The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 19, 1999 Page: 4 of 20
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Opinion Pa
0
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
nxua
1998 I
The Albany News
Thursday, August 19, 1999
The Albany News
Since 1875
Oldest journalistic venture west of the Brazos
Editor / Publisher Donnie A. Lucas
Managing Editor
Melinda L. Lucas
Advertising/Business Manager
Betty Viertel
Moran Correspondent
Audrey Brooks
Office Assistant
Cindy Hughes
editorial
School
Accountability
The Albany school district received its an-
nual rating by the Texas Education Agency
this week.
The Nancy Smith Elementary campus re-
ceived. a fifth consecutive rating of "exem-
plary," the highest ranking a school can re-
ceive.
The Junior High-Senior High campus and
the Albany ISD as a whole received "recog-
nized" ratings from the state, which is just
below exemplary.
The secondary campus and district felijust
below exemplary status after receiving the
highest level three out of the last four years.
By the smallest possible margin, one-tenth of
a point, one subgroup fell short of the 90
percent passing level of the writing portion of
the TAAS test.
To obtain exemplary, a school must score
90 percent or above on the TAAS tests, not
only as a whole, but within individual ethnic
economic subgroups. The dropout rate must
be kept under one percent and attendance
above 94 percent to qualify as well. Neither
were a problem for the local district.
As was pointed out by school officials, local
students actually improved considerably over
last year's results. For the first time, test
cores of special education students were in-
luded in the equation, which if included last
^.jpeai would have kept the district off the
exemplary list in several areas of testing.
But students rose to the occasion and im-
proved the passing percentage fronpi 2 to 24
percent qcross the board.
, So while it certainly would have been nice
to continue the tradition of exemplary on all
levels, but there is no reason to be disap-
pointed. In fact, there is much to celebrate.
We have become so accustomed to receiv-
ing the very best that it could be disappoint-
ing to some when we do not maintain that
level of achievement. But it shouldn't be. We
have a lot to be proud of and 95 percent of the
schools across, the state would gladly change
places with us.
There are those who would question the
validity of rating schools and placing so much
emphasis on the TAAS test. However, there
does need to be a measuring stick of some sort
to see if teaching methods are effective and
making a difference in the lives of students.
The system isn't perfect, but it is the only
one we have right now. Flawed or not, we owe
it to our youth to offer them the best and the
most we can.
Congratulations to our students, teachers,
administrators and parents. It takes a lot of
hard work, and your efforts have not gone
unnoticed.
THE ALBANY NEWS
(USPS 012400) is published weekly for $24 per year for
subscriptions with Shackelford County, $27 per year for
subscriptions within Texas, and $30 per year for out-of-
state subscriptions by Lucas Publications Inc., 101 S.
Main, Albany, Texas 76430. Perodical purchase paid ads
postage paid at Albany, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to THE ALBANY NEWS, PO Box 278,
Albany, Texas 76430-0278.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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The publisher reserves the right to edit or
to refuse any letters. Send letters to THE
ALBANY NEWS, PO Box 278, Albany TX
76430-0278.
CORRECTIONS
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AFFILIATIONS
1999 MEMBER: Texas Press Association,
West Texas Press Association.
panderings by Pat
By Pat Lidia Jones
It was the Fall of 1946. It was
also the first day of school my
freshman year at Albany High
School. That was pretty exciting.
My family had moved to the
Roeser-Pendleton oil field camp at
Bluff Creek Ranch the year before
and I'd gotten acquainted with
grade school teachers and made
friends, but this - this was the big
time. I didn't know any of the kids
except in my class, and I didn't
know any of the teachers.
As I walked toward the
principal's office at the end of the
upstairs hall, I saw two women,
standing m the center of the hall,
chatting and smiling. Cordial as
they appeared, I don't think they
missed a single detail that went
on in their vicinity.
It was my first introduction to
the two English teachers, Miss
Helen Jackson, who taught fresh-
man and sophomore literature and
grammar, and Mrs. Sam Cannon,
who taught the same subjects to
juniors and seniors.
Those two women, made am enorr
mous impact on my life in high
school, and the .influence contin-
ues as I have grown up - every day
of my life.
Without taking anything away
from Mrs. Cannon, it was Miss
Jackson that I worshiped, and
worked to please, and to emulate.
I know now that she was about
forty-six years old. I thought she
was a hundred. She was short and
a bit chubby. She had an infec-
tious smile, and the sparkle in her
eyes could light the night. It was
love at first sight for me.
For all her smiling radiance,
she was a tough taskmaster. I'll
swear she had eyes in the back of
her head. During the literature
semester, she
read a chapter of
a classic to us each
day. She never
looked at the
book.
No one who
ever had Miss
Jackson will for-
get her quizzes.
When you arrived
for a six-week's
test or final, she
presented you
with several long
mimeographed
pages of ques-
tions. On the
blackboards at MISS HELEN
the front and side
of her classroom were questions,
top and bottom, side to side.
She waited, eraser in hand un-
til the last student finished the
questions on the first board. While
we worked on the second board's
questions, Miss Jackson filled an-
other blackboard solid, and by the
time we finished BB #2 and 3, #4
awaited us. Her questions weren't
multiple guess either or True or
False.
No. student ever finished one of
Miss Jackson's finals early.
V * ? '
For all that I have mentioned
the magic of her smile, lightning
could flash in those eyes too. She
never raised her voice when she
was displeased; she didn't have to.
One day, as she read from A
Tale of Two Cities, I read a note
from my boyfriend
that he'd passed to
me in the hall on
the way to class.
She stopped:
"I see that Miss
Lidia has found
something that is
more interesting
than our story, ana
I think she should
share her piece of
literature with all
of us. Please come
to the front of the
class and read
aloud to us, the pa-
per in your hand."
You couldn't
' refuse.
Fortunately, my boyfriend (the
one I'm married to) wrote notes
that were reminiscent of a short
telegram.
Miss Jackson built on my love
for books, an equal love for writ-
ing. She encouraged my efforts at
composing and giving book reports.
She suggested that I write a term
paper on Treasure Island in po-
etry. I'm sure it was horrible, but
she was generous with her praise.
Miss Jackson demanded from each
of us the memorization and recital
before the class, at least one hun-
dred lines of Shakespeare and po-
etry. I think all of us did it. Even
now, I still say some of it, when the
situation fits, like:
"Something's rotten in the state
of Denmark"- or
"Oh what a tangled web we
weave,
When first we practice to de-
ceive." or
"The time has come, the walrus
said,
To talk of many things."
JACKSON
as It
♦ ♦♦
Years later when I was grown, I
began to review books for women's
clubs. Miss Jackson, a fellow mem-
ber of the Albany Study Club with
me, was delighted and never failed
to give me reviewing tips and
praise.
One day when I called to con-
sult her about grammar indeci-
sion, Miss Jackson said, "Pat, we're
grown women; you can call me
Helen."
Wow l it was like a formal "com-
ing of age." I did call her Helen
sometimes, but it never came easy.
I felt more comfortable saying,
"Miss Jackson."
Miss Jackson lived to be ninety-
nine years old, and we said our
good-byes to her a couple of weeks
ago.
If everyone whose life she im-
pacted had been in Albany, the
city limits couldn't have held them.
Helen Jackson was truly unique.
By Emalyn (Sam) Gilli'spie
Comanche and Kiowa scouts
had been out in the area of Fort
Belknap and discovered a valley
that was virtually unprotected.
The men were off fighting in the
Civil War; some had gone to the
mill in, Weatherford to get much
needed flour for the coming winter.
Rangers Stationed at a nearby fort
were out on an Indian scouting
trip.
, This situation left the area with
a number of women and children
alone when between 500 and 700
Indians rode in to collect cattle
and horses.
The hostiles led by Comanche
Chief Little Buffalo rode in on the
Elm Creek Community with little
warning,The day was October 13,
1864. It was later learned that
this was the last raid by
Comanches in Texas.
Peter Harmanson and his son
Perry were out hunting for their
stock when they spotted the large
party of Indians. Young Perry was
still nursing a wound he had
received several weeks earlier,
which he had barely escaped with
his scalp. Perry was able to get off
. a shot, which killed the leader of
the group: The Harmonsons
headed for the brush along a
nearby creek and after the Indians
decided not to chase them they
made their way to Fort Murrah to
warn the Rangers. When they
reached the new fort, it was
discovered that the group of
Rangers stationed there were out
on a scouting party.
The next casualty was Joel
Miers who was out looking for his
oxen. He was left dead and scalped.
William George Wooten saw the
Indians approaching his cabin and
he mounted his horse and rode for
Fort Belknap to warn the people.
He was in a running fight with an
Indian he recognized from seeing
at Camp Cooper. Wobten had his
horse shot from under him. He
made his way to the fort on foot.
Wooten was not believed when
he reported the raid because he
was known to tell tall tales. It was
only later when others had made
their way to the fort that his story
was believed.
Many stories came out about
that day in October 1864 about
the heroism of the settlers. Thomas
Hambv hid his family among the
cliffs which were located near his
home.
Dr . Thomas Wilson hid his wife,
two daughters and infant son in
an old cistern and covered it with
a large rock Then he rode off and
left them so he could warn the
William Bragg family.
Sally Williams gathered a group
of women and children together
and they hid all. that day in some
briars and plum thicket, which
grew at the bottom of the creek.
Sally show her tremendous
courage when she helped free a
Mrs. Stanley after her long looped
braids got caught in a tree as she
was going down the creek bank.
The witnesses said that Sally
Williams had a pocket knife with
her and she crawled up the bank
and cut the braid to release Mrs,
Stanley before she could be seen
by the Indians who could be heard
shouting and hollering close by.
The fight at the George Bragg
Ranch lasted six hours. It started
with an Indian, later identified as
Satine, blowing a bugle. And in
this fight, Dr. Wilson, who had-
come to warn people, was killed by
an arrow. The raid ended with the
blowing of the bugle when Chief
Little Buffalo was killed. Next the
Indians came upon the Carter
Ranch.
Only women and children were
there. The women put up a fight,
but in the end Mrs. Cartes-
Fitzpatrick's daughter wis
brutally killed and the Indiaiis
made Mrs. Carter watch as Milly
was beat and tomahawked. Most
of the captives taken in the raid
occurred at this place. Mrs. Carter,
her son Elijah Joseph Carter,
Lottie Durkin, and Milly Jane, a
pregnant lady named Mary
Johnson and her son and daughter .
The captives were put on horses
and the Indians left the area»
killing more people on their way
back toward Oklahoma territory.
The stories are many about this
raid. Barbara Neal Ledbetter hag
done extensive research on this
subject and James Dosher wrote
about it in his diary.
round and about
By Emalyn (Sam) GUlispie
Albany has seen their people trav-
eling a great deal this summer. The
Clacks were in Europe, Joie Parsons
and two grandchildren have returned
from a trip to Yellow Stone National
Park. Holly and John Bernard have
just returned from a week spent in
Louisiana and Florida. The Spurgins
covered 13 states and Canada. They
went to Niagra Falls, Mammoth Caves
and did the Hershey Candy Factory
in Pennsylvania. They were gone three
weeks and covered 4300 miles. They
came back to Flower Mound, Texas in
time to attend "their granddaughter
tatiitt Eubanks uecOnd bmhday.
vitntener m"fehe home of her father.
Whitby George, was Bettye Anderson
and her three sons, Creedence, Forrest
and Lorenzo. They are from La Quinta,
California. Bettye said this wa» the
best five weeks ever-
Frank Perry was in town last week.
He said it was hot and dry out at the
Tecumseh Ranch. He was worried
about the dry grass. He said they
need rain bad.
Ann Newcomb is home in Brown-'
wood. She spent several days down at
Temple. She is much improved and
her son Jimmy York has returned
home to Palestine to Levelland later
in the week.
It was learned in Albany last week
tha t a long time resident of Fort Grif-
fin died in Gorman. William Chan-
dler was the son of Lettie Newcomb
Chandler and the nephew of Art and
George Newqomb. He was 91 at the
time of his death. He grew up in Fort
Griffin and had many friends and
family in the area.
My son Paul Hensley came in the
other afternoon and asked me if I
would help him get a rattlesnake out
of the back of his pick-up. Oyer the
years I have had many strange re-
quests but that took the number one
prize. It seems he had been working
at a local ranch and had picked up
some trash and when he arrived at
the dump ground and started to un«
load he had an extra passenger. When
he tried to catch it, it went under his
large tool box and he needed help in
moving it. I had all kind's of advice for
him but the only way to remove the
thing was to remove the tool box.
Needless to say I did my share with
real finesse. When we got the box
moved out it was a relief to discover
the snake had met with an accident.
The tool box had shifted and mashed
the sucker. Paul kept saying, "it's just
a small snake." It was only about 12
inches long and had a button. But,
that kind can bite just the same as a
big one and with the same results. Oh
the life a mother leads.
I went fishing this weekend but it
was so hot we fished at night. A few
small bass were taken on minnow .
Sure will be glad when the weather
cools off.
Please be careful in this heat if you
have to be outside.
This is Sam
And I will see you Round and About
AUG.
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AUG. 20
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SEPT. 4-5
SEPT.6
Community Calendar
18 City council - City Hall, 5 pm
18-22 Power Team - AHS gymnasium, 7 pm
19 Lions Club - Icehouse, 12 noon
GED class - Resource Center, 6-8 pm
Masons - Masonic Hall, 7 pm
Senior Day luncheon - Youth Center, 11:30 am
Chamber luncheon - Icehouse, 12 noon
AA &, Al-Anon - Call 762-2447 for location, 8 pm
Skeet Shoot - Fandangle grounds, 11 am
Commissioners court - Courthouse, 9 am
County budget workshop - Courthouse, 1 pm
Parent Forum - NSES cafeteria, 6:307:30 pm
Toast masters - Courthouse, 6:30 pm
Athletic Booster Club - High school, 6:30 pm
School board - Supt.'s office, 7 pm
GED class - Resource Center, 6-8 pm
Albany Chest directors meeting - Jones Company
board room, 5:30 pm
Labor Day golf tournament - Albany Golf Course,
8:30 am & 1:30 pm
AMP production - Whitney Theater, 6:30 pm
Saturday & 2 pm Sunday
LABOR DAY - SCHOOL HOLIDAY
21
23
24
30
FIRST
NATIONAL
BANK
Albany/Breckenridge
MEMatIt f QIC
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 19, 1999, newspaper, August 19, 1999; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth413238/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.