Freshman Jordan Whaley came off the bench to replace Air Terrance and what a job he did!
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Friday and other ramblings
I am afraid I don't have much news for your Friday..
The cold front blew in about 7:00PM Thursday night as I was trying to put the felt on the half of my garage that I have decked. Not just a whole lot of fun in the 15-25mph winds.
With lows in the 30's overnight and a high on Friday in the 30's and 40 percent chance of rain late Friday and Saturday it probably won't be too good a weekend for roofing!
We sure need the rain and the Winter weather though so I can't complain too much.
It is one of my favorite times of year as far as sports go.
Having just finished up with the Super Bowl and now with the Winter Olympics, Daytona 500 and Nascar season starting, and then March Madness there is plenty of good sports on TV.
I have been watching the Olympics off and on. I am not too much on the figure skating, but that speed skating and downhill skiing are some crazy stuff now. Anybody that can throw themselves down a snow covered mountain in excess of 100 mph deserves a medal of some sort. The USA team is not doing all that great in the medal race as they were fourth on Thursday.
And then there is American Idol... but I am going to have to save that for later.
How about old Willie's new song about gay cowboys? I think I have just about heard everything now but that's going to have to wait too.
Well have a good weekend and we will see back on Monday.
Basketball Playoffs
In Class A Division 2 area girls basketball playoffs some might be interested to know some scores from Tuesday night:
Brookesmith won over Santa Anna's District 12 Runner-up, Robert Lee, 53-25 and will face District 10 Runner-up Grandfalls-Royalty at San Angelo Lakeview Friday at 6:30
District 12 Champ, Water Valley, barely won over District 11 Runner-up Rochelle 47-44 and will face the Highland girls which smoked the Priddy Girls 49-29.
See the UIL 1A-Division 2 Girls Basketball Playoffs page for the full bracket and latest results.
In Class A Division 2 area boys basketball District 12 Champion, Water Valley will face the Runner-up from District 11 Richland Springs and District 12 Runner-up Bronte will face District 11 Champ Eden.
See the UIL 1A-Division 2 Boys Basketball Playoffs page for the full bracket and latest results.
Physically Active for a Lifetime
Would you like to be in good health for the rest of your life? We can't promise that, but we can help you get on the road to a lifetime of better health. It is recommended that individuals strive to get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity 4 or 5 days of the week.
What are the benefits? Let's look at a few:
* Reduces the risk of dying of coronary artery disease
* Decreases the risk of colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure
* Helps to control weight
* Contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints
* Helps to relieve the pain of arthritis
* Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression
You are invited to our Better Living for Texans class on Wed., February 22, at 1:00 p.m., at the Head Start Meeting Room, as we talk about fitness and Walk Across Texas.
For more information, call Debbie Hailey, County Extension Agent, at 625-4519.
You might be from Santa Anna
You might be from Santa Anna if you have a Phillip's Drug Co. labeled bottle in your medicine cabinet...
State Nature Tourism Seminar Scheduled in Albany
A $5 BILLION dollar industry in Texas alone, Nature Tourism is growing. Mark your calendar and plan to attend a full-day Nature Tourism Seminar & Tour titled "The Nature of Everything: Integrating Public Desire for Nature with Your Tourism Product." Sponsored by the Texas Travel Industry Association (TTIA), the Texas Nature Tourism Council (TNTC) and Texas A&M Cooperative Extension (TCE), the workshop will be held on April 19, 2006 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Stasney's Cook Ranch in Abilene. Just $35.00! Includes Lunch & Transportation from Abilene!
The workshop focuses on providing attendees useful market information for integrating the public's desire for nature related activities with existing or potential tourism products. Expert presenters from across Texas will provide market data, success stories and helpful planning resources.
Convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce private landowners, business people, marketing organizations and anyone interested in increasing economic development through nature tourism are invited to attend and participate.
The workshop is being held at the same time as the Texas Department of Transportation's annual Travel Counselors Conference. Those attending the nature tourism workshop may also sign up to attend TxDOT's evening dinner after the workshop (additional fee required).
Please contact Jennifer Roush or Rose Koosman at the TTIA office for more details, to register or for answers to any questions, 512-476-4472, http://www.ttia.org/.
Here's the Big Scoop!
Some thought it was a large boat or yacht coming through town but it was actually a 75 yard drag line bucket on it's way from Houston to Wyoming. The bucket, which left Houston last Saturday, stopped for a little over an hour Friday waiting in front of Cen-Tex Land for the traffic light to be raised and a couple of signs to be moved. Looks like it will take a long time to get to Wyoming at this rate!
Thanks to Brandi McIver of Cen-Tex Land Co. for sending the story and these photos in.
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Friday Night Mountaineer Basketball
It was the final game of the season for the Mountaineers. It was without the Lady Mountaineers opening as the Mountaineers took on the Paint Rock Indians alone in Paint Rock and it was not without some controversy. Santa Anna has historicly had the short end of the stick with San Angelo officiating and Friday Night's game started out no different. As a flagrant foul early in the first quarter went without notice by the officials the Santa Anna fans became a little unruly including this one. A timeout was called by the Santa Anna coach to try and gain some sympathy but as usual none was to be had. One of the officials chose to settle the unruly crowd down and seemingly at random picked out one Santa Anna fan to be ejected from the gymnasium. It could have been almost any of us but after the Santa Anna fan was identified, perogitive affirmation by the Paint Rock coach, confirmation by their clock keeper, the fan was asked to leave, then he exited under protest, and the game resumed.
The Mountaineers overcame the distractions and held their ground for the rest of the game to beat the Indians 76-62 in what was a very close game for the most part. I should add that the officiating improved to the dislike of the Paint Rock fans and the light Santa Anna crowd was much quieter for the rest of the game.
More game photos in the album on the Sports Page.
KangaRooooo D
Air Jordan
Reverse Mortgages
Andrew B. Crocker, Extension Program Specialist - Gerontology Health
Submitted by Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS
A reverse mortgage is a loan against your home that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live there. For many Americans, working toward owning their own home is the dream of a lifetime. Carefully consider all your options and make an informed decision should you decide to take out a reverse mortgage on your home.
To qualify for most loans, the lender checks your income to see how much you can afford to pay back each month. With a reverse mortgage, you do not have to make monthly payments so you don't need a minimum amount of income to qualify. You could have no income and still be able to get a reverse mortgage. The loan amount is determined by the value of your home and the equity you have in it. Other than equity in your home and a clear title, the only real qualification for a reverse mortgage is to be age 62 or older. There are three different reverse mortgage plans from which you may choose and each is different from the other.
A single-purpose reverse mortgage is usually offered by state and local government agencies and non-profit organizations. While these mortgages have low up-front costs they are not available in all areas and the money they provide may only be used for a specified purpose, such as home repairs, property taxes or medical expenses.
Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) are federally insured reverse mortgages, backed by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These mortgages may be more expensive than a single-purpose mortgage. The money received from HECMs may be used for any purpose. Since HECMs are federally insured, any change in the valuation of your home at the end of the loan period that may leave you owing more money than the original amount will be covered by HUD.
A third type of reverse mortgage is known as a proprietary reverse mortgage. These mortgages are usually offered by private companies and may have higher total cost than the previous two. Since these loans are offered by private companies, terms may vary from one company to the next.
Single-purpose reverse mortgages are usually only available to individuals who meet certain income requirements. Proprietary reverse mortgages usually benefit those with higher value homes. Careful consideration and consultation with an independent credit counseling service may be necessary to make the decision that best suits your needs.
The cash you get from a reverse mortgage can be paid as a single lump sum of cash, a regular monthly cash advance, a line of credit account that lets you decide when and how much of your available cash is paid to you or a combination of these payment methods. No matter how this loan is paid out, you typically do not have to make monthly payments. The balance of the loan is due when you die, sell your home or permanently move out of your home. Depending on the terms of your loan agreement, you heirs may be responsible for this amount.
When a reverse mortgage becomes due and payable, you may owe a lot of money and your equity may be very small. Remember, a hallmark of the reverse mortgage is decreasing equity in your home and increasing debt to the lending institution. In fact, the debt owed to the lending institution will draw interest at a rate that is usually determined by a market average. If you have the loan for a long time, or if your home's value decreases, there may not be any equity left at the end of the loan. Reverse mortgages do not always have rising debt and falling equity. If a home's value grows rapidly, your equity could increase over time. Keep in mind that most home values do not grow at consistently high rates. So the majority of reverse mortgages end up being "rising debt, falling equity" loans.
HECM applicants are required to receive counseling from an independent counseling agency prior to initiating their mortgage. It may not be a bad idea that anyone considering a reverse mortgage, no matter if counseling is required or not, receive some sort of financial counseling. HUD maintains a list of HUD-approved counselors through their website. Go to http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmlist.cfm for more information.
If you are interested in a reverse mortgage, consider the following tips from the Federal Trade Commission
* Shop around and compare your options
* Remember that all HECM lenders must follow rules set by HUD meaning that all fees, interest rates and other terms of the loan will be the same
* Be certain that you understand all the terms and conditions that could make the loan due and payable
* Be cautious if anyone approaches you about a reverse mortgage
* Generally, you have three business days after signing the loan document to cancel it for any reason
A reverse mortgage is not an arrangement into which you should enter lightly. Carefully consider other alternatives and seek independent, outside counsel before you make any decision regarding your home or the equity you have amassed in it.
For more information, contact Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS. You may also contact the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov or 1.877.382.4357.
Texas Cooperative Extension to Offer Food Manager Certification Training Course
Submitted by Debbie Hailey - Coleman County Extension Agent Family & Consumer Sciences
Statistics indicate that food borne illness continues to be a health issue in the United States. Each year, 1 in 4 Americans will become sick, 1 in 1,000 will become hospitalized, and 5,000 will die due to a food borne illness. During the past legislative session, a statute was amended that allowed the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to require each food establishment to have one certified food manager.
Recently, the Texas Board of Health adopted rules to implement this statute. Many of you have already received a letter from the Texas Department of State Health Services regarding this. Under these new rules, each food establishment permitted by the Texas Department of State Health Services must have one certified food manager. New food manager certificates will be valid for 5 years.
Texas Cooperative Extension, Taylor County, is offering a Food Manager Certification Training Course. This program will be offered for $79 on February 27-28, at the Taylor County Extension Office. Cost includes: training, materials, and the State food manager certification examination. This program is designed to not only prepare food service managers to pass the certification examination; it will provide valuable education regarding the safe handling of food. Almost 50 cents of every dollar Americans spend on food is spent on meals prepared away from home. Therefore, careful attention to food safety will help keep customers safe and satisfied.
Food borne illnesses are estimated to cost thousands of dollars in lost wages, insurance, and medical bills. With these statistics, knowledge of how to prevent food borne illness is essential. The benefits of improved food safety include:
* Increased customer satisfaction
* Improved relationships with health officials
* Prevention of bad publicity and law suits due to food borne illness
By attending the course, food service managers will learn about:
* identifying potentially hazardous foods and common errors in food handling
* preventing contamination and cross-contamination of food
* teaching and encouraging personal hygiene for employees
* complying with government regulations
* maintaining clean utensils, equipment and surroundings
* controlling pests
Food borne illnesses can be prevented by following simple food safety practices. For more information about the Food Manager Certification Training course of Texas Cooperative Extension, called "Food Safety: It's Our Business," call Debbie Hailey at 325-625-4519, or Judy Gully in Taylor County, at 325-672-6048. Brochures are also available at the Extension Office.
Debbie Hailey will plan to conduct a food manager certification training course in Coleman County in March of this year. If you are interested in attending this training, please contact Debbie now, so she can make plans for the 2-day training series.
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