Levelland and Hockley County News-Press (Levelland, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 3, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 10, 2005 Page: 2 of 20
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2 LEVELLAND & HOCKLEY COUNTY NEWS PRESS. Sunday. April 10, 2005
NEWS & OPINION
Just
r Rambling
I With Stephen Henry
A conference is an
admission that you want
somebody to share in your
troubles.
For those who have been
waiting tor an excuse to do their
taxes, the April 15 deadline is
just six days away, if you count
today.
Our friend. Postmaster Doug
Tow. will once again be keeping
the Levelland Post Office open
until midnight again on Friday.
April 15 for all the last-minute
filers Every year, we spend some
time in the post office, visiting
with some of the folks who wait
until the very end to finish and
mail their tax return to the IRS.
The approaching tax deadline
reminded us of the following
story.
A bar was so sure its
bartender was the strongest man
around that it offered a $1,000
bet. The bartender would squeeze
a lemon until all the juice ran into
a glass, and then hand the lemon
to a patron. Anyone who could
squeeze one more drop of juice
out would win the money.
Many people had tried over
time, including professional
wrestlers and body-builders, but
nobody could get even one more
drop out of the squeezed lemon.
One day, a scrawny little
man came in, wearing a tied and
a part of pants hikes up past his
belly button. He said in a
squeaky, annoying voice, “I’d
like to try the bet.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
After the laughter had died down,
the bartender said, “Ok.” He
grabbed a lemon and squeezed
away. Juice poured into the glass
until it was squeezed dry.
He then handed the wrinkled
remains of the rind to the little
man. The crowd’s laughter turned
to total silence as the little man
clenched his fist around the
wrinkled lemon and squeezed
with all his might. Six drops fell
into the glass.
As the crowd cheered, the
bartender paid the $1,000 and
asked the little man, “What do
you do for a living? Are you a
lumberjack, weight lifter, or
what?”
The man replied, “I work for
the IRS.”
Last Sunday afternoon, we
had the pleasure of watching our
two-year-old granddaughter
discover her shadow.
The afternoon was beautiful
and the family was trooping
across a parking lot with each
individual casting a long, dark
shadow.
Suddenly, the two-year-old
stopped, turned toward her
shadow and studied it. Then she
moved her arm and the shadow's
arm moved. Then she took a step
and the shadow took a step. She
then started wind-milling her
arms and dancing with her
shadow
Within seconds her mom and
dad and her grandparents were
dancing with their shadows, too!
This went on for several minutes
and while the older members of
the family quickly grew bored of
the exercise, she obviously took
delight in the shadow play.
As we continued across the
parking lot toward the car, she
kept watching to be sure that her
shadow was keeping pace. It was.
Monday morning, we
watched as she discovered a
much lighter shadow dancing on
the wall of our building. She
reached up and touched it. We
couldn’t help but wonder what
was going through her young
mind.
Her mother wished that she
had been able to record the
moment of discovery with a
movie camera. The memory,
however, is forever etched in all
of our minds. It was a special
moment.
Levelland & Hockley County
News-Press
Serving all of Hockley County
Drawer 1628
Levelland, Tx. 793361628
(806) 894 3121
Publication No. 146-380
Published every Wednesday
& Sunday at 711 Austin,
Levelland, Tx.
Second class postage paid at
Levelland, Texas 79336.
Postmaster, please send
changes of address to
Levelland & Hockley County
News Press, P.O. Box 1628
, Levelland, Tx 79336
Single Copy Price: 50 cents
Publishers:
Stephen & Pat Henry
BACK IN BUSINESS - Jodi Coleman, owner of “A Second Look," was welcomed back to the city’s
business community with a ribbon-cutting on April 2. Coleman operated a store at the location, 813
Houston St., some years ago. Her new store offers clothes, furniture, paintings, antiques and a wide variety
of nick-nacks. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. From the left are Barbara
Dunn. Dean Nicholson, Mary Siders, Coleman, her husband Sam, their daughter Amy Stanford, her
mother Mary Britt, Floriene Stem, Lou Ann Crawley, Angie Rodriguez and Denise Esqueda. (Staff Photo)
NEW RESTAURANT - Levelland Tattlers, 1202 Ave. H, got a warm welcome this week when the new
restaurant was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce. Owners Debbie Garza and Terri Aaron, who
are sisters, serve up a wide variety of food at affordable prices. The restaurant, open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday through Saturday, offers burgers, a variety of sandwiches, Mexican food, beef, chicken and pork
dishes, breakfast items and much more. From the left are Brodie Hutchinson Jr., Kathy Stewart, Greg
Greenhaw, Mary Siders, Debbie Garza, Terri Aaron, Sandra Jourden; Dean Nicholson, Stephen John,
Barbara Dunn, Lou Ann Crawley, Kerry McCormack and Rhonda Bird. (Staff Photo)
NEW CATO STORE - The Chamber’s Ambassadors and Marigolds hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony
Wednesday, marking the opening of the new Cato clothing store at 500 E. Texas 114. The store in
Levelland is the 1,095th one to open in the United States. The business is open seven days a week and
offers clothes for those ranging from little girls to plus-size women. The store will offer markdowns every
week and also has lay-away plans and charge cards available. From the left are Stephen John, Lou Ann
Crawley, Sandra Jourden, Dean Nicholson, Dave Quinn, Rhonda Bird, Barbara Dunn, store manager
Michelle Jackson, Kathy Stewart, store co-manager Linda Walters, Greg Greenhaw, Paula Taylor, Brodie
Hutchinson Jr., Victoria Franco, Denise Esqueda and Mary Siders. (Staff Photo)
Police Report
were recently burglarized.
Jewelry, TV sets, compact
discs and other items were taken
in the burglaries, according to a
Two males are suspected of
stealing a pair of speakers from a
woman’s home. The theft was
reported Thursday.
The victim told police that
the men are drug users, a report
said.
Officers arrested a woman
Thursday night for driving with a
suspended license. The woman
was detained after she was
Gov. Rick Perry has declared
April 10-16 as National Public
Safety Telecommunications
Week.
The week is intended to
honor the many
telecommunication professionals
who aid in providing 9-1-1
emergency assistance to citizens.
Every day, the citizens of
West Texas depend on the skill,
expertise and commitment of
public safety telecommunicators
who save lives by responding to
emergency calls, dispatching
emergency professionals and
equipment, and providing moral
support to distressed people.
"The term ‘9-1-1’ is often
associated with rapid emergency
response, poise under pressure,
aid and compassion in tunes of
critical decision-making within
seconds," according to a news
release from the Association of
Public Safety Communications
Officials.
"Many people do not stop to
think about the seemingly
nameless, faceless individuals
who answer 9-1-1 calls until they
experience actual emergencies
themselves," the release stated.
“These call takers make the
difference between life and death
in many instances."
The dispatchers who serve
the people of Hockley County are
Margaret Golightly, Jenny Henry,
Bill Durham, Carolyn Webb,
Cory Foley and Laura Rodriguez
By officially recognizing
these public safety
telecommunications
professionals. South Plains
Regional Association of
Governments' Regional 9-1-1
stopped for driving with a
defective headlight.
Someone stole three staple
guns from Lewis Butler’s shop
earlier this week.
A woman said a recorder
worth $450 was stolen from her
son when he recently took it to
school.
Two women reported that
their Ninth Street apartments
hopes to awaken public
awareness and promote much-
needed education regarding
public safety issues.
SPAG will recognize more
than 85 individuals in 12 counties
for their tireless dedication by
distributing inspirational and
creative gifts each day of the
week.
The gifts include donations
from SPAG, United
Supermarkets, Academy Sports &
Outdoors, Blockbuster Video, the
Science Spectrum and the Wal-
Marts in Brownfield and
Plainview.
Communities are encouraged
to participate in 9-1-1 public
awareness activities conducted
within the SPAG region.
For more information
regarding the week, contact
Amanda Mayer with SPAG at
(806)762-8721.
FIRST CONTACT - Police
dispatchers like Carolyn Webb
are available 24 hours at day to
handle calls for help and
emergency assistance. She and
her fellow dispatchers handle
calls from all across the county.
(Staff Photo)
report.
Three people were arrested
early Thursday morning on
charges that included racing.
A patrol officer saw two
pickup trucks racing on College
Avenue. Other peace officers
were notified and the suspects
were stopped and questioned.
A man who was driving one
truck was charged with racing
and furnishing alcohol to a minor.
A passenger who was with him
was charged with minor in
consumption.
The second driver, a 19-year-
old woman, was charged with
racing, a report said.
A woman’s common-law
husband assaulted her
Wednesday, grabbing her hair
and hitting her.
Commissioners
accept bank bid
After meeting for a second
time this week, county
commissioners Wednesday
accepted a bank depository bid
from American State Bank.
The bid was for a two-year
period and the county has the
option of extending it for another
two years.
Two other lending
institutions. Citizens Bank and
Bank One, also submitted bids.
The county already had a
depository contract with
American State Bank.
Commissioners recessed
Monday after agreeing that they
wanted more time to study the
bids.
CLARIFICATION
A photo caption that ran in
Wednesday’s newspaper
contained information about
South Plains Church, whose team
won the barbecue cookoff last
Saturday in Levelland.
Cleo Rangel, who was in the
photograph, was not a member of
the team.
Two team members who
were not in the photo were John
Wuerflein and Bob Morris Jr.
Telecommunicator
Appreciation Week set
ABUSE
continued from page 1
provide educational programs
that can reduce the likelihood of
abuse, Smith said.
It can always use more
volunteers, she said.
"Our organization works to
promote the prevention of abuse
year-round," she said. "Abuse
never sleeps."
Sheriff David Kinney told
those assembled that law enforce-
ment alone cannot stop child
abuse.
“Law enforcement cannot
protect children without the help
of citizens,” Kinney said. "It is up
to citizens to get involved.”
He noted that while it is a
crime to injure children, it is also
against the law to fail to report
cases of abuse or neglect.
"If we all work together, we
can make a difference," Kinney
said.
Special music for the
occasion was performed by
Capitol Elementary students who
sang under the direction of Kathy
Howe.
The vigil was sponsored by
Phi Theta Kappa, Levelland
Community Outreach Center and
Hockley County Child Protective
Service.
Sheriff's Report
A Smyer area man who
called authorities and complained
about people stealing from him
was arrested April 3 after he
allegedly tried to force a sheriffs
deputy out of his home.
The man supposedly broke
the lawman’s sunglasses during
the incident. He was handcuffed
and taken to the county Law
Enforcement Center on a charge
of assault.
A woman said a water can
containing $500 worth of coins
was stolen from her Smyer home
late last month.
Deputies found no signs of
forced entry to the woman’s
residence, a report said.
A man and his wife who got
into a fight April 1 were arrested
for assault/family violence.
The man, who had cuts on
one hand, said his spouse cut him
with a knife. The woman said that
he hit and kicked her.
BARNES
continued from page 1
the money stays here.”
Asked about the recent
increase in interest rates, he said
any future increases could be
constrained by the rise in energy
prices.
“I would be surprised if Mr.
Greenspan really escalates
interest rates,” he said. “The
reason is that with the current
costs of energy, that in itself will
slow the economy a great deal.
Therefore, it won’t be necessary
to increase rates” a lot.
"I still think interest rates
will trend upward, but how
quickly or by how much 1
wouldn’t speculate.”
The banker says there are
positive developments ahead for
Levelland and the county.
"I think the ethanol plant is a
very positive thing for Levelland.
I know there’s opposition to that
and opposition to the proposed
dairy,” he said. “But I think those
things could be advantageous to
Levelland and Sundown also.”
One thing that will impact
the city in a big way will be the
reconstruction of College
Avenue, scheduled to begin in
two years.
While the project will hurt
businesses, he believes that they
survive the construction period.
“I remember when they re-
did this street the last time and it
was horrible,” he S^id. "I don’t
think there are any businesses on
College that will go under. They
may not do as well as they’re
doing right now."
The oil industry will be a
viable part of the local economy
for years to come, he said.
“I strongly believe that the
oil industry is here to stay and it
will be a viable part of our
community for long beyond my
lifetime,” he said. "AU my life
I’ve heard that the oilfields would
go away in five years, and it’s
still here."
Bames has been very active
in the life of the community over
the years.
A current member of the
Noon Lions Club, he has served
on the airport advisory board, the
Hockley County Railroad District
board, the Junior Livestock Show
board and numerous other
organizations.
One of his greatest loves is
the Levelland ISD SAFE
Foundation, or Student Activities
Foundation For Excellence
Bames, who serves as
foundation president, said the
tax-free organization awards two
to four scholarships a year to
Levelland High School students
to attend the college of their
choice.
CLASSIFIEDS WORK!
Texas Press Association
State {Capital
AUSTIN - The .latest single-
digit measure expected to make a
big splash in the legislative
hopper could affect consumers’
water bilb. Sen. Ken Armbrister
(D-Victona) was expected April
4 to file Senate Bill 3, a major
water bill that would establish a
water conservation and
development fee to pay for water
infrastructure needed over the
next half-century
Consumers would be allowed
5,000 gallons of potable water
per month at whatever rate their
provider charges without having
to pay the fee. But for each 1,000
gallons of water used after that
point, water utility customers
would pay a fee of 10 cents per
1,000 gallons.
Armbrister hopes the new fee
would raise $200 million a year,
money that could collateralize
loans and stimulate grants for
badly-needed water projects
across the state.
Among other provisions, the
bill would give the Texas
Commission on Environmental
Quality authority to set a
minimum flow needed to keep the
state’s streams, rivers and
estuaries viable. Water rights
could not be granted if the
amount would drop the flow
below the set point.
Governor's “race" heats up.
Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign
recently admitted releasing a
clandestine-shot video showing
U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Huthchison
and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
being cordial to each other at a
Washington event.
A few days later, a five-
paragraph letter Perry wrote the
then First Lady on April 6, 1993,
to say he found her health
initiative "commendable"
magically reappeared after nearly
12 years.
Whether Comptroller Carole
Keeton Strayhorn has ever said
hello to Sen. Clinton has not yet
been uncovered.
All-female appeals court...
Gov. Perry has appointed
Bexar County District Judge
Rebecca Simmons to the seven-
judge 4lh Court of Appeals. If the
Senate confirms her appointment,
the court will become the first all-
female anneals court in Texas and
perhaps the nation.
The judicial glass ceiling in
Texas hasn’t been shattered so
thoroughly since the first term of
Texas’ first female governor,
Miriam “Ma” Ferguson. She
appointed an all-female state
Supreme Court.
Sex offender database free...
The recent slaying of a 9-
year-old girl in Florida, allegedly
at the hands of a convicted sex
offender who lived nearby,
underscores the importance of
knowing your neighbors.
To see if any registered sex
offenders live in your
neighborhood, you can check the
Department of Public Safety’s
sex offender registry for free
online at records.txdps.state.tx.us.
Texas Yes! communities
honored.
Ten cities participating in the
Texas Yes! program have been
recognized by the Texas
Department of Agriculture as
winners of its 2005 Hardworking
Rural Community Awards.
Representatives of Claude,
Brownwood, Eden, Fort
Stockton, Post, Quitaque, Rio
Grande City, San Augustine,
White Deer and Yoakum received
the honor March 31 in Austin.
Coordinated by TDA, the
Texas Yes! program promotes
economic development and
tourism in rural Texas. For more
information on the program, visit
the Web site www.ag.state.tx.us.
Plans continuing
for Relay music
Although it is still two weeks
before the annual Relay for Life
is staged in Levelland, a number
of musical acts continue to sign
up for the event.
Bands playing Christian rock
and country music are among
those who will perform overnight
April 22 at Lobo Stadium in
Levelland.
Live music will be played
from 6:30 p.m. April 22 to 8:30
a.m. the next day. A deejay will
also be on hand to play records.
Residents of the area around
the stadium are asked to be
patient with the sounds.
"This is one time of the year
that we do this,* said Kaye
Frazier, chairwoman of the fund-
raiser.
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Rigg, John. Levelland and Hockley County News-Press (Levelland, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 3, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 10, 2005, newspaper, April 10, 2005; Levelland, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1193537/m1/2/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting South Plains College.