November 30, 2018 - Stamford American

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN VOL. 10, ISSUE 28 STAMFORD AMERICAN VOLUME 97, ISSUE 34 STAMFORD LEADER VOLUME 113, ISSUE 35

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Greg Arnwine Resigning as Jones County Sheriff

BY KAY SPEARS On Monday, November 26, 2018, Jones County Commissioners Court held its regular meeting at the Jones County Courthouse in Anson, TX. In attendance were Judge Dale Spurgin, County Commissioners James Clawson, Steve Lefevre, Ross Davis, Joe Whitehorn, with County Clerk Lee Ann Jennings as recorder. The minutes of the last regular meeting held on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 were approved.

SEE COURT, PG 15 Jones County Commissioner Joe Whitehorn & Sheriff Greg Arnwine leaving jobs at the end of 2018.

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Bulldogs Named to All District Teams District 3-2A Division 1 All District Teams were released this week. Numerous Bulldogs were among the honorees.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE: Trace Edward-WR; Zachary Duran-WR; Riley Gomez-OL; D’Marcus Barber-RB; Tre Mitchell-WR/RB FIRST TEAM DEFENSE: Ethan Medina-CB; D’Marcus Barber-LB; Tre Mitchell-CB; Garrett Arendall-DL; Carson Holt-LB 2ND TEAM OFFENSE: RJ Smith-WR; Shavaris Cooper-RB; TJ Kuenstler-C; Garrett Arendall-OL; Josh Mueller-WR 2ND TEAM DEFENSE: Cade Lefevre-OLB; RJ Smith-S; Josh Mueller-S; Christian Cardenas-DL; Quinton Adkins-DL HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE: Nolan Baker-OL HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE: Korey Villanueva-DL; Keyven Mueller-LB; Lane Patton-CB; Keith Richards-LB

Capital Murder Jury Bonded

BY KAY SPEARS “It was the hardest thing any of us has ever done. Those images will never leave us”, so began a group interview on November 15th with members of the jury from the State vs. Compton capital murder trial. The interview was the first time the jurors had gotten together since the trial wrapped up on November 6, 2018 with Dillion Compton going to death row to await his execution for the murder of Correctional Officer Marianne Johnson in 2016.

The jury members had ground rules

for speaking with The New Stamford American. Those stipulations included their names were not to be used and there were certain things the lawyers asked them not to share. The meeting was informal, being held in a jury member’s home.

The members in attendance wanted it to be known that they worked diligently every day of the trial to keep their minds open and to be sure that justice was done.

The members at the interview were impressed by the professionalism and knowledge of both the defense and prosecution teams. The prosecution “drove it home, that last day.” They

were impressed by some witnesses and questioned the credibility of others. “I don’t think that anybody has mentioned the Judge much, but he did one hell of a job.”

The group was curious and asked what they missed when the Judge sent them out of the courtroom. The answer was there were several times when a point of law needed to be argued or one side wanted to argue for or against a piece of evidence to be introduced.

“We went in there to do our job and our job was ‘this man is innocent until proven guilty’.” “Until we heard the last piece of

evidence, he was innocent.”

One juror explained, “my own thoughts in the guilt/innocence phase, I was for him.

I was looking to see that his constitutional rights were met. During the punishment phase my thoughts were not for him, rather for the victims and the families and potential other victims.” “We did have the second question, which was is there any mitigating circumstances and that is the only time I looked to see if there is anything we could find that would, for lack of a better word, justify what he had done.

We couldn’t find anything, and we looked SEE JURY, PG 2 hard.”

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THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER FORECAST Callie Metler-Smith | Publisher callie@americannewspapers.net Kay Spears | Editor kay@americannewspapers.net Callie Metler-Smith | Ad Manager ads@americannewspapers.net Gayle Lovvorn | Office Manager office@americannewspapers.net P.O. Box 870 102 S. Swenson Stamford TX 79553 325-773-5550 FAX: 325-773-5551 office@americannewspapers.net SUBSCRIPTION RATES Within Haskell, Jones, and Stonewall Counties: $30 Within Texas: $32 Within the United States: $35 DEADLINE The deadline to submit news and advertising is 5 p.m. on Fridays. Exceptions may be granted only by permission from the publisher.

SUBMISSIONS POLICY The New Stamford American reserves the right to reject unsolicited submissions for any reason.

Articles and news items submitted are subject to editing by staff.

NOTICE Any erroneous reflection upon the character, reputation or standing of any individual, firm or corporation will be gladly corrected upon being brought to the attention of the publisher.

The New Stamford American (USPS 025-332) is published weekly at 102 South Swenson, Stamford, Jones County, Texas

by Clear Fork Media Group LLC. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stamford, Texas 79553. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The New Stamford American, P O BOX 870, Stamford, Texas 79553 MEMBER 2018 TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

Friday 48 | 39

Saturday 49 | 48

Sunday 67 | 48

Monday 57 | 39

Tuesday 46 | 35

MARK THE DATE...

DONATE: A Winter Weather Wear Drive is being sponsored by the Stamford Rotary Club. Please donate your new or gently used coats, hoodies, gloves, scarves, and socks! Monetary donations can be mailed to: The Stamford Rotary Club, Attn: Winter Wear, 109 E McHarg St, Stamford, TX 79553. All donations are kept locally. A donation box is at the Stamford American and several locations throughout town.

FLU SHOTS: Shots are now available at Stamford Family Health Center, 1601 Columbia St., for only $25.

Open Monday – Thursday 7am – 6pm & on Fridays 8am – 5pm.

CODE CLUB: Stamford Carnegie Library CODE CLUB every Tuesday, 4:00-5:00 pm.

Grades 6-12 welcome to attend.

DONATE: Denise Dennis is still collecting aluminum cans for recycling to raise money to donate to West Texas Rehab Center. You can drop them off at her house on the corner of Reynolds & Vassar. You can also drop off cans or monetary donations for her here at the Stamford American or mail to Stamford American, P O BOX 870, Stamford, TX and note on the check it is for Denise Dennis.

TUTORING: SMS Tutoring every Thursday from 6:007:00 at Common Ground.

This is an opportunity for your child to get extra help on their school work. Please have your children take advantage of this help. For more information, contact Paul Wright at 773-3604 or 370-6378. r children.

Wednesday 41 | 29

Thursday 40 | 32

The weather is provided for you

by Country Drug Store. We’re here for you Rain or Shine.

JURY: Continued From Page 1 DEC 1ST

Santa: Santa will be coming to the Cowboy Country Museum on Saturday, December 1st, from 4-6pm (Notice the time changed. The Grand will be showing a movie at 7pm). (If the Bulldogs are still in the football playoffs, the date will be moved to November 30th from 4:30-6:30.) While you are waiting to see Santa, stop by our ornament workshop, where you can craft an ornament to go on our Museum Christmas tree.

As always it is free of charge.

(Please note, that all children must be accompanied by an adult.) If you have any questions, call us at 773-2500.

DEC 4TH

DANCE: Senior Citizen’s Dance Tuesday, December 4th, from 7-10 p.m. Live band at 300 S Central Ave, Hamlin. $5 per person. Pot Luck Snacks. No smoking. For more information, contact 370-9514.

DEC 11TH

CHRISTMAS SOCIAL: The Cowboy Country Museum would like to invite anyone who would like to join us for a Christmas Social, Tuesday, December 11th, from 3:004:30. Our theme will we Texas Cowboy Christmas.

Refreshments will be served.

If you have any questions, call us at 773-2500.

DEC 17TH

BAND CONCERT: The Bulldog Bands will hold their Christmas Concert December 17 at 7:00pm at the SHS auditorium. The public is invited!

A jury member stated they understood the defendant had a horrible life but that didn’t justify what he had done. His brother went through much of the same things and the defendant knew right from wrong. One juror dreaded the moment when the sentence would be announced by the Judge, but when it was read, the defendant showed “zero emotion.”

When asked about the defense saying to the jury, “Are you going to put Dillion down like a dog?”, they said they understood it was the defense’s job. “Everyone reaches when they start falling,” said one juror. Another one stated, “even thought we know we made the right decision, none of us feel great about it.”

Another one stated, “We read every piece of evidence, we went through everything. We went through the CPS records, all the letters, we heard every tape, four hours of interrogation, four hours of depositions with his grandmother and people who couldn’t come in. We worked very hard. We went through every piece of paper, every word that there was. So, putting him ‘down like a dog,’ was kind of insulting, because that is not what we did.”

Several jurors stated there was no consensual relationship between the defendant and the victim. “I was asked that today and the way I answer that is, it doesn’t matter. The fact of the matter is he killed her, that’s what matters.” “I still don’t want it to be the assumption that they were having a relationship, just to save her name.” “And her family.” “There was nothing ever said or proven, just by him, and he told stories to cover up.”

“I just don’t want anybody to take out of this that a good woman was having an affair with him. She was a good officer. I don’t want her name to be spoiled by one lie. She doesn’t deserve that. She did her job well, she did her job with integrity, she did her job respectfully, and she was a good woman. I just don’t want one lie to ruin her reputation after she’s dead. She deserves honor for the job she did. She was a good woman and I just don’t want her name to be tarnished because of this.”

“And you know what the kicker is to this, too, is that he received his certificate for an ordained minister the day he killed her. I meant, really?” “He spent four years getting that.” “Like I said, the devil wears many disguises.” “Very slow, methodical thinking.”

The citizens of Jones County need to be thankful for the commitment of these jurors in an extremely difficult position.

After the closing arguments of the punishment phase of the trial most of the jurors agreed they needed the down time after deliberating into the evening and were glad to be sequestered for the night. They were able to finish up and render their verdict the next morning.

The jury members were supportive of each other and were able to process their feelings. They were able to walk and think through the defendant’s crime that put him in the Robertson Unit.

They were also supportive and showed admiration for the jobs the correctional officers do every day to protect all of us.

One jury member summed it up, “I know there were fourteen Americans in there that did their civic duty to the top of the line.

Everybody in here did their job every day. I wish I had a lot of these hands that work with me every day, because everybody worked hard and were very, very diligent about their job.

Everybody did a good job.”

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THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

The fifth graders listened to a story by Brian Selznick: “The Boy of a Thousand Faces.” Afterward, they were to choose their favorite classic monster mentioned in the book and sketch a picture. A winner was chosen from each of the three fifth grade classes. Micah Aguirre sketched Dracula. Lillian Terry sketched the Wolf Man. Emma Follis sketched the Mummy. The Library gave each of the above winners a poster and the grand prize winner was also given a set of books.

NOVEMBER 30, 2018

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ADMIT ONE By Will McClure

The Grinch When it comes to Hollywood, anything and everything is eligible for an “update” and children’s classics are no exception to the rule. While some fail to live up to the expectations of the former work, others not only respect the original but open the content to a new generation of fans. Illumination’s The Grinch falls into the latter category with the classic Dr. Seuss story updated for a new audience some 18 years after the previous live-action adaption starring Jim Carrey in the title role and 42 years after the holiday classic short film debuted on American televisions which is still aired today. With all of the warm nostalgic feelings that the classic story has for many adults, would this new version appeal to those feelings? The answer is a resounding yes as The Grinch not only brings the story to a new audience, but also respects Dr. Seuss’s original work.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange, Star Trek Into Darkness) takes on the title role with ease, bringing the same attitude that many come to expect from the Grinch, but also makes him a more sympathetic character in the process. This can be seen in his interactions with his lovable dog Max along with new reindeer character Fred as well as flashbacks to his childhood that are seen sporadically throughout the film. The Grinch in this film is meanspirited, but he is never outright despicable or tries to harm the Whos emotionally or physically (with the exception of one unfortunate Who who is launched from a wreath early in the film as the Grinch makes his way into Whoville). As such, his interactions with other characters end up becoming more light-hearted and humorous, such as with Cindy Lou Who (Cameron Seely) and new character Bricklebaum (Kenan Thompson), who sees the Grinch as his “friend” and is oblivious to the Grinch’s remarks. As such, the Grinch ends up being a character that the audience enjoys laughing with (and at) as well as cheer for in the climactic moment of the film.

This is not to say that The Grinch is a one-character story anymore.

Cindy Lou Who, much like in the 2000 live-action film, is given a more prominent role in this version other than being the one Who who sees the Grinch taking her Christmas items. Cindy Lou is characterized as being much more adventurous, such as when she uses an innertube and a hockey stick to get around Whoville and wanting to travel to the North Pole to see Santa Claus at one point in the film, but she also fills the role of being kind and good-natured when she reveals the Christmas wish to Santa Claus/Grinch later in the film.

Where the film begins to excel is when the animation aspect is used to its full potential with the Grinch’s many contraptions used as well as allowing for more freedom in the design of the Grinch’s cave along with Whoville itself, becoming a loving homage to the original children’s book as well as taking advantage of the CGI technology.

On the negative side, however, while the animation allows for a more whimsical story and the characters are portrayed to perfection, The Grinch ultimately adds little to nothing new to the familiar story. The new characters are sure to be a hit with younger audiences, but they do not affect the story in the long run and are reduced to minor roles.

Even though Fred the reindeer does have a good moment in the film, his role is very minor at the end of the day.

Overall, The Grinch may not win any major awards or break box office records, but it still serves as a wonderful and humorous update to the holiday classic that both children and their parents will enjoy well after the credits begin rolling. The Grinch may be a mean one, but his story is something audiences will enjoy this holiday season. 3.5 out of 5 stars

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HELLO FROM COWBOY COUNTRY

By Jewellee Kuenstler

I have an obsession. Some women collect shoes, some men collect guns, but my guilty pleasure are books.

I love books. Old, new, all genres, picture books or books without pictures…I love them all. I especially love a good author. One that can tell a story so well with words that you can visualize the scene in your head. One such author was Frank Hastings.

Frank Hastings was not originally an author.

His primary job was as the manager for the SMS Ranches from 1902 to 1921. He used his skills to produce the SMS Ranch Catalogs that were mailed all over the United States, virtually starting a mail order service for cattle in the early 1900s. But he also had a talent for writing and telling stories that occurred on the ranch during his career. One such story that I will re-tell today is from his book, A Ranchman’s Recollections, and is titled, “The Speckled Yearlin’”.

The story was written in the early 1900s when Stamford was still very much a frontier, but his words make the characters come alive. Enjoy!

“April and May rains, followed by good growing weather, had made everything beautiful in the S.M.S. pastures. The turf of curly mesquite grass was like a beautiful rug, painted here and there with wild verbena, star daisies, white and yellow primroses, and the myriad coloring of

Scandalous John Selmon

west Texas flora. Branding time was on, and the S.M.S. Flat Top Mountain outfit had gone into camp at [Raccoon] Creek Tank, to begin work the next day.

“Scandalous John, the foreman and wagon boss had been through the aggravating experience of getting an outfit together.

It had been no trouble to find riders – cowboys who knew the game from start to finish – but to secure a cook, a ‘hoss wrangler’ [person in charge of the horses], and a hoodlum wagon driver [usually the grunt person], with the duties of supplying wood and water for camp and branding, helping the cook with his dishes or other odd jobs, unprofessional, from a cowboy standpoint, except so far as they lead to a ‘riding job,’ meaning regular cowboy work. The ‘hoss wrangler’ was not hard to find, but whoever takes the job aches all the time to be promoted to a riding job, and is therefore dissatisfied. The hoodlum driver had worked one day and quit. Scandalous was racking his brain to know where to look for another, and was saddling his horse to hunt for one when FourSix, one of the cowboys, exclaimed, ‘Look what’s comin’!’

“Along the dim pasture road, miles from any dwelling, a figure on foot was approaching – a sight which always attracts attention in the big pasture country, since it is associated in the public mind with suspicion, if the footman is unknown…

The cowboys were all quiet and indifferent, as they commonly are in a cow camp when a stranger approaches.

“A lad of sixteen, rather the worse for wear, clad in a shirt and ducking trousers, badly frayed, a soft felt hat, full of holes, shoes badly run-down at the heel, and bare toes showing through the uppers, stopped within

ten feet of the wagon.

Scandalous paused in his saddling to say, ‘Well, son, in trouble?’

“The lad’s face, lit up by a broad grin, made an appeal to the whole outfit, and all were at attention for his answer. ‘No, I’m looking for the S.M.S. boss. They told me at the ranch house that he was here, and I’m looking for a job.’ “ ‘You look hungry, son; come eat, an’ then tell us all about it,’ said Scandalous.

As the lad ate, and refilled his plate and cup, the cook ventured, ‘Son, you’re plumb welcome, but when did you eat last?’ ‘Night before last,’ the boy replied.

‘The brakies give me some bread and meat, but I sure was gittin’ ready to eat when I smelt your grub cooking down the road.’”

(Let me pause here and explain what “brakies” are.

Brakies were a railroad brake crew. At this time, trains, especially long trains carrying mostly freight, required a crew of brakemen to manually stop the train. A brakeman would turn a large brake control wheel located atop each freight car. They would then have to run along the top of the railway cars and leap from one to another in order to apply or release the brakes on each car. Now, back to the story.) “ ‘Where be you from, son?’ ‘I’m from Virginia,’ came the reply, ‘and I’m sure glad to get here, and get a job.’ ‘Virginia! A job?’ exclaimed Scandalous. ‘How did you get here, an’ how do you know you kin get a job?’ (I just love the way Hastings writes exactly like they talked!)

“Again that goodnatured grin appeared as the lad told his story. ‘I walked some, and rode with the brakies some; they was mighty good to me, and give me a card to other brakies; sometimes they’d give me food they cooked in the caboose, and sometimes they took me home. I told them I was coming to the big S.M.S. Ranch to work. I worked on farms some, but hurried

THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

Chuckwagon and Hoodlum Wagon as much as I could, to be here branding time. Am I in time?’

“The quiet assurance of the boy staggered Scandalous, but he recovered to ask, ‘How did you know about the S.M.S. Ranch? What made you think you could git a job?

Ever done any cow work?’

The lad’s grin broadened as he answered; ‘Well a feller I worked for down in Virginia had one of them picture books about the S.M.S. Ranch…I can learn to do anything you want, and I sure am going to work for you.’ Scandalous blinked again, and said, ‘Why, son, we would hev’ to hev’ permission from your pa and ma, even if we had a job, ‘cause you might git hurt.’ A shade of sadness swept for a moment over the young face; then it shone again with a new light of conviction. ‘I ain’t got no pa or ma, I been in the orphan asylum until two years ago, when a fine man…took me on his farm to do chores….I didn’t run away from him neither… he said I was so crazy about comin’ I’d better start… so I come to camp, and I’m a-going to stay and work for nothing.’

“There is a straight path to the hearts of cowboys, if one knows the way, and Scandalous was glad to hear the chorus from the whole outfit, ‘Let him stay Scandalous. We’ll help him.

Give the little boy a job.’

‘Reckon you kin drive the hoodlum wagon, Little Boy,’ said John, and like a flash, came this response: ‘I don’t know what a hoodlum

wagon is but I kin drive it!’”

I just love this story. It has so many life lessons.

This young man traveled, never wavering from his course, to work for a ranch he had never seen, doing a job he had never done before. But all the time having a “can-do” attitude.

I also like the kindness of the people the young man came into contact with, such as the railroad brake crews and the cowboys.

There is more to the story.

If you are interested in reading the rest, please stop by and read the rest of the story.

In other news, Santa is planning to visit the Museum on Saturday, December 1st from 4-6pm.

(Please take note of the time change. The Grand will be showing a movie at 7pm. If the Bulldogs are still in the football playoffs, Santa will come Friday, November 30th from 4:30-6:30.) So, mark your calendars for December 1st.

The Museum will also have ornament making activities to decorate our Museum Christmas tree. Come join

SMS Cattle Mail Order Catalog

in on the fun!

We are planning a Christmas Social at the Museum on Tuesday, December 11th, from 3-4:30pm. Please come and join us for hot cocoa, apple cider, coffee and refreshments. Everyone is invited. Our theme will be “Texas Cowboy Christmas”.

If you are interested in genealogy, or learning more about your family’s history, or you just want to know what resources the Museum has to offer, then plan to attend our Genealogy Society meeting on Monday, January 14, 2019, at 5pm.

This will be a come and go event, so if you do not get off work until 5, stop by when you can.

So many exciting things are yet to come! It makes coming to work a joy every day! If you have never visited the museum, please take time to stop by. I’m here Tuesday thru Friday from 12:30 to 5:30. Our email is cowboycountrymuseum@ yahoo.com or you can call us at 325/773-2500.

THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

ESSAYS FROM WEST OF 98 James M. Decker

Making It Through December, Part 2 Last year, shortly before Christmas, I wrote about my favorite Christmas song, Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December.” This year, I wanted to turn my attention to that song right as the calendar rolls over into December, to carry us through the next month.

As I wrote last year, “If We Make It Through December” is about the brutal realities of Christmas time for too many people: miserable weather, hard times, and worries about being able to make your children happy. And yet, the entire song is filled with hope. Merle sings: Got plans to be in a warmer town come summertime Maybe even California If we make it through December, we’ll be fine If Merle can just make it through December, life will get better. If you study the lyrics, there’s no real guarantee that life will actually improve. There’s nothing tangible happening in January: no new job, pay increase, or anything like that. He simply has hope that there IS something out there. If you don’t have hope, the world can be a mean, dark, miserable place, but as long as you still have hope, you’ve always got a chance.

In this day and age, it’s very easy to become inundated and annoyed by the Christmas season. Christmas cheer can drown in a tsunami of television ads, harried shopping trips, and exhausting efforts to “win” Christmas with your children, family members, or neighbors.

Our rural communities are the same way. We can drive through other towns and lament that our downtown Christmas decorations are not as impressive as theirs.

How do their lights on the main street look so perfect?

Why do some towns have an excellent Christmas parade and others struggle to keep a parade going?

Ultimately, there’s nothing wrong with the commercial aspects of Christmas. Our lives can be happier with children taking pictures with Santa Claus, family members exchanging gifts, and streets full of beautiful Christmas lights. But was it worth what it took to accomplish it? Sure, our communities can look great when they’re all decked out for Christmas. But how much stress and in-fighting did it take for the community to look that good? None of that is the beall, end-all of the Christmas season. Christmas can be successful whether your gift cost $2.00 or $2,000.00.

The be-all, end-all was born in a manger in Bethlehem so many years ago.

As the Christmas season ramps up in the coming weeks, we’ll all be stressed, exhausted, or annoyed at some point or another. We’ll wonder if we’re doing Christmas well enough to satisfy our family and friends or to make our communities proud. But when we face those inevitable struggles, think back to Merle Haggard.

He wasn’t worried about a downtown full of Christmas lights or providing a truly legendary Christmas for his children. He was just hoping to afford to buy SOMETHING, ANYTHING for his kids.

When you get down this next month, think about Merle and think about hope. Think about the hope provided by the birth of Jesus Christ and think about the hope in your own life. All of us will make it through December and we’ll be fine.

James Decker is a lawyer, farmer, and mayor in Stamford, Texas, and the creator of the forthcoming “West of 98” podcast and website. He may be contacted through Facebook at facebook.com/james.decker.

news@americannewspapers.net Wind, wind go away, but don’t come back another day. We have had several days of beautiful weather in the upper sixties and it was so nice, so today when the strong wind hit out of the north it made us frown and gripe.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Thankful that the weather was so nice, so travel was nice for all those on the go.

Can you believe it is soon December and Christmas is getting closer every day?

Some of the decorations are up and so beautiful.

On December 2, members of the Old Glory Lodge will be gathering at the Lodge Hall for their monthly meeting at 4 P M. Ham will be furnished, please bring a vegetable and dessert for the evening meal.

I will list other activities next week when I have them all listed.

Pide and Mittie Dunham had eighteen people at their home on Thanksgiving day. They were so proud to have five generations there together, Pide, Rodney Dunham, Dusty Dunham, Alec Lujan, and Ayden Lujan. Everyone enjoyed visiting, and plenty of good food. Rodney came by on Saturday to visit his parents, Pide and Mittie before returning to Pecos.

Shelly Dunham prepared a big meal for her parents, Pide and Mittie, 64th wedding anniversary on Sunday. Happy anniversary to both of them.

Bo and Whiz Creighton stopped by the Dunhams on Sunday afternoon.

David and Sherry Breeding of Amarillo came on Friday to spend a couple of days with her Mother, Bernice Rhoads.

Enjoying Thanksgiving in the home of Dale and Carm Letz were Micah and Lacey New, Darbee, Laynee, and Hazelee of Haskell, and Terry and Laramie Letz and Brody of Sagerton. Had a great day.

On Tuesday, Wayne and Kara Briggs and Crete of Haskell and Matthew Pierce of Haskell brought a full

meal and a and a deer. Oh big birthday my!!!! cake to Thanksgiving the home was celebrated of Glen on Saturday and Helen in the home Pierce of Doug for the and Debbie celebration Vahlenkamp. for Helen’s OLD GLORY NEWS Debbie’s family birthday. included Shawn A very and Regina

By Anita Dozier enjoyable Scott, Mason day. and Ethan from Glen and Helen Roscoe, David and Cale celebrated the family Scott, Brentley, and Cade Thanksgiving on Saturday from Sweetwater, Veto and with the entire family Jenny Valenzuela, Preston, present, Jami Wilde of Pursayis, Savanna, Lane, Knox City, Wayne and and Tinell of Abilene, Jo Kara Briggs and Crete Max and Chasidy Tomlin, and Matthew Pierce all of Jace, Everleigh, and Jaxten, Haskell, Wes and Tracy Jose and Joann Valenzuela, Pierce and Kambryn of Trinity, Kennedy, and Nocona, Kelsey Pierce from Joy all of Abilene. They Stillwater, Oklahoma, Bobby enjoyed different games and Kim Lowack and Kelly and plenty of food. Later of OG, her friend, Wesley in the evening Doug drove Koenig, of Aspermont, to the home of his son and Kade and Sara Lowack from family, Robert and Pam San Angelo. Lot of food and Vahlenkamp, Savanah, Levi, visiting.

Isiah, Wesley and his friend Deanne Conner and Erick near Stamford, Robert and Conner of Wichita Falls Sabrina Pippen, Berkley, picked up their step sisters Baleigh, and Riley of Anson, twins and drove to Abilene and D J and Miranda to Albert and Jana’s home.

Vahlenkamp of Anson.

Jana is Deanne and Erick’s They all enjoyed lot of good Mother. On Wednesday food and visiting. they all gathered in the Enjoying a great home Danny and Phyllis Thanksgiving in the home Letz for a big Thanksgiving of Kenny Spitzer were meal. Present were Albert Jimmy and Kathleen Seel and Jana Hinkle of Abilene, of Clyde, Jeff Letz and Deanne and Erick Conner, friend Shauna of Abilene, their stepsister and her Craig and Lasette Letz three little children all of of Borger, Weldon and Wichita Falls, and Casey Belinda Spitzer from Tulsa, and Emery Letz Cale of Oklahoma, Tye and Susie Stamford, Madisyn Letz Spitzer of New Castle, of Lubbock and Rylan Chevy and Shea Humphrey Letz of Leveland. An and Kynlee of New Castle; enjoyable evening. Erick Courtney Spitzer Gilmer, had to return to Wichita Todd Spitzer of Old Glory, Falls on Thursday and Stacy Teague and Briley of Deanne returned on Haskell, Kyle and Courtney Sunday. Danny went with Spitzer and Laykin from Randall Palmore on Friday Nocona and Wade Spitzer evening to Colorado City from Weatherford. A great where Randall played with Jody Nix. They drove to Roscoe to spend the night with a friend, Lyndel Underwood and they played at Blackwell for a wedding dance. Danny had the misfortune of hitting a deer on the way home and damaged Phyllis’s car. This is the third time her car has been damaged, two hogs

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5

day for everyone.

I spent the day on Friday with my family at daughter, Rita Stephen’s home in Abilene. She had a house full with twenty five present. The group played kick ball outside in the pretty weather and many other games in the house.

There was so much food to enjoy. We all missed J G and Sara and boys, Zach and Ryan who live in Maryland and were unable to attend, but we got to talk to them on the phone.

Thanks to Rita for all the work to feed a group like that. It was an enjoyable day.

I am so very glad that the Grand Theatre in Stamford has reopened after many years of closure. Verlene Corzine, Meta Kupatt and I went to the show on Saturday evening, and it looks so classy on the outside and the inside is so neat and comfortable.

A very nice place to go for entertainment. So glad for Stamford and the surrounding area.

Thought for the week: “No failure is ever final nor is any success.”

Happy Birthday wishes go to Keith Corzine, Stephanie Bly, Allison Martin, Jonas Griggs, Barbara Harrison, Donnice Jennings, Karen Lehrmann, Randy Lehrmann, Marie Zell, Tamara Schonerstedt, Haley Rhoads, Ty Rhoads, Buddy Letz, Amee Bowman, Gerry McDowell, Terry McDowell, Hunter Teichelman, Katrina Jansky, Philip Quade, Jesse Macias, and Philip Clark. We wish you many more.

Anniversary greetings go to Bruce and Michelle Toney and Ed and Jan Wolsch. Have a wonderful day.

6 NOVEMBER 30, 2018

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In a recent column, I Unfortunately, a disease called chestnut blight, commented that right now, took hold in those mature with some trees changing (meaning stable, and not colors, you can look at some subject to a lot of change) of our Big Country hillsides forests, and eradicated and see that they are not the American chestnut completely overtaken by trees that made them up. cedars. By the way, and I In an evolutionary blink mention this fairly often, of an eye, those stable the trees we locally call forests were gone, and “cedars”, or mountain the land they covered was cedars, are actually junipers, WEST TEXAS TREES suddenly open to other not true cedars. Real cedars AND LANDSCAPES tree species to compete are much better quality

By Bruce Kreitler and for. I’m sure a lot of that trees, and I wish we could is now occupied grow forests of them here. the KWKC Green Team land by other species, which Anyway, the reason that are still in the process I bring up the fact that of fighting it out to see looking at the hillsides and which one(s) will get to make up the noting that they are not totally consumed next climax forest. Or at least the next with cedars, is that it makes me wonder forest that seems stable, until something if those hillsides might be going through happens to show that it was not. a “forest evolution”, and maybe the So, when I look up at our juniper trashy junipers, which are there now, will covered hills, and I see fall color, I wonder, eventually be pushed out, or at least cut does that color mean that there are a down in numbers. bunch of red oaks up there, struggling to While we humans tend to think of find resources to grow above the cedars? natural forests as unchanging areas If it does, does that mean that when of nature that have always, and will the red oaks do get out from under the always (barring some disaster, natural or otherwise), look as they do now, that’s not junipers, and start shading them out, will we see a decline in the numbers of how it goes. Forests evolve, or if you like, junipers and a slow shift over to more grow and change, and forest evolution is red oaks? Or, is the color I’m seeing a pretty interesting subject. Unlike urban just sumacs that have managed to get forests, where I concentrate most of my themselves in amongst the cedars, where time, forests controlled by nature may there is enough light to let them grow. change slowly, but change they do, until they become a “climax forest”. Simply put, Because if that’s the case, the sumacs are no threat to the junipers. Or, maybe a climax forest is a wooded area that has what I’m seeing up there is some version gone through the various stages of forest of shinnery oaks that happens to have a evolution, and is relatively stable, and little fall color. If so, maybe the cedars are maintains either mostly a single species going to be pushed out by the shinnery of tree (in this case, you can think of that species as “the winner”), or a stable mix of and briars that we generally find in the more sandy areas of the Big Country. species that will, more or less, stay in the Personally, I doubt that last one, and I ratio they have arrived at. That is what we also don’t think it would be much of an generally think most forests are, although improvement over the junipers. all forests, even climax forests, are just Whatever the fall color on our hillsides one stage of evolution or another.

As a case in point, and I will admit right denotes for the future, as far as what tree species will hold that land, in the present, up front that I don’t know a lot about this it tells us that the struggle is still ongoing, particular example (very few people do, and the winner is not yet decided. for reasons that will become obvious), the If you have any landscaping, landscape Eastern part of the United States used to maintenance, or tree questions you would be covered with climax forests. When the like answered in this column, submit first settlers came to what would later them care of cmetler@stamfordamerican. become the United States, they found lots net or info@BrokenWillow.com. of things, and lots of natural resources, and one of those very useful resources was the American Chestnut tree. My understanding is that where chestnut trees were the more competitive species, they had taken over large areas of land, which created mature forests of mostly chestnut trees, and those were good quality, very useful, trees. A snapshot in time, taken a few hundred years ago, would have shown that a large part of the Eastern seaboard/New England area of North American would have been covered by climax, or mature, forests.

AN AGGIE TRIES TO MOVE UP IN HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos says she knows, from firsthand experience prevailing in a Trump district, how the party can protect its newly won majority in the 2020 elections. Bustos, the only midwesterner in party leadership, is one of four candidates for election on Wednesday to chair the Democratic campaign committee.

FARM BILL TALKS FOCUS ON SUBSIDY PAYMENTS FOR EXTENDED FAMILY House and Senate negotiators are considering whether to expand farm subsidies and make cousins, nieces and nephews of farmers eligible for up to $125,000 a year in crop supports, said a handful of budget hawks, environmentalists and small-farm advocates on Monday.

USDA NOMINEE VADEN WINS TEST VOTE IN SENATE The Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on the nomination of Stephen Vaden, a member of the Trump administration since early 2017, to be

THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

USDA general counsel. He won a procedural test vote Monday.

HOTTER AND DRIER, WITH A DROP IN PRODUCTION, IS THE FUTURE OF U.S. AGRICULTURE Climate change will bring higher temperatures and more frequent drought to farmers across the United States, resulting in reduced crop and livestock yields, according to the National Climate Assessment that was released over the weekend.

USDA’S RURAL BROADBAND PLAN MET WITH CITIZEN CRITICISM Slow speeds, bad coverage and expensive service. These are just some of the concerns contained in nearly 300 public comments on the Rural Broadband Pilot Program proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a review by the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting found.

WHITE HOUSE DELAYS FARM BILL IN FIGHT OVER FORESTS, SAYS SENATOR Three weeks remain in the lame-duck session and farm bill negotiators are

KASN AG REPORT

By Richard Kemp at odds over the forestry title of the farm bill despite hopes of enacting the bill this year.

TRUMP TARIFF PAYMENTS FLOW TO CITIES AS WELL AS RURAL MAILBOXES More than 1,100 of the early recipients of Trump tariff payments intended to offset the impact of the trade war on U.S. agriculture actually live in America’s largest cities, said the Environmental Working Group on Monday.

The bailout recipients are the latest “city slickers” identified by the EWG for collecting federal subsidies without living or working on a farm.

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THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

BY JENNIFER CRAIG The Stamford Bulldogs ran into a buzz saw in the form of the New Deal Lions Friday afternoon in Snyder’s Tiger Stadium. The Lions jumped out to a 36-0 lead before the Bulldogs could get on the scoreboard on the way to a 64-6 victory for the champions of District 2-2A.

The Bulldogs opened the

game with the football.

Shavaris Cooper was stopped for a loss on first down before two passes fell incomplete. Peyton Bevel got off a nice 45 yard punt to push New Deal back to their own 21.

Quarterback Jett Whitfield started off keeping the ball for a five yard gain. David Morgan followed with a nine yard run. The two senior Lions combined for 22 carries for 290 yards and six touchdowns. The first score for New Deal came on a 65 yard pass and run from Whitfield to DK Blaylock.

The Bulldog offense did move for a first down on the next possession. Bevel scrambled for seven yards and Cooper went wide right for four yards and a new set of downs. Bevel kept for two yards when no receiver was open. Two passes were incomplete to force another punt.

New Deal started at their own 14 but Whitfield quickly got them out to the 40 with a 26 yard keeper.

Morgan worked the middle for four yards before Whitfield hit Kendell Dunn for five yards. Deandre Nelson bulled through the middle for ten yards and a first down at the Stamford 41. Nelson didn’t have a good grasp on the next handoff and the ball fell free. Christian Cardenas recovered for Stamford.

D’Marcus Barber got around the corner and sped for twelve yards into New Deal territory. Barber caught a pass in the flat but was hit for no gain on the play. Bevel was sacked for

NOVEMBER 30, 2018

New Deal Ends Bulldogs Season a nine yard loss on second down and pressure and coverage forced him to throw the football away on third down.

The Stamford punt again pushed the Lions inside their own 20 but distance wasn’t an issue. Whitfield found Dunn all alone and the two connected for an 82 yard touchdown. Whitfield rushed for the two point conversion to push the New Deal lead to 14-0 with 4:36 left in the first quarter.

The New Deal defense forced another Bulldog punt and used six plays to score again. This time the score came on a four yard run by Morgan. The PAT kick was no good but the Lions had a 20-0 lead.

The Bulldogs took over at their own 40. A procedure penalty and two incomplete passes left the Dogs facing third and 15.

Stamford converted when Bevel hit Cooper for a 19 yard gainer on a middle screen down to the New Deal 46. Another penalty pushed the Bulldogs back across midfield but Bevel connected with Trace Edwards for 21 yards and a first down at the Lions’ 28.

Bevel broke free and dove for the goal line, coming up just short of the goal line. Cooper got the call on the next play and appeared to have scored. However, it was determined that the ball was coming loose before he crossed the plane and New Deal recovered the fumble in the end zone.

New Deal took over and methodically drove down the field. Whitfield scored from two yards out as he ran over would-be tacklers using his 190 pound frame to good advantage.

Whitfield added the two extra points to give the Lions a 28-0 margin with 9:48 left in the first half.

The Lions would quickly add to that total on the next play from scrimmage when Haden Caudill intercepted a Bevel pass and returned it for another New Deal touchdown. In less than

20 seconds the Lions had added 16 points to put the game out of reach.

The Bulldogs started with good field position courtesy of a Tre Mitchell kickoff return. Cooper was stopped for no gain on first down.

Edwards caught a 13 yard pass along the Stamford side line and followed up with an 18 yard reception along the New Deal side line to move the ball to the Lions’ 25. Two incomplete passes left the Dogs facing third and ten. Bevel connected with RJ Smith for Stamford’s lone score that cut the margin to 36-6.

New Deal scored on the next possession with Whitfield running for a four yard score and passing to Layton Reed for the two point conversion.

Bevel was hit for a two yard loss as he scrambled to open the next Bulldog drive. Mitchell caught a pass and carried the ball into New Deal territory but a penalty against the Dogs pushed the line of scrimmage back to the Stamford 36. A deep pass for Zach Duran fell incomplete at the New Deal ten and another completion to Mitchell was good for just four yards to force another punt.

Whitfield picked up his third touchdown when he popped through the line and put it in gear for a 71 yard scoring run. Keyven Mueller intercepted the two point pass attempt.

Mitchell again had a good kickoff return to give the Bulldogs the ball at their own 46 with 1:41 left in the first half. Bevel lost five yards when he was sacked by the New Deal defense. A pass to Cooper was good for three yards but the third down attempt was incomplete. Cooper and Bevel did connect on fourth down but the yardage wasn’t enough and the ball went over on downs.

New Deal took a knee to run out the final ticks on the clock and went into halftime with a 50-6 lead

and the knowledge that the Lions would receive the second half kickoff.

The Bulldogs tried an onside kick to start the second half but Blaylock recovered for the Lions. It would take New Deal just two plays to add another touchdown. Whitfield got his final rushing touchdown of the afternoon on a 37 yard gallop; Dunn ran for the conversion.

As on many drives in the game, the Bulldog drive opened with lost yardage on a sack. The Bevel to Cooper connection did work for enough yards to make up the lost yards plus those needed for a new set of downs.

Coverage and pressure led to two incompletions.

Cooper caught the ball on third down but was hit immediately for a yard loss.

A fourth down pass was thrown away to save lost yardage on another sack.

The Lions started at the Stamford 43 and needed just four plays for their final touchdown. Morgan got the touchdown on an 18 yard run. The kick was no good to leave the score at 64-6 with a little over three minutes left to play in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs weren’t able to move the ball on what would be their final possession of the game and the season. New Deal kept the ball on the ground and ate up the remainder of the game to seal their victory and advance to face Panhandle.

The Bulldogs close out their season as Bi-District Champs with a 9-3 record.

Stamford 0 6 0 0 - 6 New Deal 20 30 14 0 -64 SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter ND – DK Blaylock 65 pass from Jett Whitfield (run failed) 9:48 ND – Kendell Dunn 82 pass from Whitfield (Whitfield run) 4:36 ND – David Morgan 4 run (kick failed) 1:57 Second Quarter ND – Whitfield 2 run (Whitfield run) 9:48

ND – Haden Caudill 27 interception return (Whitfield run) 9:29 S – RJ Smith 25 pass from Peyton Bevel (pass failed) 7:51 ND – Whitfield 4 run (Layton Reed pass from Whitfield) 5:11 ND – Whitfield 71 run (pass intercepted) 1:47 Third Quarter ND – Whitfield 37 run (Kendell Dunn run) 10:32 ND – David Morgan 18 run (kick failed) 3:24 Stamford New Deal First Downs 12 18 Rushing Yds 13-16 40-415 Passing Yards 153 197 Total Offense 169 612 Comp-Att-Int 13-34-1 7-10-0 Punts 6-38.8 0-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1 Penalties-yards 5-55 2-20

7

Blaylock 2-78, TD; Haden Caudill 1-9.

Last Week’s Games

District 3-2A, Division I: New Deal 64, Stamford 6; Sundown 37, Hawley 36 OT; Panhandle 55, Winters 20. Others: Hamlin 48, Windthorst 21; Wheeler 26, Haskell 12; Albany 38, Santo 28; De Leon 31, Wolfe City 20; Wellington 70, Christoval 6.

Six-Man: Grandfalls-Royalty 65, Lueders-Avoca 60.

This Week’s Games

Wellington (12-0) vs. Hamlin (11-1) 7 p.m. Friday, Iowa Park; Albany (7-5) vs.

Wheeler (8-3) 7 p.m. Friday, Vernon; New Deal (12-0) vs. Panhandle (10-2) 7 p.m.

Friday, Dimmitt; Riesel (102) vs. De Leon (8-4) 7 p.m.

Friday, Whitney.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing - Stamford: Peyton Bevel 8-2; Shavaris Cooper 4-2; D’Marcus Barber 1-12.

New Deal: Jett Whitfield 11-177, 4 TDs; David Morgan 11-113, 2 TDs; Noah Vasquez 9-65; Deandre Nelson 4-32; Kendell Dunn 2-41; Team 3-(-13).

Passing - Stamford: Peyton Bevel 13-34-1, 153 yds, TD. New Deal: Jett Whitfield 6-90, 187 yds, 2 TDs; Izik Adams 1-1-0, 10 yds.

Receiving - Stamford: Shavaris Cooper 5-44; Trace Edwards 4-68; Tre Mitchell 2-16; RJ Smith 1-25, TD; D’Marcus Barber 1-0. New Deal: Kendell Dunn 4-110, TD; DK

Bulldogs Hit The Basketball Courts The Bulldogs opened their basketball season against Clyde on Tuesday, November 27, coming up short 46-37.

Stamford led at the end of the first quarter 12-8 and at the half 22-18, but Clyde came out of the half on fire and the Bulldogs were not able to keep up. Trace Edwards led the scoring with 17 of the 37 points. Zachary Duran had 12, D’Marcus Barber had 6 and DeMarcus Downs had 2.

Clyde 8 10 16 12--46 Stam 12 10 9 6--37

8 NOVEMBER 30, 2018

The Dog Pound

THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL MARUGG

THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

news@americannewspapers.net

NOVEMBER 30, 2018

9

10 NOVEMBER 30, 2018

Jones County News

My Stamford Connection

JONES COUNTY MARK THE DATE...

DEC 1ST

ANSON’S 2018 CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES: Saturday, December 1, 5:00-8:00pm in Anson, TX. Come see the homes wrapped up in the beauty of the Christmas season. There will be 6 homes as well as Anson Senior Living to charm & inspire us. For more information contact the Anson Chamber, ansoncofc. net, (325) 823-3259.

DEC 4TH

DANCE: Senior Citizen’s Dance Tuesday, December 4th, 7:00-10:00. Live band at 300 S. Central Ave., Hamlin, TX. $5 per person. Pot Luck Snacks.

No smoking. For more information, contact 3709514.

DEC 6TH

ANSON CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Thursday, Dec. 6, 7:00pm. Anson Christmas Concert at the Anson High School Auditorium.

DEC 8TH

ANSON PARADE OF LIGHTS: Saturday, Dec 8, 6:15pm, as soon as it gets dark. The Anson Chamber of Commerce presents the Anson Parade of Lights on Commercial Ave. in

Anson, TX. The Grand Prize winner will receive $500.

About 30 min. after the parade, the MERRY MISS CHRISTMAS PAGEANT is set to begin in the High School Auditorium after the parade.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW: Saturday, Dec. 8, 3:00-8:00pm, inside the Anson Opera House. Select businesses open until 8:00pm. SANTA will be at the craft show 3:00-5:00pm for children to visit before he rides in the parade.

Don’t forget to decorate a hale bale & be entered in the competition for a prize.

(325-823-3259)

DEC 20TH – 22ND

COWBOY CHRISTMAS BALL: Thursday, Dec. 20 – Saturday, Dec. 22, Doors open at 7pm, bands play 8-12pm. Thursday, Dec 20 - $15, The Harmony Creek Cowboys. Friday, Dec. 21 $25, Jody Nix & The Texas Cowboys. Saturday, Dec. 22 - $30, Michael Martin Murphy. Saturday, Dec. 22, 5-8pm, Ranch Supper (presently on a wait list), $60 for supper & dance.

Location: Pioneer Hall, on the corner of 23rd St. & Ave. G, Anson, TX.

THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

BY KAY SPEARS Denver was my home growing up and when we would drive to visit relatives in Texas, usually Quanah and/or Anson, we would always stop to see my mother’s Uncle Will in Clayton, NM. He and Aunt Eleanor’s house was fascinating to me. First, they had a huge tree in their backyard Eleanor started from an avocado pit, then there was their coffee table Uncle Will made to display some of the arrowheads they had collected over the years.

However, the walls of their living room usually kept me entertained the longest.

Uncle Will’s father, my great-grandfather, taught him to be a blacksmith.

At 16 Uncle Will got into trouble with his dad one day and instead of going home, he took off with just the clothes on his back. He went from ranch to ranch working as a blacksmith for several years until he saw a 12-year-old Eleanor on horseback. They waited until she was old enough, got married and had a son.

Their son was in the Army Air Corps and was killed in the Philippines in 1941.

The next year they went to California to work for the government and Uncle Will began making branding irons when they returned to Clayton in 1945.

By word-of-mouth Bill Kuhns became well known in the branding iron world.

Aunt Eleanor kept the books and their mail order business thrived. Their house was connected to his welding shop. Back to their living room walls. On three sides of the room they put wood boards from the floor to about half way up the wall. When Uncle Will designed a new branding iron, he would fire it up, go into the living room and burn it into one of the boards.

When I brought my parents back to Anson ten years ago, my mother had been working on our genealogy for many years. When I drove back to Colorado Springs, CO to visit my kids and grandkids, I started stopping in Clayton to get info from the great newspaper collection they have in their courthouse.

The first time I visited their museum, I saw branding irons with unique handles.

I wondered if Uncle Will had made them, but no one seemed to know.

One day I was poking around in the basement of the Anson-Jones Museum in Anson and saw the same handles on branding irons donated to the museum by the Swenson Land & Cattle Company. Wow! What are the odds? But it wasn’t proof. It’s been in the back

of my mind to go ask them if they kept records from 1945 to 1975, Uncle Will died in 1976.

There was an article I found in the Clayton, NM, public library that mentioned Bill Kuhns made branding irons for Bing Crosby’s ranch in Nevada. I must have scanned it because I found it the other day on my computer. It seems on June 20, 1955 Frank Tolbert wrote a column for The Dallas Morning News called Tolbert’s Texas. He and his crew had heard of Bill Kuhns and went to interview him.

“Our jeep journey around the rim of Texas was starting the dive down the western Panhandle border, when we met William Lester Kuhns, the branding irons artist.” Tolbert stated the branding irons were “guaranteed-not-to-blotch.”

I am assuming this is a good thing. He wrote that Uncle Will’s clients included Bing Crosby’s PX Ranch near Reno, NV, Sammy Baugh’s Bar Lazy S Ranch near Rotan, TX, a number of Indian Tribes, and “the great Puuaa and Parker Ranches of the big island of Hawaii.”

Tolbert continued, “While celebrities like Bing Crosby are nice to have for customers, Kuhns gets the volume of his business from the great cow outfits,

such as the TO Ranch of Raton, NM, the Swenson Cattle Co. of Texas and the Silver Spur of Wyoming.”

What sealed the deal for me was Tolbert’s description of the branding iron itself.

“His irons are made of high carbon steel, with ½-inch perforated pipe as handles, and they usually weigh 2 to 3 pounds.” The branding irons I saw in the Clayton museum and the “S” and “M” irons in the A-JM in Anson have the “perforated pipe as handles.”

My personal connection to Stamford? My maternal great uncle made branding irons the Swenson Ranch used to brand their cattle.

Pretty nice to have my search come full circle.

You can see a picture of their living room on The Texas History Portal at texashistory.unt.edu. Type in Kuhns in the search box and a picture of the outside of their house and a picture of their living room will be in the first few pictures.

Hawley 6-AA Division Volleyball All-District Selections MVP: Hannah Rule OFFENSIVE MVP: Vanalice Bailey OUTSTANDING SETTER: Breanna Leathers NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: K’Lynn O’Shields COACH OF THE YEAR: Amy Eckhoff

FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT: Lainey Taylor Sr; Jordyn Rogers Sr; Britney George Sr; SECOND TEAM SELECTIONS: Caitlin Crow; Shea Newton; Loren Moreno; Ameri Ochoa HONORABLE MENTION: Allison Hudson Jr.; Ashton Chapman Jr.

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THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

LARK, THE HERALD ANGELS SING: By Donna Andrews Children rehearsing for the Nativity pageant find a baby in the Manger.

She is not young Noah who was supposed to be there, but a little one someone abandoned at the church.

A note is attached indicating her name is Lark and offers apologizes to “Rob.” Meg Langslow doesn’t believe the baby belongs to her brother Rob. He had been dithering about when and where to propose to Delaney. Rob flatly denies he could be the father. When Delaney hears about the baby’s note, she storms off without waiting for an explanation.

Meg leaves the chaotic practice in her husband’s capable hands and goes to meet the Sheriff. After consulting with CPS, Meg takes the young child home with her. She arranges for a DNA test using her father’s rapid results kit. All the while, Meg’s grandfather is expounding on birds, such as cuckoos, who lay their eggs in the nests of other birds letting them care for the hatchlings. Meg is adamant that the baby will be called Lark, not Cuckoo or Cowbird.

Lark’s mother arrives but has serious problems. Janet Caverly and her husband, Mark, live in the next county. He discovered illegal activities within the county government. Mark contacted a federal government official sharing

READING REVIEW Martha Jarred details that he and his partner had uncovered. Soon his partner is found dead. Mark goes into hiding. Fearing they are also in danger, Janet runs with the baby. Meg takes Janet to a local women’s shelter. The Sheriff learns that Mark has been captured.

Grandfather and several other men attempt to rescue him. The Rescuers then need rescuing. Meg devises a very creative plan that will secure the release of those in jail and secure evidence for the prosecutors.

LARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING is the twenty-fourth book in the Meg Langslow series. It is a delightful Christmas mystery featuring Meg and her quirky extended family.

When the bad men try to abduct Janet and her baby, the town rallies

around the women’s shelter. Once again, Meg’s indomitable spirit provides the encouragement to others to achieve their goals. Her wit and common sense prevail over evil schemes. Award-winning Donna Andrews advises readers to not get caught in the stressful trap of having the perfect Christmas, but to relax and enjoy the true meaning of the Christmas season.

Mystery titles by Donna Andrews can be found at Henderson Book Store, located on the Square in Haskell, open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 12:00 — 5:00. Please call Martha Jarred, 940-864-3072, for more information.

VIP MENU December 3-7 Monday Burrito with Chili & Cheese, Salad, Hominy, Strawberries & Bananas Tuesday Chicken Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Toast, Peaches

Wednesday Meatballs & Gravy, Egg Noodles, Carrots, Brownies Thursday Soft Taco with Fixings, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice, Baked Apple Friday Ham & Beans, Corn Nuggets, Beets, Cornbread, Fruit Salad

NOVEMBER 30, 2018

11

City Manager Reports on Visit to Similar Water Treatment Plants

BY KAY SPEARS Mayor James Decker opened the regular meeting of the Stamford City Council on November 19, 2018 at City Hall. All present stood while the invocation was given before participating in the Pledge of Allegiance. In attendance were City Mgr. Alan Plumlee, City Atty.

Raymond Hollabaugh, City Secretary Kim Bryant, CFO Karen Lou Graham, and Council Members Melinda Smith, Ken Roberson, Jimmy Doan, and Paul Wright. There were no Citizen’s Comments at this time and the minutes from the November 5, 2018 Regular Council Meeting were approved.

The Stamford High School Ag Issues team were to present to the City Council, however there was a scheduling conflict and would be rescheduled.

The next item on the agenda was the City Manager and Chief Finance Officer to inform Council on investment strategies.

The City Manager gave an update to the Council and no action was taken at this

time.

Next the Council approved the bid for entity property located at Lots 12 and 13, Block 111, Original Town of Stamford, TX; being that property more particularly described in a General Warranty Deed recorded in Volume 291, Page 575 in the Deed Records of Hones County, TX (R14734) from Jennifer Berger.

The next item was the City Manager’s Report.

Alan Plumlee, City Mgr. gave an update concerning the New Membrane Water Treatment Plant. He went to locations already using this technology and brought back a detailed report with pictures to present to the Council. The next step will be to design the building and the plant. No action was required.

The Council discussed an item from the last meeting, pros and cons concerning property owned by Mr. Davis and property he would like to buy. No action was taken at this time.

The meeting was adjourned.

12 NOVEMBER 30, 2018

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Meet the Seniors

ZACHARY DURAN

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Math WHAT GOALS DO YOU PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH DURING YOUR SENIOR YEAR?: I plan to win a state championship with my best friends (teammates).

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?: I plan to attend Baylor University and pursue a degree in pre-med.

WHAT WILL YOU MISS ABOUT STAMFORD?: I will miss playing for Stamford, especially on Friday nights.

BEST PART OF BEING A STAMFORD BULLDOG?: Getting to represent Stamford in many sports with my best friends (teammates).

PASTOR’S PEN

NOLAN BAKER

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?: I plan on attending Lubbock Christian University and becoming a teacher and coach.

WHAT WILL YOU MISS ABOUT STAMFORD?: The camaraderie amongst my classmates and me, especially with my closest friends BEST PART OF BEING A STAMFORD BULLDOG?: I moved here in 8th grade, and everyone has done nothing but show me hospitality and made me feel welcome, so I will mostly miss being a part of such a loving and supporting group of civilians.

LOCAL CHURCHES Avoca Baptist Church Rev. Les Mims 773-3531 AM Worship: 11:00 Avoca United Methodist Church Dennis Huffaker 773-3909 AM Worship: 9:45 Bethel Church of God in Christ Pastor Session 407 W Handlan 325-773-5730 Bethel (Christ) Lutheran Church Rev. Richard Strait 1024 E. Vanderbilt 325-773-5949 AM Worship: 9:00 Bethel Lutheran Church Rev. Richard Strait 10707 N. FM 600 325-773-5949 AM Worship: 11:00 Central Baptist Church Pastor Bud Akins 301 E Moran 773-2577 Worship: 11:00 Central Presbyterian Rev. Dr. Kelly Pigott 601 Rowland 325-773-3381 AM Worship: 11:00 Common Ground Youth Ministry Paul Wright 219 S Swenson 325-773-3604 Faith Chapel Gerald Spalding 501 W. McHarg 325-773-2866 AM Worship: 10:00 Faith Lutheran Church Sagerton, Texas 940-200-0723 AM Worship: 10:30

First Assembly of God Family Worship Center Pastor Randy Rawls 1214 Compton 325-773-2435 Am Worship: 10:45

Sun. 10 Bible Classes 11 Morning Assembly Orient Street Church of Christ Wes Horn 510 S Orient 773-3419 Worship: 10:30

First Baptist Church John Ward 214 N Swenson 325-773-2781 AM Worship: 11:00

Paint Creek Baptist Church Pastor Tony Grand 940-864-3358 AM Worship: 11:00

House of God Pastor Bobby Acosta 802 Ferguson St Sundays 11:00am

St Ann’s Catholic Church Father Angelo Consemino 1001 S Swenson 325-773-2659 AM Mass: 11:00

Lueders First Baptist Church Roscoe McCoy 228-4622 AM Worship: 11:00

St. John’s United Methodist Church Pastor John Erwin 201 S Ferguson 325-773-2561 AM Worship: 10:50

MacKenzie Trail Cowboy Church Greg Taylor 325-513-2505 AM worship 11:00 Heart of God Church 114 E Campbell Joanne Ochoa AM Worship 10:30 Nugent Baptist Church Craig Thames 228-4457 Worship: 11:00 Nugent Church of Christ Nugent, Texas Ron Ballard, Preacher

Solomon Temple Baptist Church Rev. Donnie Massey 315 N. Haskell St. 325-773-2213 AM Worship 9:30 Temple Baptist Church Jesse Morton 309 E Campbell 325-773-2550 AM Service: 11:00 Trinity Church Dr. Robert Wingrove 220 E. McHarg

THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

By Dalton Mathis

Choose Life The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is by far the greatest moment and event to ever occur in history. It is the foundation of our faith and it is the hope that we hold tightly to. There are many people who think it’s sufficient to believe that Jesus lived and died, which He in fact did. But on top of His earthly ministry and his atoning sacrifice at Calvary, the Savior’s restoration to life is central to what He claimed about His identity as the Son of God (Mark 9:31).

The Resurrection validated Jesus’ teaching and clearly proved that He was the Messiah that was sent to save all of humanity (Acts 17:31). When the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice for sin, conquered death, He confirmed that He was the true way to Heaven (John 14:6). Only the Creator himself could

return to life and make a way for you and me.

Jesus affirmed God’s power would be freely given to those who desire a close and intimate relationship with Him (Acts 1:8). We who choose to follow Him have become new creatures and have Resurrection blood running through our veins. Eternal life is what He promises and His Resurrection serves as an assurance that He surely will give us new life. Our earthly existence is marching towards an end; however, it is also the opening chapter of a beautiful and never-ending relationship with the LORD Almighty. The Bible tells us that at death, Christians are present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). So it sounds like the best is yet to come!

Apart from Jesus’ Resurrection, there is no hope (1 Cor. 15:19). “But in

fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.” (1 Cor. 15:20). Those who chase after their own versions of immortality have no assurance of life after death because, for them, there is none. However, as a born again believer in Jesus Christ, death can now be faced with complete confidence knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of the father (Rom. 8:38). Death has been conquered and life has been given to us! The Bible says that, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12).

It’s a simple formula but many will choose the wrong answer or simply will not answer at all. We must choose life and not death!!!

Seek Christ above all else for He is the Giver of Life!!!

Respect the Blood, Dalton Mathis

PAINT CREEK ISD 2ND SIX WEEKS HONOR ROLL “A” HONOR ROLL 1ST GRADE: Auden Graham, Kash Holder, Brandy Wilkerson 2ND GRADE: Kavan Adams, Kylee Delmasso, Rylee Gunter, Colston Myers 3RD GRADE: Kamryn Delmasso, Abram Hernandez, Jerry Scheets 8TH GRADE: Cam Ponder, Levi Rhoads 9TH GRADE: Mark Garcia, Ana Hall 10TH GRADE: Haylee Garcia, Dyna Knowles 11TH GRADE: Desiree Acosta,

Bailee Thomas 12TH GRADE: Bailey Hawkins, Debra Knowles

“A/B” HONOR ROLL

1ST GRADE: Lauren Gonzales, Jaxson Wilkerson 2ND GRADE: Halen Bauer, Ryan Gardner, Haileigh Thompson 3RD GRADE: Eli Hicks, Kaelem Nystrom, Jenna Scheets, Alexa Yanez 4TH GRADE: Colton Blair, Adrian Castorena, Zander Elias, Carissa Elkin, Esaiha Sanchez 5TH GRADE: Alyssa Anguiano,

Harry Boyd, Rayla Gunter, Ericka Hernandez, Alex Prichard, Maddy Tucker 6TH GRADE: Melanie Clary, Katie Perez, Valintina Sanchez, Audie Shaw 7TH GRADE: Sirena Baiza, Mark Hall, Travis Smith, Phaiden Spikes 10TH GRADE: Priscilla Gonzales, Ashton Grand, Tanna Ledbetter, Eric Perkins, Zamantha Ramos, Brianna Yanez 11TH GRADE: Kayla Bosnjak, Adreana Ortiz 12TH GRADE: Micaela Arrieta

DEATH NOTICES Billy Douglas Walton, 69, of Stamford, passed away Wednesday, November 21, 2018. Graveside services were held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 24, 2018 in Highland Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Kinney-Underwood Funeral Home in Stamford. Visitation was held from 6-7 p.m. Friday, November 23, 2018 at the funeral home.

Gloria Ann Bolding, 93, of Stamford, passed away Tuesday, November 20, 2018.

Graveside services were held 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Bethel Lutheran Churchyard Cemetery under the direction of Kinney-Underwood Funeral Home in Stamford.

Opinion

THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

A “Grand” Return Seven years ago, the doors closed for what we all thought was fthe last time on the Grand Theatre, leaving the square a little empty as we saw a place for escapism fall apart as the years went by. What we all thought would just be a fading memory turned into a new dream which eventually became a reality as we all bore witness to the grand reopening of our hometown movie theater. One of my first Will McClure columns that I wrote now four years ago was all about the Grand Theatre and the desire for it to return one day with the only thing being talk about someone trying to bring it back. It was abundantly clear that I wasn’t the only one to have this sentiment as two years later the process began to renovate and reopen the theater and after what seemed like a never-ending process and projected open dates moving further ahead, Stamford received an early Christmas present in the form of a re-addition to our town square. While I wasn’t there on opening night last week, I did attend the Saturday night show with the theater just buzzing, and I was able to have a feeling of nostalgia as I sat down in the theatre for the first time in years. It was a great moment to experience and even see a new movie at the same time.

While anything new or something coming back is exciting, there is always a danger of the hype dwindling down. A lot of people spent a lot of time, money, and effort to making sure that the Grand could open once again for Stamford citizens, but if the hype dies out then all of the hard work would feel like it was nothing. While it is true that we only have one screen and the new movies may take a bit longer to get to Stamford, it doesn’t mean that we need to abandon support in the future. Many will argue that they can go to Abilene to see the movies when they come out, but why make the extra effort to drive there, spend a bit more for a ticket and possibly concessions, and then drive back just because you didn’t want to wait a few weeks and wanted to be the “first to see it”? This goes back to my earlier columns where people always seem to be in a rush to do things instead of just slowing down every once in a while. We all seem to aim for that “instant gratification,” but we never think about the inconvenience to ourselves and others. If we can all just slow down and be patient, we can still get what we want in the end.

I will say that it was a very heartwarming sight to see the theater lit up once again and being able to go inside for the first time since I was in high school. I would hope a lot of people had similar experiences and that those visiting for the first time have the motivation to come back for another movie. While we may see some issues at first, that is normal with any new place, or reopening in this case. We just have to be patient and support our local theater as it looks towards the future. Over time, we may see things change for the better, but we need to continue to show our support for our local theatre. Like our many local businesses in our humble little town, they need our patronage and support to continue to thrive. The Grand Theatre is a welcome sight on the square as it opens its doors every weekend, but we should do our part to make sure that it will never close its doors again.

Until next time, dear reader, my cap’s off to you!

THOUGHTS FROM UNDER THE CAP

NOVEMBER 30, 2018

13

The Taste Tester For Snickers I had a great visit with Gary “JC” Penney at his home in Lorena, just south of Waco.

I found out he is one popular guy and has friends in many area. Someone suggested I interview him because he writes and recites cowboy poetry and plays and teaches harmonica. I couldn’t ignore that.

When I pulled up to his place I noticed an ancient gas pump in his front yard with a price per gallon of 13 cents. When his wife Donna came to the door I told her I wanted a fillup. She says she gets that a lot. She came to the door because Gary has had a stroke and it affected his left side. He’s not getting around as well as he did, but he is on the mend and has a super attitude. He is anxious to resume all the stuff he is used to doing.

I found out Gary has many hobbies including a parrot that talks a lot and sometimes sings along with Gary’s harmonica playing. Donna took me up to a playroom above their garage. There was an elaborate train layout and dozens of Oil Company signs in all sizes. Donna says their grandkids love to go up there and play.

Gary is one happy fellow. Maybe there’s a reason for that. He had a career as a taster for Snickers. “I worked for M & M Mars Candy Company in Waco for thirty years making Snickers, Starburst and Skittles,” says Gary. “I was the taste tester. It was a great job. Snickers is named after the Mars family’s horse.”

In Junior High School Gary acquired the nickname JC. In many circles he is known as JC Penney. He started doing cowboy poetry in 2004 and rose up the ranks in a hurry. He has performed in Lubbock, Texas, Durango, Colorado, Prescott, Arizona and Abilene, Kansas. He started doing it when a family member wrote a series of straight-laced cowboy poems and told Gary he needed

some levity. Gary decided he could do that, too. Some of his poetry has been published in books.

He has won numerous awards for his poetry including the top prize for humor at the Cowboy Poetry Rodeo in Abilene, Kansas. In that event, poets pay an entry fee and the winner gets the pot. He won over 25 contestants and was awarded the “Best of the West” prize. He recites his own poetry as well as some of the old classics. He does his recitations from memory. He says it just takes lots of practice. “My wife is my coach and teacher. She pushes me. If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t do as well as I do.” He makes appearances at retirement centers, churches and private functions Gary started playing harmonica when he was in his sixties and teaches harmonica at cowboy poetry gatherings. “I always have a bunch of cheap harmonicas with me and sell them along with printed pages explaining how to play certain songs.” He got interested in the instrument at an event in Lubbock where a woman in her nineties was teaching how to play harmonica.

When he found out she started playing when she was 82, he decided it wasn’t too late to start to learn.

TUMBLEWEED SMITH

SMS Tutoring SMS Tutoring every Thursday from 6:00-7:00 at Common Ground. This is an opportunity for your child to get extra help on their school work.

Retired teachers have chosen to give back by pouring their heart of love in your child. Please have your children take advantage of this help. For more

information, contact Paul Wright at 773-3604 or 370-6378. We look forward to serving your children.

14 NOVEMBER 30, 2018

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THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

Texas Unemployment Rate Hits Lowest Level Since 1976 Texas has its lowest unemployment rate in more than 42 years.

The Texas Workforce Commission on Nov. 16 announced that Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.7 percent in October, down from 3.8 percent the prior month.

It is the lowest level of unemployment the state has seen since January 1976.

The Texas economy added 32,300 seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs in October.

Annual employment growth was 3.1 percent, marking 102 consecutive months of annual growth.

Still, job opportunities abound.

“The jobs are out there, and I encourage all job seekers to contact their local Workforce Solutions office for assistance with job training and placement,” said Julian Alvarez, the TWC commissioner representing labor.

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded the month’s lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs in October with a non-seasonally adjusted rate of 2.1 percent.

That was followed by the Amarillo MSA and the Odessa MSA, which tied for second lowest with a rate of 2.5 percent.

The Austin-Round Rock, College Station-Bryan and Lubbock MSAs tied for third lowest with a rate of 2.7 percent.

ABBOTT COMMENTS ON RATE Gov. Greg Abbott welcomed news of the record-low unemployment rate, attributing it to the state’s “lowering taxes, removing regulatory barriers and investing in our workforce and education system.”

“As governor,” Abbott added, “I remain committed to ensuring that Texas stays the most prosperous state in the nation.”

SBOE VOTES TO HIKE FUNDING The State Board of Education, which oversees the Texas Education Agency, voted Nov. 20 to increase the funding in the 2020-2021 biennium for school operations, instructional

CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Ed Sterling

materials and technology.

The SBOE’s preliminary spending decision would give schools $172 million more than currently allotted. The figure includes $55 million that the School Land Board agreed to provide.

But the funding is tied to budget decisions lawmakers must make in the coming year.

The 86th Texas Legislature is set to convene on Jan. 8, 2019.

An estimated $60 billion of the state’s current $217 billion budget is for public education.

Only Medicaid, at $62.4 billion, takes a greater slice of the budget.

MORE HARVEY FUNDS TO COME Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush on Nov. 19 announced an additional allocation of $652 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help address unmet housing recovery needs for Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey.

“We look forward to working with our partners in communities across the region to leverage these resources efficiently and effectively to benefit Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey,” said Bush, the chief executive of the Texas General Land Office, the state agency that administers the federal hurricane relief funding.

The $652 million will supplement some $5 billion in current Hurricane Harvey programs being implemented by the GLO, as well as additional programs in Harris County and the City of Houston.

SPENDING DISCUSSION WILL WAIT The Legislative Budget Board met Nov. 16 to review the items of information and methodology required to set the Article VIII constitutional limit on certain appropriations for the 2020-21 fiscal biennium.

House Speaker Joe Straus announced the board would take up the spending cap at a later time.

After the meeting, Straus explained that the price of oil, an uncertain price tag for Hurricane Harvey relief, and the potential for a school finance solution make it unwise to set a spending limit now.

Straus’s successor will be elected on Jan. 8, opening day of the 86th Texas Legislature.

Straus suggested the next House speaker would need time to think through the options, and that the discussion can wait until the state comptroller’s next revenue estimate in January.

MITIGATION PLAN IS POSTED The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced the publication of the final Volkswagen Beneficiary Mitigation Plan on Nov. 16.

According to the TCEQ, the plan sets out the state’s strategy for distributing more than $209 million received in settlement of claims relating to emissions control defeat devices on Volkswagen’s light-duty diesel vehicles.

The plan will complement other grant programs that target harmful ozone in Texas. These include the Electrify America Program, the result of a separate settlement with VW, which will fund additional electric charging stations. The other program is the Texas Emissions Reduction Program, one of the most aggressive and extensive programs in the country providing voluntary incentives for replacement, repowering and upgrading of polluting vehicles and equipment.

More information on the program can be found at: www. texasvwfund.org.

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THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN

NOVEMBER 30, 2018

15

COURT: Continued From Page 1

Classifieds HELP WANTED

Sagebrush Living Center has openings for Direct Care staff for all shifts. Pick up applications at Sagebrush Living Center, 1101 Columbia St, Stamford, 325-773-2791.

GARAGE SALE

REAL ESTATE

Estate Sale - Nov 30-Dec 1, 8:00-5:00, 511 E Davenport.

Appliances, kitchen knickknacks, entertainment center, Earth boxes, dining room table w/5 chairs, kitchen table w/2 chairs

For Sale: 217 acre farm with river frontage in Haskell County between Rule & Sagerton. 150 cultivated acres, brick farmhouse, city water.

Also pastures with good hunting. Asking $1,200/ac.

Contact Susan Black @915487-9367.

New Listing! 264 CR 169 O’Brien Nice Home and Barn on 10± Acres!......$162,000 1502 Compton 3/2/2 Ranch home w/room for horses! hardwoods, Fireplace!...$129,900 1501 Hudson Rd Over 2,800 Sq. Ft. 3/2/2 rock home w a 3/2 apt.IN CONTRACT 1611 N Swenson Previous Cliff House Restaurant in great location............... $79,000 1217 Compton Gorgeous Stone home w/ 2 bedrooms, 1 bath....... Reduced.$68,900 716 E. Oliver 4 BR, 2 bath with 2 car garage in quiet neighborhood.................$69,900 1310 Hudson 3 Bd, 2 bath w/carport close to country club......................................SOLD 1609 Swenson 1,200 sq ft metal building............................. Reduced $29,500 Jones County

FARM & RANCH

Stonewall County 800± ac on the Salt Fork of the Brazos!

108± ac Shinnery near River! REDUCED 4,743± Ac Patterson N Ranch 165± Ac livestock/hunting CONTRACT548 ± Ac Pasture, Cul. Great Hunting 155± Ac LIVE WATER! SOLD 483± Ac Half Cultivation SOLD 512± ac Top of Flat top CRP, 2 wells 65± Ac Pasture w hunting E of McCaulley 704± Ac Clear Fork, Cult. & Pasture SOLD

Haskell County 640± Ac Mule Creek Ranch Great Hunting w Nice Cabin!

512± ac Top of Flat top CRP, 2 wells 65± Ac Pasture, hunting E of McCaulley

Fisher County 631± Ac All Pasture! Rough Creek 370± Ac Canyons, Springs, Hunting 178 ± Ac Shinnery, Fantastic Hunting 1423± Ac Canyons

Shackelford County 200± ac Quarry income, Good Hunting!

Kent Co 789± Ac Improvements w Hunting!

SOLD

Judge Spurgin then gave an update and there was no action to be taken on the Disaster Declaration and all items related regarding FEMA, TDA and TDEM forms and requirements. He reminded the Commissioners that any reimbursement would be on work done after October 7, 2018 and to do preliminary repairs until the Presidential Declaration has been given.

The next item concerned the Bond for Tax Assessor Collector. The bond for Gloria Little as Jones County Tax Assessor Collector was approved.

Next, the Deputation of Deputy Clerk for Tax Assessor Collector was approved for Anita Aguire, Sarah Shaw and Brittany Guernsey. Gloria Little stated the Deputations of the Limited Service Deputy Clerks at satellite locations will be available at the next meeting.

The next item concerned Revising 2019 Holidays.

In 2019, Christmas falls

on Wednesday and it was approved for the courthouse to be closed Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday of that week, using the Presidents Day holiday in February for one of the days. The courthouse will be open on Presidents Day in February, 2019.

Next, Judge Spurgin updated the court concerning the outdoor, 20 year old, Chiller unit.

Information is being compiled whether to replace or repair the unit.

No action was taken.

The next item was to discuss and take action on Wireless Data and Cellular Service. Sheriff Greg Arnwine updated the court comparing the service of Verizon with AT&T. No action was needed at this time.

It was then approved to Advertise for Material and Hauling Materials proposals related to FEMA. Judge Spurgin gave an update of no news concerning the Anson Solar Center Tax Abatement and

the Anson Solar Center Road Use and Maintenance and Crossing Agreement.

Judge Spurgin then read the November 19, 2018 resignation letter of Jones County Sheriff Greg Arnwine. Sheriff Arnwine wrote that his resignation was in the best interest of his family and that he would need to establish his residence in Taylor County, TX. His resignation is effective December 31, 2018. He also stated, “I appreciate the opportunity given to me by the citizens of Jones County and hope that I have succeeded in making the Sheriff’s Office a professional and respected law enforcement agency. This would not have been possible without the dedication and sacrifice of the people that work here. I would also like to thank the members of the Commissioners Court for their support and cooperation provided during the past two years in accomplishing that goal.” Judge Spurgin told

Sheriff Arnwine that they appreciate his service to Jones County. The court reluctantly accepted Sheriff Arnwine’s letter of resignation.

The next item on the agenda was to discuss and take action on Process to Appoint Jones County Sheriff to an Unexpired Term. This process is to accept applications and resumes until close of business on December 7, 2018. The Commissioners Court will have a meeting on December 10, 2018 to hold an executive session to review the applications and then schedule appointments. Judge Spurgin anticipates they will have a called meeting on December 17, 2018 to set up interviews. The Commissioners Court will meet for the last regular meeting of the year on Wednesday, December 26, 2018. To qualify for the sheriff’s position a person needs to be a resident of Texas for one year and a resident of Jones County for six months. A Peace Officer’s license will need to be obtained within twelve months of the hiring date, if not already obtained.

It was approved for this process to be started.

Judge Spurgin stated that the applications and resumes for Jones County Sheriff can be turned in to his office.

The application is on the Jones County website under law enforcement and employment opportunities.

The applications are also available at the Sheriff’s Office and the Treasurer’s Office.

Amber Thompson, Jones County Treasurer, gave the Treasurer’s report and it was approved by the Commissioners.

Afterward Amend Budget and Approve Line Item Transfers were approved and it was approved to Pay Bills. There were no discussion items brought up and the meeting was adjourned.

16 NOVEMBER 30, 2018

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THE NEW STAMFORD AMERICAN