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.