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SANTA ON THE SQUARE--Several downtown businesses in Floydada stayed open late Tuesday night to take advantage of people in town to see Santa Claus and to hear youngsters singing Christmas carols under the pavilion. The Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event. Kirby Nixon (right) and his brother, Keenan, enjoyed the shopping at Paynes Family Pharmacy.
Commissioners Consider Closing Floyd County Jail By Darwin Robinson The Floyd County Commissioners met in Special Session Tuesday, November 25, and discussed the possibility of closing the Floyd County Jail. County Judge William D. Hardin told the commissioners, "The county jail did not pass inspection. And because the jail did not pass inspection, we do not have liability insurance at the present time." Fire Marshall Darrell Gooch inspected the jail and turned in a three page type written report, dated November 17, 2003, about the various building, electrical and fire code violations. According to Hardin, the jail also failed inspection in February of this year due to faulty electrical problems and the need for painting. "The jail has since been painted and looking at what Darrell (Gooch) has listed, the jail needs a lot more than electrical repairs this time," said Hardin. The Fire Marshall's report stated: The listed code violations are set forth in the Southern Building Code, International Fire Code, International Electric Code, International Building Code, and the Life and Safety Code. Each Code Violation is a class C Misdemeanor punishable by a fine. If these code violations are not corrected, it can result in utilities being disconnected until such code violations are addressed. Some of the Building Code Violations are: the front of the jail building has deteriorated to the point that it is unsafe due to cracks in the mortar and the two columns attached to the front of the building are on the verge of collapse. Some of the Electrical Code Violations are: electrical control boxes being blocked, several electrical box plates and lids are missing, several broken conduits are exposing electrical wiring, and improper wiring runs through the shower area. Some of the Fire Code Violations are: no secondary fire escapes on the Third or Second Floors, the self-closing device for the doorway leading to the basement is not working, conduit and junction boxes are missing, lack of remote controls for the Second and Third Floor cell doors, compromised firewalls exist throughout the jail with holes in them, broken windows on the Third Floor, a heater door on the Second Floor cannot be secured, all self-contained breathing apparatus do not conform to NFPA or OSHA regulations, the SCBAs are damaged and are missing face pieces, no training of employees has been given in the past two years, no protective clothing exists for rescue personnel, no emergency lighting exists in stairways on the First or Third Floors, and the smoke ventilation exhaust fans on the Second and Third Floors do not work. Judge Hardin told the commissioners, "I think we should close the jail. We have spent $5,000 on the electrical wiring problems since the February inspection. We can farm out the prisoners to the Spur facility for $38 per day. They would be picked up within an hour, arraigned and magistrated there." Commissioner Ray Nell Bearden asked, "What about our liability while we hold them here to be picked up?" Commissioner Lennie Gilroy stated, "The jail is not going to get any better." Hardin told the court, "It cost approximately $140,000 per year to operate the jail and that does not include insurance." Commissioner Craig Gilly asked about the number of prisoners held at the jail on a daily basis. Floyd County Sheriff Royce Gilmore said the average was 13.6. Hardin said around 10 prisoners were the county's and the others were from the City of Floydada and Motley County this week. Gilly said that averages out to about $13,870 per inmate. Gilroy stated, "If we shut down the jail and tried to reopen it later, wouldn't it be more expensive than fixing it now?" Concerning the closing of the jail, Sheriff Gilmore said, "It's okay with me if you close it. It will be just one less big headache for me." Gilly said, "I can find many reasons for closing the jail, but none for keeping it open. How long are we going to be exposed to liability?" Hardin suggested no action be taken now on closing the jail until all the questions asked can be looked into. "We need answers." Gilly made the motion to pass on all items on the agenda concerning the jail. It was seconded by Gilroy and unanimously approved. 
HOME
TOUR--Denise Doucette stands by the fireplace and tree in
her home. The home will be one of 5 homes in the Hospice
Hands of West Texas Home Tour on Sunday from 1:30 - 4:30
p.m. Tickets are $5.00 and on sale at Hospice Hands and
Schacht Flowers, in Lockney; and Payne Pharmacy, in
Floydada.
Mangold Hospital to Sponsor Health Fair this Saturday W.J. Mangold Memorial Hospital will hold its eleventh annual "Holiday Health Fair" on Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the Lockney Elementary Cafeteria. Admission to the Health Fair will be a donation of a canned good or a new toy to be donated to the Salvation Army Christmas Cheer Program. Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center will be at the Fair to do mammography. If you would like to make an appointment for a mammogram, call 1-800-377-4673. United Blood Institute will have a blood drive and there will also be bone marrow testing at this year's fair. There will be over 30 booths providing glaucoma checks, cholesterol screens, blood sugar and blood pressure checks, body fat evaluations and posture evaluations and you can also consult with a hearing specialist. Flu shots will be available for a nominal fee. Again this year at the Health Fair will be "Project KidCare" a children's identification project that provides a picture and current information about your child in a handy vinyl pocket. This is part of a national effort to provide parents with personal safety ID's of their children in the event of an emergency. KidCare is being offered as a free public service to families in the area. If your child attended last year, bring your packet to be updated. If you didn't attend last year, a new packet will be issued. The "Holiday Health Fair" will have over 30 booths manned by various local and area organizations plus children's activities booths (see the ad in this newspaper). Local and area merchants will provide door prizes. and a healthy lunch will be available. Boy Scout Food Drive The Floydada and Lockney Boy Scouts will be conducting their annual food drive this Saturday. Floydada Scout Troop 357 will be going door to door from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Saturday, asking residents to donate canned and non-perishable foods which will be distributed to those less fortunate. Lockney Boy Scout Troop 259 will be placing an empty sack at your front door this Saturday and will return next Saturday, December 13, to pick up the sack. The Scouts ask that residents fill the sacks with canned goods and non-perishable foods and place the sack on your front porch on December 13. The Scouts will return and pick up the sacks on that day. The food will be given to the local Salvation Army. December 8th
Obituaries J. P. WILLIAMS Graveside services for J. P. Williams, 86 of Lockney, were held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 1, 2003 at the Lockney Cemetery with Russell Harris officiating. Burial was under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney. Williams died November 29, 2003 at the Lockney Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lockney. He was born on March 19, 1917 in Pryor, Oklahoma to the late Sylvestor and Cora Glover Williams. He moved to Floyd County from Pryor, Oklahoma in 1917 and graduated from Lockney High School. He married Tommie Lou Thannisch on May 8, 1951 in Clovis, New Mexico. He owned a pest control business and retired in 1985. His wife preceded him in death on January 22, 2002 in Lockney. Survivors include one daughter, Brenda Gallagher and husband, Bill of Lubbock and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be made to Hospice Hands of West Texas, 305 N. Main, Lockney, Texas 79241.
Dear Editor, In 2002 many generous citizens, businesses and organizations of Lockney joined together and built a Center for the youth of Lockney. The Lockney Youth Activity Center has been a great success. It has provided a safe place for our adolescent youth to have fun in a safe, monitored environment. In addition to providing a place for after school activities the Youth Center has sponsored basketball, volleyball, and billiard tournaments. This past fall over 100 children from 6 to 12 years old participated in NFL flag football league. The Youth Center has had New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day dances. It has provided a meeting place for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The local churches have held the after-game-suppers at the Center. To provide this safe, monitored environment for our adolescents we need a full time staff member on the payroll along with numerous volunteers. The members of the Lockney Youth Center Board are making a direct appeal to the citizens of Lockney to help cover the operating costs for the Center. We are estimating that it costs $50,000 a year to operate the Center. We are committed to using all your tax-deductible contributions for the operating expenses. Members of the board will be volunteering their time to write grants to leverage the contributions you make. Please, during this season of giving, remember the youth in your community and give generously to the Lockney Youth Activity Center Fund. You may make your contributions by mail to Lockney Youth Activity Center, P.O. Box 597, Lockney, Texas 79241, or in person at City Bank in Lockney.
Pat O'Connell Chairman, Lockney Youth Center Annual Fundraiser
By The Way | by Alice Gilroy Does everyone remember Brigitte Boisselier? She was head of the Clonaid project. Remember the Clonaid project? The Clonaid project was the announcement that a baby (named Eve) had been cloned. The mother of the baby never stepped forward--but Clonaid got lots of free publicity. The Raelian Movement got lots of publicity too--because they support human cloning and (if I remember correctly) Boisselier was a Raelian follower. Anyway--I still get lots of email from the Raelian movement. Things have been quiet from the cloned baby people and I guess "His Holiness Rael" needs a way to keep the Raelian name out front. "His Holiness Rael's" real name (according to a press release) is Claude Vorilhon. Claude has a lot in common with other religions who insist they were visited by an "angel" or "being" who told them what the future holds--etc. It is obviously a way to "mimic" the Christian stories of appearances by angels--or the disciples visions--or the disciple's guidance from the Holy Spirit. The only trouble with some of these new religions (which aren't really new--they just have name changes)--is their "word" from the "angels" changes with the times, and with the leader of the cult. Anyway--Claude says in 1973 while hiking a dormant volcano in France he saw a spaceship touch down. A 4-foot bearded being came out of the spaceship and within minutes (according to a press release) cleared up centuries of debate about the origin of man. According to the alien, all life--including humans--was created neither through evolution nor divine power--but by aliens. And through science, humans would one day develop technology to become like their creators. Claude (or Rael) says the aliens told him they experimented with single-cell organisms and Neanderthals, but that the current human most closely resembles "them" (the aliens)--and that we were made from the aliens own DNA. And now, according to Rael, since we have inched closer to cloning man--we have inched closer to being "God" (like our creators-the aliens). The Raelians don't believe in the soul, or spirit, or heaven, or God. Cloning takes the place of heaven because cloning can provide eternal life. Rael doesn't discount the Bible--he just says it has been distorted by successive transcribers. (Some Christians believe the same thing--it is the only way some Christians can preach what they think God really meant). Rael says the supernatural forces in the Bible was really technology but the writers couldn't conceive technology so they couldn't explain it in the way it should have been told. The Raelians accept any type of sexual expression--so they tend to attract those who want to express themselves sexually. Again--nothing new under the sun. Of course--if you don't believe in Heaven then you've got a problem with eternal life. So since there is no life hereafter (until cloning is a viable option) then Raelians believe you should enjoy life the way you want now. Past Raelians, of course, had no options. Dead is dead. Future Raelians have cloning to look forward to. "They can be recreated scientifically--they will have a choice not to perish". They will be able to live on this earth forever because after our body is successfully cloned then our memory, or consciousness, will be "downloaded" into the clone. Too bad if the computer kicks out an "error" message while cloning. Too bad all those painful memories will keep following you around for the rest of your life. Of course there is a problem justifying why future Raelians deserve to live forever and current and past Raelians didn't. I don't know why I've decided to use all this space to talk about Raelians. I guess Thanksgiving and the Christmas season have me thinking about all God has given me and what I have to be thankful for. I'm thankful I have a God who is the same now and forever. An unchanging God that cannot lie or make mistakes. A God that won't tell me one thing and then come back and change the rules. A God who gave me personally the Word to live by--not someone else's translation. Promises to stand on. A foundation that won't crumble out from under me with the next new technological invention or catastrophe that hits the world. A Savior I can count on. A Savior that brings me comfort and joy. A promise of Heaven where I will once again see my loved ones. A very simple message that doesn't have to be interpreted to me by a scientist--or downloaded by a computer. A God that is as close to me as my prayer. I don't have to hike a dormant volcano. I just have to stop at this very moment and talk to him. Isn't God good!
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
FOR SALE--1995 Chevy 1/2 Ton extended cab, long bed Silverado, 4x4 - $7000; 1999 Dodge Quad cab, diesel, longbed, 4x4, SLT Laramie, loaded, 115,000 miles - $18,000; 1991 Buick LeSabre, 185,000 miles - $2,500. Call 806-983-5720.
HOUSE FOR RENT TO OWN OR SALE--Call 983-5552.
FOR RENT--Farm house, 3/2/2. Call 983-2329.
FOR RENT--2 bedroom, 1 car garage, central heat and air. Call 652-2252.
FOR RENT--Clean, furnished apartment in Lockney. Call 652-2642. Barker Real Estate.
GRAZING WANTED--Wheat pasture, milo stalks and/or grass. Call 292-9723 or 983-5431 (nights).
ARE YOU A TEAM MEMBER with a CNA certification? Are you interested in working in an environment where staff and residents live and work together in a neighborhood setting? Come by the Lockney Health and Rehabilitation Center where we are changing the way America cares for its elders. Apply in person at 401 N. Main, Lockney. Ask about our $750 sign-on bonus.
WANTED: Experienced farm employee. Call 806-983-5720.
NOW HIRING--Taking applications at the Movie Gallery on Friday and Saturday from 1:00 - 6:00. Located on the corner of Lee and Second Street (across from Our Place) in Floydada.
ASSISTANT MANAGER position available at the Spur DQ. Above average pay for friendly, responsible, customer service leader. Non-smoking, drug free environment. Drug test required. Call District Manager, Jacala Ashley, 940-585-8586.
FOR SALE--3 bedroom, 2 bath, 30x30 shop at 110 South First. Call Mike Giesecke, 983-3453 or 983-3787.
HOUSE FOR SALE--Excellent location, 906 W. Ross. 3/2 double car garage. Call 806-983-4908 or after 5:00 p.m. 806-983-2019.
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.
NEED HELP PUTTING UP YOUR XMAS LIGHTS--Call 983-5718 or 983-2984.
CHRISTMAS TREE--7 1/2 foot Monterey Pine. Only used one Christmas. REDUCED!!GREAT DEAL! Call 983-2186 or 983-7557.
FOR SALE--Antique Mahogany sideboard. 1910-1920 era. Call 983-2609 for information.
CHRISTMAS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER--Arts, crafts, candles, swags and lots of other stuff. Come to Velma's Gifts for our holiday sale. 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 1122 S. Main Street.
FOR SALE--Sweet potatoes. 6 miles north of Flomot on Highway 599. Joe Edd Helms, 469-5387.
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
PROPERTY FOR SALE--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.
PHEASANT MOUNTING--28 years experience. Call Mike Anderson at 806-983-2186 or 806-983-7557.
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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