Muleskinners at work Thursday, July 29, 2010 Astroturf’s work crew met the requirements to be “muleskinners” Monday, as they struggled to move the enormous “Kicking Mule” emblem into position in the center of the Benny Douglass Stadium’s gridiron as part of the school district’s track and field renovations. Of course, with the difficulty they experienced measuring distances, some Mule fans remembering football games of years past, might also suggest the work crew had the experience needed to be referees. Full Story

Work on CRC application still under way Thursday, July 29, 2010 Work on the City of Muleshoe’s application to become a certified retirement community is still in process, and is expected to be submitted by the end of the year, according to Janet Claborn, director of the Muleshoe Economic Development Corporation. The application process, which Claborn described as lengthy, has been aided by Sam Houston University intern Lauren Novak, but the initial hope of meeting a fiscal year deadline wasn’t possible, Claborn said. The MEDC took of the challenge of leading the effort for Muleshoe to become a certified retirement community came after Nancy Cordero of the Texas Department of Agriculture addressed its board members in June 2009. The program is designed to help communities market themselves to the ever-growing number of retirees. A Full Story

MISD projects to end soon Thursday, July 29, 2010 The expansion and renovations that began with the passage of a multi-million dollar bond issue by the voters of the Muleshoe Independent School District is in its final phase, it was noted at Monday’s school board meeting. Following a tour of the work still under way at DeShazo Elementary, Muleshoe High School, and the Benny Douglass Stadium, the administration staff and school board members discussed the current status, how it would impact next months opening of school and the finances related to the construction projects. At DeShazo, Superintendent Dr. Gene Sheets said most of the work should be completed by the beginning of the school year, including the kitchen expansion. About the high school, the superintendent said it would probably be a couple of weeks after school starts before the work is completed. Full Story

County judicial giant passes Thursday, July 29, 2010 Bailey County lost a great friend Monday, July 26, with the passing of former Dist. Judge Jack D. Young. “He was quite an influence on me,” District Attorney Kathryn Gurley said about the man who held her office for 20 years, before being appointed as Dist. Judge of the 287th Judicial Dist, in 1981. Prior to serving as dist. judge, he served as the Bailey County Attorney. “He was a really great man,” Elaine Parker, Bailey County Dist. Clerk, said. Parker was the county’s dep. dist. clerk when Young took the bench, and worked with him as the district clerk from 1997 until he retired in 1998. “He was a very kind and compassionate man… in his dealings with people,” she added. Full Story