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Volume 50, Number 32
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
Porcupine Prayer
Was it the Big One? 3.6 magnitude quake shakes area BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN On the heels of a pair of lunchtime tremors, the third earthquake that occurred Tuesday, Nov. 19 about 6:40 p.m. was the largest recorded since the shaking began around here Nov. 5. At 11:57 a.m. Tuesday, a 2.5 magnitude quake was recorded about a mile west of Reno. It was followed at 12:03 p.m. – six minutes later – with a 2.8 magnitude shaker one-half mile south of the city of Sanctuary. But even “veteran” quakers – those who have felt the majority of the quakes over these last two weeks – said there is no doubt the 3.6 quake that shook the area was the strongest so far. To date, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has recorded 11 earthquakes in North Texas since Nov. 5. All have occurred within about a 7.5-mile radius that includes the Azle, Reno, Springtown, Sanctuary, Pelican Bay and Azle areas. Two of the tremors occurred just east of Eagle Mountain Lake – one near Haslet and one near East Peden Road near Saginaw. Many people in these parts blame the fracturing process utilized by the oil and gas drilling industry – commonly called “fracking” – for the quakes. But Helge Alsleben, associate professor of geology at Texas Christian University, says the fracturing process itself – which breaks up the rocky subsurface – usually causes micro-earthquakes that are very, very minute. While the earthquakes experienced in the area have all been relatively weak – especially when compared with tremblers on the West Coast – they are much stronger than those caused by fracking, Alsleben said. Alsleben insists there is no definitive answer to the question of what is causing these particular events. Much more likely than the fracturing process, though, is the re-injection
of the waste water used in fracking back into the earth, Alsleben said. “The re-injection of waste water is a long-known issue that potentially can cause earthquakes,” Alsleben said. “I’m not saying that is the case here, but it can definitely produce a seismic event.” Alsleben also pointed to something many people may not realize related to the depth of the earthquakes. “As we get away from the earthquake-prone zones and further east of the Rocky Mountains, the seismic network that detects activity is not well established and has very poor resolution,” Alsleben said. “That makes it difficult to determine the depth of these events. When the USGS says the depth is 5 kilometers (about 2.5 miles) it is using a default depth.” In other words, no one really knows how deep below the earth’s surface the quakes are originating. Longtime Azle area independent insurance broker Hogye Hogle is concerned about the earthquakes – he and his wife have felt most of them at their home – but from another perspective. “This is all new, but we are getting calls asking about earthquake coverage,” Hogle said Wednesday. “As far as I know, there’s not a homeowner’s policy in Texas that covers earth movement.” There are some insurance companies that will allow such coverage as an endorsement, and others that won’t, Hogle said. “If the quakes continue, and we start seeing damage as a result, I could foresee a time when mortgage companies might begin requiring earthquake coverage,” Hogle said. “It would be similar to the requirement for flood insurance for people in flood zones.” As of now, Hogle is looking for a company that will write a standalone earthquake policy so he can better serve his clients. Because the next quake could be the Really Big One.
Will it Float?
After Springtown’s thrilling 49-27 bi-district victory over Hirschi in Wichita Falls Nov. 14, coach Brad Turner and the Porcupines paused for prayer. Story, photos on 9-11A. Photo by Mark K. Campbell
SISD school bus backs into car BY NATALIE GENTRY No one was injured when a Springtown school bus backed into a Pontiac Torrent on Wednesday, Nov 13. The accident happened at 4:05 p.m. on Willow Circle. There were approximately 20 students on board at the time. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the bus, driven by Linda Johnson of Springtown, had just dropped off some students and began to back up toward Meadow Road in order to turn around. Johnson failed to see the vehicle waiting behind her and Rebecca Honea also of Springtown, was unable to move out of the way in time. Honea’s vehicle ended up wedged A Springtown school bus backed into this Pontiac Torrent, driven, under the rear bumper of the bus. by Rebecca Honea of Springtown on Nov.13 at 4:05 p.m. Photo by Natalie Gentry The accident is still under investigation.
Ground broken for church’s Garden of Hope BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN “Grow relationships between God and people everywhere, and be good stewards with all I’ve given you.” That’s the answer that came after the church council of Hope Lutheran Church sought God’s counsel. So church leaders and members decided they should share the land – about 10 acres of fertile farmland – and its bounty with local residents by establishing a community garden. Conversations with key community, government and civic organizations such as the city of Reno, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle, local food pantries, men’s shelters, and preschools validated the church’s ministry. Saturday morning, Nov. 16, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the church, near the edge of what will become the Garden of Hope. Speakers at the ceremony included Frank Swehosky of the church, Reverend JoAnne Swehosky, Reno Mayor Lynda Stokes, Marsha Ingle, community relations director for Texas Health Azle, Karen Burdack, president of the Hope Lutheran Church council, and Joe Lieb, executive director of the Community Caring Center in Azle. Following remarks, those individuSometimes on The Late Show with David Letterman, he poses the question “Will It Float?” then drops strange things like buckets als and others took turns digging into of pickles into water. If crabapples ever come up, the answer, the rich earth with a single shovel. By the time they were finished, a hole had according to the creek in Springtown Park, is yes. Photo by Mark K. Campbell
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been dug just large enough to plant a pear tree donated by Stokes – the first plant in the Garden of Hope. Plans for the garden include a modular collection of irrigated 4-foot by 8-foot raised, concrete cinder block beds, plots of plowed ground, and fruit tree groves. A honeybee yard to promote pollination and, eventually, a prayer labyrinth are also planned. The Garden of Hope Association Executive Board will govern the garden, and that association is actively seeking community sponsorship, grants, and donations. Individual gardeners – who may also be families or organizations, for example – will be invited to plant their gardens, tend them and harvest with the only requirement being a tithe of at least 10 percent of the bounty to the local community. Not only will the plot be a place for gardening, but it will be a place to create and build friendships, fellowship with other gardeners, and enjoy the fruits of God’s blessings. The Garden of Hope project falls right in line with Texas Health Azle’s Wellness Initiative, which makes access to healthy foods a priority. Produce from the Garden of Hope will eventually benefit Neighbor to Neighbors in Springtown, the Community Caring Center in Azle, The Refuge Men’s Shelter, and Cindy
Bishop Ministries (formerly Green Light Ministries) in Azle, and Hope Lutheran School.
Billy Barrier, a homeless man who has “adopted” Hope Lutheran Church and regularly attends services and activities there, cuddles his puppy, Baby Girl, while waiting for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Garden of Hope to begin. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
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