Business Images High Ground of Texas: 2007-08 by Journal Communications

BUSINESS

imageshighground.com TM

OF THE HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS

Wind Energy: The Latest Texas Revolution Lights, Camera … Surgery!

Oil and Gas Boom Reinvigorates Economy SPONSORED BY THE HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS | 2007-08

Historic Preservation Program College of Architecture

Water Law and Policy Symposium Law School

contents BUSINESS TM

OVERVIEW BUSINESS ALMANAC

13 17

BUSINESS CLIMATE

The Ripple Effects of Robust Growth

Agriculture and oil provide the underpinnings of the local economy, and the offshoots from those industries are plentiful.

Vying for the Prize

TR ANSPORTATION

Easy Come, Easy Go

The High Ground boasts a network that can serve almost any transportation need.

Distributionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Contribution

E N E RGY

38 READ MORE ONLINE

IMAGESHIGHGROUND . com LINKS Click on links to local Web sites and learn more about the business climate, demographics, service providers and other aspects of life here.

click

Oil and Gas Boom Reinvigorates Economy

The energy industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resurgence reverberates from the Panhandle to the Permian Basin.

Making Money While the Sun Shines

Waste Not, Want Not

Wind Energy: The Latest Texas Revolution

Once Again at the Core of the Action 37 THE MOVIE Take a virtual tour of The High Ground as seen through the eyes of our photographers.

TECHNOLOGY

Flying Into the Future

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ONLINE VIRTUAL MAGAZINE Flip through pages of Business Images of The High Ground on your computer screen, zoom in to read the articles, and click on the ads to be linked to the Web sites of advertisers. B;

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Ten yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; worth of planning has transformed a former air base into a hotbed for technology.

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ARCHIVES Read the past edition of Images of The High Ground.

MANUFACTURING

Having It Made in The High Ground

The region is home to a wide range of manufacturing endeavors.

Yes, in My Backyard â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Please

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE Business Images of The High Ground of Texas is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the The High Ground of Texas. In print and online, Business Images gives readers a taste of what makes High Ground tick â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from transportation and technology to health care and quality of life.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find the good â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and praise it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

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AGRICULTURE

Seasons of Plenty Growing Their Own

HIGH GROUND

Texas is No. 2 in agriculture, and much of the crop production happens in The High Ground.

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

contents BE E F INDUSTRY

This Is Cattle Country

The economic impact of beef production in The High Ground exceeds $20 billion annually.

Bronze Steers and Comanche Artifacts

DAIRY INDUSTRY

Call It Wisconsin West

The High Ground region isn’t Wisconsin, but a host of favorable factors are making West Texas a whole other kind of dairy state.

E DUCATION

Strengthening Community Partnerships

Colleges and universities are expanding their reach with new facilities and programs.

The Need for Nurses

Help Wanted, Seriously

HEALTH CARE

A Healthy Prognosis

Residents of The High Ground enjoy access to quality health care in cities and in rural areas.

Lights, Camera ... Surgery!

SPORTS & RECREATION

Roping Them In

Cowboy culture rules at about 150 rodeos and countless roping competitions in the region.

Home Field Advantage

Where Greens Come True

Take a Deep Breath

‘Tremendous’ Tails of Adventure

ARTS & CULTURE

The Sounds of Music

A night at the symphony is not a luxury for High Ground residents.

82 HIGH GROUND

Exhibiting Rich History and Culture

PHOTO ESSAY PORTFOLIO HIGH GROUND MEMBERS

69 85 89

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: LEVELLAND, TEXAS

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

BUSINESS TM

THE HI GH GR OU N D OF TEXAS 2007-08 EDITION, VOLUME 2

1412 E. Eighth St. Odessa, TX 79761 (432) 333-3211

Foremost in: Commercial • Industrial Development • 1031 Exchanges

Virgil Trower Owner/Broker (432) 333-3214 vtrower@trowerrealtors.com

Wendell Campbell Commercial Broker/Manager Cell (432) 559-6061 Office (432) 333-3211 wcampbell@trowerrealtors.com

MANAGING EDITOR MAURICE FLIESS COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, SUSAN CHAPPELL, KIM MADLOM, ANITA WADHWANI ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA DENTON STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN, JESSICA MOZO DIRECTORIES EDITORS AMANDA KING, KRISTY WISE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ERROL CASTENS, KELLI LEVEY, LEANNE LIBBY, JOE MORRIS, AMANDA NELSON, GARY PIERILLOUX, KATIE PORTERFIELD, MICHAEL STUHLREYER ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER TODD POTTER EXECUTIVE AD PROJECT MANAGER AMY NORMAND SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR SARA SARTIN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS WES ALDRIDGE, ANTONY BOSHIER, MICHAEL W. BUNCH, IAN CURCIO, BRIAN M C CORD PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, BRITTANY SCHLEICHER, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, CANDICE HULSEY, LINDA MOREIRAS, DEREK MURRAY, AMY NELSON WEB DESIGNER RYAN DUNLAP WEB PRODUCTION JILL TOWNSEND DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER ALISON HUNTER COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL AD TRAFFIC SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY, JILL WYATT CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART EXECUTIVE EDITOR TEREE CARUTHERS PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS, JACKIE YATES RECRUITING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP CLIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR NICOLE WILLIAMS CLIENT & SALES SERVICES MANAGER/ CUSTOM PUBLISHING PATTI CORNELIUS Business Images of The High Ground of Texas is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through The High Ground of Texas. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: The High Ground of Texas P.O. Box 716 • 401 N. 3rd, Ste. 4 • Stratford, TX 79084 P: (806) 366-7510 • F: (806) 366-7511 E-mail: highground@xit.net www.highground.org VISIT BUSINESS IMAGES OF THE HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS ONLINE AT IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM ©Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc., 361 Mallory Station Road, Ste. 102, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member Member

Magazine Publishers of America Custom Publishing Council

Member The High Ground of Texas

On the Cover PHOTO BY BRIAN MCCORD Pumping crude oil in The High Ground

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

HIGH GROUND

Swisher County, Texas Centrally located for dairy and related industries Good transportation Interstate 27, US Hwy. 87, State Hwy. 86, BNSF Railroad, large airports in vicinity and regional airport Accessible To the dairy areas of the Texas Panhandle, South Plains and eastern New Mexico Great climate Sub-humid with moderate temperatures Support industries Cattle feeding, grain production and storage facilities

Modern medical facilities Hospital, doctors, assisted living and nursing home Good educational opportunities Fully accredited ISD, with proximity to three universities and two community colleges Recreation Tule Creek Golf Course, Mackenzie Lake, city parks, hunting, museum and library Positive community spirit Enhanced by annual celebrations and festivals

Contact Joe Weaver Tulia Chamber of Commerce • Swisher County Industrial Foundation (806) 995-2296 • (806) 627-7038 • tuliatexas@windstream.net Rick Crownover Tulia City Manager • (806) 995-3547

Serving Dimmitt, Hart, Nazareth and the surrounding areas

Medical Center of Dimmitt 300 W. Halsell Dimmitt, TX 79027

(806) 647-2194 www.plainsmemorial.com

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Turn the pages of our

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HIGH GROUND

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

overview

WELCOME TO THE HIGH GROUND

The High Ground of Texas

From the Panhandle region in the north through the South Plains on down to the Permian Basin, The High Ground of Texas offers excellent business opportunities and an outstanding quality of life.

385

In all, the three sections span more than 60 counties and contain a population of 1.2 million people, including a workforce of about 550,000.

SHERMAN

OCHI LTREE 287

MOORE

HEMPHILL

HUTCHI NSON

HARTLEY

Developed in 1988, The High Ground is a nonprofit marketing organization that includes members with an interest in the economic vitality of the region. Membership includes economic development corporations, cities, counties, chambers, educational institutions, workforce organizations, utilities, cooperatives and industry associations. The High Ground offers unique opportunities for business. Regardless of size, the cities in The High Ground are aggressive and actively involved in the pursuit of economic growth. Target industries include alternative energy, beef processing, biotechnology, dairy, distribution, food processing, manufacturing and value-added agricultural products.

LI PSCOMB

HANSFORD

DAL LA M

ROBERTS

CARSON OLDHAM

W HEELER

P OT T E R

GRAY

Amarillo

287

DONLEY R A N DA L L 60

CO LLINGSWO RTH

ARMSTRONG

DEAF SMI TH 83

SWI S HE R

CASTRO

B R I S CO E

HALL

PARME R 87

C H I L D R E SS

385 70 62

FLOYD COTTLE

MOTLEY BAI LEY

HALE

LAMB

HOCKLEY

LUBBOCK DI CKENS

Lubbock

KI NG CROSBY

COCHRAN 84

For more information on doing business with a “51st State of Mind,” contact:

380

KENT YOAKUM

The High Ground of Texas P.O. Box 716 401 N. 3rd, Ste. 4 Stratford, TX 79084 (806) 366-7510 Fax: (806) 366-7511 E-mail: higround@xit.net www.highground.org

STO N E WA L L

GARZA

LYN N 82

TERRY

SCURRY GAINES

DAWSO N

BORDEN

180

FISHER

HOWARD MARTIN

ANDREWS

M I TC H E L L NOLAN

Midland

385

GLASS CO C K

WINKLER ECTOR

Odessa CO KE

MIDLAND

ST E R L I N G

R E AG A N WAR D

CRANE

277

UPTON

IRION TO M G RE E N

HIGH GROUND

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

Simply Seminole, your hometown in west Texas! Transportation Hub – Highways 385, 180, 62, 214, 181 State-of-the-Art General Aviation Facility Superior Service of Large Corporate Aircraft Award-Winning Schools Redundant Electrical Power Texas’ Leader in Cotton, Peanut and Oil Production Top Medical Facilities Level IV Trauma Center Located Midway Between Lubbock and Odessa on Highway 385

Call us at (866) 859-8804 or visit www.seminoleedc.org.

overview

TOP 10 REASONS TO DO BUSINESS IN THE HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS 1. STRATEGIC LOCATION From the East Coast to the West Coast, from Mexico to California, The High Ground region is in the middle of the action. We’ve got a superior transportation infrastructure – everything except a port – that will take care of your distribution needs.

7. FAVORABLE BUSINESS CLIMATE The region’s economic development corporations, chambers of commerce, utility companies, municipalities, counties and trade associations all stand ready to help you expand your business and be successful here.

2. QUALITY OF LIFE Whether you enjoy the amenities of city life or the tranquility of rural living, The High Ground has everything that makes an excellent standard of living: outstanding educational institutions, top-notch medical facilities, retail stores aplenty, affordable housing, recreational opportunities and friendly neighbors. Museums, symphonies, children’s art programs, sports events and live theater can be found in the smallest of cities to the metro areas.

8. COLLABORATION A long-standing code of conduct in The High Ground is: Help your neighbor. The attitude of “What’s good for one is good for all” continues to breed successful ventures. When you choose to do business and/or live in a High Ground city, expect a “package deal” – a friendly region that will support your needs. 9. BOUNDLESS SPIRIT Infused with what is sometimes called “pioneer spirit,” we are independent folks who know how to get things done. We like our sunsets and horses grazing on a beautiful afternoon, but our region is at the forefront of technology, and our businesses are highly competitive in the global marketplace.

3. LOWER COSTS Enjoy all of the services needed to make your business a success, without the high costs. Want a cost comparison? It’s yours for the asking. 4. EXCELLENT WORK ETHIC The folks in The High Ground take pride in their work – just ask employers like Affiliated Foods, American Cotton Growers, Anon Refinery, Bell Helicopter, Coca-Cola, Owens Corning, Western Builders and many others. Whether in need of skilled or unskilled workers, you can count on a labor pool that appreciates putting in a good day’s work.

10. OPPORTUNITY If there is one word to define what The High Ground is all about, it is opportunity – opportunitity as far as the eye can see. Everything you need in a state is found in The High Ground. It’s what we call “A 51st State of Mind.”

6. DIVERSE ECONOMY The High Ground may be known for its beautiful rolling plains and panoramic vistas, but the region is home to a diverse economy with components that include agriculture, alternative energy, aviation, corporate headquarters, distribution centers, food processing, manufacturing, petroleum, refineries and much, much more.

HIGH GROUND

BRIAN M C CORD

5. HIGH EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS From kindergarten to doctoral programs, educational opportunities in The High Ground are limitless. High school-to-work and high school-to-college programs enhance students’ career prospects. Fifteen colleges and universities provide a tremendous array of educational choices for young people and adults alike.

Signal Peak is an imposing geologic wonder near Big Spring.

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

business almanac

SINGING THE BLUES The High Ground region turns into “Kentucky west” during two bluegrass events each July. South Plains College hosts Camp Bluegrass, a one-week event that attracts bluegrass instructors and students from across the nation. South Plains is one of the handful of U.S. colleges that offer courses in bluegrass music. The Tule Creek Bluegrass Festival occurs over a weekend at Tule Creek Park in Tulia. The family festival features a number of stage shows.

MEMORIAL TO RICK HUSBAND Airline passengers walk by a memorial statue of Amarillo native Rick Husband in the terminal at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport. Husband was an Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut who died Feb. 1, 2003, when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over the southern United States during reentry. The tragedy occurred 16 minutes prior to the Columbia’s scheduled landing in Florida.

HIGH ON THE HOG

Husband was born July 12, 1957, in Amarillo and was a graduate of Amarillo High School.

Just get on your motorcycle and ride. Amarillo was chosen as host city for the 2007 Texas State H.O.G. Rally, which took place in May 2007. Cities bid for the prestigious rally each year, and Amarillo won the rights to host the 2007 event. “Amarillo was a stop once before, and bikers like coming here because there are many miles of open roads to ride, with relatively little traffic,” says Richard “Buzz” David, president and chief executive officer of the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. and a Harley-Davidson enthusiast. “We scheduled 65-mile rides for the 2007 rally that included trips through the gorgeous Palo Duro Canyon.” (See story, page 80.)

HIGH GROUND

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business almanac

CHEESEBURGER OF PARADISE It’s official: Friona is the Cheeseburger Capital of Texas, as declared in 2007 by the Texas Legislature. “It makes sense that Friona has this title because we are in the middle of beef, dairy and wheat country – the three ingredients that go into making a great cheeseburger,” says Chris Alexander, director of the Friona Chamber of Commerce. “Plus, onions are grown here.” Friona sponsors an annual Cheeseburger Cookoff and Festival each July at Friona City Park. The third annual cheeseburger fest is tentatively scheduled to take place July 19, 2008.

WHERE CADILLACS GO TO DIE A moment of silence, please, for 10 Cadillacs stuck nose down in a dusty wheat field. The Cadillac Ranch is a quirky sculpture on the south side of Interstate 40, about 10 miles west of Amarillo. In 1974, helium millionaire Stanley Marsh and a San Francisco art collective called The Ant Farm assembled the sculpture that consists of 10 “dead” Cadillacs from 1949-63. The graffiti-covered cars are half buried facing west, at the same angle as the Cheops pyramids in Egypt.

STANDING OVATION Quite a few natives of The High Ground region have made it big in the music industry. They include Mac Davis, Jimmy Dean, Larry Gatlin, Buddy Holly (memorialized in a Lubbock statue) and Waylon Jennings. Roy Orbison and Tanya Tucker also called the region home at one time, as did Robert Earl King, Bill Mack, Cory Morrow, Bob Wills and Leanne Womack. In addition, Trent Green of Lone Star, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, John Rich of Big and Rich, and Heath Wright of Ricochet have lived in The High Ground.

HIGH GROUND

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

business almanac

SNAKES ALIVE! Here she is: Miss Snakecharmer. A snakecharmer beauty pageant, a rattlesnakeeating contest and the appearance of the largest caught rattlesnake are all part of the annual Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater. The 50th annual festival is scheduled for March 8-9, 2008, at Nolan County Coliseum. The event typically attracts about 30,000 people, with proceeds going to the Sweetwater Jaycees. Over the years, contestants using gunnysacks to haul their catches have rounded up more than 250,000 pounds of rattlesnakes. The festival was originally conceived in 1959 by a group of area farmers and ranchers to rid the Sweetwater area of many of the rattlesnakes that were plaguing livestock.

BIG FESTIVAL, SMALL DELICACY A little bit of New Orleans arrives in Odessa every February at the annual Shrimpfest. The all-you-can-eat Cajun food extravaganza occurs at the Ector County Coliseum, with proceeds benefiting the Ellen Nöel Art Museum. Besides the shrimp feast, the three-hour event includes jazz music, dancing and a silent auction. The 22nd annual Shrimpfest is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 25, 2008. More than 1,400 people attend the fundraiser each year.

A PLACE TO DROP IN A Shamrock gas station was used as a model in the 2006 animated film Cars. The U-Drop Inn & Conoco Station was built in 1936 on Route 66, and a newspaper of that era called it “the swankiest of swank eating places.” The diner’s motto became “delicious food courteously served.” After 1984 when Route 66 was officially decommissioned, the diner closed and eventually fell into disrepair. In 2003-04, the building was restored to its original art deco style, thanks to a $1.7 million grant from the Texas Department of Transportation. Today, the city of Shamrock owns the building, and the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce and the Shamrock Economic Development Corp. are both housed there.

HIGH GROUND

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

The

Ripple Effects of Robust

Growth

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

HIGH GROUND

business climate

High Ground of Texas remains a hot spot for economic development

Agriculture and oil are underpinnings, but the economy here is diversified.

HIGH GROUND

corporation. “Whatever our neighbors are doing is going to directly affect us, so we all tend to work together whenever we can.” With the growth will come additional retail stores, restaurants and hotels. In the meantime, booking a room in Dumas can be challenging because of the Lero Refinery’s 1,000-plus contractors who frequently stay overnight and a beef packing plant’s perpetual need for a handful of rooms for visiting executives.

PHOTOS BY BRIAN M C CORD

ax abatements, hiring assistance and access to capital are among the tools economic development officials in The High Ground are using to attract businesses and help them prosper. The main attractions, though, are the natural resources and overall low costs of living and doing business here. Agriculture and oil provide the underpinnings of the local economy, and the offshoots from those industries are plentiful. The small Panhandle city of Dumas is emblematic of what is happening in communities up and down the vast region that is larger geographically than 24 of the 50 states. Recent additions to the business lineup of Dumas and vicinity include two dairies, a wind farm and a fertilizer plant. Prospects include ethanol plants and biodiesel operations, plus dairysupport services to coincide with a Hilmar Cheese processing plant’s relocation into a neighboring county. Such strong economic growth has a beneficial ripple effect. For example, a metal building company will erect structures for the dairy operation that is projected to process 5 million gallons of milk per day into cheese, and milk transport services are coming. “We feel like we work for not just Dumas but the entire region,” says Kari Campbell, assistant executive director of the city’s economic development

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business climate

Danny Davis, Littlefield’s city manager. “We’re starting to see the fruits of our labor, our investment in the area.” Martin Aguirre, chief executive officer of WorkSource of the South Plains, says the area’s principal growth patterns in recent years have been associated with professional services, retail, hospitality, data and customer service centers, and education. This requires that workers have “person-toperson skills” along with the ability to interface with technology, he says.

More traditional industries are springing up, too. Two examples announced during 2006 for the Lubbock area were Standard Bag Co. of Beaverton, Ore., which makes industrial bags, and Macsa Molinos Anahuac of Chihuahua City, Mexico, which mills f lour for tortillas. The incentives offered to these two companies included WorkSource training programs for new employees. WorkSource also worked closely with Vertical Turbine Specialists Inc., a family-owned manufacturer of turbine parts, that outgrew its space in Littlefield. After considering numerous options, VTS decided to relocate to a building in Lubbock. President Doug Allen says that since the move in 2005, the 50-year-old company has added 30 jobs to a payroll that now stands at nearly 100. VTS was honored in 2006 with Texas’ Employer of the Year Award for innovative approaches to recruiting, training and retention of employees – including the hiring of a staff nutritionist who prepares two healthy meals per day for employees.

BRIAN M C CORD

STEPHEN CHERRY

BOOM IN THE SOUTH PLAINS In Littlefield, about 35 miles northwest of Lubbock, the American Cotton Growers farmer-owned cooperative employs about 600 people. Robust business there and at some other companies has had a ripple effect, too, as indicated by a planned McDonald’s, a new motel and a couple of banks. “That (McDonald’s) probably isn’t a big deal to some people, but to me it shows we’re really gaining stability,” says

Wind energy is a growing sector of The High Ground economy. Top: As cotton production increases, demand for new banks and other businesses does likewise.

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TEAMING UP WITH SCHOOLS Aguirre says the area’s low unemployment rate – averaging from 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent – means business leaders must come to grips with a highly competitive labor market and the demand for skilled workers. Partnerships with local colleges and school districts bolster “our efforts to educate, train, retain and recruit individuals to meet the region’s labor demands,” he says. A side benefit, he adds, is that “the resources made available by these regional partners have resulted in a number of new business startups in the region.” Elsewhere, the WestTex Allied Communities regional entrepreneurship project has assisted in 15 business launches in rural areas. And ethanol manufacturing is becoming a reality, as plants in Deaf Smith, Hale and Hockley counties are nearing completion, and others are planned within three years in Bailey, Moore and Sherman counties. Wind energy is another growing sector. (See stories, pages 35, 36.) – Kelli Levey

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business climate

Vying A for the Prize

ANTONY BOSHIER

Entrepreneurs compete for Enterprize Challenge grants

Richard R. “Buzz” David leads the Amarillo Economic Development Corp., which sponsors the $300,000 Enterprize Challenge competition for new ventures.

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marillo’s annual Enterprize Challenge paves the way for entrepreneurs to launch small businesses or expand existing ones. Up for grabs are professional guidance and a slice of a $300,000 pie. The Amarillo Economic Development Corp. sponsors the business-plan competition, which EDC President and Chief Executive Officer Richard R. “Buzz” David calls a wise investment that has provided at least a 10-to-1 return in new jobs, products and services. “We take an idea, product or service that makes sense and support it with a grant. The rest is up to the business owner,” David says. “These people have to really do their homework to even be considered in this competition, and it pays off. Nationally, only about 15 percent of new businesses succeed and about 85 percent fail. Here, it’s just about the opposite.” The West Texas A&M University Enterprise Network, a business incubator serving 32 Panhandle counties, administers the Enterprize Challenge program. It provides workshops on developing business plans. Then the applicants generate itemized grant requests for amounts up to $75,000. The ventures must be basic income companies or those with at least 75 percent of sales outside the local area. The four 2007 winners included manufacturers of storm shelters and conveyer systems, and companies in the fabrication and chemical fields. Gary Sage says receiving a $40,000 grant in 2002 helped him relocate Sage Oil Vac Inc. to Amarillo from Dalhart and then expand. What started as an innovative way to change the oil on his farm’s irrigation engines has expanded to a business with a broad range of commercial operations. “I’d tell anyone starting a business to keep their noses to the grindstone and definitely to enter this contest,” Sage says. “The hoops that they have to jump through to apply are a great exercise in business planning, and they will only help.” – Kelli Levey

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Easy Come Easy Go

Transportation network provides convenient access via road, rail and air

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transportation

PHOTOS BY BRIAN M C CORD

he High Ground boasts an intermodal network of highways, rail lines and airports that can serve almost any transportation need. The area benefits from two trade corridors: Ports-to-Plains and La Entrada Al Pacifico. The Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor extends approximately 1,400 miles from Laredo at the Texas/Mexico border to Denver. About two-thirds of the corridor, which cuts through Midland-Odessa, Lubbock and Amarillo, is in Texas. Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor President Michael Reeves says 511 miles of the corridor are already four to six lanes, and 776 miles remain to be made multilane. Fifteen bypasses (12 in Texas), totaling 113 miles, also are planned. The corridor, which ultimately will extend into Canada, is

Burlington Northern Santa Fe is one of two mainline railroads that haul freight in, out and through the region. Union Pacific and several short-line carriers also are active here. Top right: Trucks move cargo via Interstate 40 at the I-27 junction in Amarillo.

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seen as crucial for maximizing NAFTA potential, and communities along the corridor, such as those in The High Ground, stand to gain from their proximity to the northsouth highway. “Improving the transportation infrastructure will give the communities and region the ability to be more competitive in global trade and will connect them to markets where they can import goods and services,” Reeves says. He adds that the $2.7 billion, 25-year project is expected to yield more than 44,000 new jobs with an economic impact of $4.5 billion.

BY RAIL AND AIR The freight-hauling Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and several short-line railroads crisscross the region. International airports in Amarillo, Lubbock and MidlandOdessa provide yet another vital transportation outlet for cargo and people in The High Ground. One of the airports, Rick Husband Amarillo International, is scheduled to undergo a $31.5 million facelift beginning in fall 2007. Slated for completion by summer 2009, the renovation will include the addition of a full-service restaurant beyond the security checkpoint and an arrivals area where deplaning passengers can meet family and friends. “The renovation addresses some post-9/11 issues that have changed the dynamics of air travel,” says Scott Carr, interim airport manager. “We’re trying to make travel more customer friendly and efficient for passengers.” – Katie Porterfield

ANTONY BOSHIER

SAVING MONEY AND TIME La Entrada Al Pacifico – the corridor to the Pacific – runs from Midland-Odessa to Topolobampo, Mexico. The corridor’s mission is to “create economic opportunities for the Permian Basin by improving transportation infrastructure and forging strong partnerships with Mexico.” Chihuahua City to Dallas/Fort Worth via La Entrada Al Pacifico and the Presidio border crossing is about 130 miles shorter than Chihuahua City to Dallas/Forth Worth via El Paso. Thus, says James Beauchamp, president of the MidlandOdessa Transportation Alliance, La Entrada saves truck carriers more than $300 and three hours of travel time. “That’s substantial savings,” Beauchamp says. “Chihuahua is Texas’ largest trading partner in Mexico, and there are a lot of businesses trying to get their goods back and forth to Dallas.”

Three east-west interstate highways also serve the region. Interstate 20, which originates in South Carolina, bisects the Permian Basin, with Midland-Odessa positioned as midpoints between Dallas/Fort Worth and El Paso. I-10, which stretches from Florida to California, intersects I-20 just west of the High Ground. I-40 cuts through the Panhandle on its way between North Carolina and California. North-south I-27, which connects Lubbock with Amarillo and I-40, is part of the Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor.

Midland International, just off I-20 between Odessa and Midland, is one of three commercial airports serving The High Ground.

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transportation

Family Dollar’s 1-million-square-foot distribution center, which opened in 2003 on Interstate 20 in Odessa, is a regional facility.

Distribution’s Contribution Trucks are hauling goods to and from warehouses situated near interstate highways

he High Ground’s extensive transportation network makes the region a logical location for distribution warehouses. Family Dollar, for example, opened a 1-million-square-foot distribution center in Odessa in 2003. “We have the opportunity to be a regional distribution niche market,” says James Beauchamp, president of the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance. “Family Dollar is a regional or niche distribution center, and that’s the market we’re looking for. We’re not going to be like a Dallas or a Houston, but there is certainly a place here for us to diversify the economy and expand our work force.”

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Just northwest of Midland-Odessa, Composites One, a fiberglass and composites materials distributor, broke ground on a 25,000-square-foot stocking center in February 2007. Wesley Burnett, director of economic development for the Andrews Economic Development Corp., says one of the reasons Composites One selected Andrews is that the company lacked a distribution center between Dallas and El Paso. Although Andrews, which is roughly halfway between those two metro areas, isn’t on an interstate highway, I-20 is easily accessible via multiple routes. “We’re off the beaten path, but we’re still accessible enough that it’s not a

hindrance to get products off to market,” Burnett says. Farther north, Plainview, located on I-27 with easy access to I-40, has been home to a Wal-Mart distribution center for about 20 years. “We have a great transportation system with numerous highways running through Plainview, which makes it easy to get goods in and out,” says Plainview City Manager Greg Ingham. Among other major distribution facilities in The High Ground region is the 308,000-square-foot facility that Ben E. Keith Foods opened in fall 2006 along I-40 in Amarillo. – Katie Porterfield

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& Reinvigorates

Oil Gas Boom Economy

From the Panhandle to the Permian Basin, it’s back to the heyday of drilling and pumping

BRIAN M C CORD

ew things appreciate 600 percent in eight years, but that’s precisely what’s happening with oil, a commodity that’s reinvigorating the Panhandle and Permian Basin economies of Texas. These days, the 250 rigs actively drilling in those areas are far more likely to produce natural gas: You’ll drive past four rotary rigs targeting gas for every one seeking oil. Still, the pump jacks that produce oil dot the landscape to the tune of thousands, bobbing their heads like horses in a slow, steady race. They’re symbols of what working in an energy-dense region is like. “The main way to talk about the oil and gas industry is it’s cyclical,” says Kirk Edwards, president of the 1,200-member Permian Basin Petroleum Association based in Midland. “We have just been through some devastating times in the not-too-distant past: 1999 was absolutely the worst time in the oil and gas industry.” Crude oil prices then flirted with single digits, a bottom not seen in three decades. But prices north of $60 in 2007 have triggered gasoline prices nearly four times their trough in the late 1990s.

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STAYING POWER PAYS OFF As in the mid-1980s, during the recent period of depressed prices some entities exited the business. But many independent producers persisted, and now they’re enjoying a heyday that’s different from the 1920s, when Amarillo tripled Oil rigs also pump money into the local economy.

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energy

Making Money While the Sun Shines PLANNED PROJECTS COULD TRANSFORM SOLAR INTO A MAJOR ENERGY SOURCE

in size, but a robust recovery nonetheless. Of the Panhandle’s 85,000 workers, one in four owes a living to oil and gas. “It’s a mark of stability in the region,” says Wayne Hughes, executive vice president of the Panhandle Producers and Royalty Association. “We tend to be part of the underpinning of the base economy of this region.” With prices high, the Panhandle has seen five times as many rigs in service compared with eight years ago, as investors have flocked back to buying interests in wells, Hughes says. The same trend has fueled a new boom in the Permian Basin. Edwards, a petroleum engineer who has worked for major oil companies, now owns MacLondon Royalty, an Odessa firm that buys interests from landowners in multiple states. He tracks the basin’s pulse as a board member of the Federal Reserve Bank’s El Paso branch. The region’s oil and gas workforce of about 24,000 grew by 13 percent in the past year. The production value of their work pumps $2 billion monthly into the economy. Retail sales increased 10 percent. Additionally, hotel occupancy in the basin, up 43 percent, is aided by 600 workers commuting to build a $1.5 billion nuclear enrichment facility in nearby New Mexico and hundreds more building Navasota Energy’s $200 million, natural-gas-fired Quail Run power plant on the outskirts of Odessa. “Our hotels are completely occupied,” Edwards said. “We have a saying: If you’re in business in the Permian Basin, you’re in the oil business.” PIPELINE OF PROJECTS The energy horizon is expanding. A site 11 miles outside of Odessa is one of four finalists for the $1 billion federally supported FutureGen project that would convert coal into power and chemicals with near-zero emissions. Captured carbon dioxide would be piped underground to enhance recovery in Permian Basin fields that provide 25 percent of the nation’s natural gas. “The whole idea is, it’s an energy center,” says Odessa’s director of economic development, Neal McDonald, citing four other local power plants and one of the nation’s largest petrochemical complexes. “I think [FutureGen] will change our economy for the next 50 years.” So will other discoveries. Though Texas energy production peaked in the 1970s, the latest price boom has coupled with new geologic studies to map a stunning find in the Palo Duro Basin between Lubbock and Amarillo. Says the Panhandle association’s Hughes, “We’re witnessing the birth of probably the largest new natural gas field to be discovered in the state of Texas in about 40 years.” – Gary Perilloux

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While West Texas residents spend considerable effort combating Old Sol’s sometimes-withering effects, the daystar promises to become a significant source of cooling and other energy needs if proposed alternative-energy projects come to fruition. “West Texas is one of the finest places in the nation for generation of electricity from solar,” says Doug Washington of WorldWater & Power Corp. His New Jersey-based company builds solar power systems coast-to-coast, ranging from irrigation and waterutility pumps to industrial refrigeration applications. Currently, the company is soliciting partners for super-size solar-generating stations in The High Ground, proposing as many as 500 acres of photovoltaic panels that would generate electricity cleanly and silently. “We are trying to work with communities that are interested in generating their own clean, renewable solar electricity,” Washington says. “We’re also looking at situations where they’re interested in combining solar and wind generation.” Meanwhile, EnviroMission, an Australian company, has devised a megaproject proposal and is prospecting in West Texas for a utility to take it on. The project, which is in feasibility studies in Australia, would have a footprint of 3,000 to 4,000 acres. According to Chris Davey, EnviroMission’s business development manager, the land would be covered by a translucent material, with a 2,600-foot-tall thermal tower standing in the center. The solar-heated air would rise and be drawn into the tower, where it would be harnessed to drive electricity-generating turbines. Morse Haynes, director of the Monahans Economic Development Corp., is one of the people scouting for the massive site such a project would require. “There would be enough electricity generated to power about 400,000 homes,” Haynes says, “and this represents annual savings of close to 2 million tons of greenhouse gases from entering the environment. That is the equivalent of taking 500,000 cars off the road annually.” – Errol Castens

EnviroMission, an Australian company, is proposing a 2,600foot-tall thermal tower to drive electricity-generating turbines.

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energy

Waste Not, Want Not ETHANOL PRODUCTION FACILITIES WILL USE WASTEWATER EFFLUENT AND MANURE AS BIOFUELS PROJECTS RISE IN THE REGION

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Methane gas extracted from manure will be used to fire the plant – replacing the need for natural gas – and corn left over from the refining will go back to the cattle as feed. “We’re literally taking it from one end of the cow and feeding it back into the other, which by

anybody’s definition is true recycling,” says Panda spokesman Bill Pentak. Most ethanol is a 10 percent blend now, but the plants hope rising demand dovetails with better infrastructure to deliver 85 percent ethanol in the future. – Gary Perilloux

ANTONY BOSHIER

West of Lubbock, a farmers’ co-operative has plowed dollars and four years of sweat equity into a dream of remarkable yields. By the end of 2007, it will be producing ethanol from refined corn after tapping treated sewage from a Levelland wastewater plant. Eighty-six miles north in Hereford, Panda Energy will corral the world’s largest source of cattle manure to fuel a $186 million facility producing 105 million gallons of ethanol a year. Several more High Ground biofuels projects are in the works as Congress dangles a 51-cent-pergallon subsidy to blenders mixing cleaner-burning ethanol with gasoline. Texas offers plants a $3 million annual subsidy for the first decade of production. In Levelland, the city’s Economic Development Corp. furnished 223 acres for Levelland Hockley County Ethanol, and the city obtained a state Department of Agriculture grant to pay for about half of a $1.3 million wastewater plant. Effluent will be piped six miles to process the ethanol. Meanwhile, farmers will rotate some of their cotton to corn or grain sorghum for the plant’s use, with a byproduct being healthier soil and fewer pests, according to Dave Quinn, Levelland’s director of economic development. “What’s unique about our project is that it was financed basically by local folks – not a big corporation – who said, ‘We’re going to do this,’ ” Quinn says of the $64 million project. In Hereford, Panda also will begin ethanol production in late 2007 by taking nettlesome manure off feedlots containing 3.5 million cattle within a 100-mile radius.

There is an intermediate step – refining – but corn is making its way into the nation’s gas tanks as ethanol. Production facilities in The High Ground are part of the trend.

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energy

The Latest Texas Revolution HARNESSING WIND IS A BREEZE; GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM GREAT PLAINS TO POPULATION CENTERS IS BIG TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGE

BRIAN M C CORD

Generations before the first oil and gas wells tapped into the energy beneath the West Texas plains, people had been harvesting the energy above. Windmills dotted the prairie from early days of pioneer settlement, providing a means to extract water from deep aquifers. Today, wind energy is both a science and a growing industry. The High Ground region includes some of the most consistently windy areas in the nation, and academics and entrepreneurs alike are learning to harness it with ever-greater efficiency.

“We’re focused mostly on the rural and remote uses of energy,” says Ken Starcher, director of the Alternative Energy Institute at West Texas A&M University in Canyon. Among AEI’s work is testing individual sites for wind-harvesting potential, consulting on renewable energy applications and overseeing a number of ongoing alternative-energy test sites around the state. The institute’s personnel also work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to evaluate electrical and mechanical wind technology, solar energy applications, and passive and low-tech home heating and cooling technologies. Xcel Energy, whose generating plants in the region are mostly coal fired, is one of the Texas utilities meeting a state mandate to include renewable energy in their operations. “We’re doing about 11 percent of our generating from wind farms,” says company spokesman Steve Deaton. Already, Texas is the nation’s leader in wind-energy generation, and many of the state’s wind farms are on the mesas in and around The High Ground. The largest wind farm on planet Earth is the 735-megawatt Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Nolan and Taylor counties. Royal Dutch Shell is proposing to build a 120-square-mile wind farm in Briscoe County that would eclipse Horse Hollow as the world’s largest. Starcher says the biggest technological challenge in developing wind energy is the lack of transmission systems from the Great Plains to population centers elsewhere. “It is very easy to build wind farms; it is very difficult to get the electricity to customers,” he says. Other challenges can be political or social – inconsistency of federal tax incentives for alternative energy and the “not in my back yard” syndrome. The potential for clean and inexhaustible energy, however, is enormous. “If we developed all the wind-farm capacity just in the Panhandle, we could generate five times the electricity needs of Texas,” Starcher says. “The Great Plains region could meet the needs of the whole country – 10 times over.” – Errol Castens

Texas leads the United States in wind-energy generation, and much of the activity revolves around The High Ground.

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Shown in a rendering, the National Enrichment Facility could begin enriching uranium within two years and reach full production by 2013. It will be across the state line from Andrews. A nuclear research facility may be built in Andrews by 2012.

Once Again at the Core of the Action $400 MILLION RESEARCH REACTOR AND $1.5 BILLION ENRICHMENT CENTER ARE PART OF NUCLEAR ENERGY’S REVIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES Two trends – rising energy demand and pressure to reduce greenhouse gases – have sparked a nuclear renaissance in the United States, with blueprints emerging for nearly two dozen nuclear reactors that may be built around the country during the next 20 years. The trajectories of those trends are meeting in the Permian Basin, where developers target a $400 million nuclear research facility opening by 2012 in Andrews County and a $1.5 billion nuclear enrichment plant across the border in neighboring Lea County, N.M. Both installations are spurred by the private sector and aimed at harnessing better technology for a new generation of nuclear reactors. In Texas, the High-Temperature

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Teaching and Test Reactor pairs the University of Texas of the Permian Basin – located in Odessa, about 30 miles south of the proposed research reactor – with energy and defense contractor General Atomics. Helium produced in the Panhandle hub of Amarillo would be used in the test reactor because the gas can super-cool the test reactor core while remaining non-radioactive. “The mere presence of this premier research facility in the Permian Basin will give birth to a new generation of companies that will supply the fuel to drive the nuclear-hydrogen economy of the future,” says David Watts, UTPB president. Just across the state line, a European consortium with investment from U.S. energy firms will create a uranium enrichment

center to supply fuel for the next nuclear wave. The National Enrichment Facility, to be operated by Louisiana Energy Services, could begin enriching uranium within two years and ramp up to full production by 2013, tapping centrifuge technology that requires just 5 percent of the electric power used by oldergeneration nuclear fuel sites. Andrews County sits squarely between the Odessa energy hub and the nuclear enrichment site. “There definitely is a drive to diversify, and nuclear seems to be the way to go,” says Wesley Burnett, director of economic development for the Andrews Economic Development Corp. “Our people are educated about the industry, and we just fit the mind-set for this type of deal.” – Gary Perilloux

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NEAL HINKLE

Flying into the Future

Air Force base gets second life as business technology development center

Reese Technology Center occupies a 2,500-acre site that was the location of Reese Air Force Base until 1997. Top: A chemical and biological protection suit is among the products developed by Texas Tech University researchers working at the center.

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technology

he loss of a military installation can be a deathblow to a local economy, but 10 years’ worth of planning by South Plains area leaders has seen the former Reese Air Force Base become a hotbed for technology. Renamed the Reese Technology Center, the former military installation is now a place where researchers from the academic and private sectors work on an array of products and technologies for military and civilian uses. It took a lot of planning and effort for the technology center to take off, says Todd Reno, Reese’s director of business development. “We found out in 1995 that we were on the closure list, and it closed on Sept. 30, 1997,” he says. “At that time, the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Committee was formed by area businesspeople, so they proactively planned for the site’s future. They hit the ground running, obviously, and got busy with the transfer of the property and going about the groundwater remediation and other work it would need.” Deeds were signed by September 2006 when what is now the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority formally took over the site. The 2,500-acre property includes buildings with about 1.4 million square feet of usable space. In 1999, Reese became home to training facilities for Texas Tech University and South Plains College. About 4,200 students now receive training at Reese in areas as diverse as plumbing and environmental science. The academic tenants make up a strong core among the center’s four areas of specialization, Reno says. “We’re focusing on biotechnology, biosciences, food technology and workforce training. Our tenants are working on Department of Defense research, supercomputers, wind research, vehicle applications – a lot of high-tech things.” The technology being developed has, and will have, widereaching applications.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NEAL HINKLE

A PRODUCT OF NOTE One development getting considerable attention comes from researchers at Texas Tech’s Institute of Environmental and Human Health, who have created a composite, nonwoven cotton fabric to protect against chemical agents. The fabric can be used as a non-particulate dry wipe to clean up, for example, a soldier’s body or a military aircraft. “This technology has significant benefits over the current particulate M291 decontamination kit,” says Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, assistant professor at the institute. “We are doing some cutting-edge research here that is very important for national defense,” Ramkumar says. “We are the first and only academic facility to have this type of technology, and our research and development here at Reese is really booming.” He adds that a side benefit of the institute’s high profile at Reese Technology Center is that he’s able to draw students from around the world. “Texas Tech is now recognized internationally,” he says. “I think this is going to be one of the premier research parks in the world.”

BRINGING BACK JOBS That kind of ringing endorsement is music to Reno’s ears and can only benefit Reese’s developers as they act to secure more tenants. “We’re trying to find people who are a good fit here, so our marketing is very specific,” he says. “We do a lot of reading, find out what kind of research is going on, or hear about someone having problems with their research and then see if we can bring them here. We think companies or institutes can come here on their own or work in partnership with our tenants.” The area’s business community seems pleased with the early successes, Reno adds. “Some of these people have been around 10-plus years and have seen the whole thing develop. There are not a lot of closed military bases ending up like this; most close and stay closed. We have no debt, we’re self supporting and so far we’ve brought back 700 of the 1,200 civilian jobs the base had when it was operational. This really is something the whole area can be proud of.” – Joe Morris

Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar uses cotton to produce a composite nonwoven fabric that protects against chemical agents.

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manufacturing

Having It

Made in

The High Ground Manufacturing here runs the gamut from corporate giants to just-hatched startups

rom helicopters to hunting gear, from vacuum cleaners to hottub shells, The High Ground is home to a wide range of manufacturing endeavors. Many take a less traditional path in this land of oil and agriculture. For example, Best Made Designs LLC produces nylon products for military and hunting purposes. The company is

capitalizing on the burgeoning homeland security market and ships its products wherever U.S. forces are stationed, according to Bryan Heflin, owner and general manager. At its plant in Monahans, BestMade Designs manufactures two brands: Spec Ops, which targets the military and law enforcement sectors, including border patrol agents; and Texas Hunt

Bell Helicopter Textron manufactures the V-22 Osprey helicopter for the military.

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Company, which is geared more toward hunters, offering backpacks, rifle slings and vests. Heflin says he is fortunate to have “a great employee base” to draw from. “Out in the oil patch right now, everybody has a sign out saying, ‘Help wanted,’ but our business is sort of sheltered from that because of who we can hire,” Hef lin says. “We can hire females whose husbands might work in the oilfield or older people because the work they do is low-impact: running a sewing machine, packing, doing quality control. They can even sit down for a lot of it. I think we’ve made a great impact on that segment of our community.” BIG COMPANIES AND STARTUPS Other examples of manufacturing operations include Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. in Amarillo, production site of the V-22 Osprey and other helicopters. In Andrews, Kirby Co. opened a

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SEE MORE ONLINE To find out more about Bell Helicopterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing operation, visit imageshighground.com/2006-07.

Owens Corning Fiberglass has a major presence in Amarillo. PHOTO BY BRIAN MCCORD

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manufacturing

second vacuum cleaner manufacturing plant in 1972. More than 300 people work in the 96,000-square-foot facility dubbed Kirby West to distinguish it from the company’s original plant in Cleveland. ConocoPhillips Co. in Borger produces plastic and steel for cars, exporting much of it to China. It employs 739 permanent workers, along with up to 400 contracted employees.

Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp. in Amarillo and US Fiberglass Inc. in Plainview produce fiberglass products, with the Plainview plant making shells for swimming pools and spas. Llanos Altos LLC, a bottled water company, is a recent graduate of the Dumas Economic Development Corp.’s business incubator. The company bottles Pure Element Premier Water without adding minerals in the process.

“They decided to office here (after graduating), says Kari Campbell, the EDC’s assistant executive director. Another recent graduate is a chemical business. Campbell notes that – unusual for the Dumas incubator – the recent hatchings have left several spaces vacant and ready for new entrepreneurs seeking to make their mark in manufacturing or other endeavors. – Kelli Levey

Yes, in My Backyard – Please DIMMITT MAN CONSTRUCTED A PLAY SET FOR HIS KIDS – AND THEN BUILT AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PRODUCING ABOUT 120,000 UNITS ANNUALLY When he built a backyard play set for his children in the 1980s, Charles Sammann couldn’t possibly envision just how far his idea would take him. The project at his home in Dimmitt triggered a neighbor’s request for a similar system – and that set the stage for Backyard Adventures, a burgeoning business in Amarillo that eventually sent 120,000 units into the international marketplace annually. “I didn’t quite see it getting this big, but I’ve just gone along with it,” Sammann says. The cedar and redwood systems cost from less than $300 to thousands of dollars, and the market ranges from discount clubs and small retailers to individuals who want elaborate, customized sets. A recent acquisition by private equity company Baird Capital Partners put Backyard Adventures in partnership with Leisure Time Products of Pittsburg, Kan., which had been making about 70,000 sets a year. The companies are operating vvas separate subsidiaries of Backyard Leisure Holdings. Sammann is executive vice president of marketing and product development for the new

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company, and he serves on its board of directors. Ron Scripsick, previously CEO of Leisure Time Products, continues in that role with the new company. Richard R. “Buzz” David, Amarillo Economic Development Corp.’s president and chief executive officer, calls Backyard Adventures “a genuine local success story.” What started out

with three employees in 1993 has grown to an operation of more than 300. David says the merger creates a “larger, stronger company” from two companies with similar products. “We hope that BA will continue to operate in Amarillo, and that the merger will create synergies for the newly formed company.” – Kelli Levey

Among Backyard Adventures’ various play sets is its redwood cabin package.

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agriculture

Seasonsof Plenty Cotton, peanuts, wheat and hay are among the crops springing from The High Ground

“

beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain. …” When Katharine Lee Bates wrote the words to her classic anthem “America the Beautiful,” she could have had the wheat fields of Texas on her mind. “Texas is the fourth-largest producer of wheat in the nation,” says David Moore, chairman of the Texas Wheat Producers Board and a wheat and corn producer from Dumas. “With our climate, fertile soil and plentiful irrigation, this is just good country for crop production.” According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas is the No. 2 agricultural state, accounting for about 7 percent of U.S. agricultural income. The state is the nation’s No. 1 producer of cotton and hay, with annual sales of $1.8 billion

for cotton and $225 million for hay. Agriculture employs one out of every seven working Texans, and 80 percent of Texas land is used for agricultural production. Much of the crop production takes place in The High Ground. “The biggest part of the state’s grain production is in the North Plains area,” Moore says. “If you drew a line east and west across Lubbock, probably 70 percent of the state’s wheat is raised in the plains to the north. Grain production is extremely valuable to the overall economy of the High Plains region.” Cotton, corn, soybeans, peanuts and guar beans also drive agriculture in The High Ground. “Texas is a huge cotton and peanut state,” says Jack Cargill, director of the Brownfield Industrial Development Corp. “The

Wheat is a major crop here, especially in the plains north of Lubbock. Texas is the nation’s fourth-leading producer of wheat. PHOTO BY WES ALDRIDGE

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HEREFORD, DEAF SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS An agricultural leader in the Panhandle of Texas Hereford Municipal Airport

Hereford Fire Department

Panda Energy Ethanol Site

Hereford Aquatic Center

John Pitman Golf Course

New packing plant opened in 2005

One of Hereford’s 10 new dairies

Rooted in progress and positioned for the future LOCATION EDUCATION

TRANSPORTATION

RECREATION COMMUNITY

Hereford is in the center of the western Texas Panhandle, 45 miles southwest of Amarillo. Qualified workforce is supported by outstanding public and private schools. Community college local campus opened in the fall of 2005. West Texas A&M University is 30 miles to the east, and Texas Tech University is 90 miles to the south. Major highways intersect in Hereford, with U.S. Highway 385 going north and south, and U.S. Highway 60 going east and west. The BNSF mainline railroad runs through the city of Hereford. Major international airport in Amarillo. Hunting, golfing, swimming and rodeos all available locally. Water sports and snow skiing close by. Progressive, growing and “great neighbors.”

CALL 806-364-0613 TODAY OR VISIT WWW.HEREFORDEDC.COM Hereford Economic Development Corporation 701 North Main St. • P.O. Box 1266 • Hereford, TX 79045 Sheila Quirk, Executive Director • hedc@wtrt.net

ANTONY BOSHIER

agriculture

Water drawn from aquifers is used extensively to irrigate the fields, helping to make the region a center for agriculture.

High Ground is a semiarid area, and the makeup of the soil is sandy, which is good for growing peanuts. The same type of soil is good for cotton.” LONG GROWING SEASON The availability of water from aquifers and the long growing season are other positive factors. “We plant in late April, and the growing season goes until October for peanuts and November for cotton,” Cargill says. Gaines County in the southwestern sector of The High Ground is the largest producer of peanuts and cotton in the state. In 2005, the county produced 461,000 bales of cotton and 288 million pounds of peanuts. “Gaines County is a good place for crop production because of its fertile soil, good water source and warm climate, which includes a 210-day average growing season for letting crops

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mature,” says Donna Johnson, director of the Seminole Economic Development Corp. While cotton production has been a mainstay in The High Ground’s economy for decades, the peanut crop is a relative newcomer to the region. “Peanut production moved here in the last six or seven years from central Texas,” Cargill says. Cotton’s longevity in The High Ground has led to an abundance of research and new technologies locally. For instance, Samuel Jackson Inc. in Lubbock has developed moisture-control technology that increases productivity in the ginning process, and there are seven new cotton gins in the region. “Some big ones were built near the Plainview area in the last three years, and that will really help with the harvest,” Cargill says. – Jessica Mozo

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MONAHANS, TEXAS Monahans is a “Prime Location” Low property taxes Quality medical care Low crime rate

The hub of oil field activity

Recognized school system. $30 million construction improvements in progress.

Sandhills State Park Million Barrel Museum Pyote Bomber Base Ward County Golf Course Perch Pond

A community on the grow! A positive quality of life! A beautiful climate year-round!

I-20 expansion, growing retail & rail access

Superior water & city utilities

Available industrial park property P.O. Box 61 • Monahans, TX 79756 (432) 943-2062 • Fax (432) 943-6868

monahansedc@monahans.org • www.monahans.org

agriculture

Growing Their Own TEXANS FIND THEY CAN COMPETE WITH THE BEST IN WINEMAKING Gregory Bruni was a wellrespected and award-winning winemaker in California, the heart of America’s wine industry. Then he left all of that behind to come to Texas. “It’s fun to be in Texas, where there are only 100 wineries, whereas California had more than 1,000,” says Bruni, who became vice president/executive

winemaker at Llano Estacado Winery near Lubbock in 1993. “You feel like you’re a pioneer.” Indeed, Bruni is one of a growing number of pioneering winemakers in Texas. The South Plains region is now home to four relatively new vineyards and wineries, some of which already have captured awards and other recognition.

Customers sample different wines at Llano Estocado’s tasting room near Lubbock.

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Elevations in the area exceed 3,000 feet, and Bruni says “the high ground is one of the features that helps with quality grapes. … Our soils are very good for growing grapes, and our high altitude gives us cooler nights and cool winds that help moderate our high temperatures.” But there are also challenges, including the threat of damage from frost and hailstorms, he says. Llano Estacado Winery was founded in 1976 by two Texas Tech University professors who were experimenting with grape growing in the High Plains. Since then, the winery has won an impressive number of awards, both in regional and national competitions, and today it produces 13 different grape varieties. “We’re excited about the Rhone style wines we’re making,” Bruni says. “Rhone grapes are grown in the Rhone Valley of France, where it’s very hot, and they’re doing really well here.” Llano Estacado sold 111,000 cases of wine in 2006, and Bruni projects 2007 sales will top 120,000 cases. Other wineries in the region include Pheasant Ridge Winery, which dates from 1979; Cap-Rock Winery, established in 1992; and Delaney Vineyards & Winery, which has locations in Lamesa and Grapevine. “Europe has been making wines for two millennia, California for two centuries and Texas for only about two decades,” Bruni says. “But the work we’re doing in Texas now is setting the foundation for future generations of winemakers.” – Jessica Mozo

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beef industry

This is

Cattle Country Beef production is a mainstay in The High Ground’s economy

ou’ve heard the slogan, “Where’s the Beef?” If you ask Texas cattle producers, they’ll tell you it’s right here in The High Ground. “A very significant percentage of the cattle-feeding industry is in The High Ground,” says Ross Wilson, chief executive officer of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. “Our association represents Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, and that three-state region has produced 30 percent of the nation’s fed beef for seven of the last 10 years. And 90 percent of that seven million head of cattle are produced in the High Plains within a 200-mile radius of Amarillo.”

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The economic impact of the cattle industry in The High Ground is north of $20 billion annually, with sales of fed cattle accounting for more than $7 billion in direct economic benefit. MILLIONS OF CATTLE “These are high capital operations with relatively low labor, but there are still 25,000 jobs in The High Ground cattle-feeding industry,” Wilson says. At any given time, Texas feed yards are home to between 3 million and 3.5 million cattle, and the majority of those are in The High Ground region. “The average-size feed yard is 35,000 head, and it turns cattle about every 150

days, so it will market about 87,000 cattle each year,” Wilson says. “One feed yard produces 53 million pounds of beef and has average sales of $104 million in fed cattle in one year.” One reason The High Ground is such good cattle-feeding country is because of an abundance of locally grown grain. The region’s other assets include a relatively mild climate and proximity to major meatpackers. “The climate is dry, and the winds on the high plains help keep the cattle cool Feedlots in the region average 35,000 cattle, which are fed for about 150 days before being shipped to a meatpacker.

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ANTONY BOSHIER

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HIGH GROUND

beef industry

LONG TRADITION OF RANCHING AzTx Cattle Co. is a 240,000-head family business that began in 1983. It operates three feed yards in The High Ground (in Dimmitt, Farwell and Hereford), as well as one in Colorado and one in Kansas. It is one of the largest independent cattle-feeding companies in the country. “Being family-operated allows us to be f lexible and change with the times,” Josserand says. “It also makes our company more relationshiporiented with our customers, vendors and service providers.” The Josserand family is carrying on a century-and-a-half-old tradition in The High Ground. “Cattle ranching is what settled The High Ground area,” Wilson says. “The ranching industry came here in the mid-1800s, and crop production started in the late 1800s. Cattle feeding has been around a long time, too, but it really began to grow commercially in the 1950s and ’60s.” Wilson grew up in the cattle industry in The High Ground before joining the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. “Our members produce a great source of protein for consumers, and they are very much entrepreneurs,” he says. For Josserand, the best part about the job is the people. “I enjoy the people in the cattle business – the trust, the idea of knowing a man’s word is gold,” he says. “If a man gives you his word, that’s all you need. Loyalty is still alive and well in the cattle business.” – Jessica Mozo

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ANTONY BOSHIER

in the summer,” says John Josserand, president of AzTx Cattle Co., which is headquartered in Hereford, “Beef Capital of the World.” “Another reason the cattle industry thrives here is the people,” Josserand says. “The people here embrace agriculture, and they’re hardworking and independent.”

The sign that greets travelers when they enter the city of Hereford is no idle boast. One look around makes it clear that the community is tied to the cattle industry.

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HIGH GROUND

beef industry

Bronze Steers and Comanche Artifacts NATIONAL RANCHING HERITAGE CENTER CHRONICLES TEXAS HISTORY AND MORE

ANTONY BOSHIER

Ever wondered what being a rancher would be like? To get a hint, visit the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, home to 45 relocated ranch structures within a 16-acre historical park. “There are ranch houses, barns, corrals, windmills, milk and meat coolers, and bunkhouses. People can look inside and even go into some of them,” says Jim Pfluger, executive director of the National Ranching Heritage Center. “We also have indoor exhibits, including one on the history of the chuck wagon with an actual century-old chuck wagon and all the equipment that was in it. And we have one of the largest collections of the personal items of Quanah Parker, one of the wealthiest Indians in North America. Some consider him the last of the Comanche war chiefs.” The National Ranching Heritage Center was

established in the 1970s by Texas Tech University and area ranchers who wanted to restore and preserve decaying ranch buildings. The project was initially intended to reflect the history of ranching in Texas, but it has since grown to encompass ranching nationwide and beyond. “Spaniards have been ranching in New Mexico and Texas since the 1500s,” Pfluger says. “Our mission is to preserve ranching heritage in North America, which includes Mexico and Canada. Texas was very much a crossroads in the early 1800s. Other cultures and people who came here all had an impact on Texas ranching.” The NRHC ranch structures show the evolution of ranch life from the late 1780s through the 1930s as well as different architectural styles. “The path for visitors goes in chronological order from the earliest to the latest building, and you get a sense of the change of architecture and materials used in construction,” Pfluger says. Visitors also can see a herd of 14 life-size bronze steers, a branding iron collection and other exhibits about ranching. Admission is free, and the museum is open seven days a week. – Jessica Mozo

One of 14 bronze steers stands guard at the National Ranching Heritage Center as a live jackrabbit pauses in the background.

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dairy industry

Call It

Wisconsin

WEST Production of milk, cheese and other dairy products is booming here

ne look around makes it clear that The High Ground region isn’t Wisconsin, but a host of favorable factors are making West Texas a whole other kind of dairy state. The growth of dairying here has been phenomenal. In the first half decade of the new millennium, dairy populations multiplied fivefold, reaching an estimated 125,000 milk cows by 2006. That’s helping The High Ground satisfy a growing portion of the nation’s thirst for milk and its taste for cheese and other dairy delicacies. Wisconsin-based Hoard’s Dairyman magazine calls the Panhandle “the No. 1 ‘must see’ area today for relocationminded large herd owners. With several dairies already operating to the west in the Clovis, NM, area and several others to the south in Muleshoe and Hereford, TX, a flow of dairies to the High Plains region is well under way and figures to continue for some time.”

LAND PRICES, REGULATORY CLIMATE A considerable part of the growth is stimulated by the relocation of West Coast dairymen. “Our land prices are so much better than in California that dairymen who wanted to expand found they could sell out there and build new facilities here and not be leveraged,” says Janet Claborn, director of economic development for the city of Muleshoe. Her community’s ethanol production project offers the added bonus of spent distiller’s grains that make another excellent and relatively inexpensive dairy feed. The regulatory burden on agricultural enterprises is reduced in The High Ground, too. “Texas is a business-friendly environment,” says David Ahlem, site manager for California-based Hilmar Cheese Co., which is scheduled to open a 40-acre processing plant at Dalhart in October 2007. “It’s an ag-friendly and dairy-friendly environment. For our business, those are important, because we

The dairy-cow population in The High Ground increased fivefold in five years to an estimated 125,000.

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P H OTO B Y A N TO N Y B O S H I E R

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MULESHOE Center of the Dairy Country

Muleshoe Economic Development Corp. 215 South First • Muleshoe, TX 79347 (806) 272-7455 • www.city-of-muleshoe.com

dairy industry

Hilmar Cheese employees use state-of-the-art equipment to turn milk into Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack and other varieties.

want to grow in an area where dairies can expand.” While the Dalhart plant initially will process some 2 million pounds of milk a day into Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack and other cheeses along with whey protein, daily processing is expected to reach 10 million pounds eventually. WELCOME MAT IS OUT The area’s excellent transportation system and its dry climate (which reduces the incidence of some animal health problems) are being cited as among other factors contributing to the dairy industry’s rapid expansion. Folks in The High Ground welcome the flurry of business activity. “I’ve been up here in the Panhandle for two years, and we’ve seen several new farms in that time,” says Brent High, lab manager at Pioneer Dairy Lab in Dimmitt. “It’s good not only for the dairymen but for the communities.” Claborn concurs. “It’s increased our tax base. It’s increased the value of our land,” she says. “The people in the dairy industry are the kind of people you want to bring into your community. They have strong work ethics, and they are family-oriented and community-based.” – Errol Castens

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education

Strengthening Community Partnerships

Area colleges expand their reach with new facilities, including one on wheels

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Theatre and Dance at WTAMU. “When you add a new and welldesigned facility, it becomes a recruiter for you,” Brantley says. “The new building is also stretching us, pushing us, as far as the amount of activity we can undertake.”

UTPB CHARTS GROWTH More construction is on the horizon in Odessa at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, where the state legislature is expected to sign off on funding for new science and arts buildings. The two projects, with a

A N TO N Y B O S H I E R

rom fine arts to on-site job training, colleges and universities in The High Ground region are meeting the area’s increasingly wide range of educational needs. As the workforce continues to expand and evolve, schools are offering new academic degrees and new training for existing workers. Additional facilities are being built to accommodate both new and existing programs. A common theme sounded by campus administrators is the desire to be a community partner. Whether it’s a building that serves a vast area or a mobile classroom that doubles as a jobtraining venue, the goal is to add value to the campus and region. At West Texas A&M University in Canyon, the $34 million Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex is a prime example. Opened in October 2006, the 118,000-square-foot facility features a 4,300-square-foot orchestra/band hall, more than 30 practice rooms, a 150-seat recital hall, 300seat university theater, video studios, broadcast control room and more. The building has sparked renewed interest in the college’s communications and theater programs, says Royal Brantley, chairman of the Department of Art,

West Texas A&M University’s Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex, completed in 2006 for $34 million, has multiple features, including a broadcast control room.

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education combined price tag of around $100 million, will add greatly to the university’s already extensive offerings, says President David Watts. “The science building is really a function of our growth,” Watts says. “On the arts side, we have no center, no facility in existence, in this part of West Texas. Lubbock and Amarillo have wonderful facilities, but we don’t have anything, so this building addresses a major community need as well as a campus need.” Watts adds that in response to community wishes, the university is examining the possibility of offering a doctorate in education. REACHING OUT TO RURAL AREAS At Frank Phillips College in Borger, a new building is on the move – literally. The college’s classroom on wheels hasn’t had much idle time since rolling onto campus in May 2006. “It’s been a real asset to us,” says President Herb Swender. “We have access to rural areas that [beforehand] couldn’t benefit from training programs and educational opportunities.” The 52-foot trailer expands to 1,000 square feet through use of hydraulic slide-outs, and it can hold up to 30 individuals or 20 computer stations. While the classroom’s original purpose was to provide field training for oilindustry workers and others, the uses have multiplied, Swender says. “It’s being used for a company wanting to do a specific job-training class for workers, or provide temporary office space for one of our business partners when they’re bringing in new employees. The main benefit we’re seeing is that it allows us 24/7 flexibility to get out into the entire area so we can reach a lot more people.” The classroom cost around $390,000, and the school has bought a big rig to transport it. The investment was a sound one, Swender says. “The choice for workers often was to come to campus for classes or training – or don’t have any training at all,” he says. “This means we can go to them, which is what we want to be doing in our communities. It helps us take care of business in a contemporary way.” – Joe Morris

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The Need for Nurses SCHOOLS INTRODUCE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS A SHORTAGE When Melinda Clark received her bachelor’s degree in 1984, she couldn’t get a nursing job immediately. “The market was glutted,” she says. Clark eventually spent more than 15 years as a nurse and during that time witnessed increasing demand for people in her chosen profession. Today, there is a national shortage of nurses, and Clark views it from the perspective of an employer, not an employee. Since January 2007 she has been the president and chief operating officer for Covenant Health System, which operates several hospitals in Lubbock. For many years, Covenant Health has done its part to meet the need for nurses. The fully accredited Covenant School of Nursing turns out registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). “We have every possible incentive out there to help nurses and support them as they try to go through nursing school,” Clark says. Margaret Heathington, director of nurses at the Muleshoe Area Medical Center, says she has waited as long as five or six months to find someone qualified to fill a nursing position at her rural hospital, but she will not lower her standards to fill openings. Barbara Finney, president of the Muleshoe Area Education Foundation, says a new partnership with South Plains College is designed to help alleviate the shortage. Beginning in August 2007, students in Muleshoe will be able to participate in South Plains College nursing classes

Melinda Clark brings the perspective of a nurse to her job as president and CEO of Covenant Health System in Lubbock.

through interactive telecasts originating from the college’s campus in Levelland. The program will be for LVNs who want to become RNs, Finney says. At Amarillo College, so many students now want to become nurses the school has had to cap admissions, says Sheryl Mueller, Nursing Division chair and director of the RN program. The college has increased its nursing graduates by 47 percent in recent years, but further expansion is hampered by the difficulty in filling faculty positions, Mueller says, noting that “by and large, with a master’s degree a nurse can make a lot more money in practice than in teaching.” In Lubbock, Clark says Covenant Health System is working to boost the pay for nursing professors – not just those at its nursing school but also members of some other faculties in the area. – Amanda Nelson

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Muleshoe Animal Clinic

Muleshoe Vet Supply

(806) 272-3061

(806) 272-4990

1430 Hwy. 84 • Muleshoe, Texas 79347 mvsupply@door.net

For reservations

(800) 644-2319 (806) 722-2726

Serving the livestock industry of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico with full-line veterinary services and animal health supplies.

Ofﬁcial host of the High Ground of Texas 2006 Spring Conference

Lubbock owned and operated www.arborinnandsuites.com

5310 Englewood Lubbock, TX 79424

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

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education

Help Wanted, Seriously Training programs target specific workers and industries as the region copes with a nice problem: low unemployment

ow that the oil industry is in a boom period again, workers are in short supply. For many industries that operate in the region, training new workers and updating existing staff are a constant challenge. Enter The High Ground’s many colleges and workforce development entities, which are offering an array of programs to keep the workforce at the top of its game. At Odessa College, a $2 million Community-Based Job Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor is targeting welders. Specifically, it’s providing a series of continuingeducation opportunities to help an industry that is crying out for workers, says Arleen Loyd, director of workforce training. “We are very, very short on welders around here,” Loyd says. “We have a welding program at the college, but it’s full with a waiting list. We wanted to do something else for people who can’t take credit courses for whatever reason, and this program meets that need. We do a lot of entry-level training so people can get into the field, and some customized training for people already welding but who need additional skillbased education.” Odessa College hopes to have a 30-station welding training center operational by January 2008, and it has money through the grant to train 480 welders over a two-year period. An outreach program is active everywhere from oilfields to high schools to recruit participants for half-day classes that will meet for eight weeks. “We set it up this way because we already have so many people working that they couldn’t take a lot of time off,” Loyd says. “We’re also going to be having a night program so we can be even more flexible.” Mike Worley of Levelland-based Worley Welding Works Inc. has been tapping into a similar program at South Plains College for years. “Welding is underappreciated,” Worley says. “In the oil industry, everything’s made out of steel. Anybody who’s growing welders right now is doing a positive thing for a lot of industries.” Amarillo College’s workforce development efforts include high-profile partners like Bell Helicopter Textron and Panda Industry, with the goal being to help area industries attract and retain workers in the low-unemployment environment, says the college’s president, Steven Jones. “We just got a major grant from the state to develop an engineering-technology program with Bell and West Texas A&M University,” Jones says. “This will combine a company, community college and university in a joint project, and this is the kind of thing I think we’ll be seeing more of.” Jones says Amarillo College works with about two-dozen companies on training programs. In addition, it is the largest provider of training for the Texas Department of Transportation. “ ‘Community’ is the word that defines ‘community college,’ ” Jones says. “What really differentiates us is how responsive

HIGH GROUND

we are to community needs. Being able to respond, to directly provide the training they need or bring it in here through some other third party, is what we need to be doing.” Incumbent-worker training also is a focus of the Midlandbased Permian Basin Workforce Development Board, says Willie Taylor, executive director. “That’s where we’re spending our training dollars,” Taylor says. “We’re looking at areas that are short of people or are trying to keep people, like nursing. … And we’re continuing our series of job fairs for the entire region, as well as going around the state and to nearby states where workers have been laid off and recruit them to our area.” In Lubbock, high school students can earn college credit for classes they take in conjunction with another workforce development entity, the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center. The center is a collaborative effort between the Lubbock Independent School District and South Plains College. They work with the city of Lubbock, the community and local businesses and industries to develop a comprehensive program of cooperative technical education, says Dick Walsh, provost of South Plains College. For example, Walsh says, in the auto tech division, high school students are able to gain 12 credit hours, and sometimes more, toward a two-year degree. “They can nearly get one full semester out of the way.” Walsh says the dual-credit programs include auto collision repair, auto technology, computer technologies, machinist trades, digital graphics, marketing management and office technology, with more to come. Richard Stewart, coordinator of the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, calls it “one of the best ideas in career technology education in 30 years.” – Joe Morris and Amanda Nelson

Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center in Lubbock is one of the workforce development entitles in The High Ground.

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photo essay

HERE’S THE

BEEF!

How do you like your steak cooked? Fine, that’ll be $72. I’ll be back with your meal in a few minutes. … Here you go: baked potato, salad, dinner roll, shrimp cocktail – and, of course, The Steak, 72 ounces of top sirloin. You have one hour to clean your plate. If you do, we’ll refund the $72. Since The Big Texan Steak Ranch opened in Amarillo more than four decades ago, nearly 42,000 people from around the world have accepted the 72-ounce-steak challenge – and about 8,000 have succeeded. The gimmick has made The Big Texan one of the best-known restaurants in North America – and an attraction for travelers along busy Interstate 40. Of course, lesser appetites are accommodated at The Big Texan, too, just as they are at other steakhouses that pepper the cities and towns of the cattle country known as The High Ground of Texas.

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Feast your eyes on three of them on the following pages: The Big Texan Steak Ranch, of course, but also Cagle Steaks in Lubbock and The Barn Door and Pecos Depot in Odessa. Situated on a nice spread amid sprouting residential subdivisions, Cagle Steaks serves diners in a cluster of five buildings, ranging from rustic to very rustic and with names like Cookhouse, Salt Lick and Rafters. The restaurant on West 4th Street has been a popular destination since 1996. Further south, steak lovers are herded into two historic buildings at the appropriately named Barn Door and Pecos Depot. A familiar landmark on North Grant Avenue, The Barn Door Steakhouse opened in 1963. Nine years later the circa-1892 rail depot from Pecos, Texas, was moved adjacent to The Barn Door, refurbished and turned into an addition to the restaurant. One might conclude that if the TV quiz show “Jeopardy!” ever gave “Where’s the Beef?” as a clue, the correct response would be: “What is The High Ground of Texas?” – Maurice Fliess

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PHOTO BY BRIAN M C CORD

Howdy. Welcome to The Big Texan. Want to try for a free steak dinner? I’ll seat you, and a server will be by to take care of you. …

photo essay

BRIAN M C CORD

ANTONY BOSHIER

John Cagle invites diners to his steakhouse in Lubbock.

BRIAN M C CORD

Pecos Depot was moved and remade as an Odessa dining spot.

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Rustic is the obvious motif at Cagle Steaks.

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BRIAN M C CORD

ANTONY BOSHIER

The Big Texan is hard to miss when driving on I-40 in Amarillo.

Cagle Steaks offers five dining locales.

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BRIAN M C CORD

At The Barn Door and Pecos Depot, steak lovers are served in the rail depot as well as the barn.

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health care

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

HIGH GROUND

health care

Healthy

Prognosis Quality medical treatment is available all around The High Ground

esidents of The High Ground enjoy ready access to quality health care in cities and in rural areas. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, for example, offers the advantages of health care in an academic environment. The center has a major presence at the university’s main campus in Lubbock and in Amarillo and Odessa, plus clinics in Abilene and El Paso. Texas Tech provides not only care from university-affiliated medical professionals but also new diagnostic techniques, advanced treatments and cutting-edge clinical research. The Health Sciences Center is known for many of its programs and facilities including rural health, the cancer center, women’s health center and center on aging. It also is a

Left: Graduate students hit the books at Texas Tech University’s Health Sciences Center. Above: The $14 million Medical Arts Hospital is slated to open in Lamesa in 2008.

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pioneer in telemedicine technology that allows a physician to examine a patient miles away in a rural area. CONSTRUCTION GALORE Recently, the Health Sciences Center invested $27 million in two new Amarillo buildings that will house a medical pavilion and a clinic. Construction crews also have been busy at medical centers in many other High Ground locales. Plains Memorial Hospital in Dimmitt completed a $2.3 million renovation in March 2007. The project enabled the hospital to add a clinic, connected to the hospital, as well as switch to electronic medical records. “We updated patients’ rooms with new cabinets, new beds and new chairs,” says Linda Rasor, chief executive officer. Plains Memorial also recently invested in a 16-slice CT scanner. “This is unusual for a rural hospital,” Rasor says of

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health care

such upgrades. “This is where we needed to be. We are proud of our progressive care.” In Lamesa, Medical Arts Hospital is constructing a larger facility to serve the area’s residents. The $14 million, 70,000– square-foot building is scheduled to open in February 2008. “We recently acquired some amazing new technology,” says Melissa Matlock, the hospital’s director of community relations. “We have 4-D ultrasound, which shows a clear image of the baby in utero. It also can show very detailed workings of the arteries and veins in a patient’s heart as well as 3-D images of a joint’s range of motion.” Medical Arts Hospital has five campuses, including two rural clinics. PERMIAN BASIN SERVICES In Odessa, Medical Center Hospital is growing rapidly to meet the needs of a 17-county service area. In September 2006, the hospital opened its Family Health Center Dental Clinic. This was followed three months later by the opening of

the $5.4 million West Texas Cancer Center. Also in Odessa, Alliance Hospital, which opened in 2003, is making its presence felt in The High Ground region and beyond. Using www.OR-Live.com webcasts, the hospital gives the community and the world a surgeon’s-eye view of procedures such as total knee replacement surgery (using minimal-incision technology) and heart surgery. “It really brought national attention to us,” says Tasa Watts, the hospital’s marketing and public relations coordinator. “Everyone outside the hospital normally doesn’t get to see these things. This way, the public gets to see what is going on.” (See story below.) Alliance Hospital specializes in cardiovascular care and orthopedics for residents of the Permian Basin. “People tend to think they need to get major procedures done by driving to a big city,” Watts says. “At Alliance Hospital, we have just as good care as the big cities and all the advanced technology.” – Leanne Libby

Lights, Camera, Surgery!

Dr. Sudhir Srivastava brought his teaching skills to a worldwide audience when he performed an endoscopic coronary-artery bypass during a September 2006 live webcast from Alliance Hospital in Odessa. The procedure, which he helped develop, uses robotic assistance and minimally invasive techniques that lessen pain and speed recovery. An endoscopic coronary-artery bypass involves several fingertipsize incisions, versus the traditional method of opening the chest cavity. WWW.OR-Live.com webcasts “can be used to train surgeons all over the world as well as teach patients as they learn of it,” says Srivastava, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon. “(Bypass)

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BRIAN MCCORD

HEART SURGEON TAKES TECHNIQUE TO LIVE WEBCAST

Alliance Hospital in Odessa is gaining a wide reputation for its innovations.

patients can become aware there are less-invasive options available to them that are less traumatic. Fifty percent of the patients go home in two days or less. The fastest went home in 17 hours.” Srivastava says response to the webcast has been strong. Enduring interest has him planning a future webcast involving a new stent procedure. “We have put this place on the world map when it comes to

excellence,” Srivastava says. “People come here and receive the highest-possible care. People travel here from all over the country.” After a lifetime in large cities, Srivastava says he quickly warmed to Odessa’s laid-back lifestyle and vibrant arts community. “It has everything one looks for in a community,” he says. – Leanne Libby

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sports & recreation

Roping Them In

Cowboy culture is taken seriously at frequent rodeos across the region

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BOON FOR BUSINESSES Hereford itself benefits from the competition, according to Sheila Martin-Quirk, executive director of the Hereford Economic Development Corp. “We draw people from Arizona, California, all over the United States,” Martin-Quirk says. “Between competitors and people who just come to Calf roping brings cowboy precision to the Spicer Gripp Memorial Roping Competition in Hereford each year.

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P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F LO N E W O L F P H OTO G R A P H Y

odeos are to many West Texans what the Boston Red Sox are to many New Englanders – the ultimate form of entertainment and a fount of regional pride. Every year there’s a full calendar of rodeo and roping events across The High Ground, such as the Spicer Gripp Memorial Roping Competition in Hereford, the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo in Odessa, the XIT Rodeo and Reunion in Dalhart, and the World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo. The latter pits cowboy crews from around the world in contests where heritage and prize money are at stake. These events showcase skills, such as riding, roping and horse breaking, that are not only part of a cowboy’s everyday duties but also some of his favorite pastimes. The High Ground boasts at least 150 rodeos per year, plus local roping competitions that are too numerous to count. According to Jon Sessions, city manager for Wellington, some of his area’s 150 roping teams compete in team roping events at least once a month. These competitions may be as informal as a few cowboys getting together with other members of a local roping club, or as organized as multiteam events with entry fees. And that’s in a city of 2,300 people. “We stay very busy,” Sessions says. Hereford’s Spicer Gripp Memorial Roping Competition draws large crowds the first weekend in August each year. “We’ve done really well and have been able to set up a scholarship fund,” says Chris Cabbiness, who helped found the event a decade and a half ago. He notes that some recipients have gone on to win world championships in their events.

The empty saddle tribute is a solemn moment at an otherwise boisterous event.

watch, there are thousands of people in town. The hotels book up a year in advance, and people stay as far away as Amarillo.” And those Amarillo hotels don’t lack for business during other times of the year. An estimated 25,000 people visit the city annually for the World Championship Ranch Rodeo, according to Gary Molberg, president and chief executive officer of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. “They pretty much sell out each night, and all those folks eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores, stay in our hotels, so it’s very much a win-win for us,” Molberg says. Wellington, which hosts four rodeos per year, was honored with the Texas Cowboy Rodeo Association’s Rodeo of the Year in 2005. “We usually have about 500 contestants in the July 4 rodeo and about 150 kids in the youth rodeos, which are held twice a year,”

Sessions says, adding that the competition typically draws 1,000 spectators a night. Rodeos such as Wellington’s that are held on or around Independence Day are especially popular. In fact, the weekend that includes or is closest to July 4 is nicknamed “Cowboy Christmas” hereabouts. In that three-day period, amateur contestants compete in a circuit of five or six rodeos in Wellington, Amarillo and surrounding communities. Such regional passion for rodeo doesn’t surprise Terry Howard, city administrator for Plains, host of the annual Old Settlers Rodeo and Reunion and scores of local roping competitions. “Out here it’s all ranching and farming. It’s part of the culture,” Howard says. “We have lots of working cowboys, so rodeo and roping year-round is a just a given.” – Michael Stuhlreyer and Joe Morris

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Home Field Advantage WHERE FOOTBALL IS KING, HIGH SCHOOL STADIUMS ARE POSITIVELY REGAL VENUES

PHOTO COURTESY OF HENRY BARGAS

It’s up, it’s good – and most of the high school football stadiums in The High Ground region are really good. In fact, they’re the envy of many a collegiate athletic department. Football is king in Texas, and High Ground high school teams play the beloved game in a number of regal settings. For example, not to be missed is a sunset that occurs during a Friday night football game in the Panhandle city of Canadian. Other noteworthy arena hotspots include Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo, Kimbrough Stadium in Canyon and Lowery Field in Lubbock. Smaller cities including Andrews, Big Spring, Monahans, Pampa and Sweetwater also have super stadiums. Arguably the most famous high school football shrine in the region is 20,000-seat Ratliff Stadium in Odessa. It is where some of the action sequences for the TV show “Friday Night Lights” were filmed. Ratliff, constructed in 1982, has two teams that call it home during the football season. “Ratliff Stadium belongs to the Ector County Independent School District, and it is used by both Odessa High and Permian High,” says Patsy Gardner of the ECISD athletic office. “One school plays on a Friday night, and then the other school plays on the following Friday night.” And when the two schools square off, “even the standing-roomonly tickets are hard to come by,” Gardner says. “Odessa and Permian could be tied for last place, and their game would still sell out.” The same enthusiasm is evident every fall Friday night at Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo. It was constructed in 1949 and underwent a $5.7 million renovation in 2005. “There is a new press box, new locker rooms, ticket booths, concession stands – everything was torn down and rebuilt except for the field turf and bleachers,” says Tex Nolan, athletic director for the Amarillo Independent School District.” Nolan says the stadium attracts 12,000-15,000 spectators every Friday night. “Many colleges would love to have a Dick Bivins Stadium because of its size and beauty,” he says. – Kevin Litwin

Amarillo’s Dick Bivins Stadium seats 15,000 and is near capacity for every game.

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sports & recreation

Where Greens Come True PLAYERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WEATHER TO MAKE GOLF A YEAR-ROUND PASTIME – AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY Professional golfers Bart Bryant, Brad Bryant, Chad Campbell and Ryan Palmer all hail from The High Ground region. So what makes this area such a hotbed for producing outstanding players? “People say there’s something in the water or something in the food around here, but the weather is the key reason why golf is flourishing in The High Ground region,” says Sherwin Cox, golf pro and general manager at Ross Rogers Golf Complex in Amarillo. “It’s just great to be on the golf course at any time in West Texas, but especially in the spring and fall when the weather is perfect.” Availability of courses is another factor, of course, and there are about 100 of them spread across The High Ground’s 66 counties. Cox says the larger cities of Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland and Odessa have become golf hotspots because plenty of corporate outings take place at courses there. Places accustomed to entertaining corporate clients include Ross Rogers as well as La Poloma Golf Club in Amarillo, Hillcrest Country Club and The Rawls Golf Course in Lubbock, Nueva Vista Golf Club and Ranchland Hills Country Club in Midland, and Ratliff Ranch Golf Links

and Odessa Country Club in Odessa. “Texas is known for its big deals, and a lot of big deals are hammered out on the golf course,” Cox says. “Besides corporate outings, a number of charity events are held on High

Ground courses, and a lot of networking occurs at those events. Golf and business have always been a good combination, and both are a major part of our quality of life here in The High Ground.” – Kevin Litwin

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Take a Deep Breath RECREATION SPOTS HERE INCLUDE LAKES, A CANYON AND WILDLIFE REFUGES

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The great outdoors are pretty great in The High Ground region. Consider, for example, the 50,000-acre Lake Meredith National Recreation Area 50 miles northeast of Amarillo near Fritch. Fresh-air activities include everything from camping near the shore to scuba diving in the blue waters of the 10,000-acre reservoir. “I can tell you plenty of nice things about Lake Meredith, but I refuse to tell where my favorite crappie fishing holes are,” jokes Kim Lindley, an outdoor enthusiast who lives in Fritch. “I can catch 20 to 30 crappies a night on Lake Meredith, plus there are bass, trout, walleye and catfish. The lakefront is also ideal for turkey, quail, pheasant and duck hunting. It’s gorgeous out here.” Other popular High Ground destinations include Buffalo Springs Lake, Lake Allen Henry and Comanche Trail Lake. Additional recreation spots include rugged and scenic Palo Duro Canyon State Park, a 26,275-acre gem 20 miles southeast of Amarillo. Farther south, Monahans Sandhills State Park offers activities such as sand surfing down steep sand dunes in the 3,840-acre park. Then there is Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, a veritable utopia for bird watchers and nature lovers – especially during winter. “Our biggest tourism draw is when sandhill cranes occupy the refuge, with up to 150,000 of them calling Muleshoe their home during the cold-weather migration months,” says Harold Beierman, wildlife manager for the 5,809-acre refuge. “Besides the sandhill cranes, 320 different species of birds have been observed here since the refuge first opened in 1935. That’s why 12,000 people visit Muleshoe refuge each year for hiking, wildlife observation and photography opportunities.” Beierman says outdoor adventures are becoming a burgeoning business in the region as more people find out what west Texas has to offer. “We have it all,” he says. “As an avid outdoorsman and a devotee of nature, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” – Kevin Litwin

Palo Duro Canyon State Park offers 26,275 acres of spectacular scenery.

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sports & recreation

‘Tremendous’ Tails of Adventure ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE PANHANDLE, HIGH GROUND HUNTING ENTHUSIASTS ARE VERY MUCH INTO THE GAME Avid hunter Richard R. “Buzz” David lived in Florida for several years, where he says the hunting was OK but not great. Now that he resides in the Texas Panhandle, the president and chief executive officer of the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. can’t think of enough positive words to characterize the hunting opportunities in The High Ground. “Tremendous – that’s a pretty good adjective to describe the hunting around here,” David says. “I moved three years ago from Florida, and I still can’t believe all the open spaces.” David says hunting in the region can occur almost any time of the year because most of it takes place on private land. “A lot of people run hunting preserves or hunting ranches, so outdoorsmen can very often go after animals such as whitetail deer, mule deer, antelope, dove, quail, pheasant and duck,” he says. “There are also plenty of high-fence operations that allow hunters to go after exotic birds as well as animals such as (aoudad) sheep and red stags.” David says corporate hunting outings are increasingly popular in west Texas. “Private preserves are getting more popular because corporate clients want a virtual guarantee that they will bag something whenever they go on a two- or three-day excursion,” he says. “For example, the antelope season in Texas is quite short, so you really must hunt on private property to have any chance of getting one. “Personally, I bagged a ninepoint, 225-pound whitetail deer

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last year near Perryton that I wouldn’t have seen unless I was on a private ranch.” David adds that perhaps his favorite place to hunt wildlife is in Palo Duro Canyon. “Not many people know that the Palo Duro is the second-largest canyon in

the United States – second only to the Grand Canyon – and the Palo Duro features a lot of private ranches,” he says. “There are mule deer, quail and even mountain lions, so it’s a place that always gets my heart pumping.” – Kevin Litwin

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The Sounds of Music Symphonies thrive in the region thanks to widespread support for the arts

SEE MORE ONLINE To read more about Amarilloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, visit imageshighground.com/2006-07.

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arts & culture

night at the symphony is not a luxury for High Ground residents. Throughout the region, those at the helm of arts organizations praise the area’s love for and generous support of the arts, which results in opportunities for residents and visitors to indulge in classical music. Going to the symphony in Amarillo is more glorious than ever. In spring 2007, the organization completed its first season in the new Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. Chip Chandler, the symphony’s director of development and communications, says the majority of the center’s funding took the form of private donations from the Panhandle. In February 2007, the symphony named Kimbo Ishii-Eto as its new conductor and music director. Ishii-Eto trained with the Vienna Conservatory and guest-conducted at Massachusetts’ famed Tanglewood Music Center. Chandler says the new symphony hall, combined with highcaliber, professional musicians and top-notch conductors, gives music lovers a highly satisfying experience. “We want to make sure our patrons have an appreciation for the greatest works ever written as well as help them discover new works,” Chandler says. “We have also commissioned works.”

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P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F B I G S P R I N G H E R A L D

P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F S H A N N O N R I C H A R D S O N

SMALL COMMUNITY, BIG SOUND In the southern part of The High Ground, the Big Spring Symphony’s settings are every bit as remarkable as its sound. The organization performs in the historic Big Spring Municipal Auditorium, which conductor and music director Keith Graumann describes as having Spanish and Gothic influences. “It’s the envy of our neighbors,” he says. Moreover, the organization’s July 4 “Pops in the Park” concert and fireworks show takes place in the 6,900-seat

Big Spring Symphony’s July 4 pops concert takes place in the 6,900-seat Comanche Trail Park Amphitheater. Left: Newly named conductor Kimbo Ishii-Eto leads the Amarillo Symphony.

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arts & culture Comanche Trail Park Amphitheater, built predominantly of stone. “There is a beautiful stage, and we light it,” Graumann says. “It’s patterned after the Boston Pops.” Big Spring is the smallest community in Texas with a professional symphony, and Graumann says the organization works hard to reach out to the community and the surrounding area.

Midland-Odessa Symphony engages in community outreach.

Twice a year, public school students fill the auditorium for educational concerts. “The cultural and fine arts are very well supported [in Big Spring],” Graumann says. “It’s an expensive operation that is highly valued.” FREE TICKETS FOR WORTHY GROUPS To the west of Big Spring, the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale urges people to “Fill your life with music.” The organization does its part, offering a full orchestra and four ensembles. A large number of the musicians also work as teachers, and area students can obtain free tickets to many concerts. Guild volunteers often blanket the community, offering free tickets to charitable groups. The symphony also sponsors a young artist competition, offering $10,000 in prize money. The organization recently hired a new music director, Gary Lewis. As director of orchestral activities at Texas Tech University’s School of Music, Lewis already is well known in the area. “This is a unique place in terms of the amount of arts and culture,” says Michael Frisco, the symphony’s marketing manager. “There’s a huge community theater, art galleries, museums and the ballet. It speaks to the commitment of a lot of people in this area.” Other symphony orchestras in The High Ground are in Lubbock and Plainview. – Leanne Libby

Exhibiting Rich History and Culture FROM A MAMMOTH TO A MAMMOTH OIL TANK, MUSEUM DISPLAYS ACROSS THE HIGH GROUND REGION DELIGHT VISITORS OF ALL AGES If you want to see it, a museum in the High Ground probably has it. From Texas artists to Texas oil, the region’s exhibits attract history buffs and children alike. The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, is the largest historical museum in Texas. The museum, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2008, likes to promote its ability to cover 500 million years of history and 26,000 square miles. Displaying the past while keeping current means adding attractions like podcasts of popular exhibits – an initiative that drew the attention of The New York Times. “It brings the museum to people who can’t come or those who want to know more before they come,” says Andrea Porter, the museum’s

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communications coordinator. In Monahans, visitors often are drawn to the Million Barrel Museum, with its concrete tank, built in 1928 by Shell Oil and designed to hold more than a million barrels of crude oil. “It used to have a top made of California redwood, which was salvaged and used on some of the houses here,” says Lee Nichols, the museum’s director. At Perryton’s Museum of the Plains, visitors can admire a homemade airplane that saved lives during a Panhandle blizzard. Kids love the huge Dutcher Ranch mammoth excavated in the area. Moments later, they can fastforward to a high-tech exhibit of the area’s oil and gas industry. The 33,000-square-foot museum recently added more exhibit space to house pieces in

the permanent collection as well as to provide room for temporary exhibits. Recent temporary displays have included cut glass, crosses and arrowheads, says Dixie Hargues, president of the museum’s board. “The archeology of our region is one of the richest in the state,” says Sheryl Hardy, Perryton’s director of economic development. Among the region’s numerous other museums are Amarillo’s newly renovated Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum; the Muleshoe Heritage Center; Lubbock’s Buddy Holly Center and Texas Musicians Hall of Fame; Odessa’s Ellen Nöel Art Museum of the Permian Basin, as well as its Presidential Museum and Leadership Library – “home of two Presidents and a First Lady.” – Leanne Libby

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Rich Muno’s bronze statue of buffalo hunter and rancher Perry LeFors has been part of the Pampa landscape since 1987.

Bringing Art to the Public I

n 1985, the Pampa Garden Club and Las Pampas Garden Club teamed up with Thelma Bray, founder of the Pampa Area Foundation for Outdoor Art, to try something novel: a sculpture tour. Twenty-two years later, the tour has taken on a life of its own. More than a dozen pieces of art are now part of the Pampa landscape. Lizards, abstracts – the variety is part of the fun. From well-known sculptors to local artists, the idea was, and is, to bring art to the public. Sculptures include Flight to Enrichment,

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a 13-foot-tall bronze sculpture of geese in flight, one with a wingspan of five feet. It holds sway over a 23-foot span on the south wall of the M.K. Brown Academic Center at the Pampa Center campus of Clarendon College. The piece was designed by former Pampa resident Richard Thompson and dedicated in 2005. Then there’s Shape of Time – II, a 9-foot-tall, 700-pound abstract work sculpted by local artist Bonnie Chambless and welded by Tim Gikas. It resides on the front lawn of Pampa Regional

Medical Center, having been rescued in 1994 and moved by the Foundation for Outdoor Art from its original location at Coronado Hospital. The first new installation was the Art History Wall, completed in 1996 near M.K. Brown Auditorium. A project of the foundation, the west wall consists of two panels of the Lone Star f lag surrounded by cattle brands and dimensional art illustrating agriculture and industry; elementary and junior high school students completed the panels. Pampa Art Club members did the mosaic on the east wall. “The sculptures and the tour really do have a life of their own,” says Keith Pitner, interim executive director of the Pampa Chamber of Commerce. “It continues to bring a lot of people into the city to see the art.” – Joe Morris

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From the Alps to the Texas Hills O

Texas thermals make great gliding.

nce a year, hundreds of people go to Big Spring to hang out. Or, more accurately, to hang out above it. For the sixth year, Big Spring is playing host to the National Hang Gliding Association in 2007, and for the first time the city will be the site of the world championships Aug. 7-17. “Instead of being in the Alps of Europe, the world’s hang gliders are coming to Big Spring,” says Bobby McDonald, chairman of the event. “We’re out in the desert country and have these air thermals that we didn’t even know about. The hang gliders discovered them for us.” After taking off from one of the hills rimming the city, the gliders use the area’s ideal flying conditions to soar as high as 9,000 feet and to travel as far as 400 miles. And with a new air terminal

at the former Webb Air Force Base, Big Spring has the infrastructure to support its high-flying guests. “Out here, they can launch one right after the other,” McDonald says. The goal is to return to the starting point, but sometimes a glider starts ends up elsewhere, he adds. “And if you come down in a cotton field or in some cattle, the farmers and the cows are going to be friendly. Then a group of us are going to come out and get you.” The inf lux of visitors makes for a big Big Spring party. “The town really adopts them,” he says of the participants and spectators. “We get Germans, Russians, Pakistanis, Japanese. … We’ve only got about 25,000 people here, so we love the interconnection with folks from other places.” – Joe Morris

Here Come the Horse Judges A

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starting as a ‘4-H-er’ and continuing through college,” Pipkin says. “One thing led to another on the coaching side when I started as a grad assistant and then became head coach.” Horse judging began with general livestock and became specialized over the years as interest grew in horse competitions, Pipkin says. And it’s not something to get into and expect a quick

rise through the ranks. “There are thousands of people involved at the youth level annually and about 1,000 at the collegiate level,” he says. “The competitions vary in their formats, which range from placing classes of four to 10 horses, written exams, video testing and/or oral presentations, or ‘reasons.’ It takes hours, over years, to prepare properly.” – Joe Morris

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t West Texas A&M University in Canyon, they know horses. In the case of the students on the school’s horse-judging team, they know their horses really, really well. The team has won top honors for six years in a row at the National Reining Horse Association National Championship. In doing so in December 2006 in Oklahoma City, the team finished ahead of second-place Oregon State University and third-place Oklahoma State University. The 2006 team boosted the university’s national and world championship tally to 16 over 12 years. Its other 2006 victories were the National Reining Breeders Classic and All-American Quarter Horse Congress. WTAMU now holds 45 championship, reserve championship or individual national titles. For team coach John Pipkin, who is director of the university’s equine industry program, the latest honors represent the culmination of a long history in the arena. “I’ve been involved with judging for more than 35 years,

Judges (from left) Lara Scogin, Whitney Agee, Courtney Douglas, Katie Hambley

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portfolio

A Leaf Peeper’s Delight T

he Panhandle town with the refreshing name of Canadian is known for its natural beauty, but one would be forgiven for not listing it as a must-visit destination for fall foliage. That would be a mistake, as every autumn the area’s cottonwood, hackberry, black locust and other native hardwoods put on a vivid show that rivals those of betterknown locales in the Appalachians. What’s more, the community makes abundant use of nature’s gift, holding the annual Canadian Fall Foliage Festival to capitalize on the colorful display. Stately homes that are included on tours add to the ambiance, as do an arts and crafts show and excursions to glimpse wildlife. Visitors also get a closeup look at the downtown area, which is experiencing new life with restored storefronts, brick streets and a Main Street that is emerging as a tourist destination year-round. “The arts and craft show is really popular,” says Remelle Farrar, director of community development at the Canadian-Hemphill County Economic Development Corp. and Chamber of Commerce. “We can accommodate about 90 [artisans], and we always have a waiting list.” The 2007 event will be Oct. 20-21. – Joe Morris

For the past 81 years, audiences occupying the 850 seats in Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium have been treated to the likes of Fred Astaire and Elvis Presley.

ince 1926, stars of varying magnitude have been shining at Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium. The 850-seat performing arts center benefited early on from Sweetwater’s location midway between the country’s coasts. The community has always been a railroad center and, as a midway point for traveling performers, was often included on tours. Among the luminaries who have graced the auditorium’s historic stage: Fred and Adele Astaire, the Ziegfeld Follies, John Philip Sousa and touring productions of Seventh Heaven, The Rain Maker and Carmen. Other performers included Eddie Arnold, Roy Acuff, Jerry Lee Lewis and, in 1955, a risqué gentleman named Elvis Presley. As with many theaters in other cities, the auditorium in more recent times wasn’t the hub of entertainment it once was, but Sweetwater’s citizens weren’t about to let it fade into obscurity. Summer entertainment revues began in 1975, and since 1982 renovations have been ongoing. Local organizations such as the Sweetwater Little Theatre and Sweetwater Municipal Band use the facility often, and fundraising efforts ensure that the auditorium has a bright future. The latest renovations included 456 new seats downstairs as well as sound and lighting upgrades, says Larry Ludlum, president of the auditorium’s board of directors. “We are continually doing small improvements to sound, lighting and dressing rooms so that now we can pretty much handle any show we bring in here.” A major new undertaking is the Jim Wortham Memorial Concert Series, a newartist showcase that will be held two or three times annually. The series is named for a longtime board member and philanthropist who was instrumental in saving and renovating the Sweetwater. Wortham died in 2003. – Joe Morris

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A Stage for the Ages S

Fall foliage is gorgeous in Canadian.

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High Ground members

2007 HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS MEMBERSHIP FOUNDATION MEMBERS Amarillo Economic Development Corp. www.amarilloedc.com Golden Spread Electric Cooperative Inc. www.gsec.coop Odessa Development Corp. www.odessatex.com PLATINUM MEMBER Midland Development Corp. www.midlandtexasedc.org GOLD MEMBER XCEL Energy www.xcelenergy.com BRONZE MEMBER Atmos Energy Corp. www.atmosenergy.com COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS Panhandle Regional Planning Commission www.prpc.cog.tx.us South Plains Association of Governments, www.spag.org COMMUNITY MEMBERS Andrews Economic Development Corp. www.andrewsedc.com Moore Development for Big Spring, www.bigspringtx.com Booker Economic Development Corp., www.bookertexas.org Borger Economic Development Corp., www.borger.com Brownfield Industrial Development Corp. www.ci.brownfield.tx.us Canadian-Hemphill County Economic Development www.canadiantx.com Canyon Economic Development Corp., www.canyonedc.com

Dalhart Economic Development Corp., www.dalhart.org Dimmitt Chamber of Commerce www.dimmittchamber.com Dumas Economic Development Corp., www.dumasedc.org Friona Economic Development Corp., www.frionachamber.com Fritch at Lake Meredith Gruver Community Development Corp. www.gruvertexas.com City of Hale Center

Shamrock Economic Development Corp. www.shamrocktx.net Sherman County Development Committee www.shermancountytx.org Slaton Economic Development Corp., www.slatontexas.org Spearman Economic Development Corp. www.spearman.org

Hereford Economic Development Corp. www.herefordedc.com

Sundown Economic Development Corp.

Lamesa Economic Development Corp., www.growlamesa.com

Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development www.sweetwatertexas.net

Levelland Economic Development Corp. www.golevelland.com Littlefield Economic Development Corp. www.littlefieldtexas.org Lockney Economic Development Corp. www.opportunitylockney.com Miami Economic Development Corp., www.miamitexas.org Mitchell County Board of Economic Development www.coloradocity.net Monahans Economic Development Corp. www.monahans.org

City of Tulia www.tuliachamber ofcommerce.com City of Wellington www.wellingtontx.com City of Wheeler www.wheelertexas.com Wolfforth Economic Development Corp. www.wolfforthedc.org COUNTY MEMBERS Bailey County www.co.bailey.tx.us Cochran County www.co.cochran.tx.us

Muleshoe Economic Development Corp. www.city-of-muleshoe.com

Dallam County Industrial Development Corp. www.dallam.org

Pampa Economic Development Corp., www.pampa.com

Hockley County www.co.hockley.tx.us

Perryton Community Development Corp. www.perrytoncdc.com

Ochiltree County www.co.ochiltree.tx.us

City of Plains

Childress Economic Development Corp. www.childresstexas.com

City of Plainview/Plainview-Hale County Industrial Foundation www.phcif.org

Crosbyton Chamber of Commerce

Reese Technology Center www.reesecenter.com

HIGH GROUND

Seminole Economic Development Corp. www.seminoleedc.org

Wheeler County www.wheelertexas.com ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS Amarillo Area Foundation www.aaf-hf.org Amarillo College, www.actx.edu

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

Dimmitt ... Where Diversity Meets Opportunity

Currently seeking economic development projects and/or business relocations!

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• Newly updated medical facilities • Exemplary school systems • Cutting-edge dairies • Seasonal pheasant hunting Picture by Mesa S. Photos

• Golf year-round • Annual Ogallala Quilt Festival • Ranked 2nd in the state in cattle feeding • Crops: corn, cotton, forage, hay, sorghum, soybeans and wheat • Small-town family atmosphere

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Dimmitt Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development (806) 647-2524 • dimmittchamber@amaonline.com • www.dimmittchamber.com Picture by Mesa S. Photos

High Ground members American Electric Power www.aep.com

VISIT OUR ADVERTISERS

Bailey County Electric Cooperative Association www.bcecoop.com City of Lubbock Business Development Department

Amarillo College www.actx.edu

McDougal Companies www.mcdougal.com

Amarillo Economic Development Corporation www.amarilloedc.com

Monahans Economic Development Corporation www.monahans.org

Amarillo National Bank www.anb.com

Moore Development for Big Spring www.bigspringtx.com

www.ci.lubbock.tx.us Greenbelt Electric Cooperative Inc., www.greenbeltelectric.coop Northwest Texas SBDC www.nwtsbdc.org Oncor Electric Delivery www.locationtexas.com Panhandle WorkSource www.panhandleworksource.com Permian Basin Workforce

American Quarter Horse Association www.aqha.com

Muleshoe Animal Clinic

Andrews Economic Development Corporation www.andrewsedc.com

Muleshoe Economic Development Corporation www.city-of-muleshoe.com

Arbor Inn & Suites www.arborinnandsuites.com

Odessa Economic Development www.odessatex.com

Ashmore Inn & Suites www.ashmoresuites-amarillo.com

Panhandle Regional Planning Commission www.theprpc.org

Development Board www.pbwdb.org Rita Blanca Electric Cooperative Inc., www.RBEC.org South Plains College www.southplainscollege.edu Swisher Electric Cooperative Inc., www.swisherelectric.org

Atmos Energy www.atmosenergy.com Budget www.budget.com Canyon Economic Development Corporation www.canyonedc.com Castro County Healthcare www.plainsmemorial.com

Texas Cattle Feeders Association, www.tcfa.org Windstream www.windstream.com WorkSource of the South Plains www.spworksource.org WTAMU Enterprise Network www.IncubationWorks.com West Texas A&M University www.wtamu.edu XIT Communications/XIT Wireless/XITv, www.xit.net

FOR MORE INFORMATION The High Ground of Texas P.O. Box 716 401 N. 3rd, Ste. 4 Stratford, TX 79084 Phone: (806) 366-7510 Fax: (806) 366-7511 Email: higround@xit.net www.highground.org

HIGH GROUND

City of Levelland www.golevelland.com City of Littleﬁeld www.littleﬁeldtexas.org City of Plainview www.ci.plainview.tx.us Dimmitt Chamber of Commerce www.dimmittchamber.com First Ag Credit www.agmoney.com Friona Economic Development Corporation www.frionachamber.com Golden Spread Electric www.gsec.coop Great Plains Ag Credit www.greatplainsagcredit.com

Panhandle WorkSource www.panhandleworksource.com Permian Basin WDB www.pbwdb.org Perryton Community Development Corporation www.perrytoncdc.com Ports-To-Plains www.portstoplains.com Quell Petroleum Services, Inc. Seminole Economic Development Corporation www.seminoleedc.org Texas Tech University www.gototexastech.com Trower Realtors, Inc. www.trowerrealtors.com TTU Health Sciences Center www.ttuhsc.edu Tulia Chamber of Commerce www.tuliachamberofcommerce.com Underwood Attorneys and Counselors www.uwlaw.com West Texas A&M University www.wtamu.edu

Hereford Economic Development Corporation www.herefordtx.org/HEDC/ index.html

West Texas A&M University Enterprise Network www.incubationworks.com

High Ground of Texas www.highground.org

WorkSource of the South Plains www.spworksource.org

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Passion & a competitive spirit for family & business. LittleďŹ eld enhances both.

LittleďŹ eld ...

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Livin’ In Levelland

Lovin’ It

Howdy Partner! LEADERS WORK TOGE THER TO ENHANCE QUALIT Y OF LIFE

Education Excellence At Every Age

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Livin’ In Levelland & Lovin’ It

Howdy, Partner!

BRIAN McCORD

GROUPS WORK TOGETHER TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE

The Hockley County Courthouse in downtown Levelland was designed by architect Preston Lee Walker and built in 1928.

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L e v ella nd, Te x a s

he college works with the chamber, and the city works with the school district. At other times, the hospital works with the college, and the chamber works with the city. And on and on it goes. Levelland is proud to point out that in recent years it has forged several partnerships for progress, a key factor in the many positive things that have come about for this city. The willingness of community leaders to pool resources and work together has greatly enriched Levelland’s quality of life. “One quick example of a partnership for progress is that the Levelland Independent School District opens its schools in the summer so that kids can play basketball and lift weights, while the city hires the people to supervise the activities,” says Dave Quinn, director of economic development for the city of Levelland. Quinn says entities such as the Levelland ISD, the Levelland Chamber of Commerce, Covenant Hospital Levelland, South Plains College and the City of Levelland work together as often as possible to create more opportunities for citizens to enjoy life to its fullest here. “This partnership between all sectors has actually been going on for a quite a few years,” he says. “For example, the construction of Breshears Lake Park took place 20 years ago as a joint venture between the City of Levelland and South

Plains College. The acreage was located on both city and college property, so both sides decided to make a community park out of the land.” Quinn also credits Hockley County for contributing to these progressive collaborative efforts. “The county recently paved our road in the Levelland Industrial Park to make the overall facility more attractive and easy to drive on, and the county also provided a tax abatement a couple of years ago in order to help a new hotel get built here,” he says. “All of these partnerships go handin-hand with our efforts to attract new companies to our pro-business environment. We also want to attract young families with kids who want to put their children in safe schools. Plus, we want retirees to think about Levelland because of the great medical facilities we have here.” Levelland City Manager Rick Osburn says that over the past two or three years, he has noticed a definite increase in partnership communication between the city, school district, hospital, chamber and college. “We all want the same result – a forward-moving community with an excellent quality of life,” Osburn says. “We have 13,000 residents in our proud city, and our oil and agriculture industries are spiking upward, and we are recruiting more businesses thanks to the synergy of this partnership cooperation.”

The Family That Plays Together Hundreds of volunteers build playground in just five days

projects. The company recently built a Legacy Play Village in Lubbock, and has constructed Kids Kingdom playground sites across the United States. “There are swings, slides, monkey bars and bridges, plus attractions such as a rock wall, rocket, train, castle and a sandbox for little kids,” Quinn says. “It is truly a nice addition to the overall landscape of Levelland.”

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he work is done, so now it’s time to play. More than 150 Levelland residents volunteered their time and effort each day from May 16-20, 2007, to construct the Levelland Community Playground in Sherman Park. The five-day construction effort was a project initiated by the 2007 Leadership Levelland class. Leadership Levelland is a chamber-based class where 25 members of the community get intensive leadership training and learn about the city and county where they live and work. Plus, each class is required to complete a project. The class meets for eight hours once a month, for nine consecutive months. Classmates listen to nationally known leadership speakers during the sessions, plus take field trips throughout Levelland to places such as schools, courtrooms, government offices and industries – all to learn more about the community. And the 2007 charitable project that Leadership Levelland chose to embrace was constructing the new playground. “We had to raise $75,000 for materials, and that was accomplished in about four months,” says Kimbra Quinn, a 2007 Leadership Levelland class member. “Then we organized 150 volunteers per day who would build the playground from dawn to dusk during the five days in May. Everything went smoothly, which shows the spirit of pride and volunteerism that is here in Levelland.” The playground was designed by Leathers & Associates, an Ithaca, N.Y.-based company that specializes in these

The beaming smiles of children are payment enough for the volunteers who built the Levelland Community Playground.

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Livin’ In Levelland & Lovin’ It

Their Main Objective Is Cooperation CHAMBER, MAIN STREET PROGRAM JOIN FORCES FOR SUCCESS

plishment that sets Levelland apart from other Texas cities,” Siders says. “Our downtown Main Street is much more than a courthouse square – our downtown includes roadways that lead into the district,” Siders says. “The focus of the Main Street program is to keep downtown vital, with its stores, restaurants and events attracting people to the area. A city’s downtown will often tell the future of a community. If a downtown is thriving, other areas of the city will be thriving as well.” Wuerflein says being a Texas Main Street City is not an easy achievement. “We work numerous hours to submit an annual summary that is reviewed by the Texas Historical Commission,” she says. “A city must also set aside an ample budget for its Main Street program. But a big advantage is that there are many state and federal grants that a member city has access to, for funding streetscape, storefront, courthouse, signage, parking and other revitalization projects.” “There are not a lot of Main Street cities in West Texas, but I’m seeing more and more crop up,” Siders says. “These communities are realizing the advantages to being a Texas Main Street City.”

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t wasn’t long ago that the Levelland Chamber of Commerce and the Levelland Main Street Program operated independently from one another. But not anymore. In 2004, chamber and city officials decided to merge the Main Street program into the chamber organization, and the result has been a strong partnership between the two entities. “It used to be that the two organizations would often duplicate activities they were both involved in, so the merger was the best thing that could have happened for both parties,” says Mary Siders, who now serves as president of both the Levelland chamber and the Main Street program. Working in the same office at the chamber is Debbie Wuerflein, coordinator of the Main Street program. “This cooperation allows both the chamber and Main Street to work together on events such as downtown festivals, charitable causes and business networking functions,” Wuerflein says. Siders emphasizes that even though the chamber is affiliated with the Main Street program, businesses that are not located in the downtown Main Street district are still promoted just as much as ever by the chamber. “Being designated a Texas Main Street City is an accom-

The annual Early Settlers Day Parade on Main Street showcases Levelland’s strong community spirit and vibrant Main Street district.

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P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F D O N N I E M A R T I N

L e v ella nd, Te x a s

BRIAN McCORD

Left: This sidewalk bears the names of the many people who contributed to construction of a downtown gazebo that is used for special events. Above: Numerous groups and organizations show their pride during the Early Settlers Day Parade.

In Any Event Main Street activities keeps both residents and businesses bustling

ot plans? Levelland has a growing calendar of community gettogethers scheduled year round, thanks to its Main Street program. The city’s Main Street initiative began in 1998 and has been recognized each year for its downtown revitalization efforts by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Besides streetscape and

storefront beautification efforts, the Levelland Main Street Program schedules a variety of events to attract more people to the district. “Then in June, we stage a Sounds of Texas music series on the courthouse square,” says Debbie Wuerflein, Main Street program coordinator. “It occurs every Thursday night with local artists

performing from 7:30-9 p.m. It is a wellattended summer attraction.” The biggest function for the Main Street program in conjuntion with the chamber of commerce is its Early Settlers Day each July. “It is a full day of celebrating our heritage, highlighted with a big parade at 9:30 a.m.,” Wuerflein says. “There are 120 craft and food vendors along with a children’s fun area. That evening, a street dance occurs at one of our local businesses on College Avenue.” The organization also schedules a pair of Movies on the Square events in August, with crowds estimated at 500 people each night. “On Halloween, we have Scare on the Square with downtown merchants handing candy to about 400 kids,” Wuerflein says. “Then during the holidays, we schedule a Christmas on the Square festival on the first two Thursdays in December. Levelland has a great downtown, and these annual events get more people here to appreciate everything that the district has to offer.”

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Livin’ In Levelland & Lovin’ It

Education Is Golden SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY Breakfast to start the year on a positive note, and the fall 2007 breakfast will be the first official recognition of the college’s 50th anniversary.” Other activities that will embrace the 50th birthday theme include a Scholarship Recognition Banquet in October, and a Miss Caprock Scholarship Pageant that occurs every November. Then in February 2008, the college will celebrate its 50th annual SPC Homecoming.

“In March 2008, we will host our annual Scholarship Gala that raises funds through our foundation for several college programs,” Dewbre says. “And in May 2008, the end of the school year will mark our 50th commencement ceremony in the college’s history, so the 50th anniversary theme will naturally be played up to the hilt. It will cap an exciting school year of events and recognition at South Plains College.”

A N TO N Y B O S H I E R

rder a big cake because 50 candles will be needed. In 1957, Hockley County decided to establish a community college in Levelland, and the first classes convened in September 1958. It was the first two-year college to open in Texas since World War II. Now, 50 years later, South Plains College (SPC) will celebrate its golden anniversary throughout the 2007-2008 school year. “The college has really grown during its history, and today there are more than 9,000 students who are acquiring knowledge thanks to the educational offerings available at South Plains College each semester,” says Dane Dewbre, associate dean of college relations. “Besides those 9,000 students, an additional 5,600 people enroll in non-credit continuing education or workforce development programs each year.” Dewbre says an interesting statistic is that nearly 50 percent of all SPC full-time students are the first in their families ever to attend college. “We offer coursework for students looking to obtain one-year certificates or two-year degrees, and for students who will eventually be transferring to a four-year university,” he says. “Or, for example, we can set up specific courses of study for employees at an industrial site. At South Plains College, we have several ways to provide education to students.” Today, the two-year college serves a 15-county area, with its main campus in Levelland as well as two extension centers in Lubbock and one each in Denver City, Muleshoe and Plainview. SPC has an arts and sciences division with 43 programs, while its health occupations and technical education divisions offer another 74 programs combined. “As for the celebration during this school year, the main campus in Levelland will host several events with a 50th anniversary spin during 2007-2008,” Dewbre says. “Every fall semester begins with an annual South Plains College Employees

The Texan Dome is South Plains College’s basketball facility and seats up to 3,300 fans.

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BRIAN McCORD

L e v ella nd, Te x a s

A $2.7 million expansion of South Plains College’s Fine Arts Center will allow more room for both instruction and its impressive collections.

Artistic Update

South Plains College renovates, expands Fine Arts Center

number of art lovers know about South Plains College, spec ifically thanks to its Marjorie Merriweather Post Collection. The valuable art collection features several paintings that date from the 1600s to the early 1900s, showcasing the culture of the South Plains region. Marjorie Merriweather Post, who lived from 1887-1973, was heir to the Post cereal fortune as well as an avid collector of fine arts. The works have been on display inside the college’s Fine Arts Building since 1966, but four of the rare pieces are so large that there is not enough room to exhibit them. However, soon that will no longer be a problem. The Fine Arts Center currently is undergoing a $2.7 million renovation and expansion. The expansion will add 12,500 square feet to the facility, with the additional space used for classrooms, a larger recital hall, four art studios

and a grand foyer. “The Fine Arts Building is also getting a brand new exterior façade because the facility dates back to the late 1950s when the college was founded,” says Dane Dewbre, associate dean of college relations at South Plains College. “This is actually the first building expansion we have ever done through private donations. The project will be completed in three phases, with everything finished by late 2008 or early 2009.” As for the Marjorie Merriweather Post Collection, Dewbre says a 1,760-square-foot gallery will be built in the Fine Arts Building to showcase all the impressive works. “A couple of the paintings contributed by Marjorie Post are now hanging in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.,” he says. “That just shows how truly magnificent these artworks really are.”

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Livin’ In Levelland & Lovin’ It

Reading, Writing and Reconstruction T WO NEW SCHOOLS PROVIDE FUN, SAFE ENVIRONMENTS

tech media center, a 500-seat auditorium, fine arts classrooms, band and choir rooms, and computer and science labs. Other amenities include a full-service cafeteria that seats 288, as well as a large gymnasium that seats 448. There is also a practice gym on site along with a weight-training center and a physical therapy room. “LMS has four wings of classrooms that each house a particular academic field, as well as an excellent fine arts program that includes a fully appointed theater along with an adjacent music department,” Holcomb says. “This is truly an impressive facility and a

welcome addition to the Levelland ISD.” Holcomb says the four color-coordinated wings at LMS are appealing to the eye, quickly conveying the message that a fun approach to education is going on here. “It is also a safety-conscious school, with an electronic lockdown system for all doors – just like what is in place at Levelland ABC,” he says. “As for Levelland Middle School, there were 420 seventh and eighth graders who attended classes here in 2006-2007. Now sixth graders will be added for 20072008, upping the school total population to 650 this fall.”

BRIAN McCORD

ee the happy children. See the happy parents. See the happy teachers – and an ecstatic deputy superintendent. Smiles were abundant in January 2007 when the brand-new Levelland Academic Beginnings Center (ABC) opened its doors. The brightly colored school opened for the second half of the 2006-2007 school year in order to house 470 pre-K and kindergarten students. “Levelland ABC was painted in bright colors such as red, yellow, green and orange so it looks inviting to all the little kids, but an important emphasis was also put on safety,” says Mark Holcomb, deputy superintendent of the Levelland Independent School District. “For example, the children are dropped off and picked up by their parents off the main street of the campus, and all school buses are separated from the other motorists.” Other safety features include an immediate electronic lockdown of every door in case of emergency, and all of the playground equipment has protective rubber padding underneath. “The school is especially impressive because it allows four-year-olds to attend school,” Holcomb says. “That helps parents with daycare costs, plus it gives kids a jump-start on learning compared to other school districts. There is a tremendous amount of fun learning that takes place in the classrooms with these four-year-olds, with several socialization programs that aid in the overall readiness of these kids.” Another new school that opened in January 2007 is Levelland Middle School (LMS), which accommodates students in grades 6-8. It is equipped with a high-

The bright colors of Levelland Academic Beginnings Center are inviting to young students.

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Turning Legos into Robots GEAR competition introduces kids to robotic technology ho knew that Lego blocks make great robots? Students at South Elementary, Cactus Elementary and Capitol Intermediate schools, that’s who. A total of 36 students per school built small robots during the 20062007 school year as part of a Get Excited About Robotics (GEAR) competition, which was sponsored by the Texas Tech University Engineering Department. The three schools each received a Lego NXT kit to build their own unique robot, along with programmable software to help the robots complete six specific tasks. Teams had six weeks to construct a robot prior to a competition at the Science Spectrum in Lubbock. A total of 21 teams from throughout the South Plains region took part in the competition, and the Cactus Elementary team reached the semifinal round.

“The competition took place over a mock space station course, and my particular South Elementary team built an 8-inch robot whose duties included removing space debris and picking up rocks of a specific color,” says Louise Pendleton, director of technology for the Levelland Independent School District. “Leading up to the competition, programming the robot to follow demands was the most difficult aspect of it all.” Angie Stevens was advisor/coach for the Cactus Elementary team, and Paula Carr was advisor/coach at Capitol Intermediate. Pendleton says preparing each robot for competition was an exercise in try, try again … and again and again. “I think that if the opportunity was offered again today, all 12 of my kids on the South Elementary team would sign up immediately for the

competition,” she says. “It was an incredible hands-on way to introduce young students to the wonders – and fun – of technology.”

A N TO N Y B O S H I E R

Students at three Levelland schools use Legos and computers to learn more about robotics.

Think to a Higher Order LOTI ASSESSMENT PROGRAM MAXIMIZES STUDENT BENEFIT OF USING TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

econdary school students who can balance the national budget? That is one of the classroom challenges suggested in a relatively new program called Levels of Technology Implementation, or LoTi. The program was introduced into 46 classrooms within Levelland Independent School District during the 2006-2007 school year, and its popularity will continue to spread during 2007-2008. LoTi was developed in 1994 by education guru Dr. Christopher Moersch, who discovered that technology was not being used to its fullest potential in the classroom. “For example, Dr. Moersch says that teachers once used flash cards to teach arithmetic times tables to students, and nowadays the flash cards are on a computer screen to teach the students,” says Louise Pendleton, director of technology for the Levelland ISD. “But having flash cards on the computer is essentially no different than the old method. Computers and technology must be utilized for so much more in order to promote higher-order thinking

skills, which are what Dr. Moersch advocates.” Pendleton says an example of higher-order thinking skills is dividing a classroom into Democrats and Republicans. The students then use the Internet to balance the national budget, based on the political platforms of the two parties. “Think of how much information the students would need to find, and imagine how different the two budgets would look,” she says. “The learning that occurs is amazing, and the students are motivated. And when kids want to learn, it makes things easier for everyone.” Pendleton says Moersch himself trains teacher/mentors in a school, and they promote the LoTi program on their respective campuses. “Every administrator in the Levelland ISD – including principals and assistant principals – was trained for the LoTi program in the spring of 2007,” she says. “Now the Levelland ISD is working on a ‘next step action plan’ in order to utilize LoTi to its fullest academic potential.”

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Livin’ In Levelland & Lovin’ It

Imagine That Destination ImagiNation available to all students

elia Palmer says it is the best program she has worked with during her 28 years of teaching. The reading specialist at Capitol Intermediate School was team co-manager in 2007 for seven students who participated in Destination ImagiNation, a national afterschool program that inspires students to learn the skills associated with problem solving. The program includes regional teamwork competitions presenting creative, critical thinking challenges, and the Capitol team placed second in a 2007 district competition. It was the first year that the team ever competed in a Destination ImagiNation event. “Destination ImagiNation will be available to interested students in all grades during the 2007-2008 academic year,” says Palmer, Destination ImagiNation coordinator

for the Levelland Independent School District. “It was a trial run in ’06-’07 for the Capitol Intermediate students, and it was a huge success.” The seven students work as a team for eight weeks to create their solution to a Team Challenge, which can have a focus that is based in technology, drama, math, science, dance or music. At a district competition, the students perform a short skit to showcase what they have learned, then participate in an Instant Challenge problem-solving portion of the program. “Our Capitol Intermediate team did a skit where one girl was the Statue of Liberty, and she interviewed different countries asking for reasons why the United States is referred to as a melting pot,” Palmer says. “It was very clever.” Palmer says that eventually college scholarships will be granted to Levelland ISD students who excel in the Destination ImagiNation program. “Susan Faulks at Capitol Intermediate was my team comanager, but the kids did all the brainstorming ideas that led them to second place in the Northwest Plains District competition,” Palmer says. “I have no doubt that this program will create some Merit Scholars® in our school system.”

Three Weeks in America

uzanne Tolaini speaks several languages, and now she speaks English even better. Tolaini teaches second grade in Switzerland, and she visited Levelland from April 16-May 4 to gather tips on the best ways to teach English to her students back in Zurich. In order to learn more, Tolaini “shadowed” South Elementary School second grade teacher Kathy Tubb for three weeks in the classroom. “Suzanne came here to be immersed in the English language, and she was delightful,” Tubb says. “She had a great attitude and my students loved her.” Tolaini traveled to America because elementary school teachers in Switzerland are being encouraged to complete three-week learning stints in English-speaking countries, in order to bring those lessons back to Switzerland. Most teachers there want to visit England because it is geographically close to Switzerland, but all bookings were filled to the United

Kingdom when Tolaini signed up. “I actually was in Levelland during the mid-1980s because I am also a musician and I attended a bluegrass program at South Plains College. So, I decided to return here,” Tolaini says. “Working with Kathy Tubb was great because she has a fantastic way of interacting with children. She is strict but fair, and her kids really like her. I not only learned about teaching English, but watching Kathy taught me some excellent ways to teach in general.” Tolaini says she enjoyed her entire stay, although some English terms confused her. “I honestly never heard of terms like lower-case letters or secondguessing yourself – I didn’t know what those meant whenever Kathy would say them in class,” Tolaini says. “Overall, I was surprised at how hard the American teachers work, and I was also impressed at how friendly everyone was in Texas. I learned so much about a lot of things.”

P H OTO S B Y A N TO N Y B O S H I E R

SWISS TEACHER TAKES ENGLISH LESSONS BACK HOME

Kathy Tubb (standing) and Suzanne Tolaini share a passion for teaching.

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High-Tech Leaders LHS PREPARES STUDENTS FOR 21ST CENTURY CAREERS

uanice Tyson began supervising an after-school business club at Levelland High in 1993. Now in 2007, she has the satisfaction of knowing that countless club members have gone on to become successes in the business world. Tyson is advisor of the school’s Business Professionals of America organization, a club for students interested in pursing eventual careers in business management, office administration, information technology or other related fields. “I teach computer classes at Levelland High and all members of the BPA club are students enrolled in my computer courses,” Tyson says. “There were 42 students in the club f or the 2006-2007 school year, and all will be successful in whatever careers they choose.” The club competes in business conference competitions each year, and Levelland High advanced all the way to

the national competition in 2007. That was thanks in part to an innovative BPA Web page launched on the Levelland High School site. “All members also perform a minimum of five hours of community service, and the 2007 project was helping teachers who were moving into the district’s new pre-K and kindergarten school (Levelland Academic Beginnings Center),” Tyson says. “Club members burned files onto CDs for teachers, then burned information onto other CDs such as students’ names, height, weight, eye color and fingerprints, all for safety purposes.” Levelland High also offers classes in other technology curriculums, including a film editing program. “A key mission of the Levelland Independent School District is to prepare kids for the high-tech world,” Tyson says. “Technology and the 21st century go hand in hand, and we want our kids prepared for it all.”

LHS students use technology in drafting.

Never Too Old to Learn Adults gain educational empowerment through Carver Center’s programs while setting good examples for youth

ey, kids. Your mother and father are taking classes, so that should inspire you to do well in school, too. The Carver Learning Center offers an adult education program that had 175 students enrolled to earn their GEDs in 2007. The center also offers basic classes for reading and writing, as well as learning English as a second language. “One of the main reasons why people enroll in the adult education program is to show their kids that they are interested in education, too,” says Dr. Arlene Brooks, director of the Carver Learning Center. “We help people who have not completed their high school education for whatever reason, or people who just want to improve their lives in some way.” The Carver Center is part of the Levelland Independent School District, and offers GED classes every day. The

center also offers English as a Second Language classes each day Monday-Thursday. “Several courses are offered year round, and teachers often work on an individual basis with students,” Brooks says. “The center also has a migrant program in place for families who are new and unfamiliar with the Levelland area, and we also take care of children whose parents are taking classes here during the day.” Another initiative at the center is its Pregnancy Education Program, which provides babysitting services for young mothers so that they can attend school. “In addition, there are evening tutors on site for adults, and we have people here who help kids with their homework questions while their parents are attending classes at Carver,” Brooks says. “We are always busy and happy to be helping people.”

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P H OTO S B Y B R I A N M c C O R D

Livin’ In Levelland & Lovin’ It

Covenant Hospital Levelland offers state-of-the-art technology such as 3-D ultrasounds, an especially popular service for soon-to-be parents.

Why Go Anywhere Else? FIVE COVENANT HOSPITAL LEVELLAND CLINICS PROVIDE INCREASED CONVENIENCE TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE

edical care in Levelland has never been more convenient, thanks to Covenant Hospital Levelland’s five clinics offering services in a variety of fields. Four of the clinics are located conveniently across the street from the hospital. Covenant also has a fifth clinic 20 miles away in the neighboring community of Sundown. “Our clinics provide patients with a

broader range of physicians and services, plus convenient hours of operation that would not be possible with independent/privately owned clinics,” says Dr. G. Jeffrey Young, chief of medical staff at Covenant Hospital Levelland. “And with all of these clinics basically in the same office locale, we can offer a one-stop-shopping type of medical headquarters for services needed by families in Hockley County.”

Those services include immunizations, pediatric checkups, OB/GYN examinations, pre-employment physicals and a senior citizen low-income drug program. “We also have a women’s health clinic in the evening with services ranging from childbirth to pap smears,” Young says. “And as is the case in all of our clinics, walk-ins are welcome.” One of the clinics across from the

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L e v ella nd, Te x a s hospital is staffed with two pediatricians and specifically dedicated to medical care for children. Its services include newborn wellness checks, allergy shots, asthma checkups, adolescent examinations and physicals for school and sports. “All of the clinics are equipped with X-ray and lab facilities, and we also offer programs that can help with the management of diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels,” Young says. “Our clinical arrangement also allows Covenant Hospital to attract a greater variety of physicians than would normally be available in a community of this size.” Covenant Hospital Levelland CEO Jerry Osburn echoes that sentiment. “Our clinic philosophy here at Covenant has enabled us to recruit and retain a high-quality medical staff,” Osburn says. “We have been able to work with our physicians and mid-level practitioners to build successful practices, and our clinics are a vital part of our health system here in Levelland.” Covenant Hospital Levelland itself is a 48-bed general acute facility that is a part of the Covenant Hospital System. The hospital’s services include a 24-hour emergency room, maternity services, physical therapy, mammography,

inpatient/outpatient surgical services, respiratory therapy and nutritional care services. There are 190 employees, and the hospital averages 550 surgeries and 350 births annually. Meanwhile, the clinics average nearly 50,000 visits each year. “The clinics have really become well known throughout Levelland for their

quality and personal care,” Osburn says. “In fact, the reputation has become so great that the clinic physicians and nurses frequently see patients and families from several surrounding towns. Our goal is to be the best place for patients to receive care, for employees to work and for physicians to practice medicine.”

Covenant’s five clinics offer convenient access to many services, including routine exams.

Beaming With Pride Radiology department’s upgrades improve patient care

he radiology department at Covenant Hospital Levelland is the picture of health these days. The department has undergone several upgrades over the last few years, leading to an even higher level of patient care at Covenant. “This hospital prides itself on patient care, and now radiology can do an even better job thanks to major upgrades in equipment and technology,” says radiology director Dundie McInroe. “At the present time, Covenant Hospital Levelland radiology offers services in mammography, bone density, CT scans, MRI, 3-D ultrasounds, portable X-ray, echo heart and vascular ultrasounds.” The 3-D ultrasound is the newest addition to radiology services, providing a clear and crisp image of 3-D pictures on a flat screen monitor. “Those pictures can include the face of a baby, enhanced imagery of breast tissue or vascular diagnostic testing to

detect blood clots and other diagnoses,” McInroe says. “Meanwhile, our mammography service upgrades include the use of specialized foam MammoPads that aid in the comfort of the exam, specifically by molding to a breast as it is compressed in the X-ray machine, and the use of computer aided detection (CAD) to help aid in early detection.” The department’s CT (computed tomography) scanner uses special X-ray equipment to obtain images from different angles around the body. McInroe says this imaging is especially useful because it can show several types of tissue, bones and blood vessels with great clarity. “As for our MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) services, this is a non-invasive and painless procedure in which radio waves and powerful magnets linked to a computer are used to create remarkable clean and detailed pictures of internal organs and issues,” McInroe says. “It is another advancement that is welcomed in our radiology department here at Covenant Hospital Levelland.”

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Livin’ In Levelland & Lovin’ It

Minding Their Business

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY GROWS STRONG IN LEVELLAND – ever since 1974 – is All-Tex Seed Inc., a company that delints cottonseed for farmers. “Delinting is a custom technique where the fuzz is taken off cottonseed, which is necessary before cotton is shipped to market,” says Cody Poage, All-Tex Seed manager. “We also bag the seed and have actually invented new varieties of cotton over the years.” Poage not only works for the Levelland-based company, but he also grew up here. “This city is a nice place to live and raise a family,” he says. “There is something about the friendliness of people in West Texas that can’t be matched.

When I travel, I almost always notice the difference, and am grateful to get back home to Levelland.” Dave Quinn, Levelland’s director of economic development, says the city is committed to forming sincere and honest relationships with the business community. “Levelland offers manufacturers a quality workforce that not only comes from Hockley County, but eight adjoining counties as well,” he says. “Our city is a pro-business community interested in fostering all kinds of development. That holds true from the single entrepreneur all the way up to the largest of manufacturers.”

A N TO N Y B O S H I E R

ichael Worley was a welder with his own truck in 1974, so he decided to start a business. Today, Worley Welding Works has a workforce of 135 employees, and clients who are among the biggest oil producers in the world. “We build custom equipment that is used in the oil fields for customers that include giants such as Halliburton, BJ Ser vices, Weat herford and Schlumberger,” says Mark Maserang, business manager for Worley Welding Works. “We enjoy being a part of the Levelland community. There are good people in West Texas, which has made it attractive for Worley Welding to stay here all these years.” Maserang says the company has built a reputation for quality work and fast service. “We have a lot of people who have been here more than 10 years,” he says. “By the way, our safety record here is unprecedented. We recently surpassed 15 years without having a lost-time accident, which is amazing given the amount of steel we move, its weight and the speed at which we do it.” Dan Allemang also has an impressive story to tell about Levelland and its work ethic. Allemang is a California businessman who helped set up an ANFO Manufacturing facility in Levelland in 2007. AN-FO, which is based in Oakland, Calif., constructed a plant in Levelland Industrial Park to produce sanitation chemicals and other commodities for the dairy industry. “I wanted to use local contractors to build the new plant in Levelland, and I was impressed that every step of the construction process was simply done with handshake deals,” Allemang says. “It made the whole construction effort really easy. It was impressive working with such friendly people all along the way.” Also enjoying their time in Levelland

All-Tex Seed Inc. has been growing its business in Levelland successfully since 1974.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF DONNIE MARTIN

L e v ella nd, Te x a s

Levelland is home to active youth leagues for baseball, softball, soccer and basketball, as well as many parks and recreational facilities that encourage healthy lifestyles among residents.

Busy Bodies GOOD SPORTS ABOUND WITH ACTIVE LEAGUES AND TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES

rofessional basketball players Sheryl Swoopes and Charles Outlaw are products of the South Plains College (SPC) athletic program. In addition, the SPC mens’ track and field team won the college’s first outdoor national championship in 2007, and its cross country team won national championships in 1991, 1996 and 1997. SPC has top-notch sports facilities such as the SPC Track Stadium, a 3,300-seat Texan Dome and 12 tennis courts. Meanwhile, more than a dozen sports are offered at Levelland High School, at impressive settings such as Lobo Stadium for football, Lobo Field for baseball and Gano Tubb Gymnasium for basketball and volleyball. For swimming enthusiasts, there is a city pool for residents to enjoy throughout the summer and an indoor natatorium at SPC open year round. Recreation options abound in this community, including nine municipal parks that all offer walking trails. There is the private 9-hole Levelland Country Club for golfers, along with an 18-hole disc golf course at Levelland City Park.

The city also offers a catch-and-release fishing program at Lobo Lake Park and Breshears Lake Park. For youth, the recreation options are fun and plentiful. This city of 13,000 residents is home to youth baseball, softball and soccer leagues, all of which allow boys and girls to develop good health and sportsmanship habits early

in life. It is also the national headquarters for Little Dribblers Basketball Inc., a youth league that started in 1969 and has since spread in popularity to 11 states and two countries. “Back then in 1969, developing kids for basketball was nothing like developing kids in Little League baseball – so this organization was formed,” says Cara Phelan, assistant executive director for Little Dribblers. “Four men started Little Dribblers to provide boys with the correct fundamental basketball training, and the idea just mushroomed from there.” The four founders – residents Harold Phelan, Chester Bridges, Hulon L. Moreland and Frank Burnett – added a girls’ basketball program in 1972, and the entire organization continues to grow. “Cities across the U.S. organize teams in age categories of 10 and under, 12 and under, and 14 and under, and the kids play in leagues during the winter,” Phelan says. “Finally, each season ends with three national boys’ tournaments occurring in April for the three age groups, and one of those final tournaments always takes place in Levelland.” Phelan says that for girls, competitive leagues usually get started in February, with the national finals in June. “Our mission is to teach basketball fundamentals to young children – things like dribbling, passing and playing man-to-man defense,” she says. “We want kids to learn skills before they get to seventh grade basketball, which is the grade when many kids are introduced to basketball for the first time in a school setting.”

This special section was created for the City of Levelland by Journal Communications Inc.

Writer: Kevin Litwin Editor: Lisa Battles Designer: Candice Hulsey

FOR MORE INFORMATION: ©Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc., 361 Mallory Station Road, Suite 102, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member Magazine Publishers of America Member

Custom Publishing Council

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City of Levelland 1709 Ave. H Levelland, TX 79336 www.GoLevelland.com (806) 894-0113 Fax: (806) 894-0119

ON THE COVER: Residents enjoy the tranquility of Lobo Lake Photo by Antony Boshier

Life in LittleďŹ eld

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