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FNB DONATES TO AIRPORT PROJECT--The First National Bank of Floydada, represented by Bank President Tom Farris (right), presented Bill Harbin (center) and Mitch Probasco (left) with a check for $30,000 to be used toward Floydada Airport renovation. Fund raising is currently in the works for a 2 million dollar renovation project at the Floydada Airport. The Airport Board has to come up with 10% of a 2 million dollar grant. According to Harbin the Airport Board is close to their goal with this generous donation. The goal for the airport is to have the project completed in 2 years. The first year (already in progress) land will be acquired and surveyed. The 2nd year yew construction and refurbishing will be completed. The construction will include tearing up the old runway and then lengthening and widening the runway. New runway and approach lights will also be included. The construction will accommodate larger jet aircraft.

Carter's Like to Clown Around

Laughter comes easily to Dennis and Mary Carter and so does their ability to share it.

Married for 17 years the Carters decided four years ago to start "clowning" for their grandchildren.

"I worked with a man that made balloon characters," said Dennis. "We called him the 'Balloon Dude'. I really liked what he could do with balloons and I thought it would be a fun thing to learn and entertain the grandchildren with. I asked him if he could teach me and he took Mary and I to a clown convention in Laughlin, Nevada.

"We didn't go there to become clowns but before we left we had both made the decision to take up clowning." It was the first of many clown conventions.

"They teach a wide variety of things at those conventions," said Mary. "They teach face painting, hospital clowning, clowning for seniors, Christian clowning, business courses, laws, etc. They also have all kinds of competition in areas such as make-up, sketches, skits, balloons, and working the crowds. You study at the conventions from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

"Clowning is very contagious," said Dennis with a smile. "We got the virus." The couple also had to have a name.

Dennis came up with a name quit by accident. "As I was leaving the first convention a woman walked up to me and asked me what my name was," said Dennis. "I told her Dennis. She said, 'No, what is your clown name.' "I said, 'I never had a name because I've never been a clown.' She said, 'Well, you do now.' I went home and thought about that for a little while and then realized that 'Never had-a-name' was my new clown name."

Mary says she believes her clown name came to her with the help of prayer. "I was sitting out the parking lot and praying to God. I told him that I wasn't sure I wanted to get into clowning and asked Him to help me with a name if He wanted me to do this. I looked down on the hot black asphalt (which had just be laid) and there was a perfect quarter note piece of asphalt sticking up out of the ground. Being musically inclined Mary noticed the musical symbol immediately and decided to take the name "Notes". She also found material to make her costume that was full of notes symbols.

Dennis has also created a whole clown family. "I was told that I needed to make up a family because children will ask you about your family--and they do. So I came up with some first names to go with the last name of 'Never Had-a-Name'. My dad's first name is 'Always'. My mother's first name is 'Shoulda'. My brother's name is 'Coulda', and my sister's name is 'Thinks-she'.

Mary and Dennis said it wasn't all that easy to jump right into clowning.

"Our first party was for our own grandchildren. We wanted to surprise them. The first time we made up our faces it was awful," said Mary. "I looked like a greasy pig. I don't know why we didn't scare the kids. My face looked like it was melting. It took Dennis 2 hours to apply my make-up. We didn't know what we were doing."

The Carters have since studied in more classes to perfect their make-up and received instructions from Wringley Brothers Circus experts.

"It takes about 8 years for you to really finalize your clown face," said Mary. "I'm still fine tuning mine--but Dennis pretty much has his down. You just keep changing and adding colors until you get it just right."

Mary says it now takes her about 1 hour and 15 minutes to apply her clown face.

People think when you are hired to work parties that you only put in about 45 minutes of time to clown. Actually when you count the time it takes you to dress, travel, work, and undress, then you have put in at least 4 hours.

At parties Mary and Dennis both concentrate on different areas of entertainment. Mary loves to face paint and Dennis does a few magic tricks and then entertains with balloon characters.

At the last clown convention Dennis attended he won the top award for his balloon work with a "single" balloon.

What at first started as a hobby to entertain their grandkids has now led the Carters into the field of birthday parties, grand openings, and executive parties .

When asked what the most embarrassing thing that has happened to them in the unpredictable world of trying to make people laugh, Mary didn't miss a beat when she laughed and said, "When Dennis' tricks don't work."

Dennis agreed.

Both also agreed their favorite part of clowning was seeing the smiles on children's faces--especially on those children who did not want them around at first but then warmed up to them later.

Mary and Dennis moved to Lockney in May of 2001 from California.The two have lived most of their lives in California.

"I was born in Plainview," said Mary. "My father James Cope, and my uncle, E.C. Cope were born and raised in Lockney. My grandmother Cope lived on the land we now live on. My Aunt Myrtis Cope taught in Lockney for 18 years and she still lives here.

"I inherited this piece of land from my Grandmother Cope and Dennis and I decided to move here.

"People are always surprised about us leaving the big city in California and moving here--but they just don't understand. We love it in Lockney. We tell them, 'You don't know what we left. There is no contest.' My roots are here.

I felt attached to this place. We are so comfortable here. Where we lived I would have to wait 3-5 minutes to just back out of the driveway--no one would let me into the traffic.

"When I have to drive around people here who have stopped in the middle of the street to talk--I rejoice. It's Heaven."

Clowning isn't the only "hobby" the "working retired" couple has. "I'm a 'hobby-hopper'," said Mary. "I like to sing and give programs, bake, and ride motorcycles."

Mary intends to open a "Sweet Shop" soon inside the Lockney Beacon office and sell cakes and candy by the slice. She has already thought of a way to publicize her grand opening.

"Maybe I'll get Dennis to stand on the street corner in the clown costume to attract people to the store. I'll have to run outside and put a nickel in him ever so often so he will move or he'll get arrested for loitering."

Lockney's Stock Show is Saturday

Lockney's local 4-H and FFA Stock Show will be held Saturday, January 5, at the Unity Center.

The entry fee will be $10.00 per animal.

Bailey County Extension Agent Curtis Preston will judge. Plaques will be awarded to breed champion and grand champions. All participants will receive a T-shirt.

The hog show will start at 9:00 a.m. followed by lambs, heifers, and steers. The showmanship show will finish off the evening.

The barn will be open on Friday, January 4, at 2:00 p.m. for animals.

The County Stock Show will be held January 9-12 at the Unity Center.

County Stock Show Held January 9-12

The Floyd County Stock Show will be held January 9-12.

Wednesday, January 9 the Unity Center will be open so steers and heifers can be put in place by 5 p.m.

The Heifer Show will be at 5 p.m. Thursday. The Steer Show will follow the Heifer Show on Thursday.

The Gilt Show will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, January 11. The Barrow Show will follow Gilts on the same day.

On Saturday, January 12, the Lamb Show will begin at 8 a.m.

The Buyers Meal will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday and the Auction Sale will follow at 6 p.m.

Jeff Brandenburger, of New Mexico, will judge steers and heifers.

Gaylen McCune, of Oklahoma, will judge swine, and Dale Chote, of Seminole, will judge lambs.

According to the Floyd County Extension Service, consideration was given this year to adding a rabbit and goat show. The decision was made not to make changes this year but to put the plans up for consideration at the April Rule Change Meeting for the 2003 show.

This year there will be no bad weather day for school to be out on Friday, Jan. 11th for either Floydada or Lockney schools. School will be in regular session on Friday.

EDC Working To Build Up Floydada

Community leaders from around Floyd County have put their heads together to prioritize "community development" needs.

A recent meeting, sponsored by the Floyd County Community Development Corporation, brought together the Commissioners Court, City Councils of Floydada and Lockney, Floydada ISD School Board, building principals and administration, Floydada Chamber Board of Directors, and various community leaders.

According to Floydada EDC Manager, Dora Ross, "This was sponsored by the EDC to give us a vision. We wanted the meeting to help us prioritize our plans.

"The community needs to know we are working on many of the issues already."

Moderators Quincy Ellis and Dana Curtis, of the EDC in Early, moderated and posed the question, "What can we do in the next 12 months to help Floydada be a better place?"

Of the sixty three issues identified, the number one issue seen by those in attendance was the need to improve internet connectivity and speed.

"We already have a wireless internet service in Floydada and Lockney," said Ross, "but it does not have capabilities for video conferencing, and it does not cover the surrounding areas around the cities.

"Video conferencing allows for distance learning with colleges and universities in the U.S. We are currently working on a grant to open a training facility that will give people a place to use the internet to take college courses and research. It will be a wonderful training tool for the community," said Ross.

The EDC has also secured funding, with help by the South Plains Workforce, to establish a Workforce Training Center.

"We need to find us a spot to put the center," said Ross. "The curriculum will be developed around the needs of the community--such as computer training. People will be able to earn their GED's through the program. It will also offer ESL courses. We hope to have it opened by April 1."

Many of the issues identified at the meeting also included the theme of "motivation", "support", "enthusiasm", and "pride" for businesses, schools, and the community in general.

"We all felt people should work on their negative attitudes," said Ross.

"We should build each other up and be positive. It is going to take everyone to build Floydada. You can either be a team player or a 'CAVE' (Citizens Against Virtually Everything).

"We are members of the Keep Texas Beautiful program," said Ross. "That organization will help give us guidance on beautification projects. We are looking for a person to head up a "clean up community campaign".

Ross says the EDC is also in the process of developing guidelines for an application for use by local businesses that may need assistance.

Another project being explored by the EDC is a "Small Business Incubator Facility".

"Business incubators are business assistance programs used to help 'start-up' businesses get off the ground," said Ross. "The smaller business is housed in an 'incubator' or 'larger business' which can help support the young companies during their critical start-up periods.

"This allows the new business to have access to basic business support such as telephone answering and clerical services, shared office equipment including fax and copy machines and personal computers."

Ross says the EDC in Early, Texas applied for and received grant money in May 1994 to build and operate a regional "Incubator" facility.

Early's Incubator offers 18,000 square feet of leasable space.

"The EDC and the community are, of course, always looking for people who want to get involved and help out. Anyone interested in participating the EDC projects is encouraged to call Dora Ross at 983-3433 or 983-3318. or email: DR3107@hotmail.com

OBITUARIES

ELMER "JIGGS" HAYS

Services for Elmer "Jiggs" Hays, 83, of Canyon were at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 29, 2001 in Brooks Chapel with Kim Hays officiating. Burial followed in Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Brooks Funeral Directors.

He died Monday, December 24, 2001 in Amarillo.

He was born February 9, 1918 at Veal Station in Parker County, to Earnest and Dorettia Hays. Soon after his birth the Hays settled near Lockney. He served his country in the Army in 1935 and again during World War II. He worked as a farmer, truck driver, and aircraft mechanic throughout his life. He recently retired from the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum where he served on the security staff. He was preceded in death by one brother, Johnny Hays; four sisters, Lola Roberson, Jewel Wakefield, Ruby Gay Hart, and Ray Ragle.

Survivors include his wife, Betty; a son, Lonell Hays of New Braunfels; two daughters, Myrna George of Canyon Lake and Brenda Augustine of Canyon; two brothers, Harvey Hays of Plainview, and Paul Hays of Kress; two sisters, Ada Richardson of Dalhart and Pauline Barrett of Kress; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, 2401 4th Avenue, Canyon, TX 79015.

JAMES MILLER

Services for James M. Miller, 91, of Plainview were at 2 p.m. Friday, December 28, 2001 at First Christian Church with Jim Irwin officiating.

Burial followed in Plainview Memorial Park under the direction of Wood-Dunning Funeral Home of Plainview.

He died Monday, December 24, 2001.

He was born June 2, 1910, in Lockney and graduated from Lockney High School. He started a garage there while still in high school and later became a Plymouth-Chrysler dealer. He married Elvie Rosetta Cook on March 16, 1931, in Frederick, Okla.

He began his flying career in 1934. During the war, he was a civilian instructor at Victory Field in Vernon. When the war ended, he moved back to Plainview and was the first operator of the Hale County Airport.

In 1946 he became a Bellanca dealer and later became president of the company after serving on the board of directors for many years. He was a dealer for most general aviation airplanes. He worked at Miller Flying Service until recently.

He was past president of Bellanca Aircraft and a longtime member of the Plainview Elks Lodge.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Marlin of Plainview and Wayne of Houston; two daughters, Jan Cornebise of Greeley, Colo., and Kay Koepp of Lubbock; a brother, Edgar of Dallas; three sisters, Katheryne Tye of Kress, Frances Thompson of Fort Collins, Colo., and Mary Jeanne Moore of Lockney; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to the American Heart Association.

OPAL WARDLOW

Services for Opal Irene Wardlow, 84, of Plainview were at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 23, 2001 at Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Don Robertson, pastor of College Heights Baptist Church in Plainview, officiating and Mark Leach of Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in Plainview assisting.

Burial followed in Plainview Cemetery under the direction of Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview.

She died Friday, December 21, 2001.

She was born February 7, 1917, in Plainview where she was reared. Shemarried Harce Wardlow on September 3, 1933, in Clovis, N.M. He died March 28, 1983. She was active in PTA, was a leader of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and, with her husband, taught training union in three churches. She was a homemaker and a member of College Heights Baptist Church for about 40 years.

Survivors include a daughter, Jann Wilson of Lockney; two sons, Karl and Michael, both of Plainview; a sister, Ruth Fegan of Las Cruces, N.M.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A VIEW FROM THE LAMPLIGHTER

As our readers know, we quite often write about things that impact our community in a tangential way. In other words we sometimes say a few kind words, (and sometimes not so kind) about people and issues that affect us directly, but which folks here normally don't have the opportunity to voice their opinions on in a direct way. This is one of those times.

As our readers also know, those with the authority to do such things have decreed that the State of Texas shall be divided into new Legislative Districts. It must happen after every census. The Constitution demands it, and the Legislature, in its wisdom, has determined the manner in which that redistricting will be done. We can all be happy, or unhappy, but in the end we will vote to select who will represent us in the Legislature. And one thing all voters should be aware of : The votes of every member of the Legislature affects every other Texan. Who we send to the Legislature affects not only us, but every other Texan, and the people other Texans send to the Legislature affects us here on the South Plains. Accordingly, we have some views on more than one race for the Legislature, since the votes of each Legislator, once in office, has an impact on the life and times of all of us.

In the adjoining 83rd Legislative race, a contest is in progress between Gary Walker of Plains and Delwin Jones of Lubbock. Both have served in the legislature for a number of years, Walker representing the 10-county 80th District, and Jones representing Lubbock and environs. In the recent redistricting process, the two were thrown into the new 83rd and now must compete for reelection. Both are Republicans, and the race will be decided in the Republican Primary

For many good reasons we urge voters in the new 83rd District to vote for Walker of Plains. Walker has long been a leader in the battle for rural Texas, and especially in the critically important area of water policy for the state. In West Texas the importance of water to the life and prosperity of our region is generally understood, but too often unappreciated. Walker has a history of not only understanding it, and appreciating it, but of also working long hours to do something about it. He serves as a member of the Texas Water Advisory Council, having been appointed to that position by House Speaker Pete Laney of Hale Center. He serves on the Conservative Coalition, a bi-partisan group of House members dedicated to advancing conservative causes and issues, and as a member of the Rural Caucus, a group of Legislators dedicated to advancing the interests of rural Texans.

Walker is young (by my standards), and energetic. He is a former naval aviator, a veteran of the Vietnam war, and, in our view, a credit to the people of Texas. We hope he is successful in his race. For him to be successful in that race, he will need the support of voters in the new 83rd District. We hope he gets that support. He deserves it, and the people of West Texas deserve his representation.

BY THE WAY

© 2002, Floyd County Hesperian Beacon

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