Archer County News (Archer City, Tex.), Vol. 106, No. 51, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 16, 2014 Page: 1 of 16
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State Rep James Frank
holds Town Hall Meeting
coming legislative session with State Representative James Frank.
(R)
BY JERRY PHILLIPS
District 69 Texas State Repre-
sentative James B. Frank made
a stop in Archer City last Mon-
day afternoon for a town hall
type session with local citizens
and public officials at the Archer
City Activity Center. Archer
County is one of six counties in
District 69. The other counties
represented by Frank are Baylor,
Clay, Foard, Knox, and Wichita.
These counties collectively have
a population of over 180,000
people.
The meeting was to share his
thoughts on the upcoming ses-
sion and touch base with the
citizenry about their concerns.
In his opening remarks he com-
mented, “This may be one of the
most intriguing sessions ever.”
Due to the change in practically
every statewide office, princi-
pally a new Governor in Greg
Abbott and a new Lieutenant
Governor in Dan Patrick, there
are a lot of unknowns as to how
those new key players will gov-
ern.
Frank singled out water as one
of the big issues to be addressed.
The two entities playing a big
role in Texas are the TCEQ
(Texas Commission on Environ-
mental Quality) and the Texas
Water Development Board
(TWDB). Frank emphasized
TCEQ is focused on quality of
water and not supply, but felt an
occasional exception from them
might increase supply. TWDB,
according to Frank, could step
up its role in above ground stor-
age, specifically as it relates to
evaporation. He committed to
work toward more participation
by state agencies in helping with
water supply.
When Frank was posed the
question about statewide pipe-
lines to transfer water he can-
didly addressed the issue saying,
“The more we can interconnect
the better. Long term the state
can do a better job of coordinat-
ing it (a statewide water connec-
tivity plan). Let’s spend some
money to help the south get de-
salinization and let’s change the
water rights so that is happens in
the north, but trying to get that
done politically is tough.” At
this time there is no statewide
plan and a lack of political sup-
port will make a plan difficult.
Transportation was also one of
the major issues to be addressed
in the next legislative session.
Frank felt the Texas Legisla-
ture would have to find a way
to fund the needs of the Texas
transportation system. He felt
the legislature would address
the issue and make provision to
fund transportation as needed.
Discussion of toll roads was ad-
dressed as well. Frank took note
of toll road objections and sug-
gested work was needed to bet-
ter define TxDOT’s responsibil-
ity saying, “Where does the city
start and the state stop.”
Education was another major
issue, but Frank felt since school
funding is currently tied up in
court it would probably take a
special session later in the year
in August or September to deal
with the issue. He stressed the
complicated nature of school
funding offering the suggestion,
“We need to make it simpler.”
Frank commented on the bor-
der issues both in the north and
the south. Two of the counties
in his district are dealing with
the U.S. Bureau of Land Man-
agement regarding government
land claims to land owned for
generations by private individu-
als along the Red River. He felt
the State of Texas might be able
to help defend property rights
of individuals, but did not feel
anything would happen anytime
soon.
The southern border was an-
other issue addressed. Sheriff
Beesinger and Chief Deputy Si-
mon Dwyer expressed concerns
over Department of Public Safe-
ty officers being transferred to
the border. The reassigmnents
leave a shortage of personnel
which county law enforcement
See Frank pg. 16
Archer City Nursing
Center files Chapter 11
The Archer City Nursing Cen-
ter is an integral part of the Ar-
cher community both emotion-
ally for residents and families
of residents and economically
for the financial impact it has
through the roughly 37 em-
ployees who work there. The
Nursing Home Administrator
Samantha Crawell and her staff
provide quality caring service
to residents despite a lack of fi-
nancial support from the owners
and operators of the home.
Actually identifying exactly
who the owner and operators
are is a confusing puzzle. Wood
Family Enterprises, Inc., accord-
ing to representation in a motion
before the Bankruptcy Court,
owns the real estate and im-
provements and leases them to
Archer City Healthcare Provid-
ers, LLC, dba Archer City Nurs-
ing Center and also mentioned is
a management company known
as Covenant Care Centers, LLC
which has also filed for Chapter
11 relief on December 9, 2014.
Archer Healthcare Providers,
LLC doing business as Archer
City Nursing Center filed a
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on De-
cember 9, 2014 in the United
States Bankruptcy Court for
the Northern District of Texas.
Under the Bankruptcy Code
Chapter 11 provides for reor-
ganization, usually involving a
corporation or partnership, to
keep the business alive and pay
creditors over time. A Meet-
ing of Creditors is scheduled
January 23, 2015. Creditors
will have an opportunity to file
claims up until April 23, 2015.
Emergency hearings were held
on December 10 and December
17 on an Employee Motion to
authorize the payment of em-
ployee wages and salaries. In
the motion filed by Weldon L.
Moore, III, the proposed attor-
ney for debtor, Archer Health-
care Providers, LLC is listed
along with Vernon Healthcare
Providers, LLC as Debtors and
Debtors-in-Possession. Harlin
D. Hale, United States Bank-
ruptcy Judge will preside in
these expedited hearings.
The “Employee Motion”, as it
is entitled asks the court to enter
an order “authorizing Debtors to
pay their respective pre-petition
employee wages and salaries
See Chapter 11 pg. 16
An Archer City legend
in the making
BY LAUREN ZOTZ
We all have special needs.
Some of us need glasses. Some
need certain medication. But
there’s one special need the
world has, and it’s to have more
people like Jonathan Nelson.
Archer City wouldn’t be the
same without him, that’s for
sure. He has never met some-
one he didn’t like, and in his
thirty-four years he has never
known a day without happiness.
He is always happy and doesn’t
worry about anything. Those are
the advantages of Jonathan’s life
with Autism. Advantages from
which we could all benefit.
Jonathan Nelson was bom to
Katherine (Kuykendall) Nelson
and Clifton Travis Nelson on
January 27, 1980. His being
on the Autism spectrum wasn’t
determined until he was three
or four years old, but it doesn’t
stop him from enjoying a fulfill-
ing and happy life. In fact, it
seems to enhance it.
Jonathan has lived in Archer
City all of his life. He graduated
from Archer City High School
in 1999. He loves everything
about the school (and everyone),
especially high school sports,
and rarefy misses home games;
and with the help of friends,
makes many of the away games
as well.
When the Archer City Lady
Cats earned their first trip to
the state volleyball tournament
last November, Jonathan got to
go. But his uncle Curtis Nelson,
who “keeps track” of Jonathan,
didn’t know anything about it
until he called him from his
courtside seat.
“We’re losing!” Jonathan said.
Curtis was puzzled and respond-
ed with, “Losing what?”
“The game!” Jonathan ex-
claimed.
“What game? Where are you?”
“I’m in Garland! At the
game!”
It turns out Jonathan loaded
up with family friends on his
own and was watching the state
semi-final match between Ar-
cher City and Lindsay. He had
a chance to be there to support
the Lady Cats in their mn for the
state title, so he did.
Since being hired as a part-
time janitor, Jonathan has even
more opportunities to show his
support of the students and to
spread his happiness through-
out the school. He said, “I work
hours. Sweep and pick up stuff.
And I help keep everything
clean.”
Element ary/Middle School
Principal Josh Castles has
known Jonathan (Johnny) since
they were kids, having grown
up across the street from one
another. Josh fondly said, “I
was on Johnny’s football team
and we were a part of Team
Wildcat 1993-1994. His mother
took me in and treated me as her
own. We lost both of our moms
a month apart. We take care of
each other and make each other
laugh,” expressing how he feels
lucky to have Jonathan as his
friend and how the school is
blessed to have him be a part of
it.
When he’s not at school serv-
ing as a janitor, you’ll see him
whizzing around town in his
golf cart. He goes to the post
office to retrieve mail, but not
just his own mail. He also
gets his uncle Craig Nelson’s
mail, along with the Sons of
the American Legion mail (of
which he is a member), as well
as his grandpa’s mail. He deliv-
ers their mail, along with a daily
dose of happiness.
Jonathan is a proud member
of St. Mary’s Catholic Church,
and is involved with the Ameri-
can Legion, helping them when
they cook. He is also a highly-
regarded member of the Archer
City Athletic Booster Club, for
which he serves as “Director
of Medical Services”, and is
in charge of alerting the ambu-
lance crew when help is needed.
“I tell them to "come on over’
whenever somebody is hurt,”
Jonathan described.
He is also the captain of the
Archer City/Windthorst Special
Olympics team. In addition to
his duties as captain, he won
gold medals for the shot put and
50 meter events, and silver in
the long jump. "‘I don’t jump
very well,” Jonathan admitted.
This year’s Special Olym-
pics Coordinator Haley Reid
has known Jonathan all her life.
She thinks the world of him and
said, "Jonathan Nelson inspired
me to become involved in Spe-
cial Olympics and influenced
me to become a special educa-
tion teacher."
Other activities filling Jona-
than’s days include playing on
his Wii video game, watching
TV, and Facebook. But more
importantly, he takes time to
visit his parents’ graves several
times a week. His dad died al-
most four years ago, and his
mom died in March of this year.
He wants everyone to know this
would be his first Christmas
without her. Jonathan may not
feel sadness to the level others
do, but when he talked about
missing his mother the light in
his eyes dimmed just a bit.
But no worries, Jonathan’s
light never dims for long. He
soon was talking about Christ-
mas and how the Archer City
High School PALs (Peer-as-
sisted Leadership) members
brought him his own Christmas
tree and helped him decorate it,
“Eleven days ago, during 7th
period at 1:45,” he reported.
What does a man who’s happy
with anything want for Christ-
mas? “A little bit of everything,”
Jonathan told me. But he had a
hard time being any more spe-
cific. When I asked him what he
wanted in his stocking (that he
hung himself) he immediately
said, “Pecans!”
Jonathan’s uncle Curtis Nelson
is in charge of keeping tabs on
Jonathan, which obviously isn’t
always the easiest job. The two
bicker like brothers, but the love
and closeness the two have is
undeniable.
Clay Reid is a good buddy
and neighbor of Jonathan’s and
helps Curtis keep an eye on him,
along with his across-the-street
neighbor who happens to be
Sheriff Staci Beesinger. Jona-
than’s response to that was, “I
keep an eye on THEM, too!”
Jonathan has a photogenic
memory, though sometimes
it’s hard for him to get the pic-
See Jonathan, page 2
i
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Phillips, Barbara. Archer County News (Archer City, Tex.), Vol. 106, No. 51, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 16, 2014, newspaper, December 16, 2014; Archer City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth633569/m1/1/?q=green+energy: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Archer Public Library.