. If we take up the responsibility we could provide a better service. The money we bring in could hire another city employee and help pay equipment costs." The council members will be making decisions quickly and hope to have a plan in place by Oct. 1, 2003. Bobby Hall, president of Lockney's Economic Development Corporation, presented the EDC report to council members. "A dairy permit for 3,400 head has been issued to Floyd County landowner Lindan Morris," said Hall. "The site is located northwest of Lockney. "Right now," said Hall, "we don't have a tenant for the site because dairy prices have fallen. However we are confident that prices will go back up and a tenant will be found." Hall told the council that one dairy could provide 30 jobs. "There were two complaints lodged about the dairy permit," said Hall. "They were from landowners close to the site. The complaints concentrated on the dirt from truck traffic on the roads. Although I understand their complaint, the complaints were 'deemed without substance' by the environmental agency that handles this." "Besides working with SRJ Dairy Development, LEDC will also advertise the site in dairy publications and with other dairy developers." Hall said the LEDC will also be developing a "leadership program" in Lockney, and hosting "community planning sessions". LEDC will be hosting a workshop entitled, 'E-Commerce Training for Rural Texas'. The two-day workshop is intended for those wishing to establish or enhance internet-based commerce for existing or new businesses. LEDC has also developed a general purpose promotional brochure which is being sent to business and industrial contacts. Hall asked the city council to approve LEDC requests to appoint Jeff Terrell, Jack Covington, and Nell Glasscock, as board members. They will replace Russell Harris and Charlie McQuhae (who have moved from Lockney), and Eddie Teeter (who resigned). Council members will put this recommendation on next month's agenda. The LEDC current board officers are: Bobby Hall, president; Phillip Glasson, vice president and secretary, and Brenda Johnson is treasurer. A profit and loss statement, presented to the council by LEDC, for October-December 2002, showed income from sales tax revenue at $5,535.51. Expenses were: dues and fees, $500; miscellaneous, $39.45; rent, $600; telephone, $61.05; and depreciation, $72.80. Net income for those three months was $4,262.21. Current assets for LEDC, as of December 31, 2002, was $10,553.84 in checking/savings; fixed assets (equipment) is $1,237.49; for a total of $11,791.33. Lockney Police Chief Jerry Edwards presented a mandated racial profiling report, for February 2002 through January 2003, to the council. The report showed the city police making 961 "contacts". Of those contacts: 58 were with Blacks, 472 were Hispanics, 426 were White, 1 was Asian, 4 were other. Forty-four searches were done: 2-Blacks; 34 Hispanics; 8 Whites. Sixteen people were found with contraband: 13 Hispanics and 3 Whites. 261 citations were issued: 21-Blacks; 163 Hispanics; 77 Whites. 765 warnings were issued: 40 Blacks, 349 Hispanics, and 371 Whites. Sixty arrests were made. The population of Lockney, according to the 2000 Census, is 2.056. Of that: 1,067 are Hispanic; 936 are White; 43 are Black, 5 are American Indian; Asian, 3; Other, 2.
Citizens Continue to Make Paving Request to Floydada Council By Darwin Robinson The Floydada City Council met Tuesday, February 18, and discussed with several interested citizens the possibility of paving Sunset Avenue located on the west side of Floydada's City limits. City Manager Gary Brown said, "Whatever direction we need to go on this situation, let's do it and go that way." Mayor Bobby Gilliland said, "We need to appoint a committee of board members and citizens to look further into this matter and report back to the council." Councilmember Eric Cornelius told the council, "The estimates of paving and curbing the six blocks will be around $30,000 per block, or $180,000 total." Stan Payne, who represented several citizens that live next to Sunset Avenue, addressed the council and said, "Basically I think it is important first to get the street paved. But if that is not possible and we can't fix it right, then we would like to see the street abandoned and closed. "Those parking on the west side must be considered if the street is closed. Do we need to get signatures?" Payne concluded. Mayor Gilliland appointed a committee to look into the matter and report back to the council. The committee appointed consisted of Councilmembers Clar Schacht and Sheldon Sue, and citizens Stan Payne, Tom Farris and Anthony Sisemore. In other business, the council approved May 3, 2003 as the date for the municipal City Election. The incumbents up for re-election on May 3, 2003 are Mayor, At Large, Bobby Gilliland; Councilmember, District 2, Ruben Barrientos; and Councilmember, District 3, Sheldon Sue. February 17, 2003 is the first day for candidates to file for a place on the ballot, and the last day for filing is March 19, by 5:00 p.m. Early voting in person at City Hall is April 16 - 29, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Floydada Police Chief Darrell Gooch addressed the council concerning the department's requirement for racial profiling during the past year. Gooch said, "Since we are using cameras during our stops, we are not required to give reports on racial profiling any more. "Because I promised you this report last year, I am here to give it to you. I am willing to keep giving you this report each year, if you want it," added Gooch. The report showed the (FISD) school truancy program with student and parent contacts. "We write them (the students) tickets to try to get them back in school, but little or no money is collected from this," said Gooch. The report showed an 82 percent clearance rate on misdemeanor cases in the city and an 86 percent clearance rate on felony cases. Gooch said, "We are proud of these percentages compared to the big cities, because very few of our cases go unsolved." "We made over 1500 contacts last year with 916 citations written. There were 298 people arrested," Gooch concluded. Coucilmember Bettye King made a motion to have Gooch prepare and present to the council a similar annual activities' report. It was seconded by Councilmember Barrientos. The motion failed 3 to 2. Councilmembers Cornelius, Sue and Schacht voted against the motion, while King and Barrientos voted for the motion. Concerning junk vehicles in the city, Gooch told the council, "For the past three weeks, we have been taking pictures, getting the VIN numbers and researching the (junk) vehicles' history. People are starting to move their (junk) vehicles. "If we cannot see the (junk) vehicle from the street or the alley, then that is fine. But if weeds are growing up around it, and we can see it, then that is breaking the fire code," Gooch said. "If the tags are expired. If it has no inspection sticker and no insurance. If it is dismantled, wrecked and parked, then we consider it a 'junk vehicle'," Gooch concluded. The council approved motions to advertise for a swimming pool operator for the 2003 season and for a summer softball program director. Concerning the summer softball program, City employee Jesse Morales told the council, "We need to make it loud and clear for those who use the softball park. They must pay for the lights and they need to pay for police officers to control things there." Councilmember Schacht asked Morales, "We need you to write down some guidelines for the summer softball program and the swimming pool." Councilmember King told the council, "I live near the softball park and there are fights out there every night and they drive fast through our neighborhood." Councilmember Barrientos said, "We need some order out there for the out-of-town people and for the in-town people. It is chaos." Police Chief Gooch said, "It is pretty bad at the softball games every summer with fights and drinking from our local people. We charge $20 per hour per officer, and I recommend two officers, because one officer just can't handle them." In other business, the council approved a budget amendment to pay for a backhoe and an electric bucket truck that was left off the original budget items. City Manager Brown said, "We have the money designated to pay for these items." A resolution was unanimously approved by the council to enjoin the City of Floydada with several other West Texas cities for a 2003 sealcoat project to seal the city's streets. The council gave permission to City Manager Brown to pursue a Home grant for the purpose of improving housing in Floydada. Brown said, "There will very little money involved in this project." Brown gave a report to the council concerning the Mackenzie Municipal Water Authority. Brown said, "I attended a meeting yesterday for three and one-half hours and it was decided that MMWA needed to become more efficient. There is no one individual to blame, but it must become more efficient." Councilmember Cornelius asked, "When are we going to hear from the engineers' report on how much it will cost to fix it (the lake's lowering water level problem)? It has been over four months and we have not heard anything." Brown told the council it would be at least another 30 days before they will know anything. Brown concluded, "I heard that Tulia is fixing to drill a deep well and sell water to Silverton." No action was taken by the council. Brown also gave a brief report concerning the West Texas Municipal Power Authority located in Lubbock. Brown said, "Several key people there have lost their jobs recently and I believe we (the City of Floydada, Brownfield and Tulia) need to hire our own auditor (to check the books)." No action was taken by the council. Concerning the old electric generator plant owned by the City of Floydada, Brown told the council, "We don't need to sell the plant too soon. We must redo the controls and update them whether we keep the generators, or not. The wiring is 24 years old and its life expectancy was only 20 years. No action was taken by the council. Brown told the council it would be around April 1st before the 1.1 million dollar renovations at the airport would begin. "The state is handling everything," said Brown. City Secretary Karen Lawson informed the council that all the book work and accounting for the Floydada Economic Development Corporation had been turned over to FEDC Executive Director Dora Ross. "As of January 1, 2003, we have let FEDC keep their own books," Lawson said. Brown added, "We will keep getting a monthly report from FEDC." In Public Forum Denice Payne told the council, "If you need community support or fund raising for projects like the High School Park renovations, just let me know. We want to help." Brown informed the council, "The grant for the High School Park renovations has been turned down this year, but we are reapplying for this next year." 
EIGHT LHS BAND MEMBERS QUALIFY FOR STATE U.I.L. MEET--(L-R) Kami Keaton, freshman; J.W. McPherson, freshman; Addie Foster, sophomore; Rusty Keaton, senior; Malorie Luebano, freshman; James Orr, junior; Marti Nolan, sophomore; and Landon Cotham, freshman. These students will be traveling to San Marcos to compete in State UIL Competition, in May. The band members recently qualified for state at the UIL Ensemble competition held in Lubbock, February 22. James Orr received a Division I rating with his baritone solo. The others pictured make up the drum section which also garnered a Division I Rating.
Lady Winds Named to All-District Ragan Beedy, senior; Kimber Bennett, junior; Suelema Saldana, junior; Lindsey Leatherman, freshman and Newcomer of the Year; and Laura Reddy. Lady Horns Named to All-District Leslie Cuellar, senior; Jalee Dietrich, senior; April Dorman, senior; Janee Hrbacek, senior; Laci Schumacher, senior; Karah Hrbacek, sophomore.
Obituaries ALPHA MAE COLLINS FORTENBERRY Services for Alpha Mae Fortenberry, 66, of Lockney were held Saturday, February 22, 2003 at the Trinity Assembly of God in Floydada. Reverend Ricky Lawrence and Reverend Vance Mitchell officiated. Burial was in Lockney Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada. Mrs. Fortenberry died Thursday, February 20, 2003 at her residence. She was born on December 23, 1936 in Haskell County to the late Clifford Othell Collins and Edna Fay Trusty Collins. She married Durrel Fortenberry on November 1, 1986 in Plainview. She moved to Floyd County in 1979. She was an LVN for Hospice and a member of the Trinity Assembly of God in Floydada. She is survived by her husband; three sons, Michael Hill of Dimmitt; Carl Hill of Floydada; Eddie Hill of Melrose, New Mexico; four step-sons, Donnie, Michael, Brian and John Fortenberry; six daughters, Alicia Shaw of Jacksonville, Terrie Hill of Ralls, Shirley Nichols of Akron, Ohio, Karen Holmes of Knox City, Pamela Hill of Floydada and Sharlene Fedor of Tyler; one brother, Charlie Gunnels of San Antonio; one sister, Frankie Posey of Knox City; 34 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to the Hospice Hands of West Texas, P.O. Box 1118, Lockney, Texas 79241. DELBERT WHITFILL Funeral services are pending with Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney for Delbert Whitfill, 89, of Lockney. He died Tuesday, February 25, 2003 at Lockney Health and Rehab.
We've been trying to come up with ways to make money around here. The Floydada Economic Development and the Lockney Economic Development Corporations are breaking their backs trying to bring industry into the area. Both EDC's have been busy pursuing the dairy industry. Things have slowed a bit because of dropping dairy prices, but are expected to get up and going again soon. We decided since the agriculture industry was so unstable maybe we ought not to be putting our eggs all in one basket. Maybe we ought to be looking at some other abundant resource we have to offer on the South Plains. We think we have come up with something. It is innovative and progressive. We would use the internet to promote it. We are going to call it, "Save Our Rodents--Adopt a Prairie Dog". Ray Macha, of Providence, thinks he has a way to use some dry pasture land. We are going to take pictures of several different Prairie Dogs-or--take several pictures of the same Prairie Dog--and give them all names. We'll have "Petey The Prairie Dog", "Paulie The Prairie Dog", etc. We could have girl prairie dog and boy prairie dogs and cross dressing prairie dogs. Something for everybody. The web site would be the "Adopt A Prairie Dog" campaign. We would show the pictures on our website and on ebay. For a nominal fee (like $25 a month, or a one time fee of $1,000) you too can adopt your own Prairie Dog. You will be mailed a picture of your Prairie Dog, adoption papers, pedigree, shot records (that's immunizations not a .410 shell). If you choose to adopt, your Prairie Dog will be saved in a safe (and undisclosed) location. To advertise our campaign we would also show pictures of Prairie Dogs who have not had the benefit of adoption and protection. They would be the unfortunate terminated ones (also known as "toe-tagged" or "paw-tagged"). We think that PETA will jump on the bandwagon and help us promote the campaign. This would be the perfect gift idea for people on the west coast and east coast. If your family is already overcrowded and you're not sure you have the space in your heart for a monthly contribution, we would gladly accept a memorial gift in memory of a loved one. Please help our furry friends. Petey will be pleased. back to top
First off, we want to apologize, sort of, to those readers who have looked in vain for another column to agree with, or disagree with, for the past many weeks. We've gone through one of those increasingly popular "open heart surgery" operations, during which the doctors seek to give one a few years extra to live in a little better circumstance. It was one of those "quadruple bypass" deals, wherein they take veins from the left leg for use in re-routing the blood flow in and around the heart Next, which probably should have been first, our undying gratitude and thanks to those who sent notes of appreciation, and prayers directed to the Almighty on my behalf. We even got a phone call from Congressman Mac Thornberry, which we appreciate very much, and a couple of nice notes from the White House, one from the President and Barbara, the other a hand written epistle from an old friend and sometimes antagonist Karl Rove, which I also appreciated very much. Something worked. So far, so good. I am inclined to credit the prayers of friends and kinsmen, along with the skill of the surgeons whose hands were also guided by the Almighty. And if any of our readers are contemplating open heart surgery in the near future, we have a few recommendations to make. The doctors say another couple of months will be required before all the healing is done, and then possibly a few more months until all the other adjustments are made, but already we can tell a difference in the energy level. Other than that one fact (the feeling of a more normal energy level), we don't notice much difference. We're still as opinionated (politically) as ever. We still think Bush does some things right, and some things wrong. His saving grace, it seems to us, is that his political opponents propose even more wrong-headed solutions to current problems than his own wrong-headed solutions. Millions of illegal aliens take up residence in the United States, in total defiance of our laws, and the President of the United States worries about AIDS in Africa. This naturally drives his political opponents mad and leaves his friends and supporters perplexed.. The President condemns "ethnic cleansing" when practiced by the Serbians against the Albanians, yet turns a blind eye to the same thing when practiced by the Israelis against the Palestinians, which also drives his opponents mad. He decides to use "diplomacy" in dealing with the North Korean mess left us by a former President (Clinton), but entertains little of the same tact when dealing with Iraq, a nation headed by a bloody-minded tyrant little different from the one who rules North Korea. We've long since forgotten who committed to history the quote that "consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds," but whoever it was can certainly look down upon the earth and find many great minds at work. Consistency of thought is not a trait that plagues the world's leaders at this moment. Anyhow, it is good to be back. Many big stories have dominated the news of late, not the least being the much-anticipated war against Iraq. And, not to mention the Israeli request (which always becomes a demand) for an extra $16 Billion in freebies over and above that which regularly flows in their direction, and a little more to pay off Turkey for allowing us to station troops there in anticipation of a war against Iraq. With that much money, and that kind of friends, one can buy support just about anywhere.
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FLOYDADA
WHIRLWINDS 2003 AREA CHAMPIONS--The Floydada Whirlwinds won
the Area Playof Championship game last Friday night in Post
against Haskell. The final score was 63-50. The Whirlwinds
advance to the Regional Quarterfinals against Wichita Falls
City View at Merkel Tuesday night.