Commissioners Court report

The Fisher County Commissioners Court convened for a Special Meeting 9 a.m., Thursday, February 25.

A Burn Ban was not put in place, but will be discussed at the next meeting.

Gary Smith, representative of Grant Works, was present to discuss the TXDOT TIF program. Four vendors were approved for hauling, twelve pits were approved for material. Smith said program money can be used for leasing of equipment to perform road improvements.

Two commissioners who own pits abstained from approving on their pits. The pits were approved unanimously by the other commissioners.

Work can begin now on approved roads.

The next Commissioners Court will be held Tuesday March 1 at 9 a.m. This will be a Special Meeting. Items on the agenda are the Burn Ban, the Bond for Carla Thornton, and the Law Enforcement Center Final Decisions Workshop.

Candidate Forum attendance fair

- Preston Martin at the podium -

The Fisher County Candidate Forum was presented Thursday night, 6 p.m., in the Roby High School auditorium. Pat Thomson, Johnnie Howell and Jerry Marshall managed the proceedings.

Representatives stood up and campaigned for Michael Bob Starr, Jodey Arrington, and Greg Garrett, all republican candidates for U. S. congress.

Ricky Thompson and John Young, both republicans running for 32nd Judicial District attorney, spoke about their qualifications and goals for the office. There were a few swipes made against each other and a pretty intense, uncomfortable moment when Young lashed out at the crowd for hiding behind the computer screen to make anonymous remarks against his family.

County attorney candidates Michael Hall, democrat, and Jim Hargrove, republican went on stage next. Some light swipes were made, but no one got too dirty.

Sheriff candidates took the stage next. In order of who spoke first was H. T. Fillingim; incumbent J. A. Robinson; and Billy Spears, all running on the democratic ticket. The sheriff was well-spoken, and all three candidates were in agreement over the issues.

Candidates for Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 commissioners filed onto the stage next. This included democrats Hal Ely and Gordon Pippin, incumbent, for the Precinct 1 race: incumbent Preston Martin, democrat; candidate Bobby Hunt, democrat; and candidate Santos Flores, republican, for the Precint 3 seat. Josh Helms, republican candidate for Precinct 3, was not present. There was camaraderie among the men, and Gordon Pippin stole the show with his loquaciousness. He and Ely threw some goodhearted jabs. Martin was the most prepared for the questions that the candidates had been given beforehand to answer.

Overall it was an entertaining and enlightening evening.

Local landmark to stand

- Clear Fork of the Brazos -

The Rough Creek Bridge on County Road 309 north of Hobbs is currently undergoing an upgrade by the Texas Department of Transportation.

The south approach and the deck are being rebuilt, and the rails refurbished and brought up to current engineering standards, according to TXDOT Public Information Officer Mary Belle Turner.

The structure is described by TXDOT as a Warren pony truss with a polygonal top chord. It was originally built in 1930 on FM 1657, just south of Cross Roads Baptist Church, crossing over the Clear Fork of the Brazos River.

Rotan resident Billie McCombs, who worked on relocating the bridge, said it was moved to Rough Creek in 1956 after the roadway was paved and the bridge was not considered adequate for the heavier loads that would cross the creek.

The project is slated to finish in April.

The contractors for this job are Hodges & Sons Construction out of Omaha,Tx.

Local elections, chicken foibles and gas plants

-FM 1614-

Well, it's looking like the Precinct Three Commissioner's Race is going to be interesting with four candidates running. According to the Fisher County Election Page, the Democratic ticket will include incumbent Preston Martin and candidate Santos Flores, with candidates Josh Helms and Bobby Hunt on the Republican docket. If you've read me before, you know that I think the commissioners election is the most important political race in all of politics. I wonder if there'll be any mudslinging?

Winter keeps poking its hoary little head out here and there as it always does this time of year, but I'm already thinking about the garden, which makes me think about the chickens, because they ate all my tomatoes last year, and that reminds me of the trouble I've had with my faucet covers, because the chickens ate those, too. I think I've found a solution, though. I wrapped the styrofoam covers in duct tape and that seems to have puzzled the fowl. I have a love-hate relationship with the chickens and I have to keep coming up with solutions to keep us from fighting.

I don't take in much news, so I'm wondering what they're building out by the gas plant at Clatytonville. It's quite an endeavor, on a very large scale, and my guess would be a new gas plant. It would seem to be about time, the current plant is a bit ancient looking. Google and I will look into that and get back with our results next time (maybe).

UPDATE
A little Google goes a long way! The new structure will be electric, the Wetsel Substation on FM 611 and CR 448. I thought I usually read my Big Country Newsletter, but I guess I skimmed over this article.