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Successful Gala Raises Money For Unity Center By Darwin Robinson Over 250 Floyd County friends and neighbors gathered Saturday night, March 29th, at the Unity Center in Muncy and enjoyed a fine meal, good entertainment and a fast moving auction. The Filet Mignon meals with all the trimmings, including potatoes, salads and deserts, were provided by Caprock Cattle Feeders of Lockney and Lowe's Supermarket. The entertainment for the night was the patriotic and spiritual songs of the "Singing Women of West Texas." Highlights of the evening were the presentations of the big screen TV and the $1000 cash prize. Nathan Johnson of South Plains was the final "survivor," out of ten finalists, to win the $1000 cash prize donated by the First National Bank of Floydada. The others were "voted off" by the process of elimination in a numbers game. The name of Melvin Bradley of Lockney was drawn from the hopper of several hundred raffle tickets to win the big screen TV given away by the Floyd County Friends Board. Floyd County Friends Board President Martin Stoerner told the Hesperian-Beacon, "All of us who utilize the Unity Center owe a big 'Thank You' to all those individuals and businesses who attended and supported the Gala. Because of their generous support, the Unity Center is available to everyone at a very affordable cost." FCF Board Member, and emcee for the Gala, Nick Long said, "This year's Gala was an exceptional one for fund raising. The total numbers are not in yet, but it looks like we raised about $15,000. We need around $18,000 extra each year for the upkeep of the center and for new equipment." Long added, "We appreciated all the volunteers involved in making the Gala possible. It took about 60 workers, including the 4-H kids, to serve the meals and put up the decorations." Auctioneer Tim Assister and Emcee Long kept the program moving right along from the giveaways to the auction of many donated items by local and area businesses. There were "Fun Bags" donated by Caprock Motor Parts of Floydada and another 83 businesses who were 'auction donors.' One of the larger items in the auction was a donated basketball signed by the Lady Bulldogs Girls 4A State Championship Team from Plainview. The basketball, which previously had raised $1,010 for the Unity Center, was given to "UPS Man," Curtis Thompson, and his family. His daughter, Tojjina, was recognized as the Most Valuable Player in the 2003 Girls 4A State Basketball Tournament in Austin. Both Lockney and Floydada high school teams donated signed basketballs and footballs for the auction, along with framed pictures of the 2002-2003 teams, including tennis teams. Statistics given to all in attendance shows the Floyd County Friends Unity Center, which cost $631,000 to construct is now debt free. There is $29,121.28 cash in the General Fund and $22,442.93 in the Endowment Fund. The 2003 Operating Budget for the Unity Center is $28,063. The center generates $10,000 from rental fees for activities. The number of days the Unity Center has been used has been 101 days in 2000, 210 days in 2001, and 163 days in 2002. Some of the larger events at the Center have been Lighthouse Electric Annual Meeting, State Gymnastics Meet, and Regional UIL Powerlifting Meet. Lockney Fire Department Gets $25,000 For New Truck The Lockney Volunteer Fire Department received a $25,000 grant from Caprock Cattle Feeders to be used toward a purchase of a new fire truck. Caprock Cattle Feeders is a subsidiary of Cargill, Incorporated. The goal for the Lockney Fire Department is $150,000. The department currently has a total of $124,700. "Caprock recognizes the value of updating the current 30-year old truck and equipment," said Patrick O'Connell, manager of the Caprock facility in Lockney. "We are pleased to provide funding for this important project and look forward to future opportunities to help improve the community," This project was jointly funded by Caprock Cattle Feeders and the Cargill Global Partnership Fund--a corporate program that matches contributions by local Cargill facilities to support special projects and services in their communities. Through volunteerism, partnerships, and grant making, Cargill contributes more than $18 million each year to civic and charitable organizations. The new fire truck will have 3 self contained breathing apparatus mounted in the back seat so that the firemen can be getting prepared in route to a fire. It will have it's own 5,000 watt generator for lighting and operation of other electric tools. The fire truck fund raiser was started in August of last year with the raffle of the "God Bless America" quilt made and donated by Dorhta Gunter, the aunt of Fireman Joe Marks. The quilt raffle raised $2,200. The Fire Department has put in $50,000 into the fund. The City of Lockney has donated $20,000 and First National Bank of Floydada added $20,000, and $4,000 from City Bank Texas. Other donations have been received from D & J Gin, Attebury Grain, Ronnie Aston, Lou Aston, Kenneth Gregg, Margaret Schacht, and Windmark Insurance. Anyone wishing to donated to the fund should contact: Aaron Wilson, Craig Ellison, Joe Marks, Donnie McGlaughlin, or Preston Belt. Rodriguez Dies From Accident Injuries A Lockney man, Ignacio Rodriguez Jr., who was critically injured after being hit by a vehicle, February 10, died at UMC Sunday morning, March 30. According to a spokesperson at the Lubbock Medical Examiner's office Rodriguez, died from "complications of multiple blunt force injuries". Rodriguez, also known as "Ignacio" and "Junior", was struck by a vehicle at approximately 6:54 a.m., February 10, on Main Street in Lockney. The car was driven by Charlotte Hooten, of Lockney. Hooten stated she never saw Rodriguez who was walking on the dark street. The case was turned over to Floyd County Grand Jurors who reviewed the report and returned a "no bill" (meaning they found no reason to indict the driver). Funeral services are pending at Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home in Lockney. School Districts and Caprock Hospital Have Contested Races--Others Cancelled Although the cities of Floydada and Lockney have cancelled their elections, because of no contested races, both school district will have elections. Caprock Hospital District also has contested races, however Lockney General Hospital has cancelled their elections. In Floydada ISD, Trustee Dr. William Dean, Pct. #2, has drawn an opponent--Jerry Don Battey, Jr. Pct. #1 Trustee, Kerry Pratt, is unopposed so that precinct's election will be cancelled. In Lockney ISD, Pct. #1 Trustee Jesse Garza will face opponent Richard Zavala. In Pct. #2 incumbent Trustee Jim Bob Martin chose not to run again. Jeff Don Terrell has signed up for Martin's position. Terrell faces no opponent. Caprock Hospital District has three At-Large positions coming up for reelection. Incumbents Tom Farris, Denice Payne, and Kyle Smith have signed up to run again. Challengers will be Mark Whittle and Craig DuBois. Lockney General Hospital's incumbent board members: Dub Hallmark and Nell Glasscock face no opposition. The term was up for Lockney Hospital Board Member Bill Sherman. Terry Jones signed up for that position and faced no opposition, so the election for the Lockney Hospital was cancelled. In the City of Floydada, Mayor Bob Gilliland, Council members Ruben Barrientoz, of District 2, and Sheldon Sue, of District 3, faced no opposition. In Lockney, incumbent Council Members Michael DeLeon, of District #5, Ginger Mathis, District #4, and Lockney Mayor Roger Stapp, were unopposed.
Obituaries FELICIA APPLEWHITE Funeral services for Felicia Applewhite, 99, of Olton were held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 31, 2003 at the First Baptist Church in Lockney. Reverend Phillip Golden officiated. Burial was held in the Lockney Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney. Ms. Applewhite died Thursday, March 27, 2003 at the Runningwater Draw Care Center in Olton. She was born on December 9, 1903 in Hamilton to the late William Lafayette Wallace and Myra "Pancake" Wallace. Her family moved to Silverton in a covered wagon. She was teaching school in the Lone Star Community when she met and married Goree C. Applewhite in 1923. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Baylor in 1929 and a Master's Degree from West Texas in 1939. She served as librarian at Wayland University from 1939 to 1943. Felicia accompanied her daughter, Felicia Louise, to Warm Springs, Georgia after she became ill with polio. While in Warm Springs, she served as mistress of ceremonies for a 1944 Thanksgiving program at the request of President Frankin D. Roosevelt. She taught in Plainview and other area schools with the longest tenure in Lockney High School where she retired in 1970. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church and helped her minister husband by teaching many years of Sunday School. She was preceded in death by her husband, Goree C. Applewhite in 1985 and one daughter, Felecia Louise Applewhite in 1977. Survivors include one son, Calvin Applewhite of Pasedena; one daughter, Myra Applewhite of Plainview; one grandson, Jack C. Applewhite of Austin; one granddaughter, Andis Adams of Houston and many other nieces and nephews. The family suggest memorials be made to the First Baptist Church, 401 S. Main, Lockney, Texas 79241 and the Wallace Scholarship Memorial at West Texas A&M University of Canyon. WILLIAM GLENN LATHEM Memorial services for William Glenn Lathem, 72, of Bee Branch will be held Saturday, April 5, 2003 at Roller-McNutt Chapel in Greenbrier with Bro. Gordon Liming officiating. Lathem died Sunday, March 30, 2003. He was a retired dairy farmer and a member of Southside Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Johnnie Rutherford Lathem of Bee Branch; three sons, Marc of Dalhart, Glen of Casa, Arkansas and Michael of Bee Branch; a daughter, Joy Bradley of Greenbrier; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. BILLY JOE MOODY Memorial services for Billy Joe Moody, 53, of Lockney were held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, 2003 at the West Side Church of Christ in Lockney. Reverend Neely Landrum officated. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney. Moody died on March 29, 2003 at his residence. He was born on May 6, 1949 in Floydada to the late Kenneth Moody and Viola Peel Moody. He was an electrician for many years. He was a member of the West Side Church of Christ in Lockney and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. CURTIS RAY NICHOLS Memorial services for Curtis Ray Nichols, 67, of Floydada were held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 30, 2003 at the old Bethany Baptist Church in Floydada. Duce Cooper, Minister of Students at First Baptist Church, officiated. Cremation was under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada. Nichols died Wednesday, March 26, 2003 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock. He was born on November 28, 1935 in Winnsboro to Edd D. Nichols and Eula Watkins Nichols. He moved to Floydada from Winnsboro when he was 10 years old. He married Betty Sue Bartley on February 2, 1957 in Crosbyton. He retired from Caprock Meat Company where he was a butcher. He was preceded in death by his wife on December 8, 2000, his parents, a brother, Buddy Nichols and two grandchildren, Chance Ryan Thompson in 1985 and Amber Michelle Crider in 1993. Survivors include ten sons, David of Odessa, Nathan of DeLeon, Jimmy of Denver City, Roy of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Brian of Plainview and Roger, Johnny, Jason, Scott and Dane, all of Floydada; two daughters, Donna Thompson of San Angelo and Anita Pritchett of Plainview; one brother, Bill of Levelland; two sisters, Carolyn Nichols and Lucille Pope, both of Floydada; 20 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. ELLA OGLESBY Funeral services for Ella Oglesby, 83, of Hereford were held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2003 in the First Baptist Church in Hereford. Terry Cosby, pastor, officated. Interment was in the West Park Cemetery in Hereford under the direction of Gilliland-Watson Funeral Home of Hereford. Ms. Oglesby died Thursday, March 27, 2003. She was born November 13, 1919 in Cisco to M.S. Wasson and Myrtle Mae Jeffries. She married Cecil Oglesby on June 28, 1940 in Dumas. She moved to Deaf Smith County in 1961 from Dimmitt. She was a homemaker and an active member of the First Baptist Church of Hereford. She was also a member of the Golden K. Kiwinas of Hereford and the Auxiliary of Gidion's International. Survivors include her husband, Cecil Oglesby; two sons, Larry C. Oglesby of Hereford and Ray Oglesby of Dumas; a daughter, Becky M. Richards of Amarillo; three sisters, Liz Reynolds and Melva Fowler, both of Amarillo and Margarette Word of Floydada; 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Family suggests memorials to the Gidion's International. HELEN W. MCCLURE Funeral services for Helen Whitehead McClure, 67, of Nashville, Tennessee (formerly of Lockney) were held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2003 at the Hermitage Funeral Home of Hermitage, Tennessee. Interment will be held in the Hermitage Memorial Gardens. Mrs. McClure died Sunday, March 30, 2003. She married Wayne McClure (formerly of Lockney). She was the owner and operator of the La Fiesta of Mexican Food Restaurant in Nashville, Tennesee for over 30 years with her husband of 49 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, J. B. and Cecil Whitehead (formerly of Lockney) and a brother, Melvin Whitehead. Survivors include four daughters, Karen (Ricky Perrigo) McClure, Carolyn Huttinger, Kayla (Rob) Crigger, Karla (Mark) Ferryman, all of Nashville, Tennessee; two sisters, Ethel Brown of Lubbock and Sue (Gus) Trimble of Bradcliff, Kentucky (formerly of Floydada); three brothers, Edward (Mary) Whitehead of Lubbock, James (Jeanine) Whitehead of Morton and Aubrey Whitehead of Arlington; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Sue Reeves and a brother-in-law, Larry Dailey. Donations may be made to the Emphysema Foundation.
Dear Editor, I find myself compelled to write on behalf of some families who have been affected by Travis Hayes' plea bargain. As I am sure by now, everyone knows that the Special Prosecutor Joseph Kline (who was appointed by Judge Randy Hollums) agreed to one count of Injury to a Child, in exchange for dismissing 7 separate cases of Indecency with a Child and 2 counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault (involving 4 different girls). Travis Hayes then received a sentence of 10 years in prison with a possibility of "60 day Shock Probation". I am not sure if everyone understands the 60 day Shock Probation program. This states that the convicted felon must serve 60 days incarcerated in a state facility. His time can be served in the county if the prison system does not have any room for him. Before the end of the 60 days, Travis' attorney, Daniel W. Hurley, will submit a request to our local and elected judge, Randy Hollums. Judge Hollums will then request Travis' records from the facility in which he is incarcerated, review it and then make his decision to either grant or deny the request. If Judge Hollums grants the request, Travis will be out of jail and will be on probation for the next 10 years. At this time I would like to make a couple of points clear. (1) The four girls which stated that Travis had molested them were the age of 7 and younger. (2) When District Attorney Becky McPherson stated that she would be appointing a special prosecutor to the children's cases, their families wanted to get their own attorneys. They were told that since the State of Texas was prosecuting Travis, individual attorneys would not be necessary. (3) Special Prosecutor Joseph Kline did not consult with any of the family members before he agreed to the plea. (4) Once the plea was agreed to by both attorneys and Judge Hollums, Travis' criminal case was closed. (5) The children were never given the opportunity to tell their stories. (6) The family members are unable to overturn the plea, and are outraged by this injustice. It is my understanding that some of the young girls' family members have spoken with Judge Hollums. It is my further understanding that Judge Hollums told them there are several upstanding church members standing behind Travis. To these people I say, 'Let Travis and his wife, baby-sit your daughters and your granddaughters.' Judge Hollums also stated if Travis has no misconducts on file, "I will let him out". I ask that anyone who doesn't understand how a person who was indicted by a grand jury of 7 counts of indecency with a child and 2 counts of aggravated sexual assault with a child, can even be considered for a release after merely 60 days, to write to Judge Hollums and request that he NOT even consider granting Travis probation and releasing him amongst us again.
Sincerely, Janie Suber
District Judge Hollums Floyd County Courthouse Rm. 104 Floydada, TX 79235 Phone: 983-3384 Fax: 983-3796 Dear Editor, A great injustice was done by our District Judge, Randy Hollums and Special Prosecutor Joe Kline. Two indictments of Aggravated Sexual Assault and seven Indictments of Indecency with a Child were plea-bargained down to Injury to a Child. This means that in sixty days Travis Hayes will be back on our streets. Shame on you Judge Hollums and Joe Kline. We depend on you to protect our children. Sincerely, Jerry Johnson
Dear Editor, Pets are truly part of the American family. After a recent visit to our local kennel I was deeply saddened by it's condition and even more so knowing that these precious animals would only be held for two weeks before being euthanized. It is my desire that anyone wishing to own a pet would first check with our local kennel. The Humane Society and ARK (Animal Rescue Kennel) are also great places to start your search. It is our responsibility as humans to take care of them. Since their domestication they have lost most of their natural skills to fend for themselves. Therefore, in exchange for their companionship, unconditional love and joy, we must be responsible for feeding and caring for them. This includes having them vaccinated and annual visits to the vet for checkups. Spaying and neutering your pet will contribute greatly to the astounding overpopulation. Pets have so much to offer. They will enrich your life and be a life long friend. Thank you, Jennifer Harbin
by Alice Gilroy I received a picture on my email of a Naval Ship with the words, "Why We Are Here" painted on the upper deck. Under those words were painted: Oct. 1983--Marine Barracks Beruit, Lebanon Dec. 1988--Pan Am Flight 103 Lockerbie, Scotland Feb. 1993--World Trade Center N.Y.C., N.Y. June 1996--Khobar Towers, Dhahran, Saudia Arabia August 1998--U.S. Embassies, Kenya Tanzania Oct. 2000--USS Cole, Aden, Yemen Sept. 11, 2001--World Trade Center, N.Y.C., N.Y.; Pentagon, Washington D.C.; United Airlines, Flt. 93. I received another interesting quote on email last week that was attributed to Colin Powell. I forwarded it to several people and got a response back by Tim Mitchell, of Lockney. Tim is in the Air Force and wanted to make sure I quoted Powell accurately. He sent me to a page that had Powell's full speech. It wasn't near as short as what was sent out on the email, but since I wanted it remembered accurately I thought I would reprint some of what Powell actually said. At a conference in England, Powell was asked a very lengthy question by the former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey. In a nutshell Carey asked if America was relying too much on hard power and not enough on building trust that comes from "soft values". Powell said, "The United States believes strongly in what you call soft power, the value of democracy, the value of the free economic system, the value of making sure that each citizen is free and free to pursue their own God-given ambitions and to use the talents that they were given by God. And that is what we say to the rest of the world. That is why we participated in establishing a community of democracy within the Western hemisphere. It's why we participate in all of these great international organizations. "There is nothing in American experience or in American political life or in our culture that suggests we want to use hard power. But what we have found over the decades is that unless you do have hard power--and here I think you're referring to military power--then sometimes you are faced with situations that you can't deal with. "I mean, it was not soft power that freed Europe. It was hard power. And what followed immediately after hard power? Did the United States ask for dominion over a single nation in Europe? No. Soft power came in the Marshall Plan. Soft power came with American GIs who put their weapons down once the war was over and helped all those nations rebuild. We did the same thing in Japan. "So our record of living our values and letting our values be an inspiration to others I think is clear. And I don't think I have anything to be ashamed of or apologize for with respect to what America has done for the world." (Applause) "We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we've done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in, and otherwise we have returned home to live our own lives in peace. But there comes a time when soft power or talking with evil will not work where, unfortunately, hard power is the only thing that works." Have you seen the new French tanks? They come with 4 gears--3 reverse and one forward--just in case they are attacked from behind. What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up? The French Army.
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by Ken Towery
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