4th Six Weeks "A" Honor Roll

The following kids earned a spot on the A Honor Roll at Skidmore-Tynan Junior High during the last six weeks. The Signal congratulates these students on a job well done.

6th Grade – Margarita Aguilar, Zachary Guerra, Julia Hunt, Samantha Minter, Sara Rix, Chance Schirmer

7th Grade – Taylor Riddle, Will Stridde

8th Grade – Kaitlyn Cortez, Trevor Dragon

Sports Pics - Odem Baseball Tournament

All-Tourney 2nd baseman Leonard Torres tries for a double play.


Coach Gonzales calls Jared Kimball safe at third. The umpire, unfortunately, did not agree.

The Bobcat varsity baseball team went 2 for 3 in this weekend's Odem Tournament. The team lost to Aransas Pass Friday morning then bounced back with a win over Bloomington in game 2. On Saturday, the Bobcats positively trounced the Yorktown Wildcats 17-0 to win the tournament Consolation trophy. Congratulations to Leonard Torres who was named the Skidmore-Tynan All-Tourney player.

Click here for more tournament photos at Shutterfly.com

Caller-Times Softball Capsules

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times publishes a brief note about the S-T softball team in Area Small-School softball Capsules.

Pick Up February Issue of the Signal

It's out! The February issue of the Skidmore Signal is now available at Dalia's Cafe, Chisholm Trail Cafe, Papa's Market, Kwik Pantry, and Taqueria Vallarta in Beeville.

In this issue, among other things, we recognize local members of the armed services, celebrate Eliseo Garcia's 100th birthday, remember Marie Wheelis Schendel, congratulate two new Eagle Scouts, and enjoy a sight-seeing tractor ride with Edwin Wallek Jr.

Weekend Little League Tryouts Cancelled

Bobcat Little League has cancelled Saturday and Sunday tryouts, February 18-19, due to cold weather. The next tryout is scheduled March 4th and 5th. Boys ages 10 -12 will try out at 10:00 a.m., Girls ages 10 -12 at 11:30 a.m., Boys ages 13 - 16 at 1:00 p.m., and Girls ages 13 -16 at 2:30 p.m.

In Memoriam - Elizabeth Georgia McFall

Elizabeth Georgia McFall, of Mathis died February 16, 2006 at the age of 77.

Mrs. McFall was a retired employee of the Mathis School District and is survived by her three daughters, Connie McFall Clark of Houston, Loretta Hackett of Johnson City and Joyce Woodward of Frisco; two sisters, Josephine Smith of Baytown and Willie Mae Wheeler of Pasadena; two brothers, Clarence and Jerry Holubec, both of Bay City; three half-brothers, Jerald, Larry and Garry Holubec, all of Skidmore; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Rosary will be recited at 5 p.m. February 19th at Dobie Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. February 20th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mrs. McFall will be laid to rest in Skidmore's Evergreen Cemetery.

Sports Pics - Baseball vs. Bishop

Jeremy Johnson dives for a fly ball in Thursday's scrimmage.


Ricky Gutierrez delivers one of his wicked curve balls as Corey Lynch holds a runner at 1st.

Click here for more game photos at Shutterfly.com

New Signal Commenting Policy

After considerable thought and a little experimentation, the Signal is adopting the following "commenting" policy. We reserve the right to adjust the policy if necessary.

Positive comments of a non-controversial nature may continue to be made anonymously with or without names and email addresses. If the name field is left blank, we will usually insert the word "anonymous."

Negative or Critical comments must be accompanied by a full name consisting of at least FIRST and LAST names and a valid EMAIL address by which to verify the source of the comment. The email address is for verification purposes only and will not be listed in the posted comment unless so requested.

All comments are moderated so you can expect a delay of minutes or hours before they actually show up on the Comments list. Offensive or otherwise inappropriate comments do not reach the Signal website as they are deleted upon receipt. Comments that do not meet the above listed criteria may be partially displayed pending validation.

Click here to email a question or request validation of a previous comment.

Thank you for adhering to these guidelines.
– Keith Petrus

S-T ISD Trustees Refuse to Extend Administration Contracts

Trustees deliberated before a packed house at Monday's School Board meeting.

There was considerable controversy during the Monday, February 13, 2006 school board meeting. Most of the disagreement centered around employee salaries and contracts as two employees were denied immediate salary adjustments recommended by the Administration. Trustees also refused to extend Administrative contracts "across the board" including all three campus Principals and the Athletic Director.

In his report to the board, Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez spoke of continued improvements to the schools' restroom facilities as well as the addition of purple & gold benches throughout the campus. Dr. Belmarez reported he is a member of the Texas Association of School Administrators Legislative Committee and will be working hard on behalf of the Region during the next legislative session.

The board recognized Corey Markham, Jordan Haws, Josh Owen, and Garrett Gonzales for making the Texas Sports Writers Association All State football team, Tori O'Brien for her 1st Runner-Up finish in the Bee County Junior Livestock and Homemakers Show Queen contest, and local FFA and 4-H students who made the Special Sale in this year's stock show.

Several items on the Consent Agenda, normally approved with little fanfare, were pulled for discussion.

The first was Consideration and Possible Approval of Position Pay Increase. Dr. Belmarez explained that the salaries of two district employees at Pay Grades 3 and 6 were substantially out of alignment and below that of the other employees in those Pay Grades. Board President Rick Olivares suggested that it was "very inappropriate" to make the pay adjustments midway through the year and doing so might adversely affect employee morale. A lengthy discussion ensued, followed by a brief recess to allow Dr. Belmarez to sketch a graphical representation of the Pay Grade misalignments. Following the recess, Mr. Olivares presented a motion to make the pay increases effective at the beginning of the 2006-07 school year. Trustee Alice Gonzales attempted to amend Mr. Olivares motion to make the pay adjustments effective immediately per Administration's recommendation but her motion to amend failed for lack of a second. A vote on Mr. Olivares original motion passed 5-1 with Alice Gonzales the sole dissenting vote.

The second Consent Agenda item pulled for discussion was Consideration and Possible Approval of a Resolution to Request Distribution of Funds from the Bee County Permanent School Fund. This item was approved after brief discussion.

Consideration and Possible Approval of the Appointment of the School Health Advisory Council was the third and final Consent Agenda item pulled. In addition to Administrations list of recommended appointees, Trustee Israel Salinas presented a list of names he felt offered "a wider representation of local community values." Administration's proposed members agreeing to serve on the School Health Advisory Committee included: Administrator Robin Thomas, District Nurse Barbara Seger, Cafeteria Manager Hortencia Calderon, Junior High Health Teacher Maxie Beyer, and parents Sheri Cortez, Brenda Cassidy, Jerry Rodriguez, Vicky Stubenthal, and Sandy Gonzales Tolkein. Mr. Salinas' list included County Commissioner Ronnie Olivares, Clergyman Fernando Gonzales, and parents Jacque Smith, Velma Rosales, and Brenda Henshall. A motion to amend Administration's proposal to include Mr. Salinas' suggested appointees was made and passed unanimously.

At this point in the meeting, Trustees adjourned to closed session to discuss the Status of a Former Employee's Requested Greviance Hearing ( per Mr. Rick Olivares).

The board returned to open session at approximately 8:15 p.m. and addressed the following Action Items:

Consideration and Possible Approval of Personnel Recommendation(s).
The board unanimously approved the hiring of Jennifer Chambers in the position of Pre K Teacher as recommended by Administration.

Consideration and Possible Approval of Employment Contracts for Administrative Personnel.
Administration recommended 3 year term contracts to 2009 be approved for the following District employees:

Robin Thomas, Director of Grants, Special Programs, and Testing
Adam Arroyo, Athletic Director
Patty Holubec, High School Principal
Lawrence Carranco, Junior High Principal
Letricia Vasquez, Elementary Principal
Carole Estes, Business Manager

A motion by Alice Gonzales to approve the contracts as recommended by Administration was seconded by Ysrael Salinas and failed by a 4-2 vote. Board President Rick Olivares' call for another motion was met with silence, prompting Dr. Belmarez to present the Administrative recommendation a second time. With no motion from the board, President Rick Olivares made a motion that "in the best interests of the District, all administrators be employed under contract until 2008" - as is already stated in their existing contracts. At this point Dr. Belmarez asked the board president if he could make a comment to which Mr. Olivares replied "No sir, you may not." "I'll make a comment" said Dr. Belmarez "that this is not in the best interests of the District." A vote was called and the motion passed by a 4-2 vote.

Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Expenses Incurred by Board President.
This item refers to a legal fee in the amount of $45.00 incurred by Board President Rick Olivares in October of 2005 when he directed a newspaper reporter to contact the District's attorney directly. As Board Policy requires that all contact with the District's attorney be routed through the Superintendent, the invoice represented an unauthorized expense to the District. After much discussion the board agreed to pay the invoice by a 4-2 vote.

Consideration and Possible Approval of 2006-07 School Year Calendar.
This item was approved.

Consideration and Possible Call for May 2006 School Board Trustee Election [two (2) three-year expired term positions, and one (1) one-year unexpired term position] with Designation of Polling Place .
This item was approved. Early voting and regular voting will both take place at the S-T ISD Central Administration Building. The terms of the seats occupied by Mrs. Alice Gonzales, Mrs. Minnie McGee and Mr. Esequiel Ortiz are expiring in May 2006. School Board Trustee Election to occur on Saturday, May 13, 2006, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Early voting is set for May 1 – 6 (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) with May 6th being the early voting Saturday and also May 8 – 9 (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).

Consideration and Possible Appointment of May 2006 School Board Trustee Election Judges and Maximum Number of Election Clerks .
The board approved the following appointments: 2006 Trustee Election Election Judge Domingo Aguilar of Tynan, Alternate Election Judge Christine Soto of Sinton, and Early Voting Ballot Board Judge Diana Taylor of Tynan.

Consideration and Possible Approval of Resolution Authorizing the Use of Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machines for Election after January 1, 2006 .
This item was approved.

Consideration and Possible Action on the Status of a Former Employee's Requested Greviance Hearing (per Mr. Rick Olivares).
Mr. Olivares pulled this item from the agenda.

The next meeting of the S-T ISD Trustees is scheduled Monday, March 27, 2006 at 6:00 p.m.

Skidmore Postcard on Ebay

Someone is auctioning a "Very nice circa 1923 SKIDMORE, TEXAS post card" on ebay. The listing expires Sunday afternoon. Starting bid (none yet) at $2.27 plus $1.85 shipping. Strangely enough, the card's pastoral scene looks NOTHING like Skidmore Texas!

Click here to view the item on Ebay.

S-T's Carabajal Takes 1st in "Dry Media" Art Contest

Congratulations to S-T art student Brian Carabajal for placing first in the fifth annual Visionarios Youth Art Contest Art 1 & 2 Dry Media division as reported in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

S-T Coaches Salinas and Morgan Recognized for Good Sportsmanship

Coach Morgan shakes hands with S-T ISD Trustee Rick Olivares.

S-T ISD Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez read the following letter from Banquete Junior High coach George Pesek during Monday's school board meeting. We reprint it here as a reminder that no act of kindness should go unrewarded or unrecognized.

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To: Dr. Brett Belmarez & Adam Arroyo

On Feb 4th our Junior High basketball team was playing the Skidmore 8th grade team for the Consolation Trophy in your tournament. The incident that follows is one of my fondest experiences in all my 24 years of coaching.

One of our players has challenging learning disabilities. He made a few appearances in the game as he has throughout the season. Upon starting the 4th quarter on the bench, I made the comment that he was playing a great defensive ball game and to keep it up. The athlete made the comment "Yeah coach, but I sure want to score a basket. I have not made one all year." You see, this is his first year playing UIL sports and more than likely his last due to entering High School next year. I looked over at Keith Morgan and gave him a brief explanation of this young man's situation during the course of the game. I asked him if his team could "slack off a little" to give the young man at least one chance to shoot the basketball. He said "No problem." I also informed the referee of the situation and he told me to get him the ball.

Upon getting the ball into the hands of our player, a "foul" was called and the athlete went to the free throw line and missed both free throws. What happened next portrayed the type of class the Skidmore basketball team and staff have.

During the next 3-4 possessions, the Skidmore team sent only 1-2 players back on defense, which allowed our players to get this young man the ball in an attempt to make his first and only points in his life. After about 4-5 misses in these possessions, he finally made one. The Banquete fans and bench erupted. He even went on to score 3 more baskets in the same scenario and actually was the high point man of the game for us.

While traveling back on the bus, I asked this athlete what if felt like to get his first ever (and only) points and also how it felt to be the high point man for the game. He responded by saying it was the greatest feeling he ever had and that he is now thinking about even maybe trying out for the team in High School.

In this day and age, when one hears so much of the negatives in the world around us, Skidmore left a very positive and delightful memory for a young man, the Banquete fans, and his coach.

Hats off to you, Skidmore. Your program expressed a true class act. I have a lot of respect for your coaches, John Salinas and Keith Morgan. I look forward to our continued "rivalry" in the years to come.

Professionally yours,

George T. Pesek, Jr.
Banquete Coach

S-T ISD Trustees Face Lengthy Agenda in Monthly Meeting

Trustees to Recognize TSWA All-State Football Honorees and Stock Show Winners, Address Employee Greviance, Prepare for School Board Election - Meeting at 5:30 p.m.

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A Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Skidmore-Tynan ISD will be held February 13, 2006, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Event Center Board Room.

The board will recognize Corey Markham, Jordan Haws, Josh Owen, and Garrett Gonzales for making the Texas Sports Writers Association All State football team. Tori O'Brien will be recognized for her 1st Runner-Up finish in the Bee County Junior Livestock and Homemakers Show Queen contest. And finally, the board will recognize the many local FFA and 4-H students who placed in this year's stock show.

In addition to the Superintendent's and Administrators' reports, the board will review the May 13, 2006 Uniform Election date and calendar of deadlines, announce board members' Continuing Education credit hours, and report on the status of facilities and maintenance projects

At some point in Monday's meeting, the board will adjourn to closed session to discuss the "Status of a Former Employee's Requested Greviance Hearing," per Mr. Rick Olivares.

Action items in the Monday, Feb. 13 meeting include:
• Consideration and Possible Approval of Personnel Recommendation(s)
• Consideration and Possible Approval of Employment Contracts for Administrative Personnel
• Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Expenses Incurred by Board President
• Consideration and Possible Approval of 2006-07 School Year Calendar
• Consideration and Possible Call for May 2006 School Board Trustee Election [two (2) three-year expired term positions, and one (1) one-year unexpired term position] with Designation of Polling Place
• Consideration and Possible Appointment of May 2006 School Board Trustee Election Judges and Maximum Number of Election Clerks
• Consideration and Possible Approval of Resolution Authorizing the Use of Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machines for Election after January 1, 2006
• Consideration and Possible Action on the Status of a Former Employee's Requested Greviance Hearing (Mr. Rick Olivares)

A full meeting agenda and informational packet may be viewed online at BoardBook.org

Freeze Warning Through Monday A.M.

Don't bother removing the cover on your plants. A freeze warning for Bee County continues through Monday morning.

In Memoriam - Merced M. Hernandez

Merced M. Hernandez Jr., of Skidmore, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 at the age of 52. Mr. Hernandez was born July 27, 1953, in Beeville to Mercedes and Maclovia Medina Hernandez. He was a roughneck for Grey Wolf Drilling of Houston and a Catholic.

Survivors include his wife, Belia Puentes Hernandez; daughters, Ruby Ann Hernandez of Skidmore; stepdaughter, Sandra Vega of Beeville; son, Mathew Hernandez of Skidmore; stepson, Ernest Guerra of Arlington; sisters, Susana Peres of Wharton, Jacinta Del Bosque and Elvira Hernandez, both of Beeville, and Loysa Salinas of Skidmore; and four grandchildren.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, February 13th at Immaculate Conception Church in Skidmore. Mr. Hernandez will be laid to rest in Skidmore's Evergreen Cemetery.

Hazardous Waste Pickup Thursday at Bee County Coliseum

Do you have old car batteries, pesticide containers, or used motor oil at your home or farm? If so, now's the time to safely dispose of them. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is sponsoring the Texas Country Cleanup.

Items accepted include Lead-Acid batteries (car, boat, tractor, etc.), used motor oil and filters (limit two 55-gallon drums of oil per participant), transmission fluids, brake fluids, power steering fluids, and empty plastic pesticide containers (high pressure or triple rinsed with lids and paper instructions removed).

Texas Country Cleanup
8:00 a.m. to Noon
Thursday, February 18, 2006
Bee County Coliseum/Expo Center

Call Donnie Montemayor at 361-362-3280 for more information.

Freeze Warning in Effect

Protect your plants and bring in your pets. Bee County is currently
under a freeze warning.

Sports Pics - Junior High Basketball

Photo courtesy of Arthur Robinson.

Arthur Robinson of Rob's Digital Photography took some nice shots of Saturday's boys and girls Junior High basketball games. Check them out in Rob's Skidmore-Tynan album.

S-T Baseball Scrimmage Canceled

Yes, the Signal regrets to report that the scheduled Thursday, February 9, boys JV/Varsity baseball scrimmage versus Goliad has been canceled. The next scheduled scrimmage is 5:00 p.m., February 16th at Bobcat Field versus Bishop. The full schedule may be found on the S-TISD website.

Eliseo Garcia Celebrates 100th Birthday

Reeys Falcon informs the Signal that lifelong Skidmore resident, Eliseo Garcia, celebrates his 100th birthday today, February 8th, 2006. The Signal wishes Mr. Garcia a happy birthday and continued health and happiness!

Update: Look for a full report on Mr. Garcia's 100th birthday celebration in the February issue of the Skidmore Signal.

Gremlin Attack

The Signal is currently experiencing technical difficulties with our skidmoresignal.com domain name. Until the domain pointer is corrected, readers may access the Signal at skidmoresignal.blogspot.com. Naturally, if you are reading this you've already bookmarked the alternate address, or have navigated from a link on the S-TISD website (thanks J.D. Henshall). We are also working on an apparent permissions problem that is blocking the display of Signal photos on the school's computers. We appreciate your patience as we work through these technical glitches.

In Memoriam: D. L. Ramirez

D. L. Ramirez of Tynan, a professional cabinet builder, died February 6, 2006 a the age of 70.

Mr. Ramirez is survived by four sons, Edward and Steven Perez, both of Tacoma, Washington, Marcos Ramirez of Port Angeles, Washington, and David Lee Ramirez of Skidmore; seven sisters, Alice Kaufman of Grapevine, Esvarda DeLeon of Sinton, Rosa Alaya of Houston, Lupe Jimenez of Corpus Christi, Sylvia Jimenez and Minnie Ramirez of Mathis, and Elda Muniz of Oklahoma City; three brothers, Valdemar, Daniel Jr. and David Ramirez, all of Mathis; and seven grandchildren.

Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Dobie Funeral Home, Mathis. Services will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 9 at Templo Gethsemani Church, Mathis. Mr. Ramirez will be laid to rest in Waldheim Cemetery.

Haws Lamb Brings $10,000 in Stock Show Special Sale

Haws Grand Champion Lamb

Jordan Haws was the top dog in Saturday's Bee County Livestock and Homemakers Show Special Sale. At 10,000 dollars, Haws' lamb sold for twice price of any other animal in the sale.

All told, Skidmore-Tynan FFA and 4-H members took about 1/3 of the spots in the special sale, netting over $100,000 in award money.

Special Sale - Local Results (in order of sale):

Jordan Haws Grand Champion Lamb $10,000
Jessica Hall Grand Champion Broilers $3,000
Tori O'Brien Reserve Champion Rabbits $3,000
Erica Hall - Reserve Champion Broilers $2,500
Meghan Bloemer - Grand Champion 4-H Craft $2,500
Brandon David - Class 1 Place 1 Lamb $2,000
Amanda Boscamp - Class 2 Place 1 Lamb $1,750
Tabatha Crow - Class 3 Place 1 Lamb $1,600
Amanda Doubrava - Class 3 Place 1 Hog $1,600
Amber Ramirez - Class 4 Place 1 Candy $900
Whitley Rix - Class 10 Place 1 Hog $2,500
C.J. Schindler - Class 11 Place 1 Hog $4,998.00
Will Stridde - Class 2 Place 2 Steer $2,750
Ariana Haws - Class 2 Place 2 Goat $1,750
Keven Lussier - Class 2 Place 2 Broilers $900
Trevor Dragon - Class 3 Place 2 Hog $1,750
Christopher Patrova - Class 3 Place 2 Goat $2,999
Coleman Mengers - Class 4 Place 2 Steer $3,500
Rob Boscamp - Class 4 Place 2 Lamb $1,300
Jonathan Huser - Class 5 Place 2 Hog $2,000
Garrett Vandever - Class 10 Place 2 Steer $4,998
Chris Hall - Class 10 Place 2 Hog $1,100
Dillan Stautzenberger - Class 7 Place 1 Cornbread $1,200
Ben Mengers - Class 1 Place 3 Steer $3,500
Devon Wilder - Class 1 Place 3 Rabbits $1,000
Tim Crow - Class 4 Place 3 Lamb $1,200
John Boscamp - Class 6 Place 3 Lamb $2,100
Dillon Salvagno - Class 9 Place 3 Steer $2,200
Matthew Hernandez - Class 9 Place 1 Hot Sauce $750
Ty Huser - Class 11 Place 3 Hog $2,200
Hollis Stubenthal - Clas 1 Place 4 Steer $2,000
Charles Vinson - Class 1 Place 4 Goat $800
Courtney Hudson - Class 1 Place 4 Rabbits $2,000
Samantha Minter - Class 2 Place 4 Broilers $900
Jessica Urquizo - Class 3 Place 4 Goat $1,000
Corey Lynch - Class 4 Place 4 Lamb $900
Wes Rix - Class 6 Place 5 Hog $4,998
Sarah McFall - Class 6 Place 5 Goat $2,999
Jessica Stephensen - Class 5 Place 6 Lamb $1,100
Caleb Davis - Class 1 Place 7 Broilers $750
Heather Kopplin - Class 4 Place 7 Goat $950
Joshua A. Garcia - Class 5 Place 8 Lamb $900
Zachary Petrus - Class 8 Place 8 Goat $1,100
Melanie Minter - Class 1 Place 9 Broilers $550
Caleb Landon Cantu - Class 4 Place 9 Goat $850
Belinda Garcia - Class 6 Place 9 Lamb $3,499
Joshua Petrus - Class 12 Place 9 Hog $1,100
Felicia Ortiz - Class 4 Place 10 Goat $1,400
Eryka Thomas - Class 7 Place 10 Goat $925
Savanah Stephensen - Class 1 Place 12 Rabbits $800
Jared Kimball - Class 1 Place 13 Broilers $800

Stock Show Lamb Results

Jordan Haws' Grand Champion Lamb

Jordan Haws dominated this year's lamb show with Place 1 rankings in two separate classes. Haws was also awarded Honorable Mention in Senior Showmanship alongside Tim Crow and John Boscamp. In Junior Showmanship, Belinda Garcia and Tabatha Crow took Honorable Mentions as did Brandon David in the Pee Wee division.

Local Results:

Class 1
Place 1 - David Brandon, Skidmore 4-H

Class 2
Place 1- Amanda Boscamp, S-T FFA
Place 2 - Brandon David, Skidmore 4-H
Place 6 - Corey Lynch, S-T FFA

Class 3
Place 1 - Tabatha Crow, Skidmore 4-H
Place 6 - Kevin Allen, S-T FFA
Place 7 - Belinda Garcia, Skidmore 4-H

Class 4
Place 2 - Rob Boscamp, Skidmore 4-H
Place 3 - Tim Crow, S-T FFA
Place 4 - Corey Lynch, S-T FFA
Place 6 - Jessica Stephensen,, S-T FFA
Place 8 - Zachary Petrus, S-T FFA

Class 5
Place 1 - Jordan Haws, S-T FFA
Grand Champion
Place 6 - Jessica Stephensen, S-T FFA
Place 7 - John Boscamp, S-T FFA
Place 11 - DJ Mendez, S-T FFA

Class 6
Place 1 - Jordan Haws, S-T FFA
Place 3 - John Boscamp, S-T FFA
Place 5 - Amanda Boscamp, S-T FFA
Place 7 - Rob Boscamp, Skidmore 4-H
Place 9 - Belinda Garcia, Skidmore 4-H

Stock Show Rabbit Results

Tori O'Brien won one of the top spots in the Bee County Junior Livestock and Homemakers Show with her Reserve Grand Champion rabbits. Will Stridde, representing Skidmore 4-H, took 1st and 2nd Place in the New Zealand Class. Charles Vinson earned an Honorable Mention in Junior Showmanship as did Nicholas Avila and Savanah Stephensen in the Senior Division.

Local results:

New Zealand Class 1
Place 1 - Will Stridde, Skidmore 4-H
Place 2 - Will Stridde, Skidmore 4-H
Place 3 - Devon Wilder, S-T FFA
Place 4 - Courtney Hudson, Tynan 4-H
Place 12 - Savanah Stephensen, Skidmore 4-H

Other Breeds Even Class
Place 2 - Tori O'Brien, S-T FFA
Place 6 - Courtney Hudson, Tynan 4-H
Place 15 - Charles Vinson, Skidmore 4-H
Place 16 - Nicholas Avila, Tynan 4-H

Other Breeds Odd Class
Place 1 - Tori O'Brien, S-T FFA
Reserve Grand Champion
Place 6 - Roberta Rosales, Tynan 4-H
Place 12 - Devon Dittmer, S-T FFA
Place 15 - Charles Vinson, Skidmore 4-H

Stock Show Poultry Results

Chris Patrova and Zach Petrus assist
Jessica Hall in showing her Grand
Champion poultry.

As previously reported in the Signal, Jessica Hall and sister Erica Hall, took the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion awards in the 2006 Bee Country Junior Livestock and Homemakers Show Poultry Division.

Rachel Mengers was awarded Champion in Junior Showmanship. Emily Mengers and Erica Hall each received Honorable Mentions in Senior Showmanship and Zachary Mengers took Junior Honorable Mention.

Local results:

Class 1 Odd Pens
Place 1 - Erica Hall, Skidmore 4-H
Reserve Grand Champion
Place 6 - Jessica Hall, Skidmore 4-H
Place 7 - Caleb Davis, Skidmore 4-H
Place 9 - Melanie Minter, Skidmore 4-H
Place 10 - Kevin Lussier, S-T FFA
Place 12 - Samantha Minter, Skidmore 4-H
Place 13 - Jared Kimball, S-T FFA
Place 14 - Monica Olivares, S-T FFA
Place 16 - Emily Mengers, S-T FFA
Place 18 - Alysa Drake, S-T FFA
Place 19 - Rachel Mengers, Skidmore 4-H
Place 20 - Zachary Mengers, Skidmore 4-H

Class II Even Pens
Place 1 - Jessica Hall - Skidmore 4-H
Grand Champion
Place 2 - Kevin Lussier, S-T FFA
Place 4 - Samantha Minter, Skidmore 4-H
Place 6 - Melanie Minter, Skidmore 4-H
Place 9 - Caleb David, Skidmore 4-H
Place 11 - Erica Hall, Skidmore 4-H
Place 15 - Emily Mengers, S-T FFA
Place 16 - Rachel Mengers, Skidmore 4-H
Place 17 - Jared Kimball, S-T FFA
Place 18 - Monica Olivares, S-T FFA
Place 19 - Zachary Mengers, Skidmore 4-H
Place 20 - Alysa Drake, S-T FFA

VIRUS ALERT: BlackWorm (MyWife.d)

AT-RISK SYSTEMS:
PRIORITY: URGENT/SEVERE

BlackWorm is an email worm that uses its own SMTP engine to spread through e-mail and open network shares. Blackworm is also known as BlackWorm/Nyxem/Blackmal/Blueworm/Grew. This vulnerability has been classified as "High Risk." Computer users should take appropriate action to be protected against this worm.

Using its own SMTP engine, BlackWorm spreads using different subjects, email bodies and attachments. The attachments sent by the worm may contain the following extensions: pif, scr, mim, uue, hqx, bhx, b64, and uu.

On February 3rd , tomorrow, computers that are infected with BlackWorm will have the following file types overwritten by the worm: DOC (MS Word), XLS (MS Excel), MDE, MDB (MS Access), PPT (MS PowerPoint), PPS (MS PowerPoint), RAR, PDF (Adobe Reader), PSD (Adobe Photoshop), DMP, ZIP (Compressed Archive). The files are overwritten with an error message ('DATA Error [47 0F 94 93 F4 K5]'). It has already infected more than 300,000 computers worldwide.

I strongly suggest backing up important files and updating your anti-virus software as soon as possible to keep from losing your files. Contingency plans and more information available from LURHQ Security.

Refugio and Bloomington Back in District 31-2A

UIL District realignments were announced this morning. For the next two years, Skidmore-Tynan will face off against newly added Refugio and Bloomington, along with George West, Odem, Taft, and Three Rivers. Banquete and Freer move to district 32-2A with Bishop, Hebbronville, Premont, Riviera, and Santa Rosa.

The Victoria Advocate reports other area UIL realignments.

Bloemer, Hall, Grand Champions

The Bee County Junior Livestock and Homemakers Show is barely underway and already Skidmore-Tynan's FFA and 4-H boast two Grand Champions. Meghan Bloemer started things off Tuesday with her Grand Champion 4-H Craft Project candelabra. Sisters Jessica and Erica Hall followed Meghan's lead Wednesday, taking Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion respectively in the Poultry Division.

Commercial heifers, rabbits, market hogs, and lambs will be judged Thursday. Goats, steers, and heifers will be judged Friday. Let's hope our FFA and 4-H members can continue to build on the success of the first few days of the show!

A complete listing of local results will be published shortly.