Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 074, Ed. 1 Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Page: 3 of 10
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Sweetwater Reporter
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 ■ Page 3
Obituaries
FRANCISCA ALCALA
Francisca Alcala, 87, of Sweetwater, passed away
Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, at Rolling Plains Memorial
Hospital.
A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10.
2011, at Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel
recited by Maria Acuna.
Holy Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11
a.m., on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, at Immaculate Heart of
Mary Catholic Church with Rev. Michael Rodriguez
officiating followed by burial at Sweetwater Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer
& Trent Funeral Home.
National Weather
Service issues specia
weather statement
The National Weather Service n San Angelo
issued a special weather statement for area cities
including Sweetwater, Roby, Rotan and Abilene.
Another arctic front with an ice, sleet and snow
mix is possible tonight and early Wednesday across
West Central Texas.
A strong arctic cold front will move South
across West Central Texas late tonight and early
Wednesday morning, bringing mu< colder tem-
peratures back to the region. Wintry precipitation
will again be a threat beginning late tonight. The
area will likely see precipitatior begin as mostly
rain by late evening. As the cold air nvades, the
area s ould expect to see a brief changeover to sleet
and freeziru rain, then snow by ea: y Wednesday
morning. The best chance for heavy snow will
be over the Big Country with lesser amounts to
the South. At I is time, the forecast is for one to
two inches of snow generally along the North of
Interstate 20 with locally higher amounts possible
Ice accumulations are expected to remain light with
this system. However, significant travel problems
will still be likely with the very cold temperatures
Given the high winds expected, reduced visibility
due to blowing snow wil also be a concern. Snow
will be very slow to melt on the roads.
High temperatures on Wednesday are expected
to remain n the lower to middle 20s across the
Big Country, to the lower to middle 30s South.
Strong North winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour will
result n wind chill values as low as 5 to 10 degrees
below zero across the Big Country and Concho
Valley tonight, and over of West Central Texas
Wednesday morning.
Some uncertainty still exists. If the storm track
shifts farther Sout , then the anticipated snowfall
amounts will need to be increased. Conversely, a
more northerly track will likely reduce the heavy
snow threat.
Cuts
Continued from paget
Over eight years ago the STAR program had started in
Sweetwater. The Services To At-Risk Youth (STAR) pro-
grams were developed by the state child welfare agency
in 1983 to help local communities serve youth who often
fall between the cracks of other service delivery systems.
The purpose of STAR is to prevent child abuse, truancy
and delinquent behaviors by helping young people ar
their families resolve conflict, build on their strengths
and achieve healthy goals. Services are designed to
intervene at the front end, often in crisis situations such
as when a child runs away, to prevent problems from
escalating further and requiring intervention by Child
Protective Services or juvenile justice systems.
Adolph Knabe is the Family Services Director of High
Sky Children's Ranch and his main goal at this point is
to get the word out to the Legislator, especially in the
Nolan County area. Knabe mentioned, "With Susan
King, and Robert Duncan on both sides of the parties,
they are definitely the ones to get a hold of about these
changes and where they can he >."
Knabe did bring up a couple of possible solutions in
which the state of Texas might be open to. "The Rainy
Day fund, or possibly tax increases on items such as
tobacco, alcohol and or sugar beverage items."
There is a new coalition of Texans today, Texas
Forward (www.txforward.org). They are trying to urge
the Legislature to spend all of the Rainy Day Fund as
a balanced approach to bridging the state's anticipated
revenue shortfall and fueling new economic growth. The
Rainy Day Fund is expected to have an estimated $9 bil-
lion available for spending in the 2012-13 budget, which
wou ld at least put a dent into the state of Texas' budget,
"dollars to dollars" an estimated $15 billion on the nega-
tive currently for the state of Texas.
Texas Forward, whose 37-member organizations rep-
resent educators, health and human sendees non-profits
and others dedicated to better lives for all Texans,,
believes this is not the time to cure budgetary problems
with cuts alone. Texas children and their families need
more help, not less, in these difficult economic times.
Currently the High Sky Children's Ranch STAR offers
services to youth and families. Services include estab-
lished curriculum, in-home visits, workshops, 24-Hour
crisis intervention, short term emergency shelter and
UCAP (Universal Child Abuse Prevention Services).
Other key components are preventive services that are
available in all 254 counties in Texas. Youth and fami-
lies can access these services without the involvement
of other agencies. STAR is a valuable support service to
other agencies and programs seeking help for the youth
and families that they work with.
High Sky Children's Ranch STAR offices are located
in Midland, Tom Green, Brewster, Hudspeth, Nolan and
Scurry counties.
Knabe mentioned, "The average cost of serving a
youth and their family through STAR is less than $700
STAR can serve more than 193 youth for the price of
serving one youth in TYC (Texas Youth Commission).
STAR can serve more than 56 youth for the price of
serving one youth in foster care. The emotional costs of
serving a youth and his or her family through STAR are
obviously miniscule compared to the emotional costs
of serving the youth and his or her family through the
foster care or justice systems."
High Sky Children's Ranch is very beneficial for trou-
bled children and families as well as for the community.
They have been a solution for years on controlling trou-
bled issues with teens and even family matters before
they get out of control. This is a last step before the state
gets involved into these situations, which in turn saves
e state and community thousands of dollars every
year. With state budget cuts into organizations such as
these. It could possi ly bring the state even deeper into
debt a few years down the road.
Super Bust: Woes were
endless for Texas hosts
SCHUYLER DIXON
Associated Press
DALLAS (AP) — Roads froze and airports closed. Falling
ice sent six people to the hospital. Finally, seats to the big
game vanished hours before kickoff. Super Bowl week in
Texas was not always so super.
Annoyance over difficult driving conditions and altered
travel plans early in the week turned to anger Sunday for
hundreds of fans with tickets who were forced to watch
Green Bay beat Pittsburgh on TV at $1.3 billion Cowboys
Stadium a suburban Arlington because their temporary
seats weren't ready.
Visitors left Dallas-Fort Worth en masse Monday, many
wondering whether the region had been prepared to host
an event of such magnitude.
"Logistics are a major, major problem here," said John
Boyle, a 53-year-old Packers fan who was waiting at
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport for a flight home
to Minnesota. "And I think everyone would say the same
thing."
North Texas wasn't at fault for the seating problem — the
NFL officially took the blame Monday, and Cowboys owner
Jerry Jones chimed in to say his team shared it.
The region had no control over the weather, either, but
that wasn't much consolation to the owner of a Super Bowl
memorabilia shop in downtown Dallas. Matt Smith said
business for the week was off 90 percent Friday, when
an overnight snowstorm capped a loo-hour stretch of
subfreezing temperatures that turned sidewalks into slide-
walks and kept many people off the streets.
That was the same day ice fell from the roof of Cowboys
Stadium, injuring six workers on the plaza below. Although
none of the injuries was life-threatening, the news broke
when weary visitors were on their fourth day of dealing
with a rare cold snap that included subzero wind chill read-
ings.
Even after the weather cleared, Tim Bastion of Pittsburgh
found out the hard way how difficult it can be to get around
without a car in sprawling suburbs where organizers inten-
tionally put major NFL events as many as 30 miles apart to
emphasize the Super Bowl's regional efforts.
Bastion and his son had to take a hotel shuttle nearly 10
miles back to the airport in order to get a cab to take them
places.
"They should have a better system to get people from
location to location," Bastion said. "This town is so spread
out, and there are so many places people would like to
go."
Hundreds of flights were canceled early in the week and
again Friday when more snow hit, but airline estimates
indicated most of the impact was not on Super Bowl travel.
Big weekend crowds at NFL events and in bars, restaurants
and malls were further proof that most visitors who were
planning a Super Bowl trip actually made it.
Estimates of the economic impact on the Super Bowl
vary widely — from $200 million to $600 million — and
it's also unlikely the prolonged and unusual weather event
will affect those figures significantly, said Terry Clower,
the director for the Center fof Economic Development and
Research at the University of North Texas.
"What might have changed is where some of the spend-
ing took place," Clower said. "For example, because of the
snow and because of the transportation snags that were
weather-related, you might have had more people getting a
meal from room service or inside the hote '
Bill Lively, president of the North Texas Super Bowl Host
Committee, stands by his belief that the region will get
another Super Bowl.
"I don't believe the weather issue will be a problem in
getting the game back," Lively said.
The area rallied with about 48 hours of typical sunny
Texas weather in the final countdown to the Super Bowl,
then the clouds and a chilly wind returned just about the
time the NFL's seating issue because a major story. Now the
region and league face a skeptical public going forward.
"I know a lot of people are probably having hours and
hours and hours of meetings post-event to try to learn from
this," said Julie Dennehy, a Massachusetts-based public
relations consultant. "What they need to do is communi-
cate how much they learned, and how they've changed.
Not what they did yesterday, but what they're going to do
tomorrow."
AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich and videographer
Rich Matthews contributed to this report.
Crews retrace search for
missing Texas toddler
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (AP) - Police aided by
state officers and bloodhounds are retracing their steps
in the search for an 18-month-old Hill Country child.
The search for Joshua Davis Jr. has been ongoing
since his family reported him missing from their mobile
home in southwest New Braunfels on Friday evening.
New Braunfels police Lt. Michael Penshorn says
searchers removed the skirts Monday from the crawl-
spaces beneath the homes in the mobile home park
where the family lives. Penshorn says a parallel criminal
investigation also is under way into the circumstances
beliii the boy's disappearance. He said he had no
information on the details, but the family was cooperat-
ing.
Penshorn had said Sunday that the search had changed
to a recovery effort after hopes dimmed for the child
after a weekend of subfreezing weather.
Texas deputy pleads
gu Ity in drug scheme
HOUSTON (AP) — A former Harris County sheriffs
deputy pleaded guilty Monday for his role in what pros-
ecutors described as a scheme to rob drug loads from
dealers.
Richard Bryan Nutt Jr. pleaded guilty during a hear-
ing in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to interfere
with commerce by extortion.
Nutt, who faces up to 20 years in prison when sen-
tenced June 6, remains free on bond.
Nutt, 43, and four others were arrested in December
after taking what they thought was cocaine from a
vehicle that ,vas actually part of a sting operation by
Houston police and the FBI.
Prosecutors said Nutt conspired with four others to
use his position as a law enforcement officer to steal
drug loads from dealers and split the proceeds after the
drugs were sold by co-defendants.
Nutt's attorney, Mart Thering, disagreed with pros-
ecutors' description of his client's role in the scheme.
Thering said Nutt was not part of an ongoing effort to
rob drug dealers but only made a one-time mistake.
Thering said Nutt agreed to take part only in one rob-
bery of a drug dealer and that he had been told he only
was going to steal money and not drugs.
"He is very remorseful and accepts responsibility and
is embarrassed by the shame he has put on his amily
and the sheriffs department," Thering said,
Nutt was fired from his job shortly after he was
arrested.
One of the other four men indicted in the case also
pleaded guilty Monday. The remaining defendants are
set for trial in March.
Texas schools warn of
litigation under budget cuts
SOMMER INGRAM
Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -
Texas school districts could
see an ncrease in lawsuits
if specia] needs children are
refused admission to the
School for the Blind and
Visually Impaired and the
School for the Deaf because
of cuts in the proposed state
budget, superintendents told
senators Monday.
Senators on the finance
committee heard from super-
intendents of both schools,
who said they are required
under federal law to enroll
students who cannot be ade
quately served by their local
school districts.
Bill Daugherty, superinten-
dent for the School for the
Blind and Visually Impaired,
said if forced to operate with
less money as proposed under
the state Senate's draft bud-
get, the school won't be able
to enroll new students who
have a legal right to a "free,
appropriate education" under
the federal Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act.
He warned that parents of
blind children have not hesi-
tated in the past to sue if their
children are not provided
adequate services, and that
restoring the funding that the
Senate ill takes away would
decrease the likelihood of liti-
gation.
The school has no mech-
anism to cap enrollment,
instead placing students on a
wait list until a spot becomes
available. Daugherty said
students currently have to
wait about one month, but
that under Senate Bill 1 the
wait list would effectively bar
enrollment.
The School for the Deaf,
which has a legal obligation
to accept students referred
by local school districts for
admission, faces similar
obstacles.
With more than 500 stu-
dents and enrollment steadily
increasing, the school can'
sustain the 10 percent cut law-
makers are proposing without
cutting personnel and naking
drastic changes in services,
superintendent Claire Bugen
said.
Students remain in local
school districts if they
are
refused admission.
The schools for the blind
and deaf serve some of the
most complex learners in the
state, and a majority of the
students have more than one
disability. Bugen said only 30
percent of their students have
a single disability, she said.
The School for the Blind
and Visually Impaired is
requesting 15 more teachers
and staff, and had hoped for
an additional $1.4 million to
cover the cost of providing
an education for 12 to 16 new
students. Daugherty said the
school is also seeking funds to
update technology.
The School or the Deaf
wants 18 new teachers and
staff. Bugen said the proposed
cuts w< Id force the school to
lose an overnight physician,
leaving sick students to be
administered by a dorm par-
ent not a medical expert.
In the face of a $27 billion
budget shortfall, Sen. Steve
Ogden, R-Bryan, said "it may
be appropriate in some cases
to charge tuition."
Bugen said that is not
allowed under federal law.
"I don't have a mechanism
to do that. I think we're going
to cross into federal issues
under IDEA (Individuals
With Disabilities Education
Act) when you start talking
about charging parents," she
said.
In public schools, deaf stu-
dents often can't find inter
preters or the specialized
education necessary, leaving
many otherwise capable stu-
dents unable to function.
Neil Leach, the father of a
daughter who was born deaf,
sai his daughter's experi-
ence;: in mainstream public
school were "unbelievable."
She was required to go to
music class, went days with-
ou1 having an interpreter
and wasn't exposed to visual
learning, he said.
Since enrolling at the School
for the Deaf, her reading has
jumped nearly three grade
evels and she has a teacher
who is fluent in American
Sign Language.
lias anyone up here had
a deaf child who needs spe-
cial education?" he asked the
senators. "It's a completely
different education. To charge
tuition would be ridiculous
Art
Continued from page 1
that quilled items were used by French and Italian nuns
and monks to decorate religious objects in order to
simulate more costly handiworks such as carved ivory
or wTought iron.
Filigree work became popular in England in the 18th
century and was taught along with needlework as a
"proper pastime" for fashionabl young ladies. Boarding
schools of that age often featured "filigree" among the
subjects taught. The 18th century New Lady Magazine
described filigree as "the art which affords an amuse-
ment to the emale mind capable of the most pleasing
and extensive variety." Signatures, dates and school
names were often penciled in on the back of surviving
pieces. Tea caddies, cribbage boards, wine coasters,
work baskets, obelisks, urns and even pieces of furniture
were commonly enhanced with filigree work.
Early American quill work continued to be used as a
decorative adornment for pictures, trays, boxes, candle
sconces and other practical items. Just as the wood-
Worker carefully caned intricate patterns and designs
into wood, so too the quiller would laboriously and
painstakingly roll and sculpt paper with a mazingly simi-
lar results. Many times c work would be combined
with shells, wax flowers, twisted wire, and chipped
mica to add a sparlding effect to designs viewed under
candlelight.
Oliver sells all of her quilling pieces. More of her piec-
es can be seen and purchased on her website www.art-
bybetty.com. Many of her works are available on the site
including wall art, announcements, invitations, greeting
cards and quilled jewelry including earrings and neck-
laces. Oliver says that each piece of jewelry is sealed with
polvurethane so that the piece can last a lifetime.
Oliver's work will be on display at the County-City
Library throughout the month of February. The hours
for the library are Monday from 1-6 p.m., Tuesday
through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday
from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MIDDAY ON WALL STREET
Today's Trading
Change
DOW
12,147.74
+55.59
NASDAQ
2,783.73
+14.43
S&P
1,317.78
+6.91
General Motors
36.81
+0.22
Ford Motor Co.
16.09
+0.37
AT&T
27.77
-0.20
Pepsico, Inc.
63.58
-0.26
I S<i Corp.
16.69
+0.20
Archer-Daniels
36.05
-0.04
GE
20.85
+0.29
Deere & Co.
93.68
+0.47
McDonalds Corp.
73.43
-0.63
Chevron Texaco
97.46
+0.35
Exxon Mobil
83.78
+0.50
Fst. Fin. Bnkshs.
50.13
+0.49
Coca-Cola
62.44
-0.12
Dell
13.98
+0.09
SW Airlines
12.04
+0.32
Microsoft
28.11
+0.33
Sears Holdings Co.
83.76
+0.10
Cisco
22.26
+0.21
Wal-Mart
56.01
-0.02
Johnson & Johnson
60.70
-0.14
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 074, Ed. 1 Tuesday, February 8, 2011, newspaper, February 8, 2011; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth229390/m1/3/: accessed May 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.