Dalhart City Manager Greg Duggan is urging Dalhart Residents to spray bushes, shrubs, trees and other vegetation in their yards for mosquitoes. Duggan said he had swarms of mosquitoes in his yard, but after he sprayed a garden-hosed dispensed insecticide, he only found one the next day.

    The Dalhart City Council voted to propose a tax rate for fiscal year 2010 of $0.3333 per $100 valuation at Tuesday’s regular meeting. It should be stressed that the city council did not approve this rate; it is proposing this as the 2010 tax rate. The actual tax rate will be set after hearings have been held to get information from the public about the tax rate. The proposed rate is the same as last year’s rate, but will increase revenue to the city due to an increase in property valuations. Because of the higher property valuations, this is considered a tax increase, even though the rate has not changed. By state law, approving the tax rate has to be done as a record vote by the council. Voting yes on the proposed tax rate were Chris Bell, Zelda Lang, Mark Brown, David Bierbaum, Kerry Miller and Fidel Olivarez. No member of the council present at the meeting voted against the proposed tax rate.

Hectic crowds, overwhelming checkout lines, restless children, pillaged piles of clothing and school supplies; what could make this all worth while?  Of course, Tax-Free Weekend.  For many families with school aged youth, the tax-free weekend offers savings in these trying economic times. While you may have to weigh the savings versus a migraine headache, if you have children and are looking for ways to save, Tax-Free Weekend fits the bill. 

    Free food! Who could pass that up?  With XIT came the all familiar free feeds that XIT Reunion is famous for.  From the juicy watermelon feed, succulent pork chop feed, to the world’s largest free barbeque, there was no shortage of food or good times.

  This year’s XIT Parade was both memorable and enjoyable.  A tree-lined, 100-year-old street dotted with American flags, horses, antique cars, bands, and filled with joyous people.  What could be better?    Attendees of all ages enjoyed the festivities.  From a little boy, with a mesmerized gleam in his eye; to an old-timer with that same distinctive gleam, it was an enjoyable time for anyone of any age.

One of the biggest events of the 20th century, World War II was the broadest and most destructive war of all time.  It divided nations, redefined international alliances, devastated populations, ethnic groups, and economies; and ushered in the era known as the Cold War.  From 1941 to 1945 Americans, particularly Texans rallied to supply unprecedented levels of manpower and equipment all the while making great sacrifices to support the wartime effort.

    Twenty-four Hartley County 4-H members attended County Camp at the Texas 4-H Center in Brownwood, on July 13-16. Camp experiences included canoeing, archery, riflery, and swimming. In addition, campers were introduced to outdoor environmental education and instructed in the process of setting up a campsite. The challenge course this year featured a 40 foot climb up a cargo net and descent via a zip-line.

   The Dalhart Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy sponsored the 32nd annual Joe Nisbett XIT 5-K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Saturday, August 8th 2009 and Occupational Health co-sponsored the event.  All proceeds from the run go directly to benefit the Dalhart Senior Citizens Center and the Senior Center would like to express its gratitude for the generosity of the sponsors in this event.

Jamie Coleen Frazier was crowned as the 73rd XIT Rodeo Queen Saturday evening at the XIT Arena.  Warm weather, enthused fans, and a great day for rodeo made the Queen’s Contest enjoyable.    

Jamie is the 16 year old daughter of Joel and Donna Frazier.  She is the granddaughter of the late Neal and Jessie Petty and Sarah Jo and the late JD Frazier.  Jamie will be a junior at the Dalhart High School this coming year, where she is ranked in the top 10 percent of her class holding a GPA of 3.769.  Hobbies of Jamie’s include team roping, basketball, golf, and playing with her nephew, Ethan.  Jamie is an active member the United States Team Roping Association, AQHA, and Sub Debs.  Among Jamie’s many accomplishments, she was Little Miss XIT and a competitor in the United States Team Roping National Finals.  Upon completion of high school, Jamie plans on attending Texas Tech University and majoring in medicine.

    Texas Ag Commissioner Todd Staples paid a visit to Dalhart on Friday, touring Hilmar Cheese Factory, holding a public reception at the Coliseum, and riding in the Grand Entry of Friday’s XIT Rodeo.  Commissioner Staples made a promise in his first term as Texas Ag Commissioner to visit all 254 counties of Texas.  Staples first term focus has been on “connectivity between rural and urban/suburban communities, promoting the state’s agriculture/livestock economies, public food safety, school nutrition programs, rural Texas jobs, and fairly enforcing the state’s weights and measures laws including calibration of gas station pumps.” 

    Frontier Fuel Co., a sales agency with Pioneer Hi-Bred, has donated a $1,000 scholarship to Corlee Priestley at Dalhart High School.  Frontier Fuel Co., was awarded this scholarship money for its dedication to customer-focused activities throughout the year. 

    Colten Hicks, Dalhart, Texas, is a new junior member of the American Angus Association®, reports Bryce Schumann, CEO of the national organization with headquarters in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

    While reading a new book, I came across a phrase that made me stop and think: “History hovers.” I love history; so much so, that I am often accused of not living in the present. We’ve all heard, “History repeats itself,” but the idea of history “hovering” sounds as though it waits, just out of sight, until an opportunity presents itself to land and replay a past performance.

    A group of ten girls from Dalhart, Amarillo and Snyder completed their summer basketball playing July 11-12 in Amarillo. The team, Xtra Degree, participated in seven basketball tournaments this summer. They played a total of 35 games over 3 ½ months. Dalhart team members and their last completed grade in school include: Karley White - 8, Brynn Dunham - 9, Shelby Taylor - 8, Jordan Banks - 10, Kassidy Lenz - 8, Jeana Sybesma – 9, and Jennifer Quint – 8; team member from Snyder: Skylar Morris - 10; and team members from Amarillo: Lexi O’Hair – 8, and Elizabeth McDaniel - 8. The team was coached by WTAMU Lady Buff Megan McLain.

    Big city lights, the hustle and bustle, and great entertainment venues made big city living awesome, but something was missing; most simply home.  As the lines of a famous song go, “the glitz and glamour are nice, but there is no place quite like home.”  I never realized how true that iconic lyric is.  It has been three years, and I now return to Dalhart, fully knowing the unmatchable allure of home.