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FLOYD COUNTY COTTON HARVEST MOVING AHEAD--Cotton strippers can be seen around Floyd County as the cotton harvest continues since the freeze a couple of weeks ago. Many producers defoliated their cotton, while others were waiting for a hard freeze. Delmas McCormick and Raymond Yannis were seen Tuesday morning stripping the cotton on the Mark McCormick farm in southern Floyd County.

Harvest Moving Fast

Beautiful Fall weather has enabled cotton strippers to keep up a very fast pace in the fields, and as usual producers have mixed reviews on the cotton harvest.

Over 183,000 acres of cotton were originally planted in Floyd County: 130,118 in irrigated fields, and 53,246 in dryland fields.

A June storm resulted in a loss of 5,975 irrigated acres, and 2,303 dryland acreage.

According to County Extension Agent J.D. Ragland, "We got off to a good start at planting time with some good moisture. The June storm totaled some fields and affected the yield on many others.

"We did not have timely rainfall during the growing season and producers had to really depend on irrigation.

"It was hard on the dryland. The rainfall was extremely spotted. Some portions of the dryland did well and others were not good."

According to Ragland the yields are probably better than expected in the irrigated sections. "On the high side I've heard of 3 bales an acre," said Ragland. "That is extremely good. The average yield will be 2 bales--which is still better than expected.

"On the reverse side, the dry pockets were not good. On the high side dryland produced 1/2 - 3/4 bale per acre. The average is probably more like 1/4 bale per acre."

Ragland says he believes Floyd County should feel very blessed with their crop. "We are fortunate compared to some neighboring counties. Lynn County had hardly any cotton."

Although producers had to spend a great deal on irrigation they were not hit as hard in the pocketbook for insect control.

"Insects were at an all time record low," said Ragland. "Last fall we had harsh weather which killed off a lot of insects and we also had a huge number of beneficial insects out during the year. The good bugs took care of the pests."

Ragland said the boll weevil spraying does not contribute to the low pest population. "Boll weevil spraying kills the boll weevils," said Ragland.

"Our harvest weather is really helping out too," said Ragland. "Producers are able to get in the fields, and stay in the fields. This also helps maintain the quality."

Floyd County Schools to Honor all Local Veterans

Schools in Floydada and Lockney will be honoring Floyd County Veterans in special ceremonies.

FISD and LISD will need the help of local veterans to accomplish this endeavor. The school districts do not want to overlook any veteran and only have the lists provided by the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. If you are not a member of either of these then you will not be notified by the school.

In Floydada, Duncan Elementary is asking veterans to call, 983-5332, and give them your name and address.

Floydada's Veterans Day Program will be held on Monday, November 12, at the High School Auditorium at 2:00 p.m.

Lockney's Veterans Day Program will be held on November 8, at 11:00 a.m. at the Longhorn Gymnasium. All Floyd County Veterans are invited.

Lockney School District's Enrollment Figures Down

As of October 23, enrollment at LISD was 695 students, a decrease of 29 students.

Every campus in Lockney showed a decrease overall, although certain grades did have an increase in students as larger classes moved up in rank.

Lockney Elementary campus dropped 18 students overall from last year, to an enrollment of 312.

Lockney Junior High School enrollment decreased by 6 students to a new number of 174.

Lockney High School enrollment is now 209, down by two students from last year.

The ethnic breakdown for Lockney Elementary is: 66% Hispanic; 31% White; and 2% Black.

Lockney Junior High's ethnic breakdown is: 53% Hispanic; 46% White; and 1% Black.

The ethnic breakdown at Lockney High School is: 58% Hispanic; 39% White; and 2% Black.

Floydada ISD Enrollment Drops

Floydada ISD enrollment figures for 2001 have dropped by 53 students, to a total of 298.

Floydada High School did show an increase of 6 students, however the other campuses showed a declined in enrollment.

Duncan Elementary enrollment this year is 298, which is a drop of 15 students from last year.

Andrews Elementary has 225 students this year, compared to 262 students last year.

Floydada Junior High enrollment is 252 students compared to last year's total of 256.

Floydada High School has 271 students compared to 265 last year.

The ethnic breakdown of Duncan Elementary is: 78% Hispanic; 17% White; 3% Black.

The ethnic breakdown of Andrews Elementary is: 60% Hispanic; 27% White; 6% Black.

Floydada Junior High School ethnic breakdown is: 69% Hispanic; 29% White; and 2% Black.

The High School ethnic breakdown is: 60% Hispanic; 35% White, and 5% Black.

Bracelets Help Alzheimer Patients

Floyd County businesses and organizations are joining together in a program to keep track of persons suffering from Alzheimer's or other dementia.

The "In Safe Hands" Program makes bracelets available to those who may wander away from home or who may be more likely to get lost. The bracelets will be engraved with the person's name and the number of the Floyd County Sheriff's Department.

The Sheriff's Department will have names on file of everyone registered with the In Safe Hands program. Pertinent information on how to contact family will also be available to the Sheriff's Department.

The bracelets will be engraved free of charge, by Schacht's Flowers in Lockney, and processed and delivered by the Floyd County Extension Service Staff.

When a phone call is received at the Sheriff's Department, the caregivers will be contacted immediately. Caregivers can also call the Sheriff's Department to alert them that the person with memory impairment is missing.

The "In Safe Hands" Program is a collaboration between the Texas Department of Human Services Alzheimer's CARE Program, Floyd County Extension Service, Floyd County Sheriff's Department, Schacht Flowers, Jewelry and Gifts, and the Agency on Aging at South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG).

The bracelets will be provided free of charge through a grant given to SPAG by the South Plains Chapter of the Alzeheimer's Association.

If you need more information, contact Dana Bear, 743-3095, or Virginia Chavez, 743-3096, at the Texas Department of Human Services' Alzheimer's CARE Office.

Floydada's Voting Districts Will Change

By Darwin Robinson

The Floydada City Council met Tuesday, October 16th, in a closed Executive Session with their attorney concerning pending litigation by former Floydada Police Chief James Hale. Following the lengthy closed Executive Session, no action was taken by the council on the issue in open session.

The Hale vs. City of Floydada trial is being held this week in a federal court, in Lubbock. All discussion on the case has been held in executive session. Hale contends that he was unjustly terminated and the City refutes this.

Concerning the City's Redistricting Plan, City Manager Gary Brown told the council, "We have the preliminaries done and we will have to move some people (boundaries). The rules and regulations state that we must be within 5 percent of equal population in each district.

"We have two districts that are outside of the limits a little bit. District No. 1 is a little less than (the 5 percent limits) in population and District No. 3 is a little more than (the 5 percent limits) in population.

"Every district is supposed to have a certain number of voters. Our total voters in the City is around 980 based on the 2000 census," Brown continued.

"The proposal is to move five City blocks, and these are census blocks, off of the East end of District No. 3 and make them part of the West side of District No. 1. This will move 68 people, according to the census, into District No. 1 from District No. 3. This will make both of those districts in the 5 percent range, plus or minus," Brown said.

The five proposed blocks border from Main Street (on the East) to 5th Street (on the West) and from Missouri Street (on the North) to Georgia Street (on the South).

Brown concluded, "There does not need to be any action on this proposal now, but at our next meeting we will put it on the agenda and we must, by law, have a Public Hearing before we can vote on this."

In other matters, the council unanimously approved the appointments of four new board members to different City boards. Those approved were: Warren Mitchell to the Airport Board; Ricky Gonzales to the Economic Development Board; Todd Beddy to the Housing Authority Board; and Gary Carthel to the Mackenzie Municipal Water Board.

Upon the recommendation of Brown, Councilmember Clar Schacht made the motion to adopt a resolution to unite in a joint sealcoat (street) project with other West Texas cities to be coordinated through the firm of Oller Engineering, Inc. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Eric Cornelius and unanimously approved.

In other matters, the council approved an amendment to clarify the $300 usage fee in the Airport Usage Agreement. The council also voted not to participate in an employee "buy back" of forfeited retirement credit.

Following a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Committee, Schacht made a motion to allow Juan A. DelaFuente, at 402 W. Virginia, to build a garage of 19 feet by 23 feet, with a stipulation of rain gutters, and to be closer that five feet from the property line. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bettye King and unanimously passed.

Floyd County Extension Agents J.D. Ragland and Melissa Long both presented a brief written and spoken survey of the history and purpose of the Floyd County Extension Service.

Ragland said, "There are twelve Extension Districts in the State of Texas in 254 counties. Floyd County is in the South Plains District No. 2. Each county has at least one Agriculture Extension Agent and one Family and Consumer Science Agent.

"We are now called the Texas Cooperative Extension Service, in place of the old name, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.

"There are four major program areas in which we work. One is Agricultural, for which I am responsible. Another one is Family and Consumer Science, which Melissa oversees. We work jointly on another program, which is the 4-H Youth Committee Programs and our other responsibility is working with the Community Development Program," Ragland concluded.

Long told the council, "We work through committees. We have an Overall Committee that oversees the Ag Committee, the FCS Committee, the 4-H and Youth Committee, and the Program Council. Gary Brown has helped us on these committees for several years and we appreciate him.

"With the Family and Consumer Science Programing, I do have an ASCS Committee that target problems in our community and county. They are instrumental in deciding what my programming will be for the year and for the four year period. Some of you participated in the Texas Community Futures Forum which is a four year plan.

"Through my committee I do have an Extension Education Club, which used to be called Home Demonstration. I have one club in this county. The ladies in this club are a valuable resource in this county and I do appreciate them greatly. I have two SCS study groups. One is in Lockney and one is in Floydada. We do health programing with them every month," Long said.

Long continued, "Another very important program we have is Better Living For Texans (BLT). Our Program Assistant is Josie Martinez and she does an excellent job. She carried out 50 programs this past year. She does a lot of programing during the summer time working with the Texas Migrant Council, WIC, and the Day Care.

"Martinez works with this program for the limited resource families on the food stamp program, or those eligible. She helps them with resource management, food nutrition, and health. She is a valuable asset to us in our office and in our teaching."

Long concluded, "We do Nutrition and Wellness Education in our school systems. We work through and with a lot of Health Fairs. Also, we collaborate with other groups and one is the Community Alzhiemers Resource and Education Program. This is grant through SPAG. This is for those who are memory impaired. They can receive (free) services and (free) bracelets with the Sheriff's Department phone number to be called for help. Call us if you know of someone who needs this service."

City Manager Brown concluded the council's meeting by giving a brief report concerning a recent trip to Friona with the some of the members of the Economic Development Board.

Brown said, "We went to get ideas. Friona owns and operates an 80 bed nursing home and a 16 unit "Assisted Living" apartment complex. The list is long to get into these. These projects contribute around $180,000 annually to Friona's tax base. They pay for themselves in ten years and after that the rent could be dropped by 35 to 40 percent."

OBITUARIES

LEANDRA BARRIENTOS

Rosary services for Leandra Barrientos, 90, of Floydada will be at 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 26, 2001. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2001 at St. Mary's Magdalen Catholic Church.

Burial will be in the Floydada Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada.

Mrs. Barrientos died Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at Floydada Rehabilitation & Care Center.

She was born on February 27, 1911 in Coleman to the late Mr. Marcelino Mendoza and Mrs. Florencia Ontivedos Mendoza. She married Salvador Barrientos on March 23, 1942 in Ballinger. He preceded her in death on October 14, 1981. She moved to Floydada from Ballinger in 1955. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Frances Juarez and five sisters.

Survivors include eight sons, Manuel Juarez of San Bernardino, California, Trinadad Juarez of Ballinger, Steven Juarez of Wenatchee, Washington, Tiofilo Juarez of Lockney, Joe Barrientos and Manuel Barrientos, both of Floydada, and Salvador Barrientos, Jr. and Louie Barrientos, both of Plainview; five daughters, Virginia Love of Plainview, Mary Ellen Cisneros and Connie Luna, both of Floydada, Hope Lopez of Irving and Norma Gonzales of Lubbock; a brother, Carlos Mendoza of Floydada; 78 grandchildren; 151 great-grandchildren and 35 great-great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 309 S. Wall, Floydada, Texas 79235 or to Hospice Hands of West Texas, P.O. Box 1118, Lockney, Texas 79241.

BETTY L. COLEMAN

Funeral services for Betty L. Coleman, 75, former Plainview resident, were held in Los Angeles where she had lived for the past seven years.

She was born June 8, 1926, in Altus, Oklahoma, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lee Seaman who lived in Lockney. She graduated from Texas Tech University in 1949 and joined the U.S. Air Force. She was stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base near San Francisco, Calif., and earned the rank of second lieutenant.

She continued her education in Louisville, KY, earning her nursing degree. She worked as a school nurse for many years in the Plainview ISD and was a psychiatric nurse with Dr. Mary Bublis for the last 10 years of her career. She also worked as a home health nurse.

Survivors include a daughter, Teresa Phalen Rosen of Los Angeles, formerly of Plainview; a sister, Christine Shelton of San Diego, Calif.; a brother, Lonnie Seaman of Yukon, Okla; and two grandchildren, Benjamin Rosen and Ariel Rosen, both of Los Angeles.

ENRIQUE SEGOVIA SR.

Rosary for Enrique Segovia Sr., 58, of Lockney was at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at San Jose Catholic Church in Lockney. Funeral mass was celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 24, 2001 at San Jose Catholic Church with Father Jim McCartney, celebrant. Burial was in Lockney Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney.

Mr. Segovia died Monday, October 22, 2001 at his residence in Lockney.

He was born on July 15, 1943 in San Benito to the late Mr. Guadalupe Segovia and Mrs. Rosa Bocanegra Segovia. He married Maria DeLeon on July 15, 1961 in Lockney. He was a farm laborer and lifelong resident of Floyd County. He was a member of Sacred Heart Society in Lockney, Cursillo Movement and San Jose Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by three sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Segovia of Lockney; three sons, Enrique Segovia Jr. and Jose Angel Felan both of Lockney, and Alfredo Segovia of Amarillo; four daughters, Bella Gloria Segovia and Julia Rincon both of Plainview, and Maria Rosario Mendoza of Victoria, and Felomena Rosa Felan of Lockney; two brothers, Santos Segovia of San Benito, and Leonicio Segovia of Michigan; three sisters, Joyce Segovia of Oklahoma, Ester Garcia of Lozano, and Elena Ruiz of San Benito; 18 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to Early Childhood Intervention, 631 Broadway St., Plainview, TX 79072 or to United Way, Plainview Area, 3019 W. 7th St., Plainview, TX 79072.

J.E. WALLER

Memorial services for J.E. Waller, 63, of Floydada were held Wednesday, October 24, 2001 at the First United Methodist Church of Floydada. Reverends Hugh Daniel and Wesley Daniel officiated.

Cremation was under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada.

Mr. Waller died Monday, October 22, 2001 at his residence.

He was born on February 21, 1938 in Crosby County to Mrs. Lois Parrish Waller and the late Mr. Henry Sedric Waller. He attended schools in Cone and graduated from Floydada High School. He graduated from West Texas State University and attended Wayland, Texas Tech and Baylor.

He married Gayle Clark on June 10, 1956 in Floydada. He was a veteran of the United State Army having served during the Korean Conflict. He was a farmer, rancher,school teacher and assistant principal. He was a lifelong resident of Crosby County and a member of First United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by a sister.

Survivors are his wife, Gayle Waller of Floydada; his mother, Lois Waller of Floydada; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jay Earl and Karen Waller of Ira and Jim Edd and Nina Waller of Petersburg; three grandchildren, Kaci J'Anna Waller, Jordan Eric Waller and Jayc Ehrin Waller.

The family suggests memorials to the J.E. Waller Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Floydada High School, 618 S. Tree Street, Floydada, Texas 79235 or c/o First National Bank, 124 South Main Street, Floydada, Texas 79235.

JUNE VANCLEVE

Services for June VanCleve, 82, of Floydada were at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 21, 2001 at Calvary's Cornerstone Fellowship in Floydada with Reverend Glenn Truett, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Floydada Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada.

She died Thursday, October 18, 2001 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock.

She was born on March 30, 1919 in Greenville, to the late Mr. Emmett Murphy and Mrs. Josie Killian Murphy. She attended schools in Celeste. She moved to Floydada from Crosbyton in 1945. She married Benjamin Franklin VanCleve on December 1, 1966 in Floydada. He preceded her in death on April 28, 1981. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary's Cornerstone Fellowship.

She was also preceded in death by a son, James Keith VanCleve; a daughter, Areleada Smith, four brothers, Audie Murphy, Buck Murphy, Dick Murphy and Joe Murphy; and a sister, Corinne Burns.

Survivors include three sons, Bill VanCleve of Dougherty, Jan VanCleve of Albuquerque, NM and Bob VanCleve of Floydada; one daughter, Rozella Price of McKinney; one brother, Gene Murphy of Jacksonville; two sisters, Nadine Lokey of Farmersville and Billie Tindol of Marietta; 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

A VIEW FROM THE LAMPLIGHTER

The times, they are troubling. I know. I know. In times of crisis we are supposed to do what the government tells us to do. But what is the government telling us to do?

It can only be hoped the government is not as confused at the moment as it appears. On the one hand we are told not to worry, to get back to business as usual. On the other hand we are told, by implication if not by words, that terror lurks in every corner of the land. About the only thing certain is that each and every agency of the government will claim credit for any small success, and blame the others for any perceived failure.

How could the populace not be somewhat worried when the national media can talk of nothing else?

For awhile we could hear nothing but Bill and Monica, or Bill and whoever. Then along came Gary Condit, pushing everything else off the airways. When the planes hit the World Trade Center, Gary Condit disappeared, as if by magic. He is nothing but a ghost of yore. Now the big story is anthrax, which used to be something only farmers and ranchers worried about. Anthrax has been around as long, or longer, than anyone can remember. Our first President, George Washington, was, according to history, once afflicted by it. Anthrax, from what we have read, was one of the plagues visited on the ancient Pharoes. It is a naturally occurring, spore-producing bacillus that sometimes reaches epidemic proportions in wildlife when conditions are just right. When I was a kid, anthrax was just another problem we had to live with, along with blackleg and cattle tuberculosis. Now the mere threat of it can cause people to get uptight about their water supply, or their air conditioning ducts, or their mail.

In that sense the terrorists have already accomplished their purpose, if indeed the terrorists are to blame for the recent grip of fear in so many quarters. Completely aside from the lives lost in the terrible tragedy in New York, the World Trade Towers event has changed the way many Americans look at things. Now we see at least a few people in government, who used to be champions of the "open borders" concept of free and unlimited immigration, taking a second look and thinking maybe, just maybe, we ought to be a little more careful about who gets in, and how they get in.

To be honest about it, the use of mail to spread terror does concern us a little. But even that is not entirely new in the world. When Palestine was under a British mandate, and Jews were agitating for an independent state of Israel back in the 40's and 50's, the mails were used quite effectively as a weapon for sending explosives. The British High Commissioner was killed, if memory serves, by a "letter bomb" sent by a Jewish terrorist group. The Jewish underground wrecked havoc on the British presence until they packed up and left, clearing the way for the creation of Israel. Then the former terrorists became leaders in Israel's government, and those opposed to Israeli rule became the new terrorists.

We in America, (where various religions, and varying aspects of religion, live in relative harmony) simply cannot understand the animosity and bitterness that marks so much of the world's religious communities, all of whom profess one God. In Ireland Catholics and Protestants seem unable to live side by side in peace. Throughout the Muslim world there is downright animosity between the Sunnis and Shiites over which prophet was the true one. Between the Jews and Muslims there is even bitterness about who the mantle of Abraham passed to, Isaac or Ishmael, despite the fact that both claim kinship to Abraham and both recognize only one God.

Personally, we don't see those differences being abated very much in the near future. Given the world before us, there will be bin Laden's, of one stripe or another. Religion has now become a factor in politics, and politics a factor in religion.

I am reminded here of a comment made by former Governor Allan Shivers many years ago. "In politics," he told a staff member, "It's mostly about putting out the fire that's nearest you." Bin Laden is now that fire. But others, unless we miss our guess, will follow.

BY THE WAY

It's time to vent. I'm been giving you a break--hope you enjoyed the peace and quiet.

By all the news accounts, our fighting forces in Afghanistan appear to be accomplishing their missions.

They are fighting terrain, natives, unknown and unseen enemies, approaching winter weather and CNN.

I was pleased to hear that American forces took out the Taliban's communication capabilities. It would now be easier for our forces to move quickly from point to point if the enemy didn't know where they were--where they had been--and where they were going next.

It was thoughtful for CNN to step in and pick up the communications for the Afghan people and Taliban. After all--it is the policy of the big network news to appear impartial and neutral.

The President asks the media not to put Bin Laden's remarks on TV. CNN is the only news station that felt it was necessary to put the last Bin Laden tape on the air--the other big networks did not think his remarks were newsworthy.

Newspapers and television reporters are covering the story of "unnamed sources" releasing information that endangers the soldiers.

The media clucks their collective tongues at "leaks from high places" that threaten our soldiers--but fail to acknowledge their responsibility not to put the information out to the public in the first place.

Just because someone comes to me with "information" does not absolve me of the responsibility to use my head and not print the "information" if it is libelous or slanderous.

In the same way the news media should have the common sense not to print information which obviously puts our soldiers in danger. I believe the media is more at fault and should be more accountable than the "loose tongues" in "high places".

I also believe it is ludicrous for the "elite", "impartial" media to show their "neutrality" by refusing to proudly show loyalty to their country.

ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and FOX news aren't products of Afghanistan, Irag, Iran, China, or Russia. They are American journalists, broadcasting from America because America gives them the freedom to do so.

I recently read of the "Shaw Doctrine"--named after Bernard Shaw of CNN.

During his reporting of the Gulf War Shaw refused to be "debriefed" by the U.S. military because he felt it would take away his neutrality in the conflict.

"It was," as one writer said, "as though Shaw considered himself more a citizen of the world than of the United States."

Some journalists place their own role above the cause of the nation during wartime--the same nation that safeguards those rights.

ABC news recently banned its journalists from wearing lapel flags. Barbara Walters said it was discouraged because it "might confuse the audience". What audience?

New York's Cable News Channel 12 banned the flag saying, "We have to avoid giving an impression of leaning one way or the other."

How does expressing allegiance conflict with being objective? The flag is not partisan or divisive to Americans--maybe to the Taliban, but not to Americans.

If you are offended by the flag and the "good living" in the country our flag represents--then leave and be happy un-offended in another country of your choice.

© 2002, Floyd County Hesperian Beacon

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