Comanche Chief (Comanche, Tex.), No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 11, 2008 Page: 10 of 20
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Comanche Area Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Comanche Public Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Page 10A, Thursday, December 11,2008, / The Comanche Chief
Angels Among Us
By Vickev Cavitt
As our thoughts turn to
Christmas and we join the
hustle and bustle of this fes-
tive season, it is the most
appropriate time to remem-
ber the reason for the sea-
son. Those of us who can
remember, often do, that
Snyder’s College Has A Golf Course thc Christmas story was
the story ol the birth of Je-
sus in a stable in Bethlehem.
... .. The angels watched over
program get training m turf (he bjrth whjch many of us
Forty students are en-
rolled in the Golf and Land-
scape Technology program
at Western Texas College
in Snyder. They come from
all parts of the United States
and beyond. Currently, four
of them are from Spain. It is
no wonder the program at-
tracts people who want jobs
working at golf courses, ball
fields and parks. It is an out-
standing one that has been
around for more than 30
years.
Randy Weaver graduated
from the program in 1976
when it was brand new. He
worked in the industry for
a while, then came back to
WTC to teach. He's been at
the college fifteen years. He
is superintendent of the col-
lege’s golf course on cam-
pus.
with Bermuda greens also.”
Students in the two-year
maintenance, landscape de-
sign, irrigation, plant mate-
rial, pesticides and fertiliza-
tion. The cost of education
at Western Texas College is
reasonable.
“Our catalog says it's
around six thousand dollars
a year for room, board, tu-
ition, fees and books. That's
a pretty good deal compared
to most four-year universi-
ties.”
Courses in the program
transfer to universities.
"We usually have several
out of each graduating class
that want to go ahead and
get a bachelor's degree, but
most of our guys are truly
vocational type students and
after two years they’re ready
choose to celebrate at this
time of year. Those angels
who kept watch care over
Bethlehem are still with us
today.
There are also angels
among us and they work
right here in Comanche. On
November 25, 2008, there
had to be a Divine interven-
tion aided by our local an-
gels. On this day a couple
of weeks ago, one our com-
munity’s senior citizens fell
unconscious while driving
down Wrights Avenue to-
saster exists, our policemen,
firemen, EMS and hospital
stand ready to help.
From our family to yours,
we wish you a very merry
Christmas and we pray that
the. angels will continue to
keep watch over our com-
munity during this holiday
season Bless all of you who
put your lives on the line to
save others.
Newburg 4-H
Club to host
Winter Wonderland
The Newburg 4-H will be
having a Winter Wonderland
in the backyard at Western
Hills Nursing Home. It will
be open on December 12th,
13th, 14th and 19th, from
6:00-8:00 p in. Bring your
kids for a night full of fun!
Admission is $1.00 per per-
son.
The Winter Wonderland
will feature an ice castle and
princess, snow tubing, bear
GRAND CHAMPION BREEDING GILT: Jeffrey Ab
bey won grand champion honors among the breeding gilts
with his champion cross at the Comanche Project Show last
Saturday.
ward Highway 36. Officer jump game table Santa’s
Michael Cotton observed the workshoP whcre kl^ can
"There’s a lake on the golf to go to work.’
course,” says Randy. “Water
comes into play on about
seven of the nine holes. It's
a really nice course and a
lot of it has to do with hav -
ing our program here. It’s
always ranked as one of the
top ten nine-hole courses in
thc state. It’s kind of a hid-
den secret here.”
Graduates of the program
have no problem finding
jobs.
“If they want to work,
they'll have plenty of possi-
bilities when they graduate.
We have almost a hundred
percent placement. We know
of ov er four hundred gradu-
ates from our program who
The lake is man-made. A are working in some phase
creek ran through the area of the green industry. It's a
when the course was being pretty well-known program
built and workers construct- all over the country.”
ed a dam to create the lake.
Students in the program get junior colleges in the US to
to study a variety of grasses, offer such a program. Randy
woman driving at 45-50mph.
As he approached the car, he
realized that the woman was
unconscious. With no way
to stop the vehicle, he passed
it and proceeded to Highway
36 to stop traffic in order to
avert a collision with other
cars. That was a good thing
because a gas transport was
one of the vehicles that he
stopped. Then, thc officer
managed to alert other of-
ficers who notified the fire
department and EMS.
By this time, the run-
away car had proceeded
across the highway on onto
our property at 1001 SW
make a craft to take home,
snowball fights and a wish-
ing well. Santa and Mrs.
Santa will also be selling
cookies, hot chocolate and
popcorn in an outdoor din-
ning room, where you can
eat your cookies and hot
chocolate while enjoying the
scenery. There will be lots of
places for photo opportuni-
ties.
Bring your kids, grand-
kids, neighbor’s kids, nieces
and nephews for a night of
safe, good clean family fun.
The money earned will be
used for the angel tree, where
we adopt a family and buy
GRAND CHAMPION ANGORA GOAT: Jenny Latham
won grand champion honors among the Angora goats at last
Saturday’s Project Show.
WTC is one of only two Hi h ,t . t..lir gifts and food for Christmas,
lie Highway “ grazed our ® . .......
“Our fairways and tees
are just common Bermuda
grass. Our greens are bent
grass greens. We have one
green we built as part of a
short gain practice facility
that has one of thc newest
varieties of Bermuda grass.
So our students get to work
says it’s a unique situation
because students can spend
time in labs and things right
on the golf course and get a
lot of hands-on experience.
Students help maintain the
coyrse and work during thc
summers as interns.
food baskets at Thanksgiv-
ing, and other community
services. Merry Christmas
to you all from the Newburg
4-H!
Texas Highway Patrol Trooper
Los Strawn served with dedication
power pole by the right front
fender, slightly changing the
trajectory to the left, causing
it to knock down the gate-
post of our chain link fence.
Once again, the path of the
car was changed, slightly to
the left which kept the car
from slamming into a pecanti |||19PlGP uChQOl - -
tree. The new path took the*
car through a pile of gravel
that Dad has had stacked up
for several years, narrowly
missing another pecan tree.
Apparently, this slowed the
car a little as I was told it
Paradigm Accelerated
VMV'^iV \
Expands Campus
Paradigm Accelerated
Charter School, located at
1008 S. Austin, currently
serves 54 students.' This
Les Strawn was honored and friends with a deserved was slightly airborne for a week. students from the con-
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION HORSE: Kaydcn Fra-
zier won reserve grand champion honors among the horses
at the Project Show with her champion mare.
at the Texas Highway Patrol
Museum in San Antonio on
November 8, 2008 by the re-
naming of the History Wall
the “Les Strawn Wall of His-
tory”.
Strawn was honored by
Texas Governor, Rick Perry
for his service in the Texas
Highway Patrol.
TheCommissionersCourt
of Bexar County awarded to
Strawn’s family that Novem-
ber 8th would now be known
as “Les Strawn Day’
sense of pride in the achieve-
ments of this Texas trooper.
Les Strawn made lasting
friendships throughout his
career in law enforcement.
One anecdote describes a
chance meeting with a speed-
er in a revved-up Chevy.
That 17-year-old would go
on to become Comanche
County Judge James Rob-
ert Arthur and Les Strawn’s
enduring friend. For Judge
Arthur, "Les Strawn is one
second. Thc car went into
a fence between the Boyds’
and us and came to rest
against the power pole for
Mom and Dad’s house. The
impact inflated the airbags
and knocked the power line
down on top of the car.
It is at this point that all
of the other participants ar-
rive. By this time other of-
ficers (Dyson and Dirikson)
are on the scene when the
car catches on fire. Lt. Dy-
son helps James spray wa-
votion to his family accom-
pany Les Strawn’s officially
recognized honors. Retired
from the Texas Highway
struction trades classes, as-
sisted by their teacher, James
Cavitt, installed 10 new of-
fices in the learning center.
Since the school operates
two sessions daily, this ad-
dition means that Paradigm
will now be able to accom-
modate a total of 76 stu-
dents.
At the beginning of the
2008-2009 school year,
Paradigm expanded its cam-
pus by adding two portable
buildings which house its
new class offerings: Build-
ing Trades I, Introduction to
of thc finest officers that the
Countless anecdotes of State Troopers have ever put ter on the car and dry grass
his public service and de- out.” Many would proudly while the other officers res-
second that opinion. cued the lady. At the time of Construction Trades, Art 1,
Les Strawn’s life was the rescue, the officers did and Guitar I. One building
brightened by his 57-year not know for sure that there also houses exercise equip-
marriage to Georgia, by his were no bare wires touching
Patrol in 1976, Les Strawn 'Children, Herschcl and Deb- the car. The woman has sur-
continued to serve the town orah, and his two grand chil- vived. Our wonderful fire
of Comanche, Texas and dren. His family shares their department arrived quickly
Comanche County in law love for Les and their pride to control and extinguish
RESERVE CHAMPION STEER: Molly Stephens won
reserve champion honors among the steers at the Comanche
F*roject Show on Saturday. Also pictured, right, is Dillon
Riley. Stephens' entry was her champion British steer.
enforcement in both the Co-
manche Police Department
as well as the Comanche
Sherriff’s Department.
Profiled in the Winter
2007 Texas Highway Patrol
Magazine shortly before his
passing, Les Strawn was
chronicled as a dedicated
public servant, and loving
husband and father.
Many Comanche County
citizens were fortunate to
for his service with their
memories and cherished
photographs.
Looking at Les Strawn’s
1951 Training School photo-
graph. one sees eager young
recruits about to enter into
Texas Highway Patrol histo-
ry. Les and his classmates are
poised for a life of dedicated
service to enduring values.
Les Strawn walked proudly
the flames. Shortly, the EMS
came and transported the
lady to the hospital where
she was later taken by care
flight to another facility.
The report came back that
her sternum had been bro-
ken, along with some ribs.
The latest report I have had
is that she was sitting up in
bed, visiting with her guests.
That’s pretty remarkable for
have been served by THP side. He emerged with hon-
and Comanche law enforce- ors, loved and respected. He
into that future, family at his a young lady of 90!
I sleep better at night.
ment officer, Les Strawn.
Browsing through cherished
family photos, one sees a life
of integrity and commitment
to Texas law enforcement
values. Honored on Novem-
ber 8, 2008 in San Antonio.
Texas. Les Strawn lefl a
legacy that is memorialized
on the renamed Les Strawn
Wall of History, and forever
sculpted in a bust by re-
nowned artist Lorraine Pinto
of Mexico City. The cere-
mony left family, colleagues
is remembered well.
The CCMC Healthcare
Volunteers will host an
American Indian Jewelry
knowing that God is charge
and that he sends his an-
gels, heavenly and earthly,
to watch over us. This story
could have had'several end-
ings that were not as happy
ment and a place for indoor
PE during inclement weath-
er.
Interested students and
parents may obtain infor-
mation and applications by
contacting Principal, Vickey
Cavitt, at 325-356-9673 or
325-330-1526.
Comanche AA
meets weekly
There are both daytime
and evening meetings for the
Comanche Group - Alcohol-
ics Anonymous (AA).
The evening group meets
every Monday, Wednesday,
Friday, and Saturday at 7:00
p.m. in the Boy Scout House
located just cast of the Co-
manche water tower on Res-
ervoir Hill.
On Wednesdays, the day-
SLEIGH RIDES AT CORA’S CHRISTMAS FESTIVI-
TIES: David Woolam will be offering the little ones rides
in his miniature pony sleigh on the Saturday night of Cora’s
Christmas. Don’t miss wagon rides for the adults too, and
the Christmas Car Club Carolers while Santa takes Christ-
mas requests at Old Cora!
as this one. There could have
Show, on Friday. December ^en 8 crash on Highway 36 time group meels at 12:00
12, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 |. . vc ci°9t. noon in an open meeting held
p.m., featuring Vclda Dixon
in thc hospital lobby.
?009 FarniRrs Almanac
lives, or if the car had taken
a different route, it might
have ended up in the side of
my parents’ house. Neither
of those things happened,
but it is good to know that
when the potential for di-
at Hope Lutheran Church.
300 Cedar Street in Coman-
che.
For more information, call
325-356-2235 or 325/356-
5880
PARADIGM BUILDING TRADES STUDENTS ASSEM-
BLE NEW STUDENT OFFICES Pictured are thc students
and teacher who helped to assemble the new offices at Para-
digm Accelerated Charter School: (left to right) Kai Bryan.
Ryan Todd. Jarrett George. Mr. Cavitt. and Jacob Craig
v# /. * wMwM. •- N •. 4 .■«
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Wilkerson, James C., III. Comanche Chief (Comanche, Tex.), No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 11, 2008, newspaper, December 11, 2008; Comanche, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1141332/m1/10/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Comanche Public Library.