Archives for November 2004

COLLEGE STATION – Flu shots are in short supply this year. For those who usually protect themselves with flu shots but will be unable to this year, Texas Cooperative Extension experts offer some advice: Don’t panic.

Dr. Carol Rice, Extension health specialist, and Andrew Crocker, Extension gerontology and health specialist, said these common-sense health tips could help this winter, even if flu shots are not an option:

• Wash hands as often as possible. Frequent use of soap and water can go a long way toward reducing instances of winter illnesses, Rice said.

“Most cold and flu germs are spread by direct contact,” Crocker said. “If you were to sneeze into your hand and then touch a doorknob, the germs (from your sneeze, to your hand, to the doorknob) may stay on that doorknob for hours – even days.” Washing hands will prevent germs from spreading from person to person this way.

• Cover sneezes and coughs. Keep tissues or a handkerchief handy to cover your nose and mouth if you have to sneeze or cough. That will keep germs from spreading into the air, where they can infect others, Crocker said. Covering your sneeze with your hand isn’t very sanitary, he said, especially if you immediately touch someone or some thing.

“If you do cover a sneeze or cough with you hands, remember to wash your hands immediately.” If a tissue or handkerchief isn’t handy, he suggested turning away from others and coughing into the air.

• Get moving. Get regular exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes each day, Rice said. “Studies show this helps you avoid getting sick because your immune system is more effective.”

• Eat a healthful diet. Be sure to choose a variety of foods, Rice advised.

“The food guide pyramid can help you make good choices.”

• Keep stress to a minimum. Recent studies show individuals who have a positive attitude are less likely to catch colds than individuals whose attitude is more negative, Crocker said. Healthy and positive attitudes also promote healthy lifestyle habits, he said, which can also mean fewer illnesses.

• Sleep. Quality sleep helps the body recover from illness, Rice said. Getting enough sleep can also be an important step in preventing some illnesses in the first place, she said. The National Sleep Foundation (http://www.sleepfoundation.org) offered these tips:

• Keep a regular sleep schedule to help keep the body’s natural rhythm in balance.

• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, which can all have negative effects on sleep.

• Don’t go to bed on a full stomach.

• Finish exercise workouts at least three hours before bedtime.

• Relax before bed. Try soaking in a warm bath, reading, or listening to soothing music.

• Sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress and keep the room dark, quiet, cool, and comfortable.

• Daytime naps should be short and sweet – no more than 20 or 30 minutes.

If you do come down with the flu, experts from the Mayo Clinic advise getting rest, drinking fluids, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and seeking medical advice.

Take antiviral medication if prescribed and above all, don’t go to work, school, or anywhere else you might spread the disease to others.

The Donley County Commissioners’ Court will appoint a five-person board to study a disputed road after a public hearing was held during their regular session Monday.

A protest regarding a proposed county road map was filed by attorneys representing Precinct 3 resident Terry Crofoot regarding an extension of what is currently labeled as County Road 18.

The protest says that the road, which crosses Crofoot’s property, has never been maintained with public funds and that the road is a private ranch road with no dedication by the owner that it can be used for public purposes.

An affidavit attached to the protest and signed by J.B. Lane notes that in the past the property owners “have allowed Jack Craft, a neighbor, limited access to the ranch road” but further notes that no easement has been granted to Craft.

County Judge Jack Hall said the road is the only access Craft has to the property which includes his residence.

The court will appoint a five-member Jury of View to study the problem and make a final decision. The jury, which must consist of citizens with no interest in the situation, will be appointed during the court’s next regular meeting on December 13, and their decision must be returned within 90 days from November 8.

County Attorney Pro Tem Kaye Messer said the jury’s decision will be binding on the Commissioners’ Court.

In other business, the court approved a resolution authorizing a “Helping America Vote Act” grant application to help offset the cost of new voting machines for all polling places in the county.

Judge Hall said a federal mandate is forcing Donley County to purchase the machines, which are primarily for the handicapped and could cost between $20,000 and $30,000 each. Ten such machines would be needed for the county.

“I can see having one machine that we use like early voting,” Hall said. “But you have 15 or 16 voters in the north part of the county (voting box 402), and we have to do this?”

Hall said the federal mandate was a knee jerk reaction by Congress following the 2000 election, and while it may make sense for places like Houston, it’s not good for small counties.

Ninety-five percent of the cost is supposed to be provided by the federal government, which hasn’t happened yet, Hall said. And the remaining five percent is supposed be funded by the state, where the Legislature hasn’t budgeted those funds either, Hall said.

The machines must be in place by 2006.

Commissioners also approved a quarterly payment to the Donley Appraisal District and authorized a contract with the district to collect county taxes for 2005.

Permission was granted to the Girl Scouts to decorate the Courthouse Square for the holidays.

The county policy manual was changed to allow employees over the age of 70 to opt out of having retirement deducted from their paychecks.

And the court approved replacing the air-conditioning and heating system for the Courthouse Annex at a cost of $18,591.

By Cheryl Johnson, Clarendon Enterprise

Several organizations in Donley County have slated services and programs to honor area veterans for Veterans’ Day.

On Thursday, November 11, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US Memorial Post 7782 of Clarendon will hold memorial services at the Donley County War Memorial at 10 a.m. Although this is a private service, the public is invited and encouraged to attend. 

The Adamson-Lane American Legion Post will hold their annual Veterans’ Day program at 11:00 a.m. at the Rowe Cemetery in Hedley.  Johnny Hoggatt will be the featured speaker for the ceremony.

Hoggatt is a 1996 graduate of Hedley High School.  He joined the US Marine Corps after graduation and attended boot camp in San Diego, California.  He attended the USMC Combat Engineer School at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina.  He was then shipped to Okinawa, Japan, with the 3rd Marine Division Combat Assault Battalion.  He has been deployed to Lithuania for Operation Baltic Castle and to Kabule, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom to re-open the US Embassy there.  He was deployed in February 2003 for Operation Iraq Freedom and the Iraq and Kuwait War.

Hoggatt was released from the US Marine Corps in January 2004 as a Staff Sargent.  He and his wife Jana and their two children live in Amarillo where he is currently employed as a security police officer at the Pantex Plant.

The Post will place flags on the 200 graves of veterans buried in Rowe Cemetery.  The VFW Post will also place flags on the graves of veterans buried in Citizens Cemetery.

The students at Hedley School will hold a special program for the veterans beginning at noon. Veterans will enjoy a meal at the school cafeteria – (invited guests only, please). 

Finally the day will end up at the VFW Hall in Clarendon at around 2 p.m. where all Donley County veterans will be treated to a free picnic sponsored by the VFW Post, their Ladies Auxiliary, American Legion Post 287, and the Friends of the Donley County Veterans.

Although the Veterans’ meals are free, the VFW is asking for donations for the spouses, dependents, and guests.

VFW Post 7782 would also like to remind all veterans that Golden Corral in Amarillo will be giving away free meals on Monday, November 15, for all US Military veterans.

Also being held on Thursday in Amarillo, the newly completed Visitors Reflection Center will be dedicated at 11:00 a.m. at the War Memorial located at Veterans Park, next to the Randall County Annex on Georgia Street and I-27. The public is invited to the ceremony.

The center is to be available to veterans, their families, and to all visitors to come and reflect upon what they have seen at the memorial itself.  It will also have a place for visitors to sign in and an exhibit area for war memorials.

The War Memorial consists of red granite monoliths, which give a brief history of all United States conflicts from the Spanish American War through Desert Storm.  Afghanistan and Iraq will soon be added.  Other monoliths are inscribed with the names of the 1,000 dead and missing in action from casualties from World War I through Desert Storm from the upper twenty-six counties of the Texas Panhandle.

The names of 54 casualties from Donley County are inscribed on the Monoliths.  There are fifteen names from World War I, twenty-six names from World War II, one from the Korean War, and two from the Vietnam War.

A color guard from the Marine Reserves will open the dedication ceremony, followed by a bugle solo of “The Star Spangled Banner” played by John Brewer. The invocation will be given by the Rev. James Garrett of Polk Street United Methodist Church.  The Stars Choir from the church will sing a patriotic song medley.

Senator Kel Seliger will be the featured speaker.

The ceremony will end with a twenty-on gun salute by the Texas State Troopers Honor Guard from Lubbock, followed by “Taps” played on the bugle by John Brewer.