The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 130, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 22, 2005 Page: 3 of 12
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Thursday, September 22, 2005
The Albany News
Pace 3
of NEWS from
Nancy Swith^l^ert/>ry School
Tax abatement agreement okayed
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« LUNCH MENUS
Menus are for elementary
and junior/senior high
September 26 - 30
Monday - grill cheese, vegetable
beef soup, broc/ranch, fruit cup,
crackers
Tuesday - tacos, rice, pinto
beans, lettuce, tomato, fresh fruit
Wednesday - chicken fried
steak, au gratin potatoes, mixed
vegetables, hot rolls, Jello
Thursday - spaghetti, corn,
tossed salad, bread sticks, fruit
cobbler
Friday - chicken patty on bun,
southwest beans, tater tots, apple
1 SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Last Thursday, students
in grades three through six
received a special treat when
U.S. Naval instructor and
former pilot Blaine Tompkins
visited the campus. Tompkins
was in Albany with family
and friends at the Stasney
Ranch when arrangements
were made for him to make a
presentation to the students.
Tompkins told of his de-
sire at an early age to become
a pilot and his perseverance
to reach his dream. A gradu-
ate of Texas A&M Univer-
sity, Mr. Tompkins entered
the U.S. Navy and trained to
become a pilot. He has re-
cently served in Iraq and is
now serving his country as an
instructor.
The students watched a
video that Mr. Tompkins had
brought along to share. Then
Tompkins showed students
the equipment that he wore
when flying the Hornet air-
craft. Mr. Tompkins ex-
plained to the students that
the aircraft carrier on which
he was stationed was large
enough to house 6,000 people!
Students and teachers ap-
preciate the Lance Thomases
for arranging his visit.
$ HURRICANE FUNDS
Sixth graders are busy col-
lecting money for Hurricane
Katrina survivors. The stu-
dents along with their home-
room teachers, Luanne Walk-
er and Prairie Wilson, are en-
couraging other Nancy Smith
students and teachers to join
them in an effort to help those
displaced persons who suf-
fered in the recent storm in
the New Orleans area.
Last Friday, several of the
sixth grade girls baked cook-
ies and, with permission from
the administration, sold the
cookies before the football
game. The efforts paid off as
the girls earned over $300 for
the Katrina project.
Collection at the school has
been slow, so Tuesday of this
week, the sixth graders is-
sued a challenge to the entire
school to sacrifice some of the
extra money spent on ice
cream and donate to the
Katrina project. At the end of
lunch that day, the bucket
labeled "A Dollar a Day Wipes
the Tears Away" contained
over $20!
The sixth grade is hoping
to find a school in the Gulf
Coast area to adopt. The
money collected will be sent
to that school.
✓✓✓
Rod Pruitt, Region 14 Con-
sultant for Safe and Drug-free
Schools, will be on campus
Monday, to present informa-
tion to teachers and students
on bullying and harassment.
According to a previous
workshop given by Mr. Pruitt,
"Students cannot learn when
they are busy watching their
backs." Thus it is important
for students to become aware
of what constitutes bullying
and how to react to it.
A bulletin board in the fifth
and sixth grade wing gives
advice to students who are
targeted by bullies.
✓✓✓
"Pride of Albany" t-shirts
are in the process of being
made and should be ready for
distribution on Monday ac-
cording to Tisha Wilkins who
spearheaded the project.
✓W
This week in the Kinder-
garten classes, students are
working on recognizing, writ-
ing and counting numbers 0-
4 and one-to-one correspon-
dence.
In their language class,
these young students are
learning the vowel Aa and
sight words: the and my.
It's time for apples! Kinder-
garteners sampled different
varieties of apples and each
child brought an apple to
school to be used in several
ways. They have studied the
growth of a tree, made apple
prints dnd apple tree puzzles,
and discussed sequencing
with the changing of the tree
throughout the seasons.
The students constructed
an apple quilt and learned
about Johnny Appleseed.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Shackelford County Commis-
sioners met briefly Tuesday
morning with attorney Alan
Carmichael to approve a tax
abatement agreement with RES
(USA) Inc., a Texas-based sub-
sidiary of Renewable Energy
Systems of Great Britain, and
set a date for a required public
hearing.
Carmichael, a partner in the
Sweetwater law firm of Steakley,
Wetsel and Carmichael, has been
representing the county in abate-
ment negotiations with RES, the
company that is planning tocon-
struct a wind farm in southwest-
ern Shackelford County.
RES representatives first pro-
posed a 10-year tax abatement
plan of 90 percent for three years,
70 percent for four years and 50
percent for the last three years.
With negotiations almost com-
pleted, Carmichael said Tues-
day that according to the latest
contract draft, RES investors
will receive 60 percent tax abate-
ments for five years and 40 per-
cent for the remaining five years
of the 10-year period. ,
Only two minor points in the
contract remain to be settled, he
stated, involving arbitration dis-
putes and default provisions.
County Judge Ross Montgom-
ery said Tuesday that the multi-
million dollar wind farm project
is expected to benefit the county
and other entities for years to
Come.
The contract, as presented by
Carmichael, was approved
unanimously by the commission-
ers, pending finalization of the
two disputed items.
The first phase of the Mes-
quite Wind Project will involve
31,700 acres in the Hambyarea,
with property tax revenue ben-
efitting both the county govern-
ment and the Shackelford
County Hospital District. Al-
though the first and second
phases of the project are in the
Clyde school district, RES rep-
resentatives have stated that
Phase 3 will extend into the Al-
bany ISD.
The company expects to be-
gin the project in the next few
months, with plans to be online
during 2007.
The huge wind turbines, with
a 2 megawatt capacity, are typi-
cally valued somewhere about
$1.5 to $2 million each. RES
originally presented a plan for
50 turbines, but now may con-
struct 100 windmills with the
same investors. Eventually, the
Shackelford County wind farm
is expected to generate 350 to
400 megawatts of electrical
power.
Clack authors new children's book
Albany resident Barbra Clack
is the newest children's author
being published by Bright Sky
Press, with her first book, The
Pledge of Allegiance, now on
bookshelves.
Clack, who is both an artist
and a teacher, currently teaches
third grade at North Elemen-
tary School in Breckenridge.
"As a third grade teacher, I
have learned that the Pledge
needs some explanation," said
the author. "Daily rote recita-
tion of the Pledge does not nec-
essarily translate into under-
standing. I use this explanation
with my classes - and have for
many years now.
"I hope this paraphrased and
illuminated text helps children
understand that indeed a pledge
is a promise."
In addition to writing the text
for the book, Clack also illus-
trated the brightly colored vol-
ume, using collages and pastel
pencils.
It targets children ages seven
through 10,butallagescan learn
from the facts that Clack pre-
sents.
"For well over 100 years, each
school day across America, chil-
dren have stood to say The
Pledge of Allegiance," related
Leslie Little of Bright Sky.
"Barbra explains through para-
phrases and beautiful drawings
that 'a pledge is a promise.' She
guides the reader through each
part of The Pledge with mean-
ingful, illuminated texts de-
signed to spark questions and
build an understanding of the
principles put forth.
"The author has taken the
simple idea of a daily recitation
and given children a fresh way
to think about what they are
saying."
Clack has taught art on the
Navajo Indian Reservation in
80+ cyclists to ride through town
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Somewhere between 80 and
100 bicyclists and their support-
ers are expected to ride through
Albany this Saturday morning,
September 24 as a part of the
Big Country Balloon Fest's first
annual "Poker Run."
According to Chamber of
Commerce manager Chuck
Senter, the 160-mile bicycle ride
will start at Red Bud Park in
Abilene at 8:00 a.m., although
' participants may start anytime
up to 11:00 a.m. They will travel
through downtown Abilene,
down Hwy. 351 to Albany, and
then head to Baird, Oplin, Potosi,
Buffalo Gap, Abilene State Park
and back to Abilene.
The bicyclists will make a stop
in Albany, and Senter has listed
several points of interest for the
group, including shopping, the
Old Jail Art Center, Albany
Labyrinth and Georgia Monu-
ment.
Also, the Chamber is provid-
ing bottles of water for the cy-
clists, with Cara Richards dis-
tributing the bottles at Albany
Rentals as the riders come into
town.
Ml JS T CALL TO EMPOLL
TheD ance Theatre
' • V f :
Compantj
ISSGS -Start ( Vtclx r 3
Cla:
/\cl«'S v ^ - I S
Betstj Black Parsons - 325/762-2547
Melissa Jones - 325/945-3941
Shiprock, New Mexico and in
economically disadvantaged
communities in the Ozark Moun-
tains, as well as in Texas public
schools.
In addition to her work as a
third grade classroom teacher,
she is a campus technology con-
sultant and also teaches a four-
week summer art class called
"My Dog Could Do That!" for
high school students at the Old
Jail Art Center.
Clack holds a BA degree from
Ouachita Baptist University and
has studied art in the MFA pro-
gram at the University of Ar-
kansas and mural painting in
Guadalajara, Mexico.
Sheryl Spore / Alrany News
,, Hand Picked
Wedding Selections
Local educator, artist, and now newly published author
Barbra Clack looks through her new childen's book.
^ ESS; £>:K esse; esks SSKS K
1>Y
Crystal Armstrong
bride elect of (Jdam Viertel
Lara Woods
bride elect of Brent Perr^ .
Bobbie Johnston
bride elect of Jostin Hotcl)ison\
Brandee Todd
bride elect of David Miller
Bidnton-taldivell'i
I Next Door Store
117 S. Main St. 762-2370
Hours M-S \ 10-5:30
JEFF DAVIS, P.T.
announces that
ALBANY PHYSICAL THERAPY
at the
RURAL CARE CLINIC
will close its practice on September 30.
I want to thank you for your support and
partronage over the last few years.
1 will still be available
for athlete consultations
668-0645
PUBLIC NOTICE
BRIEF EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS OF PROPOSED
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
SPECIAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 8, 2005
The 11th annual Big Country
Balloon Fest is sponsored by the
Abilene Unlimited Optimists
Club. The event is the major
fundraiser for youth programs
and scholarships in Abilene and
the Big Country area towns.
Card of Thanks —
Thank you for all the prayers,
food, cards, phone calls and flow-
ers during this time of loss. We
appreciate you all.
The Gordon Westray Family
PROPOSITION I (HJR 54)
HJR 54 would crcalc a Texas rail relo-
cation and improvement fund in the
state treasury and would authorize
grants of state revenue and issuance of
public debt to relocate, rehabilitate, and
expand privately and publicly owned
passenger and freight rail facilities and
to construct railroad underpasses and
overpasses.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows: "The constitu-
tional amendment creating the Texas
rail relocation and improvement
fund and authorizing grants of
money and issuance of obligations for
financing the relocation, rehabilita-
tion, and expansion of rail facilities."
PROPOSITION 2 (HJR 6)
HJR 6 would provide that marriage in
Texas is solely the union of a man and
woman, and that the state and its politi-
cal subdivisions could not crcatc or rec-
ognize any legal status identical to or
similar to marriage, including such
legal status relationships created out-
side of Texas.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows: "The constitu-
tional amendment providing that
marriage in this state consists only of
the union of one man and one woman
and prohibiting this state or a politi-
cal subdivision of this state from cre-
ating or recognizing any legal status
identical or similar to marriage."
PROPOSITION 3 (HJR 80)
HJR 80 would provide that local eco-
nomic development program loans or
grants (other than debts sccurcd by a
pledge of ad valorem taxes or financed
by the issuance of any bonds or other
obligations payable from ad valorem
taxes) do not constitute or crcatc debt
Any provision of state constitutional
law that may prohibit or limit the
authority of a political subdivision of
the state to incur debt docs not apply to
those loans or grants,
The proposition will appear on the bal-
lot as follows: "The constitutional
amendment clarifying that certain
economic development programs do
not constitute a debt."
PROPOSITION 4 (SJR 17)
SJR 17 would authorize a district judge
to deny reinstatement of bail or new bail
to a person accused of a felony, if the
person's bail had been revoked or for-
feited as a result of the person's viola-
tion of a condition of release related to
the safety of a victim of the alleged
offense or to the safety of the communi-
ty-
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows: "The constitu-
tional amendment authorizing the
denial of bail to a criminal defendant
who violates a condition of the defen-
dant's release pending trial."
PROPOSITION 5 (SJR 21)
SJR 21 would authorize the Legislature
to exempt commercial loans from state
usury laws that set maximum interest
rates. "Commercial loans" arc loans
made primarily for business, commer-
cial, investment, agricultural, or similar
purposes and not primarily for personal,
family, or household purposes.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows: "The consti-
tutional amendment allowing the leg-
islature to define rates of interest lor
commercial loans."
PROPOSITION 6 (HJR 87)
HJR 87 would increase the size of the
State Commission on Judicial Conduct
from eleven to thirteen members by
increasing from four to five the number
of public members and by adding a con-
stitutional county court judge, The
additions would ensure that the com-
mission has an odd number of mem-
bers, which is required by another pro-
vision of the state constitution.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows: "The constitu-
tional amendment to include one
additional public member and a con-
stitutional county court judge in the
membership of the State Commission
on Judicial Conduct."
PROPOSITION 7 (SJR 7)
SJR 7 would authorize new options for
reverse mortgage agreements for senior
homeowners allowing them to draw
advances at unscheduled intervals, if
and when needed, and only in the
amounts needed, during the loan term.
These are in addition to options that
would allow a lump sum payment alter
settlement or regular periodic, predeter-
mined equal amounts over a term of
years or the lifetime of the homeowner.
Additionally, SJR 7 would: (I) prohibit
the agreement from requiring the use of
a credit card, debit card or similar
device to obtain an advance; (2) prohib-
it the charge or collection of a transac-
tion fee solely in connection with any
debit or advance, after the time the
extension of credit is established; and
(3) prohibit the lender or holder from
unilaterally amending the extension of
credit.
The proposition will appear on the bal-
lot as follows: "The constitutional
amendment authorizing line-of-cred-
it advances under a reverse mort-
Uage."
PROPOSITION 8 (SJR 40)
SJR 40 would clear individual land
titles by relinquishing and releasing all
claims of state ownership interests,
including mineral interests, in two local
areas, namely, a roughly 4,600 acre area
loeated roughly 14 miles southeast of
Gilmer. Texas, and a separate 900 acre
area located north of Tyler, Texas.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows: "The constitu-
tional amendment providing for Ihe
clearing of land titles by relinquish-
ing and releasing any slate claim to
sovereign ownership or title to inter-
est in certain land in llpshur County
and in Smith County."
PROPOSITION 9 (HJR 79)
HJR 79 would authorize the Legislature
to provide staggered six year terms of
office for board members serving on
regional mobility authorities, with no
more than one-third of the board posi-
tions being appointed every two years.
The proposition will appear on the bal-
lot as follows: "The constitutional
amendment authorizing the legisla-
ture to provide for a six-year term for
a board member of a regional mobil-
ity authority."
Published by Secretary nf State Roger
Williams, www.sos.state.tx.iis, 1.800.
mm i
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Lucas, Melinda L. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 130, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 22, 2005, newspaper, September 22, 2005; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth413637/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.