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.