It’s been a hard month for local couple Thursday, July 02, 2009 “It was pretty close,” Muleshoe Police Det. Cassie Crandell said about Monday’s accident at the Dollar General Store on W. American Blvd., in which a 91 Chevrolet crashed through the store’s entrance narrowly missing customers inside, but there were no injuries. Crandell comfirmed reports that at least one customer, Starla Ellis, was just feet from the front door, at the soda pop cooler, when the vehicle made its unexpected entrance. According to Crandell, Leo Jones, 83, of Muleshoe, was approaching the store’s handicapped parking space, located directly in front of the entrance, when he stepped on the vehicle’s accelerator pedal instead of the brakes, sending the vehicle over the concrete parking barrier and into the store. Full Story

Court discusses appraisal board composition Thursday, July 02, 2009 Concerns about the makeup of the Bailey County Appraisal District’s governing board were raised during the Bailey County Commissioners’ Court, during a special meeting on Wednesday, June 24. Precinct #2 Commissioner C.E. Grant brought up the issue, expressing his concerns about the fact that the Muleshoe Independent School District has effective control of the board because it currently controls three of the board’s seats. Grant said that originally, MISD only appointed two of the board’s positions; however, when Three-Way School District closed down the local school district apparently inherited Three-Way’s seat. Precinct #2 Commissioner Butch Vandiver expressed similar concerns, noting that he was uncomfortable with the process that allowed one public entity to control the appraisal district’s governing board. Full Story

MAHD moves forward with behavioral unit Thursday, July 02, 2009 The Muleshoe Area Hospital District’s board of trustees voted to utilize some of the hospital’s existing bed space for a geriatric behavioral unit instead of renovating a portion of the old nursing home located adjacent to the hospital during Thursday’s regular meeting. Previously, it had been the recommendation of Jason Anglin, the hospital district’s CEO, to renovate the old nursing home space, but after a survey by behavioral health specialists with Horizon Health and a tour of the company’s facilities in Artesia, the recommendation changed to utilizing some of the hospital’s unoccupied rooms. “I think Horizon would be a great partner to work with,” Anglin said. However, he also conceded that both company’s from which the district received proposals — Horizon and Diamond Health, were equally qualified. Full Story

School board approves high school GMP increase Thursday, July 02, 2009 The Muleshoe Independent School District’s board of trustees adopted a $14,544,610 budget for FY2009-10 during Monday’s regular meeting. According to Business Manager Trae McNeill, the budget is based upon a one cent increase from last year’s $1.37 per $100 of valuation that was recommended at the school board’s June 15 meeting. “This has been the most challenging year of the 22 year’s (I’ve been with the district),” said McNeill, who will be retiring in the near future, “because of the changes made by the Legislature.” Of the budgeted amount, 47 percent, $6,868,785, has been set aside specifically for instruction. Full Story