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DISD Board approves laptops for students

By Dr. Randy Mohundro, DISD Superintendent
Special to the Free Press

At its regular monthly meeting, Thursday, October 22, the Board of Trustees of the DeLeon School District took a major step to bring all classrooms of the district into the digital age by adopting a program known as E^X-ST²EAL, STUDENTS TRANSFORMING THEIR EDUCATION AND LEARNING.

The program, as adopted by the Board, will put a new laptop computer into the hands of every high school student when they return from the semester break in January. The district will use its federal stimulus money to fund a majority of the program.

The program was adopted following a presentation and explanation of the program from a teacher-led task force from the high school campus, the district technology team, and the administration.

E^X-ST²EAL is more than a program that puts a laptop computer into the hands of students. It is about using electronics, including computers, to transform the manner in which students are taught and how they learn.

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Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em, for the end draws near

By JON AWBREY, Publisher

The great American plant received another blow last week, when the Board of Directors of the Comanche County Consolidated Hospital District voted to ban tobacco use campus wide.

The much debated smoking ban was obviously on the minds of the Board during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, as the topic eclipsed much of the business routinely discussed.

Directors were confronted by a wide ranging survey measuring support for the ban with a variety of responses. Some were pro-ban, some were anti-ban,  …

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FUMC to sponsor Harvest Festival

FUMC FALL FESTIVAL. Gayle Stroud, Joe Beach and Barbara McCrary are pictured above with some of the many items which will be auctioned off Saturday night during the FUMC Fall Festival downtown including quilts, guns, and a baseball cap autographed by Ranger pitcher Eric Hurley. One of the quilts, an autograph or friendship quilt, is from the estate of the late Woodley Sadberry, and the other, a sampler quilt, was created by the Third Wednesday Quilters. The guns, donated by Joe Beach, include a 107-year-old shotgun and a pre-1964 Winchester rifle. Photo by Laura Kestner

DeLeon City Hall will host the annual First United Methodist Church Harvest Festival Saturday, November 7, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

During the day, traditional booths such as the Christmas booth with clothing and decorations; the Kountry Kitchen, which offers homemade pies, cakes, jellies and breads; and the Casserole Shop with homemade casseroles and the recipes will be featured.

The youth of the church will offer hot sauces for sale; and Christmas decorations, gently used books, dishes and many other unique items will be offered at the Country Store.

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Sirens fill a silent sky during Tuesday morning accidents

DeLeon’s usual early morning tranquility was interrupted Tuesday, when two major traffic accidents occurred four minutes and only six blocks apart in southwest DeLeon.

At 7:54 a.m. a pickup driven by DeLeon resident Cecil Easley was travelling southbound on Cato, when it struck head on a Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by Comanche resident Larry Kincheloe.

According to DeLeon Police Chief Ralph Dickey, Easley was attempting to turn left onto Hampton Street when the accident occurred, and turned in front of the northbound motorcycle.

DeLeon Volunteer Fire Department and DeLeon Police and at least one off duty emergency medic responded to the accident.

Easley was not injured in the incident, but Kincheloe received major injuries to his left leg, right arm, and complained of chest pains following the accident.

A medical aircraft was called from Brownwood, and DeLeon firefighters transported Kincheloe several blocks to the helicopter in the back of a pickup truck, as the serious nature of his injuries made it impractical to await an ambulance - a policy that is well justified in a mass casualty situation.

As emergency vehicles screamed toward the accident on Cato, Eastland resident Kathy Hagood drove her 2002 Oldsmobile one block north of Hampton to avoid the oncoming emergency personnel rushing to the Cato accident.

However, being unfamiliar with the area, Hagood ran a stop sign at the intersection of Austin and Ross, striking a 2003 Saturn driven by DeLeon resident TrevaWygle on the front passenger side.

Wygle was transporting two juvenile passengers with her at the time of the accident, and one received apparent minor injuries that necessitated the use of an ambulance. The injured passenger was transported to Comanche County Medical Center.

According to Dickey, speed was not a factor in the accident.

DeLeon firefighters, EMS, and Comanche County Sheriff’s Department responded.

DeLeon Fire Chief Doyle Rone praised the efforts of the firefighters who were tested by the morning’s accidents, saying that they worked and communicated well together.

Ballenger battles cancer, proves inspirational

By LAURA KESTNER, Editor

Jamie Ballenger, 32, is well-known in the area as an energetic, enthusiastic volunteer. She’s involved in school activities, works with the young cheerleaders in the Youth Football League, and devoted hours of her time to the first DeLeon Open Rodeo this past summer. She and her husband, Brad, were also instrumental in bringing a “chili for charity” event to DeLeon several years ago. They both continue to work the event, sponsored by the Armstrong Masonic Lodge, because they believe in the cause.

BALLENGER FAMILY. Jamie Ballenger and family at the Chili Cook-Off in 2008.

For a long time, Jamie has also been concerned about the ever-increasing number of people in DeLeon who are diagnosed with cancer each year. There are so many people, so many different kinds of cancer. Some she knows, some she doesn’t. Some survive, others don’t.

They, and their families, are in her thoughts and prayers. Recently, Jamie sat down and compiled a list, and in minutes had more than a dozen names. Not just statistics -- real people -- her friends and even family members. And to that list she added her own name.

Diagnosed in March of this year with a rare form of leukemia, she is scheduled to receive treatment, including chemotherapy, until at least February of 2010. But despite her diagnosis, Jamie continues as she always has -- energetic and enthusiastic -- and helping out wherever she’s needed.

“I can’t let this thing rule my life,” she said.

When her hair started falling out in clumps, she shaved her head, put on a brightly-colored scarf and cap, and kept going. She said she was terrified when the last of her hair was gone, but she worked the chili cook-off, rodeo and other events with her new “do” and just kept going. Her courage is proving to be inspirational to many, but Jamie said she’s simply trying to “hold on to normal.”

“I have a gene mutation in my bone marrow that causes this sort of leukemia, and it’s really rare for someone my age,” Jamie said. “I take treatment twice a week now, but I was doing it three days a week for a while.”

Almost simultaneous with the leukemia diagnoses, Jamie underwent a lumpectomy for a breast tumor. That surgery was successful, but the leukemia has proved more problematic.

“My bone marrow is not responding to treatment like the doctors had hoped it would,” she said. Jamie said that she is not a candidate for treatment at cancer research centers because she doesn’t fit the trial criteria.

When speaking of her illness, every time she notes something negative that cancer has impacted her life, she counters it with something positive.

“It's hard some days, but God has blessed me with two beautiful children – Linsey, 15, and Justin, 10 -- who help keep me on my toes,” she said.

“Don't get me wrong, I have days that I can't get out of bed, but I can't let this beat me.”

Although her upbeat attitude is crucial to her mental, and perhaps physical, well-being, Jamie acknowledges that the diagnosis has actually been harder on her family in some ways.

“My kids are afraid that this is a death sentence,” she said. “But we know people, including family members who’ve had cancer and beaten it, and I try to remind them of that -- but they still worry. They are so worried about me getting the flu right now, which could be really bad. They don’t even drink out of the water fountain at school. They’re afraid if they catch something at school and bring it home to me, it will be bad. And they use so much Lysol and hand sanitizer, they are so careful. But it’s sad, kids should be able to be kids, they shouldn’t have to worry about stuff like this. And it’s not just my kids, they’re so many kids in DeLeon who are either going through this now, or have gone through this.”

Jamie said that it’s been especially tough on her husband -- a take charge, “fix it” kind of person.

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Stone tops weekly pick’em

By JILL SMITH, Reporter

Week nine was yet another difficult week for the panel of pickers. There were no perfect picks for the third week in a row and no one with a one-miss pick.

Allen Stone won the $50 prize from the two games missed category and guessed the closest score for the tie breaking game. The other contestant in this category was Kyle Coker.

Among the three games missed category were Steve Baker, Lana Coker, Terry Hodges, William Hugg, Michael Kelly, Donald Nowlin, Andy Quinn, Rachel Riggs, Thomas Roberts, Bobby Schuman, Cara Sides, Nathan Tucker, Allan Wendt, and Karen Whitehead.

San Saba’s three point victory over Comanche shocked 81 percent of the panel this week.

The DeLeon Bearcats fell to the Tolar Rattlers, but not without a fight. This loss caused 76 percent of its home town panel supporters to have a “missed pick”.

The upset of the week was when Early claimed their first victory of the season over Coleman. Not only did Early win, but they shut’em out. Surprise surprise to the 73 percent of the panel that did not see that coming.

The games accurately predicted by over 96 percent of the panel this week were Brownwood’s shut-out over Sweetwater, Stephenville’s demolition of Arlington Seguin, and Cisco’s 75 point victory over Eastland.

The statistics have shown that each week the contest was a little tougher than the week before for our pigskin prognosticators. So with that being said, study up because next week will be the final week of this year’s football contest and the prize will double to $100.

Comment from the winner:

As many of you know I’ve been shut out of the football contest this season. The reason being “space debris” has kept my crystal ball from working properly, but now that I have it repaired it is saying - 1A Div. I State Championship to be played at Gordon Woods Stadium DeLeon 21 & Goldthwaite 14.

Coming Events

Call 254-893-6868 if you have an event to list

FUMC Harvest Festival

First United Methodist Church, DeLeon, will host the FUMC Harvest Festival this Saturday, November 7, at the DeLeon City Hall beginning at 9:30 a.m. Proceeds support outreach efforts such as the Jump Start afterschool program.

Winter Princess Pageant!

It’s not too late to register your little girls for DeLeon’s first Winter Princess Pageant. Registration date and deadline will be November 6, 2009 at the Reunion Center from 4-7 p.m. Girls ages 5-10 years old are encouraged to participate. Forms can also be found at the DeLeon Elementary office. Any questions call 893-4824.

Veterans Day Assemblies

Veterans Day assemblies will be held Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at the DeLeon Elementary School at 1:30 p.m. and at the DeLeon High School gym beginning at 2:30 p.m. Event organizers note that they would love to have DeLeon veterans attend the assemblies, and that all community members are also welcome.

Indian Artifact Show

The 3rd Annual DeLeon Indian Artifact Show will be held Saturday, November 14, 2009, at the DeLeon City Hall auditorium, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Linda Levens at 254-893-2083.

DeLeon Elementary PTO Meeting

A PTO meeting has been scheduled for Monday, November 23, 2009 at the DeLeon Elementary School library beginning at 6 p.m.

DeLeon Arts and Crafts Fair

The DeLeon Arts and Crafts Fair, is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2009, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium. This year’s event will include vendors, food, silent auction, chili supper, a Winter Princess pageant, a parade, a stew lunch, and much more.

House and Business Decorating Contest

Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a Christmas house and business decorating contest which will be judged on December 19, 2009. You can nominate yourself, or someone else. Categories include: Most Original, Most Beautiful, Most Religious and Town Favorite. 

Danny Owen, the Mayor of De Leon, has a personal website.

Open Danny's website by Clicking Here

Scott Hall has creating an Internet website with history & photos of our town.

Click Here to visit his website

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