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Conserve where you can and pray for rain. That’s the message this week from Greenbelt Municipal & Industrial Water Authority, which is giving notice that it is in Stage 2 of its drought contingency plan and is nearing Stage 3.

The plan in both stages seeks to reduce consumption of water, but Greenbelt General Manager Bobbie Kidd says the real concern is weather.

“The problem is not usage. It’s pure lack of rainfall and this hot, dry wind,” Kidd said.
Greenbelt says the reservoir looses a huge amount of water – almost equal to what is consumed – to simple evaporation, which is worse in hot, windy weather.

Usage meanwhile is falling due to a declining population in the member cities that Greenbelt serves, Kidd said.

That doesn’t mean people should not conserve water wherever they can, because, as Kidd points out, “Every bit helps.”

Greenbelt Lake has been in Stage 2 for three years, although it did come out of it briefly last year when wet weather brought the lake level up five feet. Now the lake is just barely one foot above the Stage 3 level.

On Monday, the lake depth was at 52.07 feet. Stage 3 kicks in when the lake falls to 51 feet, and the plan calls for the authority to reduce the levels in municipal storage tanks, which Kidd said reduces water pressure and therefore reduces usage. Greenbelt’s board would decide whether to implement that rule though.

“It may not come to that,” Kidd said. “The lake’s not changing real fast, and if we can catch some rain, the lake will come up fast.”

For now the biggest concern is that lower lake levels will impact recreation at Greenbelt, which
has two boat ramps open. Kidd says those ramps probably can’t be extended any further.

“That could impact money in [Clarendon] if recreation suffers,” Kidd said, but he noted that forecasts are calling for a cooler, wetter summer later this year. But until the weather pattern changes, Kidd advises, “Don’t waste any.”

Lifejackets are now in the hands of 287 Donley County students from HeadStart through 5th grade thanks to the combined efforts of the Associated Ambulance Authority and Greenbelt Water Authority.
Hedley elementary students received their jackets last Thursday, and Clarendon students got theirs on Monday. Both sets of students learned about water safety from EMS, volunteer firemen, and representatives from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

Ambulance director Anna Howard said the project began last year when the ambulance service received a $1,190.90 grant from the Panhandle Regional Advisory Council for injury prevention.

“We originally were just planning to have some lifejackets on hand and pass them out when we felt it was appropriate, but I mentioned it to Greenbelt and they matched the grant – and probably went over – and got jackets for all the elementary kids in the county.”

“Next month is water awareness month, but we figured we would go ahead and do it now since May gets so busy,” said Renee Betts of Greenbelt Water Authority.

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Dept. Dive Team, Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Department of Public Safety, Greenbelt, and the ambulance authority visited both schools. Students got a close up look and explanation of diving equipment, an ambulance, a state patrol car, and a game warden’s boat.

The kids were fitted with their jackets and reminded that they need to be worn tightly so they don’t slip off in the water.

“We were thrilled to do it,” Howard said. “The kids were excited, and hopefully it will help save a life.”

 Twenty-four people have drowned in Greenbelt Lake since it opened in 1968. Betts said they hope that these jackets will help prevent that number rising. No one wearing a lifejacket has died at Greenbelt.

 “We hope that our efforts help raise awareness on water safety,” Betts said.

Howard said the ambulance service intends to apply for the grant funds again next year if they are available to try to prevent future drownings.

Clarendon High School officials have announced the names of the top students for the Class of 2011 – Dominique Brady and Maegan Hysinger

This year’s Valedictorian is Dominique Brady with a GPA of 97.42. Dominique is the daughter of Kennith and Christina Brady.

Dominique has received many honors while at CHS. She has received Honor C’s or Top Student Awards in every class that she has taken since being enrolled in high school. She has been a state qualifier in UIL Spelling, Texas State History Day, a member of the state qualifying woodwind ensemble, a regional qualifier in UIL Math, named National Hispanic Scholar, and was named to third chair All-Senior Honor Band. She is a member of the National Honor Society where she is currently serving as Vice President and has been a member of the CHS Honor Roll for all four years. Dominique also participated in the Science Bowl her junior year.

She has been really busy with extracurricular events. Dominique has been a member of the CHS Student Council where she has held the office of Parliamentarian her junior year and currently serves as President. She has also served as Treasurer and Vice President of the local chapter of the Junior Historians. Her peers selected her as Class President during her junior and senior years. Dominique has played in the Bronco Band all four years, has been a member of the Spanish Club for three years, and was a Bronco Cheerleader her freshman year and she served as basketball manager for two years.

Dominique’s hobbies include scuba diving, spending time with family and friends, watching baseball and football, and listening to ‘80s rock.

Dominique plans on attending Texas Tech University where she has received an early admission into the Texas Tech School of Medicine. This program is called the UMSI program or Undergraduate to Medical School Initiative.

This year’s Salutatorian is Maegan Hysinger, daughter of Monty and Melody Hysinger. Maegan has a GPA of 93.33.

Maegan has been very busy during her four years at CHS. She was a member of the CHS marching band for three years and has participated in UIL academics for four years and has qualified for regional competition in Literary Criticism and Headline Writing. Maegan has also been a member of the Jr. Historians, where she now serves as secretary, for three years and has qualified for Texas State History Day competition all three years. While competing in the Texas State History Day she received the TSHA Award for Outstanding History Project. Maegan also received the Texas State Historical Association Adopt-A-Building Preservation Program Award. She served as president of her freshman class and secretary of her senior class. Maegan is also a member of the French Club, the annual staff, and has participated in the One Act Play.

Maegan’s academic awards include being a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and a member of the CHS chapter of the National Honor Society. She currently serves as secretary of NHS. Maegan has been a member of the CHS Honor Roll for 4 years. She has also been very active in working with CHS and Clarendon College in the dual credit arrangement and has received several college hours while attending CHS.

Maegan is also involved in the community. She has helped decorate the nursing home during Christmas, performed hand bell programs at the nursing home, is a member of the FUMC hand bell choir and was a counselor for the Special Friends camp, a camp for mentally challenged and disabled adults.

Maegan works hard at balancing work, friends and family. She enjoys listening to music, reading, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends. Maegan plans on attending the University of North Texas in Denton this fall and will begin her studies into radio, television and film.

Several Broncos and Lady Broncos stayed strong in the Area Meet at Abernathy last Wednesday and earned the right to advance to the Regional Meet that will be held in Levelland May 2-3.

The top four in each event will compete at the next level. Several relays will get to run at the next level from both Broncos and Lady Broncos.

The Lady Bronco sprint relay finished in first place with a time of 51.27 and was run by Glory Bryley, Amber Keelin, Sarah Luttrell, and Marqueda Gaines. The same four athletes ran the 800-meter relay and also took the top spot with a time of 1:48.73.

The Bronco 400-meter relay ran third with a time of 45.20 and was run by Chris Crump, Mike Crump, Charleston Harris, and Johnny Gaines.

The 800-meter relay finished fourth with a time of 1:33.64 with the same athletes running.

Sarah Luttrell finished second in the 100-meter dash at 12.75, and Audrey Shelton was fourth in the 1600-meter run at 5:55.03. Shelton also finished fourth in the 3200-meter run at 13:01.41. Jentry Shadle won the 100-meter hurdles at 16.20, and Amanda Powell was fourth in the 300-meter hurdles at 54.78. Haley Ferguson was fifth in that same event at 54.27.

Amber Keelin was sixth in the high jump with a leap of 4’10”, and Luttrell was fifth in the long jump at 15’4 ½”. McKayla Cartwright was third in the shot put with a distance of 31’10 ¼” and fifth in the discus at 95’6”.
Johnny Gaines won the 300-meter hurdles at 41.41 and was first in the long jump at 22’ ¾”. Charleston Harris was seventh in the long jump at 21’1 ¼”. Gaines jumped 43’1” in the triple jump to claim third place. Bradley Watson was fifth in the pole vault at 11’6”, and Cole Ward was seventh in the high jump at 5’8”. Chris Crump was sixth in the 200-meter dash at 22.79.
Coach Johnny Nino was pleased with the results of the meet and the dedication of the athletes.

“All of the athletes, those who are moving on and those who are not, have worked hard this track season,” Nino said.

“I appreciate the effort and the work they have put in.”