Karnes Co. TX - NEWS - April 2008 This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Kimm Antell Copyright. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ From seguingazette.com April 1, 2008 Seguin duo, Cruz second in Marion tourney By Jason Chlapek The Gazette-Enterprise GUADALUPE COUNTY - Marion tennis coach Buddy Albro believes in preparing his players, and others, for their respective district tournaments. This is why the Bulldogs' coach used regular scoring - not super tiebreakers - to determine all matches. "Most of these kids play super tiebreakers in other tournaments, so they think that's the way tennis is played," Albro said. "But, regular scoring is used in the district tournaments, and the players need to get used to playing regular scoring." During the Marion Tournament Thursday and Friday at the Seguin High School Tennis Center, all five brackets featured an area player in the championship final. On Friday, Brittany Lawson and Brenda Alzalde of Seguin advanced to the girls doubles championship match with a 6-0, 6-2 quarterfinal victory over Diaz-Elizondo of Kenedy and a 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 win against Leal-Lomas of Poteet in the semifinal round. Lawson-Alzalde received a bye in the first round because of their No. 2 seed. The top two seeds received first-round byes. The Seguin duo faced the field's top seed - Amber Jensen and Lavern Ledesma of Poteet - in the final, but came up short, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Also on Friday, Kathryn Cruz of Navarro advanced to the girls singles championship match with a 6-0, 6-0 first-round victory over Tifny Funderberg of Marion, a 6-1, 6-4 quarterfinal win against Kustine Melgoza of Kenedy and a 6-4, 6-2 semifinal victory over Hailey Lewis of La Vernia. Cruz, the field's No. 2 seed, faced top-seeded Jeanette Chavez of Poteet in the championship, and because of rain, both players agreed to play a super tiebreaker in the third set if necessary. Cruz claimed the first set, 7-6, but Chavez returned the favor with a 6-4 victory in the second set to force a decisive third set. Chavez claimed the third set, 10-8, to clinch the championship. While the girls singles and girls doubles took place on Friday, the mixed doubles, boys singles and boys doubles occurred on Thursday. Seguin and Navarro faced each other in both the mixed doubles and boys singles championship matches with Arthur Borrego and Haley Helweg of Navarro defeating Chris Almarez and Ava Volpe of Seguin in straight sets in the mixed doubles final, and Navarro's Ryan Burdick rallying to beat Seguin's David Kuo in the boys singles final. The Marion boys doubles team of Scott Hendry and Eric Mahler finished second in their bracket as they lost to Stockdale's Salazar-Soto in three sets. Hendry-Mahler reached the championship match with a trio of straight set sweeps. They beat Leach-Rodgers of Stockdale, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round before following it up with a 6-1, 6-1 quarterfinal win over Birdsong-Mueller of Navarro and a 6-1, 7-5 victory against Clark- Ramirez of Seguin in the semifinal round. Seguin, Marion and Navarro all will participate in their respective district tournaments over the next three days. Seguin travels to Austin to compete in the District 25-5A Tournament today and Wednesday at the UT Intramural Tennis center, while Marion hosts the 26-3A Tournament Wednesday and Thursday at the Starcke Park Tennis Center, and Navarro hosts the 29-2A Tournament Wednesday and Thursday at Seguin High School. ************************************************ From bizjournals.com April 2, 2008 Abraxas discovers natural gas in South Texas well Abraxas Petroleum Corp.'s Gisler #1 exploratory well in Karnes County, Texas, is currently producing a healthy supply of natural gas, the company said Wednesday. The Gisler #1 well was drilled vertically to a total depth of 13,000 and placed online two weeks ago. The well is currently producing at a rate of 2.9 million cubic feet of gas and 55 barrels of condensate per day. The company owns a 63 percent working interest in the well. The Gisler #1 was drilled targeting the Wilcox formation. Abraxas President and CEO Bob Watson says the production rates for the Gisler #1 well are above their expectations. Abraxas (AMEX: ABP) is a San Antonio-based crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company with operations in Texas and Wyoming. ************************************************ From foxbusiness.com Apr 02, 2008 Abraxas Provides Operational Results on Exploratory Wilcox Well SAN ANTONIO, Apr 02, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Abraxas Petroleum Corporation (AMEX:ABP) today provided operational results on the Gisler #1, an exploratory well targeting the Wilcox formation, located in Karnes County of South Texas. The Gisler #1 was drilled vertically to a total depth of approximately 13,000', completed without stimulation and placed on- line approximately two weeks ago. This well is currently producing at a gross rate of approximately 2.9 MMcf of gas and 55 Bbl of condensate per day, or 3.2 MMcfepd. This well may be fracture stimulated in the future. Abraxas Petroleum owns a 63% working interest in this well. "The production rates from the Gisler #1 are above our expectations. Even though a typical Wilcox well has a relatively steep initial decline rate, these wells are very economic and pay out quickly. We intentionally limit our exploratory budget to 20% of our overall capital expenditure budget. Our upcoming capital projects will focus on projects that are more development and exploitation in nature," commented Bob Watson, President and CEO of Abraxas. Abraxas Petroleum Corporation is a San Antonio based crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company with operations principally in Texas and Wyoming. Abraxas Petroleum Corporation also owns a 47% interest in an upstream master limited partnership, Abraxas Energy Partners, L.P., which entitles Abraxas Petroleum Corporation to receive its proportionate share of cash distributions made by Abraxas Energy Partners, L.P. Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements: Statements in this release looking forward in time involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Abraxas' actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance suggested in this release. Such factors may include, but may not be necessarily limited to, changes in the prices received by Abraxas for natural gas and crude oil. In addition, Abraxas' future natural gas and crude oil production is highly dependent upon Abraxas' level of success in acquiring or finding additional reserves. Further, Abraxas operates in an industry sector where the value of securities is highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond Abraxas' control. In the context of forward-looking information provided for in this release, reference is made to the discussion of risk factors detailed in Abraxas' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission during the past 12 months. SOURCE: Abraxas Petroleum Corporation ************************************************ From businesswire.com April 02, 2008 Amendment - Fitch Rates South Texas Electric Cooperative 'A-' NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(This is an amendment for a press release published March 31, 2008. It amends the rating language in the first paragraph). Fitch Ratings assigns a long-term rating of 'A-' to the South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC). The Rating Outlook is Stable. This is Fitch's initial rating of STEC. Supporting the 'A-' rating for STEC are financial metrics that are in line with comparable utility systems in the rating category, competitive wholesale rates and all-requirements power sales contracts with STEC's eight members. STEC is supported by the solid credit profile and diversity of its member systems, which include Karnes, Wharton County, Victoria, Jackson, San Patricio, Nueces, Magic Valley and Medina electric cooperatives. Overall, the members' service territory is projected to increase 4.7% annually and grew at 5.3% historically. Magic Valley, one of the newest members, accounting for approximately 47% of STEC's customers, is projected to experience the greatest amount of growth at 6.6% annually (9% historically). The rapid growth that STEC's members are experiencing is a primary reason for the acquisition of major new generation. As such, the rating also takes into consideration that financial metrics will face pressure as STEC implements a $1.2 billion capital plan. Under the capital plan, STEC would diversify its fuel portfolio by developing coal and wind generation to reduce dependence on natural gas. STEC is partnering with International Power to develop Coleto Creek 2, a 700 mega watt (mw) coal-fired plant of which, STEC will own 343 mw, or 49%. The financial impact of potential CO2 regulation may put further pressure on STEC's financial profile in the out years. Looking forward, Fitch will monitor the following key credit drivers that could affect the rating: --Construction risks and ultimate costs associated with the completion of the coal-fired generator, Coleto Creek 2; --Management's ability to sustain financial metrics in line with the current rating, as STEC expects to add $1 billion to its $312 million of outstanding debt; --Environmental considerations. Formed in 1944, South Texas Electric Cooperative is a generation and transmission wholesale provider to eight distribution cooperatives. These cooperatives provide service to over 150,000 customers in 42 counties and are located in the outlying areas of San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on the agency's public site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch's code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of Conduct' section of this site. ************************************************ From seguingazette.com April 3, 2008 Bulldogs, Lady Panthers record district wins By Jason Chlapek The Gazette-Enterprise LULING — Ashley Jacobsen left everything on the field on Tuesday. Marion’s sophomore pitcher not only threw her way to victory, she also led the team in hitting during the Bulldogs’ 5-4 victory over Luling at Luling High School in a key District 26-3A matchup. With the win, Marion (10-14, 3-2 in 26-3A) now finds itself not only in second place outright, but also one victory away from a playoff berth. If the Bulldogs defeat West Campus (0-4 in 26-3A), they will sew up a return trip to the postseason. Marion hosts West Campus at 5:30 p.m. at the Marion Softball Complex. The Bulldogs never trailed in the contest as they broke a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the third inning. Luling tied the game at 1 with a run in the bottom of the fourth before Marion answered back with a run in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead before scoring three more runs in the seventh to build a 5-1 advantage. The Bulldogs held off a furious bottom of the seventh rally attempt by the Lady Eagles, who scored three times in the frame. Jacobsen improved to 3-2 in the circle this year as she struck out 12 batters, while giving up four hits and a walk. At the plate, Jacobsen was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Navarro KENEDY — The Navarro softball team scored seven runs each in the fifth and seventh innings on Tuesday to run past Kenedy, 17-7, at Kenedy High School. Navarro (7-4, 6-3 in 29-2A) scored its runs on 15 hits and five errors. The Lady Panthers also did so in come-from-behind fashion as they trailed, 1-0, entering the fourth inning. They scored twice in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead before Kenedy scored the equalizer in the bottom of the fourth. But a seven-run fifth put Navarro up for good, 9-2, and the Lady Panthers added a run in the top of the sixth to make it 10-2 before the Lady Lions scored five times in the bottom of the inning to pull within three, 10-7. Navarro hit Lucky 7s with a seven-run seventh to put the game out of reach. Justine Jenkins went 4-for-4 with four RBIs, while Lauren Walls went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Navarro hosts Karnes City at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Navarro High School. ************************************************ From oilvoice.com April 02, 2008 Abraxas Provides Operational Results on Exploratory Wilcox Well Abraxas Petroleum Corporation has provided operational results on the Gisler #1, an exploratory well targeting the Wilcox formation, located in Karnes County of South Texas. The Gisler #1 was drilled vertically to a total depth of approximately 13,000', completed without stimulation and placed on- line approximately two weeks ago. This well is currently producing at a gross rate of approximately 2.9 MMcf of gas and 55 Bbl of condensate per day, or 3.2 MMcfepd. This well may be fracture stimulated in the future. Abraxas Petroleum owns a 63% working interest in this well. "The production rates from the Gisler #1 are above our expectations. Even though a typical Wilcox well has a relatively steep initial decline rate, these wells are very economic and pay out quickly. We intentionally limit our exploratory budget to 20% of our overall capital expenditure budget. Our upcoming capital projects will focus on projects that are more development and exploitation in nature," commented Bob Watson, President and CEO of Abraxas. ************************************************ From tradingmarkets.com April 05, 2008 BRIEF: Area players set for all-star contests PORT ARANSAS, Apr 05, 2008 (Victoria Advocate - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- -- Fourteen Advocate-area high school basketball players will be competing today at the 8th annual South Texas All-Star Game. The contest will be played at Port Aransas High School and is for players in Class 3A, 2A and 1A. There will be three boy's games and two girls games along with a 3- point shooting contest. The first game starts at 9 a.m. and the last begins at 4 p.m. Lindsay Markert and Charlean Mondine are representing Refugio, while Woodsboro's Emily Schneider, Austwell-Tivoli's Elizabeth Jackson and Ninfa Rios of Runge are also playing. Pettus' Jake Stanley, Refugio's Malcolm Whitmire and Woodsboro's Jonathan Payne are playing on the Black team, while Refugio's Ricky Lewis and Woodsboro's Robert Vasquez are on the Blue team. Mauro Torres of Pettus and Jacob Nieto of Austwell-Tivoli will play on the Red team. Neel to play in CBCA game Industrial's Trey Neel has been selected to play in the 11th annual Coastal Bend Coaches Association All-Star Game on May 17 at the Corpus Christi Ray gym. The girls game will be played at noon and the boys game will start at 2 p.m. ************************************************ From woai.com April 7, 2008 Earthquake Shakes Parts of South Texas FALLS CITY, Texas (AP) -- A small earthquake awoke residents in South Texas on Monday, but there are no reported injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey said the 3.7 magnitude quake happened at 4:51 a.m., about 45 miles southeast of San Antonio in South Texas. The quake was detected about 6 miles southwest of the Karnes County town of Falls City, near the line with Wilson County. Some Wilson County residents reported feeling the quake. Karnes County Sheriff's Chief Deputy A.C. Alonzo said most people did not know about the quake until they heard the news this morning. "We don't have any reports of any property damage," Alonzo said. The only 911 call they received was from one of their deputies who was at the hospital with an inmate and wondered what was going on, Alonzo said. The Falls City Independent School District reported no damage to its campus. The epicenter was at a depth of about 3.1 miles. Texas occasionally has earthquakes. In the Texas panhandle, a minor earthquake was felt by some people in Amarillo on March 30, 2002. The Amarillo area also recorded seven minor earthquakes in 2000. ************************************************ From woai.com April 7, 2008 South Texas Residents Get All Shook Up By Earthquake Reported by: Demond Fernandez People in South Texas got all shook up after a small earthquake rattled a community there. Earthquakes in Texas are rare, but, obviously, they do happen. Monday's tremor was like a wake-up call for some. The magnitude 3.7 quake hit just before 5 a.m. near Falls City in Karnes County, southeast of San Antonio. Investigators told News 4 anyone who experienced the earthquake would have felt a small jolt or something like a big bang up against the side of a house. Employees at the Busy Beaver, a convenience store and bar in Falls City, felt the ground move. "I heard a rattle, a shake, and a kaboom," said Diana Sherman, who works at the Busy Beaver. The big racket rattled Sherman's house. "I was in my living room, and my fella was in the bedroom," explained Sherman. "We kind of went 'what was that?'." It was the same shaky situation a few miles away at Mary Jane Ivey's house in Poth. "I was about half asleep, and I did wake up, and my bed shook," Ivey told News 4. But Ivey didn't realize the strange early morning quiver was an earthquake. "I thought somebody's been drinking or something because that don't happen around here," said Ivey. The small quake is the big talk in small town diner's and convenience store's across South Texas right now. "Thought it was a thunderstorm or something. Thought the trailer done fell on the ground. It was terrible," Sherman said. People who felt it said it only lasted a few seconds, but said they'll likely be talking about the excitement for weeks. According workers at the National Earthquake Information Center, only about 7 quakes have been recorded within a 50-mile radius of the area in the last 30 years. They said the largest quake came in at 4.3. The last earthquake to hit Texas was in 2002. It was a small tremor felt in Amarillo. The largest earthquake to ever hit the state was a magnitude 5.8 back in 1931. The U.S. Geological Survey ranks Texas 17th in the top earthquake states. Scientist with UTSA say it's not uncommon for areas like Falls City to get hit with small earthquakes. Dr. Alan Dutton said several tremors in the last 20 have been linked to oil and gas fields in same area. "When the pressure changes within the oil resevoir, either by withdrawing fluids or ejecting fluids you can get small shifts along the rocks on either side of the faults," said Dr. Alan Dutton, UTSA Geologist. ************************************************ From wkcurrent.com APR 09, 2008 Cockrells keep returning to Kerr, where ancestors pioneered EDITOR’S NOTE — This is the 111th of a series of articles marking Kerr County’s sesquicentennial. By Irene Van Winkle West Kerr Current The early years of Kerr County saw the intertwining of many families. Local residents Leroy Cockrell, Sr., and his son, Lee, who lives in Ingram Oaks, claim kinship to several founding clans, including the Cockes, Ridleys and Rees’s, who settled here before Kerr County was formalized. It is a case of people arriving to leave their mark, departing, and then coming home again through the decades. It is also a story of love getting a second chance. In the Kerrville Mountain Sun of March 15, 1956, there were family stories as part of a series written for Kerr County’s Centennial celebration. A relative of the Cockrells, William A. Cocke (1875- 1959), who had married Brownie Rees, offered reminiscences of the Cockes and Ridleys. William A.’s narrative said that his ancestor, also named William Cocke, a purser, was the first known person of the branch to come from England, arriving on a vessel serving the Jamestown Colony. For his services, he received a large tract of land on the James River south of Richmond, where he established a plantation, “Bremo,” that became the family’s ancestral home. Lee disputes this, however, as his records say the early ancestor’s first name was actually Richard. Several generations later, another William Cocke settled in Tennessee before the Revolutionary War in which he fought and became a general. He and Governor Blount became the first two U.S. senators from the state when it was admitted to the union in 1797. His son, John, became a prominent Tennessee lawyer. In 1852, John’s son, Frederick Bird Smith Cocke (1812-1903), was the first family member to arrive in Texas, riding on horseback. He was born 45 miles from Knoxville, Tenn., where he attended what later became the University of Tennessee. William recalled his grandfather loved reciting poetry to him, especially long passages from Sir Walter Scott, and from Pollock’s “In the Course of Time.” William said Frederick sold his large farm for $15,000, placing most of it in a money belt for the long trek to Texas. “On the trip,” William wrote, “according to family legend, he met up with a like-minded fellow Mason who was also land-hungry. The story goes that he opened his money belt and loaned his wandering friend a thousand dollars. Whether or not the money was ever repaid is not clear.” Frederick explored the south, coming through New Orleans and then fetched his wife, Eliza Malvina Rogers, and family. They wintered in Lockhart, then went on to Karnes County, with six sons and five daughters. The sixth girl was born there. “The moving clan required the use of two mule-drawn wagons and a large handsome hack in which our grandmother rode in style with the young members of her numerous brood,” William said. Of the children, five sons, including William A.’s father, William Gabriel “Gabe” Cocke, served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, and many of them achieved high ranks. They also served in the Texas legislature, as well as becoming lawyers, including his Uncle Jack, who told him, “It is better to ask questions than die a fool.” At some point, they left the area, but after Eliza died in 1865, Frederick came with five of his children (Thomas F., Gabe, William, Maggie and Ella) to Center Point. Thomas married James M. Starkey’s daughter, Lizzie, and in 1867, Gabe married Vanilla Cordette Price Ridley, and they had 10 children. In 1908, Gabe and Vanilla’s daughter, Vera Caudette married farmer Angus Hardee Cockrell, Sr., from Arkansas, the son of Benjamin Franklin Cockrell and Lucy Alford Connell. Angus and Vera had six children: Angus Hardee, Jr., William Flavius, Leroy, Sr., Alford Ridley, Edith and Frances. Gabe was a Methodist minister and circuit rider in the Hill Country, and had donated the land for the Center Point Methodist Church, now more than 150 years old. He was later stricken with lower paralysis, and he and Vanilla lived out their elder years with Edith and husband Robert May in San Antonio. After Vanilla’s death, he lived with daughter Sara near Houston, but later they moved him to Kerrville where he died at the VA Hospital. The story of the Cockrell clan can be traced back to Thomas Cockrell (b. 1745), the earliest known direct ancestor of this family branch. Thomas’s grandson, Allen (1802-1878) married Sarah Adeline Harlan in Georgia in 1830. The first Harlans arrived in America in the late 1680s. Alan and Sarah’s son, Benjamin Franklin, married Lucy Alford Connell. William A. spoke about the hazards of the wilderness. “One Saturday afternoon as (father) was riding across the Government Flat homeward bound, Indians suddenly appeared on each side in full pursuit. As he was riding a spirited horse, (he) outran them; saving his ammunition against close attack if they had overtaken him.” A few years later, Gabe bought 170 acres on “the Verde,” a mile southwest of Center Point, and their daughter Bertha May was born in the first cabin. They built a large home and had more children: Frank, William Alexander, Vanilla Eva, Flavious (Flavius) Alton, Vera, Sallie and Edith. Their church was on a hill across from the cemetery, a small frame building on what became the Captain Irving property. William said he first spotted his first sweetheart, Susie, going to church wearing a red dress. He also recalled the murder of the Dowdy children near Mountain Home, and shopping at Schreiner’s. Historically, the Ridleys go back to England. One of the most famous was Bishop Nicholas Ridley who, in 1555, was imprisoned in the Tower of London for refusing to back down on his views of the separation of the church and state. He paid for it with his life. The Ridley family continued to be well-accomplished. William Gabriel’s wife, Vanilla, was the daughter of Francis A. and Livonia Caudette Ridley Price, who wed in 1841. Livonia married Dr. John Clark Ridley, the cousin of her father, George Ridley, who had come with him to Texas. The family believes that Dr. John Clark Ridley adopted her. John Clark Ridley (1810-1864), the son of Moses Ridley, a Revolutionary War soldier, and Katherine Haward, was born in Harpeth River, Tenn. Apparently a restless spirit or seeking new opportunities, he was often on the move. He also went to the altar three times. In 1818, John moved with his family to Stewart’s Creek in Rutherford County, where he married Caroline Elizabeth Morton in 1831. In 1841, he married Nancy Allison, but they either separated or divorced, since she remarried later. He was living in Madison County, Mississippi in 1848, but by 1850, he’d gone to Florida where he settled Ridleyville on the Apalachicola River in Gadsden Co. From there, he came to Kerr County, before its organization (1856). William A. Cocke was John Ridley’s maternal grandson. He said that John moved to Kerr County with several slaves and William’s mother, Vanilla, then a two-year-old child. Along with them came “Aunt Patsy” Ridley, William’s great-grandmother. “I remember her distinctly as sitting in a chimney corner in our Verde Creek home smoking a cob pipe,” he said. The family settled in Zanzenberg, which he said was later called Center Point, on a farm about a block west of the main north-south street. Their home, he said, was “about the only one large enough to accommodate settler meetings to discuss county organizations properly. “It was a long log house well chinked against wind and weather. There were four large main rooms in a row, with a wide breezeway in the middle. There were two rock chimneys placed between the two pairs of double rooms having a fireplace on each side. ... I remember on one of our visits to the Ridley home they brought in ‘a crazy man’ from Camp Verde and locked him in the end bed room. That must have been the first mental asylum in that part of Texas.” William said he remembered his grandfather. “My most vivid recollection of Grandfather Ridley is the fact that he would always get up early and take a bath under the mill dam as the water flowed swiftly the full width of the river about four hundred yards away.” In his book, “The History of Eastern Kerr County, Texas,” Gerald Witt wrote, “On June 21, 1854, a gentleman from Middle Tennessee signed the papers that made him the largest land holder in Kerr County. J. Clark Ridley(’s) ... purchases totaled 2,240 acres.” A year later, John married Livonia, and Witt said he played an integral role during the county’s formation. After Kerr County was formally designated in January, 1856, John, who was called “that Tennessean,” was appointed by the Act to order the election of county officials. John organized the election that March in Comfort (which was then still inside the bounds of Kerr County, and in April swore in the officials: The vote to name Kerrville the county seat was close: 26-23, but that was not the end of the matter. In 1860, the vote went the other way, 78-21, when another election gave Comfort the edge. After this, Witt said, citizens constantly complained about “voter irregularities.” However, two years later, the Texas Legislature changed the boundaries, carving away the eastern end of Kerr County for Kendall County, taking Comfort with it. This brought the county seat back to Kerrville once and for all. John died in 1864 and was buried in Center Point cemetery. Leroy Cockrell, Sr. was born in 1916 in the family farmhouse four miles north of Campbellton, a town which consisted of a general mercantile store and a cotton gin. He said his father, Angus, was a young child when he left Arkansas. “My dad and his family came to Clarksville, Texas, which is near Paris,” he said. “The family split up there. Alonzo and his brother, Joe, went to Olney, Texas and Allan, Billy and Angus went south to Wilson County where my mom and dad got married. My dad was a farmer.” Leroy, Sr. attended high school in Pleasanton. On Christmas Day, 1935, Leroy, Sr. wed Elizabeth Luethcke, who was voted the Queen of Harlandale High School. After attending business school, he worked for Arkansas Oil and Fuel and Sun Ray Oil, and then went independent where he acquired leases and managed land for oil companies. In between, he served stateside in the U.S. Navy during WWII, since his typing skills made him useful for processing orders. The couple had three children: Lee, Claudia and Vera, but Elizabeth died in 1960. Leroy, Sr. married Elizabeth Waters in 1961, and they came back to the Hill Country in 1965 (where his mother had lived), and bought Bluff Creek on SH 1340 near the Wagon Wheel Ranch. He improved the property and started a pecan grove. “My cousin, Bertha Mae Rees Cocke visited me when I lived out there,” he said. Lee and his father recalled hearing stories about encounters with the Comanches out at Camp Verde. “Grandma talked about that being such an unsettling time,” Lee said. Elizabeth Waters passed away in 2001 in Albuquerque and eventually Leroy, Sr. moved back to Kerrville after Lee retired. In 2004, Lee married Ann Morris at the Scott Ranch in Mountain Home. The ceremony performed by Pastor Warren Hornung was attended by friends and family, including Leroy, Sr. The wedding had been postponed for almost 44 years, interrupted by a misunderstanding and their marriages to other people a lifetime earlier. Lee admitted he “blew it” the first time around. He and Ann had dated in high school, which led to an engagement while they were studying at the University of Texas. “We had a misunderstanding when we were making out the wedding invitations,” he said. “She was going to be in a wedding with a roommate in Houston, but I didn’t remember why she was gone. I kept calling but I didn’t know she was out of town, and I thought she was gone for good. I gave up calling. It was just stupidity.” Lee went on with his life after the wedding was called off. He married Beverley Cummings Ramsey, and made a career in the Portland cement industry, using his computer skills. The couple and their three daughters moved often, from as far off as California to as close as Akansas, and finally, New Mexico, where he retired. Beverley passed away, and while in Albuquerque, Lee received an invitation to a high school reunion and signed up to attend. Eventually, Lee and Ann communicated, and he asked if she would take an ride with him as pilot in a small airplane. She accepted his offer, and the rest, as they say, “is history.” They moved to Ingram while Leroy, Sr. moved back to Kerrville. Ever the optimist, last year, at the age of 91, Leroy, Sr. married Valeta Wendel, with whom he said he is very happy. ************************************************ From caller.com 04.08.08 Oil and Gas Report There were no new drilling permit applications for Aransas, Brooks, Live Oak or San Patricio counties. BEE COUNTY n V.F. Neuhaus Properties of McAllen has filed for a permit to drill a 6,000-foot wildcat well. The No. 4 Neuhaus-Grissom will be 5 miles west of Tulsita in the P. B. McEarly Survey A-236. n Enduring Resources of Denver has filed for a permit to horizontally drill the No. 1 Johnston Gas Unit 3 to a depth of 13,500 feet in the Pawnee (Edwards) field. The well will be 10.9 miles southwest of Kenedy in the J.J. Sanchez Survey A-296. n Pioneer Natural Resources of Irving has filed for permits to drill two more 17,000-foot horizontal wells in the Pawnee (Edwards) field. The No. 10 Tomasek Gas Unit will be 12.8 miles northwest of Tuleta in the BS&F Survey A-127, and the No. 11 Tomasek Gas Unit will be drilled 12.3 miles northwest of Tuleta in the BS&F Survey A-128. DUVAL COUNTY n EOG Resources of Houston has filed for a permit to drill the No. 5 A. R. Hubberd Gas Unit in the Rosita, NW (Wilcox Cons.) field. With a proposed total depth of 13,750 feet, the well will be 6.2 miles southeast of Freer in Section 79 of the BS&F Survey A-89. JIM WELLS COUNTY n Tidal Petroleum of Schertz has filed for permits to drill two 8,500-foot wildcat wells. Both the No. 2 and the No. 3 Martens will be 4.5 miles southwest of Alice in the J. M. Garcia Survey A-166. n Kebo Oil and Gas of Portland has filed for a permit to drill the No. 1 Diego to a depth of 7,500 feet in the Caro Creek (Yegua 21) field. The well will be 7.1 miles northwest of Alice in Section 3 of the Nueces CSL Survey A-334. n Cummins and Walker Oil Co. of Corpus Christi has filed for a permit to drill the No. 1 Susser Unit in the Wade City (5300) field. With a proposed total depth of 6,000 feet, the well will be 3 miles east of Orange Grove in the J.J. and J.L. De La Garza Montemayor Survey A-296. KENEDY COUNTY n Newfield Exploration of Houston has filed for a permit to directionally drill a 21,000-foot wildcat well. The No. 1 John G. Kenedy Jr., will be 10.9 miles southeast of Sarita in the A. & D. De La Garza Survey A-37. n Newfield also has filed for a permit to drill a directional well in the Sarita, East, field. The No. 95 Mrs. S. K. East "B," which has a proposed total depth of 19,000 feet, will be 9.2 miles northeast of Sarita in the A. & D. De La Garza Survey A-37. n Headington Oil Co. of Dallas has filed for a permit to drill the No. 64 John G. Kenedy Jr., "E" in the El Paistle, Deep (Frio) field. With a proposed total depth of 13,000 feet, the well will be 6.25 miles southeast of Sarita in the J. A. Balli Survey A-2. KLEBERG COUNTY n Forest Oil of Houston has filed for a permit to drill the No. 43 E. G. Canales in the T.-C.-B. field. The well, which has a proposed total depth of 11,900 feet, will be 6.6 miles southeast of Premont in Section 336 of the CCSD&RGNG RR Co. Survey A-111. MCMULLEN COUNTY n Swift Energy Operating of Houston has filed for permits to drill four more 12,500-foot wells in the A.W.P. (Olmos) field. The No. 95 Bracken will be 4.9 miles southeast of Tilden in the B&B Survey A- 511; the No. 16 L. S. McClaugherty will be drilled 3.5 miles southeast of Tilden in Section 30 of the J. M. Jean Survey A-282; the No. 14 Whitehurst will be 7.4 miles southeast of Tilden in Section 247 of the J. M. Del Castro Survey A-160; and the No. 5 SWR "J" will be drilled 11.5 miles southeast of Tilden in the G. J. Goode Survey A- 206. NUECES COUNTY n Decker Operating of Houston has filed for permits to drill two more wells in the Chapman Ranch field. The No. 339 Chapman Ranch, with a proposed total depth of 6,000 feet, will be 9 miles southwest of Corpus Christi in Section 39 of the R. De Ynojosa Survey A-411. The No. 847 Chapman Ranch, which has a proposed total depth of 7,000 feet, will be drilled 9.4 miles southwest of Corpus Christi in Section 47 of the same survey. n Sabco Operating Co. of Houston has filed for a permit to directionally drill the No. 8 TSL 32973/Tr 55 in the Corpus Christi, E., field. The well, which has a proposed total depth of 9,500 feet, will be 4 miles southeast of Corpus Christi in State Tract 55 of the Corpus Christi Bay. REFUGIO COUNTY n Charro Operating of Fort Worth has filed for permits to drill two 8,000-foot wildcat wells. The No. 10 Vidauri "F" will be 11.4 miles northeast of Refugio in the Power and Hewitson Survey A-54, and the No. 8 Vidauri "D" will be drilled 13.3 miles northeast of Refugio in the J. M. Blanco Survey A-5. Source: RigMatch Information Services Inc., Palestine, TX ************************************************ From seguingazette.com April 8, 2008 Panthers clinch playoff berth with 11-0 win By Jason Chlapek The Gazette-Enterprise GERONIMO — Navarro coach Tommy Knox isn’t one to get complacent. But, the Panthers’ skipper was a little less stressed out after Monday’s 11-0 whipping of Nixon-Smiley than he was after Friday’s 11- 6, 11-inning win at Karnes City. On Monday, Navarro scored 11 runs on 10 hits to finish off the Mustangs in four-and-a-half innings. “I like these quick games,” Knox said. “It was nice not having to play 11 innings again.” With the win, Navarro (17-2, 10-0 in District 29-2A) clinched its third playoff berth in as many seasons. Despite the accomplishment, Knox isn’t celebrating yet. “We’re not through yet,” he said. “We still need to focus and keep working towards the playoffs.” The Panthers got things going in the bottom of the second inning as they scored three times to take a 3-0 lead behind RBI singles from Zach Hernandez and Cole Allison and an error which scored Will Valdez. Justin Meyer, who scored the first of the three runs, led off the inning with a double before scoring on Hernandez’s single. Clayton Warren led off the third with a double, and stole third base before scoring on a Meyer sacrifice to give Navarro a 4-0 lead. Hernandez was hit by a pitch and stole second before scoring on a Wesley Ply single to put the Panthers up 5-0 after three innings of play. The fourth inning belonged to Navarro as the Panthers exploded for six runs in the frame. Allison led off with a single and stole second base before scoring on a two-out single by Meyer to make it 6-0 Navarro. Valdez followed with a single and Hernandez walked to load the bases for Ply, who drove in Meyer and Valdez with a single of his own to put the Panthers up, 8-0. Hernandez and Ply each scored on an outfield error, which also allowed Brent Bianchi to advance safely to second before scoring on a John Bormann single to give the Panthers their final run of the contest. Valdez, who pitched for the first time this season, closed out the game in the top of the fifth to give Navarro its sixth run-rule victory in the last eight games. The 11 runs scored also marked the ninth consecutive time the Panthers have scored 10 runs or more in a contest. Valdez went the distance for Navarro as he gave up one hit and four walks, while striking out eight. “I wanted to see what Will could do on the mound in case we need him down the road,” Knox said. Navarro visits Stockdale at 7 p.m. Friday. ************************************************ From oilonline.com April 10, 2008 Avalon increases working interest in Janssen #1A gas well Avalon Oil & Gas, Inc. has increased its working interest to 7.25 % in the Janssen #1A gas well in Karnes Country, Texas. The Janssen #1 well has maintained a production rate of 215 MCF and 5 barrels of condensate per day since the well was completed in May 2007. The Janssen #1A well is located in an area that is very active in gas and oil production. Total reserves are estimated to be 75,000 to 100,000 barrels of condensate and 3 to 4 billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas. The well was perforated at the 10,300 foot interval in the Roeder Sand (Wilcox Sand Series.) Kent A. Rodriguez, Avalon's CEO said, "We are pleased to increase our ownership interest in this steady producing well, which has been delivering an internal rate of return exceeding 48%.” He added “With the consistent returns we have experienced on the Janssen well to date, this asset represents a great performer in our growing portfolio of oil and gas producing properties.” The Janssen has a gas sales contract that fluctuates monthly with the Houston Ship Channel price index. Liquid condensate is sold at the monthly spot price for product in the regional Texas area. Avalon’s partners in the Janssen well include Tradestar Resources (TSRR.PK), Hot Springs, AR; Bedford Energy (BFDE.PK) Oklahoma City, OK, and Penasco Petroleum, Austin, TX. PROEX Energy Management is the operator of the well. ************************************************ From victoriaadvocate.com April 11, 2008 High school track and field results District 27-1A/28-1A Area Meet THRALL – Following are results from the District 27-1A/28-1A area meet held Wednesday. Top four finishers advance to Region IV-1A meet: Girls Team totals – 1. Louise, 114; 2. Flatonia, 84; 3. Thorndale, 80; 4. Shiner, 70; 5. Thrall, 53; 6. Holland, 50; 7. Fayetteville, 40; 8. Round Top-Carmine, 31; 9. Runge, 29; 10. Prairie Lea, 12; 11. Milano, 10; 12. (tie) Austwell-Tivoli & Dime Box, 8; 14. (tie) Bartlett & Moulton, 4; 16. Nordheim, 2. Long jump – 1. Danesha Moore, Prairie Lea, 16-1; 2. Amber Bain, Louise, 15-5.75; 3. Mirah Knapek, Thorndale, 15-3.5; 4. Kayla Dunk, Flatonia, 15-3; 6. Ninfa Rios, Runge, 14-10.5. Triple jump – 1. Katrina Mica, Flatonia, 34-4; 2. Shelby Kotulek, Louise, 34-1.5; 3. Dunk, Flatonia, 33-8.5; 4. Bain, Louise, 32-2; 5. Loree Nunez, Runge, 30-2. High jump – 1. Shauntae Hights, Shiner, 4-10; 2. Corrie Michalec, Fayetteville, 4-10; 3. Dunk, Flatonia, 4-8; 4. N. Rios, Runge, 4-8. Pole vault – 1. Laurie Byrd, Round Top-Carmine, 6-0. Shot put – 1. Brittany Williams, Flatonia, 36-10.5; 2. Chloe Endsley, Milano, 36-10.5; 3. Latisha Hall, Thorndale, 35-7; 4. Leah Jirasek, Bartlett, 32-7; 5. Ashley Waskow, Nordheim, 27-11.5; 6. Tiffany DeLosSantos, Runge, 26-2. Discus – 1. Dunk, Flatonia, 110-3; 2. Amber Stratman, Shiner, 106-0; 3. B. Williams, ,Flatonia, 104-8; 4. Katie Campbell, Dime Box, 96-0. 3200 – 1. Byrd, Round Top-Carmine, 11:56.80; 2. Kirbey Cufr, Fayetteville, 12:41.60; 3. Morgan Youngblood, Thorndale, 12:49.36; 4. Lindsey Youngblood, Thorndale, 13:16.57. 400 relay – 1. Louise, 53.16; 2. Shiner, 53.61; 3. Thorndale, 54.43; 4. Flatonia, 54.69; 5. Runge, 56.24. 800 – 1. Cheyenne Knaus, Holland, 2:33.77; 2. Ana Martinez, Louise, 2:37.59; 3. M. Youngblood, Thorndale, 2:39.11; 4. Christian Daniels, Thrall, 2:43.92. 100 hurdles – 1. Bain, Louise, 17.20; 2. Kelsey Williams, Flatonia, 18.03; 3. Randi Berkovsky, Shiner, 18.13; 4. Kourtney Malish, Thrall, 18.16; 5. Nunez, Runge, 18.85; 6. Lyndsey Rios, Runge, 20.37. 100 – 1. Kierra Thornton, Louise, 14.04; 2. Ieisha Flowers, Shiner, 14.22; 3. Kelsi Kutac, 14.37; 4. Amber Ramirez, Shiner, 14.52; 6. N. Rios, 14.94. 800 relay – 1. Louise, 1:51.30; 2. Thorndale, 1:52.66; 3. Flatonia, 1:57.29; 4. Thrall, 1:58.63; 6. Runge, 2:04.97. 400 – 1. Callie Johnson, Holland, 1:02.68; 2. Martinez, Louise, 1:03.46; 3. Elizabeth Jackson, A-T, 1:05.80; 4. Kotulek, Louise, 1:06.03. 300 hurdles – 1. Shelbi Hubnik, Thrall, 49.81; 2. N. Rios, Runge, 50.16; 3. Malish, Thrall, 51.33; 4. Laruen Greshman, Louise, 52.64; 5. Randi Berkovsky, Shiner, 53.46; 6. Loree Nunez, Runge, 56.26. 200 – 1. Flowers, Shiner, 28.39; 2. Callie Johnson, Holland, 28.62; 3. Ramirez, Shiner, 29.00; 4. Cailin Mica, Flatonia, 29.42; 5. E. Jackson, A-T, 29.46. 1600 – 1. Byrd, Round Top-Carmine, 5:41.29; 2. Knaus, Holland, 5:50.20; 3. Cufr, Fayetteville, 5:50.61; 4. Nicole Roades, Louise, 6:01.21. 1600 relay – 1. Thrall, 4:24.24; 2. Thorndale, 4:24.76; 3. Holland, 4:25.04; 4. Fayetteville, 4:35.52; 5. Moulton, 4:45.26; 6. Runge, 5:11.50. Boys Team totals – 1. Granger, 77; 2. Thrall, 70; 3. Milano, 69; 4. Louise, 62; 5. Thorndale, 60; 6. Flatonia, 47; 7. Clavert, 44; 8. Holland, 30; 9. Bartlett, 26; 10. Buckholts, 24; 11. Waelder, 19; 12. (tie) Shiner & Austwell-Tivoli, 16; 14. Burton, 14; 15. Round Top- Carmine, 10; 16. Moulton, 8; 17. (tie) Dime Box, Fayetteville & Prairie Lea, 7; 20. Runge, 3. Long jump – 1. Chad Burgess, Milano, 21-6.75; 2. Adrian Lighteard, Flatonia, 21-3.75; 3. Zack Simpson, Milano, 20-9; 4. Deon Williams, Prairie Lea, 19-9. Triple jump – 1. Homer Jackson, Thrall, 42-10.75; 2. Burgess, Milano, 42-9; 3. Lighteard, Flatonia, 42-2; 4. Chris Hicks, Louise, 40-3.5. High jump – 1. Sean Masek, Flatonia, 6-0; 2. Simpson, Milano, 5-10; 3. Cody Franke, Shiner, 5-8; 4. Clint Blaha, Louise, 5-6. Pole vault – 1. Blair Severson, Holland, 13-6; 2. Chad Turner, Milano, 12-0; 3. Cote Schacherl, Flatonia, 10-6; 4. Clayton Hale, Holland, 10-0. Shot put – 1. Ted Crews, Bartlett, 50-8; 2. Nathan Rodriguez, Holland, 45-5; 3. Deoderick Bradley, Burton, 42-2; 4. Jared Newman, Thorndale, 42-1.5. Discus – 1. Crews, Bartlett, 146-8; 2. LeMar Williams, Thrall, 123- 4; 3. Mo Liscano, Dime Box, 122-11; 4. Sam Walker, Milano, 122-9. 3200 – 1. Zach Candelas, Thrall, 10:52.82; 2. Jacob Nieto, A-T, 11:03.39; 3. Pedro Juarez, Granger, 11:31.79; 4. Randy Stevenson, Moulton, 11:31.80. 400 relay – 1. Thorndale, 44.56; 2. Calvert, 45.33; 3. Flatonia, 45.73; 4. Granger, 45.75; 5. Waelder, 45.81. 800 – 1. Clint Barrera, Louise, 2:14.17; 2. Justan Browning, Thorndale, 2:15.02; 3. Jay Sulak, Louise, 2:16.22; 4. Aaron Keilers, Fayetteville, 2:16.93. 110 hurdles – 1. Allen Shelton, Buckholts, 16.73; 2. Clay Mazoch, Granger, 17.07; 3. Sam Goodnight, Holland, 18.37; 4. Quinterious Williams, Calvert, 19.75; 6. Blaise Yanta, Runge, 21.24. 100 – 1. Kenny Sifuentes, Granger, 11.83; 2. Daniel Patterson, Burton, 11.97; 3. Andreas Lane, Bartlett, 11.98; 4. Wendell Green, Calvert, 12.47; 5. LaBrandon Nichols, Waelder, 12.45; 6. Quintin Fields, Waelder, 12.62. 800 relay – 1. Thorndale, 1:34.99; 2. Granger, 1:35.07; 3. Calvert, 1:36.66; 4. Thrall, 1:38.46; 5. Waelder, 1:42.70. 400 – 1. Daniel Sulak, Louise, 53.08; 2. Barrera, Louise, 54.10; 3. Quinton Loos, Shiner, 54.97; 4. Albert Adcock, Flatonia, 55.30; 5. Randy Solis, Runge, 59.16. 300 hurdles – 1. Cody Schneider, Thrall, 40.77; 2. Shelton, Buckholts, 42.81; 3. Mazoch, Granger, 43.83; 4. Franke, Shiner, 44.29. 200 – 1. Simpson, Milano, 23.64; 2. Dandy East, Thrall, 24.16; 3. Fields, Waelder, 24.28; 4. Christian Kerlin, Granger, 24.41; 5. Kelvin Brown, Waelder, 24.61; 6. Jordan Williams, Flatonia, 24.88. 1600 – 1. Candelas, Thrall, 5:01.38; 2. Nieto, A-T, 5:09.22; 3. Lauriano Pineda, Round Top-Carmine, 5:11.01; 4. Randy Stevenson, Moulton, 5:13.39. 1600 relay – 1. Louise, 3:40.96; 2. Granger, 3:42.62; 3. Milano, 3:42.63; 4. Thrall, 3:49.46. District 29-2A Meet Girls Team – 1, Poth 192; 2, Randolph 145 1/2; 3, Navarro 100; 4, Karnes City 69; 5, Yorktown 41; 6, Stockdale 331/2; 7, Nixon-Smiley 23; 8, Kenedy 16. Shot put – 1, Lauren Waclawczyk, Poth 36-6; 2, Kelsey Titzman, Poth 34-6.75; 3, Taira Alderman, Stockdale 32-1; 6, Temeka Canada, Nixon- Smiley 29-3. Discus – 1, Kelsey Titzman, Poth 124-5; 2, Lauren Waclawczyk, Poth 112-7; 3, Kendra Labus, Poth 107-8; 4, Tara Buehring, Karnes City 94- 3. Long jump – 1, Jasmine Kent, Randolph 18-2; 2, Jayla McArthur, Randolph 17-9 1/2; 3, Megan Edwards, Kenedy 17-1.5. Triple jump – 1, Courtney Laskowski, Poth 36-7.5; 2, Brittany Kinney, Karnes City 36-3.75; 3, Kasey Harlos, Poth 35-9 3/4. High jump – 1, Noelle Kubenka, Navarro 5-3; 2, Amanda Waclawczyk, Poth 5-0; 3, Kasey Harlos, Poth 5-0. Pole vault – 1, Sarah Korn, Navarro 9-6; 2, Rachele Herzog, Navarro 9-0; 3, Brooke Boening, Poth 8-6; 4, Ashley Parma, Yorktown 8-6; 6, Caitlin Bruns, Yorktown 7-6. 3,200 – 1, Courtney Haass, Navarro 11:41.92; 2, Lauren Losoya , Poth 12:32.72; 3, Codie Cano, Nixon-Smiley 13:21.99; 6, Savanna Ramirez, Karnes City 13:59.11. 400 relay – 1, Randolph, 51.00; 2, Yorktown, 53.20; 3, Poth 53.67; 6, Kenedy 57.09. 800 – 1, Robin Gavcez, Karnes City 2:31.05; 2, Kara Lucherk, Poth 2:31.20; 3, Tyler Garcia, Poth 2:33.35; 4, Genna Kopecki, Karnes City 2:35.53; 5, Kathryn Zimmernan, Karnes City 2:38.35. 100 hurdles – 1, Vanessa Urrutia, Karnes City 16.95; 2, Amanda Waclawczyk, Poth 17.06; 3, Ericka Donsbach, Stockdale 17.55. 100 – 1, Caitlni Carter, Randolph 12.91; 2, Kenya Alexander, Randolph 12.93; 3, Ashley Parma, Yorktown 13.28. 800 relay – 1, Randolph, 1:47.40; 2, Poth, 1:50.95; 3, Karnes City 1:53.09; 5, Yorktown 1:57.39. 400 – 1, Jayla McArthur, Randolph 1:00.77; 2, Deidra Garcia, Nixon- Smiley 1:03.53; 3, Kara Lucherk, Poth 1:04.58; 5, Megan Edwards, Kenedy 1:05.81. 300 hurdles – 1, La Rae Wieland, Yorktown 49.49; 2, Amanda Waclawczyk, Poth 49.60; 3, Vanessa Urrutia, Karnes City 51.26; 4, Carly Hester, Nixon-Smiley 51.42. 200 – 1, Tamoya Morrison, Randolph 26.17; 2, Kenya Alexander, Randolph 27.30; 3, Brittany Kinney, Karnes City ; 4, Miranda Rainey , Navarro 27.53; 5, Courtney Laskowski, Poth 27.62; 6, Bethanie Drzymala, Poth 27.93. 1,600 –1, Courtney Haass, Navarro 5:30.13; 2, Lauren Losoya, Poth 5:42.64; 3, Katlyn Atkinson, Kenedy 5:56.44; 4, Robin Gavcez, Karnes City 6:00.96. 1,600 relay – 1, Randolph, 4:13.53; 2, Poth, 4:21.71; 3, Navarro 4:24.64; 5, Nixon-Smiley 4:34.42; 6, Karnes City 4:45.50. Boys Team – 1, Poth 156; 2, Navarro 127; 3, Randolph 93; 4, Karnes City 65; 5, Nixon-Smiley 58; 6, Yorktown 46; 7, Stockdale 44; 8, Kenedy 25. Shot put – 1, Weston Buehring, Karnes City 47-2.75; 2, Ty Warnasch, Stockdale 45-2; 3, Jason Hierholzeb, Karnes City 44-6.52; 4, Josh Wood, Karnes City 43-10.25. Discus – 1, Chance Dziuk, Poth 157-6; 2, Taylor Hudson, Navarro 156- 7; 3, Chaz Laijas, Poth 146-4; 4, Weston Buehring, Karnes City 142-9. Long jump – 1, Will Valdez, Navarro 20-6.75; 2, Greg Bennett, Stockdale 20-3; 3, Caleb Kokenes, Navarro 19-10.5. Triple jump – 1, Greg Bennett, Stockdale 42-9; 2, Joaquin Morales, Kenedy 41-3; 3, Paul Saldana, Nixon-Smiley 40-1.5; 4, Weston Yanta, Karnes City 39–0.2. High jump – 1, Selleck Keene , Poth 6-4; 2, Cole Reed, Poth 5-10; 3, Hunter Braun, Navarro 5-10. Pole vault – 1, Jonathan Montoya, Poth 11-6; 2, Jonathon Wakefield, Yorktown 11-0; 3, Greg Boyle, Navarro 11-0. 3,200 – 1, Xavier Rodriguez, Poth 9:48.59; 2, Ethan Wagner, Yorktown 10:27.04; 3, Rollando Tovar, Nixon-Smiley 11:04.60. 400 relay – 1, Randolph, 45.13; 2, Navarro, 46.00; 3, Karnes City 46.42; 4, Kenedy 46.99. 800 – 1, Jonus Rodriguez, Poth 2:01.94; 2, Loren Koehler, Yorktown 2:08.67; 3, Arthur Borrego, Navarro 2:09.88. 110 hurdles – 1, David Moy, Poth 15.84; 2, Holden Beasley, Poth 16.58; 3, Lance Copeland, Randolph 16.59; 5, Blaise Korzekwa, Karnes City 16.96; 6, Jake Hrbacek, Karnes City 17.03. 100 – 1, C. Stoker, Randolph 11.43; 2, Erin Barefield, Yorktown 11.62; 3, Nathan Serna, Poth 11.63; 4, Jeff Reyna, Karnes City 11.77; 6, Robby Alvear, Kenedy 11.85. 800 relay – 1, Randolph, 1:33.19; 2, Navarro, 1:34.02; 3, Karnes City 1:37.06; 4, Kenedy 1:37.38. 400 – 1, Jonus Rodriguez, Poth 52.10; 2, Chester Casas, Nixon-Smiley 52.75; 3, Kendall Ruff, Navarro 54.04. 300 hurdles – 1, Jeffery Medina, Nixon-Smiley 42.16; 2, Brandon Stone, Nixon-Smiley 42.28; 3, David Moy, Poth 43.03. 200 – 1, Anthony Ravela , Randolph 23.57; 2, Cole Allison, Navarro 23.71; 3, Greg Bennett, Stockdale 23.79; 4, Erin Barefield, Yorktown 23.81. 1,600 – 1, Ethan Wagner, Yorktown 4:35.71; 2, Xavier Rodriguez, Poth 4:37.06; 3, Robert Broyles, Poth 5:03.57; 5, Sergio Sistus, Karnes City 5:15.99.. 1,600 relay – 1, Nixon-Smiley (Paul Saldana, Brandon Stone, Jeffery Medina, Chester Casas) 3:35.85; 2, Randolph, 3:36.58; 3, Navarro 3:39.78; 5, Karnes City 3:52.61. TAPPS 3-2A Meet SAN ANTONIO – Following are Shiner St. Paul results from Thursday’s TAPPS District 3-2A meet at Trinity Christian: Girls Team total – 2. 82. Shot put – 4. Ashley Kloesel, 28-6.75; 6. Paige Werner, 25-9.75. Discus – 3. Maria Wenske, 76-3; 4. Werner, 72-5. High jump – 4. Emily Wagner, 4-8. Long jump – 4. Carissa Sciba, 15-4. Triple jump – 6. Wagner, 30-6.25. 3200 – 5. Hannah Kocian, 14:27.41. 400 relay – 3. 56.80. 100 – 5. Stephanie Squyres, 13.93. 800 relay – 2. 2:03.02. 400 – 4. Hannah Marcak, 1:12.44. 200 – 5. Courtney Mraz, 29.73. 1600 relay – 3. 5:00.94. Boys Team total – 2. 112. Shot put – 3. Weston Barton, 36-4.5; 6. Blake Radicke, 33-4. High jump – 2. Jaime Ynclan, 5-2; 4. LeKendrick Caldwell, 5-0. Long jump – 3. Caldwell, 19-6.5. Triple jump – 4. Ynclan, 34-9. 400 relay – 1. 46.95. 800 – 6. Michael Pesek, 2:27.69. 100 – 3. Stephen Novosad, 11.86. 800 relay – 1. 1:40.40. 400 – 2. Jeffery Markham, 56.58. 300 hurdles – 3. Thom Raabe, 47.91. 200 – 2. Beau Broussard, 24.37. 1600 –5. Pesek, 5:43.12. 1600 relay – 3. 4:10.51. ************************************************ From desmoinesregister.com April 14, 2008 ISU's ag enrollment booms along with farm economy By JERRY PERKINS Ames, Ia. — It's fun to be a student ambassador these days at Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Ambassadors plan student events, give campus tours and take recruiting trips to high schools in Iowa and other states. And it hasn't been difficult to sell the state's largest ag college recently. Enrollment in the college has increased 14 percent since 2003, as job prospects for ag college graduates are bright and there is a sense of optimism in the industry because of the booming farm economy. While ag enrollment is up over five years ago, Iowa State's total enrollment has remained about the same — 26,160 this year — for the past decade. "We all love the College of Agriculture," said Jennie Hansen of Boone, a student ambassador and a junior majoring in food science. "It's a very close-knit community, and being one of the ambassadors is a lot of fun." Wendy Wintersteen, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said the economic depression that befell agriculture 25 years ago turned off an entire generation of rural young people. Their parents, she said, counseled their offspring to forget about farming or being involved in agriculture because of the financial difficulties they were going through. "There's been a radical change in agriculture," Wintersteen said. "The ag jobs have been good for a while, but it's really bloomed. We had to have two career fairs this year because of the demand for Iowa State's ag students. The agribusiness companies know they have to compete for our graduates." Michael Gaul, career services director at the ag college, said the job market is very good. "We've been riding a really good wave for job opportunities for the last five years," Gaul said. "This could be one of the best job markets in agriculture ever, and I say to the young people that it can only get better." In October, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences hosted the largest career fair in the United States. This year, Gaul said, a second career day was held in February. Gaul plans to continue to host two career fairs a year. Michelle Haegele of Davenport, a food science major who graduates next month, has already accepted a job with Archer Daniels Midland in its vegetable oil department in Decatur, Ill. Internships she held during the summer helped her land the job, she said, but her college career at ISU also was a factor. "There are a huge amount of jobs available to us because of the college," she said. The student ambassadors are doing their part to make sure enrollment continues to grow. They give tours of Iowa State's campus for prospective students, organize activities for campus events like the Veishea celebration, and help host the 3,000 people who will be attending the Iowa FFA state convention meeting in Ames today and Tuesday. There are 35 volunteer ambassadors, said Beth Foreman, the ambassadors' adviser at Iowa State. The students receive no pay, Foreman said, but they get shirts, leadership training and a chance to belong to an enthusiastic group. On-campus activities for the volunteers are hectic now as students make up their minds about where they want to go to college, she said. One student who recently decided to attend Iowa State is Kourtney Determan, 18, a senior at Schaller-Crestland High School who plans to major in horticulture. "It's a great up-and-coming program," she said. "They're updating all their facilities and greenhouses. When I visited Iowa State, they really sold the program." Being able to pay in-state tuition as an Iowa resident also was a factor, said Determan. Other students had different reasons for choosing Iowa State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Molly Mayer of Marcus, a sophomore majoring in food science, said she visited Iowa State and fell in love with the campus. Her sister also attends Iowa State. Justin Saenz, a freshman majoring in animal science, came to Ames from his hometown of Kenedy, Texas, for at least two reasons. Saenz, who wants to be a swine veterinarian, said he received some scholarship money from Iowa State. "But one of the biggest reasons I came here was that there were lots of trees and grass," he said. ************************************************ From victoriaadvocate.com April 14, 2008 49 graduate from Texas Vocational Schools Texas Vocational Schools of Victoria held its graduation ceremonies Friday, April 11, at the Victoria Community Center Annex. Forty-nine students from 17 area towns graduated with degrees in programs such as medical, legal, accounting and welding. More than 125 students have graduated from the center, located at1921 E. Red River St., since April 2007. Gary Moses was the guest speaker, and graduates Kimberly Hairell and Lori Bordisso shared their success stories. H.E. Boone, president, and Linda Simmons, director, presented the diplomas. Graduating with highest honors were: Christine Alexander of Meyersville; Curtis Arnecke, Nicole Briones and Lucretia Weiss, all of Victoria; Kate Bowden of Goliad; Kelli Brassell of Gillett; Jominique Brown of Edna; Kimberly Carrera and Alisha Nylund, both of Port Lavaca; Mariann Clark of Edna; Jennifer Flores of Yorktown; Kimberly Hairell of Hallettsville; and Tonya Hall of Seadrift. Graduates recognized for faithful attendance were James Blair of Boling, Luke DeBord and Brittany Enoch both of Yoakum; Jonathan Jaeger and Jeremy Penn, both of Yorktown; and Bradley Rohan and Charlotte Turner, both of Victoria. Graduates recognized for perfect attendance were Juan Gonzales and Robert Gonzales, both of Beeville; Randy Horn of Victoria; and Timothy Smithwick of Louise. Other graduates were Laura Almaraz of Ganado; Elizabeth Balboa, Richard Benefiel, Lori Bordisso, Sonia Briseno, Larry Chavez, Rezalyn Edquiban, Manuel Garcia, Kelley Kahanek, April Moreno, Deborah Redding, Nicole Salazar, Denise Salinas, Stacy Suarez, Yisel Vega, Brook Wehmeyer, all of Victoria; Stephanie Bluhm, and Amber Fox, both of Goliad; Robin Hare of Bloomington; Anthony Longoria of Kenedy; Shawnta Redding of Yoakum; Cecilia Ruiz of Seadrift; Jonathan Broz and Derek Salinas, both of Port Lavaca; and Diamond Torrez of Nordheim. ************************************************ From victoriaadvocate.com April 15, 2008 Advocate Honor Roll Baseball Kris Looper, Wharton –Went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and two runs in a win over Columbia. Ryan Deal, Refugio – Struck out 10 in a shutout win over Odem. Roman Madrid and Chris Hernandez, Memorial –Combined to go 4-for-8 with three RBIs in a win over San Antonio East Central. Rance Whitaker, Calhoun –Went 3-for-3 with two runs in a win over Corpus Christi Miller. Jennings Boothe, Cuero – Tossed a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts in a win over Gonzales. Casey Harryman, Cuero – Was 2-for-2 with a home run and six RBIs in a win over Gonzales. Preston Kocian, Josh Lorke and Jesse Braden, Yoakum – Combined to go 10-for-11 with five RBIs, two triples and two doubles in a win over Goliad. Drew Holland and Clayton Labus, Karnes City –Combined to throw a no- hitter in a win over Kenedy. Kalvin Corpus, Yorktown – Allowed two runs over seven innings and went 1-for-3 with a triple and a run in a win over Poth. Denver Diefenbach, St. Joseph – Tossed a one-hit shutout with five strikeouts in a win over San Antonio St. Anthony. Glenn Sparkman, Ganado – Went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs in a loss to Weimar. Luke Stancik, Weimar –Was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in a win over Ganado. Kyle Condel, Shiner –Struck out nine and went 4-for-4 with a grand slam in a win over Fayetteville. Marty Bigham, Schulenburg –Tossed a four-hit shutout with three strikeouts in a win over Rice Consolidated. Josh Hiller, Industrial – Went 4-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBIs in a win over Tidehaven. Jordan Chovanec, Industrial – Tossed a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a win over Tidehaven. Curt LaFleur, Gonzales –Went 2-for-3 with five RBIs in a win over Yoakum. Cody Robles, Yorktown –Went 2-for-5 with a grand slam, a double and five RBIs in a win over Stockdale. Softball Cecilia Castillo, Calhoun – Went 6-for-6 with a triple, two doubles, a stolen base, three runs and six RBIs in wins over Corpus Christi Miller and Gregory-Portland. Megan Carmichael, Yoakum –Struck out nine over five innings and went 3-for-4 in a win over Goliad. Courtney Repka, East Bernard –Tossed a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and went 1-for-2 in a win over Van Vleck and a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts while going 2-for-3 with a double in a win over Brazos Consolidated. Avery Trojacek, Schulenburg – Struck out 11 in a five-inning shutout win over Tidehaven. Jade Stock, Yorktown – Tossed a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a win over Kenedy. Morgan Bohuslav, Moulton –Went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in a win over Louise. Katrina Mica and Kallie Mikulik, Flatonia –Combined for a no-hitter and nine strikeouts in a win over Burton. Kristen Sandoval, Palacios – Went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs in a win over Goliad. Marina Vasquez, St. Joseph – Tossed a four-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in a win over Shiner. Kayla Escalante and Sarah Slavik, Faith Academy –Combined to go 6- for-7 with six RBIs in a win over Houston Texas Christian. Golf Helica Migl, Yoakum –Posted rounds of 81-76–157 to capture individual honors at the District 29-3A tournament. Chris Beard, Yoakum –Shot a 76-84–160 to win medalist honors at the District 29-3A tournament. Track and field C.J. Patterson, Bay City –Won the long jump and placed second in the triple jump at the District 24-4A meet. Tommy Singletary, Bay City –Sprinted to a first-place finish in the 100 and a second in the 200 at the District 24-4A meet. Alyssa Dibbern, Bay City –Qualified for regionals in three events after winning the high jump and placing second in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at the District 24-4A meet. Ebonee Spencer, El Campo –Took first in the triple jump and second in the 400 at the District 24-4A meet. Avery Griffin, Van Vleck – Won the shot put and discus at the District 27-2A meet. Michael Alliniece, Van Vleck – Placed first in the triple jump and second in the long jump at the District 27-2A meet. Matt Stezel, East Bernard – Captured first in the 300 hurdles and second in the 110 hurdles at the District 27-2A Meet. Jeffery Medina, Nixon-Smiley – Won the 300 hurdles and ran a leg on the winning 1,600-meter relay at the District 29-2A meet. Ethan Wagner, Yorktown –Won the 1,600 and placed second in the 3,200 at the District 29-2A meet. Amber Bain, Louise – Qualified for regionals in three events after winning the 100 hurdles, placing second in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump at the District 27-1A/28-1A area meet. Ieisha Flowers, Shiner – Won the 200 and placed second in the 100 at the District 27-1A/28-1A area meet. Kayla Dunk, Flatonia –Reached regionals in four events after winning the discus, placing third in the triple jump and high jump and fourth in the long jump at the District 27-1A/28-1A area meet. compiled by paul ebner ************************************************ From seguingazette.com April 16, 2008 Panthers clinch district crown with 17-4 win By Jason Chlapek The Gazette-Enterprise GERONIMO — There was no big postgame celebration for the Navarro baseball team on Tuesday. There was the typical postgame handshake with the opposition, the typical postgame chat from Panthers coach Tommy Knox and the typical postgame visits with family and friends. But no celebration, even though Navarro whipped Yorktown, 17-4, to clinch the District 29-2A championship outright for the second time in as many years at Navarro High School. “We’ll celebrate when we make it to Austin [the state tournament],” Knox said. “It’s great to win the district championship, but we have a long way to go still, and we want to do much more than just win the district.” Navarro (19-2, 12-0 in 29-2A) still has a pair of regular season games left on its plate as the Panthers host Randolph at 4 p.m. Friday in the final home game of the season before closing out the regular season at Kenedy at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Kenedy High School. Navarro scored all 17 of its runs in the first three innings behind 14 hits and eight Yorktown errors. “When you put the ball in play and the opponent commits errors, it makes things pretty easy for you,” Knox said. “We did well at the plate, and took advantage of most of our scoring opportunities.” The Panthers started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Justin Meyer hit a two-run home run to give his team a 2-0 edge. Beaux Henderson hit a one-out single and advanced to third base on an error to represent the runner on base during Meyer’s blast over the right field fence. Navarro poured on six more runs in the second to build an 8-0 lead as Zach Hernandez and Wesley Ply led off the inning with back-to-back singles before each moved up a base on an outfield error and scored on a two-run single by John Bormann. Bormann moved to third on the play because of a throwing error to set up his courtesy runner, Travis Korn, at third base with one out. Knox called for a hit-and-run situation as Korn ran towards home prior to Cole Allison laying down a bunt single to give Navarro a 5-0 lead. Allison stole second base and moved to third on the play because of an error before scoring on another hit-and-run bunt attempt, this time by Henderson. Henderson was safe on the play courtesy of an error. Clayton Warren was hit by a pitch before Meyer drove in Henderson with a single and Will Valdez sent Warren home on a double to put the Panthers up, 8-0. Despite surrendering a run in the top of the third, Navarro carried its momentum over into the bottom half of the inning by scoring nine more runs to build a 17-1 lead. Eric Mattix led off with a single, and Bormann and Allison both reached base on errors to juice the bags for Henderson. Henderson drew a walk to drive in Mattix, and Warren’s sacrifice sent Korn, who ran for Bormann, home to give the Panthers a 10-1 lead. The onslaught continued as Allison scored on a passed ball shortly after Meyer loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch, Valdez drove in Henderson with a single, and Ply reached base on an error to load the bases for Bormann. Bormann delivered with a hit to the right- center field fence, which scored Meyer’s courtesy runner, Caleb Brawner, Valdez and Ply to give Navarro a 16-1 advantage. Korn once again ran for Bormann, the catcher, and scored on an Allison single for the Panthers’ final run of the contest. Yorktown added three runs in the top of the fifth on one hit, three walks, a hit batsman and an error. Navarro had four players record multiple hits. Meyer was 3-for-3 with a hit batsman and three RBIs, Valdez was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, Bormann was 2-for-3 with five RBIs and Allison was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Meyer pitched all five innings for the Panthers as he struck out five batters, while giving up four hits, four walks and three hit batsmen. Navarro softball POTH — After the top of the first, it looked as if the Navarro softball team might have Poth’s number as the Lady Panthers took a 1- 0 lead on Monday. But the Pirettes showed why they are the defending district champions as they scored three times in the bottom of the first before scoring eight more runs en route to an 11-1 victory in 4.5 innings Monday at Poth High School. Despite the loss, Navarro (9-5, 8-4 in 29-2A) will still represent the district as its third-place playoff team. The Lady Panthers will face 30-2A runner-up Natalia in the bi-district round of the Class 2A state playoffs at a time, date and site to be determined. It also is not known whether or not the teams will compete in a best- of-three series or a one-game playoff. Poth (11-0 in 29-2A) clinched the district championship with the win. Samantha Nichols was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Rachele Herzog went 2- for-3 for Navarro. Herzog only surrendered seven hits, but six errors hurt the Lady Panthers. ************************************************ From victoriaadvocate.com April 17, 2008 Football coach stepping down at Nixon-Smiley By Mike Forman/Advocate Sports Writer Nixon-Smiley will have a new head football coach next season. Jeff Van Auken, athletic director for the Nixon-Smiley school district, said Marcos Pina would not return and the district is seeking applications for his replacement through April 25. Pina said Thursday he hadn’t officially resigned and declined to comment on his reasons for stepping down. Pina was an assistant at Nixon-Smiley for four years before taking over as head coach in 2005. He was previously an assistant at Aransas Pass, Yorktown and Skidmore-Tynan. Pina had a 9-21 record at Nixon-Smiley and led the Mustangs to the Class 2A, Division II bi-district playoffs in 2005. Nixon-Smiley had a 1-9 record last season and went 1-6 in District 29-2A. Nixon-Smiley will compete in District 28-2A next season against Karnes City, Kenedy, Poth, Stockdale and Navarro. Van Aucken hopes to have a new head coach on campus by the second week in May. “We’d like to get someone in here before the end of school,” Van Auken said, “so he can meet the kids and all that good stuff.” ************************************************ From austinrider.blogspot.com April 19, 2008 New Ride - South of Austin I decided I would ride somewhere I hadn't gone before. I looked on Google maps and found a place called Peggy Texas. My wife's name is Peggy. It sounded like a good place to go for the day. I left Kyle and headed down familiar territory west on Hwy 21 to San Marcos. I picked up Hwy 80 knowing that it should dead end in Karnes City. I had to get gas in Nixon, TX, and realized that it took almost 2 hours to get that far. Karnes City was another 30 minutes or more, but I get there without any problem. I really enjoyed the ride on Hwy 80. I was the only person on the road for as far as I could see, and only saw about 1 other vehicle about every 20 minutes or so. It was a great road with great scenery. I finally made it to Karnes City. Once there, I had to pick up Hwy 99, and managed to find it first shot, as if I knew where I was going! It was great. I was having a great time. I hit 99 and headed down a great stretch of road past. I even found Peggy, Texas. The town consisted of a sign, and three buildings. It must just be an industrial area as I found no residences close to the road. After several tight turns I came to cross Hwy 281. For a second I almost headed north on 281 because I had already been out for 3 hours, which I had thought would be my door to door time, yet I was still way out there. After a second thought, I decided to stay on course and take 99 all the way to it's dead end in SH 72. Eventually I got to 72, but noticed that 99 didn't dead end as I had expected. Suddenly I felt lost, as if I didn't know where I was. Once I hit 72, I was not sure which way to go. I had told myself to turn left (East), as I thought that would get me to Hwy I-35, but that was West. After about 2 miles, I decided that was wrong, and turned around and headed West, like my gut told me to. It didn't take long to hit Hwy 16, and I had sort of expected that. I noticed after a short while that a turn off to continue on 72 was available, and I half considered that route, until I noticed that the road was all gravel. No pavement. I decided to not make that left turn, and so continued North on 16. I must have been way way out there because the speed limit on Hwy 16 was 75 mph. Because I felt like I was lost, which I hate, I did 80 for about an hour. I thought for sure I would see a town or a gas station, or something. Nothing, for an hour. I did see buzzards eating road kill, but that was about it. Eventually I ended up in Jourdanton, TX, which actually contained people! Here I noticed I running on fumes and I got gas. I decided to ask the attendant how to get back to I-35 and he told me to follow Hwy 16 north for another 40 miles. Sure enough, in 40 miles, I was Loop 410, and followed the signs to get on to I-35. Based on the exit number, I knew I had about 70 miles to get home. I was sunburned and tired, so I did 80 mph all the way home. By the time I got home, I had been on the bike for 5 hours and 20 minutes. I had only planned to ride for about 2 hours. I greatly under-estimated the length of the route while looking at the maps. I am tired as heck. I have another ride tomorrow. It will be shorter! ************************************************ From atascosacounty.blogspot.com April 19, 2008 Rossville Brothers Served as Texas Rangers Tom Mather Ross Maria Navarro married John Clark Ross on August 20, 1870 at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio. They made a home for themselves on land given to them as a wedding gift from Maria's father, Jose Antonio George Navarro. The land was part of the expansive ranch granted to her grandfather Jose Antonio Navarro. On August 1, 1871, Tom Mather Ross was born to the couple. Six more children would follow. The earliest known enlistment into the Texas Rangers for Tom Mather Ross was in 1894 in Nueces County. He would have been 23. He is pictured with two Ranger companies at Temple, Texas during the railroad strike in July of 1894. The Ranger captains were J.A.Brooks, Company F and John R.Hughes, Company D. Tom re-enlisted in 1895 in Karnes County. In 1896, he is mentioned in a ledger, as being sent to El Paso, then on to Langtry for undercover duty in Governor Culberson's effort to prevent the Bob Fitzsimmons-Peter Maher world's heavyweight championship fight from taking place on Texas soil. The governor of Chihuahua ruled that the fight would not take place in Mexico. Judge Roy Bean invited them all to come to Langtry, and the fight was held on a tiny island in the middle of the Rio Grande. Tom Ross served as a Ranger for approximately twelve years, serving as Sergeant under Captain John R. Hughes on the border. He was promoted to Captain of Company B in about 1906. He was stationed at Ysleta, in El Paso County for a number of years. He was shot in the leg which led to amputation. His "wooden leg"did not hamper his performance as a Ranger Captain. Between 1907 and 1909 Captain Ross was assigned to Amarillo to go after bootleggers and saloon keepers. The local law enforcement ignored the laws and the problem had gotten out of hand. The Ranger's presence was greatly resented by many. This led to the murder of Ranger "Doc" Thomas and the assault of another Ranger by the chief of police. It soon became a public relations nightmare for the Rangers. Some officials in Austin felt the Rangers should withdraw from prohibition issues. This friction is said to be the cause of Captain Ross's resignation in 1910. After leaving the Rangers, Tom Ross moved to San Antonio and tried his hand in real estate. This didn't last long and he made his way to Cameron County and worked as a sheriff's deputy for several years. From 1916-1917 he had an appointment as Special Agent of the United States Bureau of Investigation. On June 10, 1916 he led a posse that prevented the burning of the Webb Station railroad trestle by raiders. In 1925 Tom Ross returned to San Antonio and became a federal court interpreter, as position he held until his death in 1946. On January 15, 1940 the 76th United States Congress passed a bill to pension a handful of Rangers who rendered their services in the Garza Revolution that had taken place on the border a half century before. Captain Tom Ross was on the list of Rangers. Tom Ross never married. He is remembered by his nieces as a modest man with a good sense of humor. One recalled that, as children, they would wait until he went to sleep to sneak a peak at his "wooden leg" which he had removed and stored under the bed. Another accompanied him to the great Texas Centennial celebration in Dallas in 1936 and remembered what a wonderful time they had. He died in his sleep on January 1, 1946 at the age of 75. Alexander Ross On February 7, 1885, Alexander and Maggie Ross, twins, were born to Maria Navarro Ross and John Clark Ross. Maggie died shortly before her second birthday. They were the youngest of seven children born to the couple. Alex Ross attended Texas A&M, studying civil engineering and surveying. These skills would prove useful in later in life, but, on April 1, 1905 Alex followed in the footsteps of his oldest brother, Tom, enlisting in the Rangers under Captain John R. Hughes. He was only 20. He re-enlisted on July 9, 1907 and again on September 2, 1908. Ranger lore refers to Captain Hughes as one of the "four great captains", joining the Rangers in 1887. He was captain of his own company from 1893 to 1915. He was highly respected with a zest for rangering. His early service in Shafter and Presidio is said to have given him an understanding of the demands of the border. He earned the nickname, "border boss". He was a skilled outdoorsman, and was especially good at tracking. Hughes selected his recruits with great care and led by example. He must have been a great teacher for young Alex Ross. Captain Hughes' Company D covered the huge Trans-Pecos with too few men. They tracked train robbers in the Devils River headlands and along the lonely Rio Grande. Border disturbances and ethnic troubles were a constant problem. Stock theft kept them very busy. Zane Grey's novel, The Long Star Ranger (1914) is dedicated to Hughes and his Rangers. Alex Ross was one of his Rangers. After his days as a Ranger, Alex Ross helped survey the new town site of Jourdanton in 1909. Because of his engineering skills and his knowledge of Spanish he helped develop a banana plantation on the west coast of Mexico, near Puerto Vallarta. He married Elizabeth Mayers on January 3, 1910. The couple had three daughters, Mary Elizabeth, Harriett Emilie and Clara Adell. Alex was a quiet, modest man who sometimes told stories to his grandchildren about his days on the border as a Ranger. They remember how sweet he was to his family, never seeing him angry or upset. He was known for his kindness to others, lending a helping hand to all. Alex had a love of farming and ranching, working as ranch manager north of Castroville for the Roeglin family's Rio Medina Ranch for several years. He then spent the rest of his life farming and ranching on his own land in Rossville. Alex and Elizabeth attended the church at Anchorage and in 1958 Alex helped to build the chapel that is still in use today. He and Elizabeth were honored with a celebration on their 50th anniversary in 1960 by their many friends and family. Alex died on February 21, 1966 at the age of 81. He is buried in the Anchorage Cemetery next to Elizabeth. ************************************************ From bard.typepad.com Ride to the Hanging Tree in Goliad Texas have had a great weekend, however my backside is telling me enough is enough. On Saturday I spend about six hours on my bike taking the MSF Experienced Riders Course. Then today after church the Parkway Riders held what is becoming our bi-monthly after church lunch ride. We had four people, including myself, from our last and everyone else was new, about 14 people total. This time we rode to the Hanging Tree restaurant in Goliad, Texas. The Hanging Tree sits on the Goliad town square across from the 114 year old court house and a real ‘hanging tree’. Now there are many old oaks in Texas that people call hanging trees but this is one of the few that has historically documented hangings, like the ones during the 1857 “Cart War” . To the left is a picture of our ride group in front of the tree and to the right is the Historical Marker in front of the court house. The food at The Hanging Tree restaurant was great. Small menu but with a good variety of items. Steak, fried catfish, meat loaf, lasagna, chicken Caesar salad, and the bread and rolls were great. I had the chicken fried rib-eye and it was very good. We took the long way home, heading up TX 239 toward Kennedy, then east across TX 72 stopping to fill up a few tanks, and empty a few others (if you know what I mean) at Pico’s in Runge, then over to Yorktown and finally down through Mission Valley and back to Victoria. The roads have few decent curves, nothing great but at least they are not strait shots like our last ride. Next up, The Parkway Riders will be holding a Blood Drive in June and I am also working on writing a “Ride Study”. This is where we take a whole day, ride to a location, like Presidio La Bahia, stop and do a 20-30 minute bible study. Then back on the bikes, ride for an hour or two, stop someplace for lunch and part two of the study, then ride some more and make a third stop for the conclusion of the study and then home. I have to work out the material, mileage and time, but I hope to do it with our ride group this summer and use it as a trial run for the video studying I am working on. ************************************************ From seguingazette.com April 20, 2008 Area athletes to wear various hats this week By Jason Chlapek The Gazette-Enterprise GUADALUPE COUNTY — Spring is a busy time of year for Marion senior Brandon Swanson, particularly this spring. Not only does Swanson have to make plans for his high school graduation next month as well as which college or university he will attend next fall, he also is currently involved in three sports — baseball, golf and track and field. This week coming up will be a battle of attrition for Swanson as he competes in the Region IV-Class 3A Golf Tournament on Monday and Tuesday in Corpus Christi, attempts to lead the Bulldogs baseball team to a victory over La Vernia Tuesday night in La Vernia, and goes back to the Greater Corpus Christi area to compete in the Region IV- 3A Track and Field Meet Friday and Saturday at Texas A&M-Kingsville. “It’s going to be a crazy week — and stressful,” Swanson said. “But, it’ll be fun to compete.” Swanson practices for the long jump — the event he will compete in this weekend in track and field — during seventh period before school lets out, takes a brief break before heading to baseball practice from 4-6 p.m., and works on his golf game on the weekends. Swanson isn’t the only area athlete who is multi-tasking this week. He is just one of eight athletes in his school and one of 14 in the Seguin Gazette-Enterprise coverage area who will participate in either more than one region competition or more than one sport this week. Taylor Greene, who is Swanson’s teammate in both baseball and golf, will be in Corpus Christi Monday and Tuesday before traveling back to the area to compete against La Vernia in baseball Tuesday night. Greene, like Swanson, has to find a way to squeeze in quality practice time in both sports. “I don’t have a seventh period class, so I go to the hill in the back of the school and work on my chip shots for golf, then I head to baseball practice after school,” Greene said. “It’s a tough task at times, but apparently I’ve found a way to get it done.” Greene also participated in track and field. Josh Brown is Greene’s and Swanson’s teammate in both baseball and golf, and will compete in Corpus Christi and La Vernia as well. Other Marion athletes who will compete in more than one sport this week are Sara Basha (softball and track), Hunter Brietzke (baseball and track), Jordan Littlefield (baseball and track), Laci Schupp (softball and track) and Kalynn White (softball and track). White will be particularly busy this weekend as she not only participates in the Bulldogs’ 3A bi-district playoff against Bandera on Thursday, she also competes in an area-high five events in the region track meet — high jump, long jump, triple jump, 400-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay. At Navarro, six athletes will wear more than one hat this week as they compete in more than one sport. One of those is senior Mara Stephens, who will compete in both the Region IV-2A Golf and Tennis Tournaments. “It’s a great accomplishment to go to regionals in two sports,” said Stephens, a first-time regional qualifier. “I’m happy that I get to go as far as I can this year, and I’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.” On Monday and Tuesday, Stephens will compete as an individual medallist in the region golf tournament at Quail Creek Country Club in San Marcos before teaming with Toni Frazier in girls doubles competition on Wednesday and Thursday in the region tennis tournament at the Texas State University Tennis Center in San Marcos. Stephens practices tennis during the school week, and uses the weekends to improve on her golf skills. Stephens also is competing in golf for the first time in three years. Like Stephens, Arthur Borrego also will compete in two regionals as he will participate in tennis on Wednesday and Thursday and track on Friday and Saturday. With his distance-running background, Borrego is able to take care of part of his workout before school starts. “I run two miles before I go to school to get my distance in, then I work on sprints in eighth period before taking a 30-minute Gatorade break and going to tennis after school,” Borrego said. Borrego participates in mixed doubles competition with Haley Helweg on the tennis courts, and competes in the 800-meter run and 1,600- meter relay on the track. He has a few goals in mind for his events this week. “Haley and I will have a great shot at making it to state if we make it to the semifinals,” he said. “In track, I think if I can run at least a 1:58 in the 800, I’ll have a shot at state.” With athletes competing in multiple sports during a season, coaches have to make adjustments, and Navarro tennis coach Blake Hoffmann is no stranger to that. “We (coaches) have to make it work out [playing more than one sport],” Hoffmann said. “This week, I won’t see Mara until Wednesday, but I get Arthur after school on Monday and Tuesday, and I get him before the track meet.” Hoffmann has eight athletes competing in the region tennis tournament with representatives in all five brackets — boys singles, girls singles, boys doubles, girls doubles and mixed doubles. Cole Allison is another athlete competing in more than one sport as he will try to help the Panthers’ baseball team complete an undefeated run in District 29-2A play against Kenedy on Tuesday, and compete in three events on Friday and Saturday at the Region IV-2A Track and Field Meet at Bobcat Stadium on the Texas State campus. “It’s a difficult task [balancing baseball and track practice], but the coaches are very understanding,” Allison said. “It helps to have track practice during eighth period because then I can take a break before going to baseball practice after school.” Allison will compete in the 200-meter run, and the 400- and 800- meter relays in the region meet. Other Navarro athletes competing in more than one event this week are Rachele Herzog (softball and track), Will Valdez (baseball and track) and Clayton Warren (baseball and golf). Herzog also will have an interesting weekend as she competes in the 1,600-meter relay preliminary race Friday morning in San Marcos before traveling to Tejeda Field in San Antonio to help the Lady Panthers compete against Natalia in the 2A bi-district round of the state playoffs, and then returning to San Marcos Saturday morning for the pole vault. Multi-sport Competitors Here’s a look at the athletes who will participate in more than one sport this week. Marion Sara Basha: Softball (vs. Bandera, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at SAISD Spring Sports Complex), Track and Field (Girls 100-meter hurdles Friday-Saturday at Texas A&M-Kingsville) Hunter Brietzke: Baseball (at La Vernia, 7 p.m. Tuesday at La Vernia City Park), Track and Field (Boys 400-meter relay and 800-meter relay Friday-Saturday at Texas A&M-Kingsville) Josh Brown: Baseball (at La Vernia, 7 p.m. Tuesday at La Vernia City Park), Golf (Monday-Tuesday at Oso Golf Course, Corpus Christi) Taylor Greene: Baseball (at La Vernia, 7 p.m. Tuesday at La Vernia City Park), Golf (Monday-Tuesday at Oso Golf Course, Corpus Christi) Jordan Littlefield: Baseball (at La Vernia, 7 p.m. Tuesday at La Vernia City Park), Track and Field (Boys 400-meter relay and 800- meter relay Friday-Saturday at Texas A&M-Kingsville) Laci Schupp: Softball (vs. Bandera, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at SAISD Spring Sports Complex), Track and Field (Girls discus Friday-Saturday at Texas A&M-Kingsville) Brandon Swanson: Baseball (at La Vernia, 7 p.m. Tuesday), Golf (Monday-Tuesday at Oso Golf Course in Corpus Christi), Track and Field (Boys long jump Friday-Saturday at Texas A&M-Kingsville) Kalynn White: Softball (vs. Bandera, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at SAISD Spring Sports Complex), Track and Field (Girls high jump, long jump, triple jump, 400-meter relay and 800-meter relay Friday-Saturday at Texas A&M-Kingsville) Navarro Cole Allison: Baseball (at Kenedy, 7 p.m. Tuesday), Track and Field (boys 200-meter run, 400-meter relay and 800-meter relay Friday- Saturday at Texas State) Arthur Borrego: Tennis (Wednesday-Thursday at Texas State), Track and Field (boys 800-meter run and 1,600-meter relay Friday-Saturday at Texas State) Rachele Herzog: Softball (vs. Natalia, 7 p.m. Friday at Tejeda Field in San Antonio), Track and Field (girls pole vault and 1,600-meter relay Friday-Saturday at Texas State) Mara Stephens: Golf (Monday-Tuesday at Quail Creek Golf Course in San Marcos), Tennis (Wednesday-Thursday at Texas State) Will Valdez: Baseball (at Kenedy, 7 p.m. Tuesday), Track and Field (boys long jump Friday-Saturday at Texas State) Clayton Warren: Baseball (at Kenedy, 7 p.m. Tuesday), Golf (Monday- Tuesday at Quail Creek Golf Course in San Marcos) ************************************************ From cattlenetwork.com 4/22/2008 Cattle Brands: The Muleshoe MULESHOE RANCHES. Several Texas ranches have registered and used a muleshoe brand in various forms (typically an inverted U shape). The earliest known use of this brand in Texas was about 1844, when Mrs. B. C. Oliver reportedly designed a crude muleshoe brand for her family's cattle in Red River County. By 1861 the Olivers had moved to Nueces County, for it was there that the brand was registered on July 9 of that year. Near Corpus Christi the Olivers set up their Mota Ralla Ranch, which by 1884 covered more than 15,000 acres and ran 200 head of cattle, 100 horses, and 20,000 sheep, all bearing their muleshoe brand. On October 6, 1892, ownership of the ranch was transferred to E. R. Oliver, Sr., who in turn passed it on to his son, E. R., Jr., on June 20, 1900. Oliver descendants continued to use the brand in subsequent years. A similar brand was started in 1856 (though not actually registered until 1860) by Henry Black in Fannin County. He subsequently moved west to Stephens County, where he purchased land and established the Muleshoe Ranch;qv he used the brand for the next fifty years. A muleshoe brand of a different design was introduced in 1860 by W. W. Cochran, the first white settler in Palo Pinto County to settle west of the Brazos River. Later his son, W. C. Cochran, transferred it to Ector County. A brand of similar design was begun in December 1891 by John T. Holland, who ran it in Runnels County for a few years and then moved it to Armstrong County, where he settled near the town of Wayside in 1898. In 1908, after moving to Canyon in Randall County, Holland sold the brand to Dan L. Adams, who continued to use it on his stock farms near Happy and Wayside. In addition, Daniel Waggoner was said to have used a crude muleshoe brand for a brief time. When he first established his ranch on Paradise Prairie in Wise County, Waggoner had no branding iron with him. On spotting a cast-off muleshoe, he heated it and applied it to his cattle, using fire tongs to handle it. From that temporary substitute, Waggoner reportedly developed his famous Three D brand. A muleshoe brand that reclines on its side (a letter C shape) was registered in Karnes County on February 29, 1884, by J. M. Nichols. It reportedly was selected because it had no crosses and peeled off smoothly. In later years this brand was continued by his sons, J. W. and A. E. Nichols, on their respective operations in Bee and Live Oak counties. The most famous Muleshoe Ranch, however, was the one that gave its name to the town of Muleshoe in Bailey County. Originally part of the vast XIT Ranch,qv the Muleshoe Ranch was begun in 1903, when Edward K. Warren and his son Charles, owners of the Warren Featherbone Company (a manufacturer of women's corsets in Three Oaks, Michigan), bought the YL Ranch, consisting of 40,000 acres, from J. L. Clark of Tennessee for $100,000. It became part of the Muleshoe Ranch, to which the Warrens added even more former XIT acreage from the brothers W. D. and F. W. Johnson in 1907, thus doubling their holdings. Within the next two years the Warrens had nearly $500,000 invested in Texas land and cattle. By 1910 subsequent purchases and leases had enlarged their empire to 150,000 acres along Blackwater Draw, covering portions of Bailey, Lamb, Castro, and Parmer counties. The headquarters for this operation was established west of the future townsite. One building, dating from the 1890s, was moved from Bovina to the headquarters and made into a combination bunkhouse and mess hall. The origin of the Muleshoe name for this enterprise is obscure; it was said that Charles Warren, as he was pondering a name, came across an old rusty muleshoe. Even so, the Warrens for the first five years referred to the ranch as the YL; the muleshoe brand was allegedly used first by the Johnson brothers on their Borden County ranch, and after buying land from them, Warren perhaps used the muleshoe brand briefly. However, after acquiring the 200,000-acre Ojitos Ranch in northern Mexico from Lord Beresford of England in 1910, he began applying that operation's U Bar brand to all of his herds; Beresford reportedly had designed that brand in 1889 as a warning to cow thieves (see CATTLE RUSTLING), meaning "You are barred." Nevertheless, the resemblance between the U Bar and muleshoe brands was close enough to perpetuate the latter name for the Warrens' Texas ranch—and ultimately for the new Bailey County seat. The Muleshoe Ranch prospered when the Santa Fe's Clovis cutoff line was built through its property, increasing area land values and launching the town of Muleshoe at the site of the ranch's loading pens in 1913. Charles Warren thus began selling tillable real estate to incoming farmers. After the death of his father in 1919, Charles and other family members incorporated their holdings as E. K. Warren and Son, with Charles as president and chief stockholder. By then he also owned the Alamo Hueco Ranch in southwestern New Mexico, as well as the Ojitos, which was subject for a few years to frequent depredations by insurgents under such revolutionaries as Ynez Salazar and Francisco (Pancho) Villa.qv Whatever losses Warren sustained in Mexico were made up in part from the profits of the Muleshoe, which sold cattle for as much as $9.08 an animal in 1915. At one time some 10,000 head of cattle grazed the Muleshoe range. Tom Clayton managed operations there for several years, and William H. Kramer was elevated from office boy to the ranch's secretary-treasurer and unofficial manager. By 1924 the Warren corporation had reached its zenith. After Charles Warren's death in 1932, his ranching interests were maintained and expanded by other stockholders, largely under the direction of his brother-in-law and longtime associate, George Lackey. Charles Warren's son, E. K. Warren, assumed the company's presidency in 1940, while William Kramer served as its secretary- treasurer and acting manager. In 1944 and 1945 two more ranches—in New Mexico and Colorado—were obtained. The Ojitos properties, however, were lost, as the corporation was compelled to sell out its Mexican interests in 1947 at a third of the 1910 purchase price. By 1954 the older Warren family members no longer retained a controlling interest in the company. The Muleshoe, along with the other remaining ranches, was sold, thus bringing to an end the once-vast Warren cattle empire. In the late 1980s the old Muleshoe Ranch cookhouse and bunkhouse stood near Farm Road 1760 west of Muleshoe. Surrounded by farmland, the building had been designated a historic landmark and had received a Texas Historical Commissionqv marker. Records of the Muleshoe Ranch and other Warren company interests are housed in the Southwest Collection, Texas Tech University, Lubbock. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Armstrong County Historical Association, A Collection of Memories: A History of Armstrong County, 1876-1965 (Hereford, Texas: Pioneer, 1965). Gus L. Ford, ed., Texas Cattle Brands (Dallas: Cockrell, 1936). LaVonne McKillip, ed., Early Bailey County History (Muleshoe, Texas, 1978). David J. Murrah, "From Corset Stays to Cattle Ranching: Charles K. Warren and the Muleshoe Ranch," West Texas Historical Association Year Book 51 (1975). H. Allen Anderson The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article. Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/apmbv.html (accessed April 22, 2008). (NOTE: "s.v." stands for sub verbo, "under the word.") ************************************************ From caller.com April 23, 2008 Mustangs still in the running King stays in race for postseason spot with blowout win By Javier Becerra The King baseball team needed to win Tuesday night to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Mustangs are back in the race, but the postseason picture is far from settled. King closed out the regular season with an 8-0 win over San Antonio Southwest at Cabaniss Field. The victory improved the Mustangs to 7-5 in the District 27-5A standings and created a three-way tie for third place with S.A. East Central and Victoria Memorial. Since the three teams split their games against each other, a lottery draw to determine seeding in an elimination tournament will take place. The tournament is tentatively scheduled to be played in Kenedy, possibly on Saturday. The Mustangs are thankful just to have the opportunity. "All we asked for was a chance," King coach Gabriel Perez said. "Now we'll see what happens." District and school officials were scheduled meet early today to discuss plans for the tournament. Until then, all that's known is how the teams will be seeded. If Team A wins the coin flip, teams B and C will play and the winner (B) will play Team A. If Team A wins, it will be top the seed, B will be the second seed and C will be the third. If Team A loses to team B, then B will be the top seed and teams A and C will play for the second seed. King (17-14 overall) pounded out 12 hits, three of those by Quinn Mosel. The first baseman also drove in four runs. Stephen Seaman allowed only four hits in six innings for the Mustangs and recorded seven strikeouts. King made its intention known in the bottom of the first. Dyllan Moreno led off with a triple to left and quickly scored on a wild pitch, giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Chris Navarro reached safely on a fielding error two batters later and ended up at second on the play. Gerard Rodriguez then froze Seaman on a called third strike for the second out, but Everret Villarreal followed with a base hit to left that scored Navarro. Villarreal later scored on a single by Mosel to put King front 3-0. Travis Schuetze made it a 4-0 advantage in the second with a base hit up the middle that scored Aaron Alexander. The Mustangs added two more runs in the third on two-run single by Mose, his second of the game. Mosel drove in his fourth run of the night in the fifth with a base hit to center, which gave King a 7-0 lead. Moreno scored on a wild pitch in the sixth for the game's final run. KING 8, S.A. SOUTHWEST 0 Southwest 000 000 0--0-4-2 King 312 011 x--8-12-1 @2-Graphic body [7/8].5:WP -- Stephen Seaman (1-1-1 overall, 2-0 district). LP -- Gerard Rodriguez. 2B -- Southwest, Jarrod Lamm; King, Will Good. 3B -- King, Dyllan Moreno. Records -- Southwest 8-17 overall, 2-10 district; King 17-14, 7-5. ************************************************ From caller.com April 23, 2008 Mustangs still in the running King stays in race for postseason spot with blowout win By Javier Becerra The King baseball team needed to win Tuesday night to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Mustangs are back in the race, but the postseason picture is far from settled. King closed out the regular season with an 8-0 win over San Antonio Southwest at Cabaniss Field. The victory improved the Mustangs to 7-5 in the District 27-5A standings and created a three-way tie for third place with S.A. East Central and Victoria Memorial. Since the three teams split their games against each other, a lottery draw to determine seeding in an elimination tournament will take place. The tournament is tentatively scheduled to be played in Kenedy, possibly on Saturday. The Mustangs are thankful just to have the opportunity. "All we asked for was a chance," King coach Gabriel Perez said. "Now we'll see what happens." District and school officials were scheduled meet early today to discuss plans for the tournament. Until then, all that's known is how the teams will be seeded. If Team A wins the coin flip, teams B and C will play and the winner (B) will play Team A. If Team A wins, it will be top the seed, B will be the second seed and C will be the third. If Team A loses to team B, then B will be the top seed and teams A and C will play for the second seed. King (17-14 overall) pounded out 12 hits, three of those by Quinn Mosel. The first baseman also drove in four runs. Stephen Seaman allowed only four hits in six innings for the Mustangs and recorded seven strikeouts. King made its intention known in the bottom of the first. Dyllan Moreno led off with a triple to left and quickly scored on a wild pitch, giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Chris Navarro reached safely on a fielding error two batters later and ended up at second on the play. Gerard Rodriguez then froze Seaman on a called third strike for the second out, but Everret Villarreal followed with a base hit to left that scored Navarro. Villarreal later scored on a single by Mosel to put King front 3-0. Travis Schuetze made it a 4-0 advantage in the second with a base hit up the middle that scored Aaron Alexander. The Mustangs added two more runs in the third on two-run single by Mose, his second of the game. Mosel drove in his fourth run of the night in the fifth with a base hit to center, which gave King a 7-0 lead. Moreno scored on a wild pitch in the sixth for the game's final run. KING 8, S.A. SOUTHWEST 0 Southwest 000 000 0--0-4-2 King 312 011 x--8-12-1 @2-Graphic body [7/8].5:WP -- Stephen Seaman (1-1-1 overall, 2-0 district). LP -- Gerard Rodriguez. 2B -- Southwest, Jarrod Lamm; King, Will Good. 3B -- King, Dyllan Moreno. Records -- Southwest 8-17 overall, 2-10 district; King 17-14, 7-5. ************************************************ From wwarii.com April 23, 2008 World War II History for April 23 1942 - German bombers attacked, nicknamed the “Baedeker Raids,” Exeter and later Bath, Norwick, York, and other “medieval-city centres.” Almost 1,000 English civilians were killed. On March 28 of the same year, 234 British bombers struck the German port of Lubeck, an industrial town of only “moderate importance.” The attack was ordered (according to Sir Arthur Harris, head of British Bomber Command) as more of a morale booster for British flyers than anything else, but the destruction wreaked on Lubeck was significant: Two thousand buildings were totaled, 312 German civilians were killed, and 15,000 Germans were left homeless. As an act of reprisal, the Germans attacked cathedral cities of great historical significance. The 15th-century Guildhall, in York, as an example, was destroyed. The Germans called their air attacks “Baedeker Raids,” named for the German publishing company famous for guidebooks popular with tourists. The Luftwaffe vowed to bomb every building in Britain that the Baedeker guide had awarded “three stars.” 1942 - In Texas, Kenedy Alien Detention Camp began receiving prisoners. It housed more than 3,500 Japanese, German and other foreign nationals during WWII. ************************************************ From thecountywide.com April 23, 2008 Karnes City ISD school board adopts Emergency Operations Plan By Kevin Matula The Karnes City Board of Trustees adopted a resolution for the District Emergency Operations Plan, at a special meeting on April 14. Emergency Response Crisis Management Coordinator Shelby Dupnik addressed the board on the district plan. "The unfortunate reality in Texas is that school districts in Texas and across our country may be tested either directly, indirectly in an adverse event and that can occur with little or no warning," Dupnik said. "And thanks to the efforts of our state and local officials, teachers and staff I think our schools in Karnes County remain safe." According to Dupnik, the Texas Unified School Safety Standards were created to create a "framework" to help develop school emergency plans. "The unified standards, does not create a mandate it just makes a recommendation of standard practices throughout the emergency operations community," Dupnik said. "School safety effects the community… the expectation is for your school district to be safe." Dupnik said that these standards are a "baseline" for strategic planning. The standards include sections such as prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The prevention/mitigation section of the plan addresses what school districts need to do prior to an emergency. The preparedness section is aimed towards as Dupnik said, "the worse case scenario." Response is devoted to steps taking in a crisis/emergency, and recovery deals with how the district will restore the school back to a learning environment after crisis/emergency. "The school district in a recovery process is a big signal to the community saying, ‘Hey things are okay, we’re healing and we’re going to get on with what we need to do,’" Dupnik said. Dupnik noted that Texas Education Code thirty-seven also requires the school to have a "security audit" every three years. It requires each campus to practice and exercise in school drills, such as bus evacuation, going into a building and leaving a building. The district has been doing regular drills such as fire, bad-weather and bus-evacuation on different campuses, district wide. Secondary schools Principal Jeanette Winn reported to the school board on the May 30 Graduation at Poss Johnson Field. "The senior class officers came and met with me; they had a couple ideas for graduation, wanting to simplify it a little bit," Winn told board members. "If they come to me with ideas such as ‘We want to each do a cart-wheel before receiving our diploma,’ I would’ve said no. The ideas they had are slightly different from what we’ve had in the past." According to Winn, the senior class voted to not have a guest speaker, because of time constraints. The senior class participates in a parent-sponsored "Project Graduation," after graduation. "This year we’re having an on-site Project Graduation," Winn said. "We’re very excited about that. The students just overwhelmingly selected that." There will also be no individual presenters for student scholarships, students will have their name called out and their scholarships will be said. ************************************************ From seguingazette.com April 24, 2008 Panthers run table in district By Jason Chlapek KENEDY — Fourteen was the lucky numeber for the Navarro baseball team on Tuesday. The Panthers completed a 14-0 run through District 29-2A play by scoring 14 unanswered runs in the final three innings to rally from a 5-2 deficit and pick up a 16-5 victory over Kenedy at Kenedy High School. Navarro (21-2, 14-0 in 29-2A) won its second district championship in as many years, and hasn’t lost a district contest since 2006 when the Panthers were the third-place team out of 27-2A to Blanco and Comfort, respectively. In its current alignment (29-2A), Navarro posted a 27-0-1 district record with its only blemish being a 6-6 tie against Poth in March 2007. Despite the victory, Navarro coach Tommy Knox was still concerned about his team’s effort on Tuesday night. “I wanted us to play a little better than we did,” Knox said. “We committed too many errors, but I guess it’s better to do this now than in the playoffs.” Navarro receives a first-round bye, and will face Devine in a playoff warmup game either Friday or Saturday at a time and site to be determined. Justin Meyer and Wesley Ply each hit home runs in the victory, and Meyer posted four RBIs. Marion softball MARION — The Bulldogs used a three-run fifth inning on Tuesday to rally from a 2-0 deficit and earn a 3-2 victory over D’Hanis at the Marion Softball Complex. Marion (14-15) moved within a game of .500 with the victory, and handed D’Hanis (17-2) its second loss of the season. D’Hanis, a Class A power, scored once in the first inning and once in the third to build a 2-0 lead. But the Bulldogs got on the board in the fifth with three runs to take the lead for good, 3-2. The highlight of the inning was a two- run hit by Ashley Jacobsen. Jacobsen also pitched the first six innings to pick up the victory as she struck out three batters, while giving up two runs on five hits. Shelby Thomas pitched in the seventh inning to earn the save. ************************************************ From thecountywide.com April 23, 2008 Kenedy seniors accused of abusing girl during class By Jason Jansky Four Kenedy High School seniors were arrested at school April 15 after police say they forcibly restrained, threatened, and inappropriately touched a teenage girl on campus during ag class. Kenedy Police Department Sergeant Jeremy Stevens said his office received a complaint early this month from a female teenage student at Kenedy High School. She claimed four boys cornered her in a small, isolated room during ag class. Stevens said three of the boys restrained the girl, prevented her from leaving the room, and would not respond to her pleas to be let go. He estimated the girl was held against her will for around 20 minutes, during which time she alleges some of the boys used various objects to touch her in inappropriate places. After the girl’s statement was taken, police investigated and arrested Kenedy seniors Armando Segura, Jr., Richard Guajardo, Jr., Joshua Perez and Matthew Arenas. All four seniors are 17 years old. "The kids had a substitute teacher that day and they were in this back room alone. From what I understand, it started out as a joke, but it ended up turning into something it shouldn’t have," Stevens said. Each of the four boys was charged with unlawful restraint of a child under age 17, a state jail felony carrying a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail. Guajardo and Perez both were charged with aggravated assault, a second degree felony carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years. Stevens also said his department is referring the case to the district attorney’s office, seeking indecency with a child charges against Segura, Guarjardo, and Perez. Meanwhile, Kenedy ISD Superintendent Jan LaCour said her school is not at liberty to discuss the incident. "We’re following district procedures and doing what’s in the best interest of our students," she said. All four accused boys have made bail and are back at school, but LaCour said she cannot divulge whether the boys have been moved to an alternative campus or in-school suspension. "They (the boys) are where they need to be," she said. As for the substitute teacher in charge of the class during the alleged incident, LaCour said she is looking into whether he or she still is serving as a substitute. "We’re meeting again this morning to close up some details," she said. ************************************************ From thecountywide.com April 23, 2008 22nd Annual Bluebonnet Days Queen’s Coronation happens Friday night On April 25, 2008 at 7:30 p.m., the Kenedy High School gym will be transformed to set the stage for the Bluebonnet Days Queen’s Coronation. The theme for this year’s gala and entertainment will be "The Fabulous Fifties." Her Imperial Majesty, Miss Veronica Rodriguez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Rodriguez, and His Excellency, the King, Jesse Fernandez, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Fernandez, will reign with their royal court over this year’s Bluebonnet Days Festival of 2008-09. The Royal House holding court this year are as follows: Royal Page to the King is Weston Hallmark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dell Hallmark. The Royal Crown Bearer is Timothy Jacques, son of Ms. Stacia Jacques. The Royal Scepter Bearer is Matias Gonzales son of Ms. Martha Gonzales. The Royal Pages to the Queen are Gaby Martinez, daughter of Ms. Jayme Martinez and Mari Gonzales, daughter of Ms. Irma Williams. The Queens Royal Trainbearers are Julissa Prieto, daughter of Ms. Letty Prieto, Caitlyn Villanueva, daughter of Ms. Cassie Villanueva, Sydney Garza, daughter of Mrs. Lee Garza, and Isabella Fuentes, daughter of Ms. Amanda Ochoa. The Royal Bearers of Bluebonnets are Andrea Albiar, granddaughter of Mrs. Hope Albiar, and Lauren Reyes, daughter of Ms. Connie Cuellar. The Royal Attendant to the Queen is Karly Nichols, daughter of Neil and Kathleen Nichols. The Royal Princesses to the Queen’s Court are Rikki Crenshaw, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Crenshaw; Jenna Diaz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Diaz; Cecilia Nicole Vasquez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zacarias (Jack) Cantu; and Felicia Villarreal, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marcos Villarreal. The Royal Household of Duchesses are Allison Aguirre, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Aguirre; Katlyn Atkinson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Atkinson; Nancy Gonzales, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Armando Gonzales, Melanie Martinez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Garcia; Vanessa Puerto, daughter of Mr. Javier Puerto; Crystal Salas, daughter of Ms. Brenda Carrasco; and Maria Zaragoza, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Juan Zaragoza. Advanced tickets are being sold by the princesses and duchesses for scholarships. The three girls with the highest advance ticket sales will be awarded at the coronation. Ticket prices are $6 for adults; $1 for children between the ages of 6 to 11, and children ages five and under are free. Tickets will also be available at the door. ************************************************ From victoriaadvocate.com April 25, 2008 Organizers proud of Book Review results BY APRILL BRANDON From the history of the polio epidemic to the pain of being an exiled writer to the cutting edge of hypertexts, the American Book Review reading series took audiences on quite a voyage this year. “It’s been an incredible journey this past spring and I’m proud of it,” editor and publisher Jeffrey Di Leo said. “I mean, I feel like we actually traveled. The speakers took us to hear the Delta blues to life in Iran and all the way back to Houston.” The spring reading series lineup consisted of short story author Thomas Williams, historian David Oshinsky, new media writer Lance Olsen and exiled writer Farnoosh Moshiri. Managing editor Charles Alcorn said it was a best-case scenario with all four of the featured speakers. “I’m really excited how it turned out and with the endorsement and enthusiastic response we’ve gotten from the community,” he said. “We had a wide range of diverse writers and I’m looking forward to keeping that going.” This is the second year for the reading series at the University of Houston-Victoria and it just keeps getting bigger and better, Alcorn added. “The breakthrough this year was the response from the schools. We had students from Memorial High School and St. Joseph, plus students coming in from Kenedy, Cuero and Port Lavaca,” he said. “It’s gratifying to get young students involved with these authors, especially since otherwise they wouldn’t have access to them.” Di Leo added that the spring series went out on a particularly high note with Moshiri, who spoke to an overcrowded auditorium on Thursday. “The students were so into it. It couldn’t have ended on a better note,” he said. Alcorn and Di Leo are in the midst of planning out the fall reading series, which will begin in September. Alcorn added that they are tinkering with the time of series to make it more accessible to the community. Right now, the reading series begins at noon and usually lasts until around 1 p.m. “The time works great for students and faculty at the university but it can be challenging for working men and women to try and come on their lunch break,”Alcorn said. “We hope to reach out to more of the community and we want to make it easier for people to come to the readings.” ************************************************ From victoriaadvocate.com Crossroads Calendar April 26, 2008 Quenceanera Fair, from noon to 5 p.m. at Victoria Mall, 7800 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Emcee is Gary Moses. For information, call Annette Franco, 361-652-1801, or Gary Moses, 361-573-2853. Presbyterian Day School’s barbecue lunch and carnival will be held from noon to 2 p.m., 2408 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Cost: $7 per plate; Proceeds will fund the school’s playground renovation. For information, call April Nunley, 361-580-0883. Region Charlie Fabulous Four performs from 3 to 8 p.m. at Sweet Home Hall, Sweet Home. St. Michael’s Spring Festival, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at VFW Grounds, 503 Park Drive, Weimar. Food and drink, music, auction and booths. For information, call 979-725-9511. Spring Feast, Garfield Shooting Club, 12 miles west of Yorktown off Highway 119 between Yorktown and Gillett. Free dance with music by Texas Country from 3 to 7 p.m. Family style sausage supper at 5:30. Cost: adults $6.50; children under 12, $3. Live music, 6 to 10 p.m. Eagles Lodge, 2477 State Highway 111, Edna. Admission is free. For information, call 361-782-6767. Cost: $2 per person. Open Auditions, all ages, all sexes, for “An Evening of One Acts,” 7 p.m., Rialto Theater, 327 S. Commercial St., Aransas Pass. For information, call 361-758-0383 or visit www.rialtotheater.org. Berclair Mansion will be open for tours, 2 to 4 p.m. Berclair. Tickets: $10 per ticket, all ages. Private tours available for 20 or more. Tours last one hour. For information, call 1-800-248-3859 or 361-343-3119. Coming Up MONDAY Black History Steering committee meeting, 5 p.m., University of Houston-Victoria, University Center, Room 103, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. For information, call Nancy Gresham, 361-570-4351. Lockhart Opry Country Music Show, 7 p.m. at Lions Club Building, 220 Bufkin Lane, Lockhart. Featured singers are Ken Brothers, Charles Marberger, John Mikulin and Jacob Austin. Admission is $3 and all proceeds go to the Evening Lions Club Civic Projects. For information, call Del Kubena, 512-395-7575 or Linda Hazelwood, 512- 797-4647. League of Women Voters Candidates Forum, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Victoria College Student Center, 2200 E. Red River St., Victoria. Candidates in contested races for Victoria Independent School District, districts 3 and 5 and The Victoria College district seven boards of trustees are invited. For information, call 361-579-6788 or e-mail kathyhunt@suddenlink.net. Cultural Council of Victoria will meet noon, 214 N. Main St., Victoria. Victoria County Disabled American Veterans Chapter 169 and DAVA will have its monthly meeting, 7 p.m. Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 2001 VFW-Lova Drive, Victoria. Satellite office has been set up at Town Plaza Mall, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. TUESDAY Adopt-A-Pet is hosting a fundraiser, Dine with your Dog, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Greek Brothers Restaurant, 6220 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Cost: $50 per person. Choice of five entrees for humans and three courses for pets. Seating is available for 30 people only and must be purchased by April 28. Contact 361-676-7441 for tickets and information. Water will be provided for pets; pets must be on a leash at all times. AARP Chapter 829-Victoria monthly meeting, 1:30 p.m. at Victoria County Senior Citizens Center, 603 E. Murray St., Victoria. Recognize May as “Older Americans Month.” Gerry Wyant will speak on “Celebrate Your Life.” WEDNESDAY Museum of the Coastal Bend will hold a for grades kindergarten through second grade, from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m., 2200 E. Red River St., Victoria. Fee is $20 for members; $25 non-members. All supplies provided. For information, call 361-582-2436 or visit www.museumofthecoastalbend.org. Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 4146 will hold its quarterly bunco party, 1:30 p.m. VFW Post Home, 2001 VFW-Lova Drive, Victoria. “All About Stroke,”5:30 p.m. at Citizens Medical Center, 2701 Hospital Drive, central classroom, Victoria. Dr. John McNeil will be the speaker. Call 361-578-WISE (9473) to reserve your seat. Better Breathers Club of Victoria presents Air Quality and Respiratory Health, from noon to 1 p.m. at Citizens HealthPlex, 9406 Zac Lentz Parkway, Victoria. Speaker Joni Brown with environmental services. Lunch provided for $5. For information and to R.S.V.P. call 361-582-1109. “The Foreigner,” doors open at 6:30 p.m.; meal at 7; and play at 8. Tickets are $20 for the meal and play. No children under 4 years of age. Gaslight Theater, 802 N. Avenue E., Shiner. THURSDAY Body Talk of Victoria and Adrian Kellar will be hosting a on Body Talk, a natural holistic healing system, at 6:30 p.m., 506-B Glascow St., Victoria. For information, call 361-576-4402. Trike-A-Thon, 10 a.m. at A Plus Kidz Care, 3404 John Stockbauer Drive, Victoria. Daycare kids will be raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For information, call Deborah Schoener, 361-485-9922 or visit www.stjude.org/trike. “Citizens of Martin de Leon’s Colony, 1824-1900”lecture at 5:30 p.m. at Museum of the Coastal Bend, 2200 E. Red River St., Victoria. Presenter Gloria Candelaria is a Spanish Genealogy specialist, author, historian, genealogist and speaker. She specializes in the Texas pre-Republic period, and has compiled and published six booklets that pertain to Victoria County. For information, call 361- 582-2436. The Refugio Country Opry begins at 7 p.m. at The Expo Center, Refugio County Fairgrounds, 245 Fairgrounds Road, Refugio. Doors open at 5:30. Food/drink court available. Alcohol- and smoke-free. Whiskey River Band will perform. Parking available. Proceeds go toward scholarships for Refugio County High School students. For information, call Neal Haertig, 361-543-4924, or Jay and Opal Monrad, 543-4297. FRIDAY 5 p.m.; serving from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The evening will include a live scholarship/benefit auction starting at 8:30 p.m. and a silent auction. Tickets are $25 per person for an all-you-can-eat meal with beverages. Tickets may be purchased at different locations and from any Colorado County Fair Board member. For information, call 979-234- 5981. Kenedy Chamber of Commerce -Bluebonnet Festival. For information, call 830-583-3223. American Legion Steak Night, 5:30 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 1402 E. Santa Rosa St., Victoria. For information, call Roger Walleck, 361- 573-2246, or Gary Moses, 573-2853. Shorty Long Band perform from 8 to 10 p.m. at The Bugle Boy, 1051 N. Jefferson St., La Grange. Cost: $15. For information, call 1-800-838- 3006 or visit www.thebugleboy.com. May 2-4 “The Foreigner,”doors open at 6:30 p.m.; meal at 7; play at 8. Sunday, doors open at 6:30 p.m.; meal at 7; and play at 8. Tickets are $20 for the meal and play. No children under 4 years of age. Gaslight Theater, 802 N. Avenue E., Shiner. ************************************************ From victoriaadvocate.com April 26, 2008 Region IV-2A track and field results Region IV-2A Meet SAN MARCOS – Following are results from the Region IV-2A meet at Bobcat Stadium: Girls Team totals – 1. Brazos Consolidated, 90; 2. Universal City Randolph, 86; 3. Poth, 49.5; 4. Hempstead, 46; 5. Lexington, 43; 6. Rice Consolidated, 37; 7. Little River Academy, 32; 8. Schulenburg, 23; 9. Navarro, 22; 10. San Antonio Cole, 21.5; 11. Refugio, 18; 12. Hallettsville, 15; 16. Karnes City, 11; 20. Boling, 8; 24. Van Vleck, 5; 25. (tie) Edna, Industrial, 4; 29. (tie) East Bernard, 2; 31. (tie) Nixon-Smiley, 1. Discus – 1. Stephanie Rauch, Troy, 126-6; 2. Lyndsay Markert, Refugio, 121-9; 4. Latricia Griffin, Van Vleck, 118-11. High jump – 1. Amanda Dowdy, Lexington, 5-9; 2. Allison McNeal, Schulenburg, 5-6; 4. Bre Anna Yendrey, Edna, 5-2. Long jump – 1. Jasmine Kent, Randolph, 17-9.75; 2. Sigrid Roberts, Boling, 17-2.75; 3. Latreece Haynes, Hallettsville, 17-2.5; 5. Ursula Bacon, Schulenburg, 16-11. Triple jump – 1. Brittany McKinney, Karnes City, 36-5.75; 2. Jennifer Brandt, Brazos Cons., 35-9.75; 6. Haley Leopold, Hallettsville, 34-3. Shot put – 1. Angie Herron, Refugio, 41-10.5; 2. Gayla Sotello, Jourdanton, 39-9.25. Pole vault – 1. Shelbie Zotyka, Brazos Cons., 11-0; 2. Amy Rabalais, George West, J11-0. 3200 – 1. Haleigh Pustka, Brazos Cons., 11:37.81; 2. Courtney Haass, Navarro, 11:39.10; 5. Leigh Goris, Industrial, 12:22.00. 400 relay – 1. Hempstead, 48.06; 2. Randolph, 48.81; 4. Schulenburg, 49.59; 5. Rice Cons., 49.79. 800 – 1. Kara Kucherk, Poth, 2:22.1; 2. Jenny Pekar, Little River Academy, 2:22.9; 6. Robin Gavcez, Karnes City, 2:29.7. 100 hurdles – 1. Lauren Garrett, S.A. Cole, 15.00; 2. Raven Cooper, Lexington, 15.93. 100 – 1. Elydia Farwell, Lexington, 12.27; 2. Paige Lynch, Brazos Cons., 12.57; 6. Porcha Morris, Rice Cons., 12.99. 800 relay – 1. Hempstead, 1:44.69; 2. Randolph, 1:45.34; 4. Rice Cons., 1:46.38; 5. Schulenburg, 1:46.40. 400 – 1. Jayla McArthur, Randolph, 57.71; 2. Shambrail Woods, Trinity, 59.51; 5. Chelsey Cinadr, Hallettsville, 1:02.25; 6. Deidra Garcia, Nixon-Smiley, 1:02.28. 300 hurdles – 1. Garrett, S.A. Cole, 45.60; 2. Jaquita Woods, Rice Cons., 45.67; 3. Brooke Harms, Hallettsville, 47.19; 6. Allena Brown, Van Vleck, 48.86. 200 – 1. Farwell, Lexington, 25.38; 2. Cyleshia Benson, Hearne, 26.21; 6. Bacon, Schulenburg, 26.68. 1600 – 1. Pustka, Brazos Cons., 5:22.69; 2. Haass, Navarro, 5:29.38; 5. Goris, Industrial, 5:36.79. 1600 relay – 1. Randolph, 4:01.49; 2. Rice Cons., 4:06.72; 6. East Bernard, 4:15.16. Boys Team totals – 1. Van Vleck, 73; 2. Hempstead, 56; 3. Weimar, 50; 4. Edna, 43; 5. (tie) Refugio, Poth, 36; 7. Little River Academy, 33.33; 8. Lexington, 32.33; 9. (tie) San Antonio Cole, Hitchcock, 29; 11. Industrial, 25; 13. Yorktown, 18; 16. Rice Consolidated, 11; 17. East Bernard, 10.33; 19. (tie) Ganado, 8; 27. (tie) Tidehaven, 4; 31. Nixon-Smiley, 3; 32. (tie) Hallettsville, 2. Discus – 1. Avery Griffin, Van Vleck, 181-3; 2. Nate Meknin, Lago Vista, 174-10; 3. Chris Dorsey, Rice Cons., 164-0; 5. D.J. Yendrey, Edna, 157-9. Long jump – 1. Anthony McClain, Hitchcock, 22-1.75; 2. Michael Alliniece, Van Vleck, 22-1.75; 4. Jordan Chovanec, Industrial, 21- 10.75; 5. Tre Flowers, Industrial, 21-9.5. Pole vault – 1. Andrew Sodek, Little River Academy, 13-6; 2. Travis Martino, J13-6. High jump – 1. Xavier Smith, Hempstead, 6-6; 2. Selleck Keene, Poth, 6-4; 3. Jesslie Johnson, Industrial, J6-4; 6. Bryce Koenig, East Bernard, 6-0. Shot put – 1. Jacob Thormaehlen, Taft, 61-0.5; 2. Tomas Canchola, Refugio, 58-11.75; 4. Griffin, Van Vleck, 52-3; 5. Yendrey, Edna, 51- 3; 6. Marcus Hernandez, Rice Cons., 47-7.25. 3200 – 1. Xavier Rodriguez, Poth, 9:55.23; 2. Ethan Wagner, Yorktown, 10:02.53. 400 relay – 1. Hempstead, 42.25; 2. Van Vleck, 42.75; 4. Weimar, 43.33. 800 – 1. Clint Anders, Weimar, 1:56.1; 2. Jonus Rodriguez, Poth, 1:56.7. 110 hurdles – 1. Rocky Vaclavik, Edna, 15.04; 2. Clint Hutson, Lexington, 15.16. 100 – 1. Dustin Thompson, Edna, 11.07; 2. R.J. Evans, S.A. Cole, 11.08; 3. Mike Hayes, East Bernard, 11.17; 5. DeJuan Lemons, Hallettsville, 11.48. 800 relay – 1. Hempstead, 1:28.76; 2. Van Vleck, 1:28.79; 3. Weimar, 1:29.58; 5. Refugio, 1:30.63; 6. Industrial, 1:31.36. 400 – 1. Cody Sultenfuss, Little River Academy, 49.11; 2. Tyren Watts, New Waverly, 49.65; 4. Rondie Singletary, Tidehaven, 51.57; 5. Chester Casas, Nixon-Smiley, 52.30. 300 hurdles – 1. Vaclavik, Van Vleck, 39.29; 2. Seth Labay, Ganado, 39.99; 4. Matt Stelzel, East Bernard, 40.83; 6. Jeffery Medina, Nixon- Smiley, 42.33. 200 – 1. Evans, S.A. Cole, 22.30; 2. Thompson, Edna, 22.33; 6. Fred Fearance, Edna, 23.37. 1600 – 1. Wagner, Yorktown, 4:28.03; 2. X. Rodriguez, Poth, 4:29.41. 1600 relay – 1. Weimar (Colton Besh, Cody Lindemann, Anders, Marcus Rhodes), 3:22.11; 2. Refugio, 3:26.01; 5. Industrial, 3:29.90. ************************************************ From seguingazette.com April 29, 2008 Panthers use extra innings to prevail By Jason Chlapek DEVINE — A lot of high school baseball coaches whose teams receive first-round byes like to participate in playoff warm-up games. These games are played for the intent and purpose of keeping these teams in shape, and preventing rustiness from a lengthy layoff. And if the Navarro baseball team can use its warm-up games to fend off the rustiness then the Panthers should be in great shape. Navarro showed signs of rustiness as the Panthers shook off 14 walks to post a 10-8 victory over District 28-3A champion Devine in eight innings on Saturday at Devine High School. “We walked way too many batters,” said Navarro coach Tommy Knox. “But to walk a team like Devine that many times and still come out with a win is pretty amazing. We outhit them, but we’ve got to find a way to cut down on the walks.” Navarro (22-2) extended its winning streak to 16 games and has won 22 of the last 23 since dropping the season-opener to La Vernia. The Panthers held an 18-7 advantage in the hits department, and both teams committed a pair of errors on Saturday. As each team made pitching changes, the game started to get a little more explosive on the scoreboard as Navarro and Devine combined to score 15 runs in the final four innings. After four innings, the Panthers held a 2-1 lead, and added two more runs in the top of the fifth to build a 4-1 advantage. But the Warhorses used a five-run bottom of the fifth to gallop out to a 6-4 lead. Devine took advantage of several walks in the bottom of the fifth. Devine’s lead stood until the top of the seventh when Navarro used some last-gasp heroics to score four runs and seize an 8-6 lead. The highlight of the inning was a three-run home run by Panthers first baseman Wesley Ply. Ply’s blast was his second of the season as well as his second in as many games. He also went yard in Navarro’s regular-season ending 16-5 victory over Kenedy last week. But, Devine managed to keep its hopes alive in the bottom of the seventh as the Warhorses scored a pair of runs to tie the game at eight runs apiece and force extra innings. Navarro made sure it didn’t have to worry about prolonging the game as the Panthers scored twice in the top of the eighth, and Cole Allison, who came on to pitch in the seventh inning, shut down Devine to clinch the victory. Allison came in relief of Justin Meyer, who pitched the fifth and sixth innings. Clayton Warren pitched the first four innings and posted all three Navarro strikeouts in the game. In addition to Ply’s three-run home run, Meyer led the Panthers at the plate as he went 4-for-5 with four RBIs. Warren was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, Allison went 3-for-5, Beaux Henderson was 2-for-4 and Zach Hernandez went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Navarro has another playoff warm-up tentatively set with Marion on Saturday. The time and site have yet to be determined. Navarro also found out who it will face in the area round of the Class 2A state playoffs. The Panthers will meet the winner of the bi-district matchup between Refugio and Hebbronville. It was not determined whether Refugio and Hebbronville would participate in a one-game playoff or a best-of-three series at press time. Knox said he will request a best-of-three series in the area against either team. ************************************************ From thecountywide.com April 30, 2008 Classic Cruise will pass through Karnes County On Saturday, May 3, 2008, between 8 and 9:30 a.m., more than a dozen area car clubs will depart from the San Antonio Botanical Gardens parking lot (555 Funston) on their journey along the historic Alamo- La Bahia Corridor for AACOG’s 19th Annual Classic Car Cruise. Local songwriter Roger Chacon will provide the music. This year’s Classic Cruise is charted down back roads lined with south Texas wildflowers, and encompasses many of the charming historic communities of the Alamo La-Bahia Corridor. Attractions for the participating car clubs will include Panna Maria, which is known by some as the "Polish Plymouth Rock"; a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors in stained glass in a picturesque church in Cestohowa; museums (the former courthouse for Karnes County in Helena, a former firehouse in La Vernia, and the Longhorn Museum in Pleasanton, which also serves as a visitor bureau); the authentic ghost town of Helena, which was the victim of an early rancher’s revenge; missions, battlegrounds, Cinco de Mayo Celebrations, brush country panoramas and ranchland. All these attractions are part of a virtual hotbed of Texas history, and all are on the schedule for members of the Alamo Area Council of Car Clubs participating in the cruise. Participating communities on the Alamo-La Bahia Corridor are Elmendorf, Floresville, Pleasanton, Jourdanton, Falls City, Karnes City, Cestohowa, Panna Maria, Helena, Goliad, Stockdale, and La Vernia. A western loop that encompasses Castroville, Hondo, D’Hannis, Rio Medina and Quihi is included this year Besides the refreshments served at local hospitality stops, many of the communities will feature other activities such as live entertainment, historic tours, community museums, and shopping in unique venues. On the day of the cruise, the clubs will crisscross the Corridor, following their pre-selected routes. One happy veteran commented, "It’s really neat meeting the other clubs along the way." Many of the member clubs have been participating in the Classic Cruise Along the Corridor since its inception in 1989! Reasons range from "the folks are so friendly" and "a beautiful drive," to "It’s just plain fun!" Sponsored by AACOG, the San Antonio Botanical Center, the communities of the Alamo-La Bahia Corridor and Gunn Honda, this event is unique because it is open to all car clubs--from Alamo A’s to Z- Sports and the great variety in between (running the gamut from elegant "classics" to new hybrids.) For more information, please contact AACOG Tourism at (210) 362-5220 or visit www.aacog.com/tourism. ************************************************ From thecountywide.com April 30, 2008 Kenedy Bluebonnet Days Festival - May 2-3 Annual celebration brings food, fun, music & more this weekend Following Friday night’s Coronation, Kenedy’s Bluebonnet Days Festival is now officially underway and many events are planned for this weekend’s annual celebration sponsored by the Kenedy Chamber of Commerce. "Cajun Night" is Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Joe Gulley Park. There will be a shrimp boil, margarita contest and Cajun music will be provided by Les Flammes De Rouge (The Flames of Red), an exciting and diverse band from San Antonio. Saturday morning will bring the Bluebonnet Days 5K Fun Run/Walk which will be held at Joe Gulley Park on May 3, starting at 7:30 a.m. This event benefits the Bluebonnet Days Coronation and scholarship fund. Prizes will be awarded for the fastest male and female in five different age groups. One prize will be awarded for the most spirited group or team of walkers/runners. Registrations will take place the morning of event. The annual Bluebonnet Days Parade will start at 11 a.m. Saturday and will pass through downtown Kenedy along Main Street. Parade participants and vendors are encouraged to call the Chamber or visit www.kenedychamber.com for registration forms or more information. Watch for two colorful powered parachutes flying overhead during the parade and other events. The "Chute me sky high" powered parachutes are sponsored by Brown Automotive and Jerry B’s and they will offer rides to the public for a fee at the airport. Call Rick Smith - 361- 319-6722 or Alan Fletcher - 361-542-6597 for more info. Also on Saturday, the Kenedy Rotary Club is holding their annual Bluebonnet Days Pancake Breakfast. This year’s breakfast will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Hwy 72 West. Serving will start at 7:30 a.m. Tickets are available from Rotary Club members or at the door. For more information or tickets call 830-583-0128. The Bluebonnet Days Car Show will be held on Saturday. This is the 4th annual event sponsored by the Police Explorers and other businesses. The Girls Fast Pitch Softball Tournament will be held Saturday during the Bluebonnet Days Festival at Joe Gulley Park This event is sponsored by Diamond Force Fast Pitch in Kenedy. The Triple Heat & Bragging Rights Cook-Off will take place on Saturday at Joe Gulley Park. For more information and application forms please contact the Kenedy Chamber at 830-583-3223 or Joe Sheeran at 830-583-2212. There will be "fun for all ages" at the festival Saturday at Joe Gulley Park including crafts, vendors, games and rides. There will be entertainment all day from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. There is no gate fee, but organizers say do not bring coolers full of drinks and food to the event. Food, water, cold drinks and beer will be available for purchase. Additional information and entry forms are available at the Kenedy Chamber-830-583-3223 or online at www.kenedychamber.com. ************************************************ From victoriaadvocate.com April 30, 2008 Secrets and more buried near Mound Creek There is a long and complicated story that there is not just one person, but perhaps two people buried in old Doc Griffin’s grave. Known as “Doc” for assisting neighbors who were ailing and with the delivery of newborns when no regular doctor was available, Newton Cokely Griffin was buried a day after his death on May 25, 1897, at the age of 66. That was just four days after Jim Clements disappeared following heated arguments with his estranged wife, the former Ann Tennille, and some of her relatives. Ann Clements was a daughter of George Tennille, her father having been killed in 1877 during the infamous Taylor-Sutton Feud. Having once before visited the Griffin Cemetery in far southwestern Gonzales County in the Mound Creek community with a great-great grandson of old Doc Griffin, Robert Muschalek, we returned to the cemetery again recently. Muschalek brought along Griffin’s old Winchester .44-40 rifle that was used to guard the grave when word got out that Clements’ body might have been placed in the open grave before the old man was buried. All that area out around Gonzales, DeWitt and Karnes counties had continued to be pretty tough country even up until the end of the 19th century. We had been to the dedication of an official state historical cemetery marker at the Salt Creek Cemetery near Old Davy, that cemetery being on the county line between Karnes and DeWitt counties. We went on from there to Mound Creek to get a photograph of Muschalek at his great-great grandfather’s grave. While growing up in the neighboring Davy Community, Muschalek had heard the stories. “My Grandpa Dave Griffin died in 1963,” he says, “and I can remember a few variations of the story the way he told it. I do know that it was three of old Doc Griffin’s grandsons that stood watch over the grave. Grandpa Griffin was 16 years old and the oldest grandson. And, according to him, was kind of in charge with first cousins Culver Griffin, son of Jasper Cokely Griffin, and Sidney Griffin, son of Quercus Griffin.” His grandfather had recalled that only one would stand guard during the daylight hours, while there would be two of them during the night. Dave Griffin’s sister, Catherine, would bring them food and drinks. The last time that Jim Clements had been seen alive was on May 22, with Griffin having been buried on May 26. “As you know,” Muschalek notes, “they dug graves with picks and shovels in those days and it usually took more than one day to dig. They could have started opening the grave on May 22.” With old Doc Griffin near death, he says it would not have been unusual for preparations to have begun three days before he died. Soon after his burial, word had gotten around that the law might want to dig up the grave, the sheriffs of both Karnes and Gonzales counties having some interest in finding Clements. “Grandpa said his daddy, I.W. Griffin, told them to shoot anybody who came into the cemetery,” Muschalek recalls. “What I do believe is that Grandpa Dave Griffin knew the mystery of Jim Clements’ fate and took it to the grave with him.” Muschalek has been working on a book about the many historical happenings that occurred out that way where Gonzales, Karnes and DeWitt counties all come together. The problems occurred after Ann Clements had been assisted by family members in leaving her husband in McCulloch County where they had been living. He had followed her to the Mound Creek area and had argued with her and other members of the family. Shots had later been heard, Clements’ horse had been found crippled by a cactus with his saddle some distance away, and his gold watch supposedly showed up in the nest of a pack rat. This all led to considerable speculation as to where he might have been killed and whether some of the evidence could have been planted to lead away from where his body had been buried. Some arrests were made, but led nowhere and the mystery continues to this day. Some secrets have definitely been buried out around Mound Creek. Henry Wolff Jr. is a longtime Victoria Advocate columnist. ************************************************