Fisher County Commissioners have called a special meeting for December 31, 2024, 9 a.m.
The only item of action listed on the meeting agenda is to appoint a sheriff.
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
A treasure trove for Kindle readers
 |
| - my kindle - |
For those who are using an older Kindle, the Project Gutenberg website is a boon.
You can download free ebooks to your device using your Send-to-Kindle E-mail.
You can find your personal Kindle email by using this path: Kindle Home page (default page when you turn it on)>Menu (button with a lot of little lines, second from right)>Settings>Scroll to second page (using forward button). Save that email in your contacts list to make things easier later on.
Go to the Gutenberg website and search for a book and click on it. Several options for downloading will be given. I use "EPUB (no images, for older E-Readers)". Click to download to your computer. If that file won't download, try a different one.
Find the download on your computer (I have a downloads shortcut file on my desktop). Rename the file to the book title. Don't change the file type (.epub). This is so when you send it to your Kindle, you can find the book easier. Otherwise, it shows up as "page2812" or somesuch.
Open your email program, click on New mail, put your Send-to-Kindle E-mail address in the To box. The subject doesn't matter. Then: Insert>Attach File>Browse This Computer. Find the renamed book file and double click it to attach it to the email, then hit Send. You'll get an error email from Amazon if the file won't work for your device. Try another one!
Go to your Kindle device. The new book will show up on the top of the Home page. If it doesn't, look in Archives. Sometimes it is a little slower than when a book is ordered from Amazon, but it shouldn't take too much longer. Sync as needed. The last one I got from Gutenberg showed up faintly in Archives, then sent itself to the Home page.
Some experimentation may be necessary. The same download file might not work for you, or it may show up in a different place on your device. But you can figure it out! Once you do, you won't be at a loss for the next book to read.
Almost never nice
I wish I could be fulfilled by writing inspiring and entertaining articles, like journalists Tumbleweed Smith, Don Newbury and Chet Garner. I enjoy their stories about human interests and humor, but my style tends toward looking for a fly in the ointment; the rule that is broken; the lie that is told.
I do have some funny family stories that have no foe in them.
There's the year my mom and dad were stripping cotton by themselves. My mom's job was to stand in the trailer and distribute cotton while Dad drove the stripper. Well, they had a bumper crop that year, some unbelievable bales per acre. Dad said he was going along when he looked back to see Mom covered nearly to the top of her head in cotton. He said she was pretty mad about that.
Or the time my dad sent my son chasing an armadillo. Dad, my son and I were down in the pasture when we spooked an armadillo. My dad said "Get him!" and my son, being about 11 or 12, tore after it. It went down a hole and sonny boy had tight hold of that critter's tail. I was alarmed, but my dad was laughing himself silly. He said, "He'll never be able to pull that armadillo out of that hole!" He was right.
Then there's the one about when my grandpa decided he was going to be independent. He had been living with and working for his grandfather. My grandpa took a lease on a farm on the river, north of Rotan. "I'm going out on my own," he declared. But every Saturday he would be downtown asking his grandfather for some money to get him by.
There are so many stories: the time Grandpa decided to neuter all the cats; the tribulations of Oscar the cat; escapades about the dogs Spot and Lightning; coon hunting incidents; the day the goat disappeared, and on and on.
Hey, maybe I can write about something without a cynical view or skepticism. I've just written this, haven't I?
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Look another direction
In regard to politics, I've always thought it was better to cast the eye locally rather than nationally, because the votes count one for one in a county or city, making the power of a constituent stronger.
I am coming around to the idea that the closer view is no more enlightening or meaningful than that of an unknown horizon.
Fisher County is starting out the year with three appointed people in elected positions. The sheriff, the county treasurer and the county lawyer have been chosen by the commissioners, not by the voters.
The treasurer's change has not been announced officially. I'm reading between the lines. In the first commissioners meeting of December, the county judge, Ken Holt, said the signature card on the county accounts needed to be changed to Brandi Duniven, because "Jeanna is...". That's all. Fill in the blank.
It is a tragedy to lose Jeanna Parks as treasurer, if that is what's happening. I consider her to be the voice of basic, factual reason; steadfast; no hiding or dodging. Her numbers don't lie. They are posted with the commissioners court minutes. They are transparent. In Parks' case, that word is meaningful, not just thrown out there as a cover-your-ass blanket statement.
The special meeting called by the commissioners mid-December, with an agenda that indicated it was for precinct three funding to wrap up the year, seemed to really be about commissioners Gordon Pippin (precinct one) and Preston Martin (precinct three, final term) to have one last go at each other. There are other, more important issues that could have justified a meeting. More is not said, than is said, at these get-togethers.
So, Duniven, administrative assistant to the Fisher County Treasurer, will be taking over Parks' role, it looks like; Morgan Brooks, Sweetwater lawyer, and soon to be Nolan County Attorney, has been appointed to take over Michael Hall's spot as Fisher County Attorney; an unknown person will be taking over as Fisher County Sheriff in January, whether that person is Tom Pohlman, the currently appointed sheriff, or another individual chosen by the commissioners court.
This is the view of a citizen from the west side of the county, with no courthouse affiliations. This is what it looks like from the outside.
Monday, December 16, 2024
Things going on
 |
| - IREN, Childress Co., Texas - |
I drove up to the Childress area to check out the IREN bitcoin mining project going on there. First I drove through a new solar construction zone, mistaking it for the IREN site. There's a lot of building going on in that area, around a community called Kirkland, but Childress County has a lot of space, and these huge projects seem to take up a small portion of it when looking at all that sky.
Between Childress and Guthrie, Guthrie and Aspermont, there is restful landscape to lay the eye on from horizon to horizon. I stopped in Paducah, between Childress and Guthrie, and got a cheeseburger from the Dairy Maid. There's more fries comes with that order than I can eat. Reminds me of the old days (1970's).
There's some activity going on out by the Wetsel Substation, where IREN has bought property for the Fisher County bitcoin mining project. It's just north of where the Claytonville gas plant used to be.
So, while I was looking to the left, something else was happening on my right. In Sweetwater, a data storage facility has been installed on Sam Houston Street. Veribi has a much smaller operation than IREN. I don't even know if it's the same product. If you stop at the 1 1/2 acre site and listen, it sounds like a giant evaporative cooler.
My guess is that there are some lucrative government subsidies for this industry, much like that for the windmills and solar farms. Chances are they'll be popping up everywhere, big and small.
One other thing, the Dollar General in Roby has opened. That is massive progress in this county and brings a department store a few more miles closer to my house.
Friday, December 6, 2024
December 2024 public meetings
- Monday, December 9, 7 a.m. - Fisher County Appraisal District Board of Directors
- Monday, December 9, 9 a.m. - Fisher County Commissioners Court
- Monday, December 9, 6 p.m. - Roby Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees
- Thursday, December 12, 7 a.m. - Rotan City Council
- Thursday, December 12, noon - Roby City Council
- Monday, December 16, 7:00 p.m. - Rotan Independent School District Board of Trustees
- Monday, December 23, 5:30 p.m. - Fisher County Hospital District Board of Directors
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Elected sheriff declared ineligible
During the November 18 election canvass meeting, Fisher County Judge Ken Holt ruled Simon Wade ineligible to hold the office of sheriff, despite having won more than three times the votes as his opponent, Tom Pohlman.
Wade was appointed sheriff in July of 2023, after Sheriff Randy Ford resigned.
Wade ran, and won, in the March 2024 primary, in an uncontested race, but he resigned from office a few days later. He does not have a Texas Peace Officer License, which is required to be a sheriff.
Pohlman, who was serving as a deputy with the Fisher County Sheriff's Office, was then appointed sheriff by the commissioners court.
Timeline:
What's next? The Texas election code says that if the deceased, withdrawn, or ineligible candidate receives the vote required for election, the resulting vacancy shall be filled in the regular manner.
Does that mean another appointment? Or keep on keeping on with Pohlman? Will time tell? Does it matter? Maybe not, but it's an interesting study in election minutiae.
Info: Texas Election Code Chapter 145.005Friday, November 15, 2024
Out west and around the county
 |
| - Spring Creek tributary - |
Next Wednesday looks like we might get close to a freeze. Those last few tomatoes better grow fast before being pulled to ripen on the window sill.
The Rotan water line project is coming along. Right now, they're about to cut across Fisher County Road 347, north of FM 1614. They are replacing a part of the Snyder to Rotan aqueduct.
I got lost in McCaulley today. First I went too far west towards Anson, and then I couldn't find the community center. Sometimes I'm a real airhead. Just go to the big bridge east of Roby on US 180, then go north on FM 57 about two miles. Find the old school and then look to the east. There's a huge metal building. There will be a lot of cars around it.
They're having a big sale out there and have all kinds of good stuff to buy. I got some books and a quilt and a necklace. The sale will be continuing tomorrow (Saturday) at 9 a.m.
Also going on tomorrow, as well as Sunday, is the Pete Garcia Estate Sale in Rotan. It's taking place at 1011 North Tyler and starts at 8 a.m. both days.
It looks like the Dollar General store in Roby will be opening soon. There are people inside of it putting up inventory. I noticed today that the Rotan site is called DG Market. The outside of Ace Hardware in Rotan is up. I'm looking forward to getting in these stores.
I finished up my jaunt by getting a .25 cent gallon of water in Rotan and going to The Country Store. A person can never have too many books, right?
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Jones County to house prisoners
A brief commissioners court meeting in Fisher County this morning yielded a tidbit of information when Sheriff Tom Pohlman reported a problem transferring incident tracking numbers.
"We've had some issues with our TRN numbers, and getting numbers, because of the transfer of the jail to Jones County, and we seem to have a plan now in place to resolve this," Pohlman stated during the meeting.
Fisher and Jones County Commissioners agendas and meeting minutes do not mention an agreement for housing inmates between the two counties, but evidence points to there being one.
Cross-referencing between the Fisher County inmate list and VINE records, six of the nine inmates were shown to have been transferred from Scurry County on Sept 11. VINE does not say where they were transferred to, but the sheriff's comment indicates Jones County.
Prisoners have been kept at the Scurry County facility for the past year or so. Fisher County closed their jail in August 2023, and it has been used as a 72 hour detention center since that time.
Sources:
- Double Mountain Chronicle Facebook (commissioners meeting video)
- Fisher County Sheriff (Inmate List at bottom)
- VINE (Victim Notification Network)
CAD to meet Wednesday
The Fisher County Appraisal District Board will meet November 13 at 7 a.m. The meeting will take place at the CAD offices across the street from the courthouse in Roby.
Items on the agenda include consideration and approval of: Eagle Property Tax Consulting contract; switching to Global Technologies phone services; designation of excess funds; homestead audit plan; and a chief appraiser's report regarding restitution.
Members of the board of directors are Hunter Stuart, David Mullins, Chris Kiser and Michael Noell.
Sources:
Sunday, November 10, 2024
Commissioners meet Tuesday
Fisher County Commissioners Court will convene Tuesday, November 12. The meeting will be at 9 a.m. in the courthouse in Roby.
One of the items of business is approval of an order for the Innovative Solar 245 Indigo (Limited Liability Corporation) Solar Reinvestment Zone. A resolution for the project was approved during the August 12 meeting. The planned location is about 6 1/2 miles south of Sylvester.
The development is expected to include buildings, structures, and other improvements and fixtures, including but not limited to: fixed machinery; equipment and process units which may consist of one or more electrical substations; underground and overhead electrical distribution and transmission facilities; modules, trackers, transformers, appurtenant electric equipment, containers, batteries, communication cable, and data collection facilities.
The estimated cost is $300,000,000.
Commissioners will have a public hearing in which they will discuss and vote on a tax abatement agreement for the project. That will take place December 9, at the monthly meeting.
Sources:
- Fisher County Commissioners meeting agenda November 12
- Public hearing and commissioners meeting December 9
Information:
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Out west and around the county
 |
| - Trencher, west of Hobbs - |
The commissioners court is going to be interesting next week, in light of the outcome of the Fisher County election. Simon Wade, former sheriff, who resigned last March, won the race by an overwhelming margin. Tom Pohlman, a sheriff's department employee at the time of Wade's resignation, was appointed as sheriff after Wade's departure. There's an article in the Double Mountain Chronicle this week that explains the situation.
The commissioners court regular meeting is set for November 12. A special meeting to conduct the local canvass is slated for the following week, November 18.
Three and half inches or so of rain was measured in the Hobbs area last week. More rain is expected today and tomorrow, spurred by an upper level low coming through. Severe weather is predicted.
Sources:
Monday, October 28, 2024
November public auctions 2024
Sheriff sales will be held Tuesday, November 5.
Nolan County:- Sheriff's Sale, 10 a.m., at the courthouse. This is for two pulling units. Information comes from Public Notice #6049 in the Sweetwater Reporter, published in the October 19-20 Weekend Edition.
- Trustee Sale, 1 p.m., at the courthouse. The property up for auction is located at 1409 McCaulley Street in Sweetwater. Information for the house and lot can be found on the Nolan County Clerk page.
- Foreclosure sale, 1 p.m., at the courthouse: A mobile home located at 1105 West Louisiana Street in Sweetwater. The listing can be found on Auctions.com.
Scurry County:
- Sheriff's Sale, 10 a.m., at the courthouse. One property out at Fluvanna,14103 County Road 2214. Cause # 27253, published in The Snyder News, October 23.
- Foreclosure sales: 1 p.m., at the courthouse. Three properties up for bid: 3600 40th Street, 3010 38th Street, and 11236 State Highway 208. Information is posted on the Scurry County Foreclosure page.
- Storage room auctions, currently open for bidding, ending November 7. Contents of seven storerooms in Snyder can be bid on at Self Storage Auction. Notice printed in the October 25 edition of The Snyder News.
Mitchell County:
- Foreclosure sale: October 27-29, online. 700 County Road 157, out by Dunn. Zip is in the Colorado City postal area. Information can be found at ServiceLink Auction.
Perdue Brandon does not have any local tax sales listed.
Friday, October 25, 2024
Voting method explained
The Rotan Independent School District uses cumulative voting to elect school board members.
With this method, each candidate gets as many votes as there are open seats.
Rotan has a seven member school board. There are four seats available this election, with seven candidates running.
Each candidate has their name on the ballot four times.
Voters can cast none, one, two, three, or four votes in this race, in any array: vote four times for one candidate; give two different candidates two votes; give two candidates one vote and one candidate two votes; vote one time for one candidate; etc.
The school has been using this method since 1995.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
A tale of two stores
 |
| - Dollar Generals, Fisher Co - |
I'm really looking forward to the grand opening of these businesses. I drove to Sweetwater for a new coffee maker this morning. It would have been nice to drive 13 miles instead of 30.
Snyder is closer to my house, only 21 miles, but I had to go to Rotan and Roby to take these photos. I like the Sweetwater Walmart better, anyway.
I hope they cut those ribbons, soon. I'm ready to buy cat food, Snickers, ballpoint pens, Windex, motor oil and milk in Fisher County.
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Brooks to take over attorney duties, county to get new dozer
The Fisher County Commissioners Court met Tuesday, October 15, 9 a.m., at the Fisher County Courthouse. All commissioners were present, along with: County Judge Ken Holt; Jessika Daniel, filling in for County Clerk Pat Thomson; Joy Dennis, filling in for County Auditor Becky Mauldin.
After a call to order, an unnamed young man made a public comment. Topics he covered: housing inmates; public vote to close jail; use of funds; his former employment at precinct 2 (some back and forth between precinct 2 commissioner and this fellow afterward, shut down by the judge reminding the commissioner this was a public comment); the new budget; Senate Bill 22 funds; staff undeserving of budgeted 5% raise; ashamed to live in this county. Those in the courtroom gallery applauded when he finished.
Departmental reports were made by: Extension Agent Nick Dickson; an unnamed representative standing in for County Treasurer Jeanna Parks; Dennis (Mauldin) for the county auditor; Sheriff Tom Pohlman for the Law Enforcement Center. There was no report for the Senior Citizens Center. The reports were unanimously approved by commissioners.
New business items started off with conflict of interest bills, which Dennis (Mauldin) reported none.
Dennis (Mauldin) then reported line item transfers. Three items were transferred from non-departmental funds for shortfalls : $5,000 to maintenance; $10,000 to IT, for a bill from last year; $20 to the district clerk. Commissioners approved unanimously.
Each precinct's Tax Increment Financing left over from last year was moved to the new budget: precinct 1, $9,309.88; precinct 2, $15,518.66; precinct 3, $54,837.63; precinct 4, $13,077.38. Commissioners approved unanimously.
The burn ban was reinstated, approved unanimously by commissioners.
Dennis (Mauldin) came before the court to explain and ask for approval for the difference in price for the LEC (sheriff's department) Kologic contract ($10,000 line item transfer). The court previously approved $54,270 for the contract, but the latest invoice was for $55,350, a difference of $10,080. Kologic said it was for a new user. Commissioners approved unanimously.
Dennis (Mauldin) asked commissioners to approve the annual financial report for publication. There were questions from Commissioner Preston Martin regarding reconciliation of accounts. The item was tabled.
Judge Holt brought the next item to the court: the usage of Morgan Brooks for Fisher County Attorney, beginning January 1, 2025. Brooks won the March primary, and is currently running unopposed in the upcoming election for Nolan County Attorney. Cost for Brooks will be $3,500 per month. Commissioners approved unanimously.
Deliberation put forth by Commissioner Gordon Pippin, regarding the One Way building and the sheriff's storage building, was concluded by being tabled until work bids are received.
Commissioners unanimously approved the 2025 Indigent Defense Grant program.
Use of $100,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds, for purchase of a new John Deere dozer to be shared amongst the precincts, was passed with three votes; Commissioner Martin voted against getting a new tractor. The total cost of the equipment is projected to be $286,000.
Commissioner Micah Evans gave an information only report regarding millings that the Texas Department of Transportation donated to the county, before court was adjourned.
Notes:
- Commissioners: Precinct 1, Gordon Pippin; Precinct 2, Dexter Elrod; Precinct3, Preston Martin; Precinct 4, Micah Evans
- Senate Bill 22 (SB22)
- Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
- Texas Indigent Defense Grant opportunities
- American Rescue Plan Act info (ARPA)
Friday, October 18, 2024
Ballot info, early voting Oct 21; General Election Nov 5
Candidates on all ballots throughout Fisher County:
- President: Trump/Vance, Harris/Walz, Oliver/ter Maat, Stein/Ware
- Write-in candidates: Ayyadurai/Ellis, Cuellar/Lasley, DeLaCruz/Garcia, Fox/McVay, Sonski/Onak, West/Abdullah
- U. S. Senator: Allred, Brown, Cruz
- Write-in candidates: Andrus, Roche
- U. S. Represenative District 19: Arrington, Johnson, Lewis
- Railroad Commissioner: Craddick, Culbert, Dunlap, Espinoza
- Write-in candidate: McKibbin
- Justice, Texas Supreme Court, Place 2: Blalock, Jones
- Justice, Texas Supreme Court, Place 4: Devine, Weems
- Justice, Texas Supreme Court, Place 6: Bland, Goldstein, Roberson
- Presiding Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: Schenck, Taylor
- Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7: Parker, Mulder
- Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8: Finley, Anyiam
- Member, Texas State Board of Education, District 15: Kinsey, Kirkpatrick, Westbrook
- Texas State Representative, District 69: Coppage, Frank
- Chief Justice, Texas 11th Court of Appeals District: Bailey
- District Judge, Texas 32nd Judicial District: Harrison
- District Attorney, Texas 32nd Judicial District: Thompson
- Fisher County Sheriff: Wade
- Write-in candidate: Pohlman
- Fisher County Tax Assessor-Collector: Speck
Candidates on ballots in divided Fisher County districts:
- Precinct 1 Commissioner: Pippin; Precinct 3 Commissioner: Posey
- Rotan ISD Board Trustee candidates: McWilliams, Weems, Stanley, Mullins, Carrillo, Spruill, Clary
- Roby CISD Board Trustee candidates: Carrion, Whitefield, Estes, Edmonson
- Hermleigh ISD Board Trustee candidates: Tate, Taylor, Pence, Claxton, Minton, Beane
Two bonds for Rotan Independent School District:
- Proposition A: $5,700,000 bond (for school construction)
- Proposition B: $800,000 bond (for teacher housing)
Notes:
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Snyder Goodwill coming soon
 |
| - New Goodwill, Snyder - |
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:
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)