Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 160, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 24, 2009 Page: 1 of 16
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Sweetwater
Sunday, May 24, 2009
www.sweetwaterreporter.com
Vol. ill, Issue 160 ■$!
Sunday Focus
Honoring our
military
See Page HI
Notice
The Sweetwater
Reporter offices will
be closed Monday,
May 25, 2009, in
observance of
Memorial Day. There
will not be a paper
printed that day.
Inside
J.P. Co wen has
student luau
See Page AH
,-TEXHS-r.
LOTTERV
PICK 3 (Day)- 5 3 9
Daily 4 (Day) 0 8 1 i
PICK 3 0 3 9
Daily 4 0 8 1 2
MEGA MILLIONS
3 29 34 42 49 MB 29 MP 3
CASH IIVE
8 14 22 31 32
NOTICE
If you miss your
Sweetwater Reporter you
should call evenings from
5:30-6:00 p.m.
Monday thru Friday.
If you miss your Sunday
paper please call from 8-
9:30 a.m., and we will con-
tact your carrier.
236-6677
BY BRIAN MCCORMACK
Staff Writer
It would be untrue to say
that the slumping economy
hasn't affected Sweetwater at
all. But it is true that we have
weathered the storm better
than most places. The little
economy that could has many
factors working in its favor.
One of the biggest local
influences may be the
Sweetwater Enterprise for
Economic Development
(SEED).
The SEED organization
exists to help the community
better itself by developing
existing businesses, attracting
new companies to the area anil
by creating jobs that pay a liv-
able wage. Executive director,
Ken Becker, explains how
SEED can be a valuable
resource for companies inter-
ested in making Sweetwater its
home. "When we talk to busi-
nesses, we try to fit their
needs," he said. "We can offer
them grants, loans or employ-
ment incentives. There are a
number of things we can firing
into the package."
Several area companies have
benefited from SEED's assis-
tance. TST Inc., an aluminum
manufacturer, has come here
from California to set up shop.
According to SEED's website,
the organization gave TST a
loan to start up its operation. If
the company's employment
targets are met, the loan will be
forgiven.
Ludlum Measurements
received a leg-up from SEED
also. The group helped
Ludlum’s secure a loan, and
offered them job creation
incentives as well. Now,
Ludlum is one of the largest
employers in the area, second
only to the entire school dis-
trict.
One particular company
stands out from the rest, how-
ever. Wind Energy Turbine
Services Inc. (WETS), began
right here in Sweetwater. Four
guys with different back-
grounds in the energy field
decided to stake their claim in
the rapidly growing wind
industry — and they have
proven to be a resounding suc-
cess.
Mark Meneses, Larry
RPMH names emergency center after Kennedy
Martin, James McCasland and
Jason Hefner, the four part-
ners who founded WETS, say
• See SEED page A3
Rep. Susan
King to speak
at Chamber
luncheon,
hostcoffee
BY TATIANA
RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
THOMAS F. KENNEDY EMERGENCY CARE CENTER
ADMISSIONS •
OUTPATIENT *
Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital held a ceremony Friday in honor of Tom Kennedy, the facility's recently retired administra-
tor. The emergency treatment wing of the hospital was renamed the Thomas F. Kennedy Emergency C enter. Kennedy, who
couldn't he at the dedication, was represented by his wife, Kathy Kennedy, and his son, Tom Kennedy, a Captain in the I S
Army. Pictured at the center are (from left), Wavne ( howning, Kirby Andrews, Carlos Alvarado, Kathy Kennedy, Tom
Kennedy, Steve Holcomb, Deborah Shamblin, and Donna Boatright, who replaced Kennedy as hospital administrator upon his
State Representative Susan
King will be guest speaker for
the second Sweetwater
Chamber of Commerce
Membership Appreciation
Luncheon, which is planned
for Wednesday, June 3. The
event begins at 11:30 a.m. It
will be held at the student
center on the Texas State
• See CHAMBER page A3
Sweetwater to
be featured on
rodeo special
The Chamber of Commerce
through occupancy funds made a
donation to the West Texas
Rodeo Association finals that
tixtk place Aug. 7-9,2008, at the
Nolan County Coliseum. This
money was used for advertising
the rexieo and at 7 p.m. central
time on Monday, May 25, a
promo about Sweetwater will be
aired on RFD-TV(not offered on
Suddenlink). The channel is
offered by Dish Network on
channel 231 and by DIRECTV on
channel ,'345.
According to Randy Lloyd,
WTRA president, the special pro-
gramming will feature many
aspects 01 Sweetwater including
our mayor, Greg Wortham and
the Chamber of Commerce.
Dillard Williams is working on making his front and back yards full of flowers, with many
types to choose from.
BY AMANDA MORENO
Staff Writer
Flowers are a beautiful sight, but not always
a welcome one. For anyone that drives down
Silas Street, beautiful flowers are hard to miss.
Mr. Dillard Williams has turned his front
yard, and working on bis backyard, into one of
the largest amount of flowers around.
"For 25 years 1 farmed and tried to get rid of
flowers, and never could fully get rid of them.
1 figured if I couldn't get rid of them, 1 might
as well try and raise them," Dillard Williams
said.
Williams and his wife have lived in
Sweetwater for about 40 years. They moved
back to Sweetwater when Mr. Williams ipiit
farming. His wife got back into her teaching
and they decided to stay.
He has been growing his flowers for about
three years, lie has numerous types of flow-
ers, from bluebonnets, poppies, wildflowers,
pansies, Sweet Williams, Buttercups, Black
Eyes Susans, Tick Seeds, African Daisy and
more.
" I don't really put out seeds anymore. There
are already so many out there, it just depends
on the rain and the weather on which one
takes over each year," Williams said.
One unique flower that Williams is growing
is the Alamo Fire Bluebonnet. It is a maroon
or red color, but can revert back to the blue
color if the seeds and pollen get mixed.
"1 have to keep an eye on them and null the
bluebonnets out because they can take over
and change the maroon ones back to the nat-
ural blue, Williams said.
Mr. Williams said that in the beginning, lie
would just mow his grass around the few flow-
ers that popped up in his yard, but eventually,
he decided to get rid of the grass completely
and let the flowers take over.
"1 am working on the backyard and trying to
clear out the grass so that 1 can plant more
flowers and make it like the front yard,"
Williams said.
Even though it may seem like the yard looks
like a lot of work is put into it. Mr Williams
said that he does not devote too much time to
the flowers.
"The main thing is water and 1 spend about
four hours with the water and the flowers kind
of decide for themselves which one is going to
take over that year," Williams said.
Commissioners to consider
reinstating bum ban
The Nolan County Commissioner's Court will hold ses-
sion at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26.
The posted agenda for the meeting is as follows:
1. Approve minutes of May 11, 2009 meeting.
2. Consider approval to use technology fund to replace
hard drive on computer in the J.P's office.
3. Open bids for bulk fuel for Nolan County.
4. Open bids for flex fuel (road materials) for Nolan
County.
5. Open bids for grad 4 crushed rock for Nolan Countv.
6. Open bids for AC 10 paving materials for Nofan
County.
7. Open bids for a new or used mowing tractor for Nolan
County, Precinct 4
8. Review county investment policy with the Nolan
County Treasurer.
9. Consider approval of a resolution approving submis-
• Set COUNTY page A3
Hospital Board swears in members
Kirby Andrews (left) and Steve Holcomb, are shown taking
their oaths as they are sworn in for another term as Nolan
County Hospital District hoard members. Andrews and
Holcomb were re-elected and ran unopposed to extend their
terms as trustees.
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Rodriguez, Tatiana. Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 160, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 24, 2009, newspaper, May 24, 2009; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth560391/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.