Reporter-News Salutes

Here yesterday, gone today

The Abilene community said goodbye this week to a longtime fixture of city government. Harvey Cargill, Abilene's city attorney for the past 20 years - which is a longer run than any other city attorney in Texas - served his last day on the job Friday before moving on to College Station to become city attorney there. Cargill, who has worked in Abilene city government for a total 23 years, provided stability and dependability and a historical knowledge of Abilene's development that will make his absence noticed. Top assistant Sharon Hicks is acting city attorney until a permanent replacement is hired. We wish Cargill well in his new endeavors.

Shake and rattle

The Sweetwater Jaycees did it again - pulled off the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup for the 39th time. In addition to providing thrills and chills for spectators and a whole den of good publicity for the city of Sweetwater, the roundup serves a larger cause, making it possible for the Jaycees to support many local charities, youth programs and Sunshine Inn, a learning center for the mentally impaired. Congratulations to the Sweetwater Jaycees.

Top conservationists

The Callahan Divide Soil and Water Conservation District recognized Lowell Johnson of Oplin as the Outstanding Conservation Farmer and Rodney Callaway of Cross Plains as Outstanding Conservation Rancher. Johnson operates a 1,460-acre farm that also includes a wildlife habitat. Callaway operates a diverse 425-acre ranching operation.

Extension retirements

Two area county Extension agents - Greg Gerngross of Callahan County and Don Richardson of Howard County - will be ending long careers this month. Gerngross has been with the Texas Agriculture Extension Service for 30 years, the last 28 in Callahan County. Richardson, who has almost 32 years with the Extension service, has been in Howard County the past 18 years. The contributions these two men have made are rich and varied, and they are sure to be hard to replace.

Got his goat

Colorado City ninth grader Mark Sheets showed the overall Grand Champion of the Open Youth Market Goat Show at the 1997 Houston Livestock Show, the world's largest such exhibition. Ballinger's Mandi Gerhart, 16, of Gerhart Farms Sheep and More showed the Junior Champion Ewe of the Junior Breeding Dorset Sheep Show. Lauren Echols, 14, of Breckenridge exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Hereford Heifer, showing the heifer for her 8-year-old brother, Will, who was too young to compete. Shane Lewallen showed the champion steer of the American Breeds and Crossbreeds, which sold for $35,000. Matt Angel of Winters showed the Reserve Champion Polled Hereford Heifer in the junior show. Misty Pritchard of Winters had the Reverse Champion Shorthorn Heifer and also won the Junior Division Championship. Congratulations to all these winners and to everyone from the Texas Midwest who participated in the big Houston show.

Better business

The Abilene Better Business Bureau honored its founder, Joe Felton, with a luncheon Friday. Felton started the BBB in Abilene and directed it for 17 years, while it grew from a department of the Chamber of Commerce to an incorporated nonprofit affiliate with the national Council of Better Business Bureaus.