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By Alice Gilroy Constitutional Amendment elections are not known for high voter turnout in Floyd County or elsewhere in the State. However, the amendments included in the November 8 election may bring out more County voters to the polls. Floyd County residents will be voting on an amendment that applies only to this County and also on the much publicized "Traditional Marriage Amendment". At the bottom of the election ballot voters will either vote for, or against, "Keeping the office of the County Clerk of Floyd County, and the office of the District Clerk, of Floyd County, as two separate offices." The amendment had to be included in this election after the State Legislature mandated that all counties whose population falls below 10,000 must have an election to vote on whether or not they want to combine the offices of District Clerk and County Clerk or leave them as two separate offices. "I believe the offices should stay separate," said Judge Hardin. "Combining the offices will not save the County any money. We will still need the same amount of people to run the offices and it would also prove to be an inconvenience." County Clerk Marilyn Holcomb agreed. "I think it should definitely stay separated. It makes more sense. District Clerk Barbara Edwards also felt the offices should stay separated. "It might end up costing the county more in the beginning if they combined the offices." Also included on the ballot will be Amendment #2 which "provides that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibits this state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage." A vote "for" is in favor of the traditional view of marriage. A vote "against" would allow the state to recognize marriages other than marriages between one man and one woman. Voting Booths Polling places have been consolidated for the November 8 election. County Commissioner Pct. #1 will vote at the Massie Activity Center. County Commissioner Pct. #2 will vote at the Methodist Church in Lockney. County Commissioner Pct. #3 will vote at East Lockney, N.E. Floydada, and Fairmont. County Commissioner Pct. #4 will vote at the Floyd County Courthouse. FISD Superintendent Looks at Revising Building Master Plan By Darwin Robinson The Floydada ISD Board met Tuesday, October 11, and again discussed a bond election timeline, a facilities tour and a shuttle bus for out-of-town teachers. Superintendent Jerry Vaughn reminded the board, "February 13, 2006 is the first day to call for a May bond election and March 13, 2006 is the last day to call for the bond election, in order to beat the November General Election in 2006. These target dates will give us EDA funding in 2007, otherwise it would be 2011." "It has been 18 months since our first Master Plan (for the failed bond election to renovate major facilities and consolidate campuses). We are now going to Plan B. We need to revise our Master Plan, which Grimes and Associates will do for $7,500," said Vaughn. In a letter from Grimes & Associates handed out to the board, Joe B. Grimes stated, "There have been a number of new developments since we first released our Master Plan, almost a year ago. There have been significant increases in the cost of everything construction related. Rather than performing a comprehensive renovation of the high school, we discussed constructing just a science wing and leaving intact as much as possible of the existing facility. It would be best if we updated our Master Plan and set a max-cost of $7,500." Board President Bill Dean said, "We need further study. We first need to see what we want to do, what our options are and whether we want major renovations or just renovate one facility at a time. We need to do a facilities' tour, a work session and decide what our 20 year game plan is." The board agreed to participate in a facilities' tour on Monday, October 17, at 4 p.m., followed by a work session later. Concerning the need for a shuttle bus for several out-of-town teachers, Vaughn said, "I have talked with some of the teachers involved and I recommend we not do this right now." The proposal died for lack of a motion. In other matters, the board unanimously approved a $30,275 mandatory purchase of an electric handicap chair lift for the gym stairs at R.C. Andrews Elementary. According to Superintendent Vaughn, "This is an emergency purchase for three Special Ed students now enrolled at Andrews Elementary. It is mandatory by the state that we provide them access to the gym for Physical Education classes." The board also approved the purchase of a new $13,019 wireless score board for the football field at the Junior High School. Superintendent Vaughn recommended the purchase to the board because "the old score board is beyond repair and our loaner score board can only be used for one more week." In a related matter, the board approved the purchase of a used 1998 Ford F-800 automatic truck, from Tommy's Truck Sales, Inc. of Lubbock, for $13,500 with trade-in. This truck is to be used for transporting band equipment, according to Vaughn. "We have budgeted $25,000 for this purchase. Therefore we will change the designation of the remainder of this money to used to help pay for the new score board," said Vaughn. The board also ratified a Caprock Shared Co-op Arrangement with Petersburg, Lockney and Floydada involving the Special Ed Department. "There are no deeds exchanged and all the buildings belong to FISD, if the co-op disbands," said Vaughn. Floyd County Extension Agents J.D. Ragland and Melissa Long, along with Pam Foster, were approved by the board to be adjunct FISD faculty members during this school year. This will allow the students traveling to stock shows to be counted as "in class" during these trips, according to Vaughn. Eric Cornelius's bid of $500 for two City lots was approved by the board. The bid was for Lots 15 & 16, Block 13, Original Town, 515 E. Grover. FISD Business Manager Sharon Rainwater reported to the board a beginning new school year financial statement of $5,839,326.82 in the General Operating Fund as of September 30, 2005. No taxes have been collected for the new school year yet. Students, Educator and Support Staff of the Month were recognized by the board. They were: Students of the Month - Andrew Christian Chavarria, Grade 2, A.B. Duncan Elementary; Emily Hall, Grade 5, R.C. Andrews Elementary; Ruben DeLeon, Grade 6, FJHS; Sammy Ramirez, Grade 10. FHS; Educator of the Month - Glenn Thompson, Spanish, FHS; and Support Staff of the Month - Kelly Pachiano, Technology Immersion, FHS.
By Brannon Rodgers There were several speeches given to the Lockney players this week in order to prepare them for their annual battle with their Floyd County neighbors. One speech talked about memorable games, one was about the game that got away, one talked about this game as the greatest football experience you could have, and the last speaker talked about banding together to reach one common goal. Each speech shared one common theme: memories. Well, Dahlen McCarter and Blaine Hall will always remember the pass and catch on fourth and goal from the five yard line that won the game for their team. Here is how the story goes. After an epic defensive battle all night long, the Longhorns found themselves down 7 &endash; 3 in the fourth quarter with only 3:15 remaining and a fourth and goal from the five yard line. Blaine Hall rolls to the right. Dahlen McCarter slashes his way across the back of the endzone with a defender running stride for stride beside him. Hall zips the pass to McCarter. McCarter pulls the pass away from the defender at the back of the endzone. The referee raises his hands: touchdown Longhorns! This is not McCarter's first game winning catch of the year. He intercepted a last second pass against Slaton to ice that game for the Horns. Approximately 3,000 fans packed into Mitchell-Zimmerman Stadium Friday night to cheer on their teams. Both teams proved to be up to the task at hand. Floydada took their opening drive deep into Lockney territory before a penalty stalled the possession. Floydada ate up at least half of the first quarter with the 14 play drive. Lockney took possession at their 24 yard line and drove the ball down to Floydada's four yard line. The Horns converted three third downs and one fourth down along the way. The Floydada defense stiffened and caused a fumble ending Lockney's hope of scoring. Each team had one possession and the first quarter was history. After stopping Floydada's next three attempts for a first down, Lockney forced the Winds to punt. A deep punt set up a Lockney return to the eleven yard line. A monstrous hit by Taylor Brock sprung the return. Unfortunately, a penalty on Lockney's Jason Mondragon brought the return back to the Horn's 43 yard line. Lockney took ten plays to move into scoring position on their next drive. Key plays on the drive were a 19 yard completion to J.W. McPherson and a 16 yard completion to Brandon Hall. Lockney was held on third down and forced to try a field goal. The try by McCarter was good making the score 3 &endash; 0 Lockney as halftime approached. The third quarter started with Lockney moving the ball to midfield before being forced to punt. A deep punt by Tyler Kidd set Floydada up on their own 15 yard line to start their first drive of the second half. The next play flip-flopped the field position game as Floydada's Payte Beedy ran the ball to the fifty yard line. The Horns forced a punt after the next three plays, but the damage had been done. Lockney started on their own 15 yard line. Unlike Floydada, the Horns could not get themselves out of the hole. A two yard punt gave Floydada possession at the twenty yard line. Floydada quickly moved into scoring position, but Lockney's middle linebacker Jason Mondragon made three of his game high fifteen tackles inside the four yard line. Floydada turned the ball over on downs on the one yard line. Lockney attempted to move the ball away from the endzone to protect a 3 &endash; 0 lead. Another shaky punt gave the Whirlwinds the ball at the twenty one more time. The Horns put up a fight to keep Floydada out of the endzone and to keep the lead. But, on Fourth and five, Blake Greer came up big with a strong run taking the ball to the two yard line before being tackled. Floydada's Payte Beedy punched it in on the next play to give the Winds a 7 &endash; 3 lead with 9:31 to go in the game. The Longhorns put together a season defining drive on the next possession. The drive consisted of thirteen plays, three fourth down conversions, and took 6:20 off the clock. Adrian Luna and John Vasquez did all of the leg work on the drive behind the power of the Lockney offensive line. The drive was capped by "the catch" on fourth and goal from the five. Lockney led 10 &endash; 7 with 3:11 remaining in the game. Floydada's hope of a comeback faded quickly on the next possession as Beedy was sacked by Mondragon and intercepted by Wes Davis. Lockney's John Vasquez scored on the next play following the interception from thirty yards out to finalize all scoring at 17 &endash; 7 with 2:36 to go in the game. The
win improves the Longhorns to 3 &endash; 4 overall and more
importantly 1 &endash; 1 in district. The Whirlwinds are 2
&endash; 5 and 1 &endash; 1 in district as well. Tulia and
Olton are both 1 &endash; 1, while Dimmitt is 0 &endash; 2.
Friona is undefeated and all alone at 2 &endash; 0. Floydada
hosts Friona tomorrow night as Lockney travels to Olton.
 ROPE
TRICKS DEMONSTRATION AT OLD WEST DAYPhoto by Darla Chappell  CHUCK
WAGON AT OLD WEST DAYPhoto by Darla Chappell
 INDIAN
DEMONSTRATION AT R.C. ANDREWSPhoto
by Darla Chappell
By The Way | by Alice Gilroy
A View From The Lamplighter | by Ken Towery Sometimes, it seems like it just never ends. The word out of Lubbock now is that Jane Anne Stennett left us for a better place, although I will have to admit, Jane Anne would have a hard time finding any place better than West Texas to spend eternity. Jane Anne has been ill with a horrible cancer for months. Throughout the ordeal she kept her spirits high, even indicating a degree of optimism seldom found among humans. In passing, Jane Anne joined a host of friends who have called it quits, with a little help from visiting angels. Within the past few days we have lost Al Leary, who most of our readers did not know, but who was a good man and a good neighbor, nevertheless. And Hugo Sweers, also a good man and a good neighbor. He fell, injured himself internally, and gave up the ghost. Both Leary and Sweers were veterans of much warfare in the Pacific, and both were not ashamed to display the American flag when they felt like it. The fact that many others in this town of Austin did not feel that way was no barrier to their own actions. Our own association with Jane goes back many years. When it came to helping Lubbock and the South Plains, she was always up front. The same could be said of her politics. In fact, our first association with her came about because of politics. Raymond Tapp, a cotton merchant for whom Jane worked for many years, was a strong supporter of Senator John Tower, for whom I worked at the time. It was natural, I suppose, that we should become acquainted. She, for many years, was Raymond's girl Friday. Then, when he went to the Great Beyond, she took over the shop, and for many years thereafter was the person to see for cotton farmers throughout the South Plains. I'm not saying she paid the highest prices, I don't know. But I do know she did the best she could, considering whatever government policies were in place at the time, and wherever she had markets in the world in which to sell. She, like Raymond, was a Republican, as was Joe Boerner of recent wonderful memory, although she and Joe sometimes differed on who would make the best candidate. Between the two of them, they helped change the politics of the South Plains. Now it is time for someone else to take over and make their own mark in terms of leadership on the South Plains. Jane left some awfully big shoes for someone to fill. It is not impossible that someone will step forward and fill those shoes, but they will have to do more than yak, yak, yak. At the moment, we don't see that replacement. We are told that the eulogy was delivered by Congressman Mac Thornberry, of Cleburne, a good friend of both of us for many years. Mac was always regarded by Jane Anne as one of the prizes among those she had helped over the years. (Anybody who has ever dabbled in politics knows that once in a while some guy gets elected who is an embarrassment to his supporters, and sometimes the opposite happens…a man, or woman, is elected who makes supporters exceedingly proud. Mac Thornberry is that kind of man, and a better man could not be picked to deliver the eulogy.) Too, down in South Texas, Tobin Armstrong was memorialized at the Armstrong Ranch south of Kingsville. Tobin was also a friend of Jane Anne's, and the husband of Anne Armstrong, our former Ambassador to Great Britain. Tobin ran the vast Armstrong Ranch, some 25,000 acres that was somehow connected to the still larger King Ranch. Tobin, for a while, was on the staff of former Governor Bill Clements as a dollar-a-year man. He finally gave it up, I was told, because Clements would not follow his own protocol. Anyhow, it's been a hurtful week. Many good people have left us. About all the rest of us can do is carry on the fight.
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OLD
WEST DAY--R.C. Andrews Elementary hosted an Old West Day on
Friday, October 14. Kids were treated to demonstrations of
Folklorica singers, horse shoeing, trick roping, a chuch
wagon, Indian Dancing, Buffalo Calves mascot from West Texas
A&M, and demonstrations from Quitaque Park of buffalo
usage by the Indians. The students went from one station to
the next and at the end were treated to Country Western
dancing in the gymnasium. Youngsters dressed in beautiful
bright colors (above) demonstrated native dancing on the
R.C. Andrews stage to kick off Old West Day. Staff
Photo