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Documentary on Larry vs. Lockney to air nationwide on PBS Larry v. Lockney, a documentary about Larry Tannahill's lawsuit against Lockney ISD's drug testing policy, will make its broadcast premiere on Tuesday, July 1 at 10:00 p.m. on PBS (see local listings). In February 2000, LISD instituted a mandatory drug-testing policy for 6th through 12th grade students. Larry Tannahill refused to sign the policy for his son, Brady, to be tested, and in March 2000 he filed suit with the help of the ACLU. March 2001, U.S. District Judge Sam Cummings ruled school drug testing unconstitutional. Because their insurance company refused to continue to cover expenses, LISD was forced to make a decision not to appeal. A similar fight, by the Tecumseh school district in Oklahoma was, however, taken to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of drug testing by school districts in June 2002. With this favorable ruling, LISD again voted to implement drug testing on students involved in extra-curricular activities. In the middle of the battle over the drug testing, Mark Birnbaum, of Dallas, and his co-producer and co-director, Jim Schermbeck, of Slaton, arrived in Lockney to film a documentary about the battle. From August 2000 to May 2001, Schermbeck and Birnbaum traveled to Lockney frequently, attending almost all football and basketball games, homecoming events, and local festivals. "We became fixtures in the town," said Schermbeck. "Mark and I often say that the key to good documentary filmmaking is to keep showing up, and that is what we did." In all, the two amassed over 100 hours of tape. "We have a pretty good Lockney High School sports highlight reel in there somewhere," joked Schermbeck. When Schermbeck and Birnbaum first came to Lockney, the town had just been through it's first wave of national publicity over the testing controversy and residents were angry about the slants and mistakes the media was making. "We were about as welcome as boll weevils," said Birnbaum. "One of the things we're most proud of (about this film) is getting good reviews from both sides in town," said Schermbeck. "Lockney school board member John Quebe, who's featured in the film, was quoted as saying that he never asked us where we stood on the issue while we were interviewing him and after seeing the show, he still couldn't tell where we stood." Schermbeck says he wants to make more films about the area. "There's no shortage of good stories waiting to be told in this part of the country," said Schermbeck. "What there is a shortage of, is coordination of local resources from Texas Tech, private companies and individuals to facilitate the telling of these stories. "We have great equipment, great expertise, great historical collections and a PBS station that's a gateway to the network for content from West Texas, but no one person or university department or group that is charged with matching the filmmakers to the stories to the potential funders. All we lack is the right vehicle to put all the pieces together. "That's what I'm working on now." Birnbaum is currently working on two historical documentaries about Dallas County history. He also recently returned from Eastern Europe where he was shooting a holocaust project, about two brothers who have been on a quest to find the places where their grandparents lived as they moved through Nazi Europe, eventually to die at Auschwitz. Schermbeck says that he and Birnbaum miss their frequent trips to Lockney. "Our appreciation for the town grew as we visited it more," said Schermbeck. "I still have a Lockney cotton boll and 2000 Homecoming ribbon displayed on my desk. "While we understand that it might be unpleasant to revisit the story, at least this time the town has an opportunity to share all it went through with the rest of the country--not only with the airing of the film itself, but also through the professional web site and study guide put together to go with the show." The website (www.pbs.org/pov) also features thoughts from several people featured in the film.
Old Country Market in need of more craft vendors
Depending on the participation of craft booths, the Ol' Country Market, will be held in Floydada, July 12. "We need more craft booths to sign up before we will hold the Ol' Country Market," said organizer Julie Duke. "The deadline to sign up is June 30. Contact the Chamber of Commerce in Floydada if you want to participate." The Chamber has also planned the City Wide Garage Sale for July 12. "We will still have the City Wide Garage Sale even if the Ol' Country Market is not held," said Chamber Manager Irene Hernandez. Anyone wishing to have their garage sale address included on the garage sale map must contact the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is also currently conducting a fund raiser of selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts. "We will also hand out the doughnuts on the square, July 12, even if we don't have the Ol' Country Market," said Hernandez.
CLIF EADE OF THE SCIENCE SPECTRUM in Lubbock demonstrates the workings of a volcano on Tuesday to curious children at the Kids Korner Learning Center's Tremendous Tuesdays science program.
Study plots future of FISD By Darwin Robinson - The FISD Board met Tuesday, June 17, in Special Session to hear an analysis report from Paul Trautman of Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) concerning the conditions of all FISD facilities and campuses. Upon the recommendation of FISD Superintendent Jerry Vaughn, the school board had approved the $9,000 study in their February 6, 2003 meeting. Vaughn said, "This is only a preliminary report and is not the final report." According to Trautman, who has been doing these studies in Texas for the past ten years, said, "The study involves five tasks. They are the population forecast, the condition of each existing facility, the calculation of each campus' capacity, the long term and best use of each existing facility and the recommendations and conclusions to the district." "When I go into a community, it is evident they have existing buildings and they want to know how they can use them. Instead they should be asking, 'What works best for the education of our children and how will these existing buildings help us accomplish this?" Trautman added, "The baby boomers born in 1948 peaked in 1958 and hit the bottom of the charts in 1977. There was another peak of births from 1990 through 1992, but most of these kids have already graduated. From 1990 to 2000, class sizes fell during these years and it is forecast to continue to decline in the future. Part of this decline is due to relocation. "There has been a 1 1/2 percent decline in class enrollment over the last ten years. Floyd County's class enrollment has declined 8 1/2 percent from 1990 to 2000. Floydada ISD declined 5.6 percent during this time period. We forecast FISD will continue to decline about 1.2 percent each year and it will probably level out at the end of this ten year cycle. We predict you will lose about 120 students in enrollment over the next ten years." "In 1994, the state set specific requirements concerning the ratio between the number of students in classrooms and the size of the school campus. It has since been revised," said Trautman. "The state recommends, but does not require, one acre of land for every 100 students. This works well for larger schools, but not for smaller schools like yours." The scores for the FISD school campuses, that are from 37 to 80 years old, were explained by Trautman. A grade of 90 to 100 percent equals 'excellent quality'. 70 to 80 percent equals 'some minor improvements are needed'. 60 to 69 percent equals 'substandard and need rehab'. 46 to 59 percent equals 'major renovations needed' and 0-45 percent equals 'no hope'. It was noted that A.B. Duncan Elementary is 37 years old. Floydada High School is 46 years old. R.C. Andrews Elementary is 77 years old (built in 1926) and Floydada Junior High is 82 years old (built in 1921). The Della Plains school building's age was not available. Trautman said, "Only the Duncan Elementary building has a design that allows flexibility. Even the High School has shallow bay depth with little flexibility. The Andrews Elementary building could be used for other services. The Della Plains building needs to be taken out of service." The scores of the FISD buildings were: A.B. Duncan Elementary - 71.3 percent, Floydada High School - 67.8 percent, R. C. Andrews Elementary - 43 percent and Floydada Junior High School - 41.8 percent. The chart for Educational Adequacy of R.C. Andrews Elementary showed to be 38.8 percent, while A. B. Duncan Elementary showed 65.7 percent. The Floydada Junior High School showed an Educational Adequacy of 39.9 percent and Floydada High School showed 61.4 percent. Della Plains showed a 38.9 percent Educational Adequacy. According to Trautman, there might be several "surprises" when doing renovations on older school buildings. For example, "When $50,000 is spent for renovations, then the entire building must be made handicap accessible." Electrical wiring codes must be complied with, along with building codes. "With a 15 percent improvement, the entire building must have water sprinklers and fire doors," Trautman said. "Light fixtures have a 20 year life expectancy, while ceilings only have a 10 year life expectancy. I recommend you add 35 percent to your budget when you begin renovations." Trautman added, "I recommend 25 students per room in a departmental school and 12-14 students per room in smaller schools. "Duncan is your best long term facility with 400 to 500 student possibility. The High School facility is structurally inflexible to change any usage. It is too small as configured for reasonably expansion. Maybe it can serve as a middle school," said Trautman. "The Junior High building has very little long term use. It is a safety liability and has no value to spend money on. Its size is okay, but it is the least serviceable," "Andrews is two additions better than the Junior High building, but it does not have the potential for refurbishing. The facility is marginally too small for instructional use. It has some 'take out, low occupancy' use. It is in the same category as the Junior High." "Della Plains needs extensive refurbishing. It will take three to five years to get out of them," added Trautman. Trautman's final recommendation was "Establish a long range goal and a policy regarding using temporary buildings. Develop an educational program for each size of facility needed. Develop a Facilities Master Plan for 10 year and 20 year needs." Trautman recommended relocating Junior High (classes), plus add additions to Duncan. He recommended replacing Andrews and Junior High on long range plans. He said he would reevaluate Andrews for an alternative use with low occupancy. On the short range, Trautman recommended, "For the Junior High, maintenance only and remove the stadium for parking. Evaluate an alternate educational program for the future." "Evaluate the High School and Duncan for expansion and improve all sites for vehicles with accessibility and parking. Refurbishing Duncan and the Junior High should be done. I recommend all facilities, after 25 years, should be refurbished." "Provide adequate housing for all special needs programs and in a self-contained environment. Provide a phased plan for all schools to be handicap accessible. Make all buildings technologically ready with wireless computers and make classrooms smaller for smaller computer classes with maybe only five computers," said Trautman. Trautman concluded, "Be sensitive to an institutional program with 300 students as a minimum size for a school. Solve the site issue at the High School. Duncan can handle 300 to 500 students. A new site and a new facility is a major part of your solution. The High School facility has about 15 to 25 years left, if you add a new wing or additions. There is not much flexibility."
Obituaries N/A
Dear Mr. Towery, Only today did I discover the Hesperian-Beacon website and read some of your "Reflections" that have appeared in previous issues. I am a native of Lockney and a graduate of LHS in 1958 and Texas Tech in 1962. But, like many of my contemporaries and thousands of graduates since, I have not lived in Lockney since completing high school. But I return to my roots at least once a year, even though I have lived and worked in Washington and 5 "other" foreign countries most of my life. I can see why you are a Pulitzer Prize winner and I can see how amazingly lucky Floyd County is to have you as owner and Editor of the Hesperian-Beacon. So far I have read four of your essays: "The Diamond Ring, or Perception in Politics, is the Name of the Game", "Where are the Weapons of Mass Destruction", "Iraq, Syria, Iran and Whatever" and "Response to Letter From Mr. Johnny Warren". I am particularly impressed with the accuracy of your comments on the Middle East situation. And even more impressed with the cogency of your comments about Jewish and Israeli influence in America. I have spent most of the past 15 years living and working in the Middle East as a Development Economist, mostly under funding from the US Agency for International Development. I have come to understand the situation from both the American and Arab perspective. I couldn't agree with you more that Jewish and Israeli lobbyists, along with radicals like Jerry Falwell are the tail that wags American foreign policy, and under George Bush, virtually all policies. But, not only are Republicans dominated by such neo-conservatives, Democrats are in the same boat. I recently read a very well researched book by the much-maligned former Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, Jim Hightower, (If the gods had meant us to vote they would have given us candidates). He accurately points out that the professional politicians in both parties are funded by the same special interests, many of them dominated by Jews whose first allegiance is to Israel. I can also recommend another enlightening book, Jews in American Politics, an unabashed celebration of the Jews and Jewish organizations that have come to dominate the three branches of government as well as the mass media, in order to guarantee continued American support for the unjust, illegal and immoral Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and water. Kelly Harrison, Ph.D.
By The Way | by Alice Gilroy N/A
A View From The Lamplighter | by Ken Towery Evidently, we in the United States are not the only people who have occasional trouble with mail. Sometimes even the powerful U.S. Military establishment is afflicted, despite all the money it pours into the operation. We got word the other day that a grandson was back in this country, after a stint with the Marines in Iraq. The grandson is not a complete stranger to folks in Floyd County. Many years ago he (Roland 3) and Adam Gonzales, and Michael Brown, as teenagers, worked long and hard cleaning out accumulated junk here at the Hesperian. They uncovered stuff we didn't know we had, and threw away stuff we didn't need. The net winner was the landfill east of town. The word of his return from Iraq came via a telephone call from a Marine base in California, where he had returned before going on to his base in Georgia. Then, a few days later, we received a letter mailed in Kuwait on May 5, 2003, which, coincidentally, was exactly 61 years since we had gone into Japanese prison camp following the fall of Corregidor. In his letter, there was a lengthy complaint about mail service. Nobody's mail was getting through. Could grandpa do something about it? Well, not really. By the time anything was done, by the time Senators and/or Congressmen could be contacted, the war would be over and people who were complaining would be back in the U.S., going about their jobs. Screwed-up mail service would be remembered, along with the heat, the dust, and the bushwhackers, as just another unpleasant aspect of life in Iraq. And that's about the way it happened. The war may or may not be over. Military folks are still getting killed there, and will get killed as long as the country is occupied, or the Iraqis look upon themselves as being occupied. Many of those Reservists who were activated for this particular call to duty (or at least those who came through unscathed) are now back at their old jobs. Those "regulars" who were left on the scene are now transformed from warriors into policemen in a foreign country, a most difficult, unrewarding, unpleasant mission. And while they are doing their duty in Iraq, the political wheels are turning here in America…and in the Middle East. A sizeable segment of America's political leadership, both Republican and Democrat, continue its hot pursuit of support from various domestic lobbies of foreign support groups. The Republican leadership, led by George W. Bush and ably assisted by Karl Rove, and Mitch McConnell, is determined to take money and votes of the American Jewish community away from Democrats, and Democrats, led by Senators Tom Dashle and Ted Kennedy, and Rep. Frost, are determined that it won't happen. Meanwhile, Mr. Sharon sits in his catbird's seat in Tel Aviv, knowing that no matter which way the wind blows, it will be favorable. In the meantime a massive search continues for Saddam Hussein. Earlier bombs on his hideouts, or upon where he was supposed to be, evidently didn't do the trick. Now there's a question as to whether the latest salvo, against a small convoy near the Syrian border, might have done the trick. Personally, we hope he is still alive and issuing orders. If so, he will ultimately be caught, or killed. If not, if he is indeed dead, we can take no comfort in the fact that significant resistance to our forces still exists among his hard core followers. If the followers can hang together when their leader is long gone, we have problems. And still more in the meantime, our Supreme Court, on a 4-5 split decision, says this week it is fine and constitutional for the University of Michigan Law school to give special consideration to minority students in hopes that 25 years hence, other factors will negate the current need to "diversify" future American leaders. It is a sad day for those who think our fundamental law, the Constitution, is supposed to guide all our laws. But Jesse Jackson is most pleased, the American Left is most pleased, The American corporate structure is most pleased. The American media (we don't know whether to include them in the American Left, or the American corporate structure) is most pleased. And no doubt the New York Times, former home of Editor Howell Raines and his protégé reporter Jason Blair, is most pleased.
Classifieds
1996 FORD EXPLORER XLT--4 door, leather interior. Good condition. $4900.00. Call 983-2288 or 983-5704.
39.5 ACRES--Ideal location south of town. Call 903-334-9361.
Lockney FOR SALE OR RENT--1999 Patriot double-wide mobile home. 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2 living areas, fireplace. Located on 4.85 acres outside Lockney city limits. City water and sewer. Call 652-2263.
FOR RENT--Clean, furnished apartment. Water and trash collection included. Call Barker Realty - 652-2642.
Floydada 820 W. MISSISSIPPI--Garage sale Friday - 9:00 - 6:00 and Saturday - 8:00 - 1:00. Computer desk, clothes, toys, dishes, home decor and much, much more.
216 W. CROCKETT--Friday and Saturday. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Furniture and miscellaneous items.
GARAGE SALE--618 W. Jackson. Saturday 8:00 a.m. - ??.
GARAGE SALE--1234 S. Ralls Highway. 1/4 mile from city limits. Saturday - 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Glass front bookcase, 100 disc CD jukebox, CD's, 4 piece glasstop dinette, entertainment center, babybed, Christmas tree and miscellaneous.
GARAGE SALE--Lots of clothes, men's, women's and junior's plus accessories. Other items as well. 4 miles south of town on Ralls Highway. Saturday - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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.
BARGAIN HUNTERS SPECIAL 3 bedroom, 1 bath home. Also rental property for sale. 1993 Chevrolet Pickup. (OBO) Call Melvin, 983-3401.
FOR SALE BY OWNER--3-2-2, nice yard, corner lot, nice neighborhood in Floydada. Call 806-983-2064.
**3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH HOME on 9.2 acres for sale. 5 miles south of Silverton, at intersection of highways 207 and 145. Brick veneer, AC/H, fireplace, carpet, lots of cabinets, countertops, 2 separate ovens, double sink, 2,317 sq. ft. with 594 sq. ft attached garage. $85,000.00. **CLAYTON "2-BD SPIRIT" mobile home. 14'x46', 1 bath, central heat and air, all electric. 3 year old with deck. $8,000.00. **CALL BARKER REALTY - 806-652-2642 or John Simpson Real Estate 995-4873 or Warren Mitchell at 983-2151.
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--Queen hide-a-bed divan, 2 club chairs, hanging table lamp, coffee table and lamp table. All in very good condition. Call 983-3926.
KMP LAKE PUMP with 262 Chevy motor on propane. 4 inch intake - 6 inch discharge. Call 806-983-2922. Leave message if I'm not home.
FOR SALE-- Diamondback Venom Stunt Bike, chrome, 4 pegs - $30.00. Call 652-2552 after 6:00 p.m.
FREE TO GOOD HOME--2 kittens and momma cat. Call 983-2948.
FREE PUPPIES--Shepard/Lab mix. 3 females, 2 males. Call 652-2704. (350 CR 150)
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.
MATADOR, TEXAS - EXCELLENT HUNTING, 1700 acres, on pavement, deer, quail, turkey, wild hog, approximately 2 miles of river thru ranch. Please call us toll-free or check our website for details on this and other ranches from 558 to 118,000 acres in Texas and New Mexico with elk, deer, bear and lion, spinkler irr. farms in super water with complete cattle facilities, dairies and "State of the Art" horse facility in a large city. www.scottlandcompany.com. Ben G. Scott - Broker 800-933-9698 or Krystal M. Nelson 647-6063.
LARRY OGDEN AUCTIONEERING Estates, Farm, Ranch, Business, Liquidations, State Licensed and Bonded. (806) 983-5808. TX. #9240.
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