News

Fisher Masonic Lodge #703 in Roby has donated $500 to the Fisher County Food Pantry so the facility can reach out to a larger number of county families needing assistance, announced Masonic Lodge Worshipful Master Kim Pease. The local Fisher County Food Pantry has been helping families since 1985, according to Mary Mahaffey, facility manager. The Fisher Lodge is proud to designate them for the second year in a row as recipient of a $500 donation.

 Sheriff H.T. Fillingim informed the court on the reasoning behind the new decals for the department vehicles at commissioners court last Friday.

   Fillingim said the decision for the new design came about after a recent call he and a deputy were on. He said the department received a call about a potential prowler and had been canvassing the neighborhood, even stopping to discuss things in front of the caller’s house. However, the citizen called again to ask about when the sheriff would be expected in the neighborhood. 

   He said because his vehicle was an unmarked unit and the police star on the other vehicle is so small, no one noticed the police were in the area.

   “I don’t want to turn on red lights and sirens to look through neighborhoods. I want the public to be able to look out the window and tell where the cops are. Because we are here.”

DALLAS - Mary Kay Independent Sr Sales Director Lynda Nelson of Rotan, TX has earned the use of a new Chevy Cruze as a result of her outstanding achievements in her Mary Kay business.

   Nelson will take delivery of the new Chevy Cruze, her 13th Mary Kay career car, at Robert Hall Chevrolet, Jayton, TX.  Mary Kay independent sales force members earn the use of a career car by meeting or exceeding goals set within their Mary Kay businesses.

   “It is exciting to be rewarded for simply doing your job,” said Nelson. “Having a business that encourages and supports women is fun. It is also an opportunity to have a positive impact on families and communities one face at a time.”

   The Career Car Program includes the Chevy Cruze in white, Chevy Equinox crossover in black, Ford Fusion in black, and the iconic and coveted pearlized pink Cadillac, a signature color to the Mary Kay career car program.

Despite driving costs over budget for 2017, the Fisher Co. Hospital Board voted against making changes to the retirement plan during the September meeting.

   Chief Financial Officer Debbie Hull spoke to the board about how a dip in the market caused the hospital to suffer a loss. This loss is projected to drive hospital retirement costs over 4% for 2017.

   Employees who have chosen to take part in the program agreed to pay 4% of their salary into the retirement plan. The Hospital meets this amount on a two to one ratio, meaning for every dollar the employee puts in, the hospital puts in two dollars—8% or a 200% match. With federal reimbursements, the hospital has been able to cover its portion for less than a 4% payout. 

Winston Martin and Gabby Martinez were named the 2016 Homecoming King and Queen at last Friday night’s Homecoming football game half time show. Winston and Gabby are both Seniors at Rotan High School. Homecoming Spirit week started, Sunday when teachers and students met up at the school to decorate the halls. Then every day last week there was a different theme that the students dressed up for to show their school spirit. Thursday everyone met downtown for the Homecoming parade which lead everyone to the traditional bonfire that was held at the H. Govan Memorial Stadium. There everyone enjoyed food, fun and music before and after the pep rally and ended with the Seniors lighting the bonfire. Friday the high school students votes were tallied and the King and Queen were announced. The crowd cheered with excitement.  Rotan’s 2016 Homecoming was a success!

Rotan ISD had been without a cross-country team for a number of years, but Coach Adrian Daniel felt it was a program he could make work. Rotan has participated in three meets so far this year, and freshman, Shaylin Kendrick-Dickenson is making sure she stays well in front of the competition. 

   The first meet in Eula involved schools 1-A through 4-A, stacking Shaylin against 198 runners in her division, 16 of which were state qualifiers last Cross-country Coach Adrian Daniel said she just took off in a dead run.

   “I thought, ‘what is she doing?’” said Daniel, “This isn’t junior high, this is high school. You can’t just take off in a sprint. I knew she was gonna burn herself out.”

Director of the Fisher County Senior Citizens Center Emilia Garcia informed the commissioners about the ZAAZ machines they will soon be receiving courtesy of the Council of Governments.

   The ZAAZ machine uses a low-impact, vibration plate, producing up to 30 involuntary reflexes per second, activating over 90% of all muscle groups in the human body at once. 

The company website states: “Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is a state-of-the-art therapeutic technology that supports a wide range of health and fitness goals.”

   The Council of Governments (COG) offered to install two ZAAZ machines at the Fisher County Senior Citizens Center at no cost to the county. 

   Judge Holt said that he recently experienced a ZAAZ machine at a COG meeting and told Emilia:

 In June of 2016, I was nominated by the Fisher County Democratic party to run in the election taking place in November.

For those that have not met me, my name is Shane Baxter, and I am running as a Write -In Candidate for Fisher County Sheriff in the November General Election. I graduated from the West Central Texas Law Enforcement Academy and have been in Law Enforcement since 1991, I’ve been married for 38 years, my wife Annis and I have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. 

    My first Law Enforcement job was with the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Jim Blackley (ret.). Through the years at the Sheriff’s Office in Nolan County I worked in the dispatch office, as a Patrol deputy, Civil Process Officer and served as Jail Administrator. As a Jail Administrator I maintained and kept the jail secure, and over saw jail personnel.  As a Patrol deputy I worked cases such as burglaries, thefts, assaults and took information on cases for report purposes.

Rotan took the final step towards its application for the Texas Parks and Wildlife grant proposal at last week, when the city council approved the improvements to the Rotan City Park and the final dollar amount.

The council discussed bid proposals for the equipment upgrades to the city park. As part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife grant proposal the city plans to submit this month, the council first needed to approve the equipment upgrades in the bids to perform the work as part of the proposal. 

The largest piece of equipment—the playground system—cost $77,018. There is another several thousand dollars for a swing set and additional money earmarked for improvements to the fitness trail. With the separate play system for the 3 to 5 age group, other improvements to assure compliance with the parameters of the grant, $10,000 to ship everything, and another $30,000 for installation, the total cost comes to $184,406.