Shelly's Market Closes

Shelly's Market has closed, and will be missed. Thanks must go to Shelly, and before her, Billy and Judy, for their merchantile endeavors!

Surely there exists a merchant on the horizon who has the vision and finances to reshape a merchandise mix that would fit this valuable void in Lipan. However, I just don't see sufficient traffic without selling fuel. At some point, Pak-a-Sak's owners may need to remodel and expand its offering.

In the mean time, the City council ought to endorse a modest Main Street beautification and zoning project that would cause more eyeballs and pocketbooks to trade their essential shopping needs in Lipan Country.

A place to lead by example might be the unkempt appearance and neglected "curb appeal" of City Hall. I know how this happens. The mayor, employees, and council members likely come in the back door, and don't notice what the patrons and passersby see out front.

Not trying to meddle . . . .just say'in! Best wishes to Shelly.

Lipan ISD Board Sets its Performance Goals With the Superintendent

On February 20th, the Lipan school board adopted these key Performance Goals asking superintendent William Stokes to focus his efforts toward their accomplishment.

1. Finance

• a. Establish a fund balance that meets the state optimum level. Time frame - 2-3 yrs. (See blog note below)


• b. Develop strategies to provide for the routine upgrade of equipment in the areas of Child Nutrition, Technology and Transportation. Other areas as determined by the Superintendent.

2. Academic

• a. Maintain current TEA accountability rating of Recognized; work diligently to earn rating of Exemplary. (Note: To maintain it's current "recognized" rating, the district will have to improve its current performance since the rating threshold moves upward every two years until 2014.)


• b. Develop curriculum guides(s) for distribution to parents and students and to be posted on the district's website.

3. Physical Plant

• a. Successfully complete the High School renovation.


• b. Successfully complete the High School addition.


• c. Successfully complete the shell replacement of the burned building.


• d. Successfully complete construction of dressing rooms/coaches' offices/concession area and public restrooms in gym area.


• e. Work with architects and other professionals to determine the scope of work and revenue required to complete the new gym. This should include stop-gap measures to stabilize the building and prevent further damage by weather and other sources.


• f. Continue to work on landscaping and overall appearance of the campus.

4. Community Relations

• a. Implement periodic newsletter.


• b. Continue efforts to upgrade the information available on the website.

5. Board Relations

• a. Provide weekly update memos.


• b. Develop a Board calendar of work and administrative procedures handbook.

6. Other

• a. Continue work to improve the Child Nutirtion Program.


• b. Develop strategies to recruit and train additional substitute teachers and bus drivers.

-------------

Note: The school's audited available fund balance at 8/31/2006 was only 1/4th of what the state recommends. Having navigated tumultous storms the past 5 years, the trustees are right in placing the District's Fund Balance at the top of the Performance Goals.

Shelly's Market in Lipan, Texas means First Saturday Hootenany!

Read this spring press clipping from the Dallas Morning News!

New young talent has been sitting in on these monthly blue grass sessions.

Lipan ISD puts on Senior Night on Friday with the final home basketball game of the season. The next day at Shelly's Grocery Market on Main Street is the long running "First Saturday" monthly Hootenany.

Joe Bass and several of his Double Mountain Boys have formed the core performers over recent years. However, a number of young fidlle players have begun to liven up the night!

Come check it out! Bring your own folding chair or lean against the racks of merchandise! Eat what you want, and settle up with Shelly and Pam as you leave.

Rumor has it that Billy and Judy Green are back working part-time at the Market! Now this I want to see!

Improving communications using LISD's website

For 2007 the School Board should take the opportunity, through its superintendent, to increase communications with the community.

There are a number of issues to consider, but now that the district's website has been functioning since September, accomplishing that goal is reasonable.

There has been some discussion on this. With the 2nd half of the school year underway, now is a good time to implement additional reporting of the District's goals and projects.

The Hood County News does an outstanding job following Indian athletic activities. More times than not, the coaches take responsibility for calling in the information. The News isn't staffed to cover Lipan's ongoing governmental activities, either city or school.

I know from past experience, rarely do interested citizens attend these kinds of meetings. Unless you have a concern to voice, meetings tend to be routine and without refreshments!

By statute, the Texas Open Meetings Act makes all kinds of records available for post review - upon written request. But that's not convenient, it's inefficient, and usually is unnecessarily perceived as adversarial.

Many school districts now provide current and archived agendas and minutes on their websites. I notice some superintendents post recaps of Board actions. Some are providing quarterly status reports of district accomplishments, student acheivements, construction projects, etc.

Larger schools hire a webmaster to control the unending possibilities of the website. With Lipan's current budget constraints, the school needs to carefully tailor its website to the basics.

Having your community as informed as possible is never wasted effort. Because of the important tasks ahead for the Lipan ISD, educating your citizen stakeholders pays dividends. LipanIndians.net presents an excellent opportunity.

Investigation of Ponzi Scheme Continues - Receiver Files Update 12-06-06 in Federal Court.

On December 6, 2006, the receiver for the Securities and Exchange Commission, filed the "Receiver's Second Interim Report" with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman, Texas. The link to the full report is found here: Receivers 2nd Interim Report

Midway through the report the Receiver discusses how

" . . . . individual investors dealt with "facilitators" for the Bank Deposit Program (which has been determined to be a fraudulant Ponzi or piramid scheme). These facilitators were located through out the United States and acted as the intermediators between investors and Travis Correll/Horizon Establishment. The report says "Apparently, some facilitators had “sales agents” working on their behalf, while others did not. The monthly return paid by Correll/Horizon to facilitators varied, and it appears that there are differences in amounts paid by facilitators to the individuals who invested through them."

One of the largest facilitators identified was

" . . . . K.G. Sitton & Co. and its principal, Kerry G. Sitton who are not Defendants or Relief Defendants in this action. The Receiver expects to file suit against these and other Sitton-related entities. As the result of extensive negotiations involving Sitton, the Receiver and the SEC, the Receiver expects that Mr. Sitton and all affiliated entities will become part of this Receivership subject to the terms of the Receivership Order. "

Kerry Sitton, formerly a NCAA Division I basketball referree, was known to be a visitor to Lipan, Texas, where he had developed relationships with certain individuals. On one occassion, Mr. Sitton was met while eating at a local restaurant/grocery, and subsequently inquired about purchasing some land from a local family. At the time he gave no indication that he had involvement with the Bank Deposit Program.

Heard over the years, how to put this . . . . . A bit of a problem in Lipan Country is -

Some say that Lipan's school emphasizes basketball too much. You know, not everyone is inclined towards sports. So, what might be done? Is it just the limits of the school's current size or the need for more budget resources?

A recent graduate, actually a varsity starter, said to me, "there's more to life than basketball. After graduation, you've got to move on! That stuff was sooo high school." I cringed, but understood what he was saying. But, then he'd gotten the full benefit of being one of the "team." Anyone feel strong enough to reflect on the Pros and Cons? "Annonymous comments" work well in a situation like this.

I know one guy who clearly has his perspective skewed! For proof, go no further than WLJ's blog!

Lipan Country Rodeo Cowboys

If you set Google alerts to "Lipan, Texas", you will get sent emails whenever a Lipan news story hits the web. More times than not this summer, it has been rodeo related. This arrived today regarding team roper (header) Matt Tyler: Corkill, Tyler bag USSTC bonus
At ESPN.com, we find this pro rodeo biography

Others have been mentioned, particularly tie-down roper Randall Carlisle's name appears. Randall, everyone recalls, was All State 1A D2 from Lipan in 2005 and holds the national high school 3 point shot record! To the uninformed, now we're talk'in basketball!

For Randall, at ESPN's ProRodeo site you find his bio.

Fall Colors in Lipan Country !

Update on the Ponzi Scheme Fraud - July 2006

Since a number of Lipan Country individuals were swindled by, or were approached to invest in, the fraudulant World Bank Loan Program, the following update should be of interest. The Securities and Exchange Commission amended and updated their complaint on July 3, 2006, through the federal district court.

Text of the Amended Complaint

"Bean Store" a.k.a. Farmers Cooperative

Tim Sears sent this old photo courtesy of Juanita Windsor McCauley. Her dad, Walter Windsor, managed the Bean Store which was officially known as the Farmers Cooperative. City Hall is now located in the lower part of the building.

City Boy - Country Boy, In Balance?

"One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am - a reluctant enthusiast....a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards." - Edward Abbey

Evergreen Cemetary at Sunrise