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April 23, 2008
| Local and Area News |
| Severe Weather Awareness: Turn Around, Don’t Drown and Flood Insurance |
| Varsity Softball Team Advances |
Sections
The Dalhart Varsity Softball team won 13-3 over Borger in a
playoff game to take third place in district. They will now play
Vernon in a bi-district game on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. in
Clarendon.
playoff game to take third place in district. They will now play
Vernon in a bi-district game on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. in
Clarendon.
By Aaron Graves
Note: This in one in a series of articles to help you prepare for the
upcoming severe weather season. Last year’s Cactus tornado hit
close to home, so make sure you and your family are prepared for
the unexpected.
First and second grade science students learn about forces: things
that push and pull. One such force is water, and one science lesson
we all need to remember is this: It takes only six inches of water
to cause a car to lose contact with the road, and 18 to 24 inches to
sweep a car away.
Around here we worry more about large hail and tornadoes during
the severe weather season. However, heavy thunderstorm rains, or
prolonged rains from a series of storms or a stalled weather
system, can cause flooding in low lying areas.
Floods are the deadliest weather related killers across the United
States. An average of 99 deaths per year have been attributed to
flooding between 1977 and 2006. A lot of those deaths could be
prevented if people would follow the NWS advice: Turn Around,
Don’t Drown.
Water over a roadway can be deceptive. It can hide dangers, like
washed out road beds or other obstructions. Water over the road at
night makes it even harder to recognize flood dangers. Do not
drive or try to wade across flooded roadways.
During severe weather, the NWS will issue watches and warnings
to help the public recognize flood dangers. A flood or flood watch
means flash flooding or flooding is possible within the designated
WATCH area. A flash flood or flood warning means flash flooding
or flooding has been reported or is imminent - take necessary
precautions at once! An urban and small stream advisory means
flooding of small streams, streets, and low-lying areas, such as
railroad underpasses and urban storm drains, is occurring.
Other safety tips to keep in mind:
- When driving, do not stop your car near streams or in low areas
during severe weather.
- If your car stalls in a low area with flood waters, abandon the car
for higher ground. It’s better to be wet than dead.
- Do not allow children to play near flood waters.
- When camping during severe weather season, keep abreast of
weather reports. Heavy rain elsewhere can flood streams and
rivers miles away.
- Since flooding can occur anywhere, the NWS advises
homeowners, renters and businesses to look into purchasing flood
insurance.
“Everyone lives in a flood zone, whether that risk is low, moderate
or high,” reads a NWS bulletin. “Over a typical 30 year home
mortgage, flooding is three times more likely to occur than fire…
Even low hazard areas are at risk. About one in three flood
insurance claims each year are paid to homeowners living outside
of high-risk areas.”
The city of Dalhart has three general areas where flooding could
be a problem, according to a map found at msc.fema.gov. The
FEMA website provides flood maps for insurance companies.
Those areas in Dalhart included: 1) the intersection of Norman and
1st St. heading north into the Tanglewood area, 2) a diagonal strip
from the intersection for 7th and Conlen south to 11th and Olive,
and 3) an area on the north side between Florida and Texas.
Check with your insurance carrier for flood insurance details.
Flooding is not the only problem during severe weather season,
which typically runs from April through June, according to Steve
Drillette, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the Amarillo
office of the National Weather Service. Look for more severe
weather awareness articles in future editions.
Note: This in one in a series of articles to help you prepare for the
upcoming severe weather season. Last year’s Cactus tornado hit
close to home, so make sure you and your family are prepared for
the unexpected.
First and second grade science students learn about forces: things
that push and pull. One such force is water, and one science lesson
we all need to remember is this: It takes only six inches of water
to cause a car to lose contact with the road, and 18 to 24 inches to
sweep a car away.
Around here we worry more about large hail and tornadoes during
the severe weather season. However, heavy thunderstorm rains, or
prolonged rains from a series of storms or a stalled weather
system, can cause flooding in low lying areas.
Floods are the deadliest weather related killers across the United
States. An average of 99 deaths per year have been attributed to
flooding between 1977 and 2006. A lot of those deaths could be
prevented if people would follow the NWS advice: Turn Around,
Don’t Drown.
Water over a roadway can be deceptive. It can hide dangers, like
washed out road beds or other obstructions. Water over the road at
night makes it even harder to recognize flood dangers. Do not
drive or try to wade across flooded roadways.
During severe weather, the NWS will issue watches and warnings
to help the public recognize flood dangers. A flood or flood watch
means flash flooding or flooding is possible within the designated
WATCH area. A flash flood or flood warning means flash flooding
or flooding has been reported or is imminent - take necessary
precautions at once! An urban and small stream advisory means
flooding of small streams, streets, and low-lying areas, such as
railroad underpasses and urban storm drains, is occurring.
Other safety tips to keep in mind:
- When driving, do not stop your car near streams or in low areas
during severe weather.
- If your car stalls in a low area with flood waters, abandon the car
for higher ground. It’s better to be wet than dead.
- Do not allow children to play near flood waters.
- When camping during severe weather season, keep abreast of
weather reports. Heavy rain elsewhere can flood streams and
rivers miles away.
- Since flooding can occur anywhere, the NWS advises
homeowners, renters and businesses to look into purchasing flood
insurance.
“Everyone lives in a flood zone, whether that risk is low, moderate
or high,” reads a NWS bulletin. “Over a typical 30 year home
mortgage, flooding is three times more likely to occur than fire…
Even low hazard areas are at risk. About one in three flood
insurance claims each year are paid to homeowners living outside
of high-risk areas.”
The city of Dalhart has three general areas where flooding could
be a problem, according to a map found at msc.fema.gov. The
FEMA website provides flood maps for insurance companies.
Those areas in Dalhart included: 1) the intersection of Norman and
1st St. heading north into the Tanglewood area, 2) a diagonal strip
from the intersection for 7th and Conlen south to 11th and Olive,
and 3) an area on the north side between Florida and Texas.
Check with your insurance carrier for flood insurance details.
Flooding is not the only problem during severe weather season,
which typically runs from April through June, according to Steve
Drillette, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the Amarillo
office of the National Weather Service. Look for more severe
weather awareness articles in future editions.
| Hart Motors, A Growing Company in Dalhart |
By Becky Packham
Tim and Rhonda
McMillan, owners of
Hart Motors, are
very pleased with the
progress of the
company and feel
that the company is
taking the right direction. The company had a very good year in
2007, and they are looking forward to 2008.
The McMillan’s would like to see more people consider buying a
vehicle at home, they have re-staffed where necessary to meet
the growth of the company. They have a new way of doing
business which includes continued staff training, with a focus on
customer service. The McMillans feel that they have good
people who do a good job for the customer and the company.
Hart Motors has had a good year according to Chris Bell,
General Manager of Hart Motors. According to Chris and Tim
and Rhonda McMillan, the company is doing better than
expected year to date, first quarter sales are above expected.
The staff has increased, to meet the growth, from eight to
thirteen employees. Sales have gone from around five vehicles
per month to eighteen in March.
Training of employees is not only required by Chevrolet, but also
by Hart Chevrolet Management. GM and Hart Management
make training mandatory, which is beneficial to their customers.
The training is continuous, all year long.
Besides the continuous training, in May and August is ASE
(Automotive Service Excellence) training for technicians. The
technicians also go to Denver and Oklahoma City for hands on
training. The sales staff is required to take GM Mark of
Excellence online classes at least once per month. The Finance
Department has training every year in areas of personal
information protection and credit fraud awareness. The Service
Manager and Parts Manager have continuous online training
every month. The Accounting Department also has online
training monthly. The sales staff has invested many hours in
online training for Chevrolet model line competitive comparisons
and product knowledge.
Hart Chevrolet has increased inventory from 20 units to 80 units,
and they have access to 200 units with the four stores combined,
which are Hart Motors, XIT Ford and Chrysler in Dalhart, and
XIT Ford in Boise City.
The anniversary of Hart Motors is on March 20, but the
anniversary was actually celebrated on March 27 and 28 this
year. They served hamburgers to approximately 300 people, to
show their appreciation of the area’s support.
Tim and Rhonda
McMillan, owners of
Hart Motors, are
very pleased with the
progress of the
company and feel
that the company is
taking the right direction. The company had a very good year in
2007, and they are looking forward to 2008.
The McMillan’s would like to see more people consider buying a
vehicle at home, they have re-staffed where necessary to meet
the growth of the company. They have a new way of doing
business which includes continued staff training, with a focus on
customer service. The McMillans feel that they have good
people who do a good job for the customer and the company.
Hart Motors has had a good year according to Chris Bell,
General Manager of Hart Motors. According to Chris and Tim
and Rhonda McMillan, the company is doing better than
expected year to date, first quarter sales are above expected.
The staff has increased, to meet the growth, from eight to
thirteen employees. Sales have gone from around five vehicles
per month to eighteen in March.
Training of employees is not only required by Chevrolet, but also
by Hart Chevrolet Management. GM and Hart Management
make training mandatory, which is beneficial to their customers.
The training is continuous, all year long.
Besides the continuous training, in May and August is ASE
(Automotive Service Excellence) training for technicians. The
technicians also go to Denver and Oklahoma City for hands on
training. The sales staff is required to take GM Mark of
Excellence online classes at least once per month. The Finance
Department has training every year in areas of personal
information protection and credit fraud awareness. The Service
Manager and Parts Manager have continuous online training
every month. The Accounting Department also has online
training monthly. The sales staff has invested many hours in
online training for Chevrolet model line competitive comparisons
and product knowledge.
Hart Chevrolet has increased inventory from 20 units to 80 units,
and they have access to 200 units with the four stores combined,
which are Hart Motors, XIT Ford and Chrysler in Dalhart, and
XIT Ford in Boise City.
The anniversary of Hart Motors is on March 20, but the
anniversary was actually celebrated on March 27 and 28 this
year. They served hamburgers to approximately 300 people, to
show their appreciation of the area’s support.
| Meet Your Neighbor Tyler Perdue |
By Becky Packham
Tyler Perdue moved to
Dalhart in March, 2007, from
Amarillo. Being a lifelong
resident of Amarillo, he
graduated from Trinity
Fellowship Christian School.
Perdue has worked for United
for ten years, starting as a
sacker and stocker at Bell
Street United in Amarillo.
He has also worked for
United at Washington Street,
Market Street, and Amarillo Blvd. in Amarillo, and now in
Dalhart. Tyler is the grocery manager at the store here. He
enjoys the grocery business, his position and most of all the
people he meets and helps every day.
Tyler likes people and has made friends here. His family,
mother, Karla Pace; dad, Tommy Pace; and brother Colby
Perdue, all live in Amarillo, and he visits them as often as
possible. He enjoys his family and they are very important to
him. In his spare time, Perdue loves to ride motorcycles, fishing
and hunting.
Tyler Perdue moved to
Dalhart in March, 2007, from
Amarillo. Being a lifelong
resident of Amarillo, he
graduated from Trinity
Fellowship Christian School.
Perdue has worked for United
for ten years, starting as a
sacker and stocker at Bell
Street United in Amarillo.
He has also worked for
United at Washington Street,
Market Street, and Amarillo Blvd. in Amarillo, and now in
Dalhart. Tyler is the grocery manager at the store here. He
enjoys the grocery business, his position and most of all the
people he meets and helps every day.
Tyler likes people and has made friends here. His family,
mother, Karla Pace; dad, Tommy Pace; and brother Colby
Perdue, all live in Amarillo, and he visits them as often as
possible. He enjoys his family and they are very important to
him. In his spare time, Perdue loves to ride motorcycles, fishing
and hunting.
| Alcohol Related Traffic Fatalities Rise During Prom and Graduation Season |
Prevention of underage drinking mean saving the lives of
students
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released
data from its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
showing that alcohol-related fatalities increase between the
middle of April and the middle of June. What’s significant about
these time periods? It happens to be when teenagers tend to do a
lot of partying, namely prom and graduation.
“Alcohol is one of the most difficult drugs to combat, especially
with youth,” comments Gary Smith, who is Executive Director of
Narconon Arrowhead, “Being a legal drug that is easily
obtained, clear and effective prevention and education measures
must be taken.”
The Fatality Analysis Reporting System data showed that in the
year 2000, 58% of traffic fatalities were alcohol-related during
the prom and graduation period. This compares with 41% for the
rest of the year. In addition, 36% of all alcohol-related traffic
fatalities are young people between the ages of 15 and 20, below
the legal age to consume alcoholic beverages.
This data shows that more work needs to be done on the
education and prevention front. This being said, April is national
Alcohol Awareness month and the message must be delivered,
alcohol is a drug and it costs Americans too much time, money,
lives and grief for us not to make a stand.
Advertisements from alcoholic beverage companies specifically
market to our nation’s youth, depicting a fun atmosphere, good-
looking people and sometimes a picture of total irresponsibility,
making it appealing for rebellious or thrill-seeking teenagers.
“Nobody starts using drugs or alcohol with the intent of
becoming addicted or losing their lives,” exclaims Smith, “But
when people wait and don’t get help immediately, they can die or
end up in the hospital or prison. Some people are fortunate
enough to get the help they need but those are the people that
have the courage to reach out.”
For information on Narconon’s successful drug treatment and
educational programs and materials, contact Narconon
Arrowhead at 1-800-468-6933 or visit their website at www.
stopaddiction.com. The Narconon program was founded in 1966
by William Benitez in Arizona State Prison, and is based on the
humanitarian works of L. Ron Hubbard. In more than 120
centers around the world, Narconon programs restore drug and
alcohol abusers and addicts to a clean and sober lifestyle.
students
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released
data from its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
showing that alcohol-related fatalities increase between the
middle of April and the middle of June. What’s significant about
these time periods? It happens to be when teenagers tend to do a
lot of partying, namely prom and graduation.
“Alcohol is one of the most difficult drugs to combat, especially
with youth,” comments Gary Smith, who is Executive Director of
Narconon Arrowhead, “Being a legal drug that is easily
obtained, clear and effective prevention and education measures
must be taken.”
The Fatality Analysis Reporting System data showed that in the
year 2000, 58% of traffic fatalities were alcohol-related during
the prom and graduation period. This compares with 41% for the
rest of the year. In addition, 36% of all alcohol-related traffic
fatalities are young people between the ages of 15 and 20, below
the legal age to consume alcoholic beverages.
This data shows that more work needs to be done on the
education and prevention front. This being said, April is national
Alcohol Awareness month and the message must be delivered,
alcohol is a drug and it costs Americans too much time, money,
lives and grief for us not to make a stand.
Advertisements from alcoholic beverage companies specifically
market to our nation’s youth, depicting a fun atmosphere, good-
looking people and sometimes a picture of total irresponsibility,
making it appealing for rebellious or thrill-seeking teenagers.
“Nobody starts using drugs or alcohol with the intent of
becoming addicted or losing their lives,” exclaims Smith, “But
when people wait and don’t get help immediately, they can die or
end up in the hospital or prison. Some people are fortunate
enough to get the help they need but those are the people that
have the courage to reach out.”
For information on Narconon’s successful drug treatment and
educational programs and materials, contact Narconon
Arrowhead at 1-800-468-6933 or visit their website at www.
stopaddiction.com. The Narconon program was founded in 1966
by William Benitez in Arizona State Prison, and is based on the
humanitarian works of L. Ron Hubbard. In more than 120
centers around the world, Narconon programs restore drug and
alcohol abusers and addicts to a clean and sober lifestyle.
| Tips to Make Lawn Care Easier and Your Grass Nicer |
(StatePoint) Many people find lawn work tedious. All that mowing,
watering, weeding, fertilizing and other chores can be tiresome,
especially under a hot sun.
The amount of work your lawn requires depends on the type of
grass you've chosen, as well as on the climate and your own
personal standards.
"You may be satisfied with a serviceable lawn or you may want the
greenest, freshest, most weed-free lawn in the neighborhood. It's
your choice and your time and effort," says Barbara Damrosch,
author of "The Garden Primer," the bestselling reference guide to
gardening.
The most important job in lawn care is mowing. Use whatever type
of mower you prefer and follow these general principles that
Damrosch stresses:
* Mow grasses to the correct height, as every type is different.
Cool-season grasses can be mowed shorter in spring to let the
ground warm, but higher in hot weather so they'll be less stressed.
Mow a bit higher in shaded spots.
* Most people mow too short, either because they feel it looks
tidier or because they think it'll take longer to grow back and need
mowing again. Neither is true. Mow too short and you get a yellow,
scalped look and your lawn grows faster to make up the loss of
blade surface.
* Mow regularly. This controls annual weeds by cutting stems
before they can go to seed and restrains the vigor of perennial
ones. If your grass grows too long between mowings, you can end
up with a hard-to-cut, weedy lawn that may turn brown when mowed
because the part of the blade that's been shaded isn't used to direct
sun.
* Cut no more than a third of a blade's length. And don't cut when
the grass is wet or it'll cut raggedly. Keep your mower sharp. Dull
blades will fray and chew up your lawn.
* Leave clippings to decompose and return nutrients to the soil,
unless you have big piles or clumps of tall grass cuttings that can
smother the grass beneath. You can also rake them up for compost
or mulch.
"Often we mow once a week, simply because weekends are the
only time available or because the person you hired is on a
schedule," says Damrosch. "But if you can be flexible, mow more
often when the grass is leaping, such as in spring or after a rainy
spell. Hold off when it's growing slowly."
If you've prepared the soil well and chosen a grass that likes the
climate, you'll only need to feed the lawn rarely, if at all. Producing
too much lush growth by overfeeding can make grass prone to
disease and cause a thatch layer to build up.
Putting chemical fertilizer on a lawn can burn it and over-frequent
application can cause harmful salts to build up in the soil. It can
harm needed soil organisms or make the lawn chemical-dependent
and lacking deep, strong roots.
"To boost your lawn, try top-dressing it with compost," suggests
Damrosch. "A dusting does the trick, though you can apply more
heavily over bare patches. If needed, sprinkle on some seed."
When it comes to watering, too much can be bad. If you've built a
good lawn with the right grass and plenty of organic material in the
soil, it should survive dry periods. Even if the grass looks dormant
or brown, don't panic -- the lawn usually revives when wet weather
returns.
The most important watering tip, stresses Damrosch, is to water
deeply. A shallow surface sprinkling causes roots to grow toward
the surface rather than down deep.
Water at the beginning or end of the day when less will evaporate,
and when wind won't cast water astray.
For more lawn care and gardening advice, read Damrosch's "The
Garden Primer," available at bookstores or by searching for the
book online at www.workman.com.
watering, weeding, fertilizing and other chores can be tiresome,
especially under a hot sun.
The amount of work your lawn requires depends on the type of
grass you've chosen, as well as on the climate and your own
personal standards.
"You may be satisfied with a serviceable lawn or you may want the
greenest, freshest, most weed-free lawn in the neighborhood. It's
your choice and your time and effort," says Barbara Damrosch,
author of "The Garden Primer," the bestselling reference guide to
gardening.
The most important job in lawn care is mowing. Use whatever type
of mower you prefer and follow these general principles that
Damrosch stresses:
* Mow grasses to the correct height, as every type is different.
Cool-season grasses can be mowed shorter in spring to let the
ground warm, but higher in hot weather so they'll be less stressed.
Mow a bit higher in shaded spots.
* Most people mow too short, either because they feel it looks
tidier or because they think it'll take longer to grow back and need
mowing again. Neither is true. Mow too short and you get a yellow,
scalped look and your lawn grows faster to make up the loss of
blade surface.
* Mow regularly. This controls annual weeds by cutting stems
before they can go to seed and restrains the vigor of perennial
ones. If your grass grows too long between mowings, you can end
up with a hard-to-cut, weedy lawn that may turn brown when mowed
because the part of the blade that's been shaded isn't used to direct
sun.
* Cut no more than a third of a blade's length. And don't cut when
the grass is wet or it'll cut raggedly. Keep your mower sharp. Dull
blades will fray and chew up your lawn.
* Leave clippings to decompose and return nutrients to the soil,
unless you have big piles or clumps of tall grass cuttings that can
smother the grass beneath. You can also rake them up for compost
or mulch.
"Often we mow once a week, simply because weekends are the
only time available or because the person you hired is on a
schedule," says Damrosch. "But if you can be flexible, mow more
often when the grass is leaping, such as in spring or after a rainy
spell. Hold off when it's growing slowly."
If you've prepared the soil well and chosen a grass that likes the
climate, you'll only need to feed the lawn rarely, if at all. Producing
too much lush growth by overfeeding can make grass prone to
disease and cause a thatch layer to build up.
Putting chemical fertilizer on a lawn can burn it and over-frequent
application can cause harmful salts to build up in the soil. It can
harm needed soil organisms or make the lawn chemical-dependent
and lacking deep, strong roots.
"To boost your lawn, try top-dressing it with compost," suggests
Damrosch. "A dusting does the trick, though you can apply more
heavily over bare patches. If needed, sprinkle on some seed."
When it comes to watering, too much can be bad. If you've built a
good lawn with the right grass and plenty of organic material in the
soil, it should survive dry periods. Even if the grass looks dormant
or brown, don't panic -- the lawn usually revives when wet weather
returns.
The most important watering tip, stresses Damrosch, is to water
deeply. A shallow surface sprinkling causes roots to grow toward
the surface rather than down deep.
Water at the beginning or end of the day when less will evaporate,
and when wind won't cast water astray.
For more lawn care and gardening advice, read Damrosch's "The
Garden Primer," available at bookstores or by searching for the
book online at www.workman.com.
