(Stinnett, Texas)—Representatives of the Hutchinson County Farm Bureau recently presented a $5,000 donation from Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) to local volunteer fire departments that responded to the historic wildfires in the area in February and March. The financial donation to the Stinnett Volunteer Fire Department, Fritch Volunteer Fire Department, Morse Volunteer Fire Department, and Crutch Ranch Volunteer Fire Department is an effort to show appreciation for the departments and to help them replenish resources used in the fire response.
Morse VFD: David Harbour, Hutchinson County Farm Bureau President & Gary Urban, Fire Chief (LtoR)
Crutch Ranch VFD: Ryan Farrow, Agent & Mark Mitchell, Fire Chief (LtoR) David Harbour added the recent wildfires in the Panhandle were devastating to many residents, but the losses would have been even greater without the efforts of so many volunteer fire departments. The TFB relief program provided funding for 24 volunteer fire departments in the Panhandle. February and March wildfires burned over 1.2 million acres in the area. | ||
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AMARILLO, TX – (July 2024) Education Credit Union (ECU) is pleased to announce the addition of three esteemed professionals to its Advisory Board: Tim Glass, Barbara Holeman, and Selena Fogg. “Each individual brings a wealth of experience and commitment to community service, further strengthen the credit union’s mission to love our people with smarter banking,” said Linda Purdy, Board Chairman of Education Credit Union. Glass joins the Advisory Board following his election as County Judge for Hansford County in 2023. Glass has an extensive background in law enforcement, having served as Hansford County Sheriff and Criminal Investigator for the 84th District Attorney. A graduate of the FBI National Academy (2007) and Oklahoma Panhandle State University (2016), Glass’s diverse experience in public service will be invaluable to the board. Holeman brings her expertise from the technology and finance sectors. She is retired from the Canyon ISD Technology Department and has previously served as a Finance Industry Specialist with IBM for 12 years. Holeman holds degrees in Instructional Technology from West Texas A&M University and Communications/Journalism from New Mexico State University. Her active involvement in the community including leadership roles with the Junior League of Amarillo, United Way of Amarillo & Canyon, Lone Star Ballet, and the Women’s Banking Association, is a testament to her dedication to service. Fogg joins the Advisory Board as the owner of Selena Fogg, CPA. Fogg who studied Public Accounting at West Texas A&M University, earned her Master’s Degree and CPA designation in 2011. Her professional insights and experience in public accounting will contribute significantly to the board’s financial oversight and strategic planning. “We are thrilled to welcome Tim, Barbara, and Selena to our Advisory Board,” said Smith. “Their specialized backgrounds and commitment to community service align perfectly with our goals, and we look forward to their contributions to our continued growth and success as a credit union.” | ||
On Tuesday, July 23, the City of Spearman held a public hearing at 5 PM to discuss a Park Project Proposal. City officials held the public meeting to gather input for a grant application the city is submitting to Texas Parks and Wildlife for the construction of an inclusive and accessible playground at Eska Park. Preliminary plans for the "Inclusive Playground Park" will include wheelchair accessibility, sensory equipment and a therapeutic course for children and adults. Eska Park already has playground equipment, but the grant will provide further recreational elements that will enhance the quality of life for our citizens. "Public input is critical to the success of our grant application," said City Manager Parker. Eska Park is located in the 900 block of Archer and Evans Streets. The land for the park was donated by the Glover Family in 1954 in memory of their daughter, Eska Gwendolene. The proximity to Gus Birdwell Elementary and Hansford Manor makes Eska Park an ideal location for this type of park. "This is a very competitive grant," said Parker, "but I am hopeful that we will be able to qualify." The grant is a $150,000.00 50/50 match and will be awarded next year. The public hearing on Tuesday was the first step in the grant application. If you were unable to make it to the meeting, but still want to support our efforts to secure the grant, letters of support are also a great way to help! Any letters of support need to be received in City Hall by July 29 at 5:00 PM. Letters can be dropped off at 30 SW Court, mailed to PO Box 37, Spearman, TX 79081, or emailed to jparker@cityofspearman.com.
You may write or email your own letter, but to view/print a prepared letter click (more) | ||
Region 16 Education Service Center proudly announces Wade Callaway, Superintendent of Gruver Independent School District, as the 2024 Region 16 Superintendent of the Year. Callaway will represent Region 16 in the Texas Association of School Boards' annual Superintendent of the Year award program, which has recognized exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in educational leadership since 1984. “Superintendent Callaway is a remarkable choice for Region 16 Superintendent of the Year,” said Tanya Larkin, Ed.D., Region 16 Executive Director. “He has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation within his district. We are confident he will represent our region exceptionally well at the state level.” Candidates are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving educational quality in their districts, and commitment to public involvement in education. Superintendents from any of the state’s 1,200 school districts are eligible for nomination by their school boards. Local nominees are submitted to a regional selection committee, which chooses one nominee to send to a state selection committee. The state committee will interview all regional winners in August and select five state finalists. The Superintendent of the Year will be announced in September at the 2024 Texas Association of School Administrators Convention in San Antonio. | ||
In the last couple of weeks, the Hansford County Republican Party hosted a documentary showing of Grid Down, Power Up, which discusses the possibilities of our enemies attacking our power grid. Mike Dreyspring is a retired CEO of three different electric companies, and also has Hansford County family ties, who believes our electric companies have made great progress in hardening the grid. “Let’s say it’s an EMP and it disrupts the electronic devices that control these things. Every utility that I’m aware of has a bypass switch on every key component on their system. If there were an inability to control that through automation, they would deploy a lineman or someone out into the field, to basically open or close the switch as it was needed,” he explained to KXDJ’s Chris Samples. Click here to listen to more. Dreyspring is a retired CEO of three different electric companies each under the umbrella of eastern, western, and ERCOT grids. | ||
High Plains Observer Yard of the Week Celebrating pretty little yards all summer long! | ||
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For more information clickHERE | ||
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During what may be the most important election of our lives, it is the job of the RNC’s Committee on Arrangements (COA) to plan a blockbuster, 4-day Convention that will be broadcast across the world. We will host upwards of 50,000 guests in Milwaukee, including the delegates who will nominate the next President and Vice President of the United States. Thousands of delegates and alternates will be selected by all 56 states and territories. They will travel to Milwaukee, WI July 15-18, 2024, to meet and select the Republican Nominee for President. Along with the delegates, thousands of patriotic volunteers will travel to the convention and two of those are right here from Spearman Hansford County Texas. Grace and Ashley Pshigoda will arrive in Milwaukee on Wednesday, July 17 and serve as greeters/hosts! Grace told the HPO a bit about the initial interest in becoming a volunteer:
Grace said, "Ashley and I are both staunch Republicans. My grandfathers were both patriots serving in WWII, one serving as a delegate at the convention for Ronald Reagan in Dallas in 1984. The turning point in our country's democracy was what lead our desire to become involved and contribute, so we found a way to volunteer at the 2024 Convention. Little did we know it would be the most historic convention, nominating the most iconic candidate of all time. WE LOVE AMERICA!"
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The High Ground of Texas met in Stratford, Texas today at the Sherman County EDC Office. Several towns were represented to include Dumas, Dalhart, Stratford, Borger, Canyon, Wheeler, Childress, and Spearman. Paige Goodell, with PRPC (Panhandle Regional Planning Commission) was present along with Gina Woodward from SBDC (Small Business Development Center) both from Amarillo, Texas. Kasey co*ker, the High Ground Executive Director, was present, too. The round table meeting discussed upcoming High Ground events from now through next summer. The meeting also gave an opportunity for EDC Executive Directors to offer solutions, give feedback, or simply share ideas of what is working or not working in their prospective communities. The road construction Texas Department of Transportation is currently participating in within some local communities was a big topic of conversation particularly in the area of providing an avenue to local retail stores via another access. This lack of access could potentially create a drop in sales tax revenue if shoppers are not able to access the retail store. Several trainings were discussed that may be pertinent to the High Ground as a group and smaller cities as individuals. The round table group offered feedback regarding the Site Selection Consultant Summitt and its success to the High Ground members. Due to the success of this meeting, that gathering will continue. Lunch was provided by Kathy Allen, EDC Director of Sherman County. To everyone who attended the round table and participated in the discussion, thank you. We look forward to the next one. Thank you, Kathy, for providing lunch. By Bonnie Thompson, BA | ||
At the regular city council meeting held Tuesday, July 16, a bittersweet recognition took place as longtime City Secretary/Assistant City Manager, Cheryl Gibson-Salgado handed her reigns over to Dana Sharp. Mayor Tobe Shields opened the comments by telling Cheryl what a wonderful job she has done over her 38 years of service to Spearman. Most of the current council chimed in with words of praise for Salgado, all echoing the sentiment of her heart to serve her community and her effort to make her office not only work efficiently, but with passion and purpose. City Manager Parker presented her a gift of her first and last agenda framed side by side. After several reminiscent stories, the business at hand was to swear in the person who will fill her shoes. All welcomed Dana and said how much they will miss Cheryl but look forward to working with her. The meeting was very sentimental for all in attendance. And then, Agenda Items 6-16 carried on. | ||
In Cheryl's 38 years she has had Congratulations on your retirement and job well done! | ||
Urethane, also known as polyurethane, is a chemical group of resins that are made from three main ingredients: polyols, isocyanates, and chain extenders. Other materials can be added to help process the polymer or change its properties. For you chemists, the formula is below.
While multiple people are credited with inventing polyurethane, Dr. Otto Bayer, a 1937 German industrial chemist is known as the "Father of Polyurethane". This formula touches Spearman when 1948 SHS graduate Bill Davis obtains his Ph.D. in chemistry from Oklahoma State University at Stillwater in 1960. Dr. Davis goes on to become the founder and owner of Texas Urethane which was an Austin based insulation company. Dr. Davis contended that his formula was unique because of the number of ingredients in the "B" component (nine) and because two of the ingredients, ethylene glycol and fluorocarbon 113, are very rarely used.---(source Google) In the summer of 2024, the Been family broke ground on their new home build, selecting former Gruverite, Mark Gilbreath (managing member at Caprock Building Systems) and Jordan Duggan, and Dillon Smith, builders at Caprock Design + Build. One of the products used now as an industry standard is polyurethane insulation....by the way, Dr. Bill Davis is the great uncle of Mattie (Davis) Been, and husband Cody has a chemistry degree from OSU. As the construction has moved forward, another tie to Spearman is Brant Fuller. Brant is owner of Eco Thermic Sprayfoam Insulation LLC and his crew spend two days insulating the Been home. Fuller is the son of Johnnie (Eaton) and Kelly Fuller and the grandson of Joanne and the late Charles Eaton. Most building codes define an air barrier material as one the has an air leakage rate below 0.02 liters/sec-m2 @5 PA Fuller told the HPO that the last home he insulated for Duggan registered at .87 in their "blower door test." An airtight and well insulated building is a key factor in today's zero energy criteria, and Fuller is obviously quite excellent at his craft. Fuller further says a typical score is 1.5 to 2 which also indicates the building quality of Duggan. In the early 1960's, Dr. Davis's compound was mostly used for boats as climate change was of little concern at that time. However, in today's world in today's builds, Fuller's application is by far the best of the best in sealing constructions. The long story and the short story has come full circle in 2024, as generations of chemists, builders, contractors, high-definition products and homeowners building their dream house, would all meet up on Barkley Street. Housing demand continues to outpace supply in Hansford County, but local experts are optimistic for future growth. The American dream of being a homeowner or business owner remains constant, and industry leaders such as these are ready to provide their expertise for any and all of the projects you may have. | ||
By Holly Whitaker, Ph.D. Local Student Brings Water Awareness to Museum Exhibit Texie Ralston, a student at Gruver High School and a Texas 4-H Water Ambassador, is making waves with her contributions to a new exhibit at our local history museum. The exhibit, which opened this week, aims to educate museum-goers on the importance of water conservation and the unique water resources that sustain our community. Texie, who has undergone extensive training through the Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors program, researched and developed informative write-ups on key topics such as the Ogallala Aquifer, playa lakes, the water table, and the water cycle. Her dedication to water education is evident in the detailed 3D representation of the Palo Duro Creek watershed, a highlight of the exhibit. David Smith, the state coordinator of the Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors program, emphasized the significance of the initiative: “The Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors program is designed to equip young leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to address critical water issues." These ambassadors, like Texie, are essential in spreading awareness and fostering stewardship of our water resources. The Stationmaster's House Museum in Spearman has always showcased the unique aspects of our area, and water is undoubtedly our most crucial natural resource. The new exhibit illuminates the science behind our water systems and connects our history to future conservation efforts. By understanding the past, we can make informed decisions that ensure a vibrant economy and culture for generations to come. Community members interested in visiting the exhibit can reach out to the museum at info@smh.org to schedule a time. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Texie Ralston’s insightful presentations and gain a deeper appreciation for the water resources that sustain and enrich our way of life. For more information on the Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors program, visit [Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors](https://www.texas4hwaterambassadors.com/) or [AgriLife Today](https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/). 2025 will be the 50th anniversary of the Stationmaster's House Museum | ||
Stationmaster's House Museum hosted an Open House and Ice Cream Social Presenting The Zulu Stockade Friday July 5 6-9 PM tip jars chose the most delicious ice cream and Karl Bynum was the winner! Thank you to everyone who brought ice cream, attended and voted! | ||
Since the beginning of the development of Hansford County in 1874 and the City of Spearman in 1921, leaders have stepped forward with a bold plan of action to build and grow. This mind set has continued over the years and is still in the minds of our leaders today. Effective leaders are not against things, they are for things
Survey and abstract circa 1874---courtesy Hansford Abstract Company What originally began as a mound of dirt on the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, has over the years grown into a thriving county with visionary leadership that is solid enough to move forward under often times, not the best and easiest of circ*mstances. Weather, population fluctuation and technology have all played a role in where we find ourselves today. MAYORS H.E. James G.I. Roland R.L. McClellan George H. Whitson Fred F. Hoskins W.D. Cooke E.C. Womble C.A. Gibner Bruce H. Sheets R.E. Vaughn Dr. D.E. Hackley C. Ralph Blodgett Bob Pearson Burl Buchanan Tobe Shields Each mayor has been the mastermind behind many things that have been accomplished over the years. Not everyone agrees with the vision these men have been bold enough to put forth in their tenure....golf courses, airports, swimming pools, city streets, new water towers, neighborhood development, annexation and the list continues. With the help of their motivated and diverse council, the city has settled into a place that continues to attract business and population. Current Mayor Tobe Shields recently commended his council's decision to annex of approximately 10 acres into the City of Spearman city limits. "It's not very often that a city our size is faced with the opportunity for expansion and growing the city footprint," said Mayor Shields.
This map shows a city with neighborhoods long before there were even paved streets and city services, but the plan was put forth and the city looks much like it was drawn out to be from the beginning CITY MANAGERS F.C. Sumrall Leo Dacus Ed Thompson Lenis Simpson Jim Murray Kelvin Knauff Robert Patrick Ed Hansen Justin Parker The city managers are the face of the council and one of the most important in the line of putting forth the plan of action. The job is not always an easy one. There is no doubt that from the beginning and in the future, city taxes will go toward
Current City Manager Justin Parker said, " My core personal philosophy is that local (keyword) government taxes are necessary to provide for basic services as well as the survival and safety of the citizens served by said government entity. Those services being ones that aren't available through the private sector for whatever reason. At the point those core needs of governance, safety and services are met, then tax revenue should be focused on growth, development and quality of life, not necessarily in that order."
Hansford Abstract 1905 EDC/CHAMBER Macy Baker Cayla Maestes Tex Kopke Bonnie Thompson Alongside the elected officials and city employees, the local Chamber of Commerce plays a key role in the enthusiasm and core work in attracting, retaining and growing a business climate that encourages families to relocate or stay. Quality of life is certainly one of most important factors in a community as most take for granted the services provided as a taxpayer. Current EDC/Chamber Director Bonnie Thompson says she is always working on attracting new business and helping to promote existing businesses with a long-and short-term plan. Her vision of an attractive community is evidenced in our charming and quaint town that people want to live and visit.
As the county and cities within it continue to maintain and grow, it is up to each citizen to realize that you are "the most important" aspect to the community you live in. There are so many ways to be positively involved and your voice is always important to be heard! Spearman Hansford County is under construction, it always has been, and it always will be | ||
Barn fire on HWY 15 near Spearman June 29--no injuries reported Photos by Ernie BowenHERE | ||
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Over the weekend, local runner Angie Sonnenberg participated in a 20-mile marathon called the Summer Solstice Endurance Run held in Abilene. "I just love all kinds of running events, being with other runners, and doing things that push myself physically and mentally! The Summer Solstice run is fun because it’s different. It’s run at night on a one-mile loop. You run as much as you can or want during the time period you sign up for. I did the 3-hour event, but they also had a 6-hour event and a 5-mile run," said Angie. After a 2020 knee injury, Sonnenberg feared she would never be able to run again. When surgery was not recommended, she discovered a new way to work out. Angie started weightlifting, riding a Peloton bike, and walking. A year and a half later she started slowly adding some running back and has been building up since then. "Saturday night I ran (with walk breaks) a total of 15 miles which is definitely my longest run since before my injury in 2020! While I wasn’t exactly trained very well for this event, I do run or walk every day and weight train a couple days a week," continued Angie. She did this same three hour run in 2015 and ran 20 miles. She has run three marathons and 52 half marathons. Angie leads the Tuesday night group runs called Kids RUN Spearman, which welcomes all runners who are interested. "We’ve had a good amount of people showing up but as more people start running in our area, I’d love to have even more!" To read more about the Annual Summer Solstice Endurance Run held at the Red Bud Park in Abilene, click (more) | ||
Submitted by Bret Burgin The Hansford County 4H livestock judging team competed at the state competition on the campus of Texas A&M University June 5. The top 14% of the counties in Texas qualify for the State Contest via 12 district contests. Out of those that qualified, Hansford ended up as the 7th place team in swine and 20th place team overall. The team members competing for Hansford County were Kip Pittman, Spencer Aborn, Kinley Shieldknight, and Alayna Schneider. Aubree Sharp and Mallary Allen travelled with the team as alternates. The kids got a ton of experience on the workout trip down to the contest and hopefully this will pay off in the future. The team members and coaches will now start building for next year’s team with several of the 4H members participating in summer camps and contests. | ||
Gus Gaillard of Morse, a sophom*ore at Tarleton State University, finished the College National Finals Rodeo last week as the Champion Saddle Bronc Rider. Gus placed in all fourgo rounds, finishing first place in the second go round and short go round to end the week at the top spot. Tarleton’s Men'steam, coached by Spearman native, Mark Eakin, finished the week as the Men’s Team Champions as well. The Men’s team members included Gaillard, Ira Dickinson (Wyoming,Reserve Champion Saddle Bronc Rider), Bailey Small (California), Landris White (Texas)Roedy Farrell (Wyoming), and Mason Spain (Texas). This is Tarleton’s 5th Men’s Championship in school history. Tarleton’s Women’s Team finished as Reserve National Champions as well. | ||
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