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LOCKNEY LONGHORNS RAISE THEIR AREA TROPHY--The Horns won the Area Championship after defeating Seymour Panthers, 13-0, 9-5, in a two out of three series that ended in Bulldog Stadium in Plainview, Friday, May 9.
"Horns Win Area Championship By Coach David Fairchild The Lockney Longhorn Baseball Team picked up where they left off once the regular season finished. The Longhorns swept the Seymour Panthers in two games, 13-0 and 9-5. "I was real pleased with these young men," said Coach Fairchild. "They were focused and hungry to play." The Longhorns proved how hungry they were by finishing game one of the series with 19 hits. "It was a great night for the Longhorns--we just didn't hit the ball, we hit the ball hard and on the nose." Brandon Alvis led all batters going 4 for 4 with two RBI's. Chad Johnson went 3-4 as did Robert Luebano who went 3-4. Ben Sherman went 2-3 at the plate as well as got the win on the mound for the Longhorns. Ben is now 10-0 for the season, In game two the Longhorns jumped out to another solid lead. 7-0 again and hitting the ball hard. Chas Westbrook went 3-4, Brandon Alvis, 2-4, Chase Westbrook 2-4, and Chad Johnson 2-3. Chas Westbrook picked up the win which moves his record to 8-1 on the mound. "Overall I was real pleased with our kids effort and determination," said Fairchild. "The Longhorns now move on to Regional Quarterfinals where they will face the #9 Holliday Eagles. This will be another best-of-three series, beginning Thursday, May 16, 7:00 p.m., at Hoskins Stadium in Wichita Falls. The 2nd game will be closer to home at Bulldog Stadium, in Plainview, Friday, May 17, at 5:00 p.m. If a 3rd game is needed it will start 30 minutes after the 2nd one ends. The Longhorns are currently 22-1 and still ranked #2 in the state. Hitting: Brandon Alvis 1-3 (2 RBI), mark Ford 0-1, Chas Westbrook, 3-3 (triple, RBI), Todd Cotham, 0-2, Jared Lambert, 1-3 (triple, RBI), Chad Johnson 2-3, Robert Luebano 1-3 (RBI), Ben Sherman 0-2, Chase Westbrook, 2-2.
By Coach Nixon The doubles team of Jessica Castaneda and Jenna Payne brought home the Silver Medal from the State Tennis Tournament held May 6th and 7th on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin. In the Quarterfinals Castaneda and Payne defeated Teel/Autry of Franklin 6-1, 6-4. In the Semi-Finals Castaneda and Payne defeated Davenport/Bush of Thorndale 6-0, 3-6, 6-0. In the Finals Castaneda and Payne were defeated by Newman/Reddish of Eldorado 2-6, 5-7. Coach Nixon's Comments: What a way to finish your Senior year by winning the Silver Medal at the State Meet. We talked about this year was going to be the year we were not going to be denied. They have been focused and determined all year. I told the girls just to compete and put it all on the line because they had nothing to loose. Our Region is extremely tough. 7 out of 8 finalist in the championships were from Region 1. I think that speaks volumes for the athletes from this area! Jessica and Jenna ended a wonderful career at Floydada High School with a record of 40-5. Jessica was 2nd in District her sophomore year and 1st her junior and senior year with Jenna. She is a 3 time Regional Qualifier and Silver Medalist this year at the Regional and State Meets. Jenna was 2nd her freshman year and District Champion her sophomore, junior and senior years. Jenna is a 4 time Regional Qualifier and a Silver Medalist in both the Regional and State Meets. Jenna also earned the honor of Academic All-State. Both are members of the Regional Team Tennis Champions. I am so proud of all the Seniors. The last four years have been GREAT! I am going to miss your terrific attitudes and your bright faces at 6:01 a.m. Young athletes will be looking up to you guys for a long time. Congratulations to Adam, Jenna, Jessica, Rebecca and Robin on your great careers here at Floydada High School. I would like to thank the Booster Club for all of your support this year! Without your help we would have not have balls to hit with or a stringer to string out rackets with. Coach Smith, you are a vital part of this program and thanks for all you do for these young athletes. I know that you are excited about the future of Floydada Tennis as I am. I also want to thank Coach Bradley and Mrs. Finley for all of your help with the Junior High teams this year. You have no idea how much you guys have helped this program.
By Darwin Robinson The Floyd County Commissioners Court met Monday, May 13. The commissioners heard an appeal by Floydada resident Hulon Carthel asking the court to protest, as an entity, the recent Floyd County Appraisal District's residential property values increases. Carthel said, "My main purpose for being here is to ask you as Floyd County Commissioners Court to request a written challenge of the 2002 residential property values. I understand that if you do challenge it and win, then the appraised (residential) values will stay as they were in 2001. "This only locks in their values and all taxing entities will still have their options of setting their tax rates where ever they like. Some entities roll their tax rates forward, while others roll their's back. This is their responsibility. "I would like to express my opinion on the Appraisal District. The Appraisal District has done a super job. They have done what they were supposed to do. Shelia (Fortenberry) has done what she was supposed to do," Carthel continued." "The state of Texas is giving them guidelines and red tagging property and telling them that these values are out of place. I have no problem with the Appraisal District. They have done their job well. Shelia is diligent and very committed to the job. Shelia and I have never had a cross word. "But I don't think the state of Texas has a handle on what our values are in this county. I know ag values have gone down and there is a reason for it. We are an ag based community and I find it hard to believe that our residential values are escalating at the rate that they are. They do reevaluate every three years and the only classification I am asking for is the residential," Carthel said. Carthel reminded the commissioners that a challenge is not well known and it must be presented before June 1, 2002 deadline. Carthel presented the commissioners a list of about 150 names who had signed a petition agreeing with his actions. Carthel asked, "Do you think any property in Floyd County will sell for more money than it would have three years ago? I do not think our property values, whether it be farm land, commercial, or residential, have appreciated in value over the past three years. I think the different entities have the responsibility to keep this in check and it will not hurt any entity. "In the school's case, there may be some questions. I'll be the first to say that I am as concerned about the schools as anybody else. I think that should have some part in your decision. Do remember there are nine taxing entities involved in this, and there are only two school districts. I know you and the City of Floydada are very conservative. You have always rolled the tax rate back when they had to," Carthel stated. Commissioner Craig Gilly replied to Carthel, "The State of Texas mandates that our Appraisal District appraise our residential property at 100 percent. I looked it up and our residential values in 1999 were below 100 percent and our ag property values were up at about 130 percent. "In 2001 the residential values were still below 100 percent, at 90 percent, and the ag values were up to 135 percent. So we need a median between the two in order to conform to the State mandate. In my own opinion, there can be adjustments made in these numbers," Gilly continued. "All these numbers must be adjusted. When you have an ag value at 126 percent, that means you are paying 26 percent more taxes than you should be, but you are getting a break on your house," Gilly said. Carthel responded, "This challenge is the only way that we can keep local control on our taxes. I don't think the state has the knowledge, or should have the authority, to set the values in our county." Gilly added, "These numbers I have, did not came from the State, but these are local numbers. The State, in my opinion, is protecting us as tax payers from any fraudulent taxation. Without it, there would be some paying too much taxes, like in the ag values. "I am looking at cold hard numbers coming from our local office and audited by the State. These numbers have been under valued since 1999. The residential values are too far off and they are not paying their share," Gilly concluded. Commissioner Lennie Gilroy commented, "We have been over this before and we (the commissioners) have always readjusted our tax rate so we are bringing in the same money that we brought in last year. I don't know what the other entities will do, but I know we will do the right thing." Carthel responded, "I understand that, but most of the tax payers do not understand that, and they have very little understanding of how any of this is structured at all." Commissioner Jon Jones asked, "Have you ever won a challenge or an appeal, and can you appeal again?" Carthel said, "I have never had a challenge before, and I have never won an appeal. I have had some adjustments, but I don't call that winning. Especially when I have a piece of property valued at $66,000 and I paid $17,000 for it." The commissioners took no action on the presentation.
PAUL MONROE COOPER Services for Paul Monroe Cooper, 95, of Lockney, were at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2002 at the First United Methodist Church in Lockney with Reverend Russell Byard, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Lockney Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney. He was born on July 1, 1906 in Crawford to the late John Monroe and Carrie Frances Bennett Cooper. He moved to Lockney from Crawford in 1907. He attended school sin Bobbit and Prarie Chapel. He married Vel Biggs on August 23, 1985 at the First Baptist Church in Lockney. He received the Floyd County Pioneer Man of the Year in 1990. He was president of Consumers Fuel Association and Lake Horner Club for many years. He was a farmer and charter member of the First United Methodist Church of Lockney. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lillian in 1983; a brother, Leo Cooper; a sister, Ina Merle Borum and a grandson, William Paul Cooper. Survivors include: his wife, Vel Cooper of Lockney; one son, Jerry Paul Cooper and wife Elsa of Lockney; one daughter, Ann McCormick and husband Bobby of Lockney; one step-daughter, Kay Johnson and husband Acie of Plainview; 11 grandchildren, Barton Cooper and wife Joan of Cimmeron, Kansas, Lisa Hudson and husband John of McGregor, Kathy McMahan of Keller, Joann Carthel and husband Dart of Lockney, Bonnie Maggard of Arlington, Jackie Blackerby and husband Kerry of Amarillo, Cindy Mendoza and husband Abel and Noe Tejeda and wife Millissa all of Lubbock and 21 great-grandchildren.
MILTON FRIZZELL Services for Milton "Snooks" Frizzell, 85, of Silverton were at 3 p.m. Sunday at Rock Creek Church of Christ with J.D. Nance and Gary Weaks officiating. Burial was in Silverton Cemetery under the direction of Myers-Long Funeral Directors of Silverton. He died Thursday, May 9, 2002. He was born September 27, 1916 in Floyd County and married Margaret Francis on August 11, 1939 in the Lakeview community. He was a farmer and a member of Rock Creek Church of Christ. A great-grandchild preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jerry and Lynn, both of Silverton; a daughter, Carolyn Shelton of Silverton; a sister, Laverne Long of Silverton; a brother, Pat of Lockney; 10 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
VIOLA GOLIGHTLY Graveside services for Viola Golightly, 86, of Lubbock were at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 13, 2002 at Floyd County Memorial Park in Floydada with Reverend Anthony Sisemore, pastor of First Baptist Church of Floydada, officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada. Miss Golightly died Saturday, May 11, 2002 at her residence in Lubbock. She was born on April 26, 1916 in Floydada to the late O.R. Golightly and Tishie Robertson Golightly. She attended schools in Floydada. She was a beautician, lifelong resident of Floydada and a member of the First Baptist Church in Floydada. She was preceded in death by six brothers, Lee Golightly, Will Golightly, LD Golightly, Ed Golightly, Byears Golightly and Ivan Golightly. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials to First Baptist Church, 401 S. Main, Floydada, TX 79235.
By Ken Towery I don't know about your computer, but mine is sort of strange. Every once in a while two rather large display ads loom on the screen, blocking out everything else until I hit a little "delete" signal, then things get back to normal. The display ads advise, in bold letters, "Support Israel", and "Win a Free Trip to Israel". Supporting type tells us how to achieve this laudable goal, but we've never left it on the screen long enough to find out just how to do it. It's kind of like those unsolicited telephone calls urging us to wrap our house in some kind of siding, "since we have a team operating in your area at the time." Years of experience have taught us to hang up before we waste the time listening. Anyhow, things don't look too good over there. Mr. Sharon's political party, the Likud, just voted to disavow their leader's agreement to eventually, someday, maybe, agree to a separate Palestinian state. That was just about the only thing President Bush and Ariel Sharon could agree on when the Israeli leader was in Washington last week. It was also about the only thing Bush made clear about his Middle East policy. Otherwise it was a meeting in which Sharon informed Bush of his impending plans, and Bush responded, "sounds good to me," or words to that effect. The party, of which Sharon is supposed to be the leader, opted to go with a proposal put forth by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voicing the party's policy as being opposed to any separate governing entity for the Palestinians, now or in the future. In other words, they want Israeli occupation of the West Bank to continue. If that happens, the violence will also continue. In any case the money will continue to flow. The destruction caused by Israel's latest incursion into the West Bank, and Palestinian refugee camps, will have to be repaired, and that money will come from somewhere. Estimates as high as $600 million have been banded about. A goodly portion of that money, of course, will come from us. Part will come from the European Union. Some will come from the Arab states. None will come from the people who caused it. A long time ago we advanced the idea that the way to get peace in the Middle East was simply to cut off the spigot. As long as violence is subsidized from without the region, there will be no peace within the region. There are certain truths in the world of money. If you want more of a substance, subsidize it; if you want less, tax it. If we forced the Israeli's to fight with rocks rather than tanks, we would have much less fighting. Obviously, however, that is an impossibility. The American Congress desires very much to shower Israel with whatever funds it desires. It matters very little to most members of Congress that hundreds, even thousands, die in the Middle East. What is of extreme importance is where the money goes, when election time rolls around. Republicans now think they have an opportunity to wean some of the Jewish money away from Democrats. (Jews make up a miniscule part of the American electorate, but Democrats traditionally get about 30 percent of their money from identifiable Jewish sources, from Hollywood, from Silicon Valley, from big business. Some now in Republican leadership positions think they can change that equation. We will see. In the meantime, the jockeying continues and the bloodshed continues. What do we expect? In the long run we expect a Palestinian state to be a reality, despite the machinations of Netanyahu. We expect, and we pray, that peace will ultimately prevail. But we don't expect things to change anytime soon. Certainly not until after the next campaign contributions are in and counted.
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