Friday, October 24, 1997
Area news roundup
Albany City Council to solicit bids for paving machine
ALBANY -- The Albany City Council agreed Wednesday to solicit
bids for a used paving machine for asphalt street repairs, and
to purchase a cellular phone for city policeman Lynn Wilkins.
Shackelford County Sheriff Larry Bonner requested the phone
purchase to improve communications between law enforcement agencies.
The council also voted to send the $133 monthly payments which
had been made to the DARE program, now defunct, to the local Drug
Task Force. Council members also requested an accounting of the
use of the DARE funds since the resignation of the certified DARE
officers two years ago. The program was aimed at fighting drug
abuse in Albany schools.
Area bands to compete in Bedford
The Texas Midwest will be represented by 15 high schools Saturday
during the University Interscholastic League Area B Marching Band
Contest at Pennington Field in Bedford.
Competing for a ticket to the state contest on Nov. 3 will
be five area bands in Class A, seven in Class 2A and three from
Class 4A.
The number of schools participating includes 10 in Class A,
17 in Class 2A and 21 in Class 4A.
Schedule of area bands marching is:
Class 4A -- Graham, 8:56 a.m.; Stephenville, 12:54 p.m.; and
Sweetwater, 1:22.
Class A -- Throckmorton, 2:23 p.m.; Munday, 2:45; Cross Plains,
2:58; Robert Lee, 3:37; and Bronte, 3:50.
Class 2A -- Jim Ned, 5:31 p.m.; Stamford, 5:44; Haskell, 5:57;
Coahoma, 6:23; Cisco, 7:11; Anson, 7:24; and Hamlin, 8:16.
Judges will select two bands in Class A, three in Class 2A
and four in Class 4A to advance to state. Bands will not receive
divisional ratings at the area round.
The state contest for classes A and 2A takes place in Mesquite
while Class 4A bands will march at Baylor University.
To get to Pennington Field from west side of Fort Worth, stay
on Interstate 30 and take 820 North. You will come to 121/183,
the airport freeway. Take Central exit and go one block. The stadium
can be seen on your right from the airport freeway.
Brownwood receives law enforcement grant
BROWNWOOD -- The City of Brownwood has been awarded a $27,882
federal grant to pay for law enforcement equipment and technology.
U.S. Congressman Charles Stenholm announced the award from
the Department of Justice's Local Law Enforcement Block Grants
Program on Thursday.
Stenholm said the state of Texas was awarded $1.8 million,
while 197 counties and cities received a total of $26.9 million.
This represents an increase of $2.6 million over last year, the
congressman said.
Firefighters take on 150-acre fire
MERKEL -- Firefighters from Hawley, Merkel and Tye battled
a 150-acre grassfire for two hours Thursday afternoon. The blaze,
which started about 3:30 p.m. consumed Conservation Reserve Program
land and ranchland on Jones County Road 414, eight miles northeast
of Merkel.
Northwesterly winds of 30 mph hampered efforts to extinguish
the blaze, said Delbert Russell, a Merkel firefighter. The cause
of the fire is undetermined.
Four arrested on drug charges in Roby
ROBY -- Four people were arrested on drug charges in Roby late
Thursday afternoon following a tip from a neighbor.
Suspects' names will not be made public until they have been
arraigned and test results are available.
"A resident called and reported suspicious activity involving
two males in a car so we decided to investigate," said Fisher
County Sheriff Gene Pack.
Deputies found a misdemeanor amount of a marijuana and a state
jail felony amount of methamphetamine, Pack said.
A large quantity of an unknown white substance was also seized,
and was being tested in Abilene, Pack said.
"If it is a controlled substance, it is going to be a
large amount of it, but we do not know what it is yet," he
said.
Drug paraphernalia was also confiscated in the day-long investigation.
Roby school superintendant to retire
ROBY -- Roby schools Superintendent George Price has informed
Roby CISD trustees of his decision to retire at the end of the
current school year.
Price has been with the Roby CISD for 18 years, first as principal
and then superintendent. He said that after 29 years in education,
"I feel it is time for me to venture into other areas."
He said he leaves the district "in excellent conditions
with modern technological aides," but would like to see a
modern all-weather track stadium "to make our campus complete."
In other action, trustees elected Richard Gaona and Brad Start
as the school's nominees to the Fisher County Appraisal Board.
Hospital board gains one, loses one
ALBANY -- The Shackelford County Hospital board gained one
member but lost another earlier this week.
Joel Viertel is the new member of the board, which must remain
in operation until the indebtedness of the former hospital is
paid. The hospital closed in February after residents voted against
higher taxes to finance it.
However, the board accepted the resignation of Melanie McCarthy,
leaving the board with two vacancies.
Board member Melissa Black requested the board consider the
possibility of local operation of the ambulance service. The service
is currently being contracted with Stephens Memorial Hospital
in Breckenridge, but operates out of a wing of the old hospital
building here.
"An ambulance service is rarely a money-making operation,
but it's possible that we could reduce our loss and save the taxpayers
money without giving up quality of service," she said.
The district currently budgets $9,000 a month for operational
costs, plus the cost of the two vehicles and their maintenance.
The board tabled the issue until Black and paramedic Steven
Hobbs can gather more information and present a proposed budget
for local service.
In other action, the board agreed to reimburse several current
and former board members their legal expenses and any damages
which may be awarded as result of their being sued by former Albany
physicians, Drs. Victor and Arlene Lorica.
The district sued the Loricas for breach of contract in connection
with the board's efforts to keep the hospital open. The Loricas
subsequently filed a counter-suit against the hospital district
and several current and former board members. Both legal actions
are pending.
Snyder receives law enforcement grants
SNYDER -- The City of Snyder has been awarded a $13,549 federal
grant to pay for law enforcement equipment and technology, U.
S. Congressman Charles Stenholm announced Thursday.
The award from the Department of Justice's Local Law Enforcement
Block Grants Program, he said. Brownwood received a similar grant
of $27,882.
Stephenville City Council hears recommendations
STEPHENVILLE -- The Planning and Development Committee has
recommended that the City Council seek bids for a roof for the
Stephenville Historical Museum's chapel.
Ronnie Isham, director of community service, said the pitch
of the roof makes the job difficult, so a performance bond will
be required. Because of the designation as a historical building,
the roof must be replaced with wood shingles or shingles that
appear to be wood.
In other business, the committee recommended that the City
Council seek a consultant to help with the site selection and
design of a new Municipal Service Center.
The city staff has recommended that the council consider either
a site across from Erath County Jail or one on the Alexander Highway.
The latter location is not currently in the city limits but City
Administrator Don Davis said it could be annexed if it is selected.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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