News around LHS & LISD
By Charles Keaton
This past week has been a tough week for the students of both Lockney HS and Floydada HS. Lockney’s prom was held Saturday, April 19. Following an after-prom party, a pickup with two Lockney students and three Floydada students in it, rolled over killing two of the Floydada students, Tanner Sue, class of ’08, son of Sheldon and Atha Sue and Dylan Thomas, class of ’11, son of Chad and Jamie Williams. The other Floydada student was critically injured but is slowly recovering. The two Lockney students were treated for moderate injuries, one was released on Sunday afternoon, April 20 and the other was released on Tuesday, April 22.
Services for Sue and Thomas were held on Wednesday, April 23 in Floydada. Over a 1000 people turned out for each service. We provided transportation for our high school students that wanted to attend and each time took over 100 students to pay their respects. This has been a very emotional and stressful time. Please remember in your prayers all the families involved and both communities.
Lauren Stewart, class of ’08, will be competing at the state UIL academic contest in Feature Writing and Editorial Writing.
Several of our students qualified for the regional track meet. They included Leah Ford, class of ’08, in shot put, Ashley Valdez, class of ’08, in long jump and 800-meter relay, Brittany Mathis, class of ’09, in triple jump and 800-meter relay, Lezlie Jackson, class of ’10, in pole vault and 800-meter relay, Mercedes Aday, class of ’10, Robbie Reyes, class of ’11, Isabel Solis, class of ’11, all in the 800-meter relay and Caleb Schumacher, class of ’09, in the shot put.
Don’t forget that September 19, 2008 is Homecoming. If you class is planning a reunion, let me know and I’ll announce it here and in the near future, I’ll add the announcements to the Alumni page on the website.
With the move to 1A next year, I’ve started a new website that will focus primarily on Region 1 Class 1A high school sports. Stop in at www.wthssports.info for news and information about 1A sports in West Texas.Back Then… Jerry Holmes Remembers
By Jerry Holmes, class of '55
In the summer of 1955, there was a traveling women’s professional basketball team that came to Lockney to play an exhibition/entertainment game against a pick-up team of men from Lockney. The team was Hazel Walker’s Arkansas Travelers. (Editor’s note: confirmed information from www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net regarding name.)
Having just graduated in May and not having to worry about losing college eligibility for varsity basketball (to say the very least), the Lockney team consisted of five new graduates: Marion Cross, Jimmie Scott, Buck Ford, Fred Merrell and Jerry Holmes, plus another six to eight Lockney men not long out of high school.
The game’s outcome was never in doubt. The women were bigger, faster, more talented and way, way meaner. One of their team threw a hip into Marion and splattered him against the brick wall that was only three or four feet from the edge of the court. Marion was the biggest guy on our team.
I have enjoyed reminiscing many times about this game with Fred. If only video cameras were as common then as now.
(The Arkansas Travelers existed for 16 years from 1949-65 averaging 220 games a year against only men’s squads. Their best year was when they went 201-19. Walker would challenge all comers to free throw shooting contests during halftime and claimed she never lost in over 3500 contests, including shooting while standing, sitting or kneeling. Walker passed away in 1990 at age 76.)
If you want to contribute to “Back Then” email me your stories. --Charles
IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT
A man pulled into a gas station on the outskirts of town. As he filled his tank, he remarked to the attendant, “I’ve just accepted a job in town. I’ve never been to this part of the country. What are the people like here?”
“What are people like where you came from?” the attendant asked.
“Not so nice,” the man replied. “In fact, they can be quite rude.”
The attendant shook his head. “Well, I’m afraid you’ll find the people in this town to be the same way.”
Just then another car pulled into the station. “Excuse me,” the driver called out. “I’m just moving to this area. Is it nice here?”
“Was it nice where you came from?” the attendant inquired.
“Oh, yes! I came from a great place. The people were friendly, and I hated to leave.”
“Well, you’ll find the same to be true of this town.”
“Thanks!” yelled the driver as he pulled away.
“So what is this town really like?” asked the first man, now irritated with the attendant’s conflicting reports.
The attendant just shrugged his shoulders. “It’s all a matter of perception. You’ll find things to be just the way you think they are.”
-----Adapted from the Positive Christianity Web site.
Tech Talk
By Charles Keaton
Are you searching for the cheapest (maybe ‘less expensive’ would be a better term) gas prices? Try some of these websites: www.gasbuddy.com, http://gasprices.mapquest.com, www.gaspricewatch.com or www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/states.index.shtml.
Another favorite Firefox add-on is the StumbleUpon Toolbar. StumbleUpon (www.stumbleupon.com) is one of the hottest ways to surf the Internet today. Instead of searching for specific websites, a Stumbler sets up a profile with various categories that are of interest. Download and install the StumbleUpon Toolbar, then click the Stumble button to surf to many different websites that you might not have otherwise found on your own. To download Firefox go to www.mozilla.com and to get add-ons for Firefox go to addons.mozilla.org. Firefox 3 will be released in the near future. I’ve been testing one of the beta releases and I plan on reviewing it in next month’s newsletter.
FAVORITE SITES: I don’t remember who sent me this site, but it is very nostalgic, especially for all of us who were around in the 40’s, 50’s or 60’s. Old Forty Fives.com (http://oldfortyfives.com) has several Flash movies that take you back in time. It’s a good way to go back in time and think about the simpler times past. If you don’t know what a 45 is (hint: it has nothing to do with a weapon), then you’re just a babe but visit the site, you might learn something about your parents or grandparents time.
If you have a question or you would like to share a favorite website or software product, send your information to me and I might include it in a future edition. Visit my new blog about Tech News and Tips at http://www.lockney.isd.tenet.edu:7080/blogs/technews/.
WORD OF CAUTION: There is an email that is circulating that is a FAKE Windows update notice. One thing to always remember (if you use Windows) Microsoft NEVER sends out update notices via email so do NOT trust one that is delivered via email. If you receive strange email like this, ask yourself, “How did they get my email address?” It is VERY important to keep your Window machines updated, so go to http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us to get your computer updated.
Announcements
DEPARTURES:
BIRTHS:
MARRIAGES:
ANNIVERSARIES of 50+ years!!!
CLASS REUNIONS:
The class of ’67 is planning a reunion for June 6-7 in Gruene, TX. For more information contact Cheryl (Seago) Stevens at cjstevens68@sbcglobal.net.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR HOMECOMING:
Friday, Sept. 19 Registration 1-5 PM, Football Game at 7:30
Saturday, Sept. 20 Lunch 11:30-1 PM, Business Meeting 1:30
Old Fashion Saturday Night in Downtown Lockney.
Contact Joyce (Carthel) Wilson, class of ’49 for more information including updating your email address and mailing address. Her email is wilsonjr31@amaonline.com.
Laura Fulton, class of ’08, is putting together a homecoming picture show. Please send her pictures from you high school years. Scan them, identify the year(s) and the people, if possible and email them to her at fultonl4@gmail.com.
Begin making plans for Homecoming 2008!!
If you have an announcement of a marriage of an alumni, the birth of a child, grandchild or great grandchild of an alumni or the departure of an alumni or their parent or siblings, send the information to me at keaton.charles@lockney.isd.tenet.edu.
I’m looking for additional Alumni Profiles, please send me a brief write up (between 250 and 260 words) for possible publication in future editions.
Also, if you want to contribute to the new feature “Back Then” email me your stories.