Community Issues

Covenant vs Blue Cross

2007-09-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or does it seem odd that it is only Covenant that has a problem with Blue Cross?

If practically all the other clinics across Texas are accepting Blue Cross payments, why would they make an exception for Covenant and pay them more?

Could it be because Covenant clinics are so poorly run that they can’t make ends meet?

And yet in all their mail-outs, they made it sound as if Blue Cross is a villain trying to deprive innocent victims of their insurance.

By coincidence, Covenant wants the hospital to take over the clinic.

Just a coincidence of course.

I don’t think the hospital has any choice but to take over the clinic.

I just hope they drive a hard bargain and don’t let Covenant hurt the hospital as they once did in the past.

Gov. Perry's Outrageous Veto

2007-07-10T16:07:00.000-07:00

Gov. Rick Perry has dealt a crippling blow to junior colleges in general and WTC in particular in his decision to veto funds approved for health insurance.

His decision took legislators by surprise as he had given no warning of a veto and legislators had followed commission guidelines.

There is great cynicism as to his stated reason for the cuts of fraud by the junior colleges when it has been shown that most colleges are actually in compliance with rules governing health insurance.

Speculation as to his real motivations range from pressure by the large colleges to bring junior college costs in line with theirs to a personal vendetta against certain people who supported his opponent in a previous election.

Whatever Gov. Perry’s motivation, his actions hurt education in Texas at a time when having an educated workforce is one of our most important assets.

Junior colleges educate well over half the students in the state at a very reasonable cost compared to four year colleges.

Large junior colleges in the cities near major universities may be able to absorb the cost and keep running without cutbacks, but rural junior colleges such as WTC who have to scramble for their students cannot afford the large unexpected cuts.

Gov. Perry’s actions are outrageous.

They harm education in the very region where he grew up.

They hurt economically disadvantage students.

They hurt education in Texas.

If you want to protest his actions, there are petitions being circulated in Snyder.

You can also call or e-mail Gov. Perry’s office. (www.governor.state.tx.us/contact/)
(800-252-9600).

Or you can call state representative Drew Darby (325-653-8830) or state senator Robert Duncan (800-546-9928).

We need to keep pressure on Gov. Perry and hope he will do the right thing for education in Texas.

Save Travis Gym

2007-06-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I noticed in the paper a plea by Paula Hatfield to save the old Travis gym from demolition.

She made two good arguments for keeping the building.

One is that we need it as a community gym, both for our older and younger members.

When the elementary schools are torn down, there will be that many less places for Little Dribblers to practice.

The one huge gym at the new elementary school will be insufficient.

The second argument is that we need to preserve our history.

History is what gives us a sense of community.

How many Snyderites have played ball in that old gym?

Even if they have moved away from here, they have a certain attachment to the building.

It gives one a sense of connectedness to Snyder.

That goes for the elementary schools.

I know many people who attended West Elementary who felt a sense of loss when it was destroyed.

I am not saying that we could have avoided tearing it down.

I am just saying that it affected people.

The Travis gym is another story altogether.

It is still a functioning building supplying the needs of our town.

It is an historic building.

Why should we tear it down?

Snyder needs its old buildings to retain its identity.

We have a movement going to save the Santa Fe Depot.

This also needs to be supported.

The depot can be a tourist attraction, but more importantly it reminds us of our history and contributes to pride in our community.

It is even sad to some that the West Texas State Bank tore down the 1950' s facade for their drive-in.

Back to the Travis gym.

The ultimate power to save the gym is the SISD school board.

I am sure that if approached in a non-confrontational manner, they would listen to all reasonable arguments and then make their decision.

Snyder is in the midst of a booming economy.

Times are good.

Let’s not forget how we got here and preserve our history and our architectural treasures.

And let’s keep the things that make for a good quality of life in a small community.

Let Her Rain

2007-05-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since we’ve had a spring like this one.

Rain every week.

Lake Thomas even caught some water.

It doesn’t even look like West Texas, the pastures are so green. And it is the good grasses that are growing.

Normally when we have this much rain, the weeds start to crowd out the good stuff, but due to a combination of early moisture and low temperatures, the weeds are the ones getting crowded out.

Even the mosquitoes haven’t yet shown their ugly heads.

Of course, the oil field service companies have been shut down at times and the farmers are starting to holler about planting.

But in West Texas, it’s hard to complain too much if it’s raining

Snyder Needs New Housing

2007-05-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

In the city council debate the point was brought up by Jack West that lack of good residential housing is hurting growth in Scurry County.

For example, recently I met a lady who had moved here from Levelland.

All she could find was a small apartment.

She commented that if she had known the housing situation in Snyder was so bad, she would have hesitated to move.

Jack West believes that the city should help housing developers by paving the roads and running utilities to new developments.

The would encourage new housing developments.

The general policy, not just in Snyder, is for developers to pay the cost of paving, curbing and running utilities to new housing.

The city then pays for upkeep.

The argument is that the tax payers should not have to bear this expense.

The developer should.

I had always assumed that the city paved any new roads within the city limits where houses were located

I was interested to find that developers usually bear this cost and pass it on to the house buyer.

There are instances, however, where cities bear the cost for the developer.

Who is right?

If the city is badly in need of housing, should the they pay the cost of street paving, curbing and getting utilities to a development site or is this a legitimate expense of the developer as part of the cost of building houses?

It would then be passed on to the house buyer.

In any case there is one thing that I think we can all agree.

We need new housing in Snyder.

What's Up Snyder: An Internet Video Newscast

2007-03-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

What’s Up Snyder is an new feature on SnyderTexas.NET.

It is an Internet video newscast.

Using a camcorder and uploading the video to Google or Utube, we can actually create a TV station online.

Our first feature includes a tour of the new school, interview with the parks manager and a talk with the new boys club manager.

It will take a broad band connection to view the video.

The newscast will be biweekly and will cover events and personalities of interest to the Snyder community.

To view the video, go to Snydertexas.NET and click on What’s Up Snyder.

Tell us what you think and give us suggestions for future news casts.

Our second newscast will be out this week.

Square Renovation and the Santa Fe Depot

2007-03-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

Our square can be renovated and its history preserved.

The Ritz Theatre is a jewel.

The Manhattan Hotel is a jewel in progress.

Hopefully someone will buy the old CADA building where the new Hard Hat Café and Barb’s Books are located and keep those going.

There is movement on the “burned out spot” with a less ambitious initial restoration plan to be proposed by the chamber.

Some newly relocated architects are willing to donate their time to the project.

Many dream of restoring the courthouse back to its original state.

Ironically, the fact that we even have a literal “square” is unique.

Many small towns have done away with theirs.

If we could restore ours, it would be a tourist attraction and a community gathering place.

It is right on Highway 180, a heavily traveled state road.

Another opportunity has opened up.

It has nothing to do directly with the square but a lot to do with preserving Snyder history.

The historic Santa Fe Depot is scheduled to be demolished in 2008, but would be given to an interested group if they would move it.

To me the ideal place would be with the other historic buildings at the coliseum.

We even have a train engine already in place!

What a tourist attraction that would make.

Not to mention that we are preserving the history of our county.

We have a year to work to save this landmark.

We need an expert in moving old buildings.

Are you one or do you know of someone?

Are you interested in this project?

Call 325.573.1200; 325.573.2763; 325.573.9729; 505.280.5784 or e-mail mrandals3@comcast.net.

Or you can comment on this blog entry.

It only takes desire and commitment.

The money will follow.

Let’s act now to preserve history and attract tourists to our community.

Five Year Plan

2007-02-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

I want to give credit to the county and Joe Wallace for presenting a five year plan and making it public.

This gives the community an opportunity to debate its merits and decide the direction of our county.

This is not to say that one has to agree with everything in the plan.

However, now is the time to act on the things which will keep our community moving forward.

From past experience we know that if we let our infrastructure run down, it is very expensive to put it back in shape.

Mr. Wallace makes the point that when times are good, we should look ahead and prepare for the down times.

One immediate need for Snyder is a public swimming pool. The only one we currently have is at WTC and it is not really set up to handle large numbers of the public.

I remember the many pleasurable hours I spent at our swimming pools as a youth.

A swimming pool provides healthy entertainment and helps keep our community kids out of trouble.

Does anyone have any ideas on the community plan?

Update on WTC Presidential Search

2007-02-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

The search for the new college president at WTC is in a new stage.

The board has selected five candidates to interview.

Evaluating resumes is a very inexact science because almost anyone can make a resume look good.

Checking references can help but the references a candidate lists are going to say good things about him/her.

There is no substitute for actually looking someone in the eye and asking hard questions.

Even then, one never knows how a person will turn out until they have been on the job for awhile.

That is why selecting a person to replace Dr. Williams as president of WTC is a scary process.

Wish the board members luck and hold them in your prayers.

2nd Annual Chocolate Fest and the Square

2007-02-11T14:03:00.000-08:00

The 2nd Annual Chocolate Fest held on February 10th was a great success. There were many delicious chocolates and interesting wines as well as some great entertainment.

The event had a party atmosphere with a lot of socializing.

A good time was had by all.

The Ritz Theatre is, of course, a wonderful facility and has been for many years.

Now we have another great building on the square: the Manhattan Hotel.

It is in the process of renovation but already is a delightful building.

Just in time for the Chocolate Fest, a large metal horseshoe bar was inserted in its main room.

This bar is unique, tasteful and great as a serving area for food and refreshments.

Our square is coming alive.

In addition to the Manhattan Hotel and Ritz Theatre, their is now the Hard Hat Café on the west side of the square.

With its unique foods, bookstore and adult beverages, it is already doing a booming business.

Plans are also stirring for doing something with the “burned out place” with the intent of scaling down the original design and making it a gathering place for square dwellers.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to revitalize our square and make it a live and active town center like it was in the good old, very old, days?

The C City Coal Plant and the Environment

2007-01-26T15:10:00.000-08:00

I read an article in the January issue of Rolling Stone magazine about the new coal plants TXU is building throughout Texas, one of which is located in Colorado City.

This plant will be a big plus for the economies of both Colorado City and Snyder.

I know Rolling Stone has a slanted viewpoint and one would expect them to blast the construction of the plants as being bad for the environment.

Apparently some very strong opposition, based on environmental concerns and centered in the Dallas area, has developed to the plants.

The article did make one good point which triggered my writing this blog entry.

TXU is not using the latest technology to reduce carbon dioxide-emissions in their plants.

This technology is called BAT (Best Available Technology) and significantly reduces pollution.
At the same time it is more expensive.

In fact, TXU, according to the article, convinced Gov. Perry ( by large campaign contributions and postponing rate hikes until after the recent govenor’s election) to fast track approval of plant construction in order to get the plants approved before federal legislation mandated that all new plants use BAT.

In my opinion, TXU should, of their own volition, use the very latest and best technology in building the new plants.

Aside form the larger environmental issues, I want as little pollution dumped into our West Texas air as possible, largely for health reasons.

Thus, I have no objection to their building a plant in Colorado City.

It will greatly help our local economy.

But I do want the plants to pollute the air as little as possible.

TXU should not be allowed to build the plants unless they use BAT.

Observations on Several Institutions

2007-01-21T19:50:00.000-08:00

WTC appears on its way to another great enrollment for the spring semester. On- campus enrollment remains high. This is excellent for the local economy because many of the on-campus students are from out of town. These are dollars in our economy that would otherwise not be there.

Of course, the big project right now is finding a new president for the college. Dr. Williams will be a tough act to follow. Many people are very grateful for the what he has done for the college. We wish him great success in his new endeavor in Odessa.

However, life goes on and there is no reason that we cannot find a president who can continue and expand on Dr. William’s accomplishments.

We had over thirty applicants, many of whom had very impressive resumes. Picking the right person for WTC is very important for the community and the board will do its best. Hold a good thought for us.

The process is well on its way.

The new chamber manager, Jay Burns, is a local boy who has been away awhile in the big city. He has gained invaluable experience and enjoyed his time away, but loves this community and really wanted to return and be a part of helping develop the area where he grew up.

He has a perspective on what a rural community can and can’t do and yet has a vision for helping Snyder thrive.

He is very much a people person and would love to talk to you.

Don’t be shy about calling on him and letting him know what you think.

He wants to get everyone working together.

How 'bout Them Cowboys?

2007-01-07T12:14:00.000-08:00

The Cowboys ended a frustrating season with a frustrating performance.

Frustration # 1 TO

Why do we have to put up with TO? He makes great catches and then he drops crucial third down passes. Making first downs on third down is essential for a championship team. TO kills the cowboys in this area. He is unreliable.

He is also psycho. And he draws press attention. How can a team develop the unified will to win and work together with a guy who demands to be treated differently than everyone else and who divides rather than unites his team with his constant antics and comments.

Answer: you can’t.

Frustration # 2 Bill Parsells

A Hall of Fame coach for past accomplishments who should have remained in the past. He is burned out. Just looking and listening to him, you feel tired and depressed. His fire is gone and so are the assistant coaches of the past who provided the technical expertise to make his teams great. Many are now head coaches in the NFL.

His return to the three four defense is a disaster. His defense looks confused. Why does he have Demarcus Ware, his only pass rusher in pass coverage?

In the past would Parsells have put up with TO and treated him with kid gloves? His way of handling this disruptive personality is to ignore him while “motivating” the rest of the team with his acerbic comments. This destroys team unity.

Frustration # 3 Roy Williams

Williams was a great college player and can deliver spectacular hits, sometimes on his own teammates. However, he is too slow to play safety and is constantly exploited. On many crucial pass receptions by the opposing team, the familiar number 31 of Roy Williams is seen trailing behind the fleeing runner. He also misses crucial open field tackles trying to make big hits.

Put him on the line of scrimmage as a linebacker or on the bench.

Frustration # 4 Jerry Jones

Jones has to be the most boring interview in the league. Totally predictable in his comments, he offers no insight into the team or the game. He listens closely to the press and changes his views as he wind blows. He needs to step aside and get out of football decisions and let his soon Stephen run the team. Stephen will let football men make the football decisions.

That being said Jerry is a good businessman and his new stadium looks to be spectacular.

Frustration # 5 Tony Romo

Romo is the real deal but still in his first year as an NFL quarterback. It is virtually impossible for any first year quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl. Even the great ones struggle at first. The game is too fast and too complicated to master without experience.

After he mishandled the field goal snap, he was the picture of absolute dejection on the sideline.

At least he cares.

How he handles that experience will probably determine his future. Will it make him stronger or destroy him?

I predict he will become one of the premier quarterbacks in the league.

Over the course of a season a team develops their personality and they don’t suddenly change it in the playoffs.

The Cowboys are a good example. A frustrating season ended in a frustrating playoff loss.

The Bobcats Are Coming

2006-12-27T15:42:00.000-08:00

West Texas is famous for reclusive animals, badgers and bobcats being two of the best examples.

"Bill" told me this story the other day about an encounter with a bobcat.

You can imagine my surprise the other day when I discovered the source of a weird growling sound coming from outside the house to derive from a gigantic muscular bobcat.

He was on our front porch staring in the sliding glass door.

He stood almost two feet tall, with a beautiful spotted coat, unusually long back legs and large powerful paws and jaws.

His tail was short and bobbed.

He stared into the house totally fearless.

With bright yellow unblinking eyes.

A little confused.

The dog tried ferociously to attack the creature through the glass but it simply crouched unmoving, glaring into the room.

Finally I stuck the dog in the utility room.

Then stared back at the beast for about ten minutes, fascinated, trying to determine between a gun or a video camera.

It was a little unnerving.

I finally decided on the video camera but it was in the truck parked outside.

I thought the animal might be rabid or attack the dog.

He also looked dangerous enough not to attempt a sudden encounter unprotected, so I got the gun.
As I crept out into the yard with the rifle to retrieve the camera the beast, as if divining my intent, ran away from the window and under the truck.

I inched closer, rifle primed, but the cat, perhaps spying the firearm, bounded out into the pasture brush.

I have seen only a few bobcats in my years of living in the country.

To see a live one in the wild that close up was quite a treat.

What Is Going on with the Cable Company?

2006-12-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Along with poor signal quality on several area TV stations, Suddenlink now refuses to show the NFL channel, which will carry both the Insight Bowl with Texas Tech and the Dallas vs Atlanta game.

The explanation is that the NFL channel is asking too much money.

Yet, both Dish Network and DirecTV carry this channel.

Why can they afford it and the cable company can’t?

Don’t we deserve better?

What Is Going on at the Hospital?

2006-10-29T18:58:00.000-08:00

The purpose of the community blog is to stimulate conversation about things of interest to the Scurry County community.

Comments to the blog give a chance for those on both sides of an issue to express their opinion.

Point and counterpoint.

There have been many articulate and thoughtful opinions expressed concerning Cogdell Hospital.

The hospital is one of the most important institutions in our community and its well being is of absolute importance.

The blog has been up since the end of October and I think that what has been said has been heard.

It is possible that the blog may become counterproductive.

Before that point is reached, I am going to remove it.

Some people may see this as unfair, but I think a strong argument can be made that its purpose has been served.

We now need to see if these issues can be resolved by the board, administration and employees working together to sort things out.

It is crucial for our community that they do so.

Random Thoughts

2006-10-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

Was out and about Friday.

Lots of traffic in Snyder.

Is it just my imagination or was it just a few years ago that I never had to wait to get on College Avenue.

Now I have to make a mad dash across the lane in the face of oncoming vehicles to turn left.

Of course, after I have taken my life in my own hands, I look back and there is the little opening I that I didn’t have patience enough to wait for.

Down goes a landmark in Snyder: Snyder Drug on the northwest corner of College and 37th.

1950’s style architecture.

Gone in the blink of an eye. Bulldozed to make way for a new CVS.

The haunted house at the old Manhattan Hotel put on by the prison employees for Halloween looks to be really scary.

The big dark upstairs floors would be frightening enough anyway without any props.

Rumors are that a coffin, operating table and dirt have been hauled up there.

Someone needs to tell me about it after Halloween is over. I don’t have enough nerve to go through it.

Two big decisions for the community coming up: Chamber Director and WTC President.

Keep a good thought that great people are selected.

Lots of excellent feedback about the motorcycle rally.

The community took to the bikers and vice versa.

A letter to the editor in the Snyder Daily News by Richard Waters put it very well: The bikers felt welcome and they will return.

What a Great Weekend II

2006-10-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

The October 7th weekend was everything promised and more.

See our video montage on snydertexas.net.

Reports pouring in from numerous sources have been uniformly positive.

It took a great effort from many people and institutions working together to make it happen.

These were chamber sponsored events and Sandra and Brenda worked overtime to pull things together.

Special kudos go to David Boyd and the motorcycle committee which met every Monday for a year to plan the event.

Putting on a happening of this magnitude for the first time is a tremendous undertaking.

They pulled it off with style, grace and organization.

It is poised to be even bigger next year.

Marianne Randals and Bill and their volunteers revitalized the White Buffalo Days. Everything was bigger and better with activities and vendors galore.

The Manhatten Hotel was a great headquarters.

People were on the square morning, noon and night and even Sunday afternoon.

What a great event.

And they have even bigger plans for next year.

Tim Collier and Jerry Baird put on a superb cook-off and the food was delicious.

A note of thanks to Larry Thompson and the coliseum staff who were extremely helpful and courteous.

And to the law enforcement personnel who had a visible presence but handled the events very diplomatically.

These are all the people I’m going to name because the list would be endless and I would leave out someone deserving.

What are the lessons for Snyder?

The community working together can make us a household word throughout the area.

We need to strike while the iron is hot, while the oil is flowing and strive to bring people from the outside into the town.

In the Internet Age many businesses can operate wherever there is electricity and a broadband connection.

A recent Wall Street Journal article discussed the phenomena of people wanting to return to places where there is a sense of community.

It highlighted a number of small towns that are luring people from the city for this very reason.

A sense of community is one of our strongest assets.

Ask people who grew up here and moved to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin or Fort Worth.

Yes, they like what there is to do in the big city but as life moves on, many of them yearn for a place with less traffic and that before mentioned sense of community.

They don’t want to return to a desert but if there were job opportunities and the quality of life were sufficient, they would love to work and even retire here.

Therefore, let’s keep activities going, the creative juices flowing, the community cooperating, the people coming and the quality of life improving.

If we do, there is no limit to what can happen right here in little ole Snyder, Texas.

What a Weekend

2006-10-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of positive energy in town right now and we will see an explosion this weekend.

Don’t leave for Lubbock. You won’t find a better place to be than little ole Snyder, Texas.

Bikers, art exhibits, live music, chili cook-off, distance running, parades, plays, food booths, vendors, etc.

A lot of fun to be had by area citizens and dollars pouring into Snyder.

The incredible thing about all this is the number of people working together to make it happen.

I can’t remember a happening where more different groups cooperated.

This includes not only private citizens but government entities, the newspaper, the coliseum staff, etc.

This shows what Snyder is capable of.

One element in attracting businesses is to make our town a “neat” place to live.

The White Buffalo events are what it’s all about.

Comments about comments to the blog: I messed up

2006-09-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

The beauty of a blog is that one can get instant feedback.

This was one of the main purposes in using this format.

However, I discovered that I had the "moderate comments" section turned on on the community blog and in addition it had deleted my e-mail address so that I wasn’t being notified of comments.

Therefore, no comments were being posted.

I have now rectified this and all the numerous comments made previously are now available.

In fact, I have copied some of them below so that they can be read all at once.

Any response to thesecan be in the form of a comment to this entry.

Also, I have changed the settings so that comments will go through immediately.

If you want to read the comments go back through the blog entries or see below.

Open any blog and look on the left side under archives to see a list.

At the bottom of the first entry, it will tell how many comments have been posted.

Comments are a great way to express your opinions.

This can be done anonymously or you can give your name.

You have that option when posting.

All I ask is that you keep the language clean and the discussion on a high level.

I apologize to all those who posted earlier and it didn’t show up.

Thanks for your participation.

Some previous blog comments:

I don't see the other executives that Patterson has moving to Snyder. These are not the kind of country folk that would enjoy small town life. However there are some small benefits to Snyder that you need to work on. One of the benefits I see to the corporate office staying in Snyder is the low cost of labor here. If the corporate office moves, they are going to have to pay people more in a bigger city. I was working at Patterson, and I was making 18,000 per year with a college degree. I moved 80 miles away to make over double that amount.Also, I am sure that the Patterson property in Snyder is paid for. If they move to Houston, they are looking at a big expense for renting or purchasing a building.I can say to the people of Snyder, do something now before this place dries up and withers away. This boom will again go away, and you don't want to be stuck like you were in the 80's. If Patterson leaves or even if KinderMorgan leaves, where will you be???
Love,A Former Snyderite

YES, KEEP PATTERSON DRILLING IN SNYDER. AND OTHER MAJOR BUSINESES.WE DESPERATELY NEED A NEW SWIMMING POOL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE OLDER YOUTH DO NOT HAVE ANY THING TO DO IN THE SUMMER. I WAS BORN HERE, GRADUATED FROM SNYDER HIGH IN 1953. MOVED TO IRVING WHEN IT WAS A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN. THE CITY FATHERS WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE TO HELP IT TO GROW. WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY TO BE MORE PROGRESSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE. THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN NEEDS THEIR ROADS TO BE RE-PAVED AND UPDATED.WE HAVE A SMALL CONSTRUCTION CO. WITH THE HIGH PRICES OF BUILDING MATERIAL THEN WE HAVE TO FIGHT CITY HALL ON UTILITIES AND PAVING WE NEED HELP TO BUILD HOMES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION .ONE OF OUR SUB-DIVISIONS HAS 16 LOTS NOT PAVED OR GUTTERED AND HALF OF THOSE LOTS HAVE ACCESS TO UTILITIES THE COST TO US TO HAVE THESE LOTS READY TO BUILD ON IS COST PRO-HIVITED,BUT THE CITY COULD DO THIS FOR HALF THE PRICE . WE HAVE CACULATED THE REVENUE BROUGHT INTO SNYDER WITH TAXES, CITY SEWER AND WATER WOULD BE CLOSE TO $50,000.A YEAR THIS IS NOT INCLUDING OTHER UTILITY SERVICES AND THE FACT THAT PERHAPS HALF OF THESE BUYERS WOULD BE NEW FAMILES MOVING IN. WE NEED GROWTH AND TO GET MOVING WE NEED HELP. HOPEFULLY MY COMMENTS WILL HELP.
SHIRLEY

Snyder has been my home over 50 years. I have seen it up and down several times.I agree with the comments 100%. We need to do whatever it takes to keep Patterson and Kindermorgan here.We have lost families due to lack of jobs, housing, schools and facilities were not updated. The revenue we have had over the years was not used to the highest and best use and we are paying the price now.We need to all face the facts that small West Texas towns are dying and I for one do not want to be left to "turn the lights out".Let's get more aggresive and take some pride in our community. I want to have something to leave my grandchildren.
Faye BlackledgeHeritage Homes Realtors

You make some excellent points including the fact that Snyder is a small town that lacks the amenities of a metropolitian area. The limitations of size and location alone should dictate that our political, civic, and business leaders be prudent and efficient with their financial decisions.It is difficult to mandate accountability of leadership when being politically incorrect is viewed as personal. Such is life in a small town and I do not see that changing.
AnonymousWhen times are good is the time to make prudent investments and build reserves. I hope our leadership has the expertise and discipline to prepare this community for the times when our cash-flow isn't what it is today.
Anonymous

If there is a real possibility, as you state, that Patterson is eventually heading to Houston, is this community prepared for the impact?Your solution seems to be that we need to offer the activities and amenities that are readily available in the metropolition areas. Is it economically feasible to do so? What do the demographics of Scurry County suggest? Anonymous
The county needs to keep Rick Mammolite in the Pro Shop with the same arrangement as he now has. Because of the number of hours he is there, he could not be replaced by even a minimum wage employee for the same money.
Anonymous

No Brainer is an understatement. Excellent example of local politics. The commissoners court doesn't have a clue about what they have gotten into or what to do with it. They were simply bought off with a nice endowment.
Anonymous

I grew up out past Union & we had an incident with a Cat & a rattlesnake. They were pretty much having a stand off on the concrete footing of the house, then my Dad went out & killed the snake. Also while clearing out some pasture, we over turned some brush to find a pair mating! That was quite a sight! They were united & entangled in a large moving ball. I have encountered many, but never been bitten or had any animals bitten. A cousin of mine did get bitten out at the Ranch & it was just terrible. I do find the myths you had somewhat amusing!
Posted by Jenney

Thank you Scott for all of your hard work and service
Anonymous

I to ,would like to know the reason behind Scott leaving the job.but in Snyder. alot of things remain a misstry like Charles Church being kicked off the Hospital board and why so many nurses have quit at codgell.I belive it will all come out sonner or later, thank you Scott for all your hard work, and I wish the best for you and your family
Anonymous

I thought Larry Thompson was over the coliseum. What is his title?
Anonymous

Why would anyone have "trouble" with the commissioners? They are all fine upstanding people with the best intentions for our community. I don't always agree with what they do, but I can't help but think, if Scott had "trouble" with them, there was a good reason.
Anonymous

I heard that the coliseum is booked almost every weekend of the year. I think because most of the time it's for private parties, people might not realize it's being used. We should find out for sure.
Anonymous

In looking at the possibility of the commissioner's court running or in overseeing the running of a golf course, I would ask questions about another "could be" community asset. I am speaking of the coliseum. Is the coliseum costing the tax payers or is it turning a profit for the tax base? Has this community asset been overseen in such a way that it truly is a benefit to Scurry County? Not merely a marginal asset, but a real benefit? These are not comments, they are viable questions.
Anonymous

life is good
Anonymous

Why else have other people left suddenly around here lately? Jody Nelson ring a bell? Look a little deeper and see how "burnt out" he really was...
Anonymous

why is the blog not immediate any longer?
Anonymous

I lived in Snyder most of my life and thought it was a great place to live. The biggest complaint I have about small towns like Snyder is the back-stabbing gossip. A quote I read recently was, "the greatest thing about living in a small town is that you know everybody and they know you. The worst thing about living in a small town is that you know everybody and they know you."
Anonymous

I can no longer be silent regarding the situation at CogdellHospital. The hospital is a great assest to Scurry County and has the potential to be a greater assest to the surrounding communities, but if the current trend continues, we won't have the staff to run a band-aid station.The atmosphere at best is oppressive! The employee morale is at an all time low. Following are a just a few reasons why: 1. Secrecy-communication is a joke, administration says nothing, managers say nothing, there is no reasoning given for anything that is done, just a lot of political "to serve the greater good" mumbo-jumbo. 2. No equality in anything, the payscale that was board appoved is apparetnly out the window. Folks that come in to apply for jobs are offered above what employees doing the same job are currently making. What about loyalty? Most employees could get jobs at other facilities and make more money, but they CHOOSE to stay in Snyder. Also no equality in discipline. Two employees can do the same thing and only one getreprimanded. 3. EVERYONE is concerned that their job or department will be deleted. People have been moved around, people have left, are leaving. Policies are made everyday that have employees wondering if they are created simply to give administration a reason to fire them! 4. Prices are being raised in the dietary department to equal those in the Snack Bar! Most hospitals give employees a discount for their meals because most of them aren't allowed to leave the building for a break. Who is bennefiting from this? Then there is talk of adminisatration wanting to close the snack bar because they don't want to pay for the upkeep. How much money has the auxiliary donated to CMH? How much equipment have they bought? How many nurses and doctors have put through school? Not a good idea. 5. Then there is that whole internet thing. We do not work at IBM, I thought we wanted a family atmosphere. What do you think we are doing on the web. Spying? If you are allowed breaks, you should be able to use the internet. Install all of the filters you want, most folks only want to read the news, check the weather or look for a quick bargain. And we are trustworthy enough to do our job before we take a break. Why can't you just trust us enough to the job we were hired for. 6. Cutting staff, we don't work in a factory. You must maintain a level of staff so that you can take care of any situation that arises. We take care of people. Emergencies and disasters happen. Employees that are always sent home for low census will eventually quit. Then when the census goes back up, you will want them to come back and guess what, THEY WON'T!! We are tired of worrying about our jobs. We are tried of worrying that someone will walk by when we have just sat down, thinking "they must not have anything to do, we must not need them".This is the atmosphere we deal with everyday. We are weary!CMH Board of Managers come talk to us (because we aren't allowed to talk to you or we will be fired), find out if these things are true.IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING SOON, YOU WON'T HAVE ANYONE TO MANAGE!!
Anonymous

The employees at the hospital are occasionally asked what can be done to retain employees and encourage new nurses come to work at Cogdell. I am shocked at how rarely the nurses bring up the issue of money. Usually other issues come up far more frequently such as being shown respect and all nurses being treated equally but most of us have given up on that ever happening. It is sad when people that routinely skip lunch breaks are treated like common criminals if they take 5 minutes to check their email at work. Living in a glass house is not something I would recommend to administration at the hospital. You want to encourage a nurse to come to Cogdell, you make the nurses that work there are happy. I have been asked by many nurses in town how things are going at the hospital and I am honest with them. Would I recommend they apply at Cogdell? I tell them NO!
Anonymous

Questions from a Reader

2006-09-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

Message:: I have a few questions, and was hoping you'd know the answers. The first one I have asked everyone I know, and NOONE has an answer. 1. If Snyder is home of the White Buffalo, why is our mascot a Tiger? Doesnt Tigers EAT White Buffalos? 2. I read online, that supposably, the coliseum is haunted by a young boy. The young boy was chasing after a bat, fell down the steps, broke his neck, and died. Did this truly happen? If so, what year? 3. Also online, I found on www.lubbockonline.com on 6/04/97 that there was a murder in Texas. It says that a murder happened at a convenient store, but doesnt list the stores name. What convenient store did this happen at? Thank you for your time. My kids and I, have been seeking an answer to the first question for years! Hopefully, someone, somewhere knows the answer.

This is an e-mail sent to SnyderTexas.net.

I am going to give what info I know in this post. If anyone has more info, you can give it in the comments section of this blog or you can send it through the Contact Us section of SnyderTexas.net.

I believe the White Buffalo theme was begun in earnest when the Chamber started the White Buffalo Days in the early 1980’s.

The Tiger had been the mascot of our public school teams for many years before this.

I have never heard of a movement to change the Tiger mascot to that of the White Buffalo.

Possibly a Tiger could kill and eat a White Buffalo. However, I don’t believe they ever existed in the same physical environment so that we could find out.

It is conceivable that a White Buffalo could gore a Tiger and certainly a herd of buffalo could seriously injure a Tiger to the extent that the Tiger would not mess with them.

However, a Tiger is probably the more formidable creature.

It is true that a young boy fell through the coliseum roof to the floor below while his parent or parents were practicing for a play.

He had been able to climb up to that area through an unsecured ladder.

I remember it happening. I think in the 1970’s.

I don’t know if he were chasing a bat or just playing around.

I have never heard that the coliseum is haunted.

Finally, according to official records, Dorsi Johnson was executed on June 4, 1997 for the death of Jack Huddleston, 53, a convenience store clerk in Snyder.

He was shot in the head with a .22 caliber pistol after being told to lie on the floor. The robbery netted $161.92.

I am not sure when the incident happened.

Terrorist Organization Number One

2006-09-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

If a terrorist can be defined as someone who causes extreme discomfort and anger to innocent people, then I have a new candidate for terrorist number one:

Consumer relations departments at large corporations.

These entities hide not in murky rat infested caves like Bin Laden but rather behind the crackling wires of phone banks.

When you hunt for them, you are met with a barrage of menus, each demanding that you punch a number in response to myriad questions.

A wrong answer to these confusing requests leads down a blind alley forcing your search to begin all over.

If after relentless pursuit, you apprehend one of the lower level lieutenants, your interrogation rarely leads to information of any value.

You receive only clues as to how to contact a higher up and hints as to where he might be found.

No matter how many levels of the organization you may penetrate, they never have the info you need.

Nor are they the ones responsible for giving you that information.

That person is always beyond the next phone extension.

And so you search on and on, peeling back layer after layer of the group, traveling in an endless circle, often arriving back at the very department at which you started.

Al-Quaida has nothing on these terrorist organizations.

They are self perpetuating, each cell independent of all the others.

They are supposedly ruled by a mastermind, but where does he reside and how does he communicate with his subordinates?

No one seems to know.

But it is obvious that when you try to find him, he can immediately submit you to an exquisite torture which will finally force you to scream:

JUST FORGET IT!

Great Nature Photos by a former Snyderite

2006-08-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Check out these original nature photos by a former Snyderite.

One of the goals of this page is to make it a gathering place for Snyderites past and present.

Wiley Denson lives in Alaska during the summer. These are some of his work.

He will be exhibiting them at the White Buffalo Days.

Click here for photos.

Enjoy.

A Taste of Scurry County

2006-08-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

The annual Taste of Scurry County is this Thursday August the 24th.

It is always a fun event and the food is truly a treat.

The auction raises money for the operating budget of the Scurry County Museum and thus helps a good cause.

There will be some unusual auction items this year.

There is a sculpture by Robert Taylor, a former Snyderite and former museum board member.

He did the white buffalo on the square and his work is highly sought after.

There will be an airplane trip for two. It will be a fly around Scurry County and the adjacent vicinity.

How about baseball and basketball personal lessons taught by WTC coaches?

This is a great opportunity for a parent or grandparent to help your special kid become the next Nolan Ryan or Cheryl Swoops.

This is only a taste of what you will find at A Taste of Scurry County.

Please come.

This is also the kickoff for a number of great events coming up including White Buffalo Days, White Buffalo Days Bikefest, White Buffalo Stampede, and Hunter’s Appreciation Dinner.

Let me know of your event and we will publicize it.

One way for Snyder to get its name out there is to host great events.

If we are known any thing can happen.

What a Summer

2006-08-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

It proves once again that West Texas is unpredictable.

Last year it rained at all the right times and we had one of, if not the greatest, years ever in agriculture.

Even if it started raining today, the cotton crop would be below average.

Ranchers are starting to feed their cattle, trying to put off selling them.

At least most of the tanks still have water.

I’ve mentioned how bad it is to a few old timers, expecting them to be down in the dumps.

They just look at me and grin, “This is West Texas. What do you expect. We know how to survive hard times. Our ancestors rode them out and so will we.”

Somehow that makes me feel a lot better.

Besides, the oil field is still going strong. The college has record enrollment. I even heard the freshman class at the high school has around 220 students.

New ideas are percolating in the community.

Now is the time to put the pedal to the metal and create a diversified economy that can weather West Texas weather.

White Buffalo Bike Fest

2006-07-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

I don’t know how many people know about it but there is a potentially huge event on the horizon for Snyder.

That is the combination of the White Buffalo Bike Fest and White Buffalo Days on October 6-8.

Born out of an idea brainstormed in the Chamber’s Small Business Committee, a group of dedicated bikers have been toiling diligently for many months putting the bike fest together.

They are a very creative bunch and they are doing things right.

The entertainment is first class with the Kentucky Headhunters and Joy Ely.

It may be actually possible to fill the coliseum for the first time in recent memory.

The bike group ( I’m not going to name them all for fear of leaving someone out) has assembled an incredible array of events which will be scattered throughout Snyder.

Sponsors and venders have been lined up for the event.

If things come together right, we could have thousands of riders from all around the country in attendance.

Our area is great for bikers, with open roads and wonderful scenery including a loop around Lake Alan Henry.

Check out their website at whitebuffalobikefest.com.

These guys are what marketing Snyder is all about.

A Window of Opportunity

2006-07-22T14:53:00.000-07:00

We need to think about the amount of money our largest companies in Snyder pump into our economy through taxes and employment.

Patterson UTI alone paid in taxes $1,483,000 to Snyder ISD, $325,000 to Scurry County, and $147,000 to WTC.

They employ 183 people in the county, with a payroll of millions of dollars.

Although I don’t have the figures, Kinder Morgan has a similar impact.

And the list goes on.

There is a very real possibility that when Cloyce Talbot retires, Patterson heads for Houston.

Right now, Patterson drilling rigs are rendered for taxation in Scurry County even though the are actually drilling in other counties.

As reported in the Snyder Daily News, Patterson has spent over $500,000 to fight lawsuits brought by other counties trying to get the rigs on their tax rolls.

One of the main problems with keeping the headquarters in Snyder is that some top executives refuse to live in a small town.

However, there are others who would like to live here if they don’t have to sacrifice too many of the activities found in large cities.

That is why Snyder must address these issues now while we are booming.

We have a new school and the park renovations are great.

The commissioners have made the decision to preserve the Scurry County golf course.

We need to develop activities at the coliseum such as the Motor Cycle Rally and Western Swing.

We need a new swimming pool. We can have one for much less than the three million dollar figure that I saw in the paper recently.

Tribute to L. J. Mueller

2006-07-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

L. J. Mueller and his fellow workers deserve a lot of credit for reviving the Scurry County Rodeo.

Only a few years ago the rodeo was dead on its feet and looked as if it might be a thing of the past.

L. J. got to work. Called people. Requested chamber money. Tightened the ship and now the rodeo has money in the bank.

Not only that, this year with the added money, a lot of contestants entered the events.
This is good for Snyder.

It brings people to town. Adds to the economy.

It just shows what a determined leader with a great group of helpers can accomplish.

It's an example for the rest of us.

One aside.

I was watching the barrel racing and admiring all the beautiful spirited horses spinning round the barrels and thundering down the stretch.

I leaned over the railing and said to one of the judges in the arena, "I’ve heard some of those horses cost $15,000 or $20,000."

He mumbled something like seventy five hundred.

"Oh, well, $7500 is still a lot of money," I said.

"No," he replied with a disgusted look on his face at my ignorance, "seventy five or a hundred thousand."

I was pretty much speechless as he turned and walked away.

Great Decision on the Golf Course

2006-07-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

The commissioners made an important decision on the golf course. I am not a golfer, but Snyder needs all the lifestyle attractions it can get if we are going to keep businesses here and bring in new ones.

When businesses look to locate , they examine very closely the quality of the schools and what "there is to do" in the town.

Many people find a small town attractive if they don’t have to sacrifice too many of the activities available in the city.

Thus, we need to continue to develop our park, our schools, our coliseum, our golf courses, etc.

The great thing about the Scurry County golf course is that it comes with an endowment of several hundred thousand dollars.

With proper management we should not only have a beautiful course but be able to keep it running for years to come with no expense to the county.

It will be a real asset to the community.

This deal was a no brainer.

Thoughts on Rattlesnakes

2006-07-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

I live in the country and over the years have encountered hundreds of rattlesnakes.

I have never been bitten. One just learns to be very vigilant.

Myth or Fact:

Cats keep rattlesnakes away.

We used to have cats and I have personally observed a group of three cats surrounding a rattlesnake.

They stayed just out of striking distance.

The snake was coiled, highly agitated and had his rattlers humming full blast.

The cats were kind of lounging around, looking off into the distance, yawning, like they were bored to death.

Therefore, I concluded that the cats don’t actually kill the rattler. The just irritate him so much he finally leaves.

Of course, cats do that to me sometimes so I understand his feelings.

However, I didn’t wait around to test my theory.

I just made sure he departed, for good.

Rattlesnakes Have Hypnotic Powers

I have always heard that rattlesnakes have hypnotic powers but scientists seem to say it is nonsense.

However, my grandfather often told the story of watching a rattlesnake stare down a rabbit. The rabbit would leave, make a small circle and then return to in front of the snake.

Finally the rattler struck and that was the end of the rabbit.

Rattlesnakes always rattle before striking.

All the snakes I knowingly have encountered have rattled a warning. If they had not, I would have been snake bit on a number of occasions.

However, I have heard people tell of snakes that struck without a rattle and I believe them, especially if a snake is surprised.

One thing I am sure of is that if they didn’t rattle before striking there would be large numbers of snake bites in the county.

I have had both dogs and horses bitten by rattlers and it is not a pretty sight.

They developed a huge swelling, then an abscess, then tremendous amounts of drainage.

They were very sick for about a week.

All but one dog recovered, none the worse.

Rattlesnakes are slimy.

Actually they are dry and rough to the touch on top and on the belly smooth but not slimy.

Finally, I have often heard that a cowboy sleeping on the open range used to surround himself with his rope and no rattlesnake would cross it.

As far as I can find, this is a complete myth.

But if it made him sleep better, then whatever.

I sure wouldn't rely on it.

Do you have any stories about rattlesnakes?

Tribute to Scott Crenwelge

2006-06-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

Scott Crenwelge has spent many hours, way beyond what his salary called for, to push through a project which will enhance the quality of life in Snyder for years to come.

The Park Project is a huge undertaking made even more time consuming and difficult to complete because of the red tape associated with the grant.

However, when finished this project will give new life to the park.

It should become a true center of community activity.

Many have contributed, but Scott most of all.

Burn out is understandable. One has to balance family and work.

Thanks Scott for your hard work.

Before a new person is hired, it might be time to look at how Scott’s job was structured.

He was head of both the coliseum and parks.

And he was understaffed.

Too many projects for too few people. Many times the coliseum staff worked overtime on the park.

It may be time to split these two jobs.

Both are important to the quality of life in Snyder.

Quality of life keeps people here and helps attract new ones.

Our parks need to be maintained.

Our coliseum needs promoting and upgrading.

Our goal should be to have the coliseum booked every weekend six months in advance.

With major events.

But we need adequate staffing and we need promotion.

And we need enough people to do the job.

Otherwise, burn out will occur.

The coliseum needs maintenance badly. For example, the folding chairs need to be replaced.

No, the coliseum will never be a money maker simply from the fees charged, but it can pump many thousands of dollars into the community from the outside.

And in this way will more than pay for itself.

Hail Storm of May 2006

2006-05-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a hailstorm!

How many years has the Manhatten Hotel been on the square with its windows intact.

Suddenly, they are gone.

What was it like to be in the storm?

What kind of damage happened?

And how is your insurance paying up?

EMS, A very important issue

2006-04-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

The basis for a discussion of the EMS will be a letter to the editor of the Snyder Daily News written by Perry Westmoreland, the current operator of the EMS. It follows:
For all the right reasons, I’ve tried to avoid any public statements such as this. It seems the time has come.

Wade Warren is right when he says Snyder EMS should have asked for smaller increases all along, and not waited 19 years to ask for our first subsidy increase.

Trying to be a good business partner in the community, and not ask for an increase until one was absolutely necessary was always our intent.

Unfortunately now, it appears that was not a good business plan.

But our conscience is clear.

We have reached the necessary point, and we have been a good business partner with the county.

Perhaps Guardian EMS is correct when they say we should be charging $550 per run and $11.50 per mile all these years, instead of the modest rates we are still charging our customers.

Yes, that would have robbed from Peter to pay Paul, but again, perhaps that is what we should have been doing all along (unless of course, you are the one who gets the bill).

What is not being told is the whole story, and while I can’t possibly begin to address it all here, the highlights follow:

People keep saying we refuse to open our books.

What books do they want opened?

I provide a quarterly report to the commissioners’ court, giving them the financial information they asked for in my contract.

That itemized report has been provided to the governmental oversight body every quarter for 19 years, showing our expenses, revenue, and financial outcome for the quarter.

Additionally, I had my CPA work up an itemized Profit & Loss Statement (P&L) which I provided to Judge Rod Waller, showing our detailed expenses, income, my personal management fee, and listing by category (i.e., office supplies, fuel insurance, salaries, etc.) every dime earned and spent for our last fiscal year.

I went the extra mile, and told the court they had unlimited access to my CPA who would answer any question they had, and I know for a fact that county auditor Charlie Bell visited with my CPA.

So my question is, what books have I refused to open?

My proposal to the court is based on "our current contract" which sets a limit on what we can charge the customer.

The figures noted in Mr. Warren’s column are solely to hire three full time paramedics so that we can staff appropriately.

The day of being able to run Snyder EMS with mostly part time people are gone forever.
I’ve explained this in detail to the court, and I believe they have confirmed with other companies, such as mine, that this type of help is no longer available.

Full time paramedics are necessary to remedy our staffing shortages.

My paramedics are a minimum of $6,000 under paid annually, for a comparable paramedic position in our region of Texas.

They have been great to hang on as long as they have, a credit to them, and a testament to the type of people who answer your calls for help.

But, anyone on our staff can tell you, several have already left for better paying jobs, and in order for me (or any other operator) to attract people here, we must pay a competitive wage.
These people deserve a fair wage.

What I’ve not addressed in this article, because common sense will tell you, is that the cost of fuel doubled in recent years.

Insurance, 3-2 times what it was 5 years ago.

I’ve not addressed the paramedic shortage statewide, which the court has also confirmed other companies are suffering from.

I’ve not addressed the fact that provisions ( such as office space) promised us in our contract by the city prior to 1993, have not been made available to us, and that we have quietly made other arrangements at our sole expense, instead of making a public debate out of the issues,
I’ve not noted that our contract calls for EMT level of care, and that for 17 years, we have provided Mobile Intensive Care Unit level of care, again at our sole cost and expense.
We have purchased almost all of the equipment to make that happen.

I’ve personally taught several EMT, EMT-I and paramedic courses, and provided equipment, supplies, and clinical rotations through our company to make that happen, at our expense.
The list is long, and the editor’s column is limited.

Snyder EMS wants to continue to provide EMS service to this community.

We want to deliver "First Class" care, so that the level of care you have come to expect remains the standard.

We can not continue to do this with overworked staff members, being paid considerably less than a fair wage.

This is not 1987.

We have gone 19 years without an increase in subsidy because of two (customer) rate adjustments granted by the commissioners court, one around 1995, and the other around 2000.
With another rate increase being granted now, we can reduce the requested increase proposed to the court significantly.

I was asked by the commissioners to bring them a proposal based on our existing contract.
That is what I did, telling them beforehand that the numbers would be subject to change based on a new contract.

I furthermore told them that I will not continue to operate under the exiting agreement, which is out of date, and references items that no longer exist.

They are well aware that modifications in a new contract can significantly decrease the subsidy requirements I proposed.

I feel comfortable they are exploring those options in an effort to compare apples to apples and secure a competent provider at a practical subsidy.

I believe the end result will be a decision based on a better collection and evaluation of the facts and necessities, and I feel certain a good decision will ultimately be made.

The Golf Course, Again

2006-03-28T05:55:00.000-08:00

I have heard it said:

My kids don’t play baseball. Why should I pay taxes to help maintain the ball fields?

I never go to the coliseum, why am I paying for that?

Why do we spend so much on the airport? I never fly on those small planes.

Even, my kids don’t attend public school anymore and I resent all those taxes.

Now, I don’t play golf and never will, just let the course go back to pasture.

Even when someone is generous enough to donate $600,000 to maintain it, there is an attitude that the county will just waste all that money.

Shouldn’t we be saying, “What a great opportunity to keep an asset in Snyder”

“An asset which will provide entertainment and recreation for the community and which will help attract newcomers.”

“We can now make this course the best nine hole course in the state.”

“Let’s make it so good that people will travel far and wide to play on it.”

If Snyder is to grow and prosper that has to be our attitude.

Instead of expecting the worst, why not create the best?

Yes, there is another nine hole course at the college, but we are competing for population with communities that boast 18 hole golf courses.

We have a window of opportunity to prepare Snyder for the days when the oil patch slows down.

But we can’t do it unless we work together and create an energized community that attracts people to it.

Otherwise, the old West Texas sun and wind will only too willingly dry us up and blow us away.

Country Club Golf Course Revisited

2006-03-26T18:26:00.000-08:00

Whether the county should take over the country club golf course has solicited strong interest.

There seems to be two concerns.

One is that the course will end up costing the taxpayers too much money in the long run.

The second is a lack of confidence in the county to properly run the course.

As to the first concern, one has to look at the big picture.

We must attract new people and business to Snyder as well as retain those who are here.

We are in competition with other communities.

Lifestyle is a big factor for those looking to relocate.

A golf course is a lifestyle asset to the community like our baseball fields, coliseum and college.

A town the size of Snyder is at a disadvantage in attracting people if we don’t have a golf course.

And golf provides entertainment for those who already live here.

The golf course as it now stands is meeting its operating expenses.

And we have the rare event that the equivalent of several hundred thousand dollars will be donated to the county to run the course.

This money is donated to the county both to keep the course going and because it can be used as a tax write off.

Some of this money can be used to upgrade the course.

Thus, the county can take control of the facility under the best of circumstances.

The second concern is how the county will manage the course.

The obvious solution would be to form a board to oversee its running.

A certain percentage of the board would be knowledgeable about the course.

Others would be more concerned with keeping the course solvent.

Details would have to be worked out but the county commissioners would not be involved in the day to day details of managing it.

But they would have oversight responsibilities and a budget would have to be submitted to them.

It seems to me that things can be worked out and that there is a golden opportunity to keep a valuable asset in the community at very little cost to the taxpayer.

The War in Iraq

2006-03-25T18:33:00.000-08:00

We are in Iraq.

We can’t turn back the clock.

Arguments pro and con have been made about whether we should have gone in or not.

But we are there.

Only history will tell us the result of our actions.

One can imagine the future as one wishes.

For example, one can speculate that if we didn’t go in, terrorists would be devoting their energies to attacking American directly rather than concentrating their energies on attacking us in Iraq where we can at least fight back.

Some would argue that by being in Iraq, we are inflaming Iran.

Others would say that by being in Iraq, we present a very immediate military threat to Iran and thus hold them in check in spite of their rhetoric.

Or that our military presence has already caused several Mideast regimes to, at least on the surface, renounce terrorism.

Of course, the opposite argument is that we are radicalizing Muslims and creating more terrorists than would be the case otherwise.

On the other hand, all our political correctness and multiculturalism prior to 9/11 seemed to do us little good.

But we are there now.

What should be our course?

Pull out?

Inform that we are leaving in one year and gradually pull out our troops and let the Iraqi military sink or swim.

It’s their country. If they won’t fight for it, why should we?

This is a very tempting argument.

And it might be right.

The Iraqis could answer the call and create their own kind of democracy.

But what if Iraq then falls into chaos and radicalism and becomes a haven for terrorists?

And what if our pullout is perceived as a lack of will power to defend ourselves against terrorism?

Will American then be safer?

But if we stay three more years and still the Iraqis cannot govern themselves and their military cannot impose order, what have we accomplished?

At this point, we just don’t know what will happen.

However, we do know that there is a concerted effort to undermine the war effort.

Some of it is made by those who are sincerely seeking what is best for America.

Much of it, however, is by those who just simply hate George Bush.

They hate the way he talks, the way he walks, the way he smiles.

They relentlessly criticize his every move, never offering solutions of their own.

In many cases, such as the Patriot Act, they attack him, make all kinds of false accusations, but when it actually comes time to vote, they support the very legislation they criticized.

We don’t know whether history will prove the Bush approach right or wrong.

But history has already shown that appeasement does not work.

If our country were united in its determination to stand up to terrorism, to a way of life and an ideology which goes against many of the most fundamental principles of Western democracy, then we would eventually win.

That is not to say that one does not have the right to oppose President Bush’s policy.

It does say that that opposition should come up with carefully thought out reasons as to what we should do instead.

Just spewing hatred of Bush is not in the best interests of America.

A Soaker

2006-03-19T14:31:00.000-08:00

A good rain at this time of year is a Godsend.

The grass will sprout early in the pastures, the cattle will whoop for joy and chase the “green stuff” as the ranchers say.

The farmers will begin piddling around the barn, checking their equipment, dreaming of another record year like the last.

Getting psyched up for the coming season after only a brief respite. They only just finished stripping cotton.

But a good spring rain will get the juices flowing again.

They will check their gauges, exaggerate the results at the feed store, and scrape away the soil to see how deep the moisture crept.

Farming is a tough stressful operation and a significant part of the Scurry County economy.

Businessmen know it when farmers have money in their pockets.

Farming is a form of gambling with a lot of hard work thrown in.

The reason is that most of their expenses come upfront at the very beginning of the season.

And so much of the final result is totally out of their control.

Just luck.

Not only must it rain, but it must rain at just the right time.

How about a summer hailstorm right when the cotton is opening.

Not much a farmer can do about that.

And the world market.

China decided to add a million acres of production and the already low prices plummet.

Ah, the joys of farming.

It takes special people to be successful or even survive in that profession.

Let’s wish them another successful season.

That will be good for the whole community.

What's Going to Happen to the Country Club Golf Course?

2006-03-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

It seems that a very large donation will be made to the county to run the country club golf course if the county will accept ownership.

This will enable the course to be funded at a first class level.

And taxpayers will not be burdened with higher taxes.

Our two golf courses are community assets and definitely should not be allowed to deteriorate.

True, not everyone plays golf, but not everyone uses the park or the baseball fields or the coliseum.

But they are all part of the quality of life in Snyder, both for current residents and for attracting others to move here.

Yet, there is opposition.

Comments such as:

I know that if the county gets it, our taxes will eventually get raised.

Those commissioners have no business running a golf course.

I don’t play golf so why do I care if we have a course or not.

Yet, many counties run golf courses.

And they don’t have a donated fund which allows them to be self sufficient.

It seems like an opportunity that should be seized.

Why the heck would you want to move to Snyder?

2006-02-26T18:39:00.000-08:00

Recently a young couple, who are moving here from the city to start a new business, introduced themselves to members of our community.

The almost universal response they received: Why in the heck would you want to move to Snyder?

Has our community come to this?

Have we have lost confidence in ourselves and no longer see the beauty of Snyder?

Actually, we Snyderites are an innovative and energetic bunch.

Look at the abilities of those in the oil field.

How many flourishing, self-made, local oil field related businesses do we have?

How many hard productive workers?

A lot.

Look at the ranching industry. A thriving high risk enterprise full of people who love their jobs.

Our farmers have just brought in a bumper crop. That takes a lot of hard work and skill.

Look at the number of successful small businesses around town.

What an innovative business culture we have.

We have a hospital to provide health care.

We even have a college that is expanding in many directions and pumping money into our economy.

Our outstanding museum preserves our culture and provides cultural events.

Look at the generosity of our churches and charities.

Think about our government.

We have no violence in the streets.

We have honest government officials, even if we sometimes gripe about some of their decisions.

We have a new elementary going up.

I’m sure I’ve left things out.

We don’t have traffic problems. Have you ever tried to navigate Dallas in rush hour?

It ain’t College Avenue.

In little over an hour we can get to all the extra shopping and entertainment we really need and the drive is relaxing.

Have you priced a house in a decent part of town in Austin.

Shocking.

How about the splendor of our landscape?

Many of our sunsets are breathtaking.

Our weather changes are sudden and spectacular.

The wildlife is varied and abundant.

The climate is mild.

The land has a subtle beauty, varying with our ever changing light.

People are friendly and helpful.

Where else would you rather have a flat with no spare in the trunk?

To those in New York City, Snyder is exotic.

Actually, I know a lot of people who would move here if there were high paying jobs available.

The city can get old.

Maybe we can attract people who will create jobs if they see a confident and energetic community.

Finally, there is another measure of the strength of our culture.

And that is the number of people who carry Snyder with them when they move.

And been very successful at various enterprises.

And developed interesting hobbies or had interesting lives.

These people often hold a soft spot in their hearts for their old home town and even give it credit for some of their success.

In that spirit, Snydertexas.net will link to websites of such former Snyderites.

To see how we are influencing the world.

I know quite a few, but I need your help to identify others.

They need to have a website already up and going.

Or I will provide you a free place on the Web to enter a tribute to someone you know.

And even help you do it.

The time is right.

When someone tells you they are moving to Snyder, let our response be,

“Come and join us. Why in the heck would you want to live anywhere else?”

No More Dallas Morning News in Snyder

2006-02-19T14:03:00.000-08:00

The Dallas Morning News suddenly announced they will no longer deliver in Snyder and most of West Texas. That includes Abilene and Midland/Odessa.

The Morning News is the source of information for sports and political news for many of us.

It is probably the closest thing Texas has to a state newspaper.

And West Texans follow most of Dallas’s major sports teams such as the Cowboys, Rangers, Mavericks, and Stars.

So why wouldn’t the News first just raise subscription rates to cover the rise in fuel and see how many would pay the increase.

I think a lot of us would, within reason.

The Wall Street Journal is mailed to Snyder for same day delivery.

Why couldn’t the News do that?

Does the News want to become simply a Dallas rather than a state newspaper?

Yes, I know we can go on-line and read it, but that is a completely different experience than browsing through its pages over a cup of coffee.

I called their customer relations line and then e-mailed them and got their recorded answers about high fuel costs and to just go on-line.

Barbershop talk:

To get the News to reconsider one would have to talk to higher ups and perhaps reason with them. We are looking into that, but success is doubtful.

Does anyone know a higher up?

One could find some major advertisers in the News who would like to reach West Texas viewers, Fry Electronics or specialty car dealers for example, and see if they would put pressure on the News.

There are probably others.

If all else fails, try to get a group together and have the paper delivered to a central location in Snyder.

For example, buy subscriptions in Dallas and get the delivery person to put them on the bus early in the morning for noon delivery to Rip Griffins.

Just ideas. Does anyone have some others?

Or have suggestions about how to implement the ones above?

Contact us if you are interested in getting the News delivered here.

The EMS

2006-01-26T08:23:00.000-08:00

I don’t know all the ins and outs of the issues confronting the county and the EMS, but I do know that Perry Westmoreland runs a tight ship budget wise. I also know that we have a very good EMS. They are local and have a vested interest in maintaining a high quality service for the people of Scurry County. They are professional and courteous.

How many hundreds of people can attest to this. There are letters to the editor often about the wonderful aid rendered by the Scurry County EMS.

This service is one very important to the community and one which most people are willing to pay for.

Do we want this service out-sourced. I’m not clear how the hospital fits into an out-sourced EMS agreement but it sounds like there may be too much red tape involved for a quick response to an emergency.

I am sure there are good arguments on both side as to why an agreement can’t be reached.

But surely the county and Perry Westmoreland can get this one worked out for the good of the community.

The Hispanic Community

2006-01-01T18:26:00.000-08:00

In mid December, speaking at WTC, Dr. Steve Murdock, official state demographer of Texas backed up with a bunch of statistics what most of us already knew instinctively.

The population in Texas is one of the fastest growing in the United States.

Most of the growth is in the Hispanic population.

By 2040 Texas will have a decided Hispanic majority.

By 2040 8 out of every 10 public school students will be non-Anglo.

Snyder is already closer to this statistic than the state average.

Dr. Murdock said the statistics also tell us that in 2040 Texas will be poorer and less educated.

Bottom line for Scurry County: the Anglo community and the Hispanic community must engage in a dialogue to determine the shape of our future.

One place this dialogue might take place is through the Chamber of Commerce.

It could start between business leaders of the two communities.

Businessmen have a lot in common and the two groups could work together to move the county forward in the 21st century.

What's Going On at the Hospital?

2005-11-12T15:07:00.000-08:00

Our hospital is absolutely essential to the community.

Cooperation with doctors is absolutely essential to the hospital.

If our doctors are paid by Covenant, is there a conflict of interest? Are patients encouraged to go to Lubbock instead of Cogdell?

Are those patients with the "best" insurance policies being sent to Lubbock?

On the other hand, most of the doctors at the Covenant Clinic have lived in Snyder for many years.

They have raised a great group of kids here.

They are highly respected in the community and know how important the hospital is to Snyder.

Thus, they have incentive to support it.

Do patients demand to be transferred to city hospitals and are doctors simply honoring their requests?

If so, our hospital needs to gain the trust of the community.

Is Covenant the problem?

Are they milking our hospital for their own benefit or are they providing a valuable service with their clinic?

Is it possible for the Cogdell to hire the doctors?

These are questions which occur to an outsider looking in.

Running a rural hospital is not easy.

There are many issues to do with rural hospitals which are mandated.

The amount of Medicare payments, for example, and the necessity to provide indigent care at the emergency room.

Hard and perhaps unpopular decisions have to be made.

However, resolving the doctor issue is one of the most important.

It may be that both sides have to find a way to compromise for the good of the community.