The second truck arrived on Monday February 7th courtesy of the Texas Forest Service. This is our third 5,000 gallon tanker for the department.  It comes to us from Sudan Texas.  Once we lay her out like we need she will be ready for service. This third tanker will allow us to station three tankers in the southern end of Stephens County.  One will be  in La Casa  another in Eolian and one in Wayland.

This will give us three trucks carrying  a total of 15,000 gallons of water which will be a big help to us and to the people here in the southern end of the county.  Not only can we take one to a fire, we can have back up in two different locations at the same time and, if needed, we can take all three to a fire. You never have too much water and after the fires of 2011 we are committed to have more water on hand to fight fires here in Stephens County.

In addition to this we will have two 5,000 gallon tanks sitting at our new station in Wayland as well giving us a total of 25,000 gallons of water on hand if and when needed.

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By Paco Valentin, USDA Rural Development Texas State Director

A few weeks back, in his State of the Union address, President Obama emphasized the importance of American innovation – especially in creating an American energy economy that is built to last. He said: “nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than in American-made energy.  Because of federal investments, American renewable energy use has nearly doubled, and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.” I couldn’t agree more – and I know that Americans are capable of producing – here at home – more of the energy we need to power our homes, businesses, cars and trucks.  And when we do it, we’ll create good-paying middle-class jobs.

At USDA we are working every day to fuel renewable energy innovation by assisting hard-working Americans, such as small business owners, farmer and ranchers as they deploy American assets and technology to develop more energy here at home and help us lead the global energy economy.

I am very excited to share with you a new way that USDA is facilitating this innovation and growth. Recently we launched our new USDA Energy Website.  This site will make it easier for Americans to have access to USDA energy programs, see where USDA is making investments in renewable energy, and see how those investments are translating into American jobs. This new site will provide the public and stakeholders fast and efficient access to USDA energy efficiency and renewable energy data.

One of my favorite parts of the new site is the interactive map. Using your computer, you can click on a state, county or a congressional district and view the renewable energy investments that have been made by USDA in the area.  In addition to the Renewable Energy Investment Map, the site includes the Renewable Energy Tool which will help users identify at the National, state, and county level the logistics, environmental linkages, and economic linkages across feedstock production, renewable energy production and renewable energy demand and distribution.

The site also contains the expanded and improved Energy Matrix which will help users navigate the many USDA energy related programs and initiatives. For example, if you are searching for alternative and affordable energy solutions, funding for projects, available programs and program information, or research and development – the Energy Matrix can help. The idea is to enable a broad spectrum of users to get the information they need easily.

USDA’s energy website provides access to all USDA energy resources, including: agricultural, forestry, economic, and social data. The Map, Tool, and Matrix focus on USDA’s energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy investments and projects; provide information and data to a broad spectrum of stakeholders; and empower the user with the ability to easily navigate USDA’s energy web resources. In addition, the site provides a link to all USDA state and local offices and energy resource coordinators.

This site builds on Secretary Tom Vilsack’s commitment to develop a modern and efficient service organization as outlined in USDA’s Blueprint for Stronger Service.  This site represents a great step in a coordinated effort to increase public awareness of USDA’s energy research, commercialization of new technologies, program delivery, outreach, and education activities. It also provides a form of technical assistance to people thinking about adopting an energy project. The new site replaces a previous site which was established several years ago. To access the site, go to: www.usda.gov/energy .

Working with our colleagues in government and the private sector, the Obama Administration has invested more than $90 billion in clean energy – the largest clean energy investment in our nation’s history. These critical investments have already created or saved hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and put the United States on a path to double renewable energy generation from 2008 levels by 2012. In fact, since 2008, more than 20,000 megawatts of new electric generating capacity from wind, solar and geothermal energy have come online, increasing installed capacity by more than 70 percent. And last year, for the first time in more than a decade, less than half the oil used by our nation was imported.

At USDA, we are working with farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs around rural America to continue that process.  We want to build an American energy industry that embraces all sorts of clean power, and to help support the creation of hundreds of thousands of good jobs and thriving rural economies.

If the city finds it a popular idea to continue these newsletters, they are looking for a name.  It is requested that the audience send in a suggestion for the newsletter name to eastland@eastland.net.  After receiving suggestions they will conduct a “very UN-scientific process to name a winner!”

Water was one of the subject matters of the newsletter with this information:

The biggest news of late is the wonderful rain we received last wekk that added almost six feet to Lake Leon’s water level.  What a blessing! Along with the City of Ranger, the Eastland County Water Supply District and the rural water suppliers, we have been working hard on a revision of our drought contingency plans.  Had we not received this rain, we were staring directly at a ban on outside watering and other uses this spring.  Instead, we will now be able to soon ease up a bit on water use restrictions.  The major lesson learned from the horrific 2011 drought is that it is possible to run out of water!  And, without it of course, we would die – die as individuals and as a community.  So, with that in mind,

1.  PLEASE continue to conserve water and urge your friends and neighbors to do likewise,

2.  You will see a more conservative approach by all Eastland County water providers in all facets of their water management,

3.  We will continue to develop back up plans for alternate water sources should we need them, and, perhaps most importantly,

4.  The historic drought we’ve been in may not have run its course!  Let’s hope it has…

If you would like to be on the City of Eastland email list to receive this monthly newsletter, send your request to eastland@eastland.net

NEWSLETTER-CITY OF EASTLAND 2-1-12

Eastland HS UIL Solo and Ensemble participants: Pictured Left to Right: Chris Harrell, Trent Casey, Allison Beaver, Mason Towle, Kirsten Hamilton, Mickela Davis, Karley Simmons, Lisa Tucker, Brittany Roberts, Alana Longson, Travis Naeseth, Roger Reep, Madison Moreno, Chris Howard, Ragan Cummings, Morgan Mangum, Jaime Ibarra, Brantley Fleming, Senjin Thayer, Ashton Arnold, Sherrie Norris, Caitlyn Arnold, Raleigh Darnell, Cody Hutcheson, Tristan Ramsey, Victor Mendoza, and Jacob Barron

On Saturday, EHS Maverick Band members participated in the Region 7 UIL Solo and Ensemble Contests held at Howard Payne University with great success. Students prepare UIL Solos and Ensembles which are classified from a Class 3 (for freshmen only) to Class 1, with class 1 being the most difficult level. Solos and Ensembles are prepared by the students using knowledge and concepts taught in band class with minimal specific instruction and guidance from the Directors. Students are judged on their quality of performance and preparation. They are rated from 1^st Division to 5^th Division.

Earning a 3^rd Division “Average” Rating were:

Percussion Ensemble with Ashton Arnold, Caitlyn Arnold, Jacob Barron, Ragan Cummings, Brantley Fleming, Jaime Ibarra, Morgan Mangum, and Madison Moreno

Earning a 2^nd Division -“Excellent” Rating were:

Lisa Tucker –Flute Solo

Allison Beaver – Clarinet Solo

Roger Reep – Trumpet Solo

Chris Harrell – Tuba Solo

Tristan Ramsey – Tuba Solo

Morgan Mangum – Snare Drum Solo

Jaime Ibarra – Marimba Solo

Brass Quartet with Trent Casey, Mickela Davis, Travis Naeseth, and Roger Reep

Earning a 1^st Division -“Superior” Rating were:

Brittany Robers – Flute Solo

Victor Mendoza – Oboe Solo

Alana Longson – Alto Saxophone Solo

Sherrie Norris – Tenor Saxophone Solo

Chris Howard – Trumpet Solo

Trent Casey – Trumpet Solo

Cody Hutcheson – French Horn Solo

Karley Simmons – French Horn Solo

Senjin Thayer – French Horn Solo

Raleigh Darnell – Trombone Solo

Travis Naeseth – Trombone Solo

Brantley Fleming – Tuba Solo

Caitlyn Arnold – Xylophone Solo

Madison Moreno – Xylophone Solo

This year, the Maverick band advanced 10 students to the Texas State Solo and Ensemble contest that will be held at the end of May. They are:

Soloists:

Cody Hutchison – Class 1 French Horn Memorized Solo

Karley Simmons- Class 1 French Horn Memorized Solo

Brantley Fleming – Class 1 Tuba Memorized Solo

Ensembles:

Woodwind Trio with Allison Beaver, Kirsten Hamilton, and Victor Mendoza

Brass Trio with Raleigh Darnell, Chris Howard, and Mason Towle

Horn Trio with Cody Hutcheson, Karley Simmons, and Senjin Thayer

Eastland Maverick Band makes Eastland Sound Good!