Meridian Tribune, General Excellence, March 28, 2012

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION 2011 AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER

Volume 120 - Number 13 March 28, 2012 Published Since 1893

Hometown Newspaper of Paul Frerking

Published In Meridian, Texas www.meridiantribune.com Email: news@meridiantribune.com

Hydrocodone heist halted by Chief Biggs Staff report Meridian Tribune

Was it just plain bad luck, or didn’t the burglar care?

Last Friday night around 11.30 p.m., a man in his thirties threw a large rock through Barker’s Pharmacy glass door, just a couple of yards away from where Police Chief Al-

Second Street reverts back to a two-way street S taff

bert Biggs was dealing with a truck with a broken transmission at the Morgan Street/ Main Street intersection.

As he was coming out of the pharmacy, the burglar was apprehended by Biggs and handcuffed.

“He saw me before he threw the rock through the door,” Biggs said. “He was so stoned

he just didn’t care.”

The larcenist, a Whitney resident with family in Meridian, had taken a 1000 count bottle of hydrocodone, also known as Vicodin.

Hydrocodone is a synthetic codeine derivative, in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers and is considered a controlled substance.

Deputy Eason took the man to the Bosque County jail where he was charged with burglary and possession of a penalty group Class 1 controlled substance – over 200 grams and under 400 grams.

Bosque County Justice of the Peace precinct 2, Judge James Zander set bail at $20.000 for the possession charge and $

Williams in turning off the alarm and boarded up the entry way.

“He is a decent police officer,” Barker Pharmacy’s owner and pharmacist Rodney Barker said. “He went above and beyond his call of duty and helped boarding up the door. You can’t get much nicer than that.”

Amazing array of articles up for auction at library fundraiser

report

Meridian Tribune

To ensure student’s safety at the old elementary school, Second Street was designated a one-way street.

The school has not been operational since September 2008, upon which mayor pro-tem Weldon Hamilton questioned whether the special designation was still relevant.

During the Meridian City Council meeting March 19 the council unanimously voted on restoring the Second Street’s two-way status, effective immediately.

Within hours of the oneway signs being removed, citizen’s embraced the new situation, and used Second Street to reach Highway 22.

The restoring of the street’s two-way status had been delayed by possible remodel plans for the building into a middle school.

These plans were put on the back burner in late 2011 by the Meridian Independent School District’s board of trustees, in anticipation of state-wide education budget cuts.

Should remodel plans fire up in school board again, re-designation to a one-way street will be reconsidered by the city council.

2.500 for the burglary.

Barker’ Pharmacy has an integrated alarm system. When the door was shattered by the rock an external alarm went off, and the security company, the BC Sheriff ’s department and the Meridian Police Department are alerted.

Police Chief Biggs assisted pharmacy technician Karon

Staff photo / Meridian Tribune

Meridian Public Library Director Sarita Ellis with Bobbye Gentry’s sculpture which is up for auction Saturday during the Jewels and Jeans Library Fundraising Gala.

Staff

report

Meridian Tribune

“And this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running

brooks, sermons in stone and good in everything.”

This William Shakespeare quote from his play As You Like It, is on the front page of Meridian Memorial Library’s

annual fundraiser program.

The “books in running brooks,” ties into this year’s Jewels and Jeans gala theme, Texas rivers and writers.

Many of the - over 50 - silent auction items are themed baskets, and it being the library fundraiser, they often include books appropriate to their theme.

For example, Briley Auto’s Man’s Automotive basket might contain “Automotive repair for Dummies,” the Texas Rangers Baseball Club’s four corner box tickets might be paired up with the book “The Love of Baseball,” Alco’s dual crock buffet slow cooker comes with an additional cook book with slow cooker recipes, the Cliftex Theatre contribution of four tickets to a film show and a T-shirt come with “The Film Book,” in its own tin box.

Library Director Sarita Ellis’ auction contributions include quilts from Mom’s Antique Closet, with a book about quilting.

In keeping with the “jewels” Ellis also contributed a turquoise ring from Mom’s Antique Closet with a turquoise necklace. Other jewels are a moonstone necklace/earring set and a red/white ceramic bead necklace.

Tom Henderson, banker by day, auctioneer by night, has the honor to auction off art items see LIBRARY, page 2

Joe Bielinski

Bielinski to MC at Lomax Gathering Staff report Meridian Tribune

On Highway 144 at the roadside parking place a Texas Historical Marker marks the boyhood home of John A. Lomax (1867 – 1948) one of the foremost collectors of American folksongs.

Now, a contemporary collector of classic country music has committed to MC the April 14 music gathering honoring the life and work of “Ballad hunter” Lomax.

The “Mayor of Country Music,” country music historian and DJ of the first ever FM Classic Country Show, Joe Bielinski will be at the Bosque Bottoms all day, introducing the day’s events and bands, and doing interviews.

“Since I am very interested in preserving country music, I wanted to be a part of the event,” Bielinski said.

Event organizer David Duke envisions the John A. Lomax Texas Music Gathering and Chuck wagon Cook-off to be “a road trip through the roots of Texas country music.” With his expertise, Bielinski seems the best-qualified guide for the classic country music lovers visiting Bosque Bottoms. see LOMAX, page 2

Digging deeper into BC history Witching workshop well attended

Staff

report

Meridian Tribune

Traditionally witching or divining rods are a forked (Y-shaped) branch from hazel or willow. Traditionally witching is used to find water, treasure, metal ore or pe-

troleum.

It might therefore seem strange that the Bosque County Genealogical Society offered a “Witching” workshop at Fulton Cemetery last Thursday.

But former-deputy Terry Flory who led the workshop does not Staff photo / Meridian Tribune

Terry Flory manufactures witching rods from brass coat hangers for a witching workshop at Fulton Cemetery last Thursday. Jerry Gribble listens to Flory’s instructions on “witching.”

witch for water or other treasure, but for unmarked graves. And he does so with two simple L-shaped rods made from simple brass wire coat hangers, made on the spot.

“I don’t know how it works, but it does,” Flory said. “I have a Masters in Chemistry and this is one of the unexplained things in the world.”

With Flory’s expertise, some simple instructions and a few trials runs on marked graves, most

people present were able to identify grave sites, and even determine if the buried individual was an adult or a child, male or female.

When walking over a grave with two rods held straight in front of you, the rods will cross to identify a male, or will move outwards if the grave holds a female.

Flory uses the one-rod method to determine the size of the grave. see WITCHING, page 8

Community Meridian Tribune

Community Calendar Meridian Tribune

To submit non-profit events to the Meridian Community Calendar Email: news@meridiantribune.com SUBJECT: Community Calendar Request

3•Meridian Lion’s Club, Meridian Manor conference room, 1110 N. Main Street, noon. 254339-4046

noon • Meridian Chamber of Commerce meeting, Meridian Civic Center, noon.

RSVP 254-435-2966 or meridian-chamber@sbcglobal.net • BCCPSB monthly meeting, First Community Bank Annex Building, 200 West Morgan, 5:15 PM. • Caring Carpenters, Meridian Manor conference room, 1110 N. Main Street, 6:30 PM 254-435-9924 • Kopperl ISD School Board, School Cafeteria, 7 PM • Walnut Springs ISD School Board, School Library, 184 Avenue A, 7:30 PM, 254-797-2132

4-8 • Bosque recycling center in Meridian closed for Easter

16 • Cranfills Gap ISD School Board meeting at the CGISD Library, 6 PM

5 • Bosque County Rotary Club, VFW, 215 North Avenue D, Clifton, 12 PM

17 •Meridian Lion’s Club, Meridian Manor conference room, 1110 N. Main Street, noon.

254-339-4046 • BCRC monthly meeting, Clifton Civic Center, primary and county elections program by Janet Jackson. For reservations call Ricky Richards at 254-675-6753 or email to norseman_ eng@hughes.net before the 13th.

• Iredell ISD board meeting, School Library, 501 McLain St , 7:30 PM. 254-364-2411

MARCH

29 • Bosque County Rotary Club, VFW 215 North Avenue D, Clifton.

12 PM 31 • Kopperl-Union Hill School Reunion, Kopperl ISD, all day. Lunch catered by Kopperl VFD. For info: 817-737-7187

APRIL

2 • Masonic Lodge meal and meeting, 103 N. Erath Street, meal 6:30 PM, meeting 7 PM. 254435-2891

6 • One Act Play performance – Her Senior Year, Meridian High School auditorium, public invited, 2 PM 7 • Easter Extravaganza, First Baptist Church of Meridian, 207 N. Hill St. Bounce houses, dunking booth, cake walk, candy, prizes. food, drinks, crafts, games, 11 AM2 PM. For info call 254435-6007 5-8 • Bosque recycling center in Meridian closed for Easter 9 • Bosque County Commissioner’s Court , Bosque County Courthouse, 201 Main, 9 AM. 254-435-2382 • Meridian City Council, Meridian fire station, 110 Bateman Street.

7:30 PM 10 •Municipal Court, Meridian fire station, 110 Bateman Street. 9 AM • Bosque County AARP meeting, Clifton Civic Center, noon. Visitors welcome, please bring a covered dish.

• Meridian ISD board meeting, Admin. Building, 204 2nd Street Board Room, 6:30 PM. 254-435-2081 12 • Bosque County Rotary Club, VFW, 215 North Avenue D, Clifton,

19 • Bosque County Rotary Club, VFW 215 North Avenue D, Clifton.

12 PM • Morgan ISD School Board, 1306 Charles Street, Morgan, 6:30 PM. 254-635-2311 23 • Bosque County Commissioner’s Court , Bosque County Courthouse, 201 Main, 9 AM. 254-435-2382 26 • Bosque County Rotary Club, VFW 215 North Avenue D, Clifton.

12 PM 28 •Market on the Square, Bosque County Courthouse, 201 Main, 9 AM – 2 PM. 254-4352966

MAY

1 •Meridian Lion’s Club, Meridian Manor conference room, 1110 N. Main Street, noon. 254339-4046

Meridian Tribune

Office Hours: Monday – Friday – 9 AM. – 5 PM Phone: (254)435-6333 Fax (254) 435-6348 Email: news@meridiantribune.com www.meridiantribune.com

Meridian Tribune (USPS 009-017) is published weekly by Bosque County Publishing, LP., 114 N. Main St.., Meridian, Texas 76665-0343 for $39 per year for Bosque County subscribers, $46 per year elsewhere in Texas and $56 per year for subscribers outside of Texas. Second class postage paid at Meridian, Texas.

Publisher General Manager / Editor Advertising Director Sports Editor Office

Mark Henry Dennis Phillips Teresa Phillips Brett Voss Sonia Alvizo

Website: www.meridiantribune.com Email: news@meridiantribune.com M-F 9am-5pm ~ Ofc. 254-435-6333

LIBRARY From page 1

by Mike Windsor, George Boutwell, Teddi Marks, Dawn Sharp and George Hallmark.

Top art item is an exquisite clay sculpture, designed and sculpted by Bobbye Gentry, named “Sarah Reading,” especially made for the occasion. Ellis’ daughter is called Sarah.

Other items on auction are dinner coupons, three hours of bulldozing, wine-tasting and many, many delicious desserts.

Tom Crum will have a presentation on quirky and weird laws from the time Meridian was founded – the 1850s.i DW Blues Band will be supplying the live music entertainment.

All this entertainment, including a dinner costs just $20.

The menu includes Sabine River Shish Kebab, Pedernales River Pilaf, Bosque River Baguette and Butter

and a Trinity River Trio of Sweets.

The Jewels and Jeans fundraising event starts at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour- supplied by the ladies from Meridian City Hall, Marie Garland and Kristina Taylor.

Please come and show your support for the library. It is truly a unique and priceless public service Meridian has to offer. It is an invaluable asset to the community.

To quote the splendid Dr. Seuss, thanks to books “The more you read, the more you know. The more you learn, the more places you go.”.

But the Meridian Public library offers more than just books. The volunteers supply tuition on request, it is a great place to study or use a computer, there are activity nights and film evenings and it offers a place to sit and read the paper while enjoying a cup of coffee.

Tickets are still available at the door.

LOMAX From page 1

In his twenty years of radio work, Bielinski has interviewed about 45 Grand Ole Opry artists and is a walking encyclopedia of country music.

Additionally, Bielinski arguably has one of the largest country music vinyl collections in the world, which took over 35 years to build.

It holds over 50,000 records.

In 2011, at 50 he was the youngest radio personality ever inducted into the prestigious Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, giving him national recognition for his achievements.

Interestingly, earlier in his life, he was another “youngest ever.” At twenty years old, he became the youngest, elected mayor in Texas history in his hometown Mingus. His nickname Mayor has stuck ever since.

“For a true dose of real country music from a guy who lives and breaths it, tune in every Sunday night at 7 p.m.” the 92.1 HANK FM website states. Joe hosts the Joe Bielinski Classic Country Review, which is popular on the U.S. airwaves, and throughout the world thanks to Internet.

“Bielinski’s show has the same fan base as our event,” Duke said, and with that in mind, Duke used a significant part of his budget for advertising on HANK FM. Hopefully the radio commercial pays off by drawing country music aficionados from the Metroplex area to Meridian April 14.

“My goal was to organize a special event, worthy of John Lomax’ legacy,” Duke said. “I have met some very special people in the preparations of the event, and I am forever indebted to a number of people who gave their time and knowledge to set this up.”

Prior to his “Lomax Gig,”

We’re Social.

Consistent Contributors: Carol Spicer, Roberta Robinson, Willis Webb, Mike Cox, Paul Derrick, Lawson Funeral Home, Paul Neimann and readers just like you.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: All editorial material copyrighted by the Meridian Tribune. Meridian Tribune is dedicated to serving the needs of the community and local advertisers. All correspondence for the Meridian Tribune should be sent to the mailing address above. The entire content of each issue of the Meridian Tribune is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any portion of any issue of any issue will not be permitted without written permission from the Meridian Tribune. Any erroneous reflection cast upon the character, reputation or community standing of a person, firm or organization appearing in the columns of this newspaper will be duly corrected when brought to the attention of the editor in writing. Meridian Tribune assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements or copy but will publish without charge, a correction in the next issue, or republish any portion of the advertisement that is incorrect. All news items, meeting notices and civic activities are free of charge on a space available basis. Letters regarding political candidates and/or issues are considered political advertising and may be ran at current political advertising rates. General deadline for all copy, both news and advertising is 12:00 noon on Friday prior to publication. You cooperation in meeting these deadlines is appreciated. Meridian Tribune reserves the right to edit or refuse any copy, announcements or advertisements. The Meridian Tribune and .meridiantribune.com, as well as any reasonable derivative of these names, are trademarks of Bosque County Publishing, LP and use of these trademarks without the express written consent of Bosque County Publishing, LP is strictly prohibited. The entire contents of each issue of The Meridian Tribune and www.meridiantribune.com are protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any portion of any issue will not be permitted without the express permission of Bosque County Publishing, LP. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Meridian Tribune, P.O. Box 343, Meridian, Texas 76665.

March 28, 2012 • Page 2

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www.meridiantribune.com www.cliftonrecord.com

Bielinski is hosting a live show at the Rio Brazos Dance Hall in Granbury with special guest Mack Abernathy on April 8. Abernathy is also part of the Lomax Music Gathering line-up.

Information about the John A. Lomax Texas Music Gathering and Chuck wagon Cook-off can be obtained through the Bosque Collections 254-4356182, the Meridian Chamber of Commerce 254-2966 and the website www.lomaxtexasmusicgatheringcom. Tickets for the Chuck wagon Cook off Lunch can be bought at the Meridian Chamber office.

Sudoku Puzzle #2488-M SUDOKU

2

1 4 2 6 4 3 2 5

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5 3 1 3 8 7 6 9 2 8 5 1 4 9 7 8 1 6 8

© 2009 Hometown Content

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online at www.meridiantribune.com

March 28, 2012 • Page 3

Meridian Tribune

best of the best

2012 BEST OF THE BEST READER’S CHOICE

You are the Judge!

You, our readers, tell us who is the best in each category listed below. Vote for your favorites in all the categories that you can. Just complete the ballot below, along with the entry blank.

Mail to or drop off at either newspaper office no later than April 2, 2012. Mailed entries need to be postmarked no later than April 2. Results will be published in the 2012 Best of the Best special section published on April 25, 2012. Rules: Business, persons must reside in Bosque County. Please print, illegible ballots will be discarded.

Only one form per person. Original ballot only also available online at both newspaper websites. All personal information must be completed to be considered a valid ballot.

Sunshine

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Best Caterer :

Best Dentist :

Best All Around Food :

Best Florist :

Best Barbeque :

Best Handyman :

Best Mexican Food :

Best Electrician :

Best Chicken :

Best Painter :

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Best Construction Co. :

Best Enchilada :

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Best Italian Food :

Best Athletic Coach :

Best Breakfast :

Best Motel :

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Business with Friendliest Service :

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Best Ice Cream, etc :

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Best Pizza :

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Best Service in a Restaurant :

Best Assisted Living Center :

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Best Landscaping Company :

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Best Banker :

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Best Donuts :

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Best Boss :

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Best New Car Salesman :

Best Banking Facility :

Best Used Car Salesman :

Best Printing & Graphics Firm :

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Best Retail Shop :

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Best Pharmacist :

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Best Storage Facility :

Best Checker :

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Best Service Station :

Best Antique Store :

Best Mechanic :

Best Paint & Body Shop :

Most Optimistic Individual :

Best Automotive Repair :

Best County Commissioner :

Best Computer Service :

Best Justice of the Peace :

Best Office Equipment Repair :

Best Photographer :

Best CPA/Accountant :

Best Community Leader :

Best Prof. House Cleaning Service :

Best A/C Serviceman :

Best Beauty Salon :

Best Pet Service :

Best Cleaners :

Best Hairdresser :

Best Clothing Store :

Best Doctor :

Best Convenience Store :

Best Employer :

Best Childcare :

Best Meat Processing :

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Mail completed ballot to: The Clifton Record, P.O Box 353, Clifton, Texas 76634.

You may drop off ballot at either The Clifton Record or Meridian Tribune office. NO PHOTOCOPIES PLEASE.

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An after game tradition

Opinion Meridian Tribune

March 28, 2012 • Page 4

who created it – D.D., as in President Dwight David Eisenhower. He was our 34th president, from 1953 – 1961.

Pretty neat, but the other highway system credited Paul Niemann to President Eisenhower circles the world many times neimann7@aol.com each day. That would be the information superhighway known as the internet.

When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in One way to judge an innovation’s importance is to 1957, the U. S. government figured that a nuclear atimagine life without it. This story is about two such tack could wipe out our intelligence system. To preinnovations. vent this, the Department of Defense created ARPA, Both were a result of war, namely World War II and which stands for Advanced Research Projects Agenthe Cold War. In order to keep his identity secret at cy.

By 1969, computer scientists had begun efforts to this point, we will refer to him by his first and middle connect supercomputers from four major universities initials: D.D. (UCLA, Stanford, UC-Santa Barbara and the UniThe first innovation impacted our transportation versity of Utah) that could exchange information with system, while the second one impacted our commueach other.

This computer network became known as nication system. More than 50 years ago, in Februthe ARPAnet. ary of 1955, D.D. said, “The united forces of our comThe National Science Foundation linked these sumunication and transportation systems are dynamic percomputers together and they eventually replaced elements in the very name we bear – United States. the ARPAnet in 1990, becoming what is now the InWithout them, we would be a mere alliance of many ternet.

It was President Eisenhower who made the separate parts.” decision to create the Advanced Research Projects When D.D. visited Germany during World War II, Agency, even though he did not work for the Departhe noticed how the autobahns improved that counment of Defense. try’s transportation system. He also felt that an imHere are a few interesting facts that you might not proved highway system was necessary for a strong nahave known about the internet: tional defense.

In 1991, the inventor of the World Wide Web, The result of his work is our nation’s interstate highTim Berners-Lee, chose not to patent it so that everyway system. It began in 1956 when the president one could have access to the Web, bypassing a fortune signed the Federal Aid Highway Act. Here are a few in the process.

He also knew that the only way it could little-known facts about our interstate system: reach its full potential was to leave it unpatented.

- The longest interstate is I-90, which covers 3,081 The early version of the internet was designed to miles from Boston to Seattle, while the shortest interallow military installations to exchange information state is I-878 in New York City. It covers exactly 3,696 with each other by computer. feet, which is seven-tenths of a mile.

- Despite the fact that there are now millions of web - Only one state has no interstate highway. That sites, there were only 130 web sites in 1993. would be Alaska. Hawaii has three interstate highIn addition to playing a major role in creating both ways, although they are obviously not connected to the interstate highway and the internet, President other states.

Eisenhower also put an end to the Korean War. - When the last stoplight on the interstate system was removed in the 1980’s in Wallace, Idaho, the loWe managed to make it through a story about the cals gave it a proper burial in the local cemetery, cominternet without cracking a single joke about Al Gore plete with a 21-gun salute. claiming to have invented it.

Out nation’s interstate system is called the EisenI guess I’m losing my touch. hower Interstate System, named after the visionary

Red, White & True Mysteries

Texas Tales

By Mike Cox mikecoxtex@austin.rr.com

As a pioneer newspaper editor, David E. Lawhon may have subscribed to the belief that the pen was mightier than the sword, but as a Texas Ranger he never saddled up without his rifle and pistol.

Born in Tennessee in 1811, he came to Nacogdoches in early November 1835 from Natchitoches, La. Like many coming from the United States that fall, Lawhon arrived looking for a fight. Texas had begun its pull away from Mexico and a bloody revolution lay ahead.

A tall, barrel-chested, ham-fisted man, Lawhon signed up to serve in the nascent Texas army shortly after hitting East Texas. But when it became known he was a printer, local businessman William G. Logan talked the young Tennessean into editing a newspaper instead.

With a hand press and type that had been used in 1829 to produce a short-lived Nacogdoches newspaper called the Mexican Citizen, the 24-year-old Lawhon brought out the first issue of the Texian and Emigrant’s Guide on Nov. 28, 1835.

Family legend has it that as editor of one of the province’s only two newspapers, Lawhon was on the reception committee greeting former Tennessee Congressman David Crockett as he passed through Nacogdoches on his way to San Antonio and what proved to be immortality.

That winter Lawhon also printed legal forms and official documents for the provisional Texas government.

On Jan. 25, 1836, acting Gov. James W. Robison wrote Lawhon from San Felipe de Austin that the General Council had ordered the publication of its “ordinances & decrees & Resolutions” in “your useful newspaper” and that Lawhon should consider himself “one of the publishers of the Laws of Texas.”

In addition, Lawhon printed handbills appealing to the people of New Orleans, Nashville, Cincinatti and elsewhere for money and volunteers to the Texas cause. His press announced the arrival of government agents seeking to buy horses, guns, corn and supplies for the army and distributed the lyrics to patriotic songs stoking the revolutionary flames.

Lawhon continued the newspaper through January 1836 and possibly as late as March 24. By then, having taken the Alamo, Mexican troops were marching eastward across Texas. While Sam Houston maneuvered what remained of Texas’ army, most of the civilian population fled toward Louisiana in what came to be called the Runaway Scrape. After Houston defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto on April 21, people began returning to their homes.

Whether Lawhon stayed in Nacogdoches is unclear, but if he left, he came back. Having closed his print shop, he enlisted as a Texas Ranger under Capt. Sam Davis on Sept. 10, 1839. A second lieutenant, he served through that November.

Lawhon’s company and others under the command of Col. John C. Neill scouted up the Brazos River from the old port of Nashville past future Waco to a point on the Clear Fork of the Brazos southwest of what would become Fort Worth. In the process, the Rangers had three different Indian fights.

Not long after he left the Rangers, Lawhon moved to newly founded Beaumont, where he married Nancy Carr, daughter of one of that area’s earliest settlers. He served eight years as chief justice of Jefferson County, a position similar to today’s county judge. Shortly before the Civil War he moved his family to Bastrop County.

When Lawhon visited Austin in the spring of 1878, the Daily Democratic Statesman ran a frustratingly brief article: “David E. Lawhon, the first Editor, was in the City last week. He published in 1835 the first paper ever printed in Texas. His recollection of the stirring scenes occurring in the early history of Texas are as fresh and vivid in his memory as though they transpired only yesterday. He was associated in various capacities with General Sam Houston and was entrusted by him with some delicate and important services during the War of Independence. The name of his paper was ‘ Texian and Emigrants’ Guide’ and its publication continued nearly one year when the advance of the enemy compelled its suspension. Mr. Lawthon then enlisted to fight the Indians and during the campaign was wounded three times. Mr. Lawhon resides near Elgin and is engaged in farming. He is 70 years old and over six feet tall.”

One of Lawhon’s granddaughters later wrote that about all she knew about her noted grandfather was that he had accidentally been wounded by one of his own men near Waco during his short but active Ranger service.

Another granddaughter later wrote that her mother, one of Lawhon’s daughters, told her that Lawhon “had a wonderful voice and late in the evenings would take a song book and sit on the porch and sing for a while and she loved to hear him….”

The Lawhons raised six sons and four daughters, beginning with a daughter born in Jefferson County in 1841 and continuing with a final daughter born in Bastrop during the Civil War. “Few families have a longer or more distinguished record in Texas history than that of the Lawhons,” Francis W. Johnson wrote in his multi-volume work, “A History of Texas and Texans.”

Lawhon died Feb. 14, 1884 and is buried in the Lawhon family cemetery in Lee County, about 15 miles from Taylor.

Meridian Tribune

Letter To The Editor Dear Editor, We just wanted everybody to know Bud is back home. He was missing for four weeks to the date, and was found about 14 miles from home. We are grateful he was found by a sweet family and that he had been extremely well cared for.

We want to thank everyone for their help looking for him, getting the word out through notices and

Facebook posts.

A special thank you to all the businesses that agreed to post our “Lost Dog” flyers.

Everybody has been so compassionate, and we thank you all for the phone calls.

It goes to show we live in a wonderful community with sweet people.

Paulette and Jim McGlammery

A Community Vantage Point Willis Webb

wwebb@wildblue.net

College, military weren’t in step with him in 1950s

In the 1950s and 1960s, Texas land grant colleges were directed by law to have mandatory U.S Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) for military-eligible freshman and sophomore males.

Yep, you had to belong to ROTC if you weren’t 4-F (physically unqualified for military duty) or unless you had already done military service. If you so desired, after those initial two years, you could opt for military service, take ROTC in your junior and senior years and, upon graduation, qualify to enter the Army as a second lieutenant.

In the mid and late 1950s, the U.S. was not engaged in any military conflict, although the Selective Service System for the draft was in full force. If you were enrolled full time in college (at least 12 semester hours), you had to belong to ROTC. That meant taking Military Science class two days a week during those freshman and sophomore years, which required that you wear your ROTC uniform to classes on MS class days and on drill day. Yep, one hour of close order drill one day per week. If you were in uniform on campus and you encountered a member of the Regular Army cadre (Army officers serving as ROTC instructors and advisers) or any cadet officer (juniors and seniors), you had to salute them.

It didn’t matter if you had two armloads of books (yours and your girlfriend’s), if you met one of the aforementioned officers, it was mandatory to salute. You could be required to stop for an officer to inspect you — uniform pressed and creased properly, brass polished, shoes shined, etc. — and you might get demerits. On drill day, you were subject to the same kind of inspection plus you were carrying an M-1 rifle that had better be spic and span.

After a militarily troublesome freshman year for me, I was tipped off that if you became the platoon guide-on bearer (a guide-on is a pole with a pennant type flag), two good things occurred. You didn’t have to carry a rifle, which meant you didn’t have to clean the rifle. Since I didn’t know the first thing about guns, that sounded great. Second, as guide-on bearer (carrying the platoon’s official designation), you didn’t belong to a squad. Each platoon was made up of three squads. At least eighty percent of all drill was through individual squads.

So, while squad drill was conducted, all the guide-on bearers sat in the hedge rows, being Joe Cool College and smoking cigarettes.

We privileged ones sat there puffing away and snickering at the poor devils marching in the hot sun. We were just way cool. Well, at least we were convinced we were.

Our friends marching in the heat had some choice words for us, prompted by our privilege of having to do no squad drills.

Each spring, the cadet corps had a full blown inspection by a colonel from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Word was that if you flunked that inspection, you got 50 demerits, were booted out of ROTC and drafted into the Army.

One guy thumbed his nose at the whole procedure. He appeared at inspection time — happily drunk, dressed in full western/cowboy regalia: fringed leather jacket, boots, hat, jeans. He slipped into the back squad just as the Army colonel was beginning to inspect that group. Well, the colonel spotted “cowboy” right away and trooped down the squad row to him.

After several seconds of deadly silence, the colonel asked: “Son, just what in !@#$ are you supposed to be?” To which the inebriated cadet grinningly announced, “I’m a %&*+ Indian scout, what’d you think!” With that, the cowboy cadet passed out.

The last I heard from that cadet, he was serving in an infantry unit in Germany. But, he showed ‘em, huh?

Then Again...

I could be wrong Dennis Phillips - Meridian Tribune dennis@meridiantribune.com

NFL vs. Rollerball

Has it all just become too competitive? The lights, money, fame and fans, is that what drove Sean Payton to do what he did? Is he alone in these actions, many so no.

In case you missed it, Sean Payton, the head coach of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints has been suspended for one year, without pay for the “Bounty System” that had been standard practice for the Saints under Payton.

Players for the Saints were rewarded monetarily for crushing, yet legal hits to key opponents.

While investigations continued through the NFL, the Washington Redskins have been cleared from the scandal.

It is said that the loss of the year’s pay will cost Payton a little more than 5 million dollars and many argue the penalty is too stiff. The argument is this type of “go get ‘em” attitude is rampant in professional sports and many teams and players would do this for free.

In a time when NFL officials are focusing on player safety, Payton’s “Pay to injure” program could not have been exposed at a worse time for the coach and team.

At a rapid rate the NFL has been adding rules to help protect players, including the kick-off distance.

Bet they never thought they were battling a bonus check.

In a professional game where it seems the players care more for the money than their own health and safety, perhaps the officials should just back off the field and let the teams have at it.

Think of it like this: You can install a program of this nature, but if no

one participates then the program would have failed. But it did not fail, it flourished. So what I would like to see is a list of players that were paid, that did participate.

In my opinion, they are just as guilty as the coaching staff that put the system in place. ”Let me be clear. There is no place in the NFL for deliberately seeking to injure another player, let alone offering a reward for doing so,” NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell said.

“Programs of this kind have no place in our game and we are determined that bounties will no longer be a part of the NFL.” While the NFL has taken care of the “higher ups” and looks toward a future without bounties, I want the list of players injured and those rewarded for the action out of the NFL. As a young person, I loved the NFL, it was the one thing my father and I had together. Watching the Oakland Raiders fight for a win in the early 1970s brings back fond memories.

Did the Raiders pay Jack Tatum or Willie Brown for their outstanding plays? Did they make bonus money for their hits? I do not think so.

Is every hit in the NFL paid for?

Sure, they get a salary, but are they all getting bonus money?

Did Lawrence Taylor get a bonus for breaking Joe Thiesman’s leg? If he did, then his on-field reaction was the best acting in television history.

While I will not allow myself to believe this is a practice of the past, I will be looking at the NFL in a new light, in light of the “Bounty System”.

Let’s play football, not Rollerball.

online at www.meridiantribune.com

Meridian Tribune

community

March 28, 2012 • Page 5

Local May elections Q and A

By Betty Outlaw Bosque County Clerk

Q: Which cities or school districts are having elections?

A: There are four entities holding elections on the May 12 Uniform Election Date: Clifton ISD, City of Clifton, Cranfills Gap ISD and City of Valley Mills.

Q: What is the last date to register to vote or to change my address for this Election?

A: Thursday, April 12, 2012 is the last date to register or change address at the Bosque County Tax Assessor/Collector’s office (254)435-2301 to be eligible to vote in this election.

Q: What do I need in order to vote?

A: The best thing to have is a new Voter’s Registration Card (Yellow) that should be mailed to the voter by midApril, 2012. A Driver’s License will work, also the documents listed below.

Q: Will a voter need to

present picture ID in order to vote?

A: No, the bill to mandate picture ID was not approved by the Department of Justice. Approved documentation in addition to, or in lieu of a voter registration card includes at least one of the following items: • A driver’s license or personal identification card issued to you by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

You may also bring a similar document issued to you by an agency of another state, even if the license or card has expired; • A form of identification that contains your photograph and establishes your identity; • A birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the person’s identity; • Your United States citizenship papers; • Your United States passport;

• Official mail addressed to you by a governmental entity; or • A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.

Q: Where and when do I vote Early in Person?

A: Early Voting in Person will be held in the Bosque County Courthouse, 110 South Main in Meridian, Commissioners Courtroom.

Voters may vote during the regular office hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, April 30 and ending Tuesday, May 8, 2012.

There will be special hours on Tuesday, May 1 and Tuesday, May 8, 2012, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Q: How can I vote by mail?

A: Early Voting by Mail applications are available from the County Clerk’s Office.

You may call 435-2201 and

an application will be sent to you. Friday, May 4, 2012 is the last day for the Clerk’s Office to receive an application and mail a ballot.

Q: What are the acceptable reasons for voting by mail?

A: The Election Code gives the following reasons: 1. You are 65 years of age or older, OR 2. You have a disability, OR 3. You are confined in jail, OR 4. You expect to be absent from the county on Election Day and during the period of early voting in person. If item 4 is the only reason for needing a ballot by mail, you must have the ballot mailed to an address outside the county where you will receive mail during this period. If you are age 65 or disabled, the ballot can be mailed wherever you request.

If you have any questions, please call: Betty Outlaw, Bosque County Clerk 254435-2201

Word encourages honoring Vietnam Veteran’s Day by

Martha West

March 29th was designated as Vietnam Veteran’s Day during the 81st Legislative Session, SB 1903, as the result of efforts by Senator Hinojosa.

This information was received by Martha West,-

a kindergarten teacher at Kopperl I.S.D – on March 19.

West’s husband, Alfred J. West, served in Special Forces Association in Vietnam, and a fellow member of Special Forces Chapter 93 of Waco, shared the information with her

Judge Cole Word encouraged West to alert the area newspapers of this most significant day. Working with the office of Bosque County.

The Kopperl Kindergarten students made drawings to compliment West’s motto for this special day of honoring our beloved Vietnam

Veterans, “Standing Tall For Us All.” There are plans to present this gift to a classmate’s grandfather as a way of saying “Thank you.” “We would like to thank and honor all Texas Veterans and their families for “Standing Tall For Us All,” West said.

Volunteers needed for Lomax

By Ruth Crawford Bosque Collections

In just a few weeks Bosque Bottoms, Meridian will be the venue celebrating the John A. Lomax Legacy to Texas Music - the Lomax Texas Music Gathering and Chuckwagon Cook-off.

This new, heritage-inspired affair is on April 13, 14 and 15.

The gathering will feature

great food, lots of fun for the whole family and tons of great entertainers.

“There is much to do to get this special and significant event for Bosque County off the ground and we need help-lots of help,” event organizer David Duke said.

Strong backs will be needed for moving equipment, tables and chairs; big appetites will be needed for judging the chuck wagon meals

consisting of chicken fried steak, gravy, mashed potatoes, beans, rolls or biscuits and peach cobbler; financial wizards and people handlers will be needed at the gates.

All you ladies who can make awesome sandwiches and baked goods, please work your magic and impress the hungry entertainers with your food!

If you are interested in volunteering your time to the

event, a meeting is scheduled for April 2 at 7 p.m. in the District Courtroom.

“All the elements are there to make this event a great success, and but we can’t do it without your help,” Duke said.

We still have vendor spaces available and if you are interested in a space, please contact Ruth Crawford at 254-435-6182 or Kay Duke at 254-435-2966.

Special of the

Month

$3.99 301 N. Hwy. 6, Clifton • 254-675-3003

Staff photo / Meridian Tribune

District Attorney B.J. Shepherd donating a check to MPD officer Chris Blanton. The money went towards purchasing new video equipment in MPD officer Chris Blanton’s patrol vehicle.

Fox to speak at DAR meeting

The Sterling C. Robertson chapter for The Daughters of The Republic of Texas would like to invite anyone interested in Texas History to attend our meeting.

The program for April’s meeting is “The Civil War”

by Peggy Fox, researcher and speaker.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 5 at 1 p.m. in the West Waco Library and Genealogy Center at Waco Texas. The location of the library is at 5301 Bosque boulevard, Suite 275 Waco.

The May 3 meeting’s program will be “How to Preserve Your Family Story” by Bill Buckner, Genealogist.

Page 6 • March 28, 2012

Meridian Tribune

Meridian Tribune

devotional

Loved Ones Remembered

Peggy Marie Rodgers Keen

Zelda Davis Anderson

Funeral services for Peggy Marie Rodgers Keen, 69, were held Monday, March 26, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Clifton with Dr. Jerry Smith and David Davis officiating. Interment was at the Hickey Cemetery in Peoria.

Peggy Rodgers was born on March 1, 1943 in Hillsboro, a daughter of W.F. Rogers and Audrey Saylors Rodgers. She grew up in the Hillsboro area attending schools there and graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1961.

She married Jerry Keen, her high school sweetheart, on June 2, 1961. For 11 years, the couple made their home in Hillsboro.

They also lived in Corsicana, where she worked from an attorney for a number of years. They then moved to Waco and finally to Clifton in 1978.

Peggy worked for the State of Texas for many years. She served on the board of the Clifton Housing Authority, and was also involved in the Clifton Little League and was a member of the Church of Christ.

She helped her husband run a restaurant for a number of years in Clifton and was known for her outstanding baked goods, cobblers, and homemade biscuits. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, concerts, and hunting.

Her favorite joy came in spending time with her grandchildren or supporting them in many of their activities from the soccer field to the ball field. She looked forward to the birth of her fourth grandchild, Bryniee Marie, her namesake. She will be re-

Zelda Davis Anderson, 84, passed away peacefully after a sudden illness in a Waco hospital on March 17, 2012. Zelda Anderson was a kind, and determined woman, and was deeply convicted in her spiritual belief that “there is a gift in everything, especially in times of tribulation.” Her attention to detail was world class and her cooking skills and recipes that she has passed on to her family would rival most gourmet cookbooks.

Memorial services were held at First United Methodist Church of Cranfills Gap, on Friday, March 23, 2012.

Zelda Anderson was born Nov. 12, 1927 in Belfast, NY. Her family relocated to Houston, where she graduated valedictorian of Milby High School.

In 1945, she met Edwin Pliny Shaw and they were married after high school. They both attended and received degrees from Rice and SMU. They spent many happy years in Strasbourg France and New York City while Ed attended seminary school.

They started their family in 1954 with three children, Gregory David Shaw, Gary Marshall Shaw and Melanie Rose Shaw. They relocated back to Houston, Texas to manage the Methodist Student Ministry Union at Rice University for a few years and then relocated to Austin in 1960. She served the Austin medical and school community in various business management functions through the late 1970’s. Her former managers and direct reports ranked her as a dedicated and compassionate human being. She also worked for Governor Bill Clements during his first term in 1979.

After spending time as a single mother in the mid 1970’s, she met Mr. Robert E. Anderson in 1978, through friends from St. Matthews Episcopal Church. They married and relocated to the Flyin’ A Ranch in Cranfills Gap, Texas in 1983. They lived happily at the Flyin’ A, traveling the world and raising cattle. Robert Anderson passed in 1989 and Mrs. Anderson continued running the ranch. In 1993 she married an old friend and local businessman, Jerry Witte. After Jerry’s sudden death in 1997, she remained at the Flyin’ A Ranch until her passing.

She is survived by her son Greg Shaw and wife, Valerie; son, Gary Shaw, and daughter Melanie Shaw and Laura Votaw. She is also survived by sister Evonne Simonds, granddaughters Marianna Shaw and Audrey Johnson, grand son-in-law Jerad Johnson, great grandchildren Makenna and Colton Johnson, Audrey’s mother, Wendy Smith, and nieces Cindy Eckman and Sherry McCollum.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Westlake United Methodist Church, 1460 Redbud Trail, Austin, Texas 78746 or to First United Methodist Church in Cranfills Gap, in honor of Zelda Davis Anderson.

Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, Austin.

online at www.meridiantribune.com

membered for her perseverance and her concern for people of all ages, particularly children and senior adults.

She passed away on March 22, at Scott and White, after a long battle with health issues. She was preceded in death by her parents, W.F. and Audrey Rodgers, and a daughter, Sidnee.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Jerry Keen; a daughter, Samantha Lush and husband, John, all of Clifton; a son, John Keen and wife, Missy of Hewitt; a brother, Billy Rodgers and wife, Leona of Hillsboro; a sister, Lynell Wiley of Lewisville; and three grandchildren, Rachel and Ethan Lush, and Zachary Keen.

Pallbearers were Dr. Richard Spitzer, Gary Fossett, James Greenwade, Josh Trammel, Ben Santillel, and Andy Rhodes.

Memorials may be made to the Bosque County Meals on Wheels program, the American Heart Association, or the charity of one’s choice.

Clifton Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

online at www.meridiantribune.com

Meridian Tribune

agriculture

March 28, 2012 • Page 7

Meridian Tribune

Page 8 • March 28, 2012

WITCHING

community

online at www.meridiantribune.com

From page 1

The rod will move inwards toward the grave as you walk along the perimeter; it will swing outwards when you reach the grave’s end.

Using the one-rod method to determine gender is also possible. The rod moves to the right at a male’s grave and to the left at a female’s grave.

“This is because a man is always right,” Flory said teasingly, giving the crowd a male-chauvinistic memory aid.

“I promise I’m not moving those rods myself. They move on their own accord.”

Flory said many times during the session when his rods veered outwards or inwards. “You cannot stop the rods from swinging.”

“The method works for most people, but I can’t promise it’ll work for y’all,” Flory said, hoping to avoid possible disappointment.

“Once it didn’t work for a gentleman and he got so mad he threw his rods down and stomped off.”

The Bosque County Historic Society had asked Flory in 2008 to look into this method of grave finding and identification to aid them

with cataloguing different cemeteries on private land in Bosque County.

Flory learnt the craft from Stephenville middle school Social Studies teacher Cindy Shipman, who is also a teacher of historical and genealogical lessons.

“Cindy and her eighthgrade class cataloged several cemeteries in and around Stephenville,” Flory told the 20-plus people at Fulton cemetery.

Fulton Cemetery has a number of unidentified gravesites that are known to be part of the cemetery from family records.

“There was an excellent turnout from Bosque, Hill and Johnson counties,” BCGS member Abby Birdwell said. “Everyone had a fun time. Skeptics were convinced that it works, and many unmarked graves were found to match family records.

“Terry Flory kept everyone hopping and enthused.”

Most people present got into genealogy simply by searching for their own family ancestors. The hobby then extended to local

Ag news & Notes David Winkler Agrilife Extension Agent / Meridian Tribune

Armyworm Alert! Armyworm moths are common in area wheat fields and given current weather conditions, there is a potential for armyworm infestations during the next several weeks in north and central Texas.

Marty Jungman in Hill County has seen large numbers of armyworm moths. To-date, damaging infestations of armyworms have not been reported.

Survival of true armyworm eggs and small larvae are favored by cool, cloudy weather conditions.

With the recent rains, mild weather, and succulent wheat and grass crops now present, growers should be advised to monitor wheat and pastures closely for armyworm infestations. It’s not clear how the recent heavy rains might have affected survival of armyworm moths and their eggs.

Sometimes, conditions are not favorable for eggs

and larvae to develop even though large numbers of moths are seen. Only close field monitoring can determine if a damaging infestation of larvae are present.

True armyworms feed at night. During the day, the larvae hide beneath dead leaves and clods on the soil surface, and under lodged plants, so inspection on hands and knees is necessary to find them during the day.

Who would have thought we would be so blessed with another three - five inches of rain this past week. Nearly all of our farm ponds and lakes are full so now is the prime time to come to our Farm Pond Management Program this Thursday and we will answer any question you may have about pond management.

The speaker is Dr Micheal Masser, Fisheries Specialist from Texas A&M University. It will start around 1 p.m. March

���������� Staff photo / Meridian Tribune

Fulton Cemetery Association’s President Renda Carter marks graves found during a witching workshop. The discovered graves would be added to the cemetery map.

historic figures, and then to area family histories.

The search starts with county and state deeds, as found at the Bosque Col-

lections in Meridian. Internet has aided amateur genealogists greatly, making it possible to search from the comfort of the own home.

29, at the Meridian Civic Center.

After about one hour of classroom style lecture the program will move to a nearby 20- acre lake to participate in some hands on management.

Registration will start at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments will be provided by Glass Fish Service.

April 11 will be the date of a Beef Quality assurance program to be held at the Meridian Livestock Commission Company in Meridian.

The Event will start at 9am with Dr Jason Johnson, Economist, discussing “How Long will this Market Last.” The event will conclude around 3:30 p.m. with a discussion on “Heifer Selection for Herd Profitability.”

For more information about either of these programs and to register contact David Winkler Bosque County Extension Agent 254-435-2331.

Those who attend with a private or commercial applicators license will receive CEU Credits and/or BQA Credits. The registration

fee is $10 per person payable at the door or at the County Extension office.

Please let us know if you plan to attend either program by calling the Extension Office.

The Bosque County 4-H Clubs will meet March 26.

Clifton, Morgan and Valley Mills meet at 6 p.m. and Cranfills Gap and Meridian will meet at 6:30 p.m.

If a youth is planning on showing a market lamb, goat or swine at the Central Texas Fair they will need to attend the upcoming 4-H Club meetings and the market sheep, goat and swine validation events on April 3rd or 10th.

The Austin Livestock Show this past week marked the end of the Major Shows for our 4-H members.

We had three youth participating and all faired really well. Wyatt Burch won first place with his Red Angus heifer. Both Maggie Chaffin and Ashley Cline placed second with their Hereford heifers. Maggie went on to win Reserve Calf Champion. Congratulations to all.

Meridian Tribune

Bosque County Arrest & Jail Report Recent arrests made by various law enforcement agencies in Bosque County include (alphabetically): (Arrests between 3/15/12 and 3/22/12): • Patric Clifton Conant, DOB 2/12/87, of Whitney, charged with criminal nonsupport, arrested March 20.

• Amanda Jade Estrada, DOB 1/30/91, of Iredell, charged with assault causes bodily injury, arrested March 22.

• Terry Kevin Hollingshead, DOB 6/6/65, of Irving, charged with driving while intoxicated, third or more, arrested March 15.

• Christopher Deaton Jewell, DOB 2/9/85, of Gran-

bury, charged with public intoxication, arrested March 15.

• Jake Darlan Kinnard, DOB 11/11/42, of Walnut Springs, charged with nonreportable offenses including, on five warrants, weed and refuse; water, tires, rubbish; high grass and weeds; water, tires, rubbish; weeds and refuse; arrested March 19.

• John Blake Lambert, DOB 4/20/89, of Clifton, charged with possession of marijuana under two ounces, arrested March 16.

• Estavan Acuna Mar, DOB 9/17/87, of Clifton, charged with driving while intoxicated, failed to control speed, arrested March 17.

• Rocklyn Mrahunec, DOB 4/22/56, of Clifton, charged with assault causes bodily injury, family violence, arrested March 22.

• David Wayne Rice, DOB 2/8/57, of Morgan, charged with terroristic threat, impair public/gov service, arrested March 15.

• Jeremy Dewayne Shields, DOB 3/3/79, of Iredell, charged with criminal nonsupport, contempt of court, assault causes bodily injury,

family violence, bond forfeiture, possession of marijuana under two ounces, arrested March 21.

• Kayla Marie Silva, DOB 7/23/90, of Clifton, charged with credit or debit card abuse, driving while license invalid, failure to appear, arrested March 16.

• Sandra Faye Vowell, DOB 6/18/83, of Morgan, charged with theft of property over $50, under $500, arrested March 21.

TAKING APPLICATIONS ( No Transportation Provided) Meridian Head Start is now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 school year. Head Start is a pre-school offering excellent educational opportunities along with medical, dental, developmental, and nutritional benefits at no cost.

The Head Start approach of individualized care and guidance is well suited to helping children with disabilities. Children between the ages of 3 and 5 may be eligible. There is no charge for participation in Head Start. Pick up your application now at the Head Start Center at 201 North 2nd Street. For more information, call your local center at 254/435-2168 or Hill Country Community Action Association at 325/372-5167.

���������� ESTA ACEPTANDO APLICACIONES (Ningun Transporte Proporcionado) Meridian Head Start esta aceptando aplicaciones para el ano 2012-2013. Head Start es una escuelita para ninos de edad 3-5 anos que califican. Head Start ofrece oportunidades excelentes para educacion y tambien beneficos de medico, dental, desarrollo, y de alimento. Head Start ofrece mucha ayuda para ninos y familias. No cuesta nada para que su nino atiende el programa de Head Start.

Puede usted recojer ahora una aplicacion para solicitar un puesto en Head Start. Para mas informacion llame a la Head Start, 201 North 2nd Street, # del telefono: 254/435-2168 or Hill Country Community Action Association at 325/372-5167.

Sports Meridian Tribune

March 28, 2012 • Page 9

Jackets dominate in district opener Guerrero tosses one-hitter, strikes out 19 as Meridian knocks off Abbott, 7-2 StaFF rePort MEridian tribunE

S taFF P Hoto / M eridian t ribune

Jacket sophomore Chad Crawford slides home safely.

SMell tHe graSS

It’s been said that the first step can be the most important part of the journey. If those words of wisdom hold true, the Meridian Yellowjacket baseball team took a giant leap toward returning to the Class 1A state playoffs last week.

Behind senior Justin Guerrero’s one-hit, 19-strikeout, complete game performance on the mound, the Jackets opened District 12-

1A competition with a resounding 7-2 victory over the Abbott Panthers last Friday night at Jacket Field.

Sophomore Chad Crawford drove in three runs and junior Chase Bowman knocked in another as Guerrero needed little support while delivering another commanding outing on the mound. In fact, Guerrero accounted all 21 outs in the game, getting an assist

see BASEBALL, page 10

S taFF P Hoyo / M eridian t ribune

Meridian senior Justin Guerrero.

Hitting Full Stride

by brett VoSS brett@meridiantribune.com

SportS Editor / MEridian tribunE

Bounty system bullied

NFL’s Goodell takes penalties to extreme If you claim to be a sports fan in America, you’ve undoubtedly heard all the noise about Bountygate, the National Football League scandal involving the New Orleans Saints running an illegal bounty system targeting opposing offensive players during 2009-11 seasons.

As a result, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell levied some of the harshest penalties in league history in by punishing multiple members of the Saints organization for their participation or connection with the headhunting bounty system.

Former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who ran the bounty system, was suspended indefinitely. Saints head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season. General manager Mickey Loomis is suspended for the first eight games and linebackers/assistant head coach Joe Vitt for the first six.

In addition, the Saints were fined $500,000 and stripped of secondround draft choices in the 2012 and 2013 drafts. The Saints already didn’t have a first-round pick in the draft this April because they dealt it to New England last year for the chance to select running back Mark Ingram.

Come on, sports fans. Step out onto the football field and smell the grass.

Is there really a single football team in this country, at any level, that doesn’t have some kind of bounty system?

Are you shocked someone would think such a thing? Or that it could really be true? Really? Think again.

On the simpliest level, don’t many youth and high school football coaches award helmet decals for the game’s “big hit?” And don’t you dare say that’s not the same thing. It most certainly is too.

Obviously, Goodell remains blindly serious about player safety, even if it ruins the game, and the Saints will be paying the price – especially Payton.

The penalties rank as the most severe and wide-ranging against a team since NFL commissioner Roger Goodell disciplined the New England Patriots for the “Spygate” scandal of 2007. Previously, Goodell’s largest franchise-coach fine was given to Bill Belichick in 2007 when the Patriots admitted to videotaping New York Jets’ coaches in order to decipher their defensive signals.

Belichick, one of the game’s highest-paid coaches and also one of its very best, was fined $500,000 while the Patriots lost a first-round draft choice and were fined $250,000. Payton stands to lose $7 million.

Unbelievable.

In early March, the NFL announced

see COLUMN, page 10

S taFF P Hoto / M eridian t ribune

Yellowjacket hurdlers Josh Eoff and Seth Barker battle in the 110-meter hurdles at the 14th Annual Straight A Relays Saturday.

Finally back on track, Meridian boys, girls take 3rd at 14th Straight A Relays by brett VoSS

see COMPLETE RESULTS, page 11

SportS Editor / MEridian tribunE

Lady Jackets with 82.

“I was very proud of the girls this week,” Meridian girls track head coach Kathy Finstad said. “We were blessed with great weather. The relays struggled a bit with some of the athletes still nursing nagging injuries and Kasie absent due to playing in an all-star basketball game. It was a good meet for this time of year.”

After losing the opportunity to compete at the Hico Invitational Meet just before Spring Break due to inclement weather, the Meridian track teams laid off three weeks without competing at a meet. Both teams will travel to Goldthwaite for a meet Thursday before Meridian hosts the district meet April 5.

“We had a good performance Saturday,” Meridian boys track and field head coach Thomas Van Zandt said. “Some of us are still trying to shake off Spring Break. Overall, it was what we needed in way of conditioning going before district. We are going to Goldthwaite, and everyone will have their plate full as for events to help with conditioning.”

brett@meridiantribune.com

S taFF P Hoto / M eridian t ribune

Meridian senior Sydney Wright won 3 gold medals.

As the only high school track and field event in the state featuring only Class 1A schools the 14th Annual Straight A Relays gave 21 boys and girls teams a unique opportunity to see first hand how they stake up against their counterparts.

And after Meridian’s boys and girls teams both placed third among a very competitive field, the Yellowjackets look right on track and hitting full stride toward another solid season.

Senior Sydney Wright shared the top point scorer honors with Coolidge’s Dainna Kirven to lead the Lady Jackets, while senior Josh Eoff and sophomore Seth Barker captured two individual medals apiece to lead the Meridian boys.

Overall in the boys division, Valley Mills won the team championship with 96 points, followed by Goldthwaite with 89 and Meridian with 85. In the girls division, Goldthwaite finished as the top team with 119.5 points, followed by Cross Plains with 109 and the

Lady Jacket softball looks for 1st win Meridian girls fall in first two district games by brett VoSS

brett@meridiantribune.com

SportS Editor / MEridian tribunE

So far this season, it’s been raining on the Meridian Lady Jacket softball team’s parade – in more ways than one. But when they take the field at home this Friday night, the Lady Jackets hope to post their first win of the season.

The Lady Jackets saw their final non-district game and home opener washed out by

rain March 9 and came out of Spring Break without playing a game in almost two weeks.

The layoff only got longer when Meridian’s scheduled district opener against Goldthwaite was rained out as well last Tuesday.

Finally, the Lady Jackets managed to get on the field to make up their game against Goldthwaite Wednesday afternoon before hosting the state’s eighth-ranked Moody last Friday.

see SOFTBALL, page 10

S taFF P Hoto / M eridian t ribune

Meridian senior Maya Goodrich delivers the pitch.

Page 10

March 28, 2012

Meridian Tribune

SPORTS

S taff P hoto / M eridian t ribune

Meridian sophomore Adrian Rapoz rounds second vs. Abbott last Friday.

BASeBALL From page 9

on two ground balls back to the mound to go along with his school-record 19 strikeout performance.

“It’s great to open district with a win like this,” Meridian baseball head coach Brett Voss said.

“Justin was in control of game from the first pitch. He looks, acts and plays like a senior on the mound, and he is taking charge of this team.

When he’s on the hill, it’s obvious the kids like their chances of winning the ball game.”

Abbott (0-1 in district, 4-3 overall) did not get a base hit until the sixth inning, although the Jackets (1-0, 6-2) committed five errors to allow two unearned runs.

But Meridian made up for it with their bats.

The Jackets jumped out to an early 3-0 lead by scored three runs in the second inning. Senior Colton Bowers opened the frame with a walk before scoring on Crawford’s double to right. Bowman followed with an RBI single to

center, moved to third on senior Jake Hart’s single to left before scoring on a wild pitch.

Sophomore Adrian Rapoz tripled and scored in the third before Meridian added three runs in the fifth to take control of the game.

Meridian came out of Spring Break without playing a game in almost two weeks, then saw their scheduled district opener at Moody rained out last Tuesday.

Now, Meridian heads into a busy weekend after taking the week off for STAAR testing. The Jackets will make up last week’s district game at Moody at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and then play their regularly scheduled district contest at Bosqueville at 4:30 p.m. Friday before playing in the Krum Wood Bat Festival on Saturday.

“Certainly, by playing four games in three days, we are going to find out just how deep our pitching staff can be,” Voss said. “But we are excited for the opportunity to put it to the test.”

cOLumn From page 9

findings of a lengthy investigation that revealed activities strictly barred by the league. Saints players and others within the franchise including Williams contributed to a bounty pool that reached as much as $50,000.

Players were rewarded $1,500 for what were described as “knockout” hits and $1,000 for “cart-offs,” as in an injured opponent being taken off the field on a medical cart. The payoff amounts were doubled or tripled during the postseason.

Okay, I admit. The checklist and price tags do seem a bit extreme. But remember, we’re talking about the NFL, home of the mult-million dollar player contracts. And it’s a rough game, or at least it was always meant to be until Goodell got hands on it in 2006.

“It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game,” Goodell said in a statement released earlier this month. “This type of conduct will not be tolerated. We have made significant progress in changing the culture with respect to player safety and we are not

going to relent. We have more work to do and we will do it.”

But the Saints’ suspensions and fines could effectively ruin the team’s 2012 season, if not the future of the franchise for year’s to come.

And it will likely ensure that the game could be played differently on the field as well.

While putting an end to cheap shots and also trash talk on the field of play would be a good thing, is this just another step in taking the emotional and physical aspects out of the professional game? All for the cause of wanting a clean, fair game, Goodell is systematically taking the very things Americans love about football out of the game all together. In an attempt to protect players, do we really want to take all of the bone-jarring, ear-popping hits out of football? And after watching an official throw a yellow hankie almost every time a player delivered a good hit last season, the NFL might as well be playing flag football.

Isn’t this kinder, gentler world a wonderful place to be?

S taff P hoto / M eridian t ribune

Meridian softball head coach Randy Lee discusses strategy with senior Tiffany Allen.

SOFTBALL From page 9

But while the weather turned favorable, the results were not.

Despite rallying for 11 runs over the final four innings, it proved to be too little, too late for the Lady Jackets as they fell short to Goldthwaite, 16-11, in their district opener last Wednesday.

Then against the state-ranked and defending District 12-1A champion Lady Bearcats, Meridian could not put anything together at the plate, losing 11-0, last Friday.

Senior third baseman Alex Hightower reached base on all five trips to the plate against Goldthwaite, scoring three times, while senior first baseman Tiffany Allen went four-for-five.

After taking off most of the week due to STAAR testing, the Lady Jackets return to the field Friday night to host Bosque County rival Valley

Mills. Despite the slow start, the district schedule lines up in their favor as Meridian plays six of its nine district games at home.

The Lady Jackets continue to get strong senior leadership for the district run in Tiffany Allen, Haley Hallmark, Alex Hightower. And during district, Meridian softball head coach Randy Lee expects senior Maya Goodrich to handle the bulk of the pitching chores, while sophomore transfer Makaela Etheridge takes over at catcher.

“I think that if we get our pitching and defense to where they need to be, we can be very competitive in the district,” Lee said. “We are hitting the ball well right now and are averaging around six to eight runs a game. We should end up winning some ball games doing that.”

March 28, 2012

Page 11

Meridian Tribune

SPORTS

14th Annual Straight A Relays

S taff P hotoS / M eridian t ribune Meridian’s Cassidy Menger captured the silver medal in the pole vault at the 14th Annual Straight A Relays last Saturday at Jacket Stadium (top left), Morgan’s Claudia Escamilla won both the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles and placed second in the long jump behind Meridian’s Sydney Wright (bottom left), Meridian’s Rafael Rodriguez grabbed the silver medal in the triple jump (above).

Boys

1st Valley Mills 96 2nd Goldthwaite 89 3rd Meridian 85 4th Itasca

68 5th Abbott

54 6th Cross Plains 51 7th Coolidge 29 8th Advantage 24 8th Avalon

24 8th Gorman 24 11th Blum

21 12th Methodist Home 17 13th Aquilla

12 14th Morgan 9 15th Meridian B 7 16th Covington 6 100 M Dash 1st Callison Sam, Valley Mills 11.79 2nd Blake Hutchins, Cross Plains 11.81 3rd Duncan, Kodie, Advantage 11.96 4th Altschul Travis, Valley Mills 12.06 5th Andrew Raulston, Blum 12.11 6th Jones, Trinton, Meridian 12.14 200 M Dash 1st Callison Sam, Valley Mills 23.71 2nd Andrew Raulston, Blum 24.18 3rd Kyle Moreland, Goldthwaite 24.59 4th Ben Raulston, Blum

24.66 5th Rodriguez, Rafael, Meridian 24.73 6th Dillon Beims, Abbott 24.76 400 M Dash 1st Joseph Paddock, Goldthwaite 55.03 2nd Dillard Kaegan, Valley Mills 55.90 3rd Miguel Castorena, Goldthwaite 57.20 4th Lucas Ramsey, Meridian 2 58.48 5th Jarred Shaffer, Blum 59.12 6th Mark Flores, Meridian 2 59.28 800 M Run 1st Brandon Christian, Coolidge 2:11.65 2nd TJ Butterfras, Goldthwaite 2:17.74 3rd Lira, Johnny, Meridian 2:20.91 4th Germer, Itasca

2:21.11 5th Anthony Flores, Meridian 2 2:22.13 6th Jeffery Clemons, Blum 2:23.91 1600 M Run 1st Janek Blake, Valley Mills 5:02.86 2nd Brandon Christian, Coolidge 5:07.97 3rd Colten Watson, Avalon 5:20.05 4th Henok Hailesilase, Methodist 5:23.00 5th Allen Sebastian, Valley Mills 5:23.92 6th TJ Butterfras, Goldthwaite 5:34.31 3200 M Run 1st Janek Blake, Valley Mills 10:59.09 2nd Colten Watson, Avalon 11:33.21 3rd Henok Hailesilase, Methodist 11:45.92 4th Reynoso, Anselmo, Meridian 12:16.23 5th Allen Sebastian, Valley Mills 12:29.14 6th Benny Skinner, Methodist 12:32.50 110 M Hurdles 1st Casey Morgan, Abbott 17.39 2nd Abraham Hernandez, Morgan 18.64 3rd Hodges Matt, Valley Mills 21.56 4th Marshall Nors, Abbott 21.76 5th Thomas Browning, Aquilla 21.89 300 M Hurdles 1st Casey Morgan, Abbott 44.43 2nd Barker, Seth, Meridian 45.65 3rd Eoff, Josh, Meridian

45.78 4th Colton McWilliams, Cross Plains 46.03 5th Sergio Hipolito, Gorman 50.12 6th Abrahm Hernandez, Morgan 51.87 4x100 M Relay 1st Cross Plains (Colton McWilliams, Chance Senclair, Alex Jackson, Blake Hutchins) 45.60 2nd Itasca (BAILEY, DUBY, SHEPPARD, FARQUHAR)

45.77

3rd Meridian (Eoff, Josh; Prestwood, Nick; Jones, Trinton; Rodriguez, Rafael)

45.82 4th Goldthwaite (Kyle Moreland, Tyler Horton, Trevor Covault, Kody Harris)

45.97 5th Abbott (Colton Cantrell, James Bartosh, Dillon Beims, Tyler Russell)

46.47 6th Valley Mills (CHASE CORY, ALTSCHUL TRAVIS, COLLINS JESSE, PIERCE BRANDON) 46.59 4x200 M Relay 1st Itasca (BAILEY, DUBY, SHEPPARD, FARQUHAR)

1:36.24 2nd Golthwaite (Kyle Moreland, Tyler Horton, Trevor Covault, Kody Harris)

1:37.34 3rd Cross Plains (Alex Jackson, Chance Senclair, Cody Self, Blake Hutchins)

1:38.06 4th Abbott (Colton Cantrell, Tyler Russell, Dillon Beims, James Bartosh)

1:38.80 5th Valley Mills (Bartlett Brett, Collins Jesse, Pierce Brandon, Altschul Travis)

1:40.55 6th Gorman (Zach Carlton, Yovani Palacios, Dakota Pachedo, Sergio Hipolito)

1:42.55 4x400 M Relay 1st Goldthwaite (Joseph Paddock, Tyler Horton, Trevor Covault, Kody Harris)

3:43.11 2nd Valley Mills (Callison Sam, Bartlett Brett, Pierce Brandon, Dillard Kaegan)

3:45.36 3rd Meridian (Eoff, Josh; Jones, Trinton; Rodriguez, Rafael; Prestwood, Nick)

3:49.53 4th Gorman (Sergio Hipolito, Zach Carlton, Yovani Palacios, Dakota Pachedo)

3:58.44 5th Avalon (Daniel Waishes, Oscar Palacios, Rigo Palacios, Anthony Ortiz)

4:05.67 6th Blum (Jarred Shaffer, Shane Gallagher, Riley Stone, Brady Chamberlain)

4:09.82 Long Jump 1st Payton Casarez, Aquilla 19’-5 3/4” 2nd Eoff, Josh, Meridian

19’-4” 3rd Dillon Beims, Abbott 19’-3 1/2” 4th Fenner, Charles, Advantage 19’-2 1/2” 5th Tyler Russell, Abbott 18’-6 1/2” 6th Altschul Travis, Valley Mills 18’-4” Shot Put 1st James Johnson, Coolidge 42’-0 1/2” 2nd Zach Carlton, Gorman 40’-10 1/4” 3rd Collins Kenneth, Valley Mills 40’-8 3/4” 4th Payne, Zane, Meridian 39’-8 1/4” 5th Campbell, Itasca

39’-5” 6th Jalen Hayes, Coolidge 39’-2 1/2” Discus 1st Joe Perez, Goldthwaite 116’-2” 2nd Campbell, Itasca

113’-1” 3rd Ty Kinnard, Methodist Home 111’-2” 4th Zach Carlton, Gorman 109’-10” 5th Collins Kenneth, Valley Mills 108’-1” 6th Austin Elmore, Blum 102’-5 1/2” Triple Jump 1st Douglas, Demetrius, Advantage 42’-0 1/2” 2nd Rodriguez, Rafael, Meridian 41’-5” 3rd Fernnano Perez, Covington 38’-8 3/4” 4th Duncan, Kodie, Advantage 38’-6 1/2” 5th Tyler Russell, Abbott 38’-0 1/2” 6th Andrew Raulston, Blum 37’-2” High Jump 1st Sheppard, Itasca

6’-0” 2nd Chance Senclair, Cross Plains 5’-10” 3rd Ethan Goode, Abbott 5’-10” 4th Bowers, Colton, Meridian 5’-10” 5th Pierce Brandon, Valley Mills 5’-8” 6th Collins Jesse, Valley Mills 5’-8” Pole Vault 1st Barker, Seth, Meridian 11’-0” 2nd Maddox, Itasca

9’-6” 3rd Calyn Davis, Avalon 9’-0” 4th Trevor Covault, Goldthwaite 8’-0”

Girls

1st Goldthwaite 119.5 2nd Cross Plains 109 3rd Meridian 82 4th Itasca

50 5th DeLeon 48 6th Coolidge 45 7th Blum

39 8th Valley Mills 38 9th Morgan 28 10th Frost

24 11th Aquilla

12 12th Avalon

10.5 13th Covington 8 14th Advantage 4 15th Abbott

2 100 M Dash 1st Ashley Drosche, Goldthwaite 14.01 2nd Ra’Gene Miles, Avalon 14.09 3rd Emily Brewer, Covington 14.29 4th Karissa Roberts, Blum 14.34 5th Texas Sanders, Cross Plains 14.56 6th Regan Ritter, Covington 14.71 200 M Dash 1st Dianna Kirven, Coolidge 27.96 2nd Lauren Goode, Cross Plains 28.45 3rd Hathcock, Morgan, DeLeon 29.33 4th Madison Williamson, Blum 29.98 5th Durham, Shaylee, Advantage 30.28 6th Rachel Amodio, Valley Mills 30.55 400 M Dash 1st Sydney Wright, Meridian 1:00.54 2nd Dianna Kirven, Coolidge 1:01.24 3rd Lauren Goode, Cross Plains 1:02.61 4th Hathcock, Morgan, DeLeon 1:04.59 5th Kristan Veteto, Valley Mills 1:04.62 6th Jayci Padgett, Goldthwaite 1:09.41 800 M Run 1st McGrath, Allexis, DeLeon 2:42.52 2nd Green, Itasca

2:42.99 3rd Diana Rios, Frost

2:45.31 4th Hannah Thomas, Valley Mills 2:45.46 5th Melissa Burkhart, Aquilla 2:45.84 6th Missy Broeker, Cross Plains 2:51.95 1600 M Run 1st McMeens, Mattie, DeLeon 6:27.45 2nd Maria Suaste, Frost

6:31.54 3rd Green, Itasca

6:38.30 4th Diana Rios, Frost

6:51.23 5th Amanda Castillo, Goldthwaite 6:56.55 6th Shea Mackey, Blum

7:01.94 3200 M Run 1st Melissa Burkhart, Aquilla 13:13.38 2nd Amanda Castillo, Goldthwaite 15:12.88 3rd Mykala Madson, Meridian 16:24.79 4th Wendy Orozco, Meridian 16:53.82 5th Hill, Mackenzie, Advantage 17:31.82 100 M Hurdles 1st Claudia Escamilla, Morgan 17.17 2nd Samantha Dickson, Cross Plains 18.18 3rd Heidi Shelby, Meridian 19.29 4th Cynthia Gonzales, Valley Mills 19.54 5th Morgan Pevehouse, Abbott 20.14 6th Jayci Padgett, Goldthwaite 20.39 300 M Hurdles 1st Claudia Escamilla, Morgan 49.81 2nd Spurlen, Desire’, DeLeon 52.15 3rd Allison Seward, Goldthwaite 54.26 4th Samantha Dickson, Cross Plains 54.61 5th Cynthia Gonzales, Valley Mills 54.87 6th Heidi Shelby, Meridian 55.61 4x100 M Relay 1st Golthwaite (Abigail Ilgenfritz, Darian Gilbert, Ashley Drosche, Allison Seward) 53.15 2nd Cross Plains (Texas Sanders, Allanta Wheeler, Katharine Goode, Shelby Ames) 53.43 3rd Meridian (Sonya Mendoza, Kasie Olivarri,

Brandy Vailes, Sydney Wright)

54.15 4th Blum (Shea Mackey, Karissa Roberts, Madison Williamson, Sydney Hester)

55.52 5th Valley Mills (Sam Johnston, Adriana Gaona, Brittany Sheffield, Kristan Veteto) 55.75 6th Itasca (Forcey, Ochoa, S. Anderson, Brooks)

56.20 4x200 M Relay 1st Goldthwaite (Abigail Ilgenfritz, Darian Gilbert, Ashley Drosche, Hayley Wilson) 1:53.14 2nd Cross Plains (Katharine Goode, Allanta Wheeler, Samantha Dickson, Shelby Ames)

1:57.28 3rd Itasca (Forcey, Ochoa, S. Anderson, Brooks)

1:58.84 4th Blum (Karissa Gant, Kacie Rogers, Sydney Hester, Madison Williamson)

2:00.96 5th Frost (Alexya Steels, Diana Rios, Maria Suaste, Patricia Garcia)

2:01.11 6th Meridian (Sonya Mendoza, Brandy Vailes, Courtney McCamey, Kasie Olivarri) 2:01.20 4x400 M Relay 1st Cross Plains (Katharine Goode, Shelby Ames, Allanta Wheeler, Lauren Goode) 4:24.16 2nd Golthwaite (Darian Gilbert, Abigail Ilgenfritz, Jayci Padgett, Hayley Wilson)

4:26.23 3rd Valley Mills (Delaney Denton, Cynthia Gonzales, Katelyn Veteto, Kristan Veteto)

4:34.34 4th DeLeon (Hathcock, Morgan; Spurlen, Desire’; McGrath, Allexis; Hernandez, Hedit) 4:41.60 5th Meridian (Sonya Mendoza, Tiffany Lyle, Courtney McCamey, Sydney Wright) 4:47.65 6th Avalon (Maegan Knight, Tierra Shears, Stephanie Gray, Ra’Gene Miles) 4:58.86 Long Jump 1st Sydney Wright, Meridian 17’-10” 2nd Claudia Escamilla, Morgan 16’-5” 3rd Dianna Kirven, Coolidge 16’-1” 4th Abigail Ilgenfritz, Goldthwaite 15’-7” 5th Sheyanne Hinton, Valley Mills 15’-3” 6th Darian Gilbert, Goldthwaite 15’-2” Shot Put 1st Briana Kirven, Coolidge 33’-6” 2nd Julia Perez, Goldthwaite 32’-6 1/2” 3rd Alyssa Wheeler, Cross Plains 32’-1 1/2” 4th Cheyenne Cowan, Cross Plains 31’-10 3/4” 5th Lauren Moreland, Goldthwaite 31’-5 1/4” 6th Haley Hallmark, Meridian 31’-4” Discus 1st Zoie Walker, Cross Plains 112’-8” 2nd Julia Perez, Goldthwaite 89’-0” 3rd Wells, Itasca

84’-8 1/2” 4th Lauren Moreland, Goldthwaite 82’-1 1/2” 5th Spurlen, Desire’, DeLeon 81’-5” 6th Briana Kirven, Coolidge 78’-5” Triple Jump 1st Sydney Wright, Meridian 38’-2 3/4” 2nd Madison Williamson, Blum 35’-1 1/2” 3rd Sheyanne Hinton, Valley Mills 32’-1 1/2” 4th Allison Seward, Goldthwaite 31’-9” 5th Alexya Steels, Frost 31’-9” 6th Regan Ritter, Covington 30’-11 3/4” High Jump 1st Dianna Kirven, Coolidge 5’-2” 2nd Shelby Ames, Cross Plains 5’-0” 3rd Madison Williamson Blum 4’-8” 4th Ashley Drosche, Goldthwaite 4’-8” 5th Kasie Olivarri, Meridian 4’-6” 6th Maegan Knight, Avalon 4’-4” 6th Jayci Padgett, Goldthwaite 4’-4” Pole Vault 1st Patterson, Itasca

8’-6” 2nd Cassidy Menger, Meridian 8’-0” 3rd Valentine, Itasca

7’-6” 4th Tara Warren, Meridian 7’-0” 5th Courtney McCamey, Meridian 6’-6” 6th Delaney Denton, Valley Mills 6’-0”

Meridian Tribune

Page 12 • March 28, 2012

Services

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Help Wanted

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Public Notice

HELP WANTED - Small construction company. Welding experience preferred but not required. 254-386-7363.

CLIFTON CEMETERY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEMBERS’ MEETING Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 10 a.m. Bosque Museum Annex, 301 S. Avenue Q, Clifton, TX.

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For Sale SMOKER /GRILL on mobile trailer for sale. Asking $1,200. 254-485-8889.

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Garage Sale MOVING SALE - Friday & Sat., March 30 & 31. 410 S. Avenue H, Clifton. Furniture, washer, dryer, and misc.

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Prizes of $600 or more must be claimed in person at a Lottery Claim Center or by mail with a completed Texas Lottery claim form;

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to abide by, all applicable laws, Commission rules, regulations, policies, directives, instructions, conditions, procedures, and final decisions of the Executive Director. A Scratch-Off game may continue to be sold even when all the top prizes have been claimed.

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March 28, 2012 • Page 13

Meridian Tribune

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EDUCATION

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Flatbed load training available. 1-800-992-7863 ext. 185. www.McElroyTruckLines.com

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Puzzle

Solution

Will do lawn mowing in Meridian with a push mower.

254-435-2241 or 254-3394046

Page 14 • March 28, 2012

Meridian Tribune

the back page

online at www.meridiantribune.com

MISD board holds two closed sessions Staff

report

Meridian Tribune

Closed sessions during Meridian Independent School District’s meetings usually occur when personnel contracts, legal issues arise in which the privacy of those involved needs to be protected or a when a parent/school complaint is discussed.

Last Thursday the board held two separate closed sessions, one for a level three grievance parent’s hearing and other regarding the consideration of letters of resignation and teachers contracts.

When an individual – usually a parent –finds they have unsatisfactorily discussed an issue with both a school’s principal and subsequently the Superintendent, they may request a grievance hearing with the school board.

Regarding a disagreement on a disciplinary action against her sixth grade child, Maria Maldonado requested such a level three grievance hearing during the March 22 school board meeting.

“It was important the family was heard,” Superintendent Scott Hogue said.

“That is why we hired an interpreter so they could make

their case, reducing a possible language barrier. We wanted to make sure they got their say.”

After a 45-minute session, the board decided further action in the case was not necessary.

After the second closed hearing regarding faculty contracts, the board announced the outcome of their 15-minute discussion.

They unanimously accepted the letters of resignation from first-grade teacher Molly Bonner and Junior High English teacher Christy Halbert.

Hogue recommended “to approve the extension of all elementary and high school teachers contracts according to the list, as presented.”

Three board members approved and the motion passed. School Board President abstained from vote, as he could not agree with the complete list, as presented.

Among other things the school board: - approved the 2010-2011 audit report as presented

by Michael Cody. Cody’s main focus points during this year’s audit was breaking down the tax receivable items correctly, showing the bond refinancing transactions and explain the fund balance. During this item

Hogue explained MISD suffered an 8.1 percent budget cut, a total of $410,000 over the next two years. MISD is fortunate to have a positive $1.3 million fund balance, roughly $259,000 higher than the year before. This could cause the Texas Education Agency to look into that item though. Cody will explain the need of a “rainy day fund” due to state-wide budget cuts.

- heard the first hearing for LOCAL update 93 in which Hogue explained the changes. The changes will not be approved till after a second reading in next month’s board meeting. Hogue explained the district will be formulating the required suicide prevention program for the board to decide on.

- approved the 2012-2013 school calendar. A special calendar committee, involving staff and faculty representatives from both the elementary and high schools decided on the following 2012-2013 school calendar: First day of school – August 27; holidays on September 3 - Labor Day, November 22 and 23 – Thanksgiving, December 24 – January 4 – Christmas, March 11 – 15 – Spring Break, with April 12, and May 27 – Memorial Day bad weather days.

Help Helping Hands feed the hungry Staff report Meridian Tribune

The annual November food drive “Help Feed the Hungry” ensures the North Bosque Helping Hands food bank shelves are stocked with more than just the basics, until the end of March.

It is now nearing April, and the pantry’s stock is seriously depleted.

“Also, there is an increase in need,” NBHH President Judy Jones said. “And it’s showing in empty shelves.

We really could use new food and money donations.”

The North Bosque County Helping Hands operates a food pantry since 1991. It serves the needs of an average of 124 qualified families each month - a total of 1482 families in 2011, with 158 new families registered in 2011.

The food bank operates solely on monetary donations and food donations by generous citizens and local businesses.

Besides the donated goods, the food bank purchases groceries with cash donations, for example through the Tarrant County Food Bank in Fort Worth.

“If I could make a suggestion on stuff we need badly, it is canned meats, spaghettiO’s and canned ravioli, hamburger helper and comparable products, fruit juice,” Jones said. “And peanut butter, jello and pudding-mix.”

Families qualify based on the United States Depart-

ment of Agriculture Texcap income eligibility guidelines. These guidelines are based on gross income, and household size. For example, a four-person household with an income of $785 a week is eligible for a monthly donation from the food bank.

The food bank volunteers, about 25 in total, pre-select a carton of groceries, taking the size of the family into account, and whether the

needy family has babies or children. Therefore, besides food, diapers and clothing are welcome donations.

“And we never turn away a new volunteer,” Jones said, highlighting the fact that the food bank can only exist through the generous donations of time and efforts of its volunteers.

The food bank is open twice a week on Monday and Wednesday from 8:45 -11:45 a.m.

Last day of school – May 23, 2013.

- approved canceling the school board election May 12. Two candidates – Ted Gebhardt and Bo Bowman – applied for the tow school board seats left vacant by the departure of Marie Garland and Jerry Phelps, eliminating the necessity of an election.

Gebhardt and Bowman will be sworn in prior to the June school board meeting.

- approved updating the representatives on file with TexPool. Two representatives needed to be removed and Hogue needed to be added. School business manager is already on the file.

TexPool is a local government investment pool created on behalf of Texas entities whose investment objectives are preservation and safety of principal, liquidity and yield consistent with the Public Funds Investment Act.

- heard the Elementary and High School principal’s reports. The main focus this week for the high school students are the Straight-A relays and STAAR testing.

Fourth and fifth graders are also taking some STAAR tests. The rest of the STAAR testing at the elementary is April 23-27.

At present the high school

has 230 pupils enrolled and has an attendance of 96.39 percent. The elementary school has 287 students with an attendance of 96.2 percent.

online at www.meridiantribune.com

Meridian Tribune

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Loved Ones Remembered

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Superintendent’s Note Scott Hogue - Meridian ISD

Walnut Springs NEWS

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Letter To The Editor Automation is a bit overrated

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Making Tracks Carol Spicer - Meridian Tribune carol@cliftonrecord.com

Paterno gone, Smokin’ Joe, and Veterans Day

Texas Tales

By Mike Cox mikecoxtex@austin.rr.com

A lost love; remebered

Meridian Tribune

Page B-8 • March 28, 2012

online at www.meridiantribune.com

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A lost love; remebered

By Mike Cox mikecoxtex@austin.rr.com

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Cosmic Baseball

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Walnut Springs NEWS Roberta Robinson Meridian Tribune Columnist

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Making Tracks

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Is it time to let go?

Meridian Tribune

Letters to the Editor

Never surrender

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SEND IT TO US

see

The Meridian Tribune welcomes your Letters. Let us hear from you. news@meridiantribune.com or Meridian Tribune: P.O. Box343, Meridian, Texas 76665 Please include your name, phone (for verification only) and city.

Legislation Doug Toney - Publisher / Editor New Braunfels Herald - Zeitung

October has been a blast

School finance amendment a see WALNUT SPRINGS, page 8

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March 28, 2012 • Page 19

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Vote now, gripe later Then Again...

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Gas prices are headed in the wrong direction

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Bosque County Arrest & Jail Report Then Again...

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Where did common sense go

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Is the TTC really dead?