Mountaineers Recieve Post Season Honors

Topping the Abilene Reporter News' Six-Man All-Big Country team is Santa Anna Mountaineer Ben McIver. Ben, an SAHS Senior gained over 4000 total yards his Senior year leading Santa Anna to the Quarterfinals and an 8-2 record, was named the All Big Country Offensive Player of the Year

Others named to the team were Throckmorton's Bryce Hogue as the Most Valuable Player, Lynn Mayfield of Jayton as the Defensive Player of the Year, Andrew Santabanez of Sidney as the Newcomer of the Year, and Rule's Mike Reed as the Coach of the Year.

McIver was also named as a spread back on the All Big Country Offense, along with teammates Fausto Maldonado at defensive line, Jordan Whaley and Terrence Jackson as defensive backs.

Demetrus Reese was named as an Honorable Mention All-Big Country as a wide reciever.

Santa Anna Senior Rudy Enriquez was also named to the Texas Six-Man Coaches Association's Division I All-State Team as a Second Team kicker in late December. SAHS Sophomore Fausto Maldonado was named to the Honorable Mention Defensive Line.

Enriquez was also listed on the Texas Six-Man Coaches Association's Region IV First Team as a kicker and Maldonado was named to the Texas Six-Man Coaches Association's First Team Defense Line

McIver was named to the Texas Six-Man Coaches Association's Second Team Offense as a spreadback and Demetrus Reese as a Second Team wide reciever. Named to the Second Team Defensive Line was Fausto Maldonado (I guess Fausto was so good he made the First and Second Teams!) and Terrence Jackson at Second Team Defense as a safety.

Texas Cooperative Extension Offers Floral Design Workshop on Feb. 3

SAN ANGELO – "From the Garden to the Table" floral design workshop will be presented from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 3 at the Texas A&M University System Research and Extension Center at San Angelo. Texas Cooperative Extension will host the event.

The center is located just north of San Angelo on U.S. Highway 87.

John Begnaud, Extension horticulturist in Tom Green County, said the workshop will be presented by Jim Johnson, holder of the Benz Chair of Floral Design at Texas A&M University in College Station.

"Johnson is a world-renowned lecturer and instructor of floral design," Begnaud said. "He will be speaking on the use of unusual floral materials in flower arrangements."

The program will be underwritten and co-sponsored by Shirley Floral, The San Angelo Garden Club, Bouquets Unique Florist and Concho Valley Master Gardeners.

The meeting will be open to the public; tickets will be$5 at the door.

For more information contact the Extension office in Tom Green County at 325-659-6522.

NASA AND WOODS HOLE LINKUP CONNECTS SPACE AND SEA EXPLORERS

Two extreme explorers will connect in a unique call Friday, Jan. 26, linking the depths of the ocean with the heights of Earth orbit. NASA and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Mass., will host the ultra-long distance call between International Space Station astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams and marine biologist Tim Shank in the Alvin research submersible.

The call will take place at 1:45 p.m. CST, and will be broadcast tape-delayed on NASA Television between 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., immediately following the conclusion of a station status media briefing from NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. Williams, orbiting 220 miles overhead, and Shank, conducting research two miles undersea in the Alvin submersible, will compare notes on science and exploration. Additionally, they will field questions submitted by students and educators.

Williams, a Massachusetts native and commander in the U.S. Navy, served as a diver and helicopter pilot prior to being selected as an astronaut. Williams was a member of a NASA crew in 2002 that lived underwater for nine days in the Aquarius habitat off the Florida coast. She boarded the space station on Dec. 11, 2006, as a flight engineer for the Expedition 14 crew, joining Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and fellow Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin. Williams will spend six months on the complex.

Shank, a marine biologist in the Woods Hole's Department of Biology, is currently conducting research diving in the Alvin at the hydrothermal vent field on the East Pacific Rise. He is leading a National Science Foundation-funded research expedition as part of the RIDGE2000 program. Alvin is owned by the Navy and operated by Woods Hole as a part of the National Deep Submergence Facility.

For NASA TV downlink, schedules and streaming video information, and more information about the space station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

http://www.nasa.gov/station

Show Your Love: Buckle Up Your Kids

COLLEGE STATION – Showing your love on Valentine's Day doesn't always involve flowers and heart-shaped boxes of candy, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

One way parents show their love for their children is to make sure they are are seated in proper restraint systems every time they ride in a vehicle, said Bev Kellner, Extension program coordinator for passenger safety.

That's why each February, during the week that includes Valentine's Day, Child Passenger Safety Week is observed, she said. This year that's Feb. 11-17.

"This year's focus is on the milestone reached in saving children's lives through the use of child safety seats," Kellner said.

"From 1975 to 2005, 7,500 children (nationwide) have been saved by the correct use of child safety seats."

Choosing a safety seat for children isn't as simple as going into a store and buying one, Kellner said. The child's height, weight and age must also be taken into consideration.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "4 Steps for Kids," lists four different types of child safety seating for children of different ages and sizes:

Step 1: For the best possible protection keep babies in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep babies rear-facing until a minimum of age 1 and at least 20 pounds.

Step 2: When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at a minimum age 1 and at least 20 pounds) they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).

Step 3: Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds) they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle safety belts fit properly. Safety belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4 feet 9 inches tall).

Step 4: When children outgrow their booster seats (usually at age 8 or when they are 4 feet 9 inches tall), they can use the adult safety belt in the back seat, if it fits properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the chest). Parents and other caregivers who want to learn more about the correct use of child safety seats should plan to attend a checkup event or make an appointment at a fitting station, Kellner said. Information about fitting station locations is available at http://www.seatcheck.org/ . A schedule of child safety seat checkup events is on Extension's Family and Consumer Sciences Web site at http://fcs.tamu.edu/safety/passenger_safety/calendar/index.php .

Proper use of a child's safety seat is not as easy as it sounds.

"Nationally the misuse rate of child safety seats is reported as 85 percent, " Kellner said. "The Passenger Safety Project at Texas Cooperative Extension has seen a 99 misuse rate in the over 7,600 inspections that the program has overseen since 1999."

That's why certified technicians are available to help make sure young Texans ride safely, she said. For information on local certified child safety seat technicians, contact an Extension agent or Kellner at 979-862-1782 orbkellner@ag.tamu.edu or go to http://buckleup.tamu.edu/ . For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week, visit the Web site at http://www.nhtsa.gov/ .

Stock Show Pictures

A special SantaAnnaNews.com "Thank You!" to Becky Martin for sharing these stock show photos.

Santa Anna Lady Mountaineers Win in Overtime

Submitted by Janice Fellers.

Hey S.A. fans do you believe in miracles?

I do... after the girls come back win last night against Brookesmith in the last fourty seconds of the game, ten points down, and they tied up the game at the buzzer with the help of a couple of three point shots by Kristen Deleon to send it into overtime!

Only two points was scored by both teams in the four minute overtime, and it was Santa Anna's Layken Deleon that made the basket.

Way to go girls! We went threw the first round of district play undefeated. Tuesday night started round two with the win over Brookesmith, which is one of the strongest opponents.

So Congratulations SA Girls on a Great Win! keep up the good work and you will be District Champs!

Several Burglary Reports

I have heard several reports of burglaries around Santa Anna. Primarly from the school to the railroad tracks. There was one report of a purse stolen from a car on Avenue C during the night. I understand that there is reward and some discussion of a Crime Stoppers or neighborhood watch being organized.

If you have any information about these crimes please contact the Santa Anna Police Department.

Gov. Perry Emphasizes Need for Additional Border Security

Governor Joined by Local, State and Federal Officials at the Border

Jan. 24, 2007
MCALLEN – Gov. Rick Perry today encouraged the Texas Legislature to support a $100 million border security package to be proposed this session. Gov. Perry made this announcement at a press conference about the recent launch of Operation Wrangler, a statewide expansion of highly successful border security surge operations.

“We have launched a statewide operation this week, Operation Wrangler, to send a message to drug traffickers, human smugglers and criminal operatives that their efforts to exploit our international border will come at a great cost,” Perry said. “In order to continuously fund surge operations like this one in the future, I am asking the legislature to join me in supporting a $100 million investment in border security.”

Operation Wrangler is a coordinated interagency law enforcement surge effort intended to prevent and disrupt all crime, including illegal international drug and human trafficking. It is the second phase of Operation Rio Grande, launched February 2006, which reduced all crime by an average of 60 percent in sheriff-patrolled areas of border counties during five surge operations last year.

“There can be no safe haven for drug traffickers and human smugglers anywhere in Texas,” Perry said. “If legislators pass my $100 million border security package, we can take back our streets, neighborhoods and private ranches from the criminal scourge that currently jeopardizes them.”

Operation Wrangler will involve federal, state and local ground, air and water-borne assets, including more than 6,800 personnel, 2,200 vehicles, 48 helicopters, 33 fixed wing aircraft and 35 patrol ships. Up to 90 sheriffs’ offices and 133 police departments are participating, as well as 604 Texas Army National Guard (TANG) troops activated by Perry. These TANG troops comprise 12 armed security platoons that will deploy to various traffic crossovers along the Rio Grande River and will be accompanied by a Border Patrol agent and a local police officer.

Local, state and federal agencies involved in Operation Wrangler include the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Texas Department of Transportation; the National Park Service; the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the Texas Civil Air Patrol; the Texas Cattleman’s Association; Texas Military Forces; Texas Task Force 1; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Railroad Police; the U.S. Transportation Security Agency; the U.S. Postal Service; the U.S. Coast Guard; and the University of Texas Center for Space Research.

“The best border security policy involves more boots on the ground, more patrol cars, more helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, more patrol boats and the latest law enforcement technology. All of this costs money; but our security is worth a whole lot more.”

Gov. Perry was joined at the press conference today by local, state and federal officals.

Food Manager Training in Neighboring Counties

Texas Cooperative Extension, Coleman County, recently offered a food manager certification training course. This program is offered for $89. Cost includes training, materials, and the State food manager certification examination.

This program is designed to not only prepare foodservice managers to pass the certification examination; it will provide valuable education regarding the safe handling of food. The exam is administered on the second day of the class.

If you need this training and missed the one in Coleman on January 22-23, there are more opportunities to take it in the near future, in neighboring counties.

January 29 & 30, 2007 (2-Day Course) - San Saba County, 1601 W. Dry Street, San Saba, TX 76877. Agent Carolyn McDowell (325)-372-5416 or cl-mcdowell@tamu.edu

February 26 and March 5, 2007 (2-Day Course) - Taylor County, 1982 Lytle Way, Abilene, TX 79602. Agent Judy Gully (325)-672-6048 or jk-gully@tamu.edu

There will also be a class in Brady, in McCulloch County, in February, at a time to be announced. For more information call Debbie Hailey at the Coleman County Extension Office at 325-625-4519. The course will be offered again in Coleman later this year.

Perry Praises Appraisal Reform Plan

Proposal will empower taxpayers, improve fairness and stop runaway appraisal growth

Jan. 23, 2007
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today praised members of the Task Force on Appraisal Reform for their work and said he strongly supports their plan to reform Texas' broken property appraisal system.

"Today's recommendations provide better protections for taxpayers from silent tax hikes, more accountability through elected representation on appraisal review boards and greater tax predictability for homebuyers," Perry said. "Taken together, this package will improve the accuracy of appraisals, prevent future unfunded state mandates on local government, and ensure taxpayers are no longer rendered powerless in stopping large tax and spending increases that often occur without even a vote of their local representatives."

The Task Force's report recommends that lawmakers pass five key statutory changes and two constitutional changes:

• Require voter approval for any local taxing entity (excluding schools) to charge or collect revenues from ad valorem taxes in excess of the approved prior year's budgeted tax revenue plus 5%.
• Improve fairness and consistency in the appraisal process. Appraisal boards would be comprised of five members, including two taxpayer representatives, and taxpayers would have new options in challenging property valuations.
• Change the comptroller's property valuation study, which is used to equitably distribute state funding to schools, as well as provide uniformity in local property appraisal practices.
• Prohibit the state from passing unfunded mandates to local governments in the future.
• Require sales price disclosure.
• Change the constitution to allow taxpayers the option of calculating their property taxes using a 5-year rolling average of the property's appraised value.
• Change the constitution to lower the residential appraisal cap on city and county taxes from 10% to 5%, double the local property tax homestead exemption to $6,000 and allow local governments the option of conducting an election to enact a half-cent countywide sales tax constitutionally dedicated to property tax reduction. The appraisal cap could be lowered to five percent only in counties that vote for a half-cent countywide sales tax increase.

"There is nothing fair about property tax bills increasing 233 percent across Texas in less than 20 years, or a forty-six percent increase on residential homesteads in major metropolitan areas from 2000 to 2004," Perry said. "If Texans are going to be taxed every year on the same property, there at least needs to be a belief among the public that every precaution is being taken to keep their tax bills from rising any faster than needed."

"By making sales data available to appraisers, requiring elected officials to review the appraisal rolls and giving voters greater authority over total tax bills, we can protect Texans from skyrocketing tax bills, provide local governments the room for growth they need, and ensure that tax relief passed last year results in greater savings," Perry said.

More Super Bowl

Are you tired of hearing about it yet? You will be!

I try to double proofread what I write and spellcheck that but sometimes I read what I have written the night before and I think, "What was is that supposed to mean?" Monday was one of those days... so I rewrote some of it to make some sense if it can.

I really don't like Peyton Manning or the Colts too much so I guess I am going to have to pull for the Bears.

A few other Texas Bear notables:
Dusty Dvoracek a 3rd round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft is from Lake Dallas Texas and is on the Bear's injured reserve as a defensive tackle. He played offensive guard and defensive tackle at Lake Dallas and went on to play defensive tackle for the University of Oklahoma.

Also on injured reserve for the Bears is 2006 4th round draft pick linebacker Jamar Williams from Houston. Jamar played football at Langham Creek High School and Arizona State.

On the Bear's practice squad is Brandon Rideau from Beaumont Texas. Brandon played college football at the University of Kansas and played wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns as a free agent in 2005.

Also on the Bear's practice squad is former Texas Tech safety Dwayne Slay.

There are some Texas Colts as well:
Colts' running back Dominic Rhodes was born in Waco and played high school football and ran track at Abilene Cooper. His senior year at Cooper he ran for 2,193 yards and 35 touchdowns to lead Cooper to the 5A State Championship where the fell to Austin Westlake who was quaterbacked by All-Pro Drew Brees, the former Sasn Diego Charger now New Orleans Saint.

The Colts' running back Joseph Addai is from Houston Texas where he played for the Sharpstown High Fighting Apollos. Addai played fullback and running back for Lousiana State University where he rushed for 2577 yards and was an All American. Drafted in 2006 by the Colts Addai set a Colts record for rushing touchdowns in a game and an NFL rookie rushing record for touchdowns in a game and the first NFL rookie to rush for over 1000 yards without starting a single regular season game.

The Colts' offensive guard Dylan Gandy was born in Harlingen and played both ways for Pflugerville High School. He played a guard, tackle, and center for Texas Tech.

Colts' defensive end Bo Schobel is from Columbus Texas and played at TCU.

Colts's linebacker Gilbert Gardner was born in Angleton Texas and played Purdue.

Colts' punter Hunter Smith was born in Sherman Texas. and long snapper Justin Snow played for Abilene Cooper. Snow also played a defensive end and long snapper for Baylor where he never missed a snap.

Defensive tackle Montar Reagor is listed as a Colts' non-football illness/injury and he is from Waxahachie. He played for Texas Tech where he holds a career record 24.5 sacks and 47 tackles for losses and was an All-American.

Colts' owner Jim Irsay graduated from SMU in 1982 and became the youngest ever team owner when his fathered died in 1997 and he won a legal battle with his stepmother for the team.

Overall I think the Bears got the best former Texas players in the Super Bowl and win or lose there may just be a few small towns in Texas celebrating this Super Bowl.

Gov. Perry Announces Phase II of State-Led Border Security Operation

Operation Wrangler expands border crime initiatives statewide

Jan. 22, 2007
AUSTIN – Today Gov. Rick Perry announced the launch of Operation Wrangler, a statewide expansion of highly successful border security surge operations. This statewide surge operation will be active for an undisclosed period of time in different areas across Texas.

“Operation Wrangler continues the state’s steadfast efforts to prevent and disrupt criminal activity along the border region by expanding security measures statewide,” Perry said. “An unsecured border affects the entire state of Texas and our nation as a whole. Until the federal government brings the necessary resources to bear, Texas will continue to do all we can to secure our border and protect our citizens.”

Operation Wrangler is a coordinated interagency law enforcement surge effort intended to prevent and disrupt all crime and illegal international drug and human trafficking. Operation Wrangler will involve federal, state and local ground, air and water-borne assets, including more than 6,800 personnel, 2,200 vehicles, 48 helicopters, 33 fixed wing aircraft and 35 patrol ships.

In addition to the more than 1,700 Texas Army National Guard troops Gov. Perry activated for Operation Jump Start to support U.S. Border Patrol activities, he has activated an additional 604 troops, comprising 12 armed security platoons. These platoons will deploy to various traffic crossovers along the Rio Grande River to support Operation Wrangler, and each platoon will be accompanied by a Border Patrol agent and a local police officer.

Local, state and federal agencies involved in Operation Wrangler include up to 90 sheriffs’ offices and 133 police departments; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Texas Department of Transportation; the National Park Service; the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the Texas Civil Air Patrol; the Texas Cattleman’s Association; Texas Military Forces; Texas Task Force 1; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Immigration & Customs Enforcement; the Railroad Police; the U.S. Transportation Security Agency; the U.S. Postal Service; the U.S. Coast Guard; and the University of Texas Center for Space Research.

The Border Security Operations Center (BSOC) within the State Operations Center will serve as a central point of coordination for state, local and federal officials during Operation Wrangler. Joint Operational Intelligence Centers (JOIC) will be positioned throughout the state to provide real-time information and intelligence in support of these surge operations. Five of the JOICs will be located at Border Patrol offices along the border and the others will be located along smuggling corridors around the state.

“We have proven that our strategy of increasing manpower and patrols along the border decreases criminal activity,” Perry said. “We will continue to apply these methods of success across the state, and I will continue to urge Congress to meet its long-term responsibility by providing the necessary resources and manpower to secure our nation’s borders.”

Operation Rio Grande, launched February 2006, reduced all crime by an average of 60 percent in sheriff-patrolled areas of border counties during five surge operations last year. Perry will ask the Texas Legislature for an additional $100 million during the legislative session to sustain border security efforts.

“This effort is about making our border more secure and our neighborhoods safer,” Perry said. “This unprecedented effort is just the beginning of a long-term commitment to rid our state of drug trafficking and human smuggling.”

Super Bowl

I am sure if you care you were there but I will recap Sunday's games a little anyhow.

Well I was sort of pulling for the New Orleans Saints to make it to the Super Bowl but they fell to the Chicago Bears by a score of 39-14 Sunday afternoon in the NFC Championship played in Chicago.

The Bears are good this year. A few notable Texas facts about the Bears:
The Bears' Head Coach, Lovie Smith, was born in Gladewater Texas. He was a three time All State player and played defensive end and linebacker for Big Sandy High School in East Texas. The Big Sandy Wildcats won their three Class B State Championships when he played there in 1973, 1974, and 1975. The 1974 championship game against Celina ended in a 0-0 tie and the UIL named both teams co-champions. In 1975 Big Sandy set a national scoring record of 824 points in a season. He played safety and linebacker at the University of Tulsa and was a two time All-American. He returned to coach Big Sandy in 1980. He is also the first African American head coach to make it to the Super Bowl and the lowest paid NFL coach this year... I bet that won't happen again!

Bears' running back Cedric Benson is from Midland and played at baseball and football at Midland Lee where he had 8,423 rushing yards which was the most in Texas 5A history and the fourth most in Texas high school football history. He also lead the Rebels to three consecutive state championships with fifteen touchdowns in those three games. He was the first high school player to ever make the cover of Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine. He went on to be a star at the University of Texas where he was a four year starter and rushed for 5,540 yards to rank sixth all time in NCAA Division IA history and second to Ricky Williams in school history.

The Bears' free safety Danieal Manning, drafted 42nd in the 2006 NFL draft, played for Abilene Christian. He was the first non-division 1 school player drafted in 2006 and only the second highest in ACU's history. He was a track star and Second Team All State defensive back at Corsicana High School and signed with Nebraska in 2001 but never enrolled. For more information about Danieal Manning see ACU's Danieal Manning Player Bio

The Bears' Offensive Guard, Roberto Garza, is from Rio Hondo Texas where he lettered in football and track. He played College football and track at Texas A&M - Kingsville where he was an All-Amercian center and won the NCAA discus in 1999 and the shot put in 2000. He is only one of nineteen Hispanic players in the NFL.

Bears offensive tackle, Fred Miller is from Houston and played college football at Baylor.

Bears' Defensive Tackle Tommie Harris is from Killeen Texas. Harris played football and through the shot for the Killeen Ellison Eagles. He played college football for the University of Oklahoma.

The Bears' corner back Derrick Strait is from Austin where he played for Lanier High School and also went on the play at the University of Oklahoma.

Bears' corner back Charles Tillman played high school football at Copperas Cove High School where he was a Class 5A All State Honorable Mention. He went on to play for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Bears' corner back Nathan Vasher is from Wichita Falls Texas but played football at Texarkana where he was an All State wide receiver and corner back. He went on to play for the University of Texas where he returned punts, played safety, and corner back where he tied a school record for 17 interceptions and was an All American punt returner.

The Bears will face Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts who beat the New England Patriots in Sunday night's AFC Championship in an amazing 38-34 comeback win at Indianapolis.

Should be a good game to watch in a couple of weeks.

Snow and Rain Fall

The snow and rain left an inch or so of moisture in my gauges.

Saturday Tex Wright reported, "Here at the foot of the Santa Anna Mountain, I have had about 9/10" as of 1:00PM. Still some drizzle falling."

1 and 1 Web Hosting Service

Want your own dot com?

This is a great time to get it whether you just want it for an e-mail address of your own, like james@yourlastname.com, or for putting some family pictures on the web, or getting your business on the web
1 and 1 is by far your best bet!

Any questions just send me an e-mail and I will be happy to help you get started, or just click the 1 and 1 ad on the left, or any of the links in this article.