Stay tuned...

The holidays have been quiet here in Skidmore but we expect to be back on the job in January, 2004. In the meantime, the Signal wishes you all a happy new year!

Beware Fake Ebay Notices

Please, please, please, DO NOT respond to emails from any source, no matter how "official looking," that request your personal account or password information. NO LEGITIMATE ONLINE SERVICE WILL EVER REQUEST YOUR PASSWORD VIA EMAIL. The fake Ebay announcement above is very similar to the fake PayPal announcement the Signal warned readers about back on October 26, 2003. Obvious warning signs include numerous spelling and grammatical errors and an "eebaay" site address. DO NOT click on the link to the fake eBay site provided in the email. Instead, type the ebay.com address directly into your browser, log in, and check you account status. If there is a problem with your account, you will be notified at the login screen. If you are fooled into responding to one of these emails, it is important that you immediately log into your eBay account and change your password! If you use the same password for your PayPal account, change it also. This particular scam also requests your email ID and password so you will need to change that password as well, then check to see that no sensitive information may have been sitting in your inbox or email archive folders. And finally, notify eBay of the scam by forwarding the fake email to spoof@ebay.com.

Turkey Shoot Raises Money for Bobcat Little League

Tim Patrova's winning target in the 22 Rifle Round 3. You can't shoot much better than that!

The Bobcat Little League held a Turkey Shoot fundraiser at the Hilltop Saloon Sunday. Shooters came from all over to help raise money for the new league. The contest got off to a slow start but picked up steam as participants continued to gather over the course of the afternoon. By sundown, a steady stream of shooters had completed 16 rounds. The league would like to thank the management of the Hilltop Saloon for hosting the Turkey Shoot and have tentatively scheduled another for January 17th, 2004. The league plans to sell sausage wraps in conjunction with the event.

Water Board Enlightens Community at Public Meeting

The Skidmore Water Supply Corporation (SWSC) held a public meeting Saturday morning at the Fire Station. A small crowd of local residents attended the meeting as well as County Commissioner Ronnie Olivares, and County Judge Jimmy Martinez. The board explained that lower to middle income families would get free water and waste hookups to their homes under the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) grant and that a pending USDA grant would likely cover the rest of the community. For example, a family of 4 with a total combined income in excess of $32,950 would not be eligible under ORCA but may be covered by the additional USDA funds. The exact amount of USDA funds available will not be known for a matter of months but board members are confident the USDA grant will come through. The cost of connecting water and sewer lines was estimated at $1,500 to $1,600 for those not covered under the grants. However, upper-income property owners will have the option of completing the connections themselves should the grant money run out. Ram II Construction has been contracted to lay the water and waste lines and will set up a temporary office adjoining Papa's Market. Residents are encouraged to double check, and revise if necessary, the proposed location of water and waste hookups by speaking with Ram II owner Ralph Menard. It was pointed out that the SWSC has raised over $5,000,000 for community water and waste disposal and that the installation of fire hydrants along the water lines would likely lower residents insurance rates. The SWSC will hold a special meeting at 2:30 pm on Monday, December 22, at the Skidmore Fire Station.

Booster Club Fundraiser Fruitful

Jr. High student Jeffrey Burris picks up a box of fundraiser grapefruit.

The Bobcat Booster Club Orange & Grapefruit Sale was a big success. Booster Club members Rocky Stautzenberger, Tryne Mengers, and Cathi Petrus were at the school weight-room Wednesday distributing the mountain of produce. Students sold over 300 boxes of oranges and grapefruit, raising more than $1,700, for the Bobcat Athletic Department. Zachary Petrus and Amanda Boscamp were the high-sellers for the Jr. High, distributing 23 and 17 boxes of fruit respectively. High School students Cindi Gonzales and Thomas Doubrava tied with 8 boxes each.

Old Issues of Original Skidmore Signal Discovered on Microfilm.

While browsing the University of Texas online library catalog, we came across a reference to microfilm copies of the original Skidmore Signal newspaper established by C.H. Blanton back in the early 1900's. The Signal ordered and received a duplicate copy of the microfilm and hopes to publish excerpts from the newspaper over the next few weeks. The newspaper appears to have been published weekly from around 1905 to 1918. Sadly, it appears only a dozen or so issues of the 13 volumes survived. If anyone knows of any other copies hidden away in someone's attic, please notify the Signal!

S-T Bands Present Christmas Concert

S-T Band Director Ron Burgess prepares to lead the 7th Grade Band in "Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

The Skidmore-Tynan Junior High and High School bands presented a Christmas Concert for the enjoyment of the community on Tuesday night. The concert opened with the 6th Grade Band performing Jolly Old St. Nicholas, and Up on a Housetop. The 7th Grade Band performed Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, I'm Gettin' Nuthin' for Christmas, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. To cap off the evening, the seasoned musicians of the 8th through 12th grades presented Silver Bells, I'll be Home for Christmas, the Little Drummer Boy, and Jingle Bell Rock. Band Director Ron Burgess complimented the students on their hard work and talent despite a few "tuning issues" and thanked the community for attending the concert and supporting of the S-T band program.

Bobcat Little League Schedules Groundbreaking Ceremony

The Bobcat Little League board of directors met Tuesday at the Chisholm Trail Cafe. A special groundbreaking ceremony has been scheduled for January 10, 2004 at 11:00 am. Plans for several fundraisers were finalized including a Turkey Shoot on December 21st a the Hilltop Saloon, a Bake Sale to be held at Papa's Market on January 10th, and a Sausage Wrap Sale on the 17th of January at a still undetermined location. In other league business, Lucy Rocha collected the league's first official sponsorship donation from Seaside Mobile Homes. One of two vacant spots on the Little League board was filled by Linda Cabrera who was voted in as the new league treasurer. It was agreed that the league president, secretary, and treasurer would share check writing responsibility when the league bank account is opened. Richard Chambers agreed to take charge of the task of locating a backhoe or dozer operator to fill holes and help in clearing debris from the new field site. Tryne Mengers has very generously agreed to donate his time and the use of his "dirt buggy" to help level the field. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm. The next Bobcat Little League meeting has been scheduled for January 6, 2004.

Don't Miss School Christmas Programs

The S-T Junior High & High School Christmas Concert will be held at 5:00pm Wednesday at the Skidmore-Tynan Events Center. The Elementary will present it's Christmas Program on Thursday at 6:00pm at the Events Center. The students and teachers have put a great deal of work into the Christmas productions so come on out and show your support for their efforts.

OBITUARY: Angel Christina Miller

ANGEL CHRISTINA MILLER, 30, resident of Hempstead, passed away on December 9, 2003, on US Hwy 79, near Jewett, in Leon County Texas. She was born on January 20, 1973 in Marshall, Harrison County Texas. She graduated from Kingman High School in Kingman AZ. She then attended Tarrant County Jr. College at Hurst, TX majoring in Psychology. She was a Phi Theta Kappa, Collegiate International Honor Society member, and President of the Sierra Club Chapter. After College she held several positions including Brackenridge Hospital Pharmacy Technician, Lake Arlington Center Psychology Administrative Assistant, and Internal Revenue Service Section Secretary and Tax Examining Clerk.

While living in Austin and working for the IRS, she met and married Benjamin C. Miller on October 26, 2001. They recently moved to Hempstead, where Ben is currently employed at the local Wal-Mart store.

Surviving her are husband Benjamin Cory Miller; mother Mitzie Jones of Longview Texas, step-father Gene Patterson of Longview; sister, Sunshine Moody of Longview; mother-in-law Jerri Whitcher and husband Bob Whitcher of Corder Missouri; father-in-law Charles H. Miller Sr. and wife Rose Mary Miller of Hempstead; brother-in-law Charles H. Miller Jr. & wife Julie of Austin; and brother-in-law Les Miller & wife Tina of Sugar Land. Nieces Stephanie Miller of Texas A&M and Courtney Miller of Sugar Land. Nephew Charles Allen Miller of Sugar Land.

UPDATE: Memorial Service will be conducted 7:00pm Friday, Dec. 19, at Faith United Church, 716 First Street, Hempstead Texas. Please feel free to contact us for any additional information. -- Rose Mary Miller, 979-826-3868, email rose@Intertex.net

Jerri Whitcher adds "Bob and I would like to thank everyone for their e-mails, cards and phone calls..I have saved everything to give to Ben at a later time.....I will not be able to go to Texas for her memorial service....So on behalf of Ben and Bob and I we want to thank you all for your concern....God Bless Jerri"

Hoot Owl Hollow Under New Management

Skidmore's "Hoot Owl Hollow" saloon, located four miles east of Skidmore, reopened for business Friday, December 10th. Elaine Reed is the new manager and she and her staff have gone out of the way to make customers feel welcome. The new "Hoot Owl" features ice cold beer, darts, two pool tables, and a jukebox full of everyones favorite country and Tejano music. The Hoot Owl hours of operation have been tentatively set at 10:00 am to midnight Monday thru Friday and 10:00 am to 1:00 am on Saturdays.

Brundrett Receives BCAA 5 Year Service Award

Edward Brundrett was one of 9 people recognized at Thursday evenings Bee Community Action Agency Service Awards Banquet. Also receiving recognition for 5 years of service were Denisha Camacho, Bertha Flores, Julie Hernandez, and Jack Seals. Dorothy Angel and Rose Lewis were recognized for 10 years of service, Domingo Puga for fifteen years, and Yolanda Mendez was honored for twenty years of service.

Historical Society Enjoys Annual Christmas Dinner

Members of the Skidmore Historical Society met at Papa's Tuesday for their annual Christmas Dinner. Dick Segelkin had the honor of saying grace before everyone loaded their plates up with food. The staff at Papa's prepared a delicious meal of turkey, ham, walnut yams, green bean casserole, and my personal favorite, fruit salad. For dessert, everyone enjoyed hot apple cobbler and ice cream. Historical Society members in attendance included, Pam Doubrava, Susie Salinas, Alma Gonzales, Delia Arismendez, Maureen Duge, Rez Falcon, Annette Griffith, Dick & Barbara Segelkin, Carol DuBois, and Keith Petrus. The Skidmore Historical Society will take a break from its regular monthly meetings until March when it will again meet on the second Tuesday of each month.

Baptist Church Announces Holiday Schedule

Cyndi Bevly informs the Signal that the Baptist Church has a full schedule of events over the holidays. On December 14, local church members will travel to Mathis to attend a Christmas Cantata "His Very Own Star" at the First Baptist Church of Mathis. The program begins at 6:00pm. The church will NOT have evening services here in Skidmore, but invites everyone to come hear the cantata in Mathis. On Sunday December 21, the church will hold its annual church program and fellowship. There will be NO WEDNESDAY EVENING service on December 24. On December 31, the church holds its Annual Watch Night Service at 7:00 pm in the fellowship hall. All are invited to come and enjoy an evening of fun, food and fellowship. Bring your favorite games & snacks and enjoy fellowshipping with friends and family. Bring the New Year in with a time you will remember!

Sunday Church Services:
Men's Prayer Meeting - 9:00 am in the Pastor's Study
Sunday School - 9:45am
Morning Worship - 11:00am
Evening Worship - 6:00pm
Wednesday Evening Worship: 7:00pm 

Santa Spotted at Chisholm

That's right; Jolly old St. Nick himself was on hand for the Lions Club Pancake Supper Sunday night at the Chisholm Trail Cafe. Folks who took advantage of the annual Lions fundraiser enjoyed a tall stack of pancakes, generous portions of bacon or sausage, and their choice of orange juice or coffee for just 4 dollars a head. Children brave enough to approach Santa were rewarded with candy canes and, with any luck, just might get that Red Ryder Carbine Action Two-Hundred Shot Lightning Loader Range Model Air Rifle they so desperately want for Christmas.

Please Send Condolences

Former Skidmore resident and graduate, Benjamin Miller, lost his wife Angel in a tragic auto accident near Houston Tuesday morning. His mother, Jerri Whitcher, asks that condolence cards be sent to Benjamin at the following address:

Benjamin Miller
P.O. Box 99
Hempstead, Texas 77445

2003 S-T All-District Football Selections

Newcomer of the Year
• Allen Berthold
1st Team Offense
• Javier Elizalde (running Back)
• Ross Seger (Tight End)
• Humberto Torres (Lineman)
2nd Team Offense
• David Calderon (Lineman)
• Blake Stautzenberger (Quarterback)
• Colby O’Brien (Tight End)
1st Team Defense
• Thomas Doubrava (Secondary)
2nd Team Defense
• David Calderon (End)
• Josh Manthei (Outside Linebacker)
• Basililo Gutierrez (Inside Linebacker)
• Jeff Hudson (Tackle)
• Micheal Scott (Tackle)
Honorable Mention
• Will Handy (Lineman)
• Bruno Torress (Lineman)
• Jordan Haws (Outside Linebacker)
• James Garcia (Secondary)

2003 S-T All-District Volleyball Selections

2nd Team
• Becky Ramos (Junior)
• Gina Smolik (Senior)
Honorable Mention
• Cindi Gonzales
• Emily Mengers
Academic All-District
• Darcy Curnutte
• Jessica Johnson
• Katlynn Mengers
• Emily Mengers
• Sara Schirmer
• Gina Smolik

S-TISD Basketball Thanks Community

The Skidmore-Tynan Bobcat Basketball program would like to express their thanks and appreciation to the community of Skidmore for their support through the purchasing of Bar-B-Q brisket plates on Sunday, December 7.  We would also like to say a special thanks to the parents for their donations, help in selling tickets and their volunteered time to make this fundraiser such a success. Our program is a success because of you. -- Submitted by Cyndi Bevly

Talk Back to the Signal

We've added a "Comments" link to each of the articles posted to the Signal. Use it to add information we may have missed, ask a question, express your approval or disapproval of a story, critique the latest blockbuster movie, or just chat. No big deal... have fun with it, or not.

Flu Shots and Dental Care at S-TISD

The good folks of Spohn Hospital will be in town Tuesday Dec. 9 to administer Flu shots to students and the community. The shots will be given in the S-TISD Board Room from 3-5pm. The price is $12 for a flu shot and $25 for a pneumonia shot. School nurse, Barbara Seger informs the Signal that the Whitley Mobile Dental Clinic will return to the Skidmore Elementary this week. Mrs. Seger reports "the dental people were vandalized in Robstown prior to coming to us last November so were only here two days..." The mobile clinic will set up outside the Elementary Thursday and Friday, December 11th and 12th, to care for students they were unable to see during their last visit. To schedule an appointment, call 960-1214 during the day or 991-7207 evenings.

Have a Pancake with Santa

The Skidmore-Tynan Lions Club announces its 2nd Annual Pancake Dinner with Santa. The dinner will be hosted at the Chisholm Trail Cafe Sunday, Dec. 7, from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Plates will consist of three pancakes, and four slices of bacon or two sausage patties for a $4.00 donation. For coffee and juice add $0.75 more. Santa's visit will be from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Pre-sale tickets will be available. Contact 361-287-3586 or 361 287-3847 for more information. Proceeds go to local Lions Charities. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the S-T Lions.

Bobcat Little League Schedules Fundraisers.

The Bobcat Little League board of directors met Tuesday, Dec. 2 at Chisholm Trail Cafe to discuss the upcoming season. The league has completed a survey of the school property on which the new ballpark is to be built and is coordinating with donors and volunteers for the materials and labor to construct the field. A field work-day was tentatively scheduled for January 10, 2004. It was agreed that board members would begin taking sponsorship checks so that funds will be available when it comes time to open a league bank account. Several fundraising ideas were discussed including a bake sale, scheduled on the 10th of January, and a fajita and sausage wrap sale on the 17th. Looking a bit further ahead, the league will sponsor a cook-off fundraiser March 19-20, 2004. A raffle was also discussed and the league plans to call area businesses for donations. The next meeting was scheduled for December 16, 2003, 7:30 pm at the Chisholm Trail Cafe.

Methodist Church Opens Thrift Shop

The Methodist Church has opened a Thrift Shop in its former Fellowship Hall. The Church has recently seen a surge in membership and has outgrown its current space. Proceeds from the thrift shop will go towards the construction of a new Fellowship Hall. The shop is open for business from 1 pm to 5 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Barbecue Fundraiser

The Skidmore-Tynan Boys Basketball Program will hold a Barbecue Dinner Fundraiser Sunday, December 7, 2003, from 11 am to 1 pm at the Home Economics Cottage. Plates will be sold for $5.00 and will include brisket, rice, beans, pickles, onions, jalapenos, bread, and a dessert. The school is hoping to sell 300 to 400 plates so come on out an support the program and enjoy some delicious barbecue in the process.

Still More Changes to the Signal Format

Thanks to the miracle of "inline frames," the Calendar and Classifieds sections have been moved to the sidebar on the left of your screen. We noticed a few glitches in how different browsers handled the new format so let us know if you see anything weird going on at your end.

Have a Happy and SAFE Thanksgiving

The Signal wishes everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving. If you plan to consume alcohol, please do so responsibly. Did you know that most children who die in alcohol related auto accidents are not victims of other drivers, but their own intoxicated parent or guardian? Intoxicated drivers are also less likely to buckle up child passengers. Last year, 543 people died in auto accidents during the Thanksgiving holiday, 47% of which were alcohol related. (MADD Holiday Statistics 2002) Act responsibly and don't forget to buckle up. Our sermon is complete!

Sports Pic

7th grader Isaac Miller fires off a three pointer in Monday's game vs. Yorktown.

Signal Format Changes

The Signal is nothing if not mindful of its readers. We understand all too well the frustration of going through all the trouble of clicking on a link and being rewarded with the same old page you visited last time. With that in mind, the "Sports Section" has been folded into the main page for ease of viewing. When a new sports photo is posted, you can be sure to see it right here on Page 1. The Events Calendar, Local History, and Classifieds Sections will, for now, remain as separate pages so be sure to visit them from time to time.

Segelkin Speaks to South Texas Genealogical Society

Local resident, Dick Segelkin, was the guest speaker at Tuesday night's meeting of the South Texas Genealogical Society. The meeting took place at the Joe Barnhart Library in Beeville where Mr. Segelkin entertained a packed room with a tale of old-time Skidmore. The hero of the story was a fictional "crusty cowhand" whose life in the late 1800's was detailed by Mr. Segelkin in a first-person narrative. The audience was led through the character's trials and tribulations as a hired-hand of the Skidmore family for which our town was named. He described first Skidmore's vast acres of grass "standing as high as a cow's belly," then the arrival of the railroad and the resulting local financial boom. In the late 1800s, a pair of boots could be purchased for a mere $2.50, land was sold for $12.50 an acre, and the average ranch hand earned about .50 cents a day. Mr. Segelkin closed his presentation with a recap of the events as related by actual newspaper accounts of the day. All in attendance agreed that it was an excellent account of day to day life in early Skidmore.

Mobile Dental Clinic Comes to Town

If you were putting off that trip to the dentist due to the lack of local dental services, you've got no more excuses! The Whitley Mobile Dental Clinic will be in town for the whole week. The clinic will set up outside the Skidmore Elementary School Monday through Friday, Nov 17-21. To participate, have your child sign up with the school nurse or teacher. Call 960-1214 (day) or 991-7207 (evening) if you have questions. The Clinic accepts most dental insurance, Medicaid, and private funds. Community and staff welcome!

Timeline Added to Local History Section

Main Street Skidmore in the early 1900's.

The Local History section of this website has been restructured into a timeline format. The timeline is a work in progress and the Signal needs your help in fleshing it out with dates and photos. If you have information about a historical event in the Skidmore area, send it to news@skidmoresignal.com.

Bobcat Little League Charges Full Speed Ahead.

Members of the Bobcat Little League Board of Directors held a regular meeting Tuesday evening in Room 17 of the High School Annex. Secretary Candy Chambers read the previous meeting minutes. It was noted that Darryl Hudson seconded one of that meeting's motions despite not being a member of the board. The board salutes Mr. Hudson's initiative but agreed that Roberts Rules of Order would be followed more closely in the future! The first topic of discussion was Monday's land-use approval by the S-T I.S.D Trustees. It was agreed that a survey of the property would be completed to determine the amount of leveling work required. President Keith Petrus volunteered the services of his brother's surveying company and plans to inform him of his generous donation in the near future. Wanda Wilson reported that the league charter had come in and that she would be traveling to Refugio to present the League Constitution to District Administrator, Olan McBroom. The Uniform Committee presented potential logo designs for the new league. Ed Wilson, chair of the Construction Committee, provided estimated materials costs for building the new field. Under old business, the Auxiliary Committee presented its report on fundraising ideas and it was agreed to schedule an auxiliary sponsored "cookoff" in March 2004. The exact date and food to be prepared will be determined at a future meeting. New business brought up at the meeting included the need to incorporate the league, open a bank account, and apply for tax-exempt status. The meeting was adjourned at 9 pm after a highly efficient 90 minute session. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 2nd at 7:30 in Room 17 of the High School Annex.

S-TISD School Board Approves Little League Ballpark.

On Monday, the Skidmore-Tynan I.S.D. Board of Trustees voted unanimously in their support of Little League Baseball. The issue at hand was whether to allow the the newly formed Bobcat Little League access to a small parcel of school land located adjacent to the football field on which to build a Little League ballpark. After a brief question & answer session, the board voted, and an agreement was signed by S-T I.S.D. Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez, and Bobcat Little League President, Keith Petrus. Our community owes a debt of gratitude to both Dr. Belmarez and the Board of Trustees for their assistance and support in bringing Little League Baseball to the Skidmore-Tynan area.

Football Season Closes with Impressive Fireworks Display

The Bobcat Varsity season came to a close Friday with their 43-13 loss to Refugio. The game opened on a exciting note as both teams scored on kickoff returns. In the end, Refugio's speed and quickness overwhelmed the Bobcat defense. Fans who stuck around after the game were treated to a spectacular fireworks show courtesy of the Skidmore Volunteer Fire Department.

Dragon Eats Moon... Weather Permitting

Get ready to bang your pots and pans together Saturday evening to help scare off the dragon that is expected to eat the moon. At least that's what the Chinese are said to have thought whenever an eclipse of the moon occurred. And you can bet that their efforts were met with success each and every time. We don't believe such things in modern times but wouldn't it be fun to get everybody together and make a bunch of noise anyway? Saturday's eclipse will peak at precisely 7:06 pm although overcast skies may spoil viewing for South Texas residents. The moon will be obscured for a full 24 minutes and is expected to turn "blood red" as it falls completely beneath the shadow of the earth.

Jr. High Football Team Ends Season with 32-16 Win over Refugio

Cory Markham turns upfield through a nice big hole, courtesy of the Bobcat line.


Ricky Gutierrez says "Don't even THINK you're getting by me!

The Jr. High football squad ended it's near-perfect season with a win over Refugio Thursday night. Cory Markham, Ritchie Mendoza, and Clint Issacs contributed touchdown runs to the effort. Other notable plays included the recovery of an on-side kick by Coleman Mengers and a key interception by Ricky Gutierrez.

The team's only loss came against Yorktown in a game that easily could have gone the other way. Congratulations on a fine season boys!

March Yard of the Month!

Local Resident Turns Passion for Woodworking into Part-Time Business

Raymond Gilstrap poses with two of his windmills.

Raymond Gilstrap is a man with a knack for things mechanical. I recently visited him and was surprised to find a small-scale assembly line of freshly painted wooden windmills lined up neatly inside his newly constructed backyard workshop. Mr. Gilstrap spent years accumulating the tools for his woodworking projects and is looking forward to turning his hobby into a source of post-retirement income. Not that Mr. Gilstrap is concerned about the money; "I really love what I'm doing. I come into the shop in the morning and treat it just like a job" he told me. Much of his workshop he built himself including an impressive full-size heavy workbench equipped with wheels at one end for easy repositioning within the shop. His attention to detail is evident in the finished product, and considering the two days it takes him to construct each windmill, his prices are extremely reasonable. He has even been known to take on custom projects and is currently working on a "lighthouse" design. Contact Mr. Gilstrap via email at darray11@yahoo.com if you are interested in learning more about, or purchasing, one of his colorful creations.

Help Send a Scout to Winter Camp

Raffle tickets for a Char-Broil Gas Grill are being sold to help send our local Boy Scout Troop #456 to winter camp in December. The community is asked to please help by purchasing at least one ticket. The raffle drawing will be held December 6, 2003 and tickets are availabe for just $1.00 each. Contact Frances Almendarez for more information.

New and Improved Domain

The Skidmore Signal now has a kinder, gentler, and just plain shorter domain name. Just type in skidmoresignal.com to reach your most convenient source of local news. And for those of you who have already bookmarked the site; the old address, skidmoresignal.blogspot.com, still works fine.

Scouts Call on Community to Support Good Deed

When they're not helping little old ladies across the street, the local Cub and Boy Scout troops are busy distributing plastic bags as part of their annual "Scouting for Food" drive. Every year, the Scouts team up with the United Way, HEB, and the Corpus Christi Food Bank to fight hunger right here in the U.S.A. Donate canned vegetables, fruit, soup, chili, tuna, meat, or packaged rice, beans, and non-refrigerated dinners. Place your bag of canned goods outside your front door early Saturday morning (Friday the 7th if you are a late riser). Please do not include perishable or frozen items.

Sports Pic

Ritchie Mendoza runs the ball in for a touchdown during the Jr High game vs. Karnes City.

Lions Club Hosts Turkey Shoot

Join the Lions Club behind the Hoot Owl at 12:30 pm Sunday, November 2 as they raise funds for Christmas baskets and children's eyeglasses. The fee is $2 per shot and shells will be provided. Prizes are "split the pot." The competition will run until dark or "till there are no more shooters" For more information, call Russ at 287-3586.

Support the Fire Department; Buy Some Cookies.

The Skidmore Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary is holding an "Early Bird" bake sale Saturday, Nov. 8th at 7:30 a.m. The sale will take place at Papa's Market and will feature an assortment of pies, cakes, cookies, and brownies. "Come early and get your baked goods while they last."

Beware Fake Paypal Notices

The following email notice is making the rounds. Despite repeated warnings by online services that "no one will ever ask for your account information or password," there are still those gullible enough to make these scams profitable to internet thieves. Treat ANY email that requests account information for whatever reason with extreme caution. The message below is an obvious fraud that is easily exposed by going to Paypal's homepage and checking your account status (do not click on the fake link provided in the email). You can also go to Snopes.com to search its online database of internet frauds, fakes, and urban legends.


Click here to learn more about this Paypal scam.

S-T Fall Festival a Success Despite Uncooperative Weather

The Skidmore-Tynan Fall Festival was plagued by bad weather Saturday. The Elementary festival began at 4 p.m. Shortly afterwards, a violent storm blew through dropping approximately 3 inches of rain in a little over an hour and knocking out the electricity. "That's not right!" someone commented as the rain blew horizontally, first from the east and then from the west. A steady stream of festival goers filed hurriedly through the front door of the pavilion as hail fell during the most violent portion of the storm. Then, as suddenly as it had started, the storm abated and all was calm.

The High school portion of the festival began a 6 p.m. with raffles, a cake walk, bingo in the old gymnasium, and other activities. A high point of the evening was the presentation of two excellent plays by the High School Drama Department. "Seven Wives for Dracula" and "The Trial of Goldilocks" had the audience rolling with laughter. All of the actors and actresses are to be commended for their hard work. Standout performances included Katy Casas and Rose Cavasos as poison-happy "Sisters One and Two," Rob Boscamp as the crotchety hard-of-hearing "Judge." and Will Handy as the improbable "Baby Bear."



The P.T.C. Toy Walk



Rain drives festival participants inside.



Games continued, even after the electricity went out.



The S-THS Drama Department presents "The Trial of Goldilocks"

Bobcat Little League Clarifies Boundary Issues

The Bobcat Little League Board of Directors met at the Skidmore First Baptist Church October 21, 2003. League President, Keith Petrus, reported that clarification of Little League Rule II (d) regarding league boundaries had been provided by the Little League State Headquarters in Waco, Texas. Under Rule II (d), players residing inside the newly formed Bobcat Little League boundaries will have the option of continuing to play for the Beeville League. If a player living within the Bobcat Little League boundaries chooses to continue participating in the Beeville League, the player may continue to do so for the remainder of his/her Little League career. However, if the player chooses to sit out a year after making their decision, the player's eligibility will revert to the Bobcat Little League for the remainder of their career.

The Constitution Committee's recommendations were presented to the board. After discussion, the proposed Constitution was approved by unanimous vote.

The Auxiliary Committee presented fundraising ideas for the Bobcat Little League including a Cook-off, Silent Auction, Raffle, Calcutta, Bake Sale, and BBQ Sale. Other ideas were presented at the meeting and will be discussed further at next month's meeting.

Ed Wilson presented the proposed budget for the 2004 Bobcat Little League. All numbers were based on prices and premiums from last year. Sponsorship fees were set at $200 per team in the proposed budget. A motion to set the sponsorship fees at $250 was made and passed unanimously. Mr. Wilson agreed to expand the budget to include the costs associated with construction and maintenance of the proposed ballpark.

The next Bobcat Little League board meeting was set for Tuesday, November 11, 2003.

Holubec to Accept S-T Elementary Blue Ribbon Award in Washington Ceremony

The Skidmore-Tynan Elementary School has been awarded the "Blue Ribbon of Excellence" - one of only 214 schools nationwide to receive the prestigious award. Skidmore shared the honor with 23 other Texas schools but was the only South Texas school recognized. The continuing efforts of elementary principal Patty Holubec and her excellent teaching staff increased TAAS Scores in all student groups including Hispanic, Anglo and socioeconomic students. To be eligible for the Blue Ribbon Award, schools must either have 40% of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve in student performance or students, regardless of background, must score in the top 10% on the state tests. The Blue Ribbon schools will be honored during award ceremonies in Washington, D.C. on October 30-31, 2003