Old Skidmore Cotton Gin Postcard Listed on eBay

Another vintage Skidmore postcard has appeared on the online auction site "eBay." The postcard features the Buerger Cotton Gin originally located on the corner of present day Main Street and 3rd, just east of the old railroad tracks. The gin was later purchased by J.C. Beyer, George Black, and C.L. Blaschke. The postcard shows the gin as it would have appeared if you were standing on its southeast side looking northwest toward the railroad tracks. A railway "spur" connected the gin to the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad. A copy of this postcard displayed in the Skidmore Museum suggests the photo was taken around 1915 but the eBay seller claims the postcard is postmarked in 1908.

If you care to bid on this bit of rare Skidmore memorabilia, click on Skidmore Cotton Gin, courtesy of eBay.


Adding an extra touch of intrigue, the postcard is addressed to a "Miss Jettie Clare" (spelling?) from a mysterious "A.M." Is there a Signal reader who might shed light on the writer and recipient?

Students Earn Membership in National Honor Society

Current National Honor Society members were joined by 16 new inductees in a special January 25, ceremony in the S-T ISD Events Center Auditorium.

Newly inducted members include Robert Brown, Jeff Burris, Nicholas Castaneda, Thor Garcia, Beth Gonzales, Jessica Hall, Ruby Hernandez, William Hughes, Victoria Lopez, Coleman Mengers, Zach Petrus, Jessica Romo, Alexis Schmidt, Ashley Scott, Courtney Vandever, and Devon Wilder. Click here for NHS Induction photos at Shutterfly.com

NHS Officers for the 2006-07 school year were installed at the beginning of the ceremony. Stephanie Schirmer takes the helm as NHS President. The position of Vice President was filled by Victoria O'Brien, along with Treasurer Courtney Hudson, Secretary Reid O'Brien, and Public Relations Historian Daen Luna.

National Honor Society Advisor Helen Favre was joined by guest speakers, S-T High Principal Patricia Holubec, and Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez in congratulating the assembled students in their academic success.

Trustees Approve New Junior High Principal

A Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Skidmore-Tynan ISD was held January 25, 2007, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Skidmore-Tynan School District Event Center Board Room. Trustees conducted a workshop on a potential bond/construction program and approved the hiring of new Junior High Principal Dan Garza, formerly of Pettus ISD. The next regular meeting of the S-T ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled Monday, February 12, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.

S-T Students Place at UIL Practice Meet

Skidmore-Tynan High School speech and academic students competed at the Three Rivers High School tournament on Saturday, January 20. Reid O’Brien placed 2nd in Persuasive Speaking. Jeff Burris placed 3rd in Science, 4th in Calculator, and 5th in Math. Josh Petrus placed 5th in Number Sense. The Signal congratulates these students on their fine performance and wishes them luck at the District Meet.

Mengers Named Flint Hills Outstanding Scholar

Shown presenting the award to Emily is Mrs. Patricia Holubec, principal of Skidmore-Tynan High School.

Emily Mengers, senior at Skidmore-Tynan High School, was recently named the Flint Hills Resources Outstanding Scholar of the Month. As a nominee and recipient of this award, a student must show leadership, character, service, and a high level of involvement within the school community. The nominee must also excel in the academic realm of school.

To further honor Emily, a spot for TV was filmed and will be shown on all three Corpus Christi channels throughout the month of February.

"We are super proud of her," says mom, Senecia Mengers.

Bobcat Little League Registration

Bobcat Little League registration is currently underway. Stop by the Skidmore Dairy Queen from 4:00 to 6:00 pm through Friday to sign your son or daughter up for the 2007 season. The Bobcat Little League Board will meet at 6:00 pm Friday at The Rock Church on Highway 181 across from the Chisholm Trail Cafe.

In Memoriam: Ofilia A. Garcia

Ofilia Alaniz Garcia of Tynan died January 20, 2007 at age 73. Mrs. Garcia was a homemaker and member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

Mrs. Garcia is survived by her husband, Guadalupe; five daughters, Delia Menchaca and Elia Barrientes of Tynan, Gregoria Menchaca of Moore, Oklahoma, Ofelia Garcia of Premont, and Emilia Garcia of Skidmore; two sons, Guadalupe Garcia Jr. of Sinton and Juan Garcia of Tynan; three sisters, Ageda Lopez of Corpus Christi, Siria Canales of Tynan and Virginia Vidaurri of Abilene; a brother, Pioquinto Alaniz of Refugio; 25 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Mass was celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on Tuesday, January 23. Mrs. Garcia was laid to rest in Tynan's Waldheim Cemetery.

Markham, Mengers, Solis Named to 2A Region IV Football Team

The Texas High School Football Association recently recognized three Bobcats for their efforts on the football field. Named to the 2A Region IV First Team Defense were Cory Markham as a linebacker, Ben Mengers as a defensive end and Noel Solis as a defensive lineman. In addition to his defensive selection, Ben Mengers was selected to the Second Team as a offensive lineman. Congratulations to these Bobcats for a job well done. Click here for a complete list of the entire 2A team.

School Board to Conduct Special Planning Workshop

A Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Skidmore-Tynan ISD will be held January 25, 2007, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Skidmore-Tynan School District Event Center Board Room.

Trustees will hear an E-rate funding report, conduct a workshop on potential bond/construction program, and consider possible approval of a new Junior High Principal.

The next regular meeting of the S-T ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled Monday, February 12, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.

Sports Pics - Varsity Boys vs. Taft

Senior R. J. Howard defends the basket in Friday's game.

Click here for game photos at Shutterfly.com

Sports Pics - Basketball vs. Refugio

Courtney Vandever, Devon Wilder, and Ashley Scott hustle down court.

Click here for photos of Thursday's JV Boys and Varsity Ladycat basketball games at Shutterfly.com. Sorry, no photos of the Varsity boys - will try to get some good shots at Friday's game vs. Taft.



JV Bobcat Zach Hall takes the jumper.

Tuesday After School Events Canceled - Late Start Wednesday

S-T ISD Administrative Secretary Sheryl Hughes informs the Signal all after-school events and tutorials have been cancelled for Tuesday, January 16. School will once again begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday with buses running 2 hours later to coincide with the late start. If evening and overnight conditions cause a change in the schedule, announcements will be made on KIKR 106 Radio in Beeville and on the three main television stations in Corpus Christi.

Here it comes!

Yes, icy cold weather is definitely in store for the next day or two. Skidmore is currently under a "winter weather advisory" from the National Weather Service with a mixture of rain, sleet and possibly even a few snowflakes overnight. The advisory will remain in effect until noon Wednesday. Don't forget to cover your plants and provide shelter for pets.

Ladycat Basketball Going Strong In District Competition

The Skidmore-Tynan Ladycat Basketball team improved its District record to 5 and 1 with Friday's win over George West Lady Longhorns.

The Ladycats outscored their opponents 39 to 23. Alexis Schmidt led the team with 18 points on the board, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals, followed by Emily Mengers with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists. Ashley Scott is credited with 5 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals to help cap off the win over George West. The Ladycats record is 17 and 7 overall.

Chisholm Trail Cafe Reopens

After a change in ownership and several weeks of remodeling, the Chisholm Trail Cafe reopened Monday, January 15th. Mrs. Dee LeCount returns as manager along with many other familiar faces. Enchiladas are once again on the menu along with nachos and an option to substitute potato chips for french fries with some meals. Owner Charles Tucker invites everyone back to enjoy homestyle cooking and camaraderie.

While we're on the subject of local eateries, we note that Dalia's Cafe has announced new hours. Dalia's is now open 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

S-T ISD Classes Start at 10:00 am Tuesday

With a freezing rain in Tuesday's forecast, Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez informs the Signal that classes will not begin until 10:00 a.m. and there is a chance classes will be canceled for the day. Check local news stations and Kicker 106 for the latest on school closures.

Update: The JV and Varsity Boys basketball games in Refugio have been cancelled.

Sports Pics - Basketball vs. G.W.

JV Bobcat Robert Brown goes for 2 points.

Rob's Digital Photography has photos of Fridays' JV Boys, Varsity Girls, and Varsity Boys basketball games vs. George West.

Hale Named to Academic All-State Football 2A Second Team

The Signal congratulates Skidmore-Tynan's Scott Hale who was recently named to the Academic All-State Football 2A Second Team. Hale was among sixty three local athletes honored by the Texas High School Coaches Association. Also named to the Academic All-State 2A Honorable Mention Team are S-T's Chris Hall, Ben Mengers, and Garrett Vandever. The teams were selected by a point system based on a combination of grade-point average, class rank and SAT or ACT score.

S-T ISD Trustees Approve Superintendent's Contract

Energy Conservation Plan enacted, Bond Issue and Construction Program approved.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Skidmore-Tynan ISD was held January 8, 2007, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Skidmore-Tynan School District Event Center Board Room.

Mrs. Terri Hall spoke in the Public Forum portion of the meeting. In regards to a pending agenda item, Mrs. Hall asked that the "means of communication not be abridged" by removal of the Public Forum portion of S-T ISD Board Meetings.

Student athletes Noel Solis, Cory Markham, Travis Berthold, Ben Mengers, Clint Isaacks, and Adam Aguilar were recognized for being named to the All Bay Area Football Team as previously reported in the Signal.

Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez reported that math textbooks selections were underway and the the calendar committee would begin work on the 2007-08 school year.

Trustees adjourned to closed session during the meeting to perform the annual superintendent's evaluation.

Action items addressed during the meeting included:

• Consideration and Possible Action to Establish the School District Trustee Election as a Joint Election for November 2007 as prescribed by Education Code 11.0581 and Election Code chapter 271. This item was approved.
  
• Consideration and Possible Action to Suspend and/or Amend Board Policy BED (Local), Board Meetings: Public Participation (Mr. Rick Olivares). Trustees agreed to limit the Public Forum portion of future meetings to 15 minutes, with a 3 minute time limit for individual speakers.
  
• Consideration and Possible Action to Renew the Superintendent of Schools' Employment Contract. Trustees approved a 3-year contract for Dr. Belmarez.
  
• Consideration and Possible Approval of Proposed District Goals for January through December 2007. This item was tabled pending clarification of an item related to quarterly Board assessments.
  
• Consideration and Possible Action to Accept the Proposal for a Comprehensive Facilities Improvement/Energy Conservation Program from TAC-Energy Solutions. This item was approved.
  
• Consideration and Possible Approval for Funding TAC Energy Management Contract. On advice of the school's financial advisors, Trustees agreed to pay the cost of the contract with existing funds rather than through outside financing.
  
• Consideration and Possible Action to Amend Board Policy CNA (Local): Student Transportation. This item was approved.
  
• Consideration and Possible Action on Potential Bond/Construction Program and Prioritization of Projects with Possible Referendum for May 2007. This item was approved with the stipulation that Trustees conduct special planning workshops related to future construction projects.
  
• Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) from Dimension Medical Supply Group through the ESC -2 Multi-Regional Purchasing Co-op. This item was approved.
  
• Consideration and Possible Approval to Pay Bills for Legal Services. This item was approved.

The next regular meeting of the S-T ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled Monday, February 12, 2007, at 6:00 p.m.

You Could be Dancing

Coastal Bend College is offering dance classes beginning next week and continuing through April. Tuition for each class is $40 with six 2-hour sessions held on Tuesday and Thursday nights. To sign up, call Coastal Bend College Continuing Education at (361) 354-2633.

Learn Latin Dance – Mambo, Cha Cha, Tango, Salsa and Merengue – with Maria Donahue. Students meet Tuesday and Thursday night, Jan. 16- Feb. 1, 2007.

Middle Eastern Belly Dance with Maria Donahue runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 6-22, 2007. Participants will learn 21 moves for hands, arms, head, feet and hips.

Country & Western Dance will be taught by Maria Donahue Tuesdays and Thursday, Feb. 27-March 8, 2007. Students will learn to Two-step, Waltz and Polka. Popular dances Cotton-eyed Joe and Sweetheart Schottische also will be taught.

Learn Swing Dance – Jitterbug, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Swing and Country & Western Swing – with Maria Donahue. Students meet Tuesday and Thursday night, March 20- April 5, 2007.

Tejano Dance – Mexican One-Step, Spanish Waltz, Huapango, Cumbia, Redova and Bolero – will be taught by Maria Donahue Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 10-26, 2007.

Continue Your Education at CBC

College isn't just for kids. Beeville's Coastal Bend College is committed to providing learning opportunities that support economic advancement to the South Texas region. Here are a few of the continuing education classes offered in the coming months.

Microsoft Excel and Word Basics
Improve your computer skills with continuing education classes at Coastal Bend College. Beginners can take home some basics on Jan. 22-25, 2007 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Learn Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet program, March 19-22, 2007 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Microsoft Word will be taught Feb. 19-22, 2007 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Continuing education credits will be awarded to business professionals upon course completion. The cost of each course is $60. To register, call the continuing education office at (361)354-2633.

Conversational Spanish
Learn basic Spanish at Coastal Bend College. Students will learn greetings, numbers, time-telling, colors, weather and basic vocabulary. Classes will be held on Mondays, Jan. 22- April 23, 7- 8:30 p.m. in Beeville. The instructor is Kay Past. For more information, call CBC Continuing Education at 354-2633.

Online Driver’s Safety Course
Coastal Bend College offers a state approved driver safety course that can be taken totally online at www.cbctrafficschool.com. This program provides the most convenient and flexible way to take defensive driving for individual ticket dismissal, auto insurance premium discount purposes, or business and industry safety training. Students can register online, pay right away and begin the course immediately. Payment by check, money order and credit card are accepted for the $25 course. The course completion certificate is a valid and legitimate document that is the sanctioned equivalent to a traditional classroom course certificate. Access the course at www.cbctrafficschool.com or call CBC Continuing Education at 354-2633.

Do You Know a "Gifted and Talented" Child?

Nominations for the Gifted and Talented Program grades 3 through 12 are being accepted at the Skidmore-Tynan ISD. Students must be nominated and tested prior to joining the G-T Program. Nominations may be made by a parent, teacher, or anyone with knowledge of the nominee’s abilities. Nominations will be accepted through January 31, 2007. For additional information, please contact Robin Thomas, Special Programs Coordinator at 361-287-3426, ext. 218, or your student’s campus principal.

Skidmore: A Bird's Eye View

With the Goggles Flight Simulator, you can fly over our hometown and try to spot familiar buildings, houses, and roads. Simply click link above, and click on START. (Do not change the "select a location" menu, the location will load through the URL.)

Control the plane with arrow keys, change the speed with 'A' and 'Z', and use the space bar to rain down plasma balls on the houses of those who annoy you.

Happy flying!

Alumni Basketball Games a Hit with Bobcat Fans

Former girls basketball coach Wayne DuBose was recognized prior to the girls' alumni game.

Youth and vigor overcame age and deceit in Friday night's alumni basketball games. Both varsity girls and boys teams emerged victorious, although by a less decisive margin in the boys game. At the end of evening, there was no doubt that the Bobcat and Ladycat competitive spirit survives long after graduation.

Update: The Signal thanks coaches Joe Grimes and Anthony Ray for providing a list of participants in the alumni game.

Girls Alumni Game
Class of 2006: Stephanie Coker, Chantale Adames, and Alysa Drake
Class of 2005: Sarah Mengers and Katlynn Mengers
Class of 2004: Gina Smolik
Class of 2003: Ashley Laechelin and Beth Lohse
Class of 19??: Desaree Linney
Class of 1975: Angie Petrus Bownds

Boys Alumni Game
Class of 2006: Dionel Colmenero, James Garcia, Garret Gonzales, Jordan Haws, and Andy Baca
Class of 2004: Nathan Duke
Class of 2003: Tim Stowe, Clayton Linney, and Tyler Wallek
Class of 2002: Teo Seger
Class of 2001: Jeremy Burgess and Sergio Elizondo
Class of 2000: Ray Gonzales
Class of 1999: Jacob Linney
Class of 1998: Rick Davila
Class of 1994: Chris Boales
Class of 1993: Christopher Linney
Class of 1979: Tryne Mengers
Class of 1966: Bubba Petrus



2005 alumnus Stephanie Coker goes up against Ladycat Devon Wilder.


The "Old Timers" and a few seriously old-timers.

Click here for more alumni game photos at Shutterfly.com, and as always, Rob's Digital Photography has photos that are actually in focus.

Elementary and Junior High Students Take Top UIL Honors

The following Elementary and Junior High students received special UIL Recognition at the December School Board meeting:

S-T ISD Elementary

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3rd Grade Music Memory Team - 2nd place
Juan Luna (1st place individual), Melanie Martinez (2nd place individual), Desirae Leafty, Brandon David, Mercedes Aguilar
4th Grade Art Memory Team - 1st place
Kyle Gabbert (1st place individual), Alexandra Herrera, Michael Huerta, Elias Perez, Alex Rocha
5th Grade Art Memory Team - 1st place
Brittany Herrera (1st place individual), Cameron Pace, Lorena Zuniga, Marina Hernandez, Nathan Magana
Rebekah Colle - 2nd place 4th Grade Oral Reading
Ramiro Hernandez - 5th Grade Dictionary Skills

S-T ISD Junior High

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Tyler Fink - 1st place Ready Writing, 1st place Studio Art, 2nd place Listening Skills.
Courtney Leonard - 2nd place Dictionary Skills
Margarita Aguilar - 1st place Spelling, 1st Place Impromptu Speaking
D’Anne Wilder - 1st place General Math, 1st place Editorial Writing
Zachary Guerra - 1st place Number Sense (for the 4th year in a row), 2nd place General Math
Andrew Gaulin - 2nd place Number Sense
Taylor Riddel - 1st place Editorial Writing
Joe Torres - 2nd place Studio Art
Sal Soto - 2nd place Studio Art

S-T Grads Needed for Alumni Basketball Game

Skidmore-Tynan ISD is hosting it’s first ever alumni basketball game for both girls and boys. The game will be held Friday, January 5 at the high school with the girls game starting at 6:30 and the boys game immediately afterwards. Anyone and everyone that played basketball and graduated from Skidmore-Tynan ISD is invited to participate. The event is to become an annual fun raiser and the coaches are looking for as many participants as possible.

Alumni interested in playing need to contact Coach Ray (boys) 287-3437 ext. 251 and Coach Grimes (girls) 287-3437 ext. 234.

Update: It's not too late to sign up! Coach Grimes reports that only a handful of people have signed up to date and that there is a chance the game will be canceled without more participants.