The Harper News (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, April 24, 2009 Page: 2 of 8
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page 2
j From the Editor
Thanks to Volunteers
This week (April 19-25)
is National Volunteer Week.
I want to thank the many
volunteers who keep
Harper running. I’ll start
with the volunteers at the
fire department. They
respond in the middle of
the night, they pay for
training and they raise
money to keep the equip-
ment at the department up
to date. Most emergencies
don’t happen at a conven-
ient time, yet they drop
everything and come to
the rescue! Saturday, they
will be out in force raising
money at the annual bar-
becue. A note of apprecia-
tion also to the ladies who
bake cakes for dessert and
for auction. What a great
way to help!
One of the most thank-
less jobs in town is that of
the Park Board. The place
requires enormous upkeep
and maintenence; people
continuously dump person-
al garbage in the barrels.
They complain, yet seldom
volunteer to help out with
the day to day needs.
Many of those on the Park
Board have been there for
a long time, yet continue to
work for Harper.
The Pioneer Museum is
also run completely by vol-
unteers. Their board meets
every other month from
March through November
to keep the museum open
on Sundays from April
through October.
The library is also run by
volunteers who keep the
library open thirty-six
hours every week (Tuesday
and Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.
to 6:00 p.m., Thursday 9:00
a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m.) In addition these vol-
unteers clean, process
books and materials, raise
money, write grants and
provide educational pro-
gramming for children and
adults (Summer Reading
Club and Adult Literacy).
This past year they have
run a resale shop to sup-
port the library which
required an additional two
hundred to three hundred
volunteer hours each
month!
There are those volun-
teers at school who help
tutor, raise money and
generally help the class-
room teachers to be suc-
cessful! These include the
PTO parents and the various
booster clubs. Extra-cur-
ricular activities would be
hard put to continue with-
out their help!
Finally there are church
volunteers and those who
drive for “Meals on
Wheels,” help with “Food 4
Kids,” drive for the Needs
Council and man the Harper
Help Center which hands
out food and other neces-
sities for those in need.
What is surprising is that
the same volunteers work
in several places each
week/month. They help
with church activities, fight
fires, drive the ambulance,
man the library desk or
resale shop and volunteer
at school. All of Harper
owes thanks to these indi-
viduals. They are the heart
of Harper and make good
things happen!
Thank you Volunteers!!!
Plans
I have been editor/pub-
lisher of this newspaper for
five and one half years. I
have enjoyed most of that
time, however I am plan-
ning to quit this job in
about four and one half
more years. There are a
few other things I’d like to
have time to do—I have
several quilt projects to
finish and at least two or
three scrapbooking proj-
ects. I’d like to have a big-
ger and better garden and
I have several projects
around my house that I
never seem to get done.
So I’m giving early
warning that soon (in
2013) I will quit this job
whether or not anyone
else comes along to take it
over. I’d even entertain an
earlier offer if it came
along.
The deadline
for the next issue
is Monday,
May 4, 2009
The Harper News
-va-tiems- . J
April 24, 2009
to ries
Gene Bode
Colorado -1961
Howdy again.
One night as I was closing
the warehouse and filling
station for the night (hours
back then were 7:00 a.m. to
10:00 p.m. every day), my
old buddy, Bob Brown came
by. He said, “Get your
clothes. Let’s go to
Colorado hunting.”
I asked when we were
going.
He said, “In the morning
at 5:00 a.m.,” which really
didn’t leave a lot of prepa-
ration time.
You know me—I stay
‘purty’ ready to make a
hunt most anytime. Never
did like working too many
hours without taking time
to think about hunting a lit-
tle, too.
In the group were Mr.
Ervin Brown, Clint Brown,
Chester Brown, Benny Cobb,
L.D. Gephart and myself.
Two pickups, two trailers
and four horses. Got butane
for the pickup at Levelland.
Had a flat on the trailer
about the New Mexico state
line.
Got just inside the
Colorado line about 10:00
p.m. that night. We stopped
by the side of the highway,
unloaded the horses, fed
them, put a tarp down and
rolled out the ol’ bed rolls.
Cold?!! I imagine! Frost
everywhere.
Next morning made it to
Pagosa Springs. Got our
licenses and supplies and
drove to Wolf Creek Pass.
Unloaded the horses and
packed up. We had to ride
through some private land.
The gate was only three feet
wide so you could not drive
any vehicles in there.
Rode in an d set up camp.
Put up tents and made sup-
per. I stayed in Bob and
Clint’s tent, didn’t sleep
much—too much snoring.
Started raining. Cold and
wet.
Bob, Mr. Ervin and Clint
left on horseback before we
did. Bob shot a nice bull elk.
Spent the rest of the day
cutting him up and carrying
him out.
Hunted for two more
days. Didn’t see much. It
was raining and snowing
NRCS Accepts Applications for Farm and
Ranch Lands Protection Program
TEMPLE, TEXAS, April 10,
2009 - The USDA Natural
Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) is accepting
applications for the Farm
and Ranch Lands Protection
Program (FRPP), a voluntary
conservation program that
helps farmers and ranchers
keep their land in agricul-
ture.
Eligible entities can
apply at any time, but must
submit applications on or
before June 1,2009, to
receive consideration for
funding in fiscal year 2009.
FRPP provides funds to
help purchase development
rights to keep productive
farmland in agricultural
uses. Working through
existing programs, the NRCS
joins State, tribal, or local
governments and non-gov-
ernmental organizations to
acquire conservation ease-
ments.
Only eligible entities may
submit applications of eligi-
ble faWn and ranch land.
Eligible entities are State,
tribal or local governments
and non-governmental
organizations that meet
specific requirements. The
entities must have an estab-
lished farm and ranch land
protection program.
The FRPP can provide up
to 50 percent of the
appraised fair market value
of the easement on the farm
or ranch. At least 50 per-
cent of the appraised fair
market value of the ease-
ment must be provided by
the eligible entity.
Land proposed for fund-
ing in FRPP must meet one
of three eligibility cate-
gories:
I contain at least fifty per-
cent prime and unique
farmland soils and soils of
statewide and local impor-
tance
I contain historic or arche-
ological resources
1 contain land that supports
the farm and ranch land
protection policies of state
or local programs
FRPP has enrolled over
620,000 acres on 3,100 farms
and ranches since Congress
first authorized the pro-
gram in 1996. More infor-
mation, including the appli-
cation forms and ranking
criteria, can be found at
www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/pro-
grams/frpp/index.html.
For more information,
call Tom Hammer at the
NRCS field office in
Fredericksburg, 830-997-
3349 ext. 3. The address is
1906 North Llano
Street, #106,
Fredericksburg, TX 78624.
Gillespie County Annual
Beef and Range Field Day
With spring arriving, it is
time to mark your calendar
for the annual Gillespie
County Beef & Range Field
Day on Thursday, May 14,
2009. This year’s location
will be the Gillespie County
Fairgrounds Show Barn.
Registration is at 4:00 p.m.,
with the educational pro-
grams beginning around
5:00 p.m.
The registration fee
is $10.00 per person and will
include: program material,
barbeque meal at 7:00 p.m.
and 2 hours of continuing
education credits: 2 general
toward the renewal of a
private applicator’s pesti-
cide license. The registra-
tion deadline is May
11,2009. Tickets for this
event can be purchased
from the Texas AgriLife
Extension Service at 95
Frederick Road or the
Natural Resource
Conservation Service at
1906 N. Llano, Suite 106 in
Fredericksburg.
Educational programs
will be presented by Dr. Rick
Machen, Texas AgriLife
Extension Service Livestock
Specialist and Wade Polk,
Texas AgriLife Extension \
Service Program Specialist -
Risk Management.
This year there will be)
educational booths, includ-
ing Dow AgroSciences
LLC, Grazing Lands b
Conservation Initiative, /
Gillespie Chapter of Edwards
Plateau Prescribed Burn
Association, Southwest
Texas Solar and Turner
Seed Company, setup for
attendees to visit.
An added attraction will
be a Plant Identification
exhibit by Willard Dearing,
retired NRCS. Mr. Dearing
will also attempt to identify
any mystery plants brought
by
field day attendees, if you
have a plant that you would
like to be identified, pull it
up (roots included) the
morning of the field day and
bring it in a sealed plastic
bag.
The field day is being
sponsored by the Gillespie
County Soil & Water
Conservation District, USDA
Natural Resource
Conservation Service,
Texas AgriLife Extension
Service, and Gillespie County
Extension Program
Council Agricultural
Committees.
All programs and infor-
mation of the Texas AgriLife
Extension Service serve
people of all ages regard-
less of socioeconomic level,
race, color, sex, religion,
disability or national origin.
We will seek to provide rea-
sonable accommodations
for all persons with disabili-
ties for this meeting. Please
contact the Extension office
at (830)997-3452 or Tom
Hammer at (830)997-3349
ext.. 3 by May 7, 2009 to
advise of the auxiliary aid or
service that you will
require.
Do You Know the ABCs of Diabetes
EveCare America
Provides Free Dilated Eve
Exams and up to One Year of
Care to Help Protect Seniors
with Diabetes from Vision
Loss
Did you know that an
estimated 17.9 million
Americans have been diag-
nosed with diabetes and
another 57 million people
are at risk of getting the
disease?
What many of these indi-
viduals may not know is that
all people with diabetes -
both type 1 and type 2 - are
at risk for getting diabetic
retinopathy, a leading cause
of vision loss among adults
in the United States. In fact,
people with diabetes are 25
times more likely to lose
their vision than those with-
out the disease.
So this April, EyeCare
America is asking Americans
with diabetes to know the
ABCs of diabetes and eye
health?
A - Alert your Eye M.D. if
you have been diagnosed
with diabetes;
B - Be sure to have your
eyes examined regularly;
C - Call 1 -800-272-EYES
(3937), if you are 65 or older
and without an ophthalmol-
ogist, to see if you qualify
for a no-cost dilated eye
exam through EyeCare
America’s Diabetes EyeCare
Program.
By following these simple
steps EyeCare America
hopes to help protect sen-
iors from preventable vision
loss caused by diabetes.
“Diabetes causes up to
24,000 new cases of vision
loss each year,” said C. Pat
and Eye Health?
Wilkinson, MD, ophthalmol-
ogist and chairman of
EyeCare America’s Diabetes
EyeCare Program. “What
people don’t know is that
early detection, timely
treatment and appropriate
follow-up care can reduce
their risk of blindness by 95
percent even for people
with established and signifi-
cant diabetic retinopathy.”
Diabetic retinopathy is
caused by changes in the
blood vessels of the retina.
In some people with diabet-
ic retinopathy, blood vessels
may swell and leak fluid. In
other people, abnormal
new blood vessels grow on
the surface of the retina. In
its early stages, diabetic
retinopathy usually has no
warning signs. Overtime,
however, the vision blurs
and everyday tasks become
more difficult. Vision loss
cannot usually be regained.
EyeCare America’s
Diabetes EyeCare Program is
designed for people who:
•Are age 65 and older
•Are U.S. citizens or legal
residents
• Have not seen an oph-
thalmologist in three or
more years
• Do not have insurance
through an HMO or the VA
People eligible for a
referral through the pro-
gram receive a comprehen-
sive, medical eye exam and
up to one year of care at no
out-of-pocket cost for any
disease diagnosed during
the initial exam. Volunteer
ophthalmologists accept
Medicare and/or other
insurance reimbursement as
payment in full. Individuals
without insurance are seen
at no charge.
For a Diabetes EyeCare
Program referral, those
interested may call
1.800.272.EYES (3937) toll-
free, 24 hours a day, every
day, year round.
To learn more about dia-
betic retinopathy, its risk
factors and treatment
options; view informative
videos; and to learn how
your vision would be affect-
ed by diabetic retinopathy,
visit
www.evecareamerlca.ora.
About EyeCare America
Founded in 1985, EyeCare
America, a public service
program of the Foundation
of the American Academy of
Ophthalmology, is commit-
ted to the preservation of
sight, accomplishing its mis-
sion through public service
and education. EyeCare
America's (ECA) public serv-
ice programs provide eye
care services to the med-
ically underserved and for
those at increased risk for
eye disease through its
corps of 7,000 volunteer
ophthalmologists dedicated
to serving their communi-
ties. More than 90 percent
of the care made available
is provided with no out-of-
pocket cost to the patients.
Public service includes pro-
grams for seniors, glauco-
ma, diabetes, AMD and chil-
dren. EyeCare America, the
largest program of its kind
in American medicine has
helped more than 1 million
people since its inception in
1985. More information can
be found at: www.eye-
careamerica.org
again. It came time for me
and Bob to start back home.
I remember riding horse-
back on some of those
mountain trails. If you
kicked a rock off, you could
not see or hear it hit bot-
tom. Very steep and slip-
pery. Made it back safe and
sound.
Never forgot Benny Cobb.
We were eating one
evening and someone said
that some person had just
passed away. Benny, in his
slow-talking voice, said,
“I’ve thought a lot about
dying. The thing that both-
ers me is how long you are
gonna be dead!”
Thank the good Lord for
the time off to hunt.
Stay well and healthy.
See you next time.
(Editor’s note: This is only
one of Gene’s hunting sto-
ries. All the rest are avail-
able in his new book, Me and
My Old Winchester 270: A
Lifetime of Hunting Stories
with Pictures. They are on
sale at Bode’s Feed and
Supply.)
Quote of the Week
“ No man's lije, liberty orproperty is
safe wfiife the CegisCature is in session.”
-Mark Twain (1866)
(Note: You are invited to submit your favorites.)
Veteran Benefits Updates
Gillespie County Veterans
Service Officer, Tami Elliott,
announces the following
recent Veterans updates
and changes to benefits:
a. All Veterans who are
receiving checks from the
VA are encouraged to
establish Direct Deposit.
There were over 70,000 VA
checks fraudulently
endorsed in 2008. You can
call 1 -800-333-1795 to set
up your direct deposit.
b. The Dept of Defense
has determined that PTSD
does not meet the criteria
for award of the Purple
Heart.
c. The Texas Veterans
Land Board is offering a _
percentage point discount
for Veterans who have a
disability rating of 30% or
higher on home loans.
d. Veterans are remind-
ed that when they update
their address and telephone
number with the VA Health
Care System, you must also
update it with the Benefits
side of the VA. The Veterans
Benefits Administration
(VBA) and the Veterans
Health Administration (VHA)
computer systems do not
update the other system.
This would also pertain to
Veterans who receive an
increase in Service
Connected Disability
Compensation or if you are
awarded the Non-Service
Connected Pension, you
must also notify the VA
Hospital you are enrolled in
so your profile is updated.
This is especially important
because many of these pro-
grams may reduce or elimi-
nate your co-pays with the
health system. Contact the
VBA at 1 -800-827-1000.
For additional informa-
tion please contact Tami
Elliott, Gillespie County
Veterans Service Officer at
997-3758.
Hearing Aids & Eyeglasses
for Veterans
Tami Elliott, Gillespie County Veterans Service Officer
announces that effective October 28, 2008 the VA has
expanded eligibility for Hearing Aids and Eyeglasses for
Veterans. All Veterans enrolled in the VA Health Care sys-
tem are entitled to these, to include batteries and repair of
non-VA hearing aids. Veterans in Health Care Priority
Groups 6-8 may have a co-pay for Audiology Services, but
not for the Hearing Aids. For additional information con-
tact Tami Elliott, Gillespie County Veterans Service Officer
at 997-3758.
The Harper News
Policies:
•Letters to the editor must be accompanied by full name,
address and phone number and may be edited for length and
clarity. Letter writers may be limited to one letter every thirty
days. Form letters will not be published.
•Errors and omissions: The advertiser agrees that the Publisher
shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors and adver-
tisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occu-
pied by that portion of the advertisement containing the error,
whether the error is due to the negligence of the publisher,
employees or otherwise, and there shall be no liability for non-
insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such
advertisement.
•The Publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates
without notice.
The Harper News
is Owned and Published by Martha Stevens
The Hamer News
23797West U. S. Highway 290
P. 0. Box 577, Harper, TX 78631 -0577
Martha Stevens - Editor/Publisher
email - hnews@ktc.com
Phone/Fax - 830 864-5655
Subscription rates:
$20.00 locally (Gillespie Cty. and/or a
Harper address), $21.00 out of county,
and $22.00 out of state
Published twice a month
A minimum of 1000 copies of this paper are
printed by the Kerrville Daily Times. We have 440 paid
subscriptions and distribute another 100 to local mer-
chants.
USPS Bulk rate Permit #104
(Postmaster: Send address changes to:
The Harper News, P. 0. Box 577,
Harper, Texas 78631-0577)
Send subscriptions to: The Harper News.
P. 0. Box 577, Harper, TX 78631 -0577
1 year -$20.00 in Gillespie County or with Harper
address, $21.00 out of county,
and $22.00 out of state. .
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Stevens, Martha. The Harper News (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, April 24, 2009, newspaper, April 24, 2009; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth844558/m1/2/: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Harper Library.