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HAZMAT team called to clear titanium spill Faulty barrels blamed for leak south of Lockney HARADOUS MATERIAL EXPERTS from Eco-Logical Envirounmental Services, a private contractor from Amarillo, inspect a load of leaking barrels containing titanium shavings packed in water. The chemical spill, which was determined to be stable, was reported to the Lockney Volunteer Fire Department Monday morning, and the spill was cleaned and contained by the end of the day. The titanium shavings were en-route to Washington, Missouri, where they were to by recycled. (Staff Photo) Floyd County firefighters managed a potentially dangerous situation on Monday after a chemical spill was reported south of Lockney. The chemicals-granulated titanium packed in water-leaked from barrels as they sat on the back of a tractor-trailer rig parked at the home of Danny Thomas. The Lockney Volunteer Fire Department was notified at 8:30 am, and firefighters were standing by until a hazardous material containment contractor arrived. Ecological Environmental Services of Amarillo arrived at 2:30 p.m. and declared the chemicals stable and blamed the leak on faulty remanufactured barrels. "They were confident that it was stable," Lockney Fire Chief Preston Belt said. "They determined that the barrels can be unloaded safely without harm to person or property." Eighty-eight barrels of industrial titanium shavings were being shipped by Thomas Trucking of Lockney. The driver of the truck parked at Thomas' house overnight. The shipment originated in Santa Fe Springs, California, and the chemicals were en route to Washington, Missouri where they were to be recycled. "Basically what we had were barrels of titanium shavings packed in water," Belt said. "It is eating through the bottom of the barrels and corroding the trailer." The hazardous material team repacked the leaking barrels into large plastic chemical containers for the rest of their journey. "Everything that came off was neutral to basic," Belt said. "There wasn't anything acidic out there." Schaffer Grinding Company of Montebello, California owned the shipment. According to an industrial directory, the company specializes in precision rotary and surface abrasive belt grinding and milling. Firemen and equipment from the Floydada Volunteer Fire Department were also called in, and a Floydada EMS crew was standing by. A Hale County Emergency Management representative was also called. The crews were dismissed after initial tests by the hazardous material team determined that the chemicals were stable. The truck had been stopped the previous day at the Arizona, New Mexico state line because of leaking barrels. Two barrels were repacked then. Schaffer Grinding is responsible for the costs associated with the containment and clean-up.
Towery finally views records related to '50's land scandal
By Rachel Stone Reprinted with Permission from the San Antonio Express-News Austin--Almost 50 years after his reporting rocked the state and won a Pulitzer Prize, a retired South Texas journalist Thursday gained access to documents no one wanted him to have. Kenneth Towery, a World War II veteran and former prisoner of war in Japan, was a relatively new managing editor of the Cuero Record in 1954. He got curious when he heard that two Anglo businessmen were socializing with black men at the local country club after hours. The two, he found, were paying the club's black caretaker $10 for every veteran he could talk into applying to buy land under a state program run by the governor, attorney general and Texas land commissioner--the Veterans Land Board. The scandal eventually sent Land Commissioner Bascom Giles to prison. It involved elected officials and businessmen who preyed on black, Hispanic and illiterate veterans -- especially in Bexar, DeWitt, Lavaca, Victoria, Dimmitt, Uvalde and Zavala counties -- and it left a scar on the agency. Jerry Patterson, the current Texas land commissioner, was researching the agency's oft-tarnished history, and invited Towery, 80, to view the agency's records. Historians presented Towery with legal-sized folders, a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, and a stack of plastic-sheathed papers. Then they listened to his stories. A cataract in his right eye prevents Towery from reading quickly, but Patterson gave him an open invitation to return, encouraging him to snoop around for new aspects of the much-publicized scandal. "I'm sure there's something here that I didn't know about," Towery said. A stipulation allowing "block sales" to two or more veterans enabled promoters to get around limits placed on the size of the loans, and they used cash, gifts or outright fraud to get veterans to sign up, according to the Handbook of Texas. The scandal ran deep, and speculation abounded that Attorney General John Ben Shepperd and Gov. Allan Shivers were involved. Both helped investigate it and neither was indicted, but 20 others were charged and three were convicted of conspiracy to commit theft, including Giles. Giles became the first Texas elected official to serve time for a crime committed in office. He served less than two years. Health problems prevented Towery from going to New York to accept his Pulitzer in person, but he got a check for $1,000 - more than three times his monthly salary. It lofted him into a big-time career, including a stint at the American Statesman and 14 years as press secretary to U.S. Sen. John Tower. Towery said his work still resonates. "It caused a lot of laws to be changed for the better," he said. (Ken Towery is the owner of The Floyd County Hesperian-Beacon and author of the column, "The Lamplighter").
SNAKE GOT YOUR TONGUE? -- A
young boy is speechless at the sight of a ball
python held by Clif Eade of the Science Spectrum in
Lubbock. Eade spoke to 126 children about the
rainforest as part of Kids Korner Learning Center's
"Tremendous Tuesdays." The program, which was
sponsored by American State Bank, included facts
about the rainforest and a display of live
rainforest animals including a glowing scorpion,
lizards, and a 7-foot Colombian red-tail boa
constrictor. The fun will continue next week with a
program on volcanoes at 1 pm on Tuesday. All
children are invited. (Staff Photo)_
FISD to join reading co-op By Darwin Robinson -- FISD Board voted unanimously, June 10, to join the Plains Reading Consortium--an association of the Texas First Reading Initiative Co-op consisting of Lorenzo, Motley County, Valley, Crosbyton and Ralls school districts. According to FISD Superintendent Jerry Vaughn, $64 million dollars of federal money is coming to the states as grant money to be used by those school districts that are eligible for Reading help in Kindergarten through Third Grades. School districts become eligible for the grant money because of low reading scores on TAAS and TAKS tests. "These grants will be competitive," Vaughn said, "and our first step is giving them notice that we intend to apply for this grant. "We (these six school superintendents met this week) and Crosbyton ISD will be the central agent for this consortium. We will hire a Program Director, an Outside Evaluator, a required Reading Coach for each of the six school districts, and the six superintendents will make up the board," added Vaughn. The Reading Coaches will work with the teachers, coordinate with the Program Director and make sure some of the reading techniques and strategies will be implemented in the classrooms. There will be administrative costs and the Outside Evaluator will audit according to Vaughn. "The minimum grant dollar amount for FISD for this project will be $170,000. If certain schools do not apply, and we already know some who are not going to apply, then that extra money will be divided between those schools who do apply." "This will be a six year program only and I recommend we apply for this cooperative program," Vaughn concluded.
Obituaries MILDRED FUQUA Funeral services for Mildred Fuqua, 97, of Abilene, (formerly of Floydada) will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 19, 2003 at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Reverend Anthony Sisemore will be officiating. Burial will follow in the Floydada Cemetery, directed by Abilene Funeral Home/Fuqua-Cisneros Funeral Directors, Abilene. She passed away June 15, 2003. Mrs. Fuqua was born July 25, 1905 in Erath County to Ambrose and Nora Lusby Dunn. She moved to Floydada with her family in 1918, and graduated from Floydada High School in 1927; where she met and married Floyd F. Fuqua on February 29, 1928. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Floydada, serving as nursery coordinator for a number of years. She was a charter member of the Bluebonnet Needle Club, member of the Floyd County Home Demonstration Club, and Floydada Senior Citizens. While living in Abilene, she was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church and Rose Park Senior Citizens Quilt Club. Survivors include a son, Jack Fuqua of Abilene; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, a son, Floyd Elwin Fuqua and a daughter, Bonnie Phillips. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, Exodus Project, Box 610, Floydada, Texas 79235. BARRY R. THOMPSON Funeral services for Barry R. Thompson, 70, of Arnaudville, LA were held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 14, 2003. The service was held in the Martin and Castille Funeral Home in Scott, LA, and Rev. Perry R. Sanders officiated. Mr. Thompson died Wednesday June 11, 2003, at his residence in Arnaudville. Survivors include his wife Evelyn O. Thompson, of Arnaudville; one daughter, Charlotte S. Martin and her husband Thomas H. of New Orleans; two sons, Jules "Bill" V. Shell and his wife Patricia of Arnaudville, and Ronald "Pete" Shell and his wife Betty B. of Maurice; six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; one sister, Janice Lloyd and her husband Louis of Floydada; and one brother, Bill Thompson and wife Sandra of Plainview; several nieces and nephews. A resident of the Layette area for 20 years, Mr. Thompson was a veteran of military service, having served in the U.S. Army.
Dear Editor, I just want to thank our mayor Roger Stapp and the City of Lockney for getting together crews to come through the neighborhoods last Thursday and Friday, after the storm blew through Wednesday night. They were a big help especially for my in-laws, Jimmy and Theresa. We live in a great town. Michealle Stennett
By The Way | by Alice Gilroy N/A
A View From The Lamplighter | by Ken Towery Another effort, we are told, will be made to jump-start the tattered "road map to peace" put forth recently by President George W. Bush, et. al., and suddenly placed in jeopardy by renewed fighting between Jews and Arabs. (Bush was only one of four entities that came up with the plan, but it bears his name.) In the meantime, our President has suggested, somewhat rhetorically, that outside money stop flowing into the region for the purpose of underwriting the warring sides. That is good advice, extremely good advice. In fact, it is so good, we suggest even the President himself take it to heart. We have poured billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars into one side in that struggle, for the sole purpose of assuring a favorable opinion of our side by Israel's friends and allies in this country when election time rolls around. We suggested years ago that if we truly wanted peace in the region, all we had to do was cut off the funding. It was good advice then and it is good advice now. But it is advice that will not be taken. When Bush and the leaders of Israel, Jordan and Palestine were meeting in Aqaba, all making the right noise, a huge rally was taking place in Israel by people opposed to any peace between Israel and its neighbors. Perhaps one reason no mention was made of the rally in the American press was that, according to the Israeli press, "a number of United States senators and Congressmen" were in attendance. Now the chickens are coming home to roost. Political issues have a tendency to do that too, just like chickens. There was the President, belatedly trying to get the two sides to start working together, and members of the Congress urging just the opposite. (The Israeli newspaper we read (Ha'aretz) did not name the Congressmen or the Senators, nor did it mention which political party they were in, but it did much better than the American press, which didn't even mention the fact that the rally occurred.) Quite frankly, we didn't have much faith that the road map would lead to any real peace. Too many people on both sides of the equation have too much at stake in continued warfare. The real zealots among the Palestinians would be lost if they did not have the state of Israel in their midst, and the state of Israel would be about $130 billion poorer if it did not have the American Congress worrying about its future. And who knows how much money has been dumped into American political campaigns because of the Middle East squabbling. When the Palestinians surprised everyone by accepting the idea that they needed some one other than Arafat to interface with Sharon, and when Sharon said he would accept the "road map" providing it was shaped to Israel's pleasure, we figured problems were ahead. George the Younger has shown a great deal of intestinal fortitude in practically every occasion where he feels the interests of the United States and the interests of Israel are identical, but he has shown no interest in standing up to Sharon in those cases where Sharon might take offense. In that respect, young George is much smarter than the elder George. The elder George seemed to think he was President of the United States, and that Israel ought to realize that fact. Young George takes a much more political view of the Middle East. Many of us don't like it, but his view may end up being the right one.
Classifieds
NEED A BABYSITTER? Will do babysitting in your home or mine. Call Edrie 983-5569.
39.5 ACRES--Ideal location south of town. Call 903-334-9361.
Lockney FOR RENT--Clean, furnished apartment. Water and trash collection included. Call Barker Realty - 652-2642.
Floydada GARAGE SALE--124 W. Jeffie - Saturday - 8:00 - ??. Lots of miscellaneous.
603 W. MISSISSIPPI--Garage sale Saturday - 8:00 a.m. - ??. Lots of items.
830 WEST TENNESSEE--Friday - 8:00 - 5:00 and Saturday - 8:00 - 1:00. Household items, clothes, miscelleneous.
GARAGE SALE-- 211 E. Jeffie. Saturday Only. 8:00 - 2:00. Clothes, nicknacks, furniture, you name it.
GARAGE SALE--1102 S. 4th - Saturday Only. 8:00 - 12:00.
GARAGE SALE--Saturday - 9:00 - ??. (Reid's) - Highway 3111 - (8 miles southwest of Floydada ).
428 W. TENNESSEE--Garage sale Saturday, June 21st. 8:00 a.m. til ??. Clothes, toys, flower arrangements, etc.
THREE FAMILY GARAGE SALE--Friday 20th and Saturday 21st - 8:00 to 4:00. 327 W. Kentucky. Adult and kids clothing, stove and lots of miscellaneous.
Lockney GARAGE SALE--302 S.W. 2nd, Lockney. 8:00 - 5:00 Saturday, June 21st. 2 Rabbits with cages, cook stove, stew pot, camping gear, etc.
BARN SALE--115 S.E. 6th Street, Lockney. 1993 Grand Am, tools, antiques, collectibles, tarps, decorations, jars, antique radio/turntable, lots of miscellaneous. Saturday 8:00 a.m. - ?? and Sunday 10:00 a.m. - ??. NO EARLY BIRDS!
FOR SALE BY OWNER--Completely remodeled. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2300 sq. ft. home on 6 acres. 1/4 mile south of Floydada on FM 1958. Call 983-5908. Shown by appointment only.
FOR SALE--Brick 3-2-2, fireplace, sprinkler. Nice neighborhood. 804 Cedar. Call 983-3360 (day) or 983-3390 or 983-5555 (nights).
TWO HOUSES FOR RENT IN COUNTRY--$300 per month with $150 deposit and $400 per month with $200 deposit. Call 983-5974.
COUNTRY HOME ON 2 ACRES, 3 miles east Highway 70. Three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, fireplace, living, dining, den, office, utility, basement, 2 patios and shop. Call 983-2938 or 983-3786. PRICED REDUCED!!!
FOR SALE-- Diamondback Venom Stunt Bike, chrome, 4 pegs - $50.00. Call 652-2552 after 6:00 p.m.
SWEET KITTENS to give away to a good home. Call 983-5667.
ALPHATEX KENNEL, AIKEN, TEXAS offers superior quality AKC Registered, DNA Certified Collies, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds. Puppies and stud service available. 806-652-3458 or 806-292-5348.
Floyd County, pursuant to a tax foreclosure sale, is offering for sale the following property in the City of Lockney: All of Lots No. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in Block 35 and Lots 1 and 2 in Block G of the N.B. Davis Survey located in the City of Lockney, Floyd County, Texas also known as the Webster Service and Supply, Inc. property. Any offers should be submitted to: William D. Hardin, County Judge, Courthouse Room 105, Floydada, Texas 79235.
LARRY OGDEN AUCTIONEERING Estates, Farm, Ranch, Business, Liquidations, State Licensed and Bonded. (806) 983-5808. TX. #9240.
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