The Big Lake Wildcat (Big Lake, Tex.), Vol. SEVENTY FIRST YEAR, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 21, 1996 Page: 1 of 11
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"Birthplace of the fabulous Permian Basin"
(USPS 065-860)
wmmmti
Column 1
November 21, 19%
50tf
10 Pages
Deaths
Hemandez...Hesse
.. .Arel lano.. .Sappington
Please see page 3
Notes
Retakes
School picture retakes for all
grades, all campuses, are sched-
uled to take place on December
3,1996:
Wild game
supper tickets
Door prize tickets for the 2nd
annual Reagan County Wild
Game Supper are on sale at sev-
eral locations around town and
from directors and volunteers for
the organization. Lots of lucky
hunters went home last year with
new rifles and shotguns, and this
year somclucky hunterawillalso
win archcry equipment. The Wild
Game supper will be held here
November 30, the first Saturday
after Thanksgiving.
Smokeout
This year is the 20th anniver-
sary of the Great American
Smokeout. Since 1977 GASO
has helped millions of smokers
and tobacco users quit. Plan on
participating this year in theGreat
American Smokeout on Novem-
ber 21.
Bake Sale
Project Graduation will spon-
sor a Thanksgiving bake sale
Monday, November 25 in front
of T&C Village Market starting
at 8:00 p.m. They will have as-
sorted cakes, pics,cookies and
homemade breads
Date
Hi
Low
Rain
Nov.
14
70
54
.00
Nov.
15
68
59
.00
Nov.
16
68
61
.00
Nov.
17
73
44
.00
Nov.
18
58
41
.00
Nov.
19
79
45
.00
Nov.
20
84
50
.00
I A
i ^
Weather
This Year
(Readings taken at 8:00 aan.
daily).
Rainfall for January
.10
Rainfall for February
.13
Rainfall for March
.18
Rainfall for April
2.94
Rainfall for May
1.26
Rainfall for June
.82
Rainfall for July
1.04
Rainfall for Aug.
4 .91
Rainfall for Sept.
3.83
Rainfall for Oct.
.74
Rainfall for Nov.
.68
Rainfall for 1996
17.80
Snow accumulation for 1996 4-6"
Last Year
Total rainfall for 1995 ...13.65"
(Jan. .57; Feb. 1.05; Mar J3; Apr.
1.80; May 3.01; June 1.03; July .18;
Aug. 1.23;Sepc3.43;Oct..l2;Nov.
.50; Dec. .40, total for 1995,13.65.)
(Official records maintained by the
Natural Resources Conservation
Service.)
Four unit Reserve Officer force designed to assist Reagan County Deputies
Reserve Deputy program started
Reagan County Sheriff Frank
Gonzales is looking for a few good
men or women. With the approval
of a Reserve Deputy program from
the Commissioner's Court, Sheriff
Gonzales is now going about the
business of staffing Reserve Offic-
ers through a program where quali-
fied applicants work with local
deputies to increase patrol and
handle routine responsibilities. The
whole idea is to increase the physi-
cal presence of officers on the
streets and roads of Reagan County.
Reagan County Commissioner's
Court to consider our request."
The Sheriff Continued, "In Re-
agan County there arc several indi-
viduals who arc certified Peace Of-
ficers who arc qualified to assist our
department and the Citizens of Re-
agan County as a reserve unit A
person is qualified as a Reserve
Deputy only if hc/she is a certified
Peace Officer. The duties of a re-
serve officer would be limited to
transportation of inmates, assis-
tance with courtroom procedures.
traffic control, crime scene control,
and in rare occasions, cover a
deputy's shift when such deputy is
on sick leave or vacation."
According to the presentation,
the reserve unit would be of mini-
mal cost to the Reagan County bud-
get. While investigating the procc
durcs of a reserve unit, it was deter-
mined that the only cost fix such a
unit is liability and medical insur-
ance fix each officer. The Sheriff
has proposed a four-officer" re-
serve unit so the cost would be suil-
In his pitch to the
Commissioner's Court, Gonzales
presented a letter stating the need
for a Reserve Officer program. The
letter stated, "During the past sev-
eral months, the Reagan County
Sheriffs Department has seen an
increase in criminal offenses in our
city as well as the outlying area.
This is especially true with the in-
crease in juvenile delinquent con-
duct such as burglaries, thefts, van-
dalism, and the initiation of gang
related activities in our commu-
nity."
Sheriff Gonzales explained,
"Officers arc having to extend their
shift into overtime to handle the
situations and complete their inves-
tigations. This is costing the County
a great deal of overtime as well as
over-workingourofficcrs. Wchave
also had the misfortune of being
short handed due to medical prob-
lems and mandatory training for our
officers. That is why we asked the
Reserve Deputy Program
Responsibilities:
1. Assisting Sheriff's Depu-
ties by patrolling City and
County
2. Transporting inmates.
3. Extraditing inmates.
4. Ride along with deputies
for traffic stop assistance.
5. Help with escorts (Pa-
rades and funerals).
6. Assist in jail procedures
7. Will perform duties of
deputies.
8. Escort school buses to
football games.
9. Reduce overtime ex-
pense to County.
Qualifications
Certified Peace Officer -
Commissioned
by T.C.L.E.O.S.E.
Applicants:
(1) Screened - will be se-
lected by Sheriff. Applicants
will be selected which will
best benefit the department
based on background infor-
mation and reviews of past
employment.
Equipment:
(1) Each Reserve Officer
will provide their own equip-
ment. This includes, but is not
limited to A. firearm B. Uni-
form C. Vest D. Other police
gear.
(2.) County will provide
patrol unit, which will be an
off-duty officer's patrol unit.
Total cost to County:
The only cost to the County
will be to provide Medical In-
surance for each Reserve Of-
ficer. This cost will be the
same as covering Volunteer
Firefighters.
11 mm
Reagan Memorial Hospital had a good inspection for the 6th year in a row. Hospital personnel involved included l-r
Ron Galloway, Hospital Administrator; Gina Massey, Lab Supervisor; Julie Flores, Dr. Joseph Sudolcan, and Velma
Dane.
Reagan Memorial Hospital lab receives perfect score for 6th straight year
Hospital lab makes A+
On November 14, 1996, U.S.
officials were in Big Lake to per-
form routine inspection of the clini-
cal laboratory of Reagan Memorial
Hospital according to requirements
of thcClinical Laboratory Improve-
ment Amendments of 1988 (CLIA
88). CLIA '88 was passed by Con-
gress to set standards to improve the
quality ofclinical laboratory testing
in all laboratories in the nation con-
ducting testing to assess health or
diagnose, prevent, or treat disease.
These regulations set standards fix
laboratory practice and quality and
specified requirements for profi-
ciency testing (PT), quality control
(QC), quality assurance (QA). pa-
tient test management, personnel,
certification, and inspections. Fol-
lowing the recent in-depth inspec-
tion of RMH's lab in all of these
areas, including policies, proce-
dures, documentation, and test ac-
curacy, the official responsible fix
the inspection found no areas of
deficiency at all. for the sixth year in
a row. This is a very unusual score
for a lab of any size, and is a direct
reflection of ihcconscientious labo-
ratory personnel and laboratory di-
rector. Laboratory personnel in-
clude Gina Massey, RT, Laboratory
Supervisor; Julie Flores; Velma
Dane; and Joseph E. Sudolcan,
M.D., Director of Laboratory Ser-
vices.
Reagan Memorial Hospital's lab
is responsible for the handling of
patient specimens for assessment
ami diagnosis, and processes a large
number of lab specimens for a lab
its size, including inpatients at
Reagan Memorial Hospital and
Reagan County C’arc Center, outpa-
tients for physicians' offices or the
Emergency Department at the hos-
pital, and drug testing for employ-
ment or insurance purposes. In this
testing and all other laboratory
functions, each specimen must be
handled and processed according
to the requirements of the test to be
performed, and Universal Precau-
tions must be adhered to in order to
protect personnel and patients from
bltxxlbomc pathogens or other dan
gers when dealing with IxxJy fluids.
In atkluion, RMH is able to provide
additional services to the citizens of
Reagan County hy contracting with
Corning Clinical Laboratories in
Irving, Texas to perform more so-
phisticated procedures requiring
Please see Hospital A + page 2
able compared to overtime expendi-
tures.
Gon/alcs added, "With the in-
crease in criminal activities and the
exhausted overtime budget, we feel
that this Reserve unit will be in the
best interest for the Reagan County
Sheriffs Department as well as the
citizens of Big lake and Reagan
County.
Main objective
According tothc presentation, an
effective reserve unit will place
more than 1 patrolling unit after
dark to protect and serve local busi-
nesses and residents. The Reagan
County Sheriffs Department has
requested a fixir man reserve unit to
assist with the increasing problems
facing our community. While we
recognize their arc economic re-
straints in our local budget, we feel
that this request is justifiable. In our
small community the crime rale is
increasing while support for more
man power is decreasing in the local
governing bodies (Commissioner's
Court and City Council). It is be-
coming very apparent that the law
abiding citizens and local busi-
nesses need more protection and
support than is currently available.
Thanksgiving Service Sunday
night at First Methodist Church
The annual City Wide Christian
Thanksgiving worship service will
begin at 7:(X) Sunday night at First
United Methodist Church, Novem-
ber 24. This worship Service is
sponsored by the Big Lake Ministe-
rial Alliance anti all citizens of our
community are urged to attend. Ev-
eryone is invited to bring canned
goods to their own churches or to
this worship service Sunday
evening. The fixxJ will help hungry
people throughout the year.
An Alliance spokesperson said.
"God dwells in two places...in
Heaven and in a thankful heart."
While everyone is eager to begin
Christmas' and that is all well and
good, wc can better celebrate
Christmas by first acknowledging
God as Creator, Giver and Sustaincr
of all life.
He alone is the Giver of every
good and perfect gift. So, let's all
gather together as Christian believ-
ers this Sunday evening praising
God for his goodness to us as a
community."
Membership drive
The Big Lake Chamber of Com-
merce is in the process of conduct-
ing a Membership Drive. Wc extend
an invitation to every business and
individual to join as in making Big
Lake a better place to live.
Wc should never ask what can
the Chamber do for me? But rather,
what can 1 do for my town and
community. Your small monthly
dues enable us to stay abreast of
these changing times. Your cham-
ber is a member of the Texas Cham-
ber of Commerce Executives, The
West Texas Chamber of Commerce
and the United States Chamber of
Commerce. With the financial help
wc arc able to give various festivals
in Reagan County. Wc generate out
of town tax dollars through our mo-
tels, cafes and stores.
Membership dues arc SI5.00 a
month for businesses and S5.00 a
month for an individual. Contact
any board member or the chamber
office if you want to join us.
Big Lake's Old Fashioned
Christmas Dec. 12th
If you haven't reserved your
booth space call Susan George or
Kendra Curry.
Onctxxnh this year will be "Help
the Needy in our Community." This
will be your choice of a "Grab Bag"
for a non-perishable food item.
To decorate a window or d<xir of
a vacant building call. Jana Free-
man. There will be a $25.00 first
place, $15.00 second and S10.00
third place prize for the lighted pa-
rade. Call Palsy Settle or the cham-
ber office to enter your float.
Business owners please have
your lights up by Dec. 1.
City sales tax continues
increase over last year
The City of Big Lake continued
to show an increase in sales tax
rebate revenue this month when its
monthly check was received last
weekend from the Stale Comptrol-
ler. Net rebate for the past month
was $21,247.13 as compared with
$20,882.78 for the same month in
1995. This was a 5.27% increase.
The city's ycar-to-datc total in-
creased to $193,166.88 for a
20.32% increase over the
$160,536.65 at the same lime in
1995.
Other cities in this West Texas
area showed the following rebate
checks received (his month, their
ycar-to-datc total, and the change
from one year ago:
Crane $ 16,4 34.64. $ 161,050.18.
up 8.74%; Odessa $934,721.23,
$8,697,918.31, up 4.25%; Big
Springs 3 48,3 38.2 5,
$3,297,481.88, down 0.11%;
Mcrtzon $3,363.40, $34,869.61, up
15.72%; Stanton $9,642.18,
$80,812.80, up 6.91%; Midland
$ 1,139.111.21, $ 10,687,764.68, up
7.05%; Fort Stockton $62,541.60,
$835, 543.18, up 10.24%; Iraan
$6,789.41, $81,501.08. up 3.98%;
Eldorado $ 10.469.64, $128.925.18,
up 9.64%; Sterling City $5,374.12,
$50,65.3.40, up 2.52%; Sonora
$34,407.79, $298,781.78. down
3.13%; San Angelo $787,497.62,
$7,787,520.01, up 5.85%;
McCamcy $9,471.84, $91,810.67,
up 2.11%; and Rankin $3,655.89,
$27,161.78, up 2.0V 1
This months rebates include
taxes collected by monthly sales tax
filers (xi September sales and by
quarterly filers for July, August and
September, and rcporicd to the State
Comptroller in October.
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Werst, David. The Big Lake Wildcat (Big Lake, Tex.), Vol. SEVENTY FIRST YEAR, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 21, 1996, newspaper, November 21, 1996; Big Lake, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth739729/m1/1/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Reagan County Library.