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Linda Vargas Creates Larger Than Life Art
LINDA VARGAS stands in front of the Ice Cream Parlor retro-art she painted on the west side of Sue's Gifts. The artwork brings bck memories of the ice cream parlot that was located inside Arwine's Drug Store many years ago.
By Jeffrey Hunter During her college art classes, Linda Vargas had a hard time keeping her artwork on sheets of paper--there just wasn't enough room. "When I would draw on the paper, I would always go off the edge," Vargas said. "So my professor said I should break out of my shell and go big." Taking his advice, Vargas, a 1998 graduate of Floydada High School, began her career as a muralist using the walls of Floydada as her canvas. Vargas' work can be seen throughout town, but is most noticeable on the large murals that grace the walls of downtown. The murals are part of an effort to improve the city by the Floydada Beautification Committee. "All of it was funded by the Ole Country Market last summer," Julie Duke, Committee member, said. " Some people are under the misconception that the business paid for the murals on their walls themselves." In addition to the Ole Country Market, funding also comes from a beautification fund set up at First National Bank of Floydada. Vargas was chosen to paint the murals after the beautification committee saw her work at El Rancho Restaurant. "She was out of town and we tried to get in contact with her for six months," Duke said. "The minute she got back, she got the job." Vargas' Murals can be seen on the side of Sue's Gifts at the intersection of Main and California Streets, on the side of the old Sears building at Main and Missouri, and at the amphitheater at Wall and California. An additional mural was painted on the side of Payne Pharmacy by a Wayland University student. To complete the downtown murals, Vargas spent countless hours and used numerous gallons of paint. "When I went to buy paint, I told the guys at Higginbotham-Bartlett that I was going to keep them busy," Vargas said. The murals offered many new challenges to the young artist. She often had to deal with the harsh West Texas elements to complete the artwork, particularly when painting on the west facing wall of Sue's Gifts. "This was one of the toughest murals I painted," Vargas said. "About 2 p.m. every afternoon it got really hot and I would burn my hand on the brick wall." "She did an excellent job," Duke said. "She beat me to work most mornings and worked through the blowing sand and dirt." Vargas could also be seen working late into the night on her masterpieces, saying she would rather be working in the dark than at home. "When I get home, I just can't sit still," Vargas said. "I keep thinking about what I have left to do. I just can't wait to get back to the painting." The walls themselves proved to be difficult surfaces to paint. "It is hard to get paint into the spaces between the brick," Vargas said. "People always ask me why I don't use a roller, but I always tell them that I have to use a brush to get it to look just right." The Floydada Beautification Committee is planning to add more murals downtown. This year, the Ole Country Market will be held on July 12 to help raise funds for additional murals and other beautification efforts. They are also pursuing a grant to help with the costs. "We hope that all of Floydada will come out to support the market," Duke said. The murals should last 12 years before they need major repairs, Duke said. Anyone owning a building downtown who would like a mural should contact Duke or the Chamber of Commerce. In May, Vargas graduated from South Plains College in Levelland with an associates degree in art. She plans to pursue a bachelors degree from the University of North Texas in the fall. She pictures herself as a full-time muralist in the future, but until her senior year in high school, Vargas never thought about becoming an artist. "There were so many things that I enjoyed doing, art was just a hobby," Vargas said. "But when I went to college, I knew that I had to pick just one thing." While she has much experience with acrylic painting, other types of painting don't come so easy. Vargas says that watercolor painting is something that she is still trying to master. "Watercolor is one of the few art classes that I ever got a B." She plans to spend a few weeks in Rome, Italy in 2005 studying watercolor painting. To many, it seems that Vargas' future as an artist is as bright as her murals. In June 2004, she will marry Bernie Villalpando, and the couple will move to his hometown of Chicago. Vargas has jobs waiting for her there. "I want to be a muralist," Vargas said. "I can't wait for the day when people trust me to paint my own ideas." Vargas' ideas currently center around Mexican tribal art. "It has a lot of cultural flare." The work of artists Carmen Lomas Garcia and Freda Kahlo has a big influence in her ideas, Vargas said. "They are both Mexican artists who have a lot to say in their paintings." Adding emotional depth to a painting is something that Vargas works toward. "I like to paint where there is a meaning," Vargas said. "Some times I let people know what it is, sometimes I don't." As Vargas continues her art career and follows in the footsteps of the famous artists she admires, Duke says that she will always be remembered here. "She's definitely left her mark on this town, and it will be here forever."
Obituaries
MARTINA BAEZA Services for Martina Ramirez Baeza, 70, of Plainview are scheduled for today, Thursday, June 5, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. in Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Catholic Church in Plainview. Deacon Agustin Cantu of Sacred Heart Catholic Church will officiate. Rosary was said Wednesday June 4, 2003 at Bartley Silva Funeral Chapel in Plainview. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Plainview. She died on June 1, 2003 in Lubbock. She was born July 2, 1932 in Midland, to Mercedes and Cruz Ramirez. She married the late Juan de Dios Baeza, Sr. in 1965 in Plainview. She was a resident of Plainview for the past 38 years. She was a homemaker all of her life. She is loved by all and will be dearly missed. Survivors include six sons, Mike Ramirez of Slaton, Ramon Bustos of Odessa, Ascencion Baeza of Plainview, Juan de Dios Baeza, Jr. of Plainview, Ramon Baeza of Lubbock, and Rodolfo Baeza of Plainview; three daughters, Graciela Guerrero of Lubbock, Andrea B. Peralez of Lockney, and Mary Cruz Baeza of Plainview; 36 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Juan de Dios Baeza, Sr., and her parents, Mercedes and Cruz Ramirez. LUCILLE DANIEL Graveside services for Lucille Daniel, 89, of Floydada were held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2003 at the Floyd County Memorial Park. Reverend Phillip Golden officiated. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada. Mrs. Daniel died Monday, June 2, 2003 at Lockney Health and Rehab. She was born on June 10, 1913 in Bante, Oklahoma to the late Lewis Lovell and Una Beatrice Clark. She was a homemaker, a longtime resideent of Floydada and a member of the First Baptist Church of Floydada. She was preceded in death by her husband. Survivors include one son, Dale Redd of Maui, Hawaii; two daughters, Tanya Covington and husband, Jack, of Lockney and Sallye Day and husband, Bill, of Mingus; ten grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Plainview Humane Society, 500 SW 3rd Street, Plainview, Texas 79072. CONRAD L. HENDERSON Funeral services for Conrad L. Henderson, 81, of Plainview were held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 2, 2003 at the First United Methodist Church in Lockney. Reverend Tommie Beck officiated. Burial was held in the Lockney Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney. Mr. Henderson died Thursday, May 29, 2003 at Garrison Geriatric Care Center in Lubbock. He was born on March 2, 1922 in Haylake, Briscoe County to the late Bailey Henderson and Clara Vaughan Henderson. After graduating from Silverton High School, he married Marie Nance in 1942 in Plainview. She preceded him in death on February 2, 1989. He was also preceded in death by two grandsons. During WWII he was a Marine on the USS Intrepid in the Pacific Theater. He married Lee Ella McCasland in November of 1989 in Lubbock. He was a cowman, a lifelong Democrat and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lockney. Survivors include his wife, Lee Ella Henderson; two sons, Don Henderson of Lockney; Randy Henderson and wife, Nancy Jane of Lockney; one daughter, Nancy Henderson of Odessa; one brother, Deanie Henderson of Plainview; two sisters, Oneta Rodgers of Plainview and LaJuan McCormick of Paris; three grandchilren, Chanda Lea Riney, Randi Jo Henderson and Hank Henderson and 2 great-grandchildren. LEONA MAYO Graveside services for Leona Mayo, 90, of Floydada were held Tuesday, June 3, 2003 in Floyd County Memorial Park. Michael Holster officiated and Jack Boggs assisted. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada. Mrs. Mayo died June 1, 2003 at Autumn House in Idalou. She was born on July 11, 1912 in Oklahoma to the late Floyd and Matie Curtis. She married William Mayo on January 5, 1935. He preceded her in death on October 1, 1984. She was a homemaker, a longtime resident of Floyd County and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include one son,Darrell Mayo and wife Nancy of Floydada; three grandchildren, Terry Mayo of Granbury, Mark Mayo of Lockney and Lisa Gentry of Plains and four great-grandchildren. BOBBIE MINNITT Funeral services for Bobbie Minnitt, 60, of Arlington will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 6, 2003 at Baker's Funeral Chapel on Rosedale Street in Fort Worth. Mrs. Minnitt passed away Saturday, June 1, 2003 at Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. She was born and raised in Floyd County where she attended school, met and married Rufus Minnitt and moved to Abilene. After several years Mrs. Minnitt and her family returned to Floydada and later moving to Fort Worth. She was preceded in death by one brother. Survivors include her husband, Rufus; one son, Mickey; four daughters, Pamela, Janet and Rita, all of the Fort Worth area and Barbara of Dallas; three brothers, Raymond of Tyler, John of Floydada and James of Amarillo; six sisters, Velma of Houston, Juanita of Bakersfield, California, Mildred of Fort Worth, Carrie of Floydada and Stella and Clarissa of Denver, Colorado; ten grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. INEZ ROE Funeral services for Inez Roe of Floydada are pending with Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. She died June 2, 2003 at the Floydada Rehab and Care Center. HERBERT N. SMITH, JR Funeral services for Herbert N. Smith, Jr., 59, of Plainview, were held Thursday, May 22, 2003 at College Heights Baptist Church, Plainview. Rev. Don Robertson, Pastor officiated, and Rev. Dean McNamara and Rev. Barry Whedbee assisted. Burial was in Plainview Memorial Park under the direction of Lemons Funeral Home, Plainview. Mr. Smith died Tuesday, May 20, 2003. He was born May 20, 1944 in Plainview. He married Sharon Seal January 22, 1965, in Plainview. He grew up in the Providence Community, graduated from Lockney High School in 1962, and farmed awhile before being drafted into the United States Army. After his tour of duty, he returned and continued farming until his retirement in 1996. He was a member of College Heights Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Sharon Smith of the home; two daughters and son-in law, Lori and John Coyte of Wolfforth, and Lisa Dawn Smith of Plainview; two sisters, Joan Rogers of Minnesota, and Donna and Jerry Griffith of Lubbock; mother-in-law, Juanita Arney of Plainview; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Kimberly Smith and two grandchildren. The family suggest memorials to College Heights Baptist Church, 802 Quincy, Plainview, Texas, 79072, or VistaCare Family Hospice, 4418 Olton Road, Plainview, Texas 79072.
By The Way | by Alice Gilroy
A View From The Lamplighter | by Ken Towery The President is due, as we go to press, to arrive Wednesday in the Red Sea city of Aqaba, in Jordon, for a conference with Jews and Muslims concerning his now famous "road map to peace." If all goes well, or if all goes badly depending on one's viewpoint, some day we will end up with Jews and Palestinians living peacefully, side by side, in separate states in what used to be called "the Holy Land." Jerry Falwell probably won't like it, since he takes the view that "there is no Palestine." There is, according to Falwell, only Israel. The land there, according to the Jewish version of things, was given to the Jews sometime after Abraham got up, left Mesopotamia and went down to live among the Canaanites near what is now, as it was then, called Hebron. The possibility of peace in the region has been a long time coming. Successive U.S. Presidents have tried to get something started between Jews and Palestinians for many years, but only Eisenhower had the political courage to instruct the Israelis on when to back off. Both Carter and Clinton made attempts at peace, but for one reason or another, nothing happened. The elder Bush merely took his beating from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signed the checks, and waited for a day that never came. The Israelis had much more influence over events in the American Congress than did the American president. Now, following the Iraq war, the younger Bush has strength his father never had. Iraq, and its supposed weapons of mass destruction, has been turned, for the time being, into an occupied territory. Without the Iraq threat to Saudi Arabia (and to Israel), American forces can leave the land of Saud and take up residence in nearby Qatar. The Israelis, boasting some 200 atomic bombs, the region's best air force, its best tank force, and its best army, can no longer legitimately claim the need for American protection. Not a state in the region could stand against them. If ever there was a time when conditions were ripe for peace in the region, it is now. The American President has had a change of heart, thank goodness. In the beginning of his reign, he let it be known that he was not going to get involved in the argument between Palestine and Israel. He would, he said, let them tire themselves out in fighting, until they were both exhausted from war and ready for peace. Then he would become involved, perhaps. For whatever reason, he has decided that now is that time. We have our qualms about any eventual peace between the warring sides. The Israelis have already voiced their objections to many key elements of the plan. They don't like the idea of dismantling certain settlements, they don't like the idea of allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homeland. All in all, they have advanced some 15 objections to certain parts of the plan. In fact, there is little about the plan that is different from the plan advanced by Saudi Arabia years ago. The Saudis said then that Arabs would recognize Israel's right to existence, establish diplomatic relations, and live in peace with Israel in return for Israeli abandonment of occupied Palestine land. Then, Israel turned a cold shoulder, and Bush could only say it was "interesting." Now, following the Iraq war, things are different. The "road map" hasn't changed all that much. The antagonists haven't altered their views all that much. But the president of the United States has obviously changed his views, and, in this world, that makes all the difference.
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