Saturday's Internet Edition, July 05, 2008.
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Featured speakers were Emergency Management Coordinator Alex Dula and County Agent Sam Silvers. Hosts for the evening were Andrew Barnebey, Matt Fry and Rachel Gallegos. Attendees included: Ruth Baddley, Joe Baker, Ben Banahan, Paula Epperson, Nancy and Neddy Jenkins, Jim Lees, Tiny Lomax and Mistee Splawn.
The idea of a community fair for Wednesday, May 14, was raised, and it received favorable consideration. This “group of groups” and any other interested community groups will come together again before long to elaborate and finalize the fair plans. It is hoped more groups and individuals will join in the activity.
Mr. Dula talked about his role in emergency management. He said he is creating an emergency operations center and needs some volunteers interested in being ready to help. He said the county received 100 cots and pads to store from the Red Cross.
During Dula’s talk, one of the audience members said that her phone rings in Leakey when she dials 911, though that is 30 miles farther from her home than Rocksprings. Mistee Splawn, chief jailer/dispatcher advised her to call her at the Sheriff’s Office, 683-4104, and she would try to arrange for her phone to be rerouted.
Mr. Silvers talked about numerous projects. He will soon host a presentation about wind rights, a very hot topic. He mentioned that he has a website http://edwards-tx.tamu.edu/. The issue of well monitoring and water scarcity was raised, too.
During Silvers’s presentation, audience members suggested ways of communicating to county newcomers and weekenders about the various activities available. A mass mailing seemed to be close to consensus.
Justice of the Peace Joe Baker talked about his active office and his special concern for our young citizens. He remarked that he’s been especially concerned about some of our teens. Young teens can be found out on the street at all hours without supervision.
Paula Epperson and Mistee Splawn spoke for the Emergency Services Auxiliary, a small volunteer group that comes together when emergency workers need extra support like they needed during the recent Carta Valley fire. Some members of the audience found themselves unaware about this group of county volunteers, probably because they only have to go into action for big emergencies. An article on the ESA appeared last week.
Nancy Jenkins spoke to the group about a couple of big projects with the Historical Society. The Society is trying to collect video oral histories.
She hopes to find some high school students who will interview their grandparents about our history. Another leap forward is establishing a walking tour that uses cell phone technology. As our county guests, for example, wait for the Bat Bus to take them to the Devil’s Sinkhole, they will be able to dial up a history tour on their telephones!
Finally the group heard from Ben Banahan and Andrew Barnebey about the pending big changes at the Devil’s Sinkhole, the LiDAR project and the US Park Service grant that will allow the society to revamp its displays at the Visitors Center.
Barnebey mentioned that those wishing to post messages about community events on the Devil’s Sinkhole website www.devilssinkholetx.com can log on and go to the “guest book.” Barnebey and Banahan talked about the need for volunteers at the Sinkhole Society, both young and less young.
The group will pursue the May 14th community fair plan and may arrange for a mass mailing to both newcomers and weekend residents. Another meeting will be held in mid-April prior to the community fair in May. Hopefully, some of the other public service groups will join in.
The venue for the meeting was the Rocksprings Woman’s Club. Food was provided by Ruth Baddley; coffee and rent by the Rocksprings Duplicate Bridge Club.