Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Hcnews.com reports: Hood Population jumps 13 percent

Burl McClellan's article leads off: Hood County is no longer one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties, but Hood and its adjoining neighbors, Parker and Johnson, continue to grow. Each of the three counties’ population increased by just over 13 percent from April 1, 2000 through July 1, 2004, according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau figures.Jobs, water and retirement recreation are driving the population growth in areas of Texas, according to the information.

He continues: Hood and its neighboring counties, Parker and Johnson, are on the southwest corner of the Metroplex growth and offer short commute times. Census surveys show commutes average from 20 to 37 minutes in the three counties. According to the information gathered by census questionnaires, workers will drive for open spaces.Census information on Hood County shows the population increased 41.8 percent in the 10 years from 1990 to 2000 when it reached 41,100. That figure increased 13.1 percent to 46,492 in 2004. The population estimate for July 1, 2005 is 47,930.

Access the ncnews.com article here

Monday, March 20, 2006

People Around Lipan Country Report Good Rains!

Four weeks ago this 15' deep tank was bone dry! Three days ago, only some mud! Yesterday, tanks all a round overflowed. Today, Spring begins. It is fitting that the parched land is renewed! Lipan locations give rainfall reports/

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

The School Board and UIL Constitution & Contest Rules . . .an Editorial

The Statement of Purpose of the University Interscholastic League sponsored competition caught my eye. Regarding this, Lipan School soundly harmonizes with the UIL Constitution goals.

But, is there room for improvement to promote excellence measured in UIL competition of all kinds? Where? How?

The solution rarely can be found in spending money . . . not yet, anyway. The audited 8/31/05 general fund balance of the school district was vastly improved at $264,346. Can you spell V-A-S-T-L-Y!

The Unrestricted Fund Balance is the resource enabling sound management and creative planning.

However, this was still an unacceptable 44% of the needed fund balance target of $591,009 (see Exh J-2 of the audit). I know the board members intend to continue improving these numbers. However, shouldn't the Board resolve to adopt (i.e. budget) hard targets to measure their progress, perhaps by $110,000 each year through 8/31/08. Let's call it the Board continuing to do 110 % as in the recent past. In just 2 1/2 short years, the Unrestricted General Fund Balance would be . . . (drum roll, please) . . . $594,000! That way, the town would have a school with the financial muscle to jump over the next big problem without there being a dire community crisis which hobbles the childrens' education!

As the Board drafts its stewardship goals for the District and its children, none could be greater than this.

With patience, disciplined teamwork and clear targets, the School Board can provide the budget platform for continuing to nurture the excellent educational accomplishments that we all desire. And, to keep their winning streak alive! (And guess what . . . in 2 1/2 years the new Barnett Shale tax base is expected [not promised] to have arrived! Furthermore, guess what . . . Seth Riddle, Derek Brabson & Company are seniors . . . just to name a few!)

P.S. As of the 5:00 pm filing deadline (3/13/06) School Board incumbents Richard Ator and John Cooper are unopposed for their board seats. Since the school is "Job One" in Lipan, clearly this is a LOUD vote of confidence regarding their service to the community.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

This is not about basketball. It's about . . . Heart & Cinnamon Rolls!




Each year, Lipan players travel 360 miles to stay with Nazareth players' families. On Friday, they played for a state championship.
By Alan TrubowAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Saturday, March 11, 2006

Their embraces were firm and heartfelt, the smiles warm and genuine, the congratulations meaningful.

Seconds after the final whistle blew, Lipan High School basketball Coach Tommy Bleeker walked down the line of Nazareth players, looking like a father beaming at his sons' accomplishments.

Thanks to some Texas hospitality, Lipan Coach Tommy Bleeker, left, and Nazareth's Alan Gerber were friends before the teams met at the Erwin Center.


Nazareth had just beaten Lipan 53-48 for the Class A Division II state championship Friday at the Erwin Center, but when it was over, the two teams laughed and reminisced. Bleeker had a huge hug for Nazareth junior Berry Clinton, a big pat on the stomach for center Charlie Rundell, a smile and a pound on the shoulders for Dustin Schulte and a long embrace for Nazareth Coach Mike Scarbrough.
Behind him, every one of his Lipan players was doing the same thing.

There were winners. There were losers. But more than anything, there were friendships and memories. Nothing less was expected, however. Not from these two teams. That's because Lipan and Nazareth, high school basketball powerhouses from small farming towns 360 miles apart, established a special bond five years ago during the early-season Nazareth Tournament. Players from Lipan stayed with the families of Nazareth players, forging friendship out of sportsmanship.

"I think, if we could, we would play Lipan for the state title every year," Scarbrough said. "You couldn't come up with a better ending for both programs. We both have so much respect for each other. The relationship and this experience is so unique."

That's an understatement.

"It's like playing your best friend, or your brother. Only you're playing them for a state title instead of in the driveway," said Nazareth's Jake Hoelting, who scored 13 points Friday. "You get up when you're playing against your family or friends. You want to beat them even more. It means more. "But once it's over, you go back to being friends or family. That's what this is like. Before and after the game, we're friends. During the game, we're opponents."

And that's how it looked Friday, as the teams went back and forth. The Swifts (33-4), Class A's No. 1-ranked team in Division II, fell behind 15-7 as Lipan center Brent Stewart took control early on his way to scoring a game-high 15 points. But Nazareth finally established itself in the third quarter, rattling off a game-changing 8-0 run that was capped by Alan Gerber's three-point shot to give the Swifts a 31-23 lead.

Nazareth never trailed again.

But Friday wasn't just about winning and losing. It was about everything high school sports should be.
"This is just a great story and a great experience," Nazareth Principal Deborah Clinton said. "I think the whole tournament experience with them teaches our kids discipline, loyalty and sportsmanship. It gives them the chance to make lifelong friends they wouldn't have met."

That was the plan former Nazareth Superintendent Dean Johnson had when he invited Lipan to the Swifts' first tournament in 2002. After all, he thought, both communities were small. Both were old-fashioned American farming towns. And both shared a deep passion for and history in basketball, as the teams have combined for 19 state tournament appearances and six state championships, including the past two years. (Lipan won in 2005.)

"What happened was the old superintendent had an experience like this in high school where his team stayed with the opposing players," Bleeker said. "We wouldn't have the money to stay in a hotel for three days and play in their tournament, so Johnson told us that, instead, his players would host us. We stay in their houses. They feed us. They treat us like we're family. "We were a little worried about it the first year, and the players weren't too excited, but now it's become one of the highlights of our year."

It's easy to see why. Everybody winds up with fond memories.

For Chad Johnson, it's pumpkin bowling. "That's what I'll always remember. I'd never done anything like that until I went to Nazareth. They showed us what it was," Johnson said. "You, um, take a few pumpkins from a local patch, get in your car and hang out the window. Then you drop the pumpkin down the street. Eventually, the pumpkin picks up speed and just splatters all over. We've been doing it in Lipan now, too."

For the rest of the Lipan team, going to Nazareth every year is about Catherine Huseman — grandmother of senior Nathan Huseman — and her homemade cinnamon rolls. "Those are probably the best things to eat up
there. Those cinnamon rolls are just amazing. I probably have four or five every time," Lipan guard Casey Riddle said. "Last time we went, there was only one roll left, and my dad ended up buying it for $100. That's how good they are."

So good that Lipan asked Catherine Huseman if she would make some for the Indians and bring them to Austin this week. And even though her grandson was playing those same Indians for a state championship, she said yes. "Of course I did. I made them two dozen," Huseman said. "These are our friends. I even gave somebody in Lipan the recipe, though she'll need to make about 100 dozen to ever get them to taste as good as mine."

Friday's title game was about competition. And sportsmanship. And friendship.

Not that everybody left completely satisfied. "You always want to win, no matter who you're playing," Riddle said. "I'm happy for them, but we came in here trying to win our second straight state title. It leaves a bitter taste."

Luckily, Riddle knows a good place to get great cinnamon rolls. And, for the rest of the Indians, there's always next year.

"Oh, we're going back to Nazareth," Bleeker said. "And I promise everybody is looking forward to it."

Even Nazareth.

atrubow@statesman.com; 445-3959

This story by Alan Trubow is copied from the web without permission from the Austin American-Statesman. It wonderfully depicts the Naz Lipan relationship that has added to the special nature of this basketball season.

The photos off the web are Kelly West's. The cinnamon roll picture of Huseman and Riddle is Nanci Holtsford's. The handshakes, the team huddle at tip-off and the shot of the final score are mine.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Monday, March 06, 2006

Lipan Basketball and Academic Excellence

(I received an email from a parent who is so proud of the Lipan basketball players. She reported what wonderful personal role models they were for her young children. She hinted that some people might mistakenly charge that Lipan's schools might "only care about basketball and nothing else." But she declared that was not the case . . . o.k., not entirely! So, I emailed Dr. McNaughten and some board members, he gathered supporting statistics and here it is for all to see.......Jerry Vestal)

March 6, 2006
Jerry,

According to information from the high school regarding our Varsity Basketball Players, the following facts demonstrate Ms. Harrison's point about our team members also being scholars.

There are 12 Lipan Indian varsity members. Six of those members are seniors, all of whom are graduating with the Recommended High School Diploma. 5 of the 12 are either on the A or A/B Honor Roll. 5
of 8 upper classmen are members of the National Honor Society. In order to be a member of the National Honor Society, one must be a junior or senior, be nominated by his or her teachers, maintain a 90 average and be enrolled in upper level courses.

There are 14 Lady Indian varsity members. 5 of those members are seniors, 3 of them will graduate with the Recommended Program Diploma, and 2 will earn the Distinguished Diploma. 8 members are either of the A or A/B Honor Roll. 4 of 8 upper classmen are members of the National Honor Society.

As you can readily see, Lipan has high expectations in every area.

Thanks,
Dennis McNaughten
Lipan ISD Superintendent