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Delores Pigg Opens Ranch to RV's and Horse Lovers
DELORES PIGG AND MISSY stand on porch of cabin housing the shower and bathroom for guests to Ranch Country. By Alice Gilroy Seventy-five year old Delores Pigg is not used to not having something to do, and her age has not stopped her from starting a brand new business that will benefit tourism in the Caprock area. The death of her husband, John, a year ago, left Delores alone on a remote section of land in the far northeast corner of Floyd County, 1/2 mile east of the historical Gray Mule Cemetery. Nestled in the scenic hills of the Caprock, Delores made the decision to stay in the home she had lived in with her husband for 30 years. "I feel comfortable and safe here, but it was depressing waking up and not knowing what I was going to do with the day." Now Delores has a long range goal in mind and friends and family have decided she just may have come upon a great way to stay occupied and make some money at the same time. Delores has cleared land close to her home and installed 8 double sided RV hook-ups with electricity and water. Now the scenery can be enjoyed by RV travelers coming to visit Quitaque, Caprock Canyon State Park, or the nearby "Rails to Trails". Her RV park has been named, "Ranch Country". Because of her love for horses, "Ranch Country" has the extra bonus of pens to board your horses during your visit. "The country is beautiful to ride in," said Delores. "Anyone bringing their horse can ride on my land, or they can cut across and ride the 'Rails to Trails'. "I know strange horses can fight with each other, so I've got 4 individual pens that will keep one horse, and 3 double pens. "Monk's Crossing (one of the starting points on the Rails to Trails), is only 1 1/2 miles from my house, and easy to get to." The hook-ups at Ranch Country are spread out enough to allow large RV's the luxury of pulling through. There is a shower and bathroom facility nearby and a large covered picnic and meeting area. "Very soon I will have a dump station installed," said Delores. Although the park has only been finished for 6 weeks-and not well-known in the area, Delores has already had her first customer and has reservations for Thanksgiving. Delores and John spent a lifetime together in hard work. John was a rancher and for 20 years Delores had her own drapery business. "We moved this house here in 1971," said Delores. "After John passed away I didn't want to leave my home. I prayed about this venture and it just felt right to me. My family thought I was crazy at first, but now they are getting excited too." Delores knows this is business is good for her. "I have to have a cause. I'm always trying to figure out how to make something prettier or better." Delores feels that "Ranch Country" will be very handy to help with the overflow during peak periods at nearby Caprock Canyon State Park. "It will also be wonderful for trail riding clubs and hunting groups." The remote location and unspoiled scenery will also be a big draw for those wishing to escape crowds. "An overnight stay here is more expensive than the park," said Delores, "because the State of Texas did not help me build this." The cost of one night lodging for up to 2 people is $25.00. Each additional person is $5.00. One horse is boarded for $5.00. To make reservations call: 806-469-5317.
PENS AND BARN TO BOARD HORSES
FISD Updates Computers By Darwin Robinson The FISD Board met Thursday, November 13, and unanimously voted to purchase new computers for the district, new stage curtains for the high school auditorium and a new school bus for the CSSA Special Education Co-op. Concerning the new computers, Superintendent Jerry Vaughn told the board, "It is time for us to upgrade our (computer) labs and it will be the first time we will have to do this without a TIF grant. All TIF money has gone away." "We are looking at doing the teaching lab at the high school, increasing the lab at the technology building by two stations, and replacing some teacher computers at the junior high and elementary schools. We will be replacing a total of 41 work stations and buying 7 lap top computers for our teachers all for a total cost of $40,073," said Vaughn. Another 24 lap top computers were approved to be bought for the 54 FISD migrant students. "This money will be coming out of the designated $240,000 in federal funds received for migrant students," Vaughn told the board. The old high school computers will be handed down to the junior high and elementary schools, thus upgrading their computers, according to Vaughn. The new multiple layers of stage curtains with new drawing tracks will have a total cost of $14,404. "The high school auditorium is very usable, if we can update the air-conditioning," Vaughn said. The new 2003 Ford 20 passenger school bus for the Special Education Co-op, with a handicap chair lift, will cost $44,014. "There will be a 60 to 90 day delivery date," said Vaughn. In other matters, the board heard reports from all the campus principals concerning the 2002-2003 Academic Excellence Indicator System. Both A.B. Duncan Elementary Interim Principal Charles Tyer and R.C. Andrews Elementary Principal Scott Allen gave their reports and plans from the elementary levels of teaching. Principal Jim Bob Hobbs of FJHS gave several steps that his teachers are using to better prepare their students for the TAKS test and for the A and A/B Honor Rolls. FHS Principal Wayne Morren told the board, "Over all our TAKS scores are low. We have sent many of our teachers off for training and I expect our scores to improve. We have new classes to improve our scores and we are making sure our students are working hard and turning in their homework." "We are aligning our FJHS curriculum with our FHS classes. We must be better this year than last year, because the number of answers have changed on TAKS test this year," said Morren. CCLC Principal Brenda Parker reported to the board, "We have three mains issues, (1) attendance, (2) TAKS, and (3) college preparation. We have begun our own school newspaper and we are preparing our students for the TAKS test to improve our scores. We counsel ahead of time for financial aid to those students who want to go on to college." Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Vaughn, the board unanimously approved a $26,000 salary amendment to the 2003-2004 budget in order to hire an assistant for FISD Technology Director Rex Holcombe. A motion was made to hire Dee Leatherman in this position. It was approved by the board. Vaughn introduced to the board the Facility Input Committees to be developed for the purpose of receiving community feed back to the FISD board about the rebuilding and/or the renovations planned in the future for the FISD campuses. "We have met a couple of times with Grimes and Associates. The Administrative staff and I have been working several hours coming up with the Input Committees to gather input to move from the Development Study to the Master Plan," said Vaughn. Three Input Committees were suggested by Vaughn. They are the Faculty Committee, the Community Committee and the Parent and Future Parent Committee to be in place by the November 13th board meeting. "I would like two board members to serve on each committee in order to accomplish this and to represent the FISD Board at each committee meeting," Vaughn suggested. Board Members Amado Morales and Kerry Pratt volunteered to serve on the Community Committee. Board Members Mark McCormick and Rachael Castillo volunteered to serve on the Parent and Future Parent Committee. Board Members Bill Dean and Jill Warren volunteered to serve on the Faculty Committee, while Board President Mitch Probasco and Superintendent Vaughn said they would serve on the Administrative Committee. Recommendations by the 2003-2004 Textbook Committee were approved by the board for this year's FISD proposed textbook adoption. "I can't promise you when these books will be ordered or when they will be coming in. As I understand it, the 2001 orders will not be shipped until 2005," said Vaughn. The board approved the Texas FIRST Report and the Update 71 from TASB. Concerning the Update 71 Vaughn told the board, "Most of these changes have to do with the 'No Child Left Behind'." Some of the changes were: reimbursement at the State rates by board members or employees; efforts on how to reduce paper work; homeless students must be transported back to their school of origin; teachers cannot hand out dietary supplements to students; teachers cannot recommend, nor imply, drugs for students; and teachers cannot exclude a student from a field trip because the parent, or parents, will not administer a drug to the student. The board approved the Administration to spend $17,712 of State Title Funds for the purpose of (1) highly qualifying teachers in order to keep their certification, (2) recruitment of teachers, and (3) retaining teachers. "These funds are needed due to the changing of federal and state guidelines," Vaughn said. FISD Business Manager Sharon Rainwater gave the Tax Collection Report to the board. "$914,268.11 has been collected as of October 30th, which is 43.48 per cent of the $2,934,035.17 on the tax rolls. However, $127,000 was collected on October 31st," Rainwater said. The
board recognized the Students of the Month, Support Staff of
the Month, and Teacher of the Month. They were: Students of
the Month: Elizabeth Morales, A.B. Duncan Elementary, Grade
1; Francisco Rosa, R.C. Andrews Elementary, Grade 4; Blake
Greer, FJHS, Grade 8; Valerie Riojas, FHS, Grade 11; Teacher
of the Month, Sammy Bradley, A.B. Duncan Elementary, Grade
1; and Central Office Secretary/Support Staff of the Month,
Laveta Morren.
LISD Faculty Addresses Student Apathy With LISD Trustees By Alice Gilroy Lockney ISD Trustees accepted the resignation of High School Principal James Poole which will be effective May 28, 2004. In the resignation letter, Poole said, "I have enjoyed my times in Lockney for the past 32 years. I truly appreciate the opportunity I have been given to coach, teach, and spend 26 years as principal of Lockney High School. Thank-you for your cooperation and support through the years... "I plan to fish, golf, and play with my grandsons." The trustees then heard a presentation from English teacher Mrs. Neff on the teacher's role in the principal's search committee. As head of the committee, Neff told the trustees that the search committee had developed several areas in which they will formulate questions. Each member of the committee had been given an area of concentration. The areas which will be addressed by the committee to the applicants will cover: curriculum, work history, community involvement, conflict management, office management, experience, moral character, and philosophy of education. Superintendent Raymond Lusk reminded Neff that a viable candidate will be interviewing them as well as the committee interviewing the candidate. Neff agreed and said, "The committee is very diligent and is taking this very seriously. They also want to make sure everyone understands that they have been very happy with the current leadership." Neff was also part of a presentation by the all the High School English teachers to the trustees. Mrs. Neff, Ms. Miller and Mrs. Walker each presented their curriculum to the trustees and told the board a little about themselves personally. The teachers were then asked by the board what they saw as their biggest problems in teaching and what could the board do to help. Mrs. Neff said apathy was the biggest problems the teachers faced. Miller and Walker agreed. "There are kids who are not willing to make up grades," said Neff. "There is a decline in the students 'want-to'. We are always willing to help but the students aren't trying. They have no desire to want to learn." Neff believed the best way the school board could help would be to try and find a way to get the parents involved, but admitted that would also be the hardest thing to do. "There are programs you have already implemented that are excellent," said Neff. "Such as, the tutorial program on Fridays and sending grades home every 3 weeks." Neff also told the board, and Miller and Walker agreed, that the students were coming into high school lacking writing skills. Along the same lines, during administrative reports Principal Poole told the trustees there had been 53 students fail in this 6 week grade period. "One-hundred subjects were failed by those 53. We are looking at ways to change this. Motivation is the problem. They aren't dumb." Poole also said 14 students had been taken to the Justice of the Peace on truancy charges. "We appreciate the way the J.P. is handling these cases," said Poole. "She is really working with us and is making a difference in these students lives. She is a good motivator for kids. "We will always deal with the age old problem of getting parents involved. We have kids coming to school who aren't dealing with drug problems but who are dealing with sleep problems. They stay out all night and their parents won't even tell them they have to come home." The trustees heard the annual audit report from auditor Greg Gilbert. Gilbert told the trustees it was a clean audit. "Your accounting staff is doing a good job. You can rely on their monthly statements. The district is in good financial condition." The November financial showed a balance of $3,638,062.41 in the bank.
Obituaries CHARLES B. HARTSELL Funeral services for Charles Blanton Hartsell, 89, of Floydada were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 20, 2003 at the First Baptist Church. Burial was held in the Lakeview Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada. Mr. Hartsell passed away Monday, November 17, 2003 at Crosbyton Hospital. He was born on March 24, 1914 in Wise County to James Arthur Hartsell and Edna Caroline Giles Hartsell. He married Ruby Harrison on November 10, 1939 at the Mount Blanco Parsonage. He enjoyed farming and was a lifelong resident of Floyd County and was a Baptist. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Glen Hartsell and Roger Hartsell and three sisters, Lotella Burrows, Estelene Holmes and Ervalea Colville. Survivors include his wife, Ruby Hartsell, of Floydada; one son, Larry Hartsell and wife, Sharon of Crosbyton; one daughter, Carolyn Lamberth and husband, H.D. of Carlsbad, New Mexico; one brother, Truitt James Hartsell of Plainview; one sister, Modena Phillips, of Mesa, Arizona; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials to a favorite charity.
Dear Editor, To the Floydada Whirlwind Band, friends and family: I would like to send a huge THANK YOU and JOB WELL DONE on your performance at the Lubbock Cotton Kings game Saturday, November 8, 2003. A large number of fans, including myself, tend to cringe at the games when attendance of a high school band is announced. The fans are greatly irritated when the National Anthem is mutilated to start, then the game's continuity is hindered by bands playing while the puck is in play. In contrast, the National Anthem was very nice. It was played not only on key (a rarity at times here), but at a volume level of respect that did not include trying to blast the roof off of the Coliseum. You also did not feel the need to perform while the puck was in play. The only times that we were truly reminded there was a band in our presence were when we were watching your section participate in contests, dances and our times of "hockey recess." It was fun watching you all have fun. It seemed as if the entire Floydada section had a great tiem. I certainly hope this was the case. Speaking for our section of fans who sat right below you, we will gladly welcome you back into the Coliseum any time. We thank you for not distracting us or the players from the game, and we thank you for enjoying yourselves. You will be the role model for all visiting bands to the Kingdom in the future. I was very proud to tell everyone, "They are from my hometown!" We hope you had a great time and hope to see you back in the Kingdom in the future! Floydada should be incredibly proud of their students and staff. Sincerely, De Lyn Wolcott
By The Way | by Alice Gilroy
A View From The Lamplighter | by Ken Towery
The Hesperian-Beacon invites you to read a collection of thoughts and memories by Ken Towery. The "Reflections of Ken Towery" can be found on this website by clicking here.
Classifieds
STEEL BUILDINGS--Summer Clearance. Must sell buildings from cancellation, brand new, never erected. One is 30x42. Will sell for unpaid balance. Call Bob 1-800-552-8504.
FOR RENT--1 bedroom trailer house. Single person or couple only. Available at end of month. Call 983-2797.
FOR RENT--Clean, furnished apartment in Lockney. Call 652-2642. Barker Real Estate.
Floydada ESTATE SALE--J. W. & Betty Gilbreath. Household goods, appliances, cookware, couches, lift-chair, vibrator chair, bedroom suites and many other items. 302 W. Virginia. 9:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. All items as-is - no warranties or guarantees.
MOVING SALE--November 22 - Household goods, swivel rocker, children's games, picture frames, small appliances, small tables, sofa bed, other. 338 W. Hallie.
907 W. Ross--Friday, November 21st - 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 22nd - 9:00 a.m. Toys, coats, baby bed, furniture.
Lockney EFFIE PARKER ESTATE SALE--November 21st & 22nd - 9:00 a.m. - ??. Beautiful furniture, scenic plates, bedroom suites, Avon collection, etc. 120 NW 4th Street, Lockney.
106 S. MAIN, LOCKNEY--Thursday, Friday and Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - ??. Huge variety - Christmas, cookbooks, collectables and much more.
GRAZING WANTED--Wheat pasture, milo stalks and/or grass. Call 292-9723 or 983-5431 (nights). APPLICATIONS ARE being accepted until December 4, 2003 for a temporary fulltime position with USDA-Farm Service Agency. Applicant must be proficient as a PC user with the ability to navigate within Windows. Experience with hardware and software applications and knowledge of networking and file structure is strongly desired. Applications can be obtained from USDA-FSA, Hwy. 70 East, Floydada, Texas 79235. USDA is an EEO employer. 806-983-3763.
A DIRECTOR OF NURSES position is available for a self-motivated, Texas licensed registered nurse with supervisory experience and demonstrated leadership skills. Please apply in person at Lockney Health & Rehab, 401 N. Main, or fax your resume to 806-652-3466. Senior Health Properties-Texas, Inc. A Not for Profit Corporation.
LOCKNEY HEALTH & REHABILITATION CENTER is hiring CNAs for all shifts. Up to $6.90 hour and $750 sign-on bonus. Ask for Keri at 401 N. Main, Lockney.
AREA HOME CARE has a immediate opening for a full-time supervisory position for a registered nurse. We offer competitive salaries and benefits, including mileage reimbursements and on-call pay. Please come by 302 S. Garland, Plainview for an application or call 806-296-2323.
PROVIDER-ATTENDANT needed for elderly lady in Floydada. Call 793-3615 or 795-9811.
LVN FOR BUSY 4 physician and one physician assistant family practise clinic. Full time, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Good benefits including health insurance, paid vacation and personal days. Qualified individuals should apply at or send resume to: Attn: Marsha Allen, W. J. Mangold Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 37, Lockney, Texas 79241.
2 AND 3 BEDROOM houses for sale or rent to own. Call 983-5552.
FOR SALE BY OWNER!--3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage, updated throughout, corner lot, nice fenced yard, storage building.PRICE REDUCED!! Call 983-2064 or 983-2865, ask for J.
I'M MAD...at banks who don't give house house loans because of bad credit, problems or new employment. I do, call L.D. Kirk, Homeland Mortgages, 254-947-4475.
MISSING ONE STEER--Mousy colored, #3 on left hip with gray eartag in right ear. North of Sandhill. Call 292-9723 or 983-3744.
CHRISTMAS TREE--7 1/2 foot Monterey Pine. Like new. Only used one Christmas. REDUCED!! Call 983-2186 or 983-7557.
KING SIZE WATER BED with 9 drawers under frame, mattress, headboard with mirror and side shelves, heater. Great condition. Call 983-2229.
FOR SALE--Sweet potatoes. 6 miles north of Flomot on Highway 599. Joe Edd Helms, 469-5387.
FOR SALE--112 sq. yards of good carpet and pads. $250.00. Call O.R. McIntosh, 983-2559.
FOR SALE--Tan leather couch. $450.00. Call 806-983-5520.
FOR SALE--Beautiful custom made queen comfort set. Dark green and cranberry. Curtains, rugs, lamps, pillows and wallpaper included. Must see! Call 983-5628, Melanie Beedy.
ALPHATEX KENNEL, AIKEN, TEXAS offers superior quality AKC Registered, DNA Certified Collies, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds. Puppies and stud service available. www.alphatexkennels.com
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.
TAXIDERMY--Deer, birds, etc. Call Craig Edwards, 657-4485 (Cone).
PAINTING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. Vance Mitchell 983-6111.
LARRY OGDEN AUCTIONEERING--Estates, Farm, Ranch, Business, Liquidations, State Licensed and Bonded. (806) 983-5808. TX. #9240.
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