On Tuesday, Jan.7, 2020, there will be a sheriff’s sale at 10 a.m. at the north door of the Fisher County Courthouse.
There are many parcels of land up for bid. One parcel is in Roby, at 306 SW 1st; the others are out in the county, in the Eskota, Royston, McCaulley, Longworth and Sylvester areas.
For more information on the parcels, look in the Double Mountain Chronicle or go to Public Notices. Use the parcel numbers (leave off the letter in front) to do a search on the Fisher County Appraisal District website.
To find out the location of a piece of property, use the Fisher CAD interactive map. In the search box on the map, use the city name (ex: Eskota) instead of the property id number. Once the right vicinity is found, peck around on the map to find the relevant parcel.
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Rotan School Board meeting Dec. 16, 2019
The Rotan school board met for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday night.
Present for the meeting were Vice President Britt Sipe; Secretary Monica Carillo; members Millie Warren, David Posey and Hunter Helms; Superintendent Greg Decker; Principal Jody Helms; and District Counselor Katrina Jarvis. Member Rodney Denton was absent.
Principal Helms presented elementary and junior high students who won medals in Universal Interscholastic League Academics .
Reorganization of the board was approved, moving Sipe to president and Hunter Helms to vice president.
A bid from Milton Wood on foreclosed property was approved.
A proposal for the Senior Class trip to New Braunfels was presented by students and approved by the board. The estimate for the trip was $5,905, to be paid out of the Senior Class fund.
The purchase of house and property located at 804 E. Johnston, for $28,900, was discussed, then tabled until appraisal district records for the property could be attained. The property would be used to house school staff.
Principle Helms reported on the finals test schedule and maintaining the district's Texas Education Accountability rating of 80.
Jarvis reported on donations and gifts for families in need, and read a letter from a grateful recipient. She also reported that ACT will be February 15.
Decker discussed bringing in consultants to prepare for issuing a bond and putting together a packet for using Chapter 313 tax abatement funding; UIL alignment and the district position; the possible purchase of equipment; plumbing; evaluations; and moving board meetings to the second Monday of the month.
The board then discussed the vacancy left by the resignation of member Guy Nelson and reorganization of the board. They voted not to fill it, approved 3 to 2. Posey and Sipe opposed.
The board then went into closed session.
Decker said the superintendent evaluation and contract is to be put on the agenda and discussed at the next meeting, scheduled for January 13.
Present for the meeting were Vice President Britt Sipe; Secretary Monica Carillo; members Millie Warren, David Posey and Hunter Helms; Superintendent Greg Decker; Principal Jody Helms; and District Counselor Katrina Jarvis. Member Rodney Denton was absent.
Principal Helms presented elementary and junior high students who won medals in Universal Interscholastic League Academics .
Reorganization of the board was approved, moving Sipe to president and Hunter Helms to vice president.
A bid from Milton Wood on foreclosed property was approved.
A proposal for the Senior Class trip to New Braunfels was presented by students and approved by the board. The estimate for the trip was $5,905, to be paid out of the Senior Class fund.
The purchase of house and property located at 804 E. Johnston, for $28,900, was discussed, then tabled until appraisal district records for the property could be attained. The property would be used to house school staff.
Principle Helms reported on the finals test schedule and maintaining the district's Texas Education Accountability rating of 80.
Jarvis reported on donations and gifts for families in need, and read a letter from a grateful recipient. She also reported that ACT will be February 15.
Decker discussed bringing in consultants to prepare for issuing a bond and putting together a packet for using Chapter 313 tax abatement funding; UIL alignment and the district position; the possible purchase of equipment; plumbing; evaluations; and moving board meetings to the second Monday of the month.
The board then discussed the vacancy left by the resignation of member Guy Nelson and reorganization of the board. They voted not to fill it, approved 3 to 2. Posey and Sipe opposed.
The board then went into closed session.
Decker said the superintendent evaluation and contract is to be put on the agenda and discussed at the next meeting, scheduled for January 13.
Monday, December 16, 2019
Rotan school board meets tonight
The Rotan Independent School District School Board will meet at 7 p.m.
Among items on the agenda are reorganization of the board and consideration for bids on foreclosed properties.
The meeting will be held in the RISD Board Room.
Among items on the agenda are reorganization of the board and consideration for bids on foreclosed properties.
The meeting will be held in the RISD Board Room.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Gillespie permit submitted
Mineral leasing has been heavy for the past few months in the Gillespie County School Land Survey area in southern Fisher County. An application for a vertical oil well was submitted yesterday, for drilling in the southwest portion of the survey. The proposed well depth is 7,999 feet. It is currently being mapped and has not yet been approved. The Texas Railroad Commission W-1 application form identifies Cholla Petroleum as the operator.
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Rotan City Council meeting Dec. 12, 2019
The Rotan City Council convened for a regular meeting Thursday, 7 a.m., at City Hall.
Mayor Pete Garcia and council members Frank Miranda, Zachary Johnson and Scott Toliver were present. Also in attendance were City Manager Carla Thornton and City Public Works Director Rodney Denton.
Denton reported that a 10-inch water main had been damaged at Camp Springs by an oil company, that Precinct Two had hit a water line, and that the pump used for working on the sewers needed some work and would probably need replacing soon.
Denton then addressed comments that were made in the last commissioners meeting regarding the way the city was handling repairs. He and Thornton both said that they had not heard any complaints from the commissioners about the water lines. Denton indicated that he had to be informed about problems in order to fix them.
There was no update on grant funds for replacing water lines at this time.
Mayor Garcia said there was a complaint regarding mowing and repairs needed on Florence Street. Denton said he agreed, there was a big drop off there and would work on it. He also said that he wanted to let people know that they are responsible for trimming the alleys behind their houses, that it's hard to read meters and work in overgrown areas.
The Rotan Volunteer Fire Department reported that they received a grant and were in the process of interviewing vendors. They also said that they had a person coming to certify their pump .
The financial report was approved. Thornton said she expected it to be higher next month because of all the repairs.
There was a discussion about a piece of property up for bid in Rotan. The bid was deferred to the Rotan School Board.
Regarding labor for the golf course, Thornton said dimensions were needed for signs to advise citizens that all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles were banned from the course, and which entrance was to be used. No action was taken.
A bid from Garden World of $1,899 for planting trees in the park was discussed and tabled until Councilman Messick could be in attendance, because he knew more about the project.
Denton said he was enjoying the new excavator, but that a larger trailer was needed for towing it.
The meeting was then adjourned.
Mayor Pete Garcia and council members Frank Miranda, Zachary Johnson and Scott Toliver were present. Also in attendance were City Manager Carla Thornton and City Public Works Director Rodney Denton.
Denton reported that a 10-inch water main had been damaged at Camp Springs by an oil company, that Precinct Two had hit a water line, and that the pump used for working on the sewers needed some work and would probably need replacing soon.
Denton then addressed comments that were made in the last commissioners meeting regarding the way the city was handling repairs. He and Thornton both said that they had not heard any complaints from the commissioners about the water lines. Denton indicated that he had to be informed about problems in order to fix them.
There was no update on grant funds for replacing water lines at this time.
Mayor Garcia said there was a complaint regarding mowing and repairs needed on Florence Street. Denton said he agreed, there was a big drop off there and would work on it. He also said that he wanted to let people know that they are responsible for trimming the alleys behind their houses, that it's hard to read meters and work in overgrown areas.
The Rotan Volunteer Fire Department reported that they received a grant and were in the process of interviewing vendors. They also said that they had a person coming to certify their pump .
The financial report was approved. Thornton said she expected it to be higher next month because of all the repairs.
There was a discussion about a piece of property up for bid in Rotan. The bid was deferred to the Rotan School Board.
Regarding labor for the golf course, Thornton said dimensions were needed for signs to advise citizens that all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles were banned from the course, and which entrance was to be used. No action was taken.
A bid from Garden World of $1,899 for planting trees in the park was discussed and tabled until Councilman Messick could be in attendance, because he knew more about the project.
Denton said he was enjoying the new excavator, but that a larger trailer was needed for towing it.
The meeting was then adjourned.
March 2020 local primary candidates
All Fisher County incumbents have filed for their current positions.
These are Sheriff Allan Arnwine; Precinct One Commissioner Gordon Pippin; Precinct Three Commissioner Preston Martin; Tax Assessor-Collector Jonnye Lu Gibson; and County Attorney Michael Hall.
Two seats are being challenged: precinct one commissioner, by Dakota Rasberry; and precinct three commissioner, by Georgie McGough.
District Attorney Ricky Thompson and District Judge Glen Harrison have also filed for their current posts. These officials serve the 32nd Judicial District, encompassing Fisher, Nolan and Mitchell Counties. Thompson and Harrison are running unopposed.
All candidates are running as Republican nominees, with the exception of Hall, who has filed for the Democratic ballot.
The primary elections will be held March 3.
Candidate information can be found on the Texas Secretary of State website, under Candidate Listing Information.
These are Sheriff Allan Arnwine; Precinct One Commissioner Gordon Pippin; Precinct Three Commissioner Preston Martin; Tax Assessor-Collector Jonnye Lu Gibson; and County Attorney Michael Hall.
Two seats are being challenged: precinct one commissioner, by Dakota Rasberry; and precinct three commissioner, by Georgie McGough.
District Attorney Ricky Thompson and District Judge Glen Harrison have also filed for their current posts. These officials serve the 32nd Judicial District, encompassing Fisher, Nolan and Mitchell Counties. Thompson and Harrison are running unopposed.
All candidates are running as Republican nominees, with the exception of Hall, who has filed for the Democratic ballot.
The primary elections will be held March 3.
Candidate information can be found on the Texas Secretary of State website, under Candidate Listing Information.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Gillespie still in demand for November
The county records are up for the month of November. To access them, click on the Fisher County Records tab above.
Activity continues in the Gillespie County School Land survey area, in the southern part of the county, and in the H&TC RR surveys, in the western part. There were quite a few right-of-way easements granted to Big Country Electric, activity that can be substantiated by the number of electric crews that have been spotted putting new lines into the system.
The record pages on this site contain reports for the previous month. The reports are only a notation of information. Extensive documentation can be found on the websites for the Texas Railroad Commission and for Texas File. Links to those websites are listed in the right-hand column of this site, under Other Links.
Activity continues in the Gillespie County School Land survey area, in the southern part of the county, and in the H&TC RR surveys, in the western part. There were quite a few right-of-way easements granted to Big Country Electric, activity that can be substantiated by the number of electric crews that have been spotted putting new lines into the system.
The record pages on this site contain reports for the previous month. The reports are only a notation of information. Extensive documentation can be found on the websites for the Texas Railroad Commission and for Texas File. Links to those websites are listed in the right-hand column of this site, under Other Links.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Fisher CAD Board meeting Dec 10, 2019
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| - Appraisal district parking - |
Board Chairman Richard Gaona, Vice Chairman Vick Burk, and members Preston Martin and Charles Cleveland were present. Kevin Stuart, who was approved by the commissioners court to serve on the CAD board, was also present. Secretary Terry Coker was absent. Chief Appraiser Kellen Walker directed the meeting.
Discussed and approved were previous meeting minutes, the financial report, payment of bills, line item adjustments and securities. Texas Tax Code 25.25b corrections and changes were approved, which included mineral account ownership changes, homestead changes, and a clerical error.
Walker commented that at this time internet service is slow because digging is being done on the line.
Next, a multi-county lawsuit being brought by Mid Coast Pipeline, after they protested valuation, was discussed. Approximately 37-39 miles of the company’s pipeline is running through Fisher County, according to Walker. Discussion on the matter was halted and saved for an executive session to be held at the end of the meeting, when a lawyer from Pritchard & Abbott could be conferred.
An issue regarding obtaining a credit card for recurring bills was brought to the board’s attention. Staff and members agreed that a debit card might be the solution. Walker said a resolution for the credit/debit card issue would be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
Policies were approved for resolving public complaints, Texas House Bill 490 (relating to the administration of the ad valorem tax system), limitation on the appraised value of a resident homestead, acceptance and crediting of partial payments, supplements and corrections, fund balance, and investment.
The chief appraiser said that an extension had been requested and granted from the state for the 2020-2021 Methods and Assistance Program review, changing the due date from December to March.
The appraiser also noted that new board members would need to take training for open meetings within 90 days of taking office.
Chairman Gaona expressed concern that entities may have difficulty interpreting budget allocations. Staff member Shannon Stuart explained that the information was split out by appraisal, collections, and then by the total.
The next board meeting date was set for January 14, 2020.
The meeting then went into executive session.
No actions were taken after reconvening.
The chief appraiser evaluation was on the agenda, but not discussed in the open meeting.
Monday, December 9, 2019
Fisher County Commissioners Court December 9, 2019
The Fisher County Commissioners Court met Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m. in an open meeting.
Commissioners Gordon Pippin, Precinct 1; Dexter Elrod, Precinct 2; Preston Martin, Precinct 3; and Kevin Stuart, Precinct 4, were all present.
Departmental reports were approved for the offices of the tax collector, appraisal district, extension agent, county finances, and the sheriff. Bids were accepted for foreclosed properties in Rotan and Sylvester that were on auction through the appraisal district. Extension Agent Nick Dickson reported that stock shows would start in January. The bills and expenses report was pushed to the end of the meeting to enable all commissioners to look over them. Sheriff Allan Arnwine reported three prisoners currently in the county jail and that the facility is fully staffed. He said he is short one deputy. He also said that he expects to receive a previously ordered new vehicle for the sheriff's department at the beginning of next year, with one more to come after that.
Items for deliberation and consideration were presented after the department reports.
A budget amendment was approved for Information Technology services; the burn ban was re-enacted; Commissioner Stuart was approved to serve on the Fisher County Appraisal District Board.
There was not a representative present for the Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy Program public hearing. The court approved establishment and administration of the program.
Sue Mercer Thompson, representing Red Dirt LLC, appeared before the board to ask the commissioners to take full control of the fair grounds in Rotan, and to request use of the grounds for mud bog races next year. The requests were tabled until next year, when contracts for the current year have expired.
A motion for pipeline permit collections to go to precincts was approved, at this time going to precinct four. Judge Ken Holt suggested putting a provision in place to direct permit money in the future, either to the precinct it was collected for, or divided between all precincts evenly.
No decision was made after a discussion regarding law enforcement holiday pay.
Commissioner Stuart expressed a need for clarification on the travel policy for hotels.
There were discussions between commissioners and Fisher County Tax Auditor Becky Mauldin regarding purchase orders and credit card bills.
Motions were made and approved to declare surplus of old metal from precinct four and the sale of said metal.
After a break, commissioners inspected and approved bills.
Special revenue, which was on the agenda, was not discussed.
Commissioners court convenes regularly the second Monday of each month.
Commissioners Gordon Pippin, Precinct 1; Dexter Elrod, Precinct 2; Preston Martin, Precinct 3; and Kevin Stuart, Precinct 4, were all present.
Departmental reports were approved for the offices of the tax collector, appraisal district, extension agent, county finances, and the sheriff. Bids were accepted for foreclosed properties in Rotan and Sylvester that were on auction through the appraisal district. Extension Agent Nick Dickson reported that stock shows would start in January. The bills and expenses report was pushed to the end of the meeting to enable all commissioners to look over them. Sheriff Allan Arnwine reported three prisoners currently in the county jail and that the facility is fully staffed. He said he is short one deputy. He also said that he expects to receive a previously ordered new vehicle for the sheriff's department at the beginning of next year, with one more to come after that.
Items for deliberation and consideration were presented after the department reports.
A budget amendment was approved for Information Technology services; the burn ban was re-enacted; Commissioner Stuart was approved to serve on the Fisher County Appraisal District Board.
There was not a representative present for the Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy Program public hearing. The court approved establishment and administration of the program.
Sue Mercer Thompson, representing Red Dirt LLC, appeared before the board to ask the commissioners to take full control of the fair grounds in Rotan, and to request use of the grounds for mud bog races next year. The requests were tabled until next year, when contracts for the current year have expired.
A motion for pipeline permit collections to go to precincts was approved, at this time going to precinct four. Judge Ken Holt suggested putting a provision in place to direct permit money in the future, either to the precinct it was collected for, or divided between all precincts evenly.
No decision was made after a discussion regarding law enforcement holiday pay.
Commissioner Stuart expressed a need for clarification on the travel policy for hotels.
There were discussions between commissioners and Fisher County Tax Auditor Becky Mauldin regarding purchase orders and credit card bills.
Motions were made and approved to declare surplus of old metal from precinct four and the sale of said metal.
After a break, commissioners inspected and approved bills.
Special revenue, which was on the agenda, was not discussed.
Commissioners court convenes regularly the second Monday of each month.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Commissioners and CAD meetings next week
The Fisher County Commissioners Court will meet at 9 a.m. Monday, December 9 at the Fisher County Courthouse. There is a full agenda, including a public hearing regarding the Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy program. According to the Texas PACE Authority website, this program would allow commercial, industrial, agricultural, nonprofit, and multifamily
property owners to voluntarily tie the obligation to repay the cost of
energy and water efficiency improvements to their property with a
property assessment.
The Fisher County Appraisal District Board will meet at 8 a.m. Tuesday, December 10, at the Fisher CAD office. One of the items being discussed in open and executive sessions is a lawsuit with Midcoast Pipelines.
The Fisher County Appraisal District Board will meet at 8 a.m. Tuesday, December 10, at the Fisher CAD office. One of the items being discussed in open and executive sessions is a lawsuit with Midcoast Pipelines.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Sheriff’s sale tomorrow in Roby
Two pieces of real estate will be up for auction tomorrow at the north door of the Fisher County Courthouse.
The two properties to be auctioned off are a .259 acre portion of a .482 acre lot at 902 East Johnston and a .434 acre lot at 1111 Sammy Baugh. Both are in Rotan.
The auction will be at 1 p.m.
The rest of the story
I waited around the rest of the afternoon, with my eyes on the north door of the courthouse, but no one showed up. I called one of the mortgage companies around 1:30 p.m. to verify the sale, and I was told it was still on. At four I called back and was told it was not a sheriff's sale, but a trustee sale. The lady was right, the notice from the bulletin board at the court house read "Notice of Substitute Trustee's Sale". The date was given as December 3, the time as 1 p.m. or three hours after that, and the place as an area designated by the commissioners court or the north door of the courthouse. I now interpret this as meaning a sale would take place Dec. 3, sometime, at some place. It seems a call ahead of time and a request to speak to the specific sale trustee would be in order if I wish to attend any future sales.
P.S.S.
I was going through the county files and found a document from mid-November naming a substitute trustee for the property mentioned above. Now I know to check county records for designated trustees for property sale notices. I just laughed and laughed when I realized why a certain name in the records seemed so familiar to me. It was the property owner's name.
The two properties to be auctioned off are a .259 acre portion of a .482 acre lot at 902 East Johnston and a .434 acre lot at 1111 Sammy Baugh. Both are in Rotan.
The auction will be at 1 p.m.
The rest of the story
I waited around the rest of the afternoon, with my eyes on the north door of the courthouse, but no one showed up. I called one of the mortgage companies around 1:30 p.m. to verify the sale, and I was told it was still on. At four I called back and was told it was not a sheriff's sale, but a trustee sale. The lady was right, the notice from the bulletin board at the court house read "Notice of Substitute Trustee's Sale". The date was given as December 3, the time as 1 p.m. or three hours after that, and the place as an area designated by the commissioners court or the north door of the courthouse. I now interpret this as meaning a sale would take place Dec. 3, sometime, at some place. It seems a call ahead of time and a request to speak to the specific sale trustee would be in order if I wish to attend any future sales.
P.S.S.
I was going through the county files and found a document from mid-November naming a substitute trustee for the property mentioned above. Now I know to check county records for designated trustees for property sale notices. I just laughed and laughed when I realized why a certain name in the records seemed so familiar to me. It was the property owner's name.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Eskota leads permits for November
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| - Huddleston -A- 4R - |
There were three permit applications for western Fisher County.
All permits from October have been approved, except for the cathodic well north of Roby. All permits for November have been approved, except for one, west of Rotan.
Operators listed on the permits are Clear Fork Incorporateed, L.S.C. Production Company, Scout Energy and Browning Oil Company.
Permits are listed by API number, district, lease, well number, permitted operator, county, status date, status number, wellbore profile, filing purpose, amend, total depth, and status.
All information comes from the Railroad Commission of Texas website.
15133148 7B WELCH 3 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 10/29/2019 Approved: 11/04/2019 858580 Vertical New Drill N 5500 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133149 7B WELCH 2 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 10/29/2019 Approved: 11/04/2019 858579 Vertical New Drill N 5500 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15100153 7B CEDAR BREAKS WD 1WD CLEAR FORK, INCORPORATED(159500) FISHER Submitted: 11/13/2019 Approved: 11/19/2019 859080 Vertical Reenter N 7500 APPROVED
8 miles west of Rotan (permit says Roby, but it's just east of Scott's Corner)
15133149 7B WELCH 2 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 11/14/2019 Approved: 11/14/2019 858579 Vertical New Drill Y 5990 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133150 7B CARTER, B. F. 9 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 11/15/2019 Approved: 11/20/2019 859183 Vertical New Drill N 5990 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133151 7B WELCH 4WI L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 11/15/2019 Approved: 11/21/2019 859187 Vertical New Drill N 5990 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133152 7B WELCH -A- 1 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 11/15/2019 Approved: 11/21/2019 859195 Vertical New Drill N 5990 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133143 7B WELCH 1 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 11/21/2019 Approved: 11/22/2019 857208 Vertical New Drill Y 5990 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133153 7B HUDDLESTON -A- 4R SCOUT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC(760218) FISHER Submitted: 11/22/2019 Approved: 11/25/2019 859381 Vertical New Drill N 6000 APPROVED
12 miles SE of Sylvester
15133154 7B WELCH 5 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 11/22/2019 Approved: 11/25/2019 859393 Vertical New Drill N 5990 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133148 7B WELCH 3 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 11/22/2019 Approved: 11/25/2019 858580 Vertical New Drill Y 5990 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133149 7B WELCH 2 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 11/22/2019 Approved: 11/25/2019 858579 Vertical New Drill Y 5990 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133154 7B WELCH 5 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 11/22/2019 Approved: 11/25/2019 859393 Vertical New Drill N 5990 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133155 7B ACADIA 65 1H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted: 11/26/2019 Approved: 11/26/2019 859454 Horizontal New Drill N 7700 APPROVED
9.57 miles SW of Rotan
No API 7B CEDAR BREAKS 104 1H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted: 11/27/2019 859513 Horizontal New Drill N 7700 MAPPING
8 miles west of Rotan (permit says Roby, but it's just east of Scott's Corner).
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Commissioners to meet in the morning
The Fisher County commissioners are scheduled to have a special meeting tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse.
The following items are on the agenda:
1. Consideration of an application for a pipeline road crossing permit for Peregrine Petroleum
2. Financial software for auditor's and treasurer's office
3. Revenue from pipeline permits
4. Holiday pay for law enforcement
Peregrine has permit applications in the western part of the county.
The following items are on the agenda:
1. Consideration of an application for a pipeline road crossing permit for Peregrine Petroleum
2. Financial software for auditor's and treasurer's office
3. Revenue from pipeline permits
4. Holiday pay for law enforcement
Peregrine has permit applications in the western part of the county.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Oil, wind, solar, we've got it all
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| - Fisher Co Map - |
The legend for my poor ol' map that is pictured here is orange for wind, blue for oil, green for solar and pink for oil permits. This represents the month of October.
I am definitely not claiming accuracy, just that I did my best. The orange, blue and green tabs represent Texas File county records; the pink tabs represent Rail Road Commission records.
The county record tabs represent mentions of properties. A lot are new leases, but ratifications, transfers, etc. are included. I tabbed anything that seemed like it had to do with oil, wind or solar activity.
It's interesting to note that some lease extensions, east and north of the old Hobbs Baptist Church, names Richland Development Corporation as the lessor. The vice president of that company, Catherine Lebsack, is also named as the VP of Land and Exploration for Devon, according to the Devon website. Looking back in the records, since 2012, when Devon was a hot ticket around here, there's been a lot of back-and-forth activity between Devon and Richland. Perhaps Richland is a land management division of Devon. The current leases are from Richland to Clear Fork Inc.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Leasing still tight
The October county records have been updated. Click on the Fisher County Records tab to see the new information. Wind leasing records have been included this month.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Local celebrity joined daytime television for special episode
Here I am, a day late and a dollar short, to tell you Brad Maule, aka Dr. Tony Jones, appeared on General Hospital last week, November 8. I just remembered this morning that someone had mentioned it to me last week.
Brad Maule is the son of the late George and Josie Maule of Camp Springs, in Scurry County, Texas. He played Dr. Jones on General Hospital for twenty-two years, 1984-2006.
Brad Maule is the son of the late George and Josie Maule of Camp Springs, in Scurry County, Texas. He played Dr. Jones on General Hospital for twenty-two years, 1984-2006.
Friday, November 1, 2019
Drilling permits October 2019
Listed by API number, district, lease, well number, permitted operator,
county, status date, status number, wellbore profile, filing purpose,
amend, total depth, and status.
15133144 7B ZION 33 1H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted: 10/01/2019 Approved: 10/02/2019 857605 Horizontal New Drill N 7500 APPROVED
10.45 miles SW of Rotan
15133089 7B EL CAPITAN 63 (32247) 1 CLEAR FORK, INCORPORATED(159500) FISHER Submitted: 10/04/2019 Approved: 10/09/2019 835723 Vertical New Drill Y 7132 APPROVED
9 miles SW of Rotan - this is on FM 1614, previously permitted, updated depth
15133144 7B ZION 33 1H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted: 10/04/2019 Approved: 10/09/2019 857605 Horizontal New Drill Y 7500 APPROVED
As above, revision in paperwork
15133145 7B WILLINGHAM A 8601H PEREGRINE PETROLEUM PRTNR, LTD.(653271) FISHER Submitted: 10/07/2019 Approved: 10/09/2019 857782 Horizontal New Drill N 6830 APPROVED
15.15 miles SW of Rotan (permitted location in Scurry County)
15133146 7B CH 24 MP 16.602 1 ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS TEXAS OP LLC(253145) FISHER Submitted: 10/08/2019 857840 Vertical New Drill N 370 MAPPING
1.1 miles NW of Roby (cathode, not approved at this time, problems with survey lines)
15100544 7B WADDELL, BETTIE 2 NEW ATLANTIS II, LLC(606027) FISHER Submitted: 10/10/2019 Approved: 10/11/2019 857956 Vertical Recompletion N 6200 APPROVED
5 miles NE of Roby
15133147 7B MOODY 1 CHOLLA PETROLEUM, INC.(150683) FISHER Submitted: 10/10/2019 Approved: 10/11/2019 857952 Vertical New Drill N 7999 APPROVED
8 miles NE of Hermleigh
15132041 7B COCHRAN 1 MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted: 10/16/2019 Approved: 10/18/2019 858101 Vertical Reenter N 6817 APPROVED
12 miles SW of Rotan, re-entry
15133148 7B WELCH 3 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 10/29/2019 858580 Vertical New Drill N 5500 MAPPING
7 miles NE of Eskota, application needs plat revision
15133149 7B WELCH 2 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 10/29/2019 858579 Vertical New Drill N 5500 MAPPING
7 miles NE of Eskota, application needs plat revision
15133144 7B ZION 33 1H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted: 10/01/2019 Approved: 10/02/2019 857605 Horizontal New Drill N 7500 APPROVED
10.45 miles SW of Rotan
15133089 7B EL CAPITAN 63 (32247) 1 CLEAR FORK, INCORPORATED(159500) FISHER Submitted: 10/04/2019 Approved: 10/09/2019 835723 Vertical New Drill Y 7132 APPROVED
9 miles SW of Rotan - this is on FM 1614, previously permitted, updated depth
15133144 7B ZION 33 1H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted: 10/04/2019 Approved: 10/09/2019 857605 Horizontal New Drill Y 7500 APPROVED
As above, revision in paperwork
15133145 7B WILLINGHAM A 8601H PEREGRINE PETROLEUM PRTNR, LTD.(653271) FISHER Submitted: 10/07/2019 Approved: 10/09/2019 857782 Horizontal New Drill N 6830 APPROVED
15.15 miles SW of Rotan (permitted location in Scurry County)
15133146 7B CH 24 MP 16.602 1 ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS TEXAS OP LLC(253145) FISHER Submitted: 10/08/2019 857840 Vertical New Drill N 370 MAPPING
1.1 miles NW of Roby (cathode, not approved at this time, problems with survey lines)
15100544 7B WADDELL, BETTIE 2 NEW ATLANTIS II, LLC(606027) FISHER Submitted: 10/10/2019 Approved: 10/11/2019 857956 Vertical Recompletion N 6200 APPROVED
5 miles NE of Roby
15133147 7B MOODY 1 CHOLLA PETROLEUM, INC.(150683) FISHER Submitted: 10/10/2019 Approved: 10/11/2019 857952 Vertical New Drill N 7999 APPROVED
8 miles NE of Hermleigh
15132041 7B COCHRAN 1 MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted: 10/16/2019 Approved: 10/18/2019 858101 Vertical Reenter N 6817 APPROVED
12 miles SW of Rotan, re-entry
15133148 7B WELCH 3 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 10/29/2019 858580 Vertical New Drill N 5500 MAPPING
7 miles NE of Eskota, application needs plat revision
15133149 7B WELCH 2 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 10/29/2019 858579 Vertical New Drill N 5500 MAPPING
7 miles NE of Eskota, application needs plat revision
Rotan Allsup's changes hands
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| - Allsup's sign removed - |
The store was sold to West Texas Commercial Properties, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company. The sale was transacted August 19, according to records filed at the county clerk's office.
The real estate and personal property for this site is appraised at $171,530 on the appraisal district roll.
Lonnie Allsup, founder of the company, died in January 2018. His obituary can be found on the Muffley Funeral Home website.
Allsup's is a New Mexico based company.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Hoots and hollers
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| - Strange pumpkin - |
I was driving by the old Lance Theater in Rotan yesterday and noticed a bunch of junk sitting out front, like it was being cleaned out. The explanation came to me when I saw a notice for a Haunted House to be held there on Halloween night. It's $5.00 per person and starts at 7 p.m. There will also be a pumpkin carving contest and treats handed out in the foyer of the theater, separate from the haunted house.
I was at Joe's Circle C when a lady walked in and straight back to the deli saying "Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, Pepsi!". That tickles me even to think about it. Joe's has daily lunch specials, ya oughta check 'em out.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Oil & wind
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| - Energy resources - |
Speaking of wind, the bottom photo is of the Mesquite Star wind main site. This is at the curve just south of the Claytonville gas plant, on FM 611. Driving back to the west, on FM 608, there are yards full of giant blades and other parts for the windmills. Blattner is doing the construction for this project.
The top four photos, clockwise starting from the top left, are of the following oil drilling sites: Emilys 1H, 2H, horizontals & SWD 1D, a disposal well; Cochran 1, an exploratory/re-plug drill; Sahara 9, a horizontal; Yellowstone 28 1H, a horizontal on US 180 in Scurry County. The first three are in Fisher County on FM 1614.
Monday, October 21, 2019
A country crawl
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| - Fisher & Nolan County stops - |
I went to Roscoe to attend the Wind Festival and say Hi to Edwin Duncan at the Roscoe Historical Museum, but the activities had not started and Edwin, aka Snake, aka Bitsy, wasn't there, yet.
I drove on over to Sweetwater and picked up one of my kiddos, and we had breakfast at Nerveria Chiquis on Pecan Street. Then we headed back to Roscoe, but the Mud Bog had started and things were quiet on the bricks, where the festival was taking place. We stopped in at the going-out-of-business sale at Main Street Antiques, and chatted awhile with Kay Aiken. I still couldn't locate Edwin.
We decided to head on out to Lake Sweetwater, where we stopped off at the amphitheater, down below the dam. The place was full of orb weavers, and I got a great photo of a black and yellow garden spider, known for its zig-zag web weave. We milled around the beach for a few minutes, then went home to take naps and revitalize for the evening.
We headed back to Roscoe around dusk to see Johnny Rodriguez and his band play for the street dance. I finally caught up with Edwin as he was coming out of the museum. He was carrying a jar a homemade sauerkraut and a lightbulb and was in good spirits. I saw a few Loraine people over there.
Finally, I dropped the baby (haha!) off and headed home. When I turned the corner at the Hobbs School, I thought there were a whole bunch of vehicles with headlights on parked just over the hill, but it turned out to be heavy night-shift activity at the Sahara lease, as well as the lit-up tower on the double Emily site.
There's a lot to be done around here if you're willing to put some mileage on the car.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Hobbs School Reunion reminder
The Hobbs reunion will be this Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. with registration. The October 9 RSVP date has passed, but I bet they'd be happy to see folks at the last minute. There's plenty of room in the auditorium for everyone. Let 'em know you're coming! Call 735-3337.
A whole lotta rumblin' goin' on
For the past few weeks there's been a low grade rumble in the house as the nearby leases for the horizontal wells get their frac on. It's not continuous, it comes and goes. Right now I can somewhat mildly feel it. It's not really disturbing, other than none of the wells are mine.
Last week there was an all night rumble and the next morning I saw a huge flare over on the Mojave site, visible from my back porch. I noticed it wasn't burning this morning.
There have been eight new permit applications for Fisher County this month. There are a couple that seem out of the ordinary, to me.
One is CH 24 MP 16.602 Well 1, about a mile northwest of Roby. It's permitted as a cathodic protection well, only 370 feet deep. According to the Schlumberger Oil Field Glossary, a cathodic well is used for corrosion control, transferring corrosion from a protected structure to one that can be sacrificed. This permit has not been approved as of yet.
The other is Cochran Well 1, a re-entry on a plugged well, about three miles west of Hobbs. The remark on the permit says this is to properly re-plug the well, but the field restrictions says for exploratory test only, so it looks like it could be leaking, or it could be lucrative. Time will tell. This permit has not been approved to date.
Last week there was an all night rumble and the next morning I saw a huge flare over on the Mojave site, visible from my back porch. I noticed it wasn't burning this morning.
There have been eight new permit applications for Fisher County this month. There are a couple that seem out of the ordinary, to me.
One is CH 24 MP 16.602 Well 1, about a mile northwest of Roby. It's permitted as a cathodic protection well, only 370 feet deep. According to the Schlumberger Oil Field Glossary, a cathodic well is used for corrosion control, transferring corrosion from a protected structure to one that can be sacrificed. This permit has not been approved as of yet.
The other is Cochran Well 1, a re-entry on a plugged well, about three miles west of Hobbs. The remark on the permit says this is to properly re-plug the well, but the field restrictions says for exploratory test only, so it looks like it could be leaking, or it could be lucrative. Time will tell. This permit has not been approved to date.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
PCQC contributes to RPQRF
According to an article in the Athens Daily Review, Dallas based Park Cities Quail Coalition gave a donation of over $1 million dollars to the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation, which owns and runs the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch. The ranch is located west of Roby, by the blinking light at the intersection of US 180 and FM 611.
The same article also mentions Fisher County's Hawks Double Mountain Ranch. A hunt on the ranch was offered up as an auction bid item at a dinner fundraiser. Hawks encompasses the area down by the Rough Creek bridge north of Hobbs, as well as a lot more real estate.
The same article also mentions Fisher County's Hawks Double Mountain Ranch. A hunt on the ranch was offered up as an auction bid item at a dinner fundraiser. Hawks encompasses the area down by the Rough Creek bridge north of Hobbs, as well as a lot more real estate.
Fisher CAD named as creditor in Sheridan Chapter 11
The Fisher County Appraisal District is named as one of many creditors that Sheridan Holding Company II, LLC, et al, are indebted to, according to a bankruptcy document filed in the Texas Southern Bankruptcy Court, Houston Division. Forty-three taxing entities are included in the creditors list, including Nolan CAD and Jones CAD, as well as the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
The Chapter 11 bankruptcy was filed September 15.
The Chapter 11 bankruptcy was filed September 15.
Friday, October 4, 2019
County leases to Sharp Image, Cholla still interested in Gillespie
Oil leasing is going strong in Fisher County, with all the usual names in play, and a few new ones popping up along the way. Aciete Corporation, aciete being Spanish for "oil", is one of the more interesting names.
Cholla is still leasing in the Gillespie, aka Sidney P. Allen, area around Longworth (west, north and south) and along State Highway 70 south. They also did some leasing in the Blk 3 H&TC survey, northwest of Claytonville.
Scott Oils is hot in Blk 3, with leases in many different sections.
The county leased 160 acres worth of minerals, just north and west of Royston, to Sharp Image Energy in August, with the document being recorded in September. The records indicate that the county owns some minerals, not land, on this acreage.
The Fisher County records have been updated through September on TexasFile, and my breakdown for the mineral records has been added to the Fisher County Records tab at the top of the Hobbs Holler website.
Cholla is still leasing in the Gillespie, aka Sidney P. Allen, area around Longworth (west, north and south) and along State Highway 70 south. They also did some leasing in the Blk 3 H&TC survey, northwest of Claytonville.
Scott Oils is hot in Blk 3, with leases in many different sections.
The county leased 160 acres worth of minerals, just north and west of Royston, to Sharp Image Energy in August, with the document being recorded in September. The records indicate that the county owns some minerals, not land, on this acreage.
The Fisher County records have been updated through September on TexasFile, and my breakdown for the mineral records has been added to the Fisher County Records tab at the top of the Hobbs Holler website.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Fisher County oil drilling permits September 2019
Listed by API number, district, lease, well number, permitted operator,
county, status date, status number, wellbore profile, filing purpose,
amend, total depth, and status.
15133141 7B EMILY 3H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted: 09/05/2019 856805 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 MAPPING
12 miles SW of Rotan
15133142 7B EMILY 4H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted: 09/05/2019 856807 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 MAPPING
12 miles SW of Rotan
15133139 7B MASON 85 1P PEREGRINE PETROLEUM PRTNR, LTD.(653271) FISHER Submitted: 09/05/2019 856554 Vertical New Drill Y 7600 DRILLING PERMIT
14.6 miles SW of Roby
15133143 7B WELCH 1 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 09/17/2019 Approved: 09/18/2019 857208 Vertical New Drill N 5500 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133106 7B EMPIRE BUILDER 1H CHOLLA PETROLEUM, INC.(150683) FISHER Submitted: 09/20/2019 Approved: 09/26/2019 857290 Horizontal Reenter N 8999 APPROVED
9 miles NW of Roscoe
15133144 7B ZION 33 1H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted: 10/01/2019 857605 Horizontal New Drill N 7500 MAPPING
10.45 SW of Rotan
All information is derived from the Railroad Commission of Texas website.
15133141 7B EMILY 3H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted: 09/05/2019 856805 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 MAPPING
12 miles SW of Rotan
15133142 7B EMILY 4H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted: 09/05/2019 856807 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 MAPPING
12 miles SW of Rotan
15133139 7B MASON 85 1P PEREGRINE PETROLEUM PRTNR, LTD.(653271) FISHER Submitted: 09/05/2019 856554 Vertical New Drill Y 7600 DRILLING PERMIT
14.6 miles SW of Roby
15133143 7B WELCH 1 L.C.S. PRODUCTION COMPANY(479574) FISHER Submitted: 09/17/2019 Approved: 09/18/2019 857208 Vertical New Drill N 5500 APPROVED
7 miles NE of Eskota
15133106 7B EMPIRE BUILDER 1H CHOLLA PETROLEUM, INC.(150683) FISHER Submitted: 09/20/2019 Approved: 09/26/2019 857290 Horizontal Reenter N 8999 APPROVED
9 miles NW of Roscoe
15133144 7B ZION 33 1H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted: 10/01/2019 857605 Horizontal New Drill N 7500 MAPPING
10.45 SW of Rotan
All information is derived from the Railroad Commission of Texas website.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Emily lease construction under way
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| - Emily build - |
The lease is located in the H&TC RR/A. J. Ellerd survey, section 68, block 2. The permitted operator is Moriah Operating. It's in the Garden City, S. (Wolfcamp) field.
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Yellowstone 28 Well 4H raised
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| - Yellowstone - |
Okay, I'm still trying to figure out the permitted site versus the physical site deal. This well is permitted about halfway between Camp Springs and US 180, while the rig is right at US 180. So, is oil only being taken from the permitted point, or is it being taken out along the entire route?
Also, why are there two permits in the Railroad Commission query database for the same well? Both are approved. One is amended. One has a spud date. They have different status dates. Does it matter? Probably not to me. I'm just an inquiring mind.
Hobbs Homecoming 2019
Homecoming will be held Saturday, October 19, at the Hobbs School campus. Rough Creek Catering will be catering the affair. Cobbler has been requested and chicken will be served as well as brisket. Registration is at 9 a.m., the program begins at 10 a.m. RSVP by October 9.
You may wonder why the cobbler is mentioned, but it's a very big deal. The last reunion Dad attended, he looked up after the meal and said "Where's the dessert?" I tried to shush him, because I thought it seemed rude, but other heads started popping up and asking the same question. "Is there any cobbler? Any cake?" An old fashioned meal is always finished up with sweets.
Years ago, when I was helping out around George Maule's place, we always had cake and cowboy coffee (ground coffee boiled in water in an old tin coffee pot, no filter, it's great) after lunch. Then he went and sat in the recliner and dozed to the soothing sounds of the dishwasher and midday television. I gained ten pounds working for him.
If you didn't get an invite, send me an email and I will pass it on to the homecoming committee.
You may wonder why the cobbler is mentioned, but it's a very big deal. The last reunion Dad attended, he looked up after the meal and said "Where's the dessert?" I tried to shush him, because I thought it seemed rude, but other heads started popping up and asking the same question. "Is there any cobbler? Any cake?" An old fashioned meal is always finished up with sweets.
Years ago, when I was helping out around George Maule's place, we always had cake and cowboy coffee (ground coffee boiled in water in an old tin coffee pot, no filter, it's great) after lunch. Then he went and sat in the recliner and dozed to the soothing sounds of the dishwasher and midday television. I gained ten pounds working for him.
If you didn't get an invite, send me an email and I will pass it on to the homecoming committee.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Sahara goes up
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| - Sahara on FM 1614 - |
This lease is about 3.5 miles west of the Hobbs school on FM 1614, kitty-corner from Emilys 1H, 2H and 1D. Sahara is on the south side, the Emilys on the north and a little east.
Two more Emilys have had permits submitted. The sites for 3H and 4H are platted further to the west on FM 1614, on the Fisher/Scurry county line.
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Cholla heats up El Paso and Gillespie in August
There was a lot of leasing activity in eastern Fisher County during August. The El Paso County School Land and Gillespie County School Land surveys seem to be very popular areas. Cholla made the majority of leases in August, with Sharp Image Energy still going strong after leading the race in July.
Several horizontal wells have been permitted west of the Hobbs area in the past month, as well as many verticals. Leasing is ongoing in this area.
Leasing and permitting is occurring county wide. Click the tabs at the top of the page for more information.
Monday, September 2, 2019
Watch out, I have an opinion
Anytime I've ever started a new job, I've had to be trained, even if it was in a field I went to school for or had previously worked in. Everything is different at each place; people, procedures, size, to name a few.
So, when a bureaucrat comes in and makes sweeping, over-generalized announcements about how they're going to make big changes, all I can do is groan. I live through these "changes" daily. I work in a bureaucratic environment, and big-butted people wearing knock-off Chanel suits are always coming up with new systems and rules that are so out of touch with day-to-day business that it should be a dang crime. The big butts and suits are just what I imagine. They may be wearing t-shirts and shorts. Being out of touch is reciprocal, I guess, but at least my ideas don't affect the way someone is trying to do a job.
Bernie Sanders has made a manifesto, I mean, a Green New Deal, and is talking about how he's going to change many, many large, ambling, prehistoric bureaus that have many moving parts, but there's no possible way he can know how these places operate, none of the minutiae that keep them functioning. It would be equal to me announcing that I was going to take over all the Dollar Store chains and claim that I was going to maximize profits and streamline retail service. It would be ridiculous.
What's really got me going is the part that reads "end all new federal fossil fuel infrastructure permits", a little over half-way down the page on his website. I'm this close (see my fingers pinched to a micro-measure) to finally getting a well and ol' Bernie's trying to shut me down.
I don't know how much pull he really has, or if this is just a way to get attention. I guess anyone can write up their ideas and post them, but he has much more of a presence than little people like me. Do ya'll want to hear my idea about a burrito stand?
Anyway, see what Railroad Commission Chairman Wayne Christian has to say about it on the RRC website.
So, when a bureaucrat comes in and makes sweeping, over-generalized announcements about how they're going to make big changes, all I can do is groan. I live through these "changes" daily. I work in a bureaucratic environment, and big-butted people wearing knock-off Chanel suits are always coming up with new systems and rules that are so out of touch with day-to-day business that it should be a dang crime. The big butts and suits are just what I imagine. They may be wearing t-shirts and shorts. Being out of touch is reciprocal, I guess, but at least my ideas don't affect the way someone is trying to do a job.
Bernie Sanders has made a manifesto, I mean, a Green New Deal, and is talking about how he's going to change many, many large, ambling, prehistoric bureaus that have many moving parts, but there's no possible way he can know how these places operate, none of the minutiae that keep them functioning. It would be equal to me announcing that I was going to take over all the Dollar Store chains and claim that I was going to maximize profits and streamline retail service. It would be ridiculous.
What's really got me going is the part that reads "end all new federal fossil fuel infrastructure permits", a little over half-way down the page on his website. I'm this close (see my fingers pinched to a micro-measure) to finally getting a well and ol' Bernie's trying to shut me down.
I don't know how much pull he really has, or if this is just a way to get attention. I guess anyone can write up their ideas and post them, but he has much more of a presence than little people like me. Do ya'll want to hear my idea about a burrito stand?
Anyway, see what Railroad Commission Chairman Wayne Christian has to say about it on the RRC website.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Fisher County oil drilling permits submitted or approved August 2019
Listed by API number, district, lease, well number, permitted operator, county, status date, status number, wellbore profile, filing purpose, amend, total depth, and status.
15133134 7B EMILY 2H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted:07/31/2019 Approved:08/02/2019 855773 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 APPROVED
12 miles SW of Rotan (an overlap from last month)
15133136 7B MARTIN PHILLIPS 1 GUNN OIL COMPANY(339493) FISHER Submitted:08/15/2019 Approved:08/15/2019 856274 Vertical New Drill N 9000 APPROVED
10 miles W of Roby
15133137 7B R&G FARMS 2 GUNN OIL COMPANY(339493) FISHER Submitted:08/15/2019 Approved:08/16/2019 856284 Vertical New Drill N 9000 APPROVED
9 miles W of Roby
15133075 7B COCHRAN 2 GUNN OIL COMPANY(339493) FISHER Submitted:08/19/2019 Approved:08/26/2019 856370 Vertical New Drill N 5000 APPROVED
4 miles SW of Hobbs
15133113 7B SIE ROOMS 1 SHARP IMAGE ENERGY, INC.(770731) FISHER Submitted:08/19/2019 Approved:08/20/2019 847554 Vertical New Drill Y 5900 APPROVED
5.6 miles NE of Roby
15133138 7B SCOUT 1 LAINCO, INC.(482345) FISHER Submitted:08/22/2019 Approved:08/22/2019 856504 Vertical New Drill N 6300 APPROVED
10 miles N of McCaulley
15133139 7B MASON 85 1P PEREGRINE PETROLEUM PRTNR, LTD.(653271) FISHER Submitted:08/26/2019 Approved:08/28/2019 856554 Vertical New Drill N 7500 APPROVED
Exploratory test well 14.6 miles SW of Roby
15133140 7B SAHARA 9 2H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted:08/29/2019 Approved:08/30/2019 856648 Horizontal New Drill N 7500 APPROVED
16.1 miles SW of Roby (Permit says SE, that is incorrect)
Permit changes from July: DALE CAVE 5, EMILY 1H, HUDDLESTON -A- 2R & 3R have been approved.
All information comes from the Railroad Commission of Texas website.
15133134 7B EMILY 2H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted:07/31/2019 Approved:08/02/2019 855773 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 APPROVED
12 miles SW of Rotan (an overlap from last month)
15133136 7B MARTIN PHILLIPS 1 GUNN OIL COMPANY(339493) FISHER Submitted:08/15/2019 Approved:08/15/2019 856274 Vertical New Drill N 9000 APPROVED
10 miles W of Roby
15133137 7B R&G FARMS 2 GUNN OIL COMPANY(339493) FISHER Submitted:08/15/2019 Approved:08/16/2019 856284 Vertical New Drill N 9000 APPROVED
9 miles W of Roby
15133075 7B COCHRAN 2 GUNN OIL COMPANY(339493) FISHER Submitted:08/19/2019 Approved:08/26/2019 856370 Vertical New Drill N 5000 APPROVED
4 miles SW of Hobbs
15133113 7B SIE ROOMS 1 SHARP IMAGE ENERGY, INC.(770731) FISHER Submitted:08/19/2019 Approved:08/20/2019 847554 Vertical New Drill Y 5900 APPROVED
5.6 miles NE of Roby
15133138 7B SCOUT 1 LAINCO, INC.(482345) FISHER Submitted:08/22/2019 Approved:08/22/2019 856504 Vertical New Drill N 6300 APPROVED
10 miles N of McCaulley
15133139 7B MASON 85 1P PEREGRINE PETROLEUM PRTNR, LTD.(653271) FISHER Submitted:08/26/2019 Approved:08/28/2019 856554 Vertical New Drill N 7500 APPROVED
Exploratory test well 14.6 miles SW of Roby
15133140 7B SAHARA 9 2H BROWNING OIL COMPANY, INC.(103088) FISHER Submitted:08/29/2019 Approved:08/30/2019 856648 Horizontal New Drill N 7500 APPROVED
16.1 miles SW of Roby (Permit says SE, that is incorrect)
Permit changes from July: DALE CAVE 5, EMILY 1H, HUDDLESTON -A- 2R & 3R have been approved.
All information comes from the Railroad Commission of Texas website.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
When you get caught between Mexico and Texas
 |
| - Amarillo, TX Postcard - |
In Texas, many words are derived from Spanish, but it never occurred to me before that Amarillo was one of them.
I got to thinking this week about those double Ls. Surely not, I thought. It's probably the name of some old white guy that had a cow or a ranch or something. Surely, it can't be Spanish. Well, it is, indeed. It means yellow.
I tried it out, saying it in a Spanish way. Yikes, I don't know about that. Amario, rolling the R and making the Ls into a Y sound. That sounds way to pretentious for someone with a thoroughly back pasture Texas accent. Also, as an older person with a few molars missing, that "rrrr" is mighty tough to do. Practice is needed.
I've tried to say Spanish words correctly, such as Caballero, Villa, Quinta, but I botch them with my flattened phonetics. I don't have the lilt.
What makes it worse is that George Strait has perpetuated and carved in stone the mispronunciation of the city. He's really going to get to Amarrriyo by morning.
The postcard featured in the photo can be purchased on ebay.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
The price of propane, depth restrictions, activities
It's a good time to buy propane. I just ordered 100 gallons from Gray Fuel in Rotan and it's going to cost me $170. I've been jotting down a little note every time I've bought propane since February 2014, and this is the cheapest it's been in all that time. The second cheapest was in October 2016, at $1.75 per gallon. It's opportune for me, as I have to wait until I'm nearly out to order. My tank is is very small and the minimum delivery is 100 gallons.
I was checking out The Mineral Rights Podcast, Episode 30 today and heard mention of something called depth restrictions. My understanding is that one piece of property could be parlayed into many leases if different depths are specified. It's an interesting concept, one that is above my skill level, but something to consider when negotiating a contract. Did I need a lawyer to get leased? Too late, now.
There is something going on up the one-lane road next to my house. Many 18-wheel dump trucks are hauling in base for another road that's being made on a piece of land up that way. I don't see a drilling permit for that area, so I'm waiting to see what it turns into.
This area is blocked from direct access to a major highway, so trucks are having to come down narrow-laned farm-to-market roads and single lane county roads to bring in material and equipment. It's a little alarming for the local traffic to have to contend with the oversize vehicles on these usually quiet back roads. Travelers out this way should be aware and perhaps be ready to pull off the road if it looks like there's not enough room. There's no loss of pride in pulling over and letting the other fellow cross a narrow bridge or get through a place where the edges have been eaten away. It'll give a person the opportunity to gawk without getting ran over.
I was checking out The Mineral Rights Podcast, Episode 30 today and heard mention of something called depth restrictions. My understanding is that one piece of property could be parlayed into many leases if different depths are specified. It's an interesting concept, one that is above my skill level, but something to consider when negotiating a contract. Did I need a lawyer to get leased? Too late, now.
There is something going on up the one-lane road next to my house. Many 18-wheel dump trucks are hauling in base for another road that's being made on a piece of land up that way. I don't see a drilling permit for that area, so I'm waiting to see what it turns into.
This area is blocked from direct access to a major highway, so trucks are having to come down narrow-laned farm-to-market roads and single lane county roads to bring in material and equipment. It's a little alarming for the local traffic to have to contend with the oversize vehicles on these usually quiet back roads. Travelers out this way should be aware and perhaps be ready to pull off the road if it looks like there's not enough room. There's no loss of pride in pulling over and letting the other fellow cross a narrow bridge or get through a place where the edges have been eaten away. It'll give a person the opportunity to gawk without getting ran over.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Upcoming public meetings
The Fisher County Commissioners Court will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, August 19, 9 a.m. in the Fisher County Courthouse. The next regular meeting will be held Monday, August 26, 9 a. m. at the courthouse.
Click here for the Special Meeting agenda. Click here for past meeting minutes.
The Fisher County Hospital Board will hold a public hearing Monday, August 19, 6:30 p.m. in the hospital conference room regarding the proposed budget for 2020. The regularly scheduled board meeting will be held directly following the budget meeting.
Click here to link to the hospital website and board agenda.
On Friday, August 30, 9 a.m., the 32nd Judicial District has FISHER COUNTY PUBLIC HEARING AUDITOR/COURT REPORTER on the docket.
Click here to link to the court agenda calendar.
A public hearing will be held regarding the Fisher County proposed budget for the fiscal year of 2019-2020, the FY2019-2020 Fisher County Forfeiture Fund, the County Clerk Archive Fund, and the District Clerk Archive Fund. This will be held Monday, September 9, 9 a.m. in the courthouse.
Click here for the link to the notice, and here for the link to the budgets.
Public hearings will be held discussing the proposed tax rate of 0.757703 for the Fisher County Appraisal District, a raise over the current rate of 0.718526. These will be held Monday, September 9, and Thursday, September 12, at 9 a.m. each day in the courthouse.
Click here for the link to the notice. Click here for the link to past meeting agendas.
Click here for the Special Meeting agenda. Click here for past meeting minutes.
The Fisher County Hospital Board will hold a public hearing Monday, August 19, 6:30 p.m. in the hospital conference room regarding the proposed budget for 2020. The regularly scheduled board meeting will be held directly following the budget meeting.
Click here to link to the hospital website and board agenda.
On Friday, August 30, 9 a.m., the 32nd Judicial District has FISHER COUNTY PUBLIC HEARING AUDITOR/COURT REPORTER on the docket.
Click here to link to the court agenda calendar.
A public hearing will be held regarding the Fisher County proposed budget for the fiscal year of 2019-2020, the FY2019-2020 Fisher County Forfeiture Fund, the County Clerk Archive Fund, and the District Clerk Archive Fund. This will be held Monday, September 9, 9 a.m. in the courthouse.
Click here for the link to the notice, and here for the link to the budgets.
Public hearings will be held discussing the proposed tax rate of 0.757703 for the Fisher County Appraisal District, a raise over the current rate of 0.718526. These will be held Monday, September 9, and Thursday, September 12, at 9 a.m. each day in the courthouse.
Click here for the link to the notice. Click here for the link to past meeting agendas.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Emily comes to life
 |
| - Emily lease - |
As usual, I am a bit confused about the way the site is documented on the Railroad Commission map. There are three permitted locations associated with this place: Emily SWD 1D, Emily 1H and Emily 2H.
Emily SWD 1D is identified as an injection well and the other two as horizontals. There are two horizontal well symbols on the map where this lease is being built. The permitted locations indicate Emily SWD 1D on this site, with Emily 1H and 2H permitted sites running south, one angling west, one angling east, creating a triangulated area. Maybe 1H and 2H are where the bottom of the holes will be.
I don't really know about all that. I can only say for sure that a lease is being built.
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Oh, Sweetie
 |
| - Sweet zinnia - |
I get perturbed when I'm called Sweetie, especially by women, unless it is someone of a grandmotherly nature. I'm not sure what it is that causes a younger woman to address an older woman as Sweetie. There's been a girl at the convenience store that called me Sweetie, a young doctor that called me Sweetie (I yelled at her, she couldn't diagnose my problem so I felt I had nothing to lose), and more recently, a young woman mechanic who called me Sweetie.
Is this a way of disarming me? Do I seem like I need to be put in my place? Maybe I'm overbearing, although it seems to me that I'm so unimposing that it's hard for people to listen to me until the end of a sentence before they begin to talk over me or to check out of the conversation completely. Is it a way of distancing themselves, making them feel superior to me?
Maybe I should be glad they are calling me Sweetie and not something else. That may be it. Sweetie is a pseudonym and social mores are saving me from being truly insulted.
I should be glad, but I'm not.
Monday, August 5, 2019
Fisher County oil drilling permits submitted or approved July 2019
Listed by API number, district, lease, well number, permitted operator, county, status date, status number, wellbore profile, filing purpose, amend, total depth, status, and area.
15133128 7B WOMACK 3 SOJOURNER DRILLING CORPORATION(800750) FISHER Submitted:06/28/2019 Approved:07/01/2019 854702 Vertical New Drill N 7100 APPROVED
10 miles west of Roby
15133129 7B GORDON NC 8 GUNN OIL COMPANY(339493) FISHER Submitted:07/18/2019 Approved:07/22/2019 855307 Vertical New Drill N 5000 APPROVED
4 miles SW of Hobbs
15133135 7B DALE CAVE 5 SOJOURNER DRILLING CORPORATION(800750) FISHER Submitted: 07/31/2019 855774 Vertical New Drill N 7300 DRILLING PERMIT
10 miles west of Roby
15133133 7B EMILY 1H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted:07/31/2019 855769 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 DRILLING PERMIT
12 miles SW of Rotan
15133130 7B HUDDLESTON -A- 1R SCOUT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC(760218) FISHER Submitted:07/30/2019 Approved:07/31/2019 855729 Vertical New Drill N 6000 APPROVED
12 miles SE of Sylvester
15133131 7B HUDDLESTON -A- 2R SCOUT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC(760218) FISHER Submitted:07/30/2019 855731 Vertical New Drill N 6000 MAPPING
12 miles SE of Sylvester
15133132 7B HUDDLESTON -A- 3R SCOUT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC(760218) FISHER Submitted:07/30/2019 855733 Vertical New Drill N 6000 MAPPING
12 miles SE of Sylvester
15133134 7B EMILY 2H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted:07/31/2019 Approved:08/02/2019 855773 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 APPROVED
12 miles SW of Rotan
All information comes from the Railroad Commission of Texas website.
15133128 7B WOMACK 3 SOJOURNER DRILLING CORPORATION(800750) FISHER Submitted:06/28/2019 Approved:07/01/2019 854702 Vertical New Drill N 7100 APPROVED
10 miles west of Roby
15133129 7B GORDON NC 8 GUNN OIL COMPANY(339493) FISHER Submitted:07/18/2019 Approved:07/22/2019 855307 Vertical New Drill N 5000 APPROVED
4 miles SW of Hobbs
15133135 7B DALE CAVE 5 SOJOURNER DRILLING CORPORATION(800750) FISHER Submitted: 07/31/2019 855774 Vertical New Drill N 7300 DRILLING PERMIT
10 miles west of Roby
15133133 7B EMILY 1H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted:07/31/2019 855769 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 DRILLING PERMIT
12 miles SW of Rotan
15133130 7B HUDDLESTON -A- 1R SCOUT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC(760218) FISHER Submitted:07/30/2019 Approved:07/31/2019 855729 Vertical New Drill N 6000 APPROVED
12 miles SE of Sylvester
15133131 7B HUDDLESTON -A- 2R SCOUT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC(760218) FISHER Submitted:07/30/2019 855731 Vertical New Drill N 6000 MAPPING
12 miles SE of Sylvester
15133132 7B HUDDLESTON -A- 3R SCOUT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC(760218) FISHER Submitted:07/30/2019 855733 Vertical New Drill N 6000 MAPPING
12 miles SE of Sylvester
15133134 7B EMILY 2H MORIAH OPERATING,LLC(586557) FISHER Submitted:07/31/2019 Approved:08/02/2019 855773 Horizontal New Drill N 6500 APPROVED
12 miles SW of Rotan
All information comes from the Railroad Commission of Texas website.
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Mickey goes to Washington
 |
| - Mickey in D.C. - |
To acquaint, or reacquaint, readers with this event, forty or so years ago thousands of farmers descended on Washington, D.C. in a nationwide attempt to bring attention to the needs of the agricultural community. It was a protest, which is funny, because if there was anyone who didn't care for hippies back then, it was farmers, and everyone knows that the favorite pastime of hippies was protesting.
Anyway, there was a Fisher County contingent, or maybe a group of counties got together, including Fisher. There were many more photos in the batch with a lot of faces I didn't know, except for one of Harold Roberts. They were there for serious business, but I think they had a good time, too.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Driver Responsibility Program BITES THE DUST!!
A very welcome letter arrived today, it began: Dear xx, The State of Texas has repealed the Driver Responsibility program, effective September 1, 2019.
Well, my reply to that is: Woohoo!! Woohoo!! Happy days are here, again! Ding, dong, the witch is dead!! I have been writing about this issue for the past two years, and I am glad to see this law ditched.
I have been helping an individual get through this awful program. This person has paid $1,300 in surcharge fines, uncertain which tickets were being paid on, because this was not stated on the billing, and was not provided by the billing company when the information was requested. We believe it was for two tickets issued for not providing evidence of vehicle insurance, incurred in 2009 or before.
The final year of surcharges was to begin in September, another $260, and, thankfully, will not have to be paid. The balance is now $0.00.
I am grateful to the authors of Texas House Bill 2048 and all who voted for it.
Well, my reply to that is: Woohoo!! Woohoo!! Happy days are here, again! Ding, dong, the witch is dead!! I have been writing about this issue for the past two years, and I am glad to see this law ditched.
I have been helping an individual get through this awful program. This person has paid $1,300 in surcharge fines, uncertain which tickets were being paid on, because this was not stated on the billing, and was not provided by the billing company when the information was requested. We believe it was for two tickets issued for not providing evidence of vehicle insurance, incurred in 2009 or before.
The final year of surcharges was to begin in September, another $260, and, thankfully, will not have to be paid. The balance is now $0.00.
I am grateful to the authors of Texas House Bill 2048 and all who voted for it.
Monday, July 22, 2019
A bountiful and on-going harvest
 |
| - Waiting to ripen - |
In the cream bottle, to the left in the photo, is an Oneida spoon that was found while cultivating our little patch of land. A bit of research concluded that the pattern is from a 1948 line of implements put out by the company. My grandfather bought this property, much more than my small part, in 1941. The spoon was found around where the front of the barn, no longer with us, was located, and in an area where vehicles were parked and worked on.
I could say, oh, just a spoon, but I like to ponder how that spoon came to be in that place. The barn may not have been built until the 1950's, but that still gives a timeline that might include my grandpa possibly having his lunch in front of the barn and losing the spoon. Maybe my uncle or father dropped it. Perhaps I carried a spoon off for digging and left it behind.
Then my mind jumps to my grandma and her kitchen, where the spoon might have been pilfered from, and my memories of being there with her: the little paned windows, steamed-up during breakfast; an aluminum pitcher that sat in the fridge, full of cold water; nickels, pennies and dimes stuck in the inside of cabinet corners, to be used for stamps; the smell of lunch being made for my uncle and dad and whatever hand was working for them at the time.
As I cook squash and corn and black-eyed peas, I feel like I'm recreating a time gone past and the comfort that being in my grandma's kitchen gave me. Add in cucumbers, cantaloupes, and watermelon and you'll soon find a woman who has lost the battle with her diet. Healthy nourishment doesn't necessarily translate to skinny.
I've got the right, you've got the right, to see and read
The other day, I had the tv on with the volume off (a strangely satisfying way to watch it), and an ad with a young lady, maybe 16-18 came on, and I could tell she was decrying something she thought was unfair, expressing that she was being oppressed in some way. It made me think how people are quick to jump up and yell about a general wrongdoing or suppression of rights that is so vast in scope as to leave one feeling impotent at the thought of trying to overcome such obstacles, when there are distinct local rights to be claimed that are often left fallow.
The Sunshine Laws, Freedom of Information Act, and Public Information Act are all part of Texas and national legislation that gives citizens access to the going-ons of their local government. We have the right to sit in on commissioners, school board, hospital board, appraisal board, water board, all public meetings, and we have the right to look at minute meetings, upon request and without being asked why we want to see such documents. Having the right and invoking that right would seem to be easy enough to interpret and enact, but that is not the case, and it takes a willingness to speak out and claim the right to get follow through, as I found out recently in a tussle I had with a local entity.
I won't be calling out which office I had trouble with, because this is a small community and it's all "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" (yep, I need my back scratched, too, sometimes). Also, everyone knows everyone, and I can't take the heat. Anyway, I was put off and stalled, making more than one in-person appearance after being told the minutes would be made available but they were not. I was asked why I wanted to see the minutes. I was given a raise of the eyebrow and a "Well, I never", even though the handbook for this entity, citing from Texas law itself, specifically instructs that all minutes be supplied upon request.
Aside from trampling on the rights of constituents, it is also breaking the law to deny access. There are costly fines and litigation that can come from an employee's lack of knowledge about the law, costs that would be passed on to the county should that employee be found at fault. I must quote here my eighth-grade social studies teacher, Mr. Blanchard: "Ignorance of the law is no excuse!".
I finally obtained the records I requested, but only after several weeks and a final letter I sent to them invoking Texas Code. I was hoping to reinvigorate my journalistic career by covering the affairs of this particular institution, whose endeavors I find fascinating, but I just don't have the guts for it.
I enthusiastically encourage every one of you to claim your right to access of local chambers and documents. I say this hypocritically, though. You won't see me around at the meetings. My skin is not thick enough.
It would be greatly appreciated if all the public forums had the transparency of the Fisher County Commissioners Court. All agendas and meeting minutes are made available on-line in a timely manner. They set a good example of availing the public of county actions.
The Sunshine Laws, Freedom of Information Act, and Public Information Act are all part of Texas and national legislation that gives citizens access to the going-ons of their local government. We have the right to sit in on commissioners, school board, hospital board, appraisal board, water board, all public meetings, and we have the right to look at minute meetings, upon request and without being asked why we want to see such documents. Having the right and invoking that right would seem to be easy enough to interpret and enact, but that is not the case, and it takes a willingness to speak out and claim the right to get follow through, as I found out recently in a tussle I had with a local entity.
I won't be calling out which office I had trouble with, because this is a small community and it's all "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" (yep, I need my back scratched, too, sometimes). Also, everyone knows everyone, and I can't take the heat. Anyway, I was put off and stalled, making more than one in-person appearance after being told the minutes would be made available but they were not. I was asked why I wanted to see the minutes. I was given a raise of the eyebrow and a "Well, I never", even though the handbook for this entity, citing from Texas law itself, specifically instructs that all minutes be supplied upon request.
Aside from trampling on the rights of constituents, it is also breaking the law to deny access. There are costly fines and litigation that can come from an employee's lack of knowledge about the law, costs that would be passed on to the county should that employee be found at fault. I must quote here my eighth-grade social studies teacher, Mr. Blanchard: "Ignorance of the law is no excuse!".
I finally obtained the records I requested, but only after several weeks and a final letter I sent to them invoking Texas Code. I was hoping to reinvigorate my journalistic career by covering the affairs of this particular institution, whose endeavors I find fascinating, but I just don't have the guts for it.
I enthusiastically encourage every one of you to claim your right to access of local chambers and documents. I say this hypocritically, though. You won't see me around at the meetings. My skin is not thick enough.
It would be greatly appreciated if all the public forums had the transparency of the Fisher County Commissioners Court. All agendas and meeting minutes are made available on-line in a timely manner. They set a good example of availing the public of county actions.
Summer denial
 |
| - Charles Smith & friend - |
The man of the garden produced a 60 lb. whopper of a watermelon. I tried to get him to hold it over his head for a picture, but he wouldn't. He said he could, though. Just wouldn't.
We've been enjoying the show Yellowstone on Paramount Network. Some of it is elusive to me, especially when they start talking about land and business deals (also, because I read while I watch tv), but I really appreciate the show's continuity. When something happens in the show and I don't understand, I say, "Why did they do that?", then in a few scenes that question will be answered. As an example, some of the ranch hands were at Lowe's or somewhere similar and they sprayed some attackers with a large can of something unidentifiable. We were guessing mace or wasp spray, but in the next scene they're cleaning out the cab of the pick-up, because they got some of the spray in it, and a boss comes up and asks what happened, and in the course of conversation, the noxious chemical was identified as bear spray, which makes sense because the show is set in Montana.
I can suspend belief, but I can't get past trifles of misinformation. I used to watch Preacher, and I could accept a vampire, two-crazy and sadistic angels that lost their telephone to heaven, a lady who came back from the dead, and various other antics and characters, but I could not accept that in the course of being pulled over a Texas DPS officer would ask for license and registration. Nu-Uh, not in Texas. Would never happen. Sticker's right on the windshield. I was fit to be tied after seeing that, I'm telling you.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Detour through Hobbs
There’s a little bit of excitement out this way today. US 180 traffic east of Snyder is being detoured between Midway and the blinking light. So, all 180 vehicles have to turn left at Midway, go to Camp Springs, turn right, go to Hobbs school, turn right, again, then turn left to get back onto 180. Just reverse that scenario if traveling west.
It seems a truck carrying a giant bulldozer has broken down and the road has been closed so it can be off-loaded. That’s what the mailman said, anyway, and I trust him, even if he’s lying. Not really, James! Just kidding! I don’t want to make him mad because there’s a postal saying that goes, “I’ll deliver somebody’s mail to every box every day, but if you make me mad, you won’t get any mail at all!”.
It seems a truck carrying a giant bulldozer has broken down and the road has been closed so it can be off-loaded. That’s what the mailman said, anyway, and I trust him, even if he’s lying. Not really, James! Just kidding! I don’t want to make him mad because there’s a postal saying that goes, “I’ll deliver somebody’s mail to every box every day, but if you make me mad, you won’t get any mail at all!”.
Thursday, July 4, 2019
A fine start to summer
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| - Miss Sunflower - |
I'm a complainer, but even I can't complain about the weather we've had this June. We've only had a day or two of hundred-degree temperatures and we've had a lot of rain. I remember in 1988, when my boy was born, I was big fat pregnant and it had already hit 104 before mid-May. So, this spring and summer start has been a good-un.
There's a lot of bird drama going on in the yard here. Guys chasing ladies, babies being fed, ol' mockingbird singing the news in a flurry of different dialects. We had some baby scissortails that jumped the nest, which is probably a normal occurrence in nature and is how birds learn to fly, but not a safe bet in a yard with two cats hunched down just waiting for a feathery snack. We pulled the truck up in the yard and, standing on top of it, tried to put a chick back in the nest, but that just made the other one jump. Scissortails are fierce and the parents were pretty upset about us sticking our hands in their nest and carrying their babies around. I finally made a Dr. Pepper nest, cutting up a soda box and tying it up in the tree with a shoelace. I let it be, after that. Either the babies learned to fly, the cats ate them, or they are desiccating in the handmade nest.
We've got three huge gardens, not much thanks to me. The squash are growing faster than we can pick them and the okra is coming on. Tons of cucumbers, too, and we ate our first watermelon yesterday. We're hoping the pumpkins last through the summer heat, it would be a nice boon to see them growing big and orange come fall.
The oilfield activity is growing at a gradual rate out here. It looks like we've been surveyed but I haven't seen any permits, yet. There's someone, or some group, in Scurry county naming oil well leases after Pink Floyd songs. So far, they've got Money, Comfortably Numb, and Another Brick in the Wall. If I were given a choice for naming my hypothetical lease, it would just be Templeton.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
86th Legislature Regular Session
The Texas Legislature Online is an excellent resource to use in gaining knowledge about the current and past legislative sessions.
Here are a few bills that may peak interest.
HB63: Decriminalization of marihuana (this is how it's spelled in the bill), making possession of an ounce or less, under the right circumstances, a misdemeanor with no arrest.
HB3838: Requires mineral rights buyers to place a conspicuous statement on each page of a contract that indicates the rights are being sold, not leased.
HB1139: Prohibits criminals who have intellectual disabilities from receiving the death penalty.
SB240: The issuance of F-35 fighter jet license plates with the words "The Sound of Freedom" along with a jet image.
These bills are only a miniscule example of the business passing through our capitol chambers. This session, the Texas House of Representatives has filed 6,521 bills, the Texas Senate has filed 3,344. 1,988 bills have been passed by the house and the senate. How all that has boiled down to the over-exposed reporting on whether or not we will stay in Daylight Savings Time (HB3784) is a real head-scratcher.
If it all seems overwhelming, which it is, look on the General Reports page for an over-all breakdown of what's going on.
Here are a few bills that may peak interest.
HB63: Decriminalization of marihuana (this is how it's spelled in the bill), making possession of an ounce or less, under the right circumstances, a misdemeanor with no arrest.
HB3838: Requires mineral rights buyers to place a conspicuous statement on each page of a contract that indicates the rights are being sold, not leased.
HB1139: Prohibits criminals who have intellectual disabilities from receiving the death penalty.
SB240: The issuance of F-35 fighter jet license plates with the words "The Sound of Freedom" along with a jet image.
These bills are only a miniscule example of the business passing through our capitol chambers. This session, the Texas House of Representatives has filed 6,521 bills, the Texas Senate has filed 3,344. 1,988 bills have been passed by the house and the senate. How all that has boiled down to the over-exposed reporting on whether or not we will stay in Daylight Savings Time (HB3784) is a real head-scratcher.
If it all seems overwhelming, which it is, look on the General Reports page for an over-all breakdown of what's going on.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
The frac and the furious
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| - Mojave 31 - |
The sandcastles are vertical silos filled with sand, which is used in fracking. You can read more about them on the Halliburton website.
The scaredy-cat reporter and public records
 |
| - Excerpt - |
I've had trouble getting access to minute meetings, deed transfers, and certified birth certificates in the past few weeks. The birth certificates were not for reporting, that was a personal request.
The excerpt posted is a page from the Texas Appraisal Districts Director’s Manual. It states that meeting minutes are to be available to the public upon request. The first time I requested minutes from the Fisher County Appraisal District was mid-March. I was given minutes from a December meeting, but not from the most recent one, which was in February. The next week I requested the February minutes, and they were given to me. After an April 10th meeting, I requested the minutes the next day, by email. This request was unanswered. I went to the office one week later and requested the minutes, again. I was told the minutes were not available and were not usually written up until the next meeting, but they could write them up for me. I was asked when I wanted them, I said Monday. So, tomorrow I shall see.
I requested a record of transfer of deeds for March at the county clerk's office last week when I went to the appraisal office. I was told that a list could not be printed, but I could look in the records, then I was told perhaps the records were at the appraisal office. The person who I talked to seemed unsure of what records were held at that office. I was able to find all the records at Texasfile.com.
The certified birth certificates were requested from the Nolan County clerk's office. I was told that I would have to get them from the county in which each of us were born. I ordered them online from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
It takes every ounce of my courage to go in these offices and talk to people. I may not be cut out for this business.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
El Capitan 63 activity increasing
 |
| - Tanks on El Capitan 63 Lease - |
It looks like fracking is about to begin on El Capitan. Trucks were hauling in tanks and lining them up when I drove by this afternoon. This is permitted as a vertical well.
The W-2 for this well, dated June 2018, states: Please leave drilling permit open to complete well. This would explain the intermittent rounds of work going on at this lease.
Collaborative thinking is that the operator only works when there's a bit of money. They must have come up with a lot of it this time.
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Salsa worth driving for
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| - Joe's Circle C Hot Sauce - |
This homemade condiment is so delicious that it could make cardboard palatable.
Something that makes the trip extra special is to get a batch that's so fresh the jar is warm.
It's $5.00 for a small jar, $10.00 for a large. Sometimes there are other sizes, sometimes they may be marked hot or mild. Any size or style is better than none at all.
The store itself is super quaint, with an old concrete floor and a kitchen in the back. Other delicacies, such as homemade cakes and preserves, are also sold at the counter. Burritos, many, many burritos, are sold daily.
If it's going to be a long trip just for hot sauce, it's best to call ahead. There's no guarantee that there will be any left.
Two Rileys don't make a wrong
 |
| - Riley Sawyers - |
 |
| - Riley Dodd - |
This year I tried something different, instead of going on Saturday or Sunday, I went Friday afternoon. It made all the difference, as I was able to go through each venue without being jostled by a thick crowd. The Gun & Coin Show, the main event staged in the coliseum proper, and the flea market in the old stock barn were so much more enjoyable. I could actually look at things. It never occurred to me to go on Friday, because for decades attendance was planned around work and school schedules, and I didn't think to change the time once life wasn't bound by those rules.
I know there are many other events that are going on throughout the weekend of the Round Up, but for just toddling through, Friday is the prime time.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
The great Gila monster
If you've dealt with Municipal Services Bureau, you have dealt with Gila Corp. Gila does business as MSB, the ones Texans pay those high-priced surcharges to when they do something like get a ticket for no proof of car insurance.
To see how far-reaching this business is, take a look at their detailed description on Bloomberg. At the bottom of the description, it states that Gila is a subsidiary of Navient.
According to Forbes, Navient is a spin off of Sallie Mae, and both are portrayed in the media as using questionable practices and have had multiple lawsuits lodged against them.
So, Sallie Mae, Navient, Gila, Municipal Services Bureau are all interconnected.
Texas Finance Code Sec. 392.306, Use of Independent Debt Collector, states:
To see how far-reaching this business is, take a look at their detailed description on Bloomberg. At the bottom of the description, it states that Gila is a subsidiary of Navient.
According to Forbes, Navient is a spin off of Sallie Mae, and both are portrayed in the media as using questionable practices and have had multiple lawsuits lodged against them.
So, Sallie Mae, Navient, Gila, Municipal Services Bureau are all interconnected.
Texas Finance Code Sec. 392.306, Use of Independent Debt Collector, states:
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Mojave goes up
 |
| - Look close, it's there! - |
Last week there was a pulling unit up at well 1 on the El Capitan 63 lease, which is between Hobbs School and the Mojave 31.
I got a letter from some place in Dallas called Montaigne Minerals, offering to buy my mineral rights. What? Madness.
Are all these things signs of an oil field about to take hold? We've only been waiting forever. It puts me into a fervor, where I say things like "7000 feet", "eastern edge of Wolfcamp", and "those permits are full of mistakes". I barely know what I'm talking about, but I'm having a good time doing it.
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Wide open spaces
 |
| - Texas Winter - |
I want to know the name of the little bluff off to the left in this picture, but I can't believe how difficult it is to find the names of geological places in Fisher County. This is another time when I think Google is broken (I say this knowing the problem is my incapability to ask the right question). It just wants to sell me real estate.
Speaking of real estate, on the Ekdahl Real Estate site, there's a listing for Impossible Canyon Ranch, just west of Longhorn Valley. The sales video gives a nice representation of the topography of our area. I like the set up of three separate cabins and one common kitchen on the property. One house for me and each of my kids, how convenient. Now I just need to scrape up the 1.5 million for the purchase.
Check, next
 |
| - The Inner Me - |
- Disappoint someone
- Get pleasure from something immensely simple
- Be flaky, at least once
- Make a mistake at work
- Drive responsibly, then drive incredibly irresponsibly
- Make a remark that sounds racist, then declare I'm not racist
- Be rude
- Be nice
- Have one million thoughts, many of them contradictory
- Love Texas
- Hate Texas
- Think I know everything
- Think I know nothing
Okay, well, now I'm off to finish my missteps of the day.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Well, well, well
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| - 1974 Southwest Mapping Co. - |
There's been a lot of traffic up and down this road, a bunch of gravel trucks coming and going. It's a good idea to watch your lane if traveling out this way. Those shoulders can be tricky if you have to move over, and it would be easy to flip over or over-correct if the wheel goes into a rut between pavement and dirt.
The photo is of our area on an old oil field map I have from 1974. It's delightful to see the old names and get a sense of who begat who, landwise.
Monday, January 21, 2019
Local newspaper fails to verify AP story
The Sweetwater Reporter failed to verify a recent Associated Press article about an incident that was purported to have taken place on Interstate 20 near the town of Sweetwater.
The article, published by the newspaper around January 16, reported that an army soldier, on leave, stopped at a wreck and saved a man's life by performing a tracheotomy with a ballpoint pen. The event has been found to be untrue.
The newspaper ran the story without verification from the Texas Department of Public Safety, The Texas Department of Transportation, the Sweetwater Fire Department, the Sweetwater Police Department or the Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital, all first responding entities that serve Sweetwater and Nolan County.
Two emails sent to Sweetwater Reporter publisher Rick Nunez on Friday January 18 were unanswered at the time of this publication. A letter to the editor the following week was also unanswered.
The article, published by the newspaper around January 16, reported that an army soldier, on leave, stopped at a wreck and saved a man's life by performing a tracheotomy with a ballpoint pen. The event has been found to be untrue.
The newspaper ran the story without verification from the Texas Department of Public Safety, The Texas Department of Transportation, the Sweetwater Fire Department, the Sweetwater Police Department or the Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital, all first responding entities that serve Sweetwater and Nolan County.
Two emails sent to Sweetwater Reporter publisher Rick Nunez on Friday January 18 were unanswered at the time of this publication. A letter to the editor the following week was also unanswered.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
The trouble with the landman...
Here is a recent Eleventh Court of Appeals opinion that gives a little too much insight to the way mineral rights deals happen:
Kerwin Stephens; Thunderbird Oil & Gas, LLC; Thunderbird Resources, LLC; Thunderbird Land Services, LLC; Stephens & Myers, LLP; and Chester Carroll v. Three Finger Black Shale Partnership; Trek Resources, Inc.; Tiburon Land & Cattle, L.P.; L.W. Hunt Resources, LLC; and Richard Raughton Appeal from 32nd District Court of Fisher County
Here's an easier version to read:
Kerwin Stephens; Thunderbird Oil & Gas, LLC; Thunderbird Resources, LLC; Thunderbird Land Services, LLC; Stephens & Myers, LLP; and Chester Carroll v. Three Finger Black Shale Partnership; Trek Resources, Inc.; Tiburon Land & Cattle, L.P.; L.W. Hunt Resources, LLC; and Richard Raughton Appeal from 32nd District Court of Fisher County
Kerwin Stephens; Thunderbird Oil & Gas, LLC; Thunderbird Resources, LLC; Thunderbird Land Services, LLC; Stephens & Myers, LLP; and Chester Carroll v. Three Finger Black Shale Partnership; Trek Resources, Inc.; Tiburon Land & Cattle, L.P.; L.W. Hunt Resources, LLC; and Richard Raughton Appeal from 32nd District Court of Fisher County
Here's an easier version to read:
Kerwin Stephens; Thunderbird Oil & Gas, LLC; Thunderbird Resources, LLC; Thunderbird Land Services, LLC; Stephens & Myers, LLP; and Chester Carroll v. Three Finger Black Shale Partnership; Trek Resources, Inc.; Tiburon Land & Cattle, L.P.; L.W. Hunt Resources, LLC; and Richard Raughton Appeal from 32nd District Court of Fisher County
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