Reporter-News Archives Tuesday, February 4, 1997 Controversy at Dry Gulch Road By ANTHONY WILSON / Staff Writer Abilene zoning commissioners left "Dry Gulch Road" squirming in the dust like a mortally wounded gunfighter Monday. A posse of folks who live along a lonely stretch of Forrest Hill Road stampeded the commissioners' meeting, looking to string up Planning Director Carl Lockett for suggesting such a God-forsaken-sounding name. "I don't live in San Francisco in the gold rush," Thelma Fincher complained. "It's corny." "It sounds like death," another woman added. Quaking in his boots, Lockett was quick on the draw with an apology. "We now recognize it was a bad idea," he said. "That ill-fated name is never to be mentioned again." The commotion was sparked by a coming extension of Forrest Hill to accommodate a planned subdivision east of Mesa Springs Retirement Village. Problem is, Forrest Hill takes a sudden turn to the south before it reaches the new neighborhood. Because city planners figured a road running in all four directions would be confusing, they sought to rename the north-south stretch, which has only two houses on its one mile before it dead-ends into FM 707. Lockett hand-picked the misfortuned moniker over two other choices - Big Canyon Drive and Arroyo Trail. (Opponents claimed the latter was "Dry Gulch" in Spanish). In the planner's defense, moseying down the dirt road is more likely to rustle up cattle and caliche than city slickers. Still, the residents were fit to be hog-tied. "Shoot, man, it's degrading," Frank J. Cozby said. "We like to think of ourselves as upgrading the community." Cozby built his house on the road 31 years ago when it was nothing more than two ruts. He preferred "Cozby Road." William E. Ward Jr.'s family backed a bid for "Ward Road." Another couple liked "Double D Road." Coincidentally, their names are Delmon and Delores Wilson. Steve Krazer, the Planning and Zoning Commission's sheriff, so to speak, forged the eventual compromise. The north-south stretch of the former Forrest Hill Road will be known as Old Forrest Hill Road, pending City Council approval next week. "This shouldn't be a controversy," Krazer deadpanned, "but those are the ones that always are." Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below: texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local Sports Texas Sports Copyright ©1997, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications