Snyder Goodwill coming soon

- New Goodwill, Snyder -

Goodwill Industries is in the process of getting a new store ready in Snyder. It will be in the former Higginbotham Bartlett Hardware building at 1913 25th Street, northwest of the square.

It's right across the street from The Red Door, a resale shop that's fun to peruse; lots of furniture, and anything else you can dream up, in their large, two-store sized space.You can easily park at Goodwill, then hit both stores in one stop.

To continue on a second-hand store spree, head on up College Avenue to Gateway. They have inventory similar to Goodwill. It's a little funkier with unique items.

I can appreciate stores that you have to dig a little bit for treasure.

Goodwill is now hiring.  There are nine positions for the Snyder store listed on their careers page.

Photos: Top is the new Goodwill location, bottom is The Red Door and Goodwill

Fisher County Vote 2024

Sample ballots for the November 5 General Election have been posted on the Fisher County Election website. 

There is one write-in candidate, Tom Pohlman, for sheriff.

As amusing as it might be to put Willie Nelson or Felix the Cat on that empty line, votes for someone who is not registered to run in an election will not be counted.

Misspelling the name of a write-in is not an issue, as long as the vote-counting authority can easily ascertain the voter's intention. Parker County has a step-by-step guide with photos for write-in voting.

Early voting is October 21- November 1 at the Fisher County Clerk and Rotan City Hall offices.

Notes:

• Fisher County Election Page
• Texas Statute for Write-In Candidates
• Texas Secretary of State: Process for Write-In Votes
• Fisher County Election Day Polling Places

City to test ordinance

Rotan City Council will meet this Thursday. Default meeting dates for the cities of Rotan and Roby are the second Thursday of the month; Rotan at 7 a.m., Roby at noon. That falls on October 10 this time around.

The Rotan agenda will include a public hearing regarding the torn up trailer house and vehicle situated at 511 East Sammy Baugh. This is the first property to come before the council in enforcement of the new substandard structure ordinance that was passed back in May.

County commissioners will meet next Tuesday, October 15, at 9 a.m. They usually meet the second Monday of the month, but pushed the meeting forward a day due to Columbus Day on October 14.

Note: Fisher County: Public Hearing Notice

Like they used to

- Heritage Square, Abilene -

I was in Abilene the other day, using the Grape Street train crossing to get from North First to South First, when I was held up by a sight that had me gaping and almost stopping traffic.

My first thought was, "They're making them like they used to!".

A big, beautiful structure sat before me, complete with grotesque stone creatures guarding the main entrance from above. It was in an obvious state of construction. 

I was only a little dismayed to learn that the building is an old one that is being renovated, but very excited to find out that it was designed by architect David S. Castle.

It was originally built as the Abilene High School in 1924. It sits between Peach and Vine streets, fronting South First, with Third Street running behind. 

This is the Heritage Square project. It will house the library and other community oriented programs. I am looking forward to visiting this mammoth historic site when it is finished, which is projected to be sometime in 2026.

Notes:

• Abilene Heritage Square
• The Portal to Texas History, search "Abilene High School", with quotations

Photos, from upper left, are from Abilene Heritage Square on facebook; The Portal, McMurry Collection; The Portal, David S. Castle Collection. 

Additional information and articles:

• Abilene Scene: The Lingering Youth of an Old High School
• KTAB: Restoration Reflection
  

Get this name write

- Official write-in candidate -

The Fisher County Sheriff's race is bound to be an interesting local contest in the November 4 general election.

The Texas Secretary of State has the current sheriff, Tom Pohlman, registered as an official candidate.

Pohlman was appointed as sheriff last March. This was after the former sheriff, Simon Wade, resigned, when it became certain Wade would be ousted for licensing issues.

Wade is still on the ballot under the Republican Party, while Pohlman is designated as a write-in.

Link: Texas Secretary of State Candidate Information

October public auctions 2024

Perdue Brandon doesn't have any local sheriff sales this month. Mitchell County has some parcels in Colorado City, Loraine and Dunn. One parcel is listed as 6,817 acres, but a double-check with Mitchell County Appraisal District shows it to be 6.817 acres, at Lake Colorado City, on the lakefront.

Nolan County: Foreclosure sales for 707 East Louisiana and 806 East New Mexico in Sweetwater. 

Jones County: Foreclosure sales for 1401 12th, Anson; 336 SW Ave D, Hamlin; 17246 CR 467, Merkel. 

Sales this month will be on October 1.

Water plans in progress

- Pipes for water -

Inventory is being stockpiled at a location west of Hobbs for the City of Rotan water line project. The Texas Water Development Board lists the cost as $5,202,068. It is being financed by a general operations bond that the council approved in 2020 to raise $2,275,000, and a $2,927,068 grant from the TWDB Drinking Water Safety Revolving Fund.

Jacob Martin is the engineer for the project. Bids for service on the JM site give an idea of what costs are for labor, materials, and equipment. The work will be carried out in four segments.

The TWDB shows the construction site to be near Midway, on Farm to Market 1614, in Scurry County, where water for Rotan is transported by a network of pipes after purchase from the City of Snyder.

The city awarded the job to Whitewater Construction. Their company office is in Waco.

Second week of September events

- Sept. mud bog -

There are a few things going on this weekend to take pleasure in and enjoy the fresh weather we're having.

It is Rotan Homecoming Week and the Yellowhammers will play against the Rule Bobcats Friday night, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. The parade and bonfire will be on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

There will be a mud bog at the rodeo grounds west of Rotan on Saturday, Sept. 14. Gates will open at 11:00 a.m. General admission is $10. That evening there will be a dance at the pavilion featuring singer Robert Sullivan.

In Nolan County, the Sweetwater Jaycee Roosters will have their annual fall motorcycle rally. The event will begin Friday night and last through Sunday. That will take place at the Sweetwater Lake Park, by the amphitheater below the dam.

The Snyder Downtown Farmer's Market will be going on this Saturday. After this weekend, there are only two more left for the 2024 season.

The West Texas Fair & Rodeo is going into its second week and will finish off Saturday night with a concert by Isaac Cole in the H-E-B Pavilion at the fair grounds in Abilene.

Commissioners court notes Sept 2024

- Fisher County Jail -

Commissioners court started off with scathing commentary by employees from the county tax office. Their remarks depicted a tense and dissonant atmosphere in the courthouse offices.

In budget talks, there were a lot of numbers tossed around confusingly. A declaration from one commissioner that he would not approve a budget in deficit, then going on to approve the budget, did not make anything clearer.

It seems the jail has been left out, but I couldn't tell you for sure. I would recommend money for them to buy a case of Round Up. There are tumbleweeds as big as cows in that yard. 

Aesthetically, I wish they would turn the commissioners tables around so they didn't have to talk over their shoulders to address the judge and the clerks. 

Whoever is clicking a pen throughout the meeting should be suppressed, Alice in Wonderland style.

I wonder, do these people talk to each other before meetings? Everyone except the auditors are ill prepared. The judge seemed angry that members did not know about a Nolan County attorney he was going to propose for Fisher County usage, despite his having told no one of the plan. 

I don't understand the justification for raising tax rates by any of the entities. They are begging poor, but people have paid more taxes in the past two years to the county than in their whole lifetime, due to oil royalties. Multiply that by however many people are on a lease and that adds up to a lot of money. Those amounts are easily verified on the appraisal district site, in case you think I'm exaggerating.

But, what do I know? I'm just an observer. You can be one, too. The Double Mountain Chronicle broadcasts the meetings live on facebook, and the county places video of the meetings on the home page of their website. Just look up to the right and click on youtube.

Links:

• Fisher County, Texas
  
• Fisher County Appraisal District
• Double Mountain Chronicle on facebook
• Fisher County on youtube
  

The week of meetings, Sept 2024

Next week is going to be busy with meetings. Here are dates, times and places of some of them:

Fisher County Commissioners Court, Monday, September 9,  9:00 a.m.

Clear Fork Groundwater Conservation District will meet at noon on September 9, at the USDA service center in Roby, located on Lyon Street, west.

Fisher County Appraisal District Board of Directors meeting, Tuesday, September 10, 7:00 a.m., at the CAD office across from the courthouse, north side. 

The Fisher County Historical Commission meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the museum in Roby. That would be September 10, on Concho, just north of the red light.

Fisher County new grand jury, Wednesday, September 11, 9:00 a.m., Fisher County Courthouse.

Also next week, if going by the default schedule, Rotan and Roby City Councils will meet on the second Thursday of the month, September 12. Rotan meets at 7:00 a.m. at Rotan City Hall on west Sammy Baugh, and Roby meets at noon at Roby City Hall on Lyon Street, just west of the red light.

Public search option on TCOLE

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement has established a License Lookup page. You have to make an account to access the information, but searching is free. The page can be found by going to TCOLE>Online Services>Public License Lookup.

Newspaper launches podcast

The Double Mountain Chronicle has a new podcast, called The ShortCut, an audio digest of their latest headlines.

DMC primarily reports Fisher County news, for the cities of Rotan and Roby. They also write about Stonewall County events, where Aspermont is the county seat.

Get The Shortcut wherever you listen to podcasts.

Dove season starts today

 I kept thinking someone was knocking on the side of the house. I went outside to see what was going on and heard bangs coming from all directions. That was my clue that it must be the start of one of the hunting seasons.

Texas Parks & Wildlife has a list of all hunting seasons and bag limits. Fisher County is considered to be in the North Zone.

The regular dove season is September 1 - November 10, 2024 and December 20, 2024 - January 7, 2025.

Nolan County auction

The Nolan County Sheriff's Office is selling three vehicles through René Bates. The auction ends September 12.

Up for bid are a 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Explorer, a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe, and a 2006 Pontiac G6.

Covington arrested in Nolan County

The Sweetwater Reporter blotters revealed that Kyler Lane Covington was arrested by the Nolan County Sheriff's Department. In the August 29 issue of the newspaper, the charges listed were "Fisher Co Warrants - Capital Murder of Person Under 10 YOA and (2x)/Agg Assault W/Deadly Weapon".

Vinelink custody details show that Covington was booked August 27 and bonded out.

Covington was the subject of a high speed chase in Fisher County on July 5. According to the Double Mountain Chronicle, July 11 issue, he was charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading law enforcement. He bonded out the next day.

Covington has an arraignment set for September 11 at the Fisher County Courthouse.

No life was lost, the charge should have been printed as Attempted Capital Murder in the newspaper.

Construction underway

- Store sites -

The Rotan Dollar General site is abuzz with workers this morning, and if the swiftness in which the Roby DG store is going up is any indicator, we'll be buying socks and waterhoses and ballpoint pens and catfood in no time, from both locations.

The photos in order, from top to bottom, are Rotan DG site, Roby DG site, and Ace Hardware Rotan site.

According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration, the Rotan DG store is planned for 12,480 square feet and Roby DG for 9,100 square feet. The Double Mountain Chronicle reported that Ace is planned for 12,500 square feet.

A little news and a bunch of bugs

- Night flight bugs -

There was a pretty good rain around Hobbs yesterday, a little over an inch, but rain doesn't come without consequence around here. This time it was thousands and thousands of bugs. They looked like termites with wings and they all wanted in my house. I put in earplugs to keep them out of my ears, and got out the vacuum. The only good thing I can say about them is that they didn't bite or sting.

You can follow the progress of the new hardware store on facebook. Fisher Ace Hardware & Farm Supply in Rotan has a page with a lot of interesting photos and videos. They documented pouring the store foundation, reporting that it took 27 trucks to get the job done.

The land deal has gone through for the Dollar General store in Rotan. Expect to see groundwork being laid on the southern edge of town. Dollar General in Roby is in construction now.

Stoney LaRue will be playing at the Taylor County Coliseum Friday, September 5, during the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene. Table, floor and balcony seats are available. Performance begins at 9 p.m.

Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone is coming back November 10, and Tulsa King will return September 15. I swore I would never watch another Sheridan production until he showed us the last episodes of season five of Yellowstone, but Tulsa King is coming on first, so I will be breaking my vow. The shows will air on Paramount Network and Paramount+.

Are you registered to vote?

In light of current newspaper and internet articles touting the scouring of Texas voter rolls, it's a good idea to check that your name is still on there. I have more faith in the abilities of the professionals who run the elections in our county than I do in the word of the governor, who likes to spin an ongoing maintenance program as his new, good idea, but it can't hurt to have a look.

On the official website of Texas, tex.gov, you can check your voter registration status in a variety of ways, using your voter identification, driver's license, or name, along with your birthday, to see if you are eligible to vote in the next election.

Services set for Anson Martin

Anson Martin died today. He and his wife recently sold their home at Camp Springs and moved to east Texas.

Visitation will be Tuesday 6-7:30 p.m. at Weathersbee-Ray in Rotan.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Cross Roads Baptist Church.

And now for a little ragtime

- Obituary for Day -

Luella Lucile Hudson Day (Ella Hudson Day), a prominent Rotan citizen in the early 1900's, composed music and wrote songs. Two of her ragtime tunes, Quality Rag (1909) and Fried Chicken Rag (1912), were nationally known. Day's Quality Rag was composed a few years before Scott Joplin's or James Scott's pieces of similar name.

As time goes on, I wonder if people get weary of their hometown heroes. Without a street named after them, they fade into the background.

In a 1966 Abilene Reporter article, Day and Josie Baird were listed alongside Sammy Baugh as noted citizens of Fisher County.

Josie Baird was a well-known teacher at Rotan. She wrote Tom Bond, Bronc-buster,Cow-poke and Traildriver. A scholarship has been given in her name by Gamma Tau Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.

Sources:

• Musescore
• The Portal to Texas History, obituary
• The Portal to Texas History, article 
• Rag Piano
• Double Mountain Chronicle, Baird scholarship