The Dumas Police Department has a Facebook page.  Click here to visit their new facebook page.

Fire Prevention Week Started With The Great Chicago Fire

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

According to popular legend, the fire broke out after a cow - belonging to Mrs. Catherine O'Leary - kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn, then the whole city on fire. Chances are you've heard some version of this story yourself; people have been blaming the Great Chicago Fire on the cow and Mrs. O'Leary, for more than 130 years. But recent research by Chicago historian Robert Cromie has helped to debunk this version of events.More about Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week 2 PSA

Smoke Alarms 

• Roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. About one in five smoke alarm failures was due to dead batteries.
• Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
• In fires considered large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hardwired alarms operated 91% of the time, while battery powered alarms operated only 75% of the time.

For more information about fire prevention go to www.firepreventionweek.org

"Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week website, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2011 NFPA."

Give More To United Way-This Week's Agency Salvation Army

Our Purpose: "The purpose of The Salvation Army's Service Extensions is to raise funds and provide emergency assistance for people in a crisis situation in their local community." 


Each week The High Plains Observer will try to highlight an United Way Agency.  I got a chance to visit with the local rep for Salvation Army in Dumas.  Vicky Ellis who is the rep in Dumas was asked if she could give us any information that is going on right now and this is what she said," I am thankful for any amount of money donated to the Salvation Army.  Just last month I had 3 rent assists, 3 grocery assists, bought shoes and school supplies for 8 children and bought clothes and shoes for the 5 children and mom who lost their home to a fire in Cactus.

I don't think folks realize how many of our Moore County citizens come on tough times. What we do here in Moore County probably won't make the national news, but when someone is hungry and in need we try to be there...as long as we have funds we will help. I hate when I have to tell someone that I cannot assist them because I don't have funds. When that happens I try to refer them to other agencies that might be able to assist them. Since everything I do is voluntary, 100% of donations can be used for relief for those in need. However, 10% (called a prorate portion) of United Way allocations will go to the Texas Salvation Army Headquarters to be used for disaster relief (like the current Texas wildfires), camps (Camp Hoblitzelle is NO charge for kids, but actually costs about $186 per child), Prison Ministry, Community Relations, etc.  We do not discriminate in who we assist, but we do try to make good decisions. I am grateful to my Board for their assistance and advice. They are awesome!"

I love it when someone tells me they really don't know what to say and then gems like this is received.  You can donate to the United Way this fall when they have their annual support campaign.  This year's speaker will be Representative Four Price.  

If you are an agency of United Way and would like your story told please email us at hpodumas@live.com

We want to get every agencies story in between now and the end of the year.  

Dumas Continues To Grow

A new restaurant is getting ready to put it's new sign in place.   El Tapatio will be going in where the old Rent-A-Center was next to United Supermarket.

City workers are working at McDade Park now that the pool is closed.  Seen here tearing up sidewalk in front of the pool area.

Drought Creates Opportunities In Ports-To-Plains Region

Per Ports-to-Plains Blog

Drought has clearly impacted agriculture operations in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kansas.  Hay is in very short supply. "Right now there is no pasture, no hay and no end in sight," Texas Agricultural Commissioner Todd Staples said. "The need for hay is dire and getting more desperate each day.” Opportunity is created in two areas. First, the northern tier in North Dakota, Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan had very wet weather creating a surplus of hay.  Second, the booming energy industry in the northern tier is moving equipment and pipe from the south creating a need for backhauls.  If you have hay or trucks looking for a backhaul, it creates a win-win situation because the need is critical in the southern tier.

DISD Website

Click here to see what else is at the Dumas ISD site.

Flag Service

I look forward to the holidays that Boy Scouts Troop #199 sets out flags in our fair city of Dumas.  I requested this service years ago from my husband.  I can not explain why I am like a child on those mornings looking out my window to see if they have set out my flag yet.  When I see my flag flapping in the wind......my heart literally starts to swell.  How awesome it looks and how thankful I am that I live in a town, state and country where I have the rights and privileges to do so.

I look forward to seeing my flag this Labor Day but I will be even prouder to see it flying this 10th anniversary of 9/11.  I am proud of this Troop for adding this day to their service rotation.  I have had this flag service over 10 years and they have not increase their fees one time.  I am impressed that they are carrying on a tradition and providing a service that many of you enjoy.

Whether you you fly your own flag or let the Boys Scout provide one I hope you will fly a flag in your yard this September 11 in remembrance of that day 10 years ago.

How about a Flag Service for that will help you be patriotic this September 11 

An American flag will be put on your property on the morning of:

• Independence Day 
• Labor Day
• Patriot's Day - 9 -11
• Veteran's Day
• President's Day
• Memorial Day
• Flag Day

If you can start the flag service for only $30 a year starting from July 2011 to June 2012.    This tax-deductible donation not only shows support for your country and flag it provides needed funds for equipment, projects, and camping, which helps Boy Scout Troop #199.  

You can contact Jeff Stout at 935-9474 or Greg Thompson at 935-7273

Highway Patrol looking for drunk drivers during Labor Day holiday.
All available Texas Highway Patrol troopers will be out on Texas roadways from Friday through
Monday night during the Labor Day holiday, looking for impaired drivers, occupant safety
violators and speeders. The increased enforcement is part of a program that places focused
DWI patrols in high‐risk locations at times when alcohol‐related crashes are most frequent.
These extra patrols are funded through a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.
“If you are driving and found to be impaired, you will be arrested,” said Texas Department of
Public Safety Director Steven C. McCraw.
Last year, troopers arrested 718 people for DWI during the Labor Day holiday. Troopers also
wrote 12,065 speeding citations; 2,056 seat belt/child restraint tickets; and 1,943 no insurance
citations.
During the Labor Day holiday, DPS also is a participant in Operation CARE—Combined Accident
Reduction Effort—a nationwide effort by police agencies to reduce fatalities during holidays.
Texans who have had too much to drink can find transportation options for getting home on
this website: http://www.texasdwi.org/.

Never Leave Your Child Alone in a Car

Moore County, Sue Owens, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Agent warns: During the hot Texas summer, the danger of children dying from being left unattended in vehicles increases, warns Safe Kids USA has launched a new campaign titled, Never Leave Your Child Alone in a Car to help get the word out about the dangers of hyperthermia.

The problem is that temperatures in parked vehicles rise very quickly. According to figures from San Francisco State University’s Department of Geosciences, in just 10 minutes, the temperature can increase by almost 20 degrees. {{more}}

A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s, making children more vulnerable to a deadly condition known as hyperthermia, or heat stroke. Heat stroke can occur at body temperatures above 104 degrees. Even mild outside temperatures can pose a threat, but with Texas temperatures climbing into the upper 90s each day, the danger becomes even greater.

Statistics from the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University show that Texas leads the nation with the highest number of vehicle hyperthermia deaths during the years 1998-2010. During that time, there were 71 deaths. There have already been 24 hyperthermia deaths nationally so far this year, with six having occurred in Texas. Last year in Texas, there were 13 vehicle heat-related deaths. Nationally, there were 49, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In more than half of the cases during that time period, the death was due to the child being ‘forgotten’ by the caregiver. Such deaths are preventable when parents take precautions to make sure that children are not left alone in vehicles and cannot gain access to unlocked vehicles. According to Safe Kids, one-third of the heat-related deaths in 2000 were due to children becoming trapped in a vehicle they had crawled into.

Although many parents may think that this will never happen to them, it is a tragedy that can and has happened to many families. It is important that parents talk to their babysitters, grandparents, and others who care for their children to make them aware of the dangers of hyperthermia deaths.

Look for the Never Leave Your Child Alone in a Car campaign promotions, and follow these safety tips from NHTSA that can help caregivers reduce the risk of children being left unattended in hot vehicles:

§  Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open.

§  Do not let children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area.

§  Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away.

§  If you are dropping a child off at childcare, and it's normally your spouse or partner who drops them off, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure the drop went according to plan.

§  Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child does not show up for childcare.

§  Do things to remind yourself that a child is in the vehicle, such as writing yourself a note and putting the note where you will see it when you leave the vehicle; or placing your purse, briefcase, or something else you need in the back seat so you will have to check the back seat when you leave the vehicle. Another reminder is to keep an object in the car seat, such as a stuffed toy. When the child is buckled in, place the object where the driver will notice it when he or she is leaving the vehicle.

§  Always lock vehicle doors and trunks, and keep keys out of children’s reach.

§  If a child is missing, check the vehicle first, including the trunk.

§  If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 911 immediately.

For more information on this topic or other family safety concerns contact: Sue Owens, Family Consumer Science Agent, Moore County Extension, 806-935-2594.  

Remembering 9/11

First Baptist Church of Dumas will be honoring all “First Responders” on Sunday,

September 11 as part of a special “remembering 9/11” worship service.  The service

Begins at 11 am at the church located at the corner of Bliss and 5^th St. in Dumas.

Police, Fire, Sheriff, EMS, and other “First Responders” in Dumas and Moore County have

been invited to attend this service along with their families.

“First Baptist Church is looking forward to remembering the events of September 11,

2001 which forever changed our nation and the world.  On this 10^th anniversary of 9/11

We will pause to remember the people who lost their lives on that day and remember the

tremendous sacrifice made by “First Responders,” many of whom also lost their lives.

We will honor their memory and pray for God to continue to bless the United States of

America, according to Pastor Jerry Howe of First Baptist church.

The church invites anyone from our community to join with them on Sunday, September

11th for this special worship service.

Photos from Friday Night's 55th Anniversary Memorial Service in Sunray, Texas to honor the fallen of the 1956 Shamrock McKee Gas Plant Fire.

Unique look at Dumas

Here is a scene that seems to reflect a new Dumas.  Looking over a corn field on 14th St. looking towards the Moore County Community Building.  Just above the corn field you can see the wind turbines that now greets people coming from the south on HWY 287.

Moore County Town Hall Meeting

Kel Seliger and Four Price talk to a crowd in the restored 69th District Courtroom.  With a beautiful setting like this for a town hall meeting the news can't be all bad.  Indeed the news seem to be what is heard at every town hall meeting that the Senator and State Representative has attended.  They talk of the struggle to balance the budget and do it without cutting out needed funding for our public schools.  Senator Seliger spoke on the need to have federal funding for border control instead of using state money.  Senator Seliger and Representative Price both spoke on the plight of water or the lack of.  Basically our community got a highlight of what has happened in our state legislature.  As a citizen you have a voice in what happens and by attending these meetings you get a chance to use that voice.

Bunco Fiesta