News Archives - November 2008
Regular Meeting of the Ballinger ISD School Board
12/2/2008
The Ballinger ISD Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday, December 2,
2008 in the BISD Administration Building at 5:30pm.
County Commissioners Consider
Burn Ban
11/25/2008
Runnels County Commissioners will meet at 10:00am today (Tuesday)
in the courthouse. On the agenda:
* Consider adopting an order prohibiting outdoor burning
* Consider appointing a wellness coordinator and executive sponsor
to the Healthy County initiative of Texas Association of Texas.
Two ribbon-cutting
ceremonies were held Friday, November 21st in Ballinger.
Ginger McGregor at Tarrah Cosmetics held her ribbon cutting at noon
Friday at 708 Park Avenue. Attending were: Phillip
Springer, Maggie Hogan (Miss Ballinger), Bianca Fuentes (1st
runner-up), Mark Heinze, Larry Lange, Rebbie Lange, Carol Stokes and
Center is Ginger McGregor
Following the Ribbon Cutting above, the Red Coats moved to
Chastanade Boutique at 106 North 13th Street. Attending were:
Phillip Springer, Maggie Hogan (Miss Ballinger), Jade Cavazos,
Denise Beimer, Joy Cavazos, Carol Stokes, Bianca Fuentes (1st
runner-up), Larry Lange, Rebbie Lange, Mark Heinze
“The
Mystery of Indian Hill”
11/21/2008
Hello, we are currently the sixth grade students of Ballinger Junior
High and we are reading “Island of the Blue Dolphins” in our Reading
Class. This book focuses on a tribe of Indians living off the coast
of California on the island of San Nicolas. This book is based on
the true story of the “Lone Woman of San Nicolas”. We have decided
that for our project for this book, we are going to investigate and
learn about our own unique Indian history in our own town. We have
chosen the disappearance of the Indian Chief statue that was placed
in Ballinger City Park by Mr. Elmer Shepherd purchased from Wirt
Franklin Oil and Gas Refinery in Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1939. We, as
students, will be talking to our local community members to gather
as much information as possible. We are asking for anyone with any
information or pictures dealing with the purchase as well as the
disappearance of the Indian Chief to please send the information to
Ballinger Junior High, C/O Cinnamon Carter, PO Box 231, Ballinger,
TX 76821. Stay Tuned to see what we find!
Time for "Christmas in Olde
Ballinger"
11/20/2008
After you finish off the Thanksgiving turkey next week, get ready to
deck the halls as the Ballinger Chamber of Commerce presents
"Christmas in Olde Ballinger."
The date is Saturday, November 29th. Activities include a
parade at 10:00am and chances are very good that a special someone
from the North Pole will make an appearance. You'll find music, arts
and crafts booths, food vendors and more so plan to attend downtown
at the Courthouse Lawn.
Need Your Cholesterol Checked?
11/20/2008
This morning (Thursday), 8:00am until 12:00 noon, you can get a free
cholesterol screening done at the First United Methodist Church in
Winters.
The Ballinger Chamber of
Commerce welcomed a new business Friday, November 14,
2008. Radio Shack is now open, and has been since last month, inside
Higginbothams at 108 N. 8th. Store manager, Vicki Guy, is shown in
red, cutting the ribbon while the Red Coats and store employees
share the moment.
Vicki invites all of Runnels County to come by and shop for the
holidays.
District Gold Star Banquet News
11/14/2008
Three local 4-H members from Runnels County were among 29 youth
honored during the Texas AgriLife Extension Service District 7 4-H
Gold Star Banquet. The annual event was held Nov. 10 in San Angelo*s
Cactus Hotel. The honorees (pictured below) were Eric
Schwertner, son of Steven and Linda Schwertner of Miles, Tyler
Englert, son of Robert and Rose Englert of Norton, and Alisha Multer,
daughter of Tony and Norma Multer of Rowena. The Gold Star Award is
the highest honor given by AgriLife Extension on the county level.
Winners are picked based on their personal development, leadership
and achievement in 4-H projects, and on activities and contributions
made to the 4-H program.
The annual *Friend of 4-H Award* went to Merissa Swink of the Concho
Valley Electric Cooperative in San Angelo. Swink was honored for her
role in coordinating support for the annual Silver Clover Banquet,
which honors adult 4-H leaders across the West Central District. The
Friend of 4-H award is given annually to an individual or business
for their support of the district*s 4-H program. The Gold Star
Banquet is sponsored each year in the 23-county district by AgriLife
Extension and AEP Texas.
PRESS RELEASE - Red Imported
Fire Ants in Runnels County
11/12/2008
On November 10th County Judge Marilyn Egan received notification
from the Texas Department of Agriculture that the Department has
discovered widespread infestations of red imported fire ants in
Runnels County. Regrettably, the Department is proposing to
quarantine Runnels County for red imported fire ants. The
quarantine will require the treatment of all plants for fire ants
before they are shipped to non-quarantined counties. It will
also require a permit be obtained from the Department prior to that
shipment. This action will also severely limit the movement of
hay stored in contact with the ground when shipped out of the
quarantine areas into Northern and Western markets.
One of the Department's inspectors will contact Judge Egan shortly to discuss the Department's plan regarding the proposed quarantine of Runnels County for red imported fire ants.
BBQ Rib Fundraiser Coming Up
11/11/2008
Put November 20th on your calendar as the date for a BBQ Rib
Lunch at Ballinger Healthcare and Rehab, sponsored by The Lighthouse
Unit.
Serving will be 11:00am to 1:00pm at Ballinger Healthcare and Rehab,
2001 6th Street. The menu is ribs, potato salad, beans, bread and
dessert.
Cost is $5.00 per plate, drive-thru or delivery.
For more information please contact Che'Rie' Barker 325-365-5766.
All proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk.
WEST TEXAS CENTERS MENTAL
HEALTH CLINICS SHARE KINDNESS
11/10/2008
West Texas Centers for MHMR’s 15 Mental Health Clinics will act as
outposts for the Center’s weeklong celebration of World Kindness
Week. The non-profit Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was formed
in 1995 as an outreach program to inspire people to practice
kindness by providing ideas, guidance and resources to others
through its website:
www.actsofkindness.org . World Kindness Week is celebrated
November 10-16. It has been proven that acts of kindness improve
one’s mental and physical health, said West Texas Centers for MHMR
CEO Shelley Smith.
West Texas Centers for MHMR will bring the international group’s
message home to West Texas by sponsoring daily activities, including
coffee and donuts in the clinic lobby on Monday and punch and
goodies in the clinic lobby on Friday. Each goody bag
will include a list of kind tips and sweet sayings that can be used
to spread kindness.
Mental Health clinics can be found at: 215 NW 1st, Andrews;
211 N. Main, Lamesa; 702 Hobbs Hwy, Seminole; 411 S.
Avenue C, Post; 319 Runnels, Big Spring; 505
Chestnut, Colorado City; 1401 Hailey, Ste C-1,
Sweetwater; 700 Daggett, #4, Pecos; 126 State, Winters;
909 25th Street, Ste 102, Snyder; 502 W. Broadway,
Brownfield; 809 S. Burleson, McCamey; 1200 N. Main,
Monahans; 203 E. Halley, Kermit; and 412 W. 5th,
Denver City.
For more information, call Amy Vidal at 432 263-0007. West
Texas Centers for MHMR provides mental health and mental retardation
services to consumers in 23 rural counties in West Texas.
Fire Wednesday Evening
11/6/2008
Police Dispatch received a call at
6:01pm on Wednesday, November 5th about smoke coming from the City
of Ballinger Vehicle Maintenance Shop located at 305 South 7th St.
Lt. Brent Allen of the Ballinger Fire Department tells
Ballingernews.com that as the fire department arrived heavy smoke
was coming from under the eaves of the building. Nineteen
firemen responded to the call. The entry team found a city
vehicle on fire; this vehicle was up on a lift for repairs.
The fire was contained in about 10 minutes and was eventually put
completely out. The building had some smoke and heat damage
and the pickup was a total loss. The cause of the fire has not
been determined at this time.
RUNNELS COUNTY PECAN SHOW
11/6/2008
The 2008 Runnels County Pecan Show will be held in conjunction with
the Tom Green County Pecan Show on Friday, December 5 at the Tom
Green County Courthouse Annex according to Marty Gibbs, Runnels
County Extension Agent, and Chester McCown, Horticulture Committee
Chairman.
Pecans may be entered at the County Extension office, Citizens State
Bank of Miles, Alderman-Cave in Winters, the Norton Gin, Ballinger
Feed and Seed, or the West Texas State Bank in Rowena. No entry
will be accepted later than 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, December 2.
Each single entry should consist of not less than 45 pecans of the
same variety. They should not be cleaned or rubbed to the extent
that the shape or color is altered. They should be packed in paper
or plastic bag with the exhibitor's name, address, and variety of
pecan, if known. Exhibitors are limited to one entry of each named
variety they grow. However, a grower may enter as many seedlings,
known hybrids, or natives as he wishes. Divisions will be:
Commercial, Classic and Variety Seedling.
Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected from each division.
Plaques and rosettes will be presented to the Champions and rosettes
to the Reserve Champions. The public is invited to attend the
judging and public viewing of the entries beginning at 11:00 am on
December 5 at the Tom Green County Courthouse Annex Building.
Local Election Results for
Runnels County
11/4/2008
Sheriff
Bill Baird - 2,284 - 59%
Quentin Watkins - 1,556 - 41%
Constable, Pct. 1
Wayne Poehls - 1,478 - 58%
Mark Sklenarik - 1,056 - 42%
LOCAL RESULTS in the National,
State, and District Election Results
11/4/2008
President/ Vice President
John McCain/Sarah Palin - 3,118
Barack Obama/Joe Biden - 720
Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root - 25
Write-in
US Senator
John Cornyn - 2,952
Rick Noriega - 683
Yvonne Adams Schick - 81
US Representative, District 11
Mike Conaway - 3,037
John R. Strohm - 292
Railroad Commissioner
Michael L. Williams - 2,525
Mark Thompson - 916
David Floyd - 120
Chief Justice, Supreme Court
Wallace B. Jefferson - 2,479
Jim Jordan - 926
Tom Oxford - 109
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 7
Dale Wainwright - 2,389
Sam Houston - 1,011
David G. Smith - 124
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8
Phil Johnson - 2,625
Linda Reyna Yanez - 778
Drew Shirley - 121
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3
Tom Price - 2,352
Susan Strawn - 1,044
Matthew E. Eilers - 111
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4
Paul Womack - 2,575
J.R. Molina n - 776
Dave Howard - 146
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9
Cathy Cochran - 2,801
William Bryan Strange, III - 285
State Senator, District 28
Robert Duncan - 2,830
M.J. (Smitty) Smith - 311
State Representative, District 53
Harvey Hilderbran - 2,851
Brian W. Holk - 311
Chief Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District
Ken Law - 2,419
Woodie Jones - 1,080
Operation Christmas Child is
Underway
11/3/2008
“The Power of a Simple Gift” Operation Christmas Child is a great
way to bring joy and the Good news of Jesus Christ to children in
need of hope.
If you would like to send a child a simple gift for Christmas,
please fill a shoebox with toys, school supplies or hygiene
products, or even candy. You may also include a personal note
in a separate envelope telling the child a little about yourself and
a photo if you wish.
Please mark your shoeboxes for a boy or a girl. These shoeboxes may
be dropped off at the First Baptist Church 400 N. 8th St by
Sunday, November 23rd.
Early Voting Ends with a Bang
11/1/2008
Many voters in Runnels County chose to cast their ballots early this
year. Elesa Ocker at the County Clerk's Office tells
Ballingernews.com that a total of 1,944 early votes were received.
For those that didn't vote early, this Tuesday is your chance, from
7:00am to 7:00pm at the following locations:
Voting Precincts #1 and #2 (Consolidated) - Ballinger- Runnels
County Courthouse Annex Building, 608 Strong Avenue (Behind
Courthouse)
Voting Precinct #3 - Winters - Housing Authority Building, 300 North
Grant
Voting Precinct #4, #5, and #6 (Consolidated) - Winters - Runnels
County Tax Branch Office, 143 West Dale
Voting Precinct #7, #8, and #10 (Consolidated) - Ballinger = City
Hall, 7th and Railroad Avenue
Voting Precinct #9 - Miles - City Hall, 110 Robinson Street