The Scoop

HVAC Scholarship Available through KCVG

2012-03-02T14:03:00.001-06:00

The Knox County Visioning Group (KCVG) is looking forpersons who have an interest in pursuing a trade in Heating, Ventilation andAir Conditioning (HVAC). The KCVGis offering a scholarship to a senior in a Knox County, Texas, high school or Knox County, Texas, resident whowishes to pursue this training in the amount of $1500. The grant will requirethe student to return to Knox County for one year and work in an HVAC field.

Click here for Application

Knox County will experience a loss of individuals in the HVAC field in the future. The KCVG would like to help replenish that talent by helping an individual interested in HVAC become licensed and return to Knox County. Full HVAC certification requires one year of school, then a three-year apprenticeship before allowing individuals to sit for the test. This is a long-term commitment between the KCVG and the winner of this scholarship.

Applications can be found by clicking here or by calling 940-459-4121. Studentscan also pick up an application at their high school councelor’s office. Thedeadline to apply is May 1, 2012.

More information on schools and costs associated with thisdegree can be found at TSTC’s website: http://www.westtexas.tstc.edu/or at Vernon College’s website: http://www.vernoncollege.edu/.A larger list of schools offering this training in Texas can be found here: http://www.braintrack.com/colleges-by-career/hvac-mechanics/state/tx.

Additional scholarship information can be found on the Youth Opportunities page of this website.

Sharpen Your eBay Skills on March 1, 2012

2012-02-07T16:21:00.001-06:00

Business Development Workshop

Buying and Selling on eBay ~ March 1

Learn how to buy and sell using eBay or just brush up on your eBay skills. This workshop is designed for both individuals as well as small businesses. eBay can help your existing business by selling their products online. It will take place Thursday, March 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Perry Patton Center, in Munday, Texas. The Workshop is FREE to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Prices are given to the individuals who attend the most workshops. There will be a first place prize of $100, a second place prize of $75 and a third place prize of $50. These prizes are awarded at the end of the year.

This is the first in a series of 5 Business Development Workshops hosted by the KCVG. For more information, call 940-459-4121.

Kickstarter Helps You Raise Dollars for Your Big Idea!

2012-01-27T14:14:00.000-06:00

This post is for those of you who have a big idea and need some funding to get your project off the ground. Big or small, Kickstarter could be for you! Check out the information below. This was taken directly off their website. To find out more, visit their site at www.kickstarter.com.

1. Whatis Kickstarter? 

Kickstarter is a new way to fund creative projects.  We believethat: 

• A good idea, communicated well, can spread fast and wide. 

• A large group of people can be a tremendous source of moneyand encouragement.  Kickstarter is powered by a unique all-or-nothing fundingmethod where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands. 

2. Whocan fund their project on Kickstarter?

Kickstarter is focused on creative projects.We're a great way for artists, filmmakers, musicians, designers, writers,illustrators, explorers, curators, performers, and others to bring theirprojects, events, and dreams to life. The word “project” is just as importantas “creative” in defining what works on Kickstarter. A project is somethingfinite with a clear beginning and end. Someone can be held accountable to theframework of a project — a project was either completed or it wasn’t — andthere are definable expectations that everyone can agree to. This is imperativefor every Kickstarter project. We know there are a lot of great projects thatfall outside of our scope, but Kickstarter is not a place for solicitingdonations to causes, charity projects, or general business expenses. Learn moreabout our projectguidelines. 

3. Whydo people support projects? 

REWARDS! Project creators inspire people to open their wallets byoffering smart, fun, and tangible rewards (products, benefits, andexperiences).

 STORIES! Kickstarter projects areefforts by real people to do something they love, something fun, or at leastsomething of note. These stories unfold through blog posts, pics, and videos aspeople bring their ideas to life. Take a peek around the site and see what we'retalking about. Stories abound. 

4. Ionly need to raise a small amount of funding. Is Kickstarter for me? 

Absolutely! Kickstarteris for creative projects big and small, serious and whimsical, traditional andexperimental. Small projects that you (or you and a few friends) can do over aweekend are perfect for Kickstarter. In fact, the most common projects onKickstarter are not blockbusters but smaller projects that raise $5,000 orless. Check out some fun projectstats and some currently funding Small Projectslooking to raise $1,000 or less. 

5. All-or-nothingfunding?

  Every Kickstarter project must be fully fundedbefore its time expires or no money changes hands. Why? 1. It's less risk foreveryone. If you need $5,000, it's tough having $2,000 and a bunch of peopleexpecting you to complete a $5,000 project. 2. It allows people to testconcepts (or conditionally sell stuff) without risk. If you don't receive thesupport you want, you're not compelled to follow through. This is huge! 3. Itmotivates. If people want to see a project come to life, they're going tospread the word. 

6. DoesKickstarter take some percentage of ownership or intellectual property ofthings made through Kickstarter?

 Absolutely not. Project creators keep 100%ownership of their work. 

How do I start a project? 

To start a project, go to the Start Your Project page and click the"Share Your Project" button. We'll ask some basic questions aboutyour project. It shouldn't take more than a few days for a member of our teamto get back to you about your proposal, and if you've got a creative projectthat meets our guidelines,we're good to go.

The Knox County Brochure is Here

2012-01-19T11:26:00.000-06:00

If you would like a hard copy, please send me your name and address and one will be mailed to you. They can also be picked up at the Knox County courthouse, City Hall, and Chambers of Commerce in the county. Click on the link here to email us and a hard copy will be mailed to you. You may also click here to view the file in a higher resolution format.

kcvg's photostream

2012-01-04T14:04:00.001-06:00

kcvg's photostream on Flickr.

More from the Cowboy Ball held December 16, 2011

2012-01-04T12:57:00.003-06:00

Tell us what you think about this video. Leave your comments below.

Subscribe to our You Tube Channel

2012-01-04T11:32:00.002-06:00

The KCVG has gone viral! Check our videos on You Tube. Add comments and recommend us to your friends!

A Year of Progress and Accomplishments

2012-01-03T15:04:00.001-06:00

In the end, you’re measured not by how muchyou undertake but by what you finally accomplish. And, this year, the KnoxCounty Visioning Group has done just that.

“One of our biggest accomplishmentsthis year was the Knox County Brochure. It is at the printer as we speak. Thisis going to be a great tool that will be utilized by many,” said Ms. Coplen,KCVG Community Development Director. The KCVG sold ads, organized design and printing of the brochure.

2011 Artwork from Projects

The KCVG also held their firstmajor event in 2011 – Knox County Adventure Days. This event took people aroundthe county through events like the Amazing Grace Race, a bus tour, and even aphotography scavenger hunt. It opened people’s eyes to the rich history of thecounty. This event is being repeated April 27-28, 2012.

Another big accomplishment was thebusiness development workshop series. Meetings held throughout the yearconsisted of workforce development, customer service, social media, estateplanning and business planning. These workshops attracted a variety ofdifferent people and brought resource agencies to the county.

A big hitter at the end of the yearwas the Shop Local flyer produced and mailed by the KCVG. “These flyers went to each box holderin Knox County. Christmas sales carry these retailers throughout the year so itis important to remember to support them during the holidays,” said Ms. Coplen.

The KCVG also participated in thepromotion and manpower of the music camp and Cowboy Christmas Ball in Goree.They also helped in the group tour that took place during the quilt show.

Additional projects in 2011 includeda job fair, business recruitment, a summer intern program, grant writing,entrepreneurial support, and monthly KCVG meetings where all shared about eventsgoing on throughout the county.

The KCVG could not do what they dowithout the support of their partners. Partners receive advertising at all KCVGevents, in press releases, on KCVG letterhead, the website, and social media. Partners include Knox County, Knox City EDC,Development Corporation of Munday, First National Bank of Munday, City ofMunday and the City of Knox City, Knox County Hospital District, City of Goree,Circle Bar Ranch, AEP, and Knox County Abstract.

2nd Annual Cowboy Christmas Ball

2011-12-15T12:21:00.000-06:00

Tickets can be purchased at the door tomorrow night, December 16. Ticket price is $30.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Dance starts at 8:00 p.m. and will last until 12:00 a.m.

The Knox Prairie Events Center is located in Goree, Texas, just 5 miles east of Munday off highway 277.

If your company purchased a sponsorship, a table has been reserved for you. Tickets must be presented at the door. No special attire is required.

A concession stand will be available to purchase drinks, candy and chili.

For more information, please call JW Sollis at 940-839-7870 or the Knox County Visioning Group at 940-459-4121. Please leave a message and your call will be returned.

We hope you have a great evening.

A Night to Remember

2011-12-08T14:17:00.001-06:00

Photo by VikiAnn Gunter. Pin It

Population…a number most often used to describe a town. But a number on a sign does not display the heart and soul of a community. And, it sure doesn’t match up with thebig dreamers you will find in Goree, Texas, population 255. They have rolled up their sleeves onceagain, to bring the citizens of Knox and surrounding counties a grand event:The Cowboy Christmas Ball.

This Friday night starting at 8:00 p.m., nestled inside thenostalgic gym at the old Goree ISD, (now known as the Knox Prairie EventsCenter) you will find a 10-piece band. But, it’s not just any band. It is TheAll Star Band, complete with a steel guitar, trombone, banjo, trumpet,accordion, fiddles, guitars, keyboard and drums. A band you don’t typicallyfind in a small community like Goree, or even a county proudly supporting 3719citizens. But once a year, Goreeand the Knox County Visioning Group role out the red carpet just for theholidays. And this year is no exception.

“We are so proud to bring such a high quality band to KnoxCounty,” said Ms. Jimi Coplen, Community Development Director for the KnoxCounty Visioning Group. “Last year, I was amazed at the quality of the music. Icouldn’t wait to have them back this year.”

The Bob Wills’ sound and style live deep in the heart ofmost of these musicians who have played it for years. But there will also besome classic country tunes, some big band, and a little Cajun sound thrown infor fun. “Fiddle player and vocalist Wade Landry does some neat Cajun music. Hehas his own show in Branson. The crowd will love him,” said JW Sollis, who putthis band together. Other musiciansinclude Ginny Mac, Ronny Dale Shultz, Steve Ham, Wendell Sollis, Bob Baker,Larry Reed, Dale Morris Jr., Ron Ellis, Terry Thompson and Darrel Sparkman.

The All Star Band deserves the name and they are sure to notdisappoint. This will be a night to be remembered for years to come. Tickets are still on sale and can be purchased at the door thisFriday night, December 16, in Goree starting at 8:00 p.m. For more informationcall 940-459-4121.

Cowboy Christmas Ball Coming Back to Goree!

2011-11-07T14:03:00.000-06:00

Are you already lamenting about the holiday season and wondering what to do with your in-laws or Aunt Mary? Fret no longer! Make plans now to attend the 2^nd Annual Cowboy Christmas Ball in Goree, Texas, on December 16, 2011.

Get ready for some toe tapping, boot-scooting, fiddlin’ music this holiday season. The "ALL STAR BAND" is back for a night of Bob Wills, Classical Country, Big Band, and Cajun music. You can sit back, clap your hands, tap your toes, and dance the night away. This family friendly event is a definite crowd pleaser.

Hambone

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This years 10-member-band is packed full of talent. “Wade Landry and Dale Morris, Jr., are two of the most outstanding fiddle players of our time,” said producer JW Sollis. JW’s son, Wendell Sollis, is an excellent musician and will be joining the band on the banjo. Crowell, Texas, native, Ronny Dale Shultz will be playing lead guitar and serving as leader of the band. Larry Reed will be on the saxophone, Steve Ham on trombone, Bob Baker on steel guitar, Terry Thompson on drums, and Ron Ellis on bass. The lovely and talented Ginny Mac, the only female in the band, will be playing keyboard and singing vocals. “Everyone loves Ginny. Her voice reminds you of someone out of the 1940s,” said Sollis. And, as a special guest vocalist, Darrel Sparkman of Quanah, Texas, will be joining the band.

The Cowboy Christmas Ball will be held on Friday night, December 16, 2011, starting at 8:00 p.m., at the Knox Prairie Events Center in Goree, Texas, on Highway 277 in Knox County. The building, formally the Goree ISD, has been converted into an events center hosting various events throughout the year, including the Bobby Boatright Western Swing Music Camp, held this past July.

This event is too amazing to miss out on, so don’t wait until the busy holiday season to get your tickets! Get them now by calling 940-839-7870, or going online at http://cowboychristmasball.eventbrite.com. Cash, check and credit cards accepted. Table sponsorships for 10 or more are available by calling 940-459-4121. Follow this event on facebook at “Cowboy Christmas Ball”. For more information, contact JW Sollis at 940-839-7870 or the KCVG at 940-459-4121.

Go Change the World Today

2011-10-06T09:27:00.002-05:00

KCVG to meet Sept. 15th at Quality Implement

2011-09-08T11:16:00.000-05:00

The next KCVG meeting is set for September 15th in Munday. We will meet at Quality Implement on Highway 277 at 4:00 p.m. sharp. Randy Cypert is going to give us a tour of their facility and tell us some of the neat things they do out there. Quality Implement is a large company and extremely important to the vitality of Knox County. If you know a farmer that might like to join us, feel free to invite them. Many of them already use Quality Implement but they would still enjoy hearing more about their products and services. After we finish our tour, we will go to their downtown location to continue our meeting.

Please mark your calendars to attend, invite a friend, and take a minute to learn about interesting things going on in your own backyard. You are the best representation for the county. When someone asks, "Hey, what is there to do this weekend in Knox County?" You will be able to tell them! Between each of the cities, there is usually an event taking place somewhere in the county! The KCVG is always excited to hear about what projects or ideas you have in the works, so please join us at a monthly meeting and let us know about them.

Business Management Workshop Scheduled for August 30th in Goree

2011-08-16T12:33:00.000-05:00

Being in business is no easy task, just ask anyone who is self-employed. Managing cash flow, finding a skilled labor force, honest employees, and keeping everyone working is not as simple as you might think. So, how do people do it? How do they keep their head above water and stay on-task day to day?

The Knox County Visioning Group will be discussing this topic in their next Business Development Workshop. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be on hand to cover the topic of business management and best practices. They can answer questions that all small or large businesses have from business planning to tips and tricks for managing your business more efficiently.

The SBDC specializes in business planning for companies that employee one person or 1000. All their services are free of charge. They have offices located in Abilene and Lubbock. They can help you design a simple budget or an elaborate business plan. For more information, check them out at http://www.ttusbdc.org/abilene/.

This workshop is the fourth in a series hosted by the KCVG. It will be held August 30, 2011, in Goree at the Knox Prairie Events Center (cafeteria room), 820 W. Holly Street, from 6-7 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Door prizes are given out at each meeting as well as attendance prizes at the end of the year for those who have been faithful attendees. The workshops are free to attend. They are intended for training businesses and individuals in best practices. For more information, call 940-459-4121.

KCVG Meeting Thursday at Front Porch Quilts

2011-08-16T11:31:00.000-05:00

Knox County Visioning Group

Thursday, August 18, 2011

4:00 p.m. Benjamin, Front Porch Quilts

Agenda

Program

Tour - We will meet at Front Porch Quilts in Benjamin. Pam Duke will give us a tour of her business and tell us about what they do. We will then convene our meeting in her back meeting room.

Share the News - Time for each organization or company to give an update their upcoming events.

KCVG Upcoming Events

Business Development Workshops - Business Management (August 30)
County-wide Brochure update
Cowboy Christmas Ball - December 16 - Update and Sponsor Forms
TMCN Annual Conference - October 19th - Abilene Civic Center
Discuss dates for KCVG 2012 Planning Meeting

Next KCVG meeting will be

September 15th in Munday at Quality Implement.

Knox County Brochure in the Making

2011-07-06T22:01:00.002-05:00

The Knox County Visioning Group has embarked on an exciting, new project: a county-wide brochure! This brochure will feature all of Knox County and its assets. The KCVG is projecting a fall debut for the brochure. A participation form has been mailed to all businesses throughout the county.

“The KCVG has discussed the need for a brochure many times, but now we are making it a reality,” said Jimi Coplen, KCVG Director. The brochure will feature advertisements of businesses county-wide as well as historical attractions. A detailed county map will also be included as well as a list of accommodations and restaurants.

The brochure will be distributed at Chambers of Commerce throughout the county as well as high traffic areas such as motels, restaurants and convenient stores. It will serve as a tool for anyone who needs a map or a list of services available in the county. “The maps are useful to industry throughout the county as well as visitors. This year, the Texas Forest Service utilized county maps to find various county roads during the fires. That is just one way it can be used,” said Ms. Coplen.

All businesses in Knox County should have received notice of the brochure by mail. If you did not receive one, please call the KCVG office. Sarah Reeves, KCVG summer intern is following up with local businesses by phone and email. “We don’t want to leave anyone out that wishes to participate,” said Coplen. The brochure will likely have a shelf life of two years.

The deadline for advertisements has been extended to August 5. After that the KCVG will be working on the historical information as well as getting maps ready. Once all elements are complete, the brochure will be printed and distributed in the late fall. “It is a fantastic project that we are excited to see come to fruition,” said Coplen. For more information, call 940-459-4121.

Check out These Great Events! Adventure Awaits!

2011-06-08T23:07:00.001-05:00

For more information, check us out on at www.facebook.com/kcvg.catch.the.vision.

Bobby Boatright Music Camp - July 10-14

2011-04-05T13:43:00.001-05:00

Interested in learning to play the guitar or fiddle? Then you won't want to miss the 11th Annual Bobby Boatright Music Camp slated for July 10-14, 2011 at the Knox Prairie Event's Center in Goree, Texas. Come and learn western swing from legends! Guitar and fiddle lessons will be taught by Glenn Mclaughlin, Ronny Dale Shultz, Jess Meadors and more. Cost to attend the camp is $425. There are 30 slots available at this time. Please contact us for an application.

The camp is put on by J.W. Sollis Productions from Crowell, Texas. http://www.sollisproductions.com/

For more information and articles about past events, check out Bobby Boatright Music Camp on Facebook! Click on the Facebook link on the right side of this page.

KCVG Monthly Meeting Recap

2011-03-25T13:46:00.000-05:00

The KCVG met on Thursday, March 24^th at the Wichita Brazos Museum in Benjamin. Mary Jane Young told the group about the humble beginnings of the historical commission and museum being housed in the courthouse, and later opening this magnificent building in June 2009.

Emily Nelson, Director of the Knox City Chamber of Commerce handed out a 2011 calendar of events for the Knox City Chamber. She also reported on her chamber banquet that honored the energy businesses in Knox City. They had 160 people in attendance. She also reminded the group about the TxDOT meeting that was set for 6:30 pm that evening in Knox City to discuss the street and sidewalk project.

Mitzi Welch, Benjamin Chamber president reported that the Benjamin Chamber is seeking funding for a metal cowboy statue that will be placed on the corner of Hwy 82 and 6. Mr. Barrington out of Throckmorton will build this statue.

Jimi Coplen, KCVG Director discussed the upcoming Yes You Can! Program that will be starting soon. This program is done in conjunction with the AgriLife Extension Service. Lorrie Coop will be doing the classroom side of this soon with high school kids. The KCVG will use remaining grant funds to help pay students salaries to work in area businesses. There are fewer grant dollars this year, so the program will be smaller. We will be seeking out kids who need a job for the summer and employers who would like to hire them.

Ms. Coplen also reported the upcoming welding class that will start in April. Ads are running in both newspapers. The class is limited to 15 students and will cost $150 per student.

Ms. Coplen also discussed the April Business Development Workshop. The topic of this workshop will be Customer Service and Hospitality Training. It will be held in Munday at the Perry Patton Center on April 26^th from 6-7 p.m. People are encouraged to tell business owners and friends about the workshop, and the possibility of sending employees.

The first annual Knox County Adventure Days is slated for June 17-19. This will be a heritage tourism event, exposing people to what is available in their own backyard. The group is working on a photography scavenger hunt, an amazing race, a 5K race, a hiking trip, and more. A committee is being formed to hash out details of this event. Anyone wishing to help plan this event is encouraged to contact the KCVG.

The KCVG Summer Internship through Ogallala Commons deadline was extended to April 15^th. It was originally set for March 25^th. Juniors and seniors as well as college kids are welcome to apply. Applications can be found at high schools as well as the KCVG office in the courthouse in Benjamin.

The group discussed the upcoming Summer Music Camp. We are still awaiting details on a final date. The KCVG will be helping with this event. The Knox Prairie Events Center has added 8 showers and additional furniture to their dorm rooms and accommodations will be even better this year. Last year’s camp hosted around 15 students. We would like to get 50 people signed up this year. The registration fee covers room and board as well as instructor’s fees for four days of camp. No age limit or prior music experience is needed. More details to come.

Additional flyers were shared about upcoming events such as:

· Texas Midwest Community Network Luncheon in Stamford on March 30^th from 11:30-1:15.
· Texas Midwest Community Network meeting on How to Create a Local Leadership Training Program, March 31^st from 5-7 at the WCTCOG Board Room in Abilene.
· Rain Water Harvesting Program on April 8 at 6pm at the Perry Patton in Munday.
· A Texas Rural Leadership Program being offered through Cisco College. The class will be held once a month for 8 months. This class is open to anyone wishing to learn more about leadership. The price is $320 to attend.

The KCVC is made up of various entities, businesses and individuals from each city in the county. Sponsors investing in this community include Knox County, the Munday Development Corporation, the Knox City Economic Development Corporation, the City of Munday, the City of Knox City, the City of Goree, Quality Implement, First National Bank, Citizen’s Bank, Knox County Hospital, Knox County Abstract, AEP and Circle Bar Ranch. The KCVC meets monthly and is open to anyone wishing to get involved in community and economic development in Knox County.

Welding Course Begins Soon

2011-03-18T14:35:00.000-05:00

Ever wish you knew a little bit more about welding? Now is your chance. The Knox County Visioning Group will be hosting a 40-hour welding course for anyone wanting to learn to weld. The course will be taught by Rick Moeller and will start in April.

The course will cost $150 per student and will consist of 10 classes at four hours each. Students will learn various beginning welding techniques. The course is limited to 15 students. You must be at least 15 years of age to take the course.

Employers are encouraged to send employees. This will help them be more versatile as well as learn a new skill that could potentially benefit your company.

To register for this class, please call the KCVG at 940-459-4121 or visit www.facebook.com/kcvg.catch.the.vision for more information.

Ogallala Commons Partners with KCVG to Build Community Internships

2011-03-11T14:06:00.000-06:00

Ogallala Commons (www.ogallalacommons.org), a nonprofit community resource network working in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, is working with the Knox County Visioning Group to create a community internship in 2011 for motivated youth and college students. Through this program, summer interns have the opportunity to carry out projects that add value to their local communities and institutions, while interns gain skill development, paid work experience, and hometown career exploration opportunities.

Since 2007, Ogallala Commons has created 54 internships in 5 states that provided enterprising youth and adults with a paid work experience, plus hands-on learning about the wealth, potential, and challenges of their hometowns. Community Internships build a diverse range of skills for interns in community development projects, leadership development, entrepreneurship, nonprofit outreach, agricultural careers, health care, renewable energy, social networking, and rebuilding local food systems. In addition to workplace skills, these internships offer networking with other rural interns working in 6 adjoining states--opening doors to new learning opportunities after the internship, while providing good experiences for job searching and resume building.

Ogallala Commons Community Internships can range from four weeks to ten weeks during the summer, and are available for students ranging from juniors in high school to college and graduate students. In addition to specific projects and activities, interns supervised by Ogallala Commons are exposed to eight experiences essential to living in the Great Plains: rebuilding local food systems, conserving natural resources, learning and sharing local history, youth engagement and entrepreneurship, community development and nonprofit work, public speaking, fostering a sense of place, and designing a career path.

Ogallala Common's main funding partner for creating Community Internships is CHS Foundation, the major giving entity of CHS, an energy, grains and foods company with a stewardship focus of building vibrant communities.

For more information about the KCVG and Ogallala Commons Community Internship, contact Jimi Coplen at 940-459-4121. Also visit http://www.ogallalacommons.org/communityinterns.html to learn more about the program, or to read blogs and see photos of what interns have accomplished in past years.

The annual Cotton Pickin' Quilt Show is this Saturday. Don't miss it!

2011-02-24T11:32:00.002-06:00

Work, Live and Thrive in Knox County

2011-02-22T16:41:00.001-06:00

County-wide Job Fair

Are you an individual in search of a job? Are you a business owner who is desperate to find some employees? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to come and check out the KCVC Job Fair on March 3, 2011, at the Munday Events Center (formally the Young Farmers Barn) from 6 – 9 p.m.

The Knox County Visioning Team is hosting the job fair to help businesses find qualified workforce in the area and help job seekers find employment. The job fair environment helps match local businesses with the perfect applicant. It allows applicants the convenience of knowing what jobs exist throughout the county in one, convenient location. It also offers people information on education opportunities and training that is available to them. It's a win-win opportunity for everyone.

The public is invited to attend free of charge. Even if you are not seeking employment, please stop by. There will be agencies on hand like Workforce Solutions, Vernon College and TSTC to discuss training opportunities, education opportunities and more. The Munday and Knox City Development Corporations will also be on hand to discuss various businesses opportunities that are needed in their communities. The KCVG will also be taking applications for a summer internship.

Are you considering expanding your business? Are you opening a new business? Will you need seasonal employees? If your business is looking for employees for any reason then you don’t want to miss this opportunity. Businesses can set up a table, interview applicants and even hire right on the spot. Or, they can meet potential employees and set up a time to come back for an interview. The cost to set up a table is $25.

If you are looking for a job, simply show up March 3, 2011, at the Munday Events Center between the hours of 6 – 9 p.m. Bringing a resume is not required, but it can be helpful when talking to businesses. Most businesses will have their own applications and are more interested in meeting you. Remember, some may want to interview you on the spot, so dress accordingly. Also, if you aren’t looking for a job, but are curious about what kind of jobs are available in Knox County, come and take a look.

The KCVC is made up of various entities, businesses and individuals from each city in the county. Sponsors investing in this community include Knox County, the Munday Development Corporation, the Knox County Development Corporation, the City of Munday, the City of Knox City, the City of Goree, Quality Implement, First National Bank, Citizen’s Bank, Knox County Abstract, AEP and Circle Bar Ranch. The KCVC meets monthly and is open to anyone wishing to get involved in community and economic development in Knox County.

Please contact the KCVC Director, Jimi Coplen at 940-459-4121 for more information.

Find the KCVG at the San Antonio Stock Show

2011-02-16T14:19:00.000-06:00

Will you be at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo this Saturday? If so, stop by the Texas Experience pavilion and see us. The Knox County Visioning Group will have some great give away items, plus you can see why we like to call it "Adventure County". Check out the map below to see exactly how to find us. We will only be there for one day - this Saturday, Feb. 19th, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Stop in and say hi!

Brine Lake

2011-01-13T13:45:00.000-06:00

Imagine being able to salt water fish in Knox County! This could be a reality if someone had a passion for starting a fishery at Brine Lake in Truscott, Texas.

This week I had the pleasure of meeting Dennis Duke, who is the project manager at Brine Lake. We discussed the potential this lake has for Knox County. Due to the large salt content, oceanic fish could live here. However, this endeavor would have to be started by an experienced individual with an entrepreneurial vision for this type of work.

There is also the option of solar ponds for producing electricity. And, I'm sure there are many other entrepreneurial type endeavors just waiting to be explored. We just need some creative folks to explore the possibilities.

If you know someone who might be interested in starting a business like a fishery, please tell them about Brine Lake. The Knox County Visioning Group can help them explore the options of getting started.

This is just one way to live out your dream in Knox County! If you are interested in starting any type of business here, please talk to any member of the Knox County Visioning Group. We would love to help you get started.

Taking Action in 2011

2011-01-04T13:56:00.000-06:00

Welcome to 2011. It came fast and will leave just as quickly. That is why it is so important to plan your 2011 goals now. Don't wait.

Take five minutes and think about these things to get started: Where would you like your business or organization to be this time next year? What projects would you like to mark off your list of things to do? How will you get those things done? Think about what steps or action you can implement to get there. Write it down, and try to see it through. It doesn't have to be big and grand. The key is implementation. How will you break it down into feasible steps?

If you need a little inspiration for goals, I would highly recommend subscribing to this web site: http://smallbiztrends.com It is full of great ideas for small businesses and organizations. I literally can't stop reading it. You won't regret it and might even find yourself stepping outside the box just a little.

Mark your calendars for January 20th for the next KCVG meeting in Goree at the bank building (Trainham Ice) at 3:30 p.m. We will be discussing our 2011 Plan of Action which has some pretty cool stuff in it. Also, January 24th for an Issues Identification meeting hosted by AgriLIFE Extension. This is your opportunity to discuss the issues you feel are prevalent to Knox County. (More information coming soon!)

Hope to see you there.

Cowboy Christmas Ball

2010-12-06T11:21:00.001-06:00

Looking for something fun to do this holiday season? Slip on your boots, grab your partner and get ready to dance (or just listen) to the legends of Western Swing! The Knox Prairie Events Center in Goree Texas is hosting a Cowboy Christmas Ball on Dec. 17th at 8 p.m.

Come and enjoy an evening of Bob Wills music. Listen to Leon Rausch, Tommy Allsup, Bobby Koefer, Jimmy Young, Steve Ham, Ginny Mac, Terry Thompson, Ronny Dale Shultz, George Uptmor, Wendell Sollis, and Ron Ellis. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased from the City of Goree at 940-422-5306 or visit http://cityofgoree.blogspot.com/

Don't miss your opportunity to hear living legends. Bring your friends for an early Christmas treat. Tickets are going fast, so call today and get your tickets reserved.

This is a spectacular event right in our own backyard. We hope you will support it! The City of Goree has done a great job bringing you a fantastic event. If you want to see more things like this, show your support by sharing this information with all your friends on Facebook or Twitter. http://cityofgoree.blogspot.com/

"Under One Fence, Waggoner Ranch Legacy" Book Deputes in Truscott, Nov. 22

2010-11-12T11:59:00.000-06:00

The public is invited to a book signing event for Wyman Meinzer on November 22, 2010, from 5-8 pm at the Circle Bar Ranch Lodge in Truscott, Texas.

Hosted by the Knox County Visioning Group and the Circle Bar Ranch, this event is a must see! Meet renowned wildlife photographer, Wyman Meinzer, and hear about his new book "Under One Fence, the Waggoner Ranch Legacy".

For more information, visit www.wymanmeinzer.com and www.thecirclebarranch.com or call Jimi Coplen at 806-254-2067.

KCVG Has Made it to Facebook

2010-11-10T12:20:00.000-06:00

A quick search of Knox County Visioning Group and the click of the "like" button will keep you up to date on the happenings of the KCVG via facebook. We hope you will "like" us and become a friend on Facebook so we can continue to communicate. Thanks in advance! Oh, and share this news with your friends who use facebook!

The MEC!

2010-10-06T11:18:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I took a tour of the MEC in Munday, Texas. Did you know that Munday had a place called the MEC? It is the Munday Events Center. It is a wonderful space (roughly 4700 square foot with central heat and air) for hosting events. Many of you may know it as the Young Farmers Barn, used for stock shows, etc. And, they will continue to host stock shows....and much much more!

The walls of the barn have been insulated with a spray on insulation, then covered with a wood siding. The floors are concrete. Tables and chairs have been added. It still boasts a large concession stand area and plenty of parking outside.

The Knox County Visioning Committee will be hosting the 2010 Job Fair at the MEC on November 8th from 6-9 p.m. Businesses looking for employees need to get signed up. The public will be invited to come and tool through the showcase of businesses who are looking for employees. Applications and interviews can be done on the spot, or set up for a later date with individuals. It's a time to let people know you need an employee and make a match with a qualified applicant!

We will also have various agencies there to talk to businesses and potential employees about services they can offer them. It's a great time for businesses to make a connection with the public and find employees.

For more information on the job fair, contact Jimi Coplen, KCVC Director at 940-459-4121 or jimiedc@srcaccess.net. And, if you need to book the MEC for your event, call Mark Reed!

Have a great day!

Work, Live and Thrive in Knox County

2010-10-01T14:32:00.003-05:00

Where did October come from? I don't mean literally, I mean how on earth did it get here so fast? The time-speed thing does not make me happy, but this cool weather is awesome. Now is the time to do all the things we put off because the weather was too hot!

The Knox County Visioning Team is doing just that! The board of directors met yesterday to take care of some business and plan the 201o Job Fair! The tentative date is Nov. 8th and location is still being determined. This will be an adult job fair. Anyone looking for employment, thinking of changing jobs, or just moving to the area, should attend the job fair. It will be free of charge to the public.

Area businesses looking for employees can set up a table with a representative from their organization. There will be a small set up fee of $25. Sponsorships will also be available.

Dynamic connections can be made and two problems can be solved in one place. Businesses can find good employees and local folks can find great jobs! So, be watching area newspapers and this blog for more information. For more information, email me at jimiedc@srcaccess.net.

Happy Fall!

Catch the Vision!

2010-09-24T15:08:00.004-05:00

Welcome to The Scoop!

This is my first blog entry as the new Knox County Visioning Committee Director. With big shoes to fill, I hit the ground running last week, September 15, 2010.

It has been exciting to hear about the various programs that have taken place since the inception of the Visioning Committee. Truthfully, I've followed the group for the past few years. Believe it or not, the undertaking of a county-wide community development group is almost unheard of. But, as forerunners, Knox County is leading the way and has been a model for how to work together across the state of Texas.

The Visioning Committee met on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at the Knox City Community Center. These meetings are held monthly. Representatives from each community come together to tell what is happening in their community as well as discuss ways to prosper the county as a whole. I recommend anyone interested in this county to carve out some time and come to a meeting. The next meeting will be October 21, 2010. Location to be determined.

The Visioning Team has some exciting projects on the horizon. First, they will partner with Lorrie Coop and the Texas Agrilife Extension Service to hold a forum in the near future. Citizens will be invited to come and discuss what they feel is needed in the community. This is an important time and perfect place to share your ideas for the community. This was done in 2004 and many of the issues presented have been accomplished.

The Visioning Committee will use the new information to gain insight on valuable projects for the future. The Extension Service will use it to do their plan of work for the county. The date has not been set, but we hope to accomplish it in early November.

Next, the Visioning Committee will continue to develop tourism materials...this time, in the way of an audio CD. Some visitors come to Knox County as part of a group tour, but many come as individuals and are not sure where to begin their "site seeing" tour. The committee is looking into ways to put together an audio CD of all the interesting places in the county. This CD will give the listener incredible history about the various locations. The travelers can take the scenic tour at their leisure, and feel like they have a personal tour guide riding in their vehicle. (If anyone in Knox County can help the committee get these CDs produced, please contact me.)

This is all I will tell you for now! Keep visiting The Scoop for more information, or come to one of our meetings. We look forward to seeing you! I personally look forward to meeting you and hearing your vast ideas for sustaining the community. Feel free to stop by my office in the courthouse at Benjamin.

A year already?

2010-03-27T12:29:00.004-05:00

Dear KCVC friends,

Consider this your first installment in my new, and continuing, personalized just for you, Knox County travel, adventure and event guide. After all how sad will it be if the whole world discovers our wonderful real ranch country home before you do?

Whether you are interested in fabric, quilts, old fashioned nostalgia, great sales or just the punch and cake.... or even if you’re not into any of those, it is BIG news that one of our new businesses in the bustling metropolis of downtown Benjamin, population conservatively under 200, has its first anniversary next week!

Having a new business open in Benjamin was noteworthy, having it become a recognized stop for tour groups and individual travelers and adopted by our heritage tourism friends on the Real Ranch Country Travel Map, distributed by the Texas Historical Commission, Lubbock Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau is amazing!

The successful first year of Front Porch Quilts is a great stepping stone for all of Knox County as we build on our efforts to bring folks in to discover, and spend some time and money with us in our unique home place!

So, I'm passing along to all of you this invitation to join the ladies at Front Porch Quilts, in celebrating with cake and punch Saturday, April 3rd, any time between 10 am and 2 pm. If you've never been in the store, now’s a great time to see what all the tourists are so excited about! It’s easy to find, no GPS needed, just look for the old west store front on the South side of Hwy 82, east of the flashing light.

And, while you are in Benjamin, how many of you have never been to our wonderful museum, just across the road, had a fresh sandwich at BJ's (um the very best picnic fare anywhere!) or visited the unique and very successful Santa Fe on the Brazos where you can also see the work of our own Official State Photographer? Imagine, a day of tourism adventure right here in your own backyard! And just in case you use up that whole quarter tank of gas, 2 gas stations right here on the highway, so you can surely make it back home before sundown!

Now I don't want to overexcite you on your first foray around Knox County but if you're going North to get home any way, go ahead and make that 1 mile detour off Hwy 6 to see Truscott and the renovated, recreated, preserved, romantic heritage to be respectfully re-discovered there, view the old Bank and the Church turned Lodge, and if you still have a little adventurous spirit left in you follow the blacktop on out 5 or miles or so to the Truscott Brine Lake and see the salt, that's right I said salt, lake of Knox County. It's a naturally beautiful drive, with great improvements by the Corps of Engineers, that make it the ideal place to stretch your legs and picnic on that sandwich and cold drink from BJ's.

Going home by 82 East? Be sure to stop and see the National Historic and Natural Landmark, The Narrows and take in the fact that right here, where you live, are two phenomena. One is the fact that here is the continental divide of watersheds, one river sending water to the Mississippi and one to the Gulf of Mexico with just this narrow ledge of rough country between them, and two that every explorer, native culture and adventurer to the Southwest visited and noted this unique place, known for providing the best grass, the surest source of water, dependable hunting and winter shelter. Let your imagination soar, it’s better than any movie!

Alright, now that you are in the awe inspired frame of mind, take a southern turn on the FM Road to Rhineland and tour the Cathedral in the cotton field. The door is always open! And I'm personally putting up a $10 guarantee that you cannot visit and read the story of this place of worship hand built by German immigrant farmers and school boys persevering through World War, the Depression and the Dust Bowl, without a lump in your throat! I promise you'll leave with no excuses for not meeting your own goals! If you call ahead and get Dot Myers to come over and lead you through, it'll take a little longer, but you will experience one of the best stories in rural America.

Some of you will have to go South to get home and so will travel across Knox County's other National Historic Landmark the river bridge between Benjamin and Knox City. Stop and savor, it'll only take a minute. And you can tell your grandkids about it! This is one of only 3 known remaining bridges of this era and type in the United States. The one on Hwy 83 at Wellington, the only other still in use in Texas, is currently being torn down by TXDOT in the never ending development of 4 lane highways. This crossing of the Brazos has been featured in movies and books and is rumored to have been among the first places utilized for dancing to Bob Wills big band sound. That’s among the little known facts of Knox County, which you can learn by visiting the previously mentioned museum, much like the fact that Wills was, for a while, a Baptist preacher in Knox County, before rounding up the famous Playboys! Imagine! Oh and while your thinking about it, here's another fact, the bridge your standing on was the first one designed by an engineer of the Texas Highway Department, as it was called before becoming the mega giant agency Texas Department of Transportation.

If you are going home by a western trail, you surely already know that you are traveling everyday through true American history, the fabled real ranch country, made famous by dime novels, western movies and Remington paintings. About the only place left in the world where you can drive through miles and miles of God's scenery, Mama Cows, and native grass with only an occasional ranch entry, house off in the distance or occasional real working cowboy getting out of a pickup to interrupt the view. But, did you know you are living your life in the true setting made famous by the most widely read author in Europe, whose most famous work set a whole series of adventure novels, featuring an American Indian brave and his faithful sidekick the German adventurer turned cowboy, in the flats and breaks between present day Benjamin and Lubbock? This popular series also became the basis for the European version of early silent movies, then the first "talkies", western cowboy movies, and later a string of movies akin to our Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns and finally a spoof series much like Mel Brook's Blazing Saddles, even an opera based on the adventures of Ole Shatterhand? It's true read all about it on the internet! Just don't expect to read the books, unless you can read German, Dutch or French. They were never released in the US.

Well, I'm afraid that is all the adventure and shocking revelations about Knox County you can handle for one Saturday's tour time. But tune in next week and we'll talk about what you can see and do on a short day tour to Knox City, Munday, Goree or Vera this spring!

Meantime, don't forget the original message here, get on out of the house next Saturday and help celebrate the successful first year of Front Porch Quilts!

Until next time,

Your trusty tour guide,
Remelle

Next Meeting...

2009-05-04T10:41:00.001-05:00

Hey Team,

Just a note to let everyone know we will have our monthly Visioning Team, meeting on our regular first Thursday date. That's this Thursday, May 7th, at 3:30 pm. We will meet at Ranger Creek Lodge, off Hwy 82, on County Road 3150, just west of Vera. This will be a great opportunity to tour if you haven't had a chance to visit this thriving Knox County tourist business before. Check out the coverage of Ranger Creek in the most recent edition of Texas Highways!

Look forward to seeing you all then. Please give Judge Floyd or I a call if you have items for the agenda.

Thank you!

Remelle
806-255-0909

Heritage Trails' Meeting held in Knox County

2009-03-13T11:21:00.001-05:00

Next Meeting...

2009-03-03T10:15:00.000-06:00

Visioning Partners,

This is a reminder of the monthly meeting scheduled for this Thursday, March 5th in Goree at the Community Center. The meeting will start at 5:00 PM. The reason for the late start is the Board will be meeting at 3:30 PM.

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

"The Essence of Freedom is the Proper Limitation of Government"

4A/4B Corporation Training

2009-02-27T10:59:00.001-06:00

Remelle has confirmed a date and time that she will be coming to Goree for training on 4A/4B Sales Tax. It is Monday, March 9, 2009, at 6:00 pm at the Goree Memorial Building. We are planning on eating, so let us know if you have anyone interested in joining us so that we have a head count for the meal. I know that Benjamin is interested, but I do not have Mitzi’s email address. And other Corporations may have new members or may have an interest in a refreshers’ course. All are welcome.

Thanks for your help,
Tammie

New Business in Knox County...

2009-02-26T09:38:00.003-06:00

Making The Next Major Step Easier . . .

Buying or selling property in or around Goree, Texas? When you've taken one of the most important steps of a lifetime, let Gregg Fix with United Country be your guide to make informed decisions. He is open for business and ready to help. greggfix@wildblue.net

For the rest of the story....

Goree, Texas

2009-02-20T18:20:00.004-06:00

As you may already know, the vote was cast and the decision was made official by the MCISD Board of Directors last night to close the Junior High campus in Goree. I’m sad and a few are sad and mad. But, I also know what it is like to be in the ‘chair of decision’ when all the facts are in and weighed out, even then, things still don’t add up or work out. Whether it be an increase in taxes or utility rates, it is never pleasant and its’ effects are felt across the board.

I will encourage our town, our alumni, our Council and my own heart to trust the leadership of the School Board. And most of all, I will choose to trust the One who holds their hearts in His hand and the One who has the power to direct their hearts as a watercourse wherever He wills. The LORD has proven Himself faithful to me time and time again. Every time He allowed a door to close, He opened another. He never fails. He will bring good out of this bad situation. He has begun a good work in Goree that He will continue until completion.

On behalf of the Going for Greatness in Goree Group, we want the members of the Knox County Visioning Group to know how much it means to us that, first of all, you are disheartened and concerned about the closing of the school campus in Goree. And, second of all, that you are considering the possibilities of developing a future purpose for this structure that will benefit our entire county. We need to be a go-to county or all of our school systems will continue to deteriorate and eventually close. Once again, thanks.

Lord Bless,
Tammie Trainham

As We Speak...

2009-02-19T12:57:00.003-06:00

...a representative from the Texas Rural Innovators Forum is on a plane headed to our Adventure Country. Remelle is on her way to meet his flight. Tomorrow, he will be touring our county and meeting Knox County's innovators. Welcome him!!!

Spectacular Results...

2009-02-19T11:08:00.007-06:00

January 29th:

Hey gang, I couldn't wait until we can all get together at a meeting to share some news with you!

I just had to let you know our tourism efforts for Knox County are really paying off! And to say, please, MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! All hands on deck!

I was, and am, truly convinced that if our Real Rural Tourism Symposium, and the Adventure Trail that we developed from that, had never reached a soul outside Knox County, just changed our own perspectives, opened our own eyes it would be worth every penny, every minute we put in to it.

But WOW, we definitely are getting attention outside our own little realm!

Hopefully, when we get tired or discouraged we'll remember what great results we are seeing locally, and abroad, from one little Adventure Trail Map and a couple of days of hard work and hospitality!

I am so proud of our Knox County Visioning Team, our friends and neighbors who've responded, and your decision to "Sell our Hometown without Selling our Souls". Now its time to reap the rewards, which is actually when the longer, harder work begins, but also the most satisfying...just like harvest when you're farming.

So here's the latest deal resulting from your work and dedication.....
and your belief in our heritage and its' value....

If you remember, April Garner, from the Texas Historical Commission's Austin office, was one of our most enthusiastic guests for the Real Rural Tourism Symposium. We also had Jill Campbell, who is the Regional Coordinator for the region to the East of us, called the Texas Lakes Trail, visit with us last summer.

Knox County made a great impression on them, which they've shared with their associates at the Historical Commission and the folks they work with in the different regions of Texas.

SO......

March 12th we will host the Texas Plains Trail Regional Meeting in Knox County, and they are adding a day, either the 11th or 13th to tour...sightsee, eat, shop, sightsee, eat, shop..in Knox County, to their usual 1 day agenda. They have also asked us to tell our story as "the program" for their meeting.

By the way, this is the Texas Trail that Knox County is on, but the Director Deborah Sue McDonald has never been here before, also true of most of our neighbors from the North since this trail goes all the way up through the panhandle and west through the big city of Amarillo. So let's knock their socks off!

AND

March 25th, we will do it all again! The Texas Lakes Trail, which ends in Baylor County, will hold their regional meeting in Seymour, and again, even though we are not in their region, the Knox County story will be the meeting's featured program. They are also adding a day of touring to their regular one day meeting agenda, with that day being here in Knox County! This meeting is to be attended not only by our neighbors, the regional partners, but by at least 3 of the other Texas Trail coordinators and staff from Austin. Welcome back April and Jill!

I've promised them we can put together a mini, two or three hour, tour for those who only have that much time, or a whole day and night for those who can come early, stay late. We will also be making all the arrangements for the Texas Plains Trail meeting....they've put themselves in our hands. So check your calendar, dust off your backseats, practice your best story and let's entertain!

Now you might be wondering.....What is she so excited about? This probably won't be more than a dozen or twenty folks and they won't be here very long or spend very much money. Here's the deal people, state agencies who promote tourism need poster children, other communities who want to sell tourism need successful examples... this is marketing at its best and most believable source and you don't pay for the advertising!

Remember a one page ad in a national magazine is about $35,000, in a regional magazine about $9,000, and how many people will actually come to Knox County from that advertisement? After all do you believe what you read in an advertisement? Or do you tend to go where your friends, family and neighbors rave about? When recommended by a real person, whom you trust and who has a reputation with you to uphold, real people believe them. Real people, who might visit us, love us and want to join us another time, or for a lifetime! So, consider that between just these two groups they directly influence the decisions of folks in over half the geographic area of Texas. And, indirectly through their associates, all of Texas! Now that's a real lot of folks!

Here's a challenge.....Hey Dennis, can you get the building done so Pam can sell these folks some fabric? Anybody else got a new enterprise I might not know about? Looking for a date to set as a deadline to get something done? Here it is! Any business owners willing to put together a coupon for $$ off, free drink or a big sale to get our visitors into your store? Any offers for welcome baskets, door prizes or take home, remember us fondly, come back soon trinkets? Any teens interested in the tourist business experience, want to volunteer as a tour guide or ambassador for Knox County? Any of you Knox County supporters who won't be able to help in person, but could contribute towards the costs of hosting these groups or attracting the next one? Any volunteers to help me gather up and put together a packet to mail out to all their members in February enticing them to be sure and make the long drive to come see us in Knox County?

Let's decide, together, not to waste any opportunities this year! It's harvest time!

Recognition Celebration!

2009-02-19T10:55:00.006-06:00

Speaking of harvest... I hope each of you gained as much as I did in the huge booster shot of our Celebration! January 10th at the Wooden Nickel in Knox City. I hardly need to write any thing about it as the Knox County News team had such a great time and covered the night in detail. Their story is here on the Blog too, so turn to it for a full account of what you missed if you couldn't join us. Those of us who were there can testify to the adrenaline charge in the room from the beginning of the Visiting Hour, when judging from the noise level alone, folks were having a great time catching up with each others news, getting acquainted with those they didn't know and Wow!ing over the renovation of this old building. Absolutely awe inspiring!

The addition of a stage and fantastic sound system, provided the perfect showcase for our musicians, local college students Matthew Coffman and Keri Beck, joined by the Jones brothers, also college students from over at Paducah. They were a great hit, finally being "discovered" at home, although they are an extremely popular dance band down south in the San Angelo State area and as duos or soloists all have played and sang in just about every Church around. Amazing what talent quietly surrounds us here in Knox County! Since I had no idea what the name of their group, or even which members would be able to make it, just Matthew's assurance they'd play for us, back when we sent out the invitations, we simply billed Five Star Entertainment for the evening, meaning it as an adjective, description only. Playing along as great sports, the kids have adopted the name Five Star Entertainment Less One, as Beck sister Kimberly wasn't home. So the next time you are in need of professional quality country, swing, spiritual, original or dance music remember you first heard Five Star Entertainment Minus One right here at our Celebration! And if you are very lucky you can book them too! Seriously, when they can come home to sing and play they're happy to do it. Call me for Matthew or Brice Jones number!

My favorite part of the night was the Community Showcase, followed by what I still refer to as Steve Pepper's "I Believe" Speech, where he challenged us all to Catch the Vision, while recognizing the accomplishments made in a very short time by those who have, like the Young Guns! Travis and Brenda Floyd sang ”You Lift Me Up" to open our dinner program and it perfectly set the theme for the Community Showcase when the achievements of our communities and the obvious love and enthusiasm of each representative who talked about their hometown, Truscott, Vera, Goree, Munday and Knox City really did LIFT ME UP! I was reminded again of the one big thing that swayed me to come and work with the Knox County Visioning Team, the love and dedication folks here have for our homes and heritage! Thank you all!

I would be remiss not to tell you though that the folks sitting around me seemed most impressed with their delicious steak dinners and the yummy before dinner treats, and saw everything else as welcome extras! Seems the old adage about food being the way to a man's heart is still true!

Positive Hometown Ties

2009-02-19T10:49:00.003-06:00

While we are on the subjects of tourism, entertainment, and serving as an ambassador for Knox County.... Did you know that our own Tibb Burnet is a headliner for the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering at Alpine next month? He will be joining the likes of our friends Andy Wilkinson and Chuck Milner, and famous Texans like Red Steagall, who preserve our heritage of cowboy music and stories. What an honor for Tibb! And, what a blessing it is for us to have such an ambassador for Knox County. Tibb spoke to our high school students last spring at Youth Engagement Day about all the places he loves in Knox County and why he choose them over New York where he has lived and the European capitals he has visited. They were mesmerized and one of my favorite stories of our having an impact sprang from his sharing with them. Up in the summer I was getting a Coke at Penman's when the young man waiting on me asked if I “weren’t that lady who did the Youth Thing at the high school". Tickled that he would even mention it, I responded positively and he went on to tell me that it was pretty good. His favorite part was learning about the Brine Lake over at Truscott. He'd never been there so he loaded up a couple of friends and went over to watch the sunset and check it out one evening. "Now", he said, "We go there all the time, at least once a week this summer, and usually there's three or four car loads. It's cool to have a place like that we can go to here in Knox County." One more positive tie to his hometown! Thanks Tibb!

Positive hometown ties? Coming up!

Yes! You Can!

2009-02-19T10:48:00.001-06:00

Yes! You Can!

2009-02-19T10:03:00.012-06:00

Our KCVC Yes! You Can! Series hit a little delay this week due to the icy roads and school schedules being shortened. But the moisture and signal that, maybe, we are returning to more normal weather was well worth it. We'll be right back on schedule in a few days, presenting the introduction at all three high schools to our semester long program Yes! You Can! The series of workshops, along with our intern, mentor and part time job partnerships encourages students to Dream Big! Start here! Start now! and offers our support and the tools they need to define their dreams, accomplish those dreams and with our encouragement know they can bring all those dreams right back home where we will continue to love, encourage and support them! The series builds toward the end of school highlight, our Youth Entrepreneurship Fair, a cash prize motivated contest, to define a dream business idea you believe will work in Knox County, develop a business plan and financing package to present along with a model to a group of judges and the public. Lorrie Coop has made this series possible by offering to align her Texas AgriLife Extension programs with ours and working with me to coordinate and deliver these programs through our business, entity and school partners! Please, please let her know how much you appreciate her!

Programs will include:

YES! YOU CAN!: February 11th

Introducing our philosophy that You Can Do Anything you Dream and You Can Do it Here!

Start With Who You Are, Start Where You Are, Start Now: February 19th

Offering insights into your individual personality type, and your strengths, as well as those things you just hate or aren't good at and using those to help you get to the next steps.

DEVELOP, DEFINE and DO: February 11th, Program placements by March 1

Define Your Dream; Explore the Possibilities. Includes participating in our Internship, Mentorship, and Part-time Job Partnerships with County businesses and entities.

Discover the Pathway: March 19th

Career & Professional Opportunities, Educational & Training Resources Requirements: an opportunity to visit with representatives of professions, businesses, colleges and technical training schools.

Dedicate To Your Dream: April 23rd

Making choices for education and training; applying, funding, going; Steps for making my Dream Come True.

Do it!: March, April, May

Individualized help to define, develop and demonstrate their Dream Business at the Youth Entrepreneurship Fair.

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FAIR: Schools May 13th & 14th County May 15th

We can only succeed with this dream for our youth if you volunteer to help as a mentor, with an internship or part time job or in delivering the programs.

Please contact me now!

Hot off the press!

2009-02-10T21:23:00.002-06:00

Exciting news for all of us who have caught the vision and understand that insuring sustainability (the good life!) for our rural communities requires a holistic, partnership approach including assessment, planning, developing new partnerships and new community leaders, engaging our youth and bringing them home to a profitable, high quality future, supporting our local entrepreneurs and giving our folks the opportunity to contribute to their own hometowns..........its finally happening, its real and its now.

The Texas legislature has before it right now a bill authored by Senator Lucio which would support RURAL communities, through the Texas Rural Development Fund, in their efforts to help themselves. The exciting thing about this bill is that it includes all parts of the recipe! And is exclusively, specifically RURAL with MONEY. A big bonus here is that both ORCA and TDA have also included funding in their new budgets to dovetail with this Fund and offer additional $$$$ and programs for RURAL communities engaged in this cooperative, innovative, dynamic partnership approach to community and economic development.

I am so proud to be working with folks like you who are committed to preserving our heritage and our hometowns! I want to encourage you to take one more step, let's not let this opportunity slip away from any lack of support or action on our part! The text of the bill outline and a press release follow this message. Read it over and if you believe, as I do, that this is a positive program for rural Texas, call, write or e-mail your Texas Senator and Congressman and urge them to vote for the bill. And then, be sure to share it with your own friends, family and professional contacts and ask them to do the same. Remember this bill benefits rural Texans only, so it is up to us to generate the support needed for it in a public body whose members primarily represent urban constituents. We need their help! Contact and share, two things we must do if we want this support!

Thank you, sincerely,

Remelle Farrar

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Doris Sanchez
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 Communications Director, 512-463-0385
Sen. Lucio Proposes Bill Again to Establish Texas Rural Development Fund
(Two Pages Total)

Austin, TX --Continuing last legislative session's efforts to revitalize rural Texas and raise its national standing, International Relations and Trade Committee (IRT) Chairman Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. again filed a bill today to establish the Texas Rural Development Fund.

Last session, in an attempt to address Texas ’ standing in the nation in terms of opportunities for non-metropolitan regions, Chairman Lucio authored Senate Bill 1485 to incorporate the recommendations by the IRT Committee in its 79th Legislative Interim Report. SB 1485 would have established the Texas Rural Development Fund and provided the means to afford rural Texas greater support in their effort to comprehensively revitalize their communities. Though the bill sailed through the Senate, it could not pass out of the House of Representatives due to procedural deadlines that stalled the legislation.

"SB 684 this session is warranted because even though the state has the largest rural population nationally, approximately 3.6 million people, it has fallen behind other states in terms of resources and programs," said Sen. Lucio. "The Rural Development Fund is a comprehensive policy that will revitalize non-metropolitan Texas ."

Unlike Texas , other states like Utah , Louisiana and Nebraska have established specific funds/programs that are focused on the development of rural regions. Through these funds, other states provide greater resources and provide more of a comprehensive approach to development for their rural regions than Texas .

Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) Executive Director Charlie Stone said, "It is projected that by 2052, based on its population, the wealth transfer of rural Texas is projected to be nearly $400 billion. If the state does not move to try to recapture this fleeing resource from rural Texas, the outflow of wealth from Texas’ rural communities will negatively impact those communities' potential for growth.”

ORCA also reported that if policies like those of retaining fleeing resources–such as community foundations–are implemented, they will assist rural communities to retain, rather than lose, the resources.

Mr. Stone further explained that “legislation of this type would certainly provide ORCA with the toolkit needed to address long standing challenges facing rural and border communities and help those communities to increase their competitiveness.”

Note: IRT Committee Director Dan Esparza handles this issue for Sen. Lucio and can be reached at 512-463-0385.
(See Bill Highlights Below)

The following are key elements of Senate Bill 684:

1) The Rural Capacity and Leadership Enhancement Program would assist rural leaders in developing and refining the skills needed to effectively and efficiently lead their communities of less than 10,000 in population. Per 2000 U.S. Census, 1,005 of Texas’ 1,192 incorporated places have fewer than 10,000 persons.

2) The Rural Community Asset Study Matching Grant Program would issue grants (with a matching requirement) to allow rural Texans to identify community assets, with the goal of leveraging community strengths to enhance community and economic development.

3) The Rural Area Regional Planning and Implementation Matching Grant Program would issue grants (with a matching requirement) for planning and implementation of regionally-identified objectives. Regions would be self-identified by participants, but program requirements would encourage cross-sector, multi-city and multi-county planning.

4) The Texas Rural Youth Corps Program would develop the next generation of rural leaders by involving youth in decisions that shape their rural communities. The program would work with local organizations to empower youth to improve their lives and the lives of others in their community through public service. Preference for projects that provide youth ages 12 to 18 with an opportunity to earn scholarship awards for community service.

5) The Rural Wealth Creation and Retention Program would assist rural communities in developing community foundations to decrease long-term reliance on state and federal resources. The program would provide supportive services including financial management, strategic development, and education training. For example, the Nebraska Community Foundation has distributed $65 million to community betterment projects of its affiliated funds since 1993 and has nearly $37.2 million in total assets under management.

6) The Rural Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation Program would assist microenterprises, entrepreneurs, and small businesses in rural areas of Texas through the provision of loans for job creation and retention.

--30--

Dream Big

2009-02-06T19:20:00.000-06:00

A Note From THC

2009-02-06T13:51:00.003-06:00

Dear Knox County Visioning Team,

I had the pleasure of meeting with Remelle this week in Austin and she told me about a few of the many exciting projects you all are engaged in - the E-Dreams program for the youth, wow; the new Adventure Country ad campaign, very compelling! You all have become an innovative model in community/tourism development that many others in Texas will want to learn more about.

I think several of the Heritage Tourism staff and regional partners will get to be in your neighborhood this March for the Texas Heritage Lakes Trail board meeting. We hope to visit all of Knox County again and see first hand what you are doing.

A special thanks to the Peppers for sending me a very lovely magnet with images of the tractor and mural art that is part of Knox City's identity. Don't you just love the power of art to inspire and provoke emotional connections to place and people. You guys have it going on and I am proud to know you all!

April Garner

Heritage Tourism

Texas Historical Commission

Visioning Meeting

2009-01-23T09:28:00.000-06:00

Visioning Partners,

First, I apologize for getting this information to you and having a short time span to plan. Our next scheduled meeting was scheduled for Feb. 5th. However, Remelle and I and a couple of others will not be available on that date. We feel it's important for us to meet and discuss the celebration dinner (what went well, and where we could improve) and several other items we need to handle. I am calling a meeting for next Tuesday, January 27th, at 3:30 PM in Munday. We will meet at the Perry Patton Center.

Lots of great things are happening in Knox County. Come and share your vision.

Thanks,

Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

Our Recipe for Hometown Success

2009-01-07T16:38:00.002-06:00

TDA's Rural Economic Development Summit

Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls Texas,

on December 16th 2008

Recognition Dinner

2009-01-06T17:48:00.000-06:00

Next Meeting...

2009-01-06T11:18:00.000-06:00

Visioning Group,

This is another reminder of the meeting this Thursday, January 8th, at 3:30 PM at Peppers in Knox City. This is going to be a working meeting and we need all the help we can get in preparing for the Appreciation Dinner on Saturday Evening. We want to make the dinner a special event.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Best Regards,

Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

January Meeting...

2008-12-22T08:13:00.000-06:00

Visioning Partners,

Remelle so graciously reminded me that the first Thursday in January is Jan. 1st. So she recommended we move the meeting to January the 8th. I plan on watching College Football all day on the 1st, so please change your schedules for january the 8th. Please try to make it, as we are going to have to work and plan for the celebration dinner.

The January Visioning Meeting will be January 8th, at 3:30 PM at Pepper's in Knox City.

Thanks
Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

North Texas ED Summit

2008-12-08T16:49:00.001-06:00

Join us Tuesday, December 16, 2008,
For The North Texas Regional Economic Development Summit!

Dillard College of Business - Midwestern State University Wichita Falls
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Lunchtime presentation...

by Commissioner Todd Staples
Texas Department of Agriculture

Summit workshop topics include:

Growing Your Own – A Recipe for Rural Success – Remelle Farrar, Knox County Visioning Team
Regionalism – Nicki Harle, Texas Midwest Community Network
Retire in Texas - Sherri Gothart-Barron, Texas Department of Agriculture
When Hollywood Comes to Town - Carol Pirie, Texas Film Commission
Made in Texas – Darrell Dean, Texas Department of Agriculture
Manufacturing Retention – Ernesto Villalobos, Southwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center
How Entrepreneur Ready Communities Grow Local Businesses - Dr. Greg Clary
Agrilife Extension Service

$25.00 per person includes lunch and program materials
Checks should be made payable and sent to:

MSU SBDC
Dillard #159
3410 Taft Road
Wichita Falls, TX 76308

Registration deadline = Friday, Dec. 12th. Registration will be accepted at the door. For meal and handout purposes, please try to pre register.
Directions: http://www.msusbdc.org/location_map.htm
MSU will be out for Christmas break - parking will be a breeze.

For Questions please contact:
Amy Lorance
Rural Economic Development
Texas Department of Agriculture
940-473-1723 cell
amy.lorance@tda.state.tx.us
http://www.tda.state.tx.us/

The Summits' Registration Form

2008-12-08T16:46:00.002-06:00

Registration

North Texas Regional Economic Development Summit!

$25.00 per person includes lunch and program materials
Checks should be made payable and sent to:

MSU SBDC
%Linda McIntier
Dillard #159
3410 Taft Road
Wichita Falls, TX 76308

Name:____________________________________________________

Organization:_______________________________________________

Address:__________________________________________________

City, State, Zip:________________________County:_______________

Phone Number:__________________Cell Number:_________________

Email:____________________________________________________

Registration deadline = Friday, Dec. 12th. Payments will be accepted at the door. For meal and handout purposes, please try to pre register.
Directions: http://www.msusbdc.org/location_map.htm
MSU will be out for Christmas break - parking will be a breeze.

For questions please contact:
Amy Lorance
Rural Economic Development
Texas Department of Agriculture
940-473-1723 cell
amy.lorance@tda.state.tx.us
http://www.tda.state.tx.us/

The Wooden Nickel

2008-12-04T14:16:00.000-06:00

What is the world is the Wooden Nickel??? Everyone has offered their best guess…many went and saw for themselves. They were invited by Steve and Kay Pepper to the Wooden Nickel’s open house for snacks and refreshments on Tuesday. Downtown Knox City just got more interesting!

Visioning Meeting

2008-12-03T08:54:00.001-06:00

This is a reminder of the monthly Visioning meeting scheduled for this Thursday evening, Dec. 4th, at 5:30 PM at the Benjamin courthouse Assembly Room. If you have any agenda itmes that you want on there, please let me know.

Thanks,

Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

Award Honor

2008-11-22T11:36:00.005-06:00

Business/Community Recognition

ABILENE, TEXAS— On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, at 11:30, 400 Oak Street, the Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board, at their regularly scheduled meeting, introduced local employers and community organizations nominated for State recognition for outstanding service. Mary Ross, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions Board explains, “Each year, the Board has an opportunity to nominate employers, projects and partnerships for awards at the Texas Workforce Commission annual conference. Each of the 28 Board areas selects a local employer of excellence, who is recognized at the state conference. Additionally, local boards may nominate an outstanding employer of the year and employers who have demonstrated excellence in working with current workers, transitional workers or youth. Typically, only one employer is selected in each of these categories and recognized at the State conference. Local Boards may also nominate projects or partnerships in the areas of Service to Business, Services to Workers, Service to Community or Industry Sector Outreach.

This years nominees include Hendrick Medical Center, nominated for Local Employer of Excellence and Employer of the Year; Lauren Engineering and Constructors nominated for Current Workforce Employer of Excellence; Service to Business Award nomination goes to the Career Pathways project. This project was designed to provide high school students with local career information/opportunities and the necessary work skills required by local employers. Development Corporation of Abilene and Cisco Junior College, nominated for Service to Workers Award for the “Fast Track Welding” initiative. The Knox County Visioning Team has been nominated for Service to Community Award. Industry Sector Outreach for the development of the Healthcare Industry Cluster, which meets quarterly to address such issues as the critical shortage of regional healthcare workers.

Mr. Steve Anderson, with the West Texas Coalition for Innovation and Commercialization was the guest speaker. He provided information and success of the Emerging Technology Fund and the projects underway in our region.

The Scoop

2008-11-20T16:10:00.005-06:00

Wow! What an exciting time to live and work in Knox County and especially to be involved in the Knox County Visioning Team!

You would have been inspired too, by the excitement and energy of the group at our November Visioning Committee meeting. Every community in Knox County has had exciting developments in the last few weeks, each worthy of their own heading and story! I’ll try to get a separate “write-up” on each of these exciting goings on for you soon. But rather than wait, let me give you a run-down of the reports, made by those who were able to skirt all the scheduling conflicts and be at our VC meeting, of our many activities and on-going programs. October was one jam-packed month!

Maybe there's just something about the coziness of meeting at the Knox City Community Center, an inspired re-use of an old family home, or maybe it was the Fall themed refreshment table and smaller than usual group gathered around the table, or the comfortable relationships that develop between people who have worked closely together over an extended period of time. Whatever, the inspiration, our evening meeting felt very much like the visiting that goes on around the table at a multi-generational family meal, with a few out of town relatives over to share their stories too!

We have two big projects to finish this next week, so you won’t find me hanging out around the Courthouse much. I will, of course, be available by cell phone, 806-255-0909 or my e-mail remellefarrar@sbcglobal.net., but I admit I’m going to have to hide out a little ‘till these are done, so be patient and I promise to get back to you ASAP.

I mentioned already the paperwork, which includes hammering out all the details, for our TDA intern program, that has to go to Austin by the first of December.

And, our very supportive EDC Boards from Knox City and Munday approved funding of a two page layout in Images magazine. This marketing piece will also include website materials and pull out advertising, with circulation of the magazine throughout Texas and copies available for us to distribute at will. This is an important step for us in spreading the word about Knox County’s assets and opportunities, both for visiting and living and working, but it came with a very short deadline. Fortunately, with Dwayne’s inspiration, Wyman’s talent, Kacy’s skill, Barbara’s good humor and organization and my commitment, we will get it done and done well! Can hardly wait to share it with you!

Check out the rest of my calendar on the side bar. And enjoy the scoop in smaller portions...

The Scoop on Charlie

2008-11-20T16:04:00.003-06:00

Getting around to “Remelle’s Scoop”, a review of the “official” appearances and programs presented about the Visioning Team and Knox County in October and early November revealed how each one had led to more opportunities, assets, tools and support for our work.

I wasn’t the only one out on the road for KCVC this month. Charles Lankford shared with us his experience speaking to the study club at Haskell. This group is looking for a blueprint for a community and economic development program for their community, had heard about Knox County’s Visioning Committee from Charles, who serves on our Board of Directors, and his wife Jan, and asked him to come over and talk with them.

Armed with our slick new handout on Knox County Visioning Team…neighbors working together, our highlights review for 2008, and our Adventure Country tour map, Charles slicked up and went visiting. He and the KCVG were a great hit! Charles has declared any of our committee members could do the same and challenged you all to take this show on the road! Call me if I can provide you with any support and materials, then let’s get more faces out there representing Knox County and the work you can be proud of.

The Scoop on the award and ORCA

2008-11-20T15:57:00.004-06:00

Judge Floyd and Brenda along with Tammie Trainham of Goree represented KCVG this month. They attended the Texas Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board of Directors Meeting, where Knox County was recognized as recipient of the Texas Workforce Commission Service to Community Award, which will be officially announced at the Commission’s annual meeting next month. You can read the newspaper article sent by the Workforce Folks separately on the blog to learn more about this honor.

Brenda and Travis also represented us, the really rural Texans, at the Office of Rural and Community Affairs’ rural policy workshop. This event was a first, an opportunity for rural leaders to work together to develop recommendations to ORCA and the legislature on what they feel we need to support the work we are doing in our own communities and the kinds of statewide programs and funding that would most help us. Travis has some pretty definite opinions on those, and is an articulate speaker on his concerns and hopes for rural Texas. Brenda offers the passion and caring of someone who cherishes the heritage of her family and their place and the preservation of this lifestyle. Between them they are the perfect team to represent our KCVG. I hope these workshops will be expanded to a regional level so more “real” rural citizens will be able to attend and offer their ideas.

The Scoop on TMCN and Job Corps

2008-11-20T15:48:00.005-06:00

Dwayne and I attended the Texas Midwest Community Networks Annual Conference, the launch of the year long Big Dream program for our regional economic development and marketing partnership. Each year high school students are invited to attend with their community representative and learn more about what their town’s leaders are doing. A separate breakout session for them is held during the morning workshops.

This year I was invited to present that workshop, inviting the key note speaker, Mitch Matthews, catalyst, co-founder and Head Coach of Big Dream Gathering and Jimi Coplen, Aspermont EDC Director, to join the teens in a trial run of the Big Dream Gathering that will be hosted by TMCN in March. The students defined and refined their own “big dreams” adapting the model of our treasure hunt, get a clue and decide where and how you want to live your life approach of our Youth Engagement program in Knox County and our Real Ranch Country Communities to define and support your own and others dreams project. As usual, the teenagers proved they really are smarter, or at least quicker, than the rest of us, catching on and putting “legs” on the idea immediately.

In fact, that’s my new mantra for every thing we want to accomplish. I’ve settled on the phrase “Got legs?” to best define in one sentence what it is a Visioning Committee does, turning dreams into achievable goals by giving them the “legs” needed to stand and go somewhere!

Also working with my favorite people, kids, I presented our Youth Engagement, Entrepreneurship support and ‘brand new this year’, work experience, on-the job for high school students, technical education for work force age folks and “Come Back-Give Back” scholarship programs at the Region 14 Challenges in Education Day, sponsored by our friends at the Work Force. My co-presenter was the Job Corps Director for Texas. I did not realize, before meeting with her, what an opportunity Job Corps might offer, partnering with us, for our Knox County students, to finish high school, attend college, with full financial assistance, or participate in job training for a number of in-demand-in our-region careers.

Sharing this information with the Visioning Committee led to discussion among several members who have worked with Job Corps before, all of whom were positive, and whose experience will be vital to partnering with our schools to making this tool available to our local students. I think this may have filled in the missing piece we haven’t been able to identify for those young people Judge Floyd and others of you expressed concern about being able to look in the eye and say “We are offering a real future for you in Knox County.” the very first time I met with you…..one year ago!

The Scoop on spreading the vision...

2008-11-20T15:34:00.003-06:00

Other opportunities to visit with our neighbors about Knox County included speaking in Seymour at their Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. I probably got more inspiration, than I offered there. The Fire Chief was recognizing the retired Volunteer Firemen, when he was interrupted from the audience with “You forgot to name…..” No, the Fire Chief said I didn’t forget… went on to recognize the active Volunteer Firemen. Again, the voice, “You forgot…. No, I didn’t” Then he recognized the Volunteer with most years of Active, underline Active, service…52 years as a Volunteer Fireman. Now, how tired are you? Left me without any excuse I could think of not to get dressed, get in the car again, spend another evening…

I’ve also had the privilege the last two weeks to share with County Judges, School Superintendents, AgriLife Extension Agents and community volunteers from King, Dickens and Kent Counties, the story of what the Knox County Visioning Team is doing and of our partnership with Ogallala Commons and our Foard County and Baylor County neighbors in the Real Ranch Country Communities partnership. It is so important for us to remember that we either thrive together or die together here in our area. It looks like our neighbors in King, Dickens, Kent, Cottle, and Stonewall County are going to be joining our Real Ranch Country Partnership, giving us added strength and inspiration from their successes also.

The Scoop on McAdoo wind project...

2008-11-20T15:26:00.003-06:00

A huge boost for our neighbors to the West came about in McAdoo this month. Barbara Bogart, who works with all of the communities in the Caprock Telephone Company service area, reported to the Visioning Committee on the ribbon cutting for the Invenergy Wind Energy project, investing $155 million in the area in wind turbines, lines and production. Congratulations!

We’ll be watching and waiting for our own projects in alternative energy as the PUC builds those promised and now funded utility lines for gathering wind energy from our region onto the grid. As we shared with you before, the new lines recently approved include portions built across Knox and Foard Counties tying the plant at Oklaunion to a proposed 2nd plant there and to the major metro areas of Texas where the demand is.

Barbara who is the most informed person I’ve found in Texas on the state of development of alternative sources and actually seeing those in place and profitable for our rural communities, tells me we need to be just a little patient, as those of us on the next tier will be in the best position to recoup the investments and see real revenue, especially from wind energy as the technology improves every year.

The Scoop on Tx Parks & Wildlife

2008-11-20T15:13:00.005-06:00

Also on hand for our meeting was Bob Rogers, with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Bob had joined Amy and Remelle for the afternoon to tour and begin planning with the Benjamin Chamber of Commerce on an improvement and use plan for Benjamin’s City Lake that would make it more of an asset for the community and for tourism in Knox County.

An enthusiastic supporter of Knox County and the Visioning Team, this was Bob’s first time back after helping us with the Real Rural Tourism Symposium. He shared his experiences with having people who are becoming familiar with Knox County approach him at programs he presents in other locations to learn more about what’s going on here!

Apparently, we’ve also become known for our colloquial use of the term “fixin’ to” as several folks have commented to Bob on how engaging they thought our talk of all the things we’re fixin’ to do was. Ah well, so long as they remember us, come back and spend some more money while they are here!

The Scoop on TDA

2008-11-20T14:58:00.005-06:00

Joining the “locals” for our meeting was Amy Lorance, our Texas Department of Agriculture Rural Economic Development Specialist with two important opportunities to discuss. First, TDA will be hosting the North Texas Economic Development Summit in Wichita Falls December 16th. Remelle Farrar will lead off as the days’ speaker, setting the theme and focusing on our KCVG work of putting legs on dreams, envisioning success and “growing” it yourself for your community’s future. The agenda and registration information are here on our blog. There’s a challenge here for us. Amy’s gone out on a limb; folks in Austin are convinced we can’t get a crowd together in our “remote” rural part of Texas to make bringing such a program as this to us worthwhile. With Commissioner Staples actually making the trip and speaking at the program, this is our chance to prove just how pro-active we are, willing to meet more than half-way any assistance available to us in our fight to insure the future of our hometowns. We want to have a great showing from Knox County, and that means you need to go with us. So, put the date on your calendar, now flip on over to that registration and sign up. Check back with us later for car pool information.

Remember I said two important opportunities? Well, here’s the biggie! TDA is launching a new program to place interns to assist local community development efforts in pilot communities, one per region. I believe in our case, Amy’s region is 35 counties. That one “community” is Knox County. What an affirmation of all your hard work! I’ll submit the paperwork before December 1st and we’ll have fresh, smart, energetic and plugged in help this summer. Be thinking about, and let me know, your ideas for how to best use our interns time and talents and let’s have a plan in place to maximize this opportunity.

The Scoop on Goree Homecoming

2008-11-20T14:46:00.005-06:00

Speaking of young guns, at our last meeting we “quality tested” the sack lunches the Going for Greatness in Goree Committee was planning to sell for a fundraiser the next day at Goree’s homecoming. What a story that group has to tell about their success this month. Hosting multiple activities and playing Tammie’s new, tear jerker of a nostalgic look back at downtown Goree on the big screen at every one, the Going for Greatness Group reported back not just great sales, but happily hefty donations and support of their labor to clean up and re-purpose, re-invigorate their hometown.

I visited them last week to view the collection of historic homey furnishings and décor that families have donated in the last two weeks to furnish the City Hall Lodge. You’d best make your reservations soon as “A Place to Stay”, “Miller Creek Ranch” and other local entrepreneurs, who were looked at very skeptically just a few months ago, are now in constant demand. They’ve even had to pull out the old RV and make up beds a couple of times already to handle the visitors. Besides, how many people do you know who will be able to say they’re sleeping at City Hall. Next Goree goal? How about listing with the Texas Film Commission as 1920’s boomtown movie set?

The Scoop on the Pumkin Shoot Out

2008-11-20T13:12:00.004-06:00

Several of our VC members attended "The Great Pumpkin Shoot-Out", on Saturday October 25th, This event was doubly exciting for us. Everyone enjoyed the drama, and the adrenaline filled races, of the, get this, over 400 young contestants, on go-karts and lawnmowers. Even more exciting, for us, was this successful launch of projects by the “Young Guns”. One of the first "ah" moments of the VC after our Real Rural Tourism Symposium woke up the enthusiasm of some dynamite folks, was Steve Pepper's idea that we could jump start our goals.

Specifically, our goal of involving younger Knox County leaders by hosting them for a good dinner and sharing our vision and energy, offering them our support for any improvements they'd like to make to life in Knox County. After just one "revivial" session with Preacher Pepper, Marla and Don Hawkins, Judge and Brenda Floyd and Remelle, this engaging and exciting group of life-long 20 and 30 something friends from Knox City announce that 'they could do anything, if they could do it together'. Wouldn’t you like to spread that message all around?

After a lively discussion of assets they felt would improve the quality of life for their families and friends here in Knox County, the Young Guns settled on a desire to have a softball park, especially for their young daughters who have never been able to play at home, always traveling outside the county for games. They approached the City of Knox City for a location, donated land owned by the City, and the County for some dirt work, got both and went to work.

Looking for a way to raise the needed funding, they came to the go-kart circuit several of their own children were participating in, worked with the City of Seymour, over in Baylor County and cooperated with them to host this and future races. Watch for the softball field to be in play this spring and this group of “get ‘er done” leaders to achieve more great things. My and your role here is to get out and support these fun activities. They could use a few concession stand workers, shovel pushers and paint brush snappers, too!

The Scoop on the Beach House

2008-11-20T12:56:00.004-06:00

That same week we also celebrated the opening of the new Beach House location in Munday. Barbara Rector filled in the group on what our visionary Knox County Entreprenuer, Glenna Decker, is doing for us. With this second location up and going, the first is successfully operating now in Seymour, Glenna has already met with the Knox County EDC and started to work on a location in Knox City. We are so blessed.

While rural communities everywhere are struggling with how to provide the medical and residential resources needed by our seniors, Knox County has excellent hospital facilities, Dr.s, pharmacy and nursing homes. But, we have had a big gap that caused many of our older citizens to choose between leaving Knox County for larger towns that offered retirement or assisted living facilities, to go to the nursing home sooner than they needed to, to move in with their children, hire full time help or (rather than give up much of their quality of life and independence in order to be safe and healthy) make the risky choice of continuing to live alone past the point it was logically feasible to do so.

With Glenna's visionary provision of the opportunity, for those who need a little help, to still live in family home settings, in real houses, not institutions, with homey kitchen's and living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms, and "family" to interact with every day, more of our Knox County elders can enjoy the lifestyle they treasure for longer. Turning this into a workable business model that also offers new jobs and building renovation in our little towns is just gravy!

Thank you and kudo's Glenna and the Munday and Knox City EDC’s ! By the way, I’m passing on an invitation to all of you from Glenna and the Beach House family..."If you are alone for Thanksgiving join us at the Beach House. Bring your favorite dish, or just yourself and join our family! Any other day you have time to visit, play a hand of domino's, look through a cook book, talk about your favorite recipe or read the newspaper, you'd be welcome and appreciated in our living room then, too!" Do yourself a favor and go by for a tour of the facilities and a visit with the staff and residents. Glenna emphasizes “Your welcome any time!”

The Scoop on the book premier...

2008-11-20T12:13:00.006-06:00

Just a few days after our last meeting, the Visioning Committee hosted a book signing and celebration of Wyman Menzer's new book "Inspiration Texas Style", the first publication of Sylinda and Wyman's new publishing company, Badland's Design and Publishing, and Sylinda's first full editor, publisher credit. Our folks are still really pumped about this business right here in Benjamin. Wyman has always credited his hometown and the surrounding rugged beauty for his inspiration and has determinedly held onto his roots, living and working here at home throughout his career. Being able now to also produce and retail his works from downtown Benjamin is undeniable proof that you can live, work and make your dreams come true at home. Great inspiration for all of us!

Dwayne Bearden who has taken particular pride and pleasure in the VC's hosting this event, and one of those who showed up early to help, reported on the party, good attendance, beautiful setting in Jerry Bob and Eugenie's "new" lodge in downtown Truscott, and an insprining presentation by Wyman on the individual pictures and quotes from the book. Did I mention inspiring?

Well, Dwayne's inspiration from the Knox County portraits, over half the book features location shots made within a few miles of Benjamin, is that this is the theme for our ad/story/layout in "Images" magazine. His idea sparked so much "inspiration" in the rest of the group that we had a hard time getting back to the business at hand. But, more on that later!

Dwayne's report of the party ended with a great big thank you to Marla Hawkins for the "inspired" idea to host the book signing, and for the way over the bar amount of work she put into building a contact and invitation list we can make great use of in the future. Thanks also go to Barbara Rector, Dwayne, Adrin Fletcher and Don Hawkins for all the work and to Jerry Bob and Eugenie, who shared both their place and their anniversary with us! Judge Travis Floyd took the pics, so you can enjoy a peek at the Circle Bar Lodge and all the fun!

The Scoop from the November Meeting

2008-11-20T12:04:00.003-06:00

Wow! What an exciting time to live and work in Knox County and especially to be involved in the Knox County Visioning Team!

You would have been inspired too, by the excitement and energy of the group at our November Visioning Committee meeting. Every community in Knox County has had exciting developments in the last few weeks, each worthy of their own heading and story! I’ll try to get a separate “write-up” on each of these exciting goings on for you soon. But rather than wait, let me give you a run-down of the reports, made by those who were able to skirt all the scheduling conflicts and be at our VC meeting, of our many activities and on-going programs. October was one jam-packed month! (reports will appear in different posts)

Maybe there's just something about the coziness of meeting at the Knox City Community Center, an inspired re-use of an old family home, or maybe it was the Fall themed refreshment table and smaller than usual group gathered around the table, or the comfortable relationships that develop between people who have worked closely together over an extended period of time. Whatever, the inspiration, our evening meeting felt very much like the visiting that goes on around the table at a multi-generational family meal, with a few out of town relatives over to share their stories, too.

We have two big projects to finish this next week, so you won’t find me hanging out around the Courthouse much. I will, of course, be available by cell phone, 806-255-0909 or my e-mail remellefarrar@sbcglobal.net., but I admit I’m going to have to hide out a little ‘till these are done, so be patient and I promise to get back to you ASAP.

I mentioned already the paperwork, which includes hammering out all the details, for our TDA intern program, that has to go to Austin by the first of December.

And, our very supportive EDC Boards from Knox City and Munday approved funding of a two page layout in Images magazine. This marketing piece will also include website materials and pull out advertising, with circulation of the magazine throughout Texas and copies available for us to distribute at will. This is an important step for us in spreading the word about Knox County’s assets and opportunities, both for visiting and living and working, but it came with a very short deadline. Fortunately, with Dwayne’s inspiration, Wyman’s talent, Kacy’s skill, Barbara’s good humor and organization and my commitment, we will get it done and done well! Can hardly wait to share it with you!

Check out the rest of my calendar on the side bar.

Free Clinic

2008-11-20T09:34:00.003-06:00

Rolling Plains Rural Health
Partnership is sponsoring a

Sleep Apnea Clinic

When: Thursday, November 20, 2008
What Time: 6:00 pm
Where: Haskell Hospital Education Building

Cost: Free

The Sleep Apnea Clinic will present valuable information on a
variety of sleep disorders that may potentially be affecting your
sleep and overall health. Mike Ring with Sleep Release Experts
will be the guest speaker. Local health related organizations will
have information tables set up and representatives available to
answer questions.

Door prizes and refreshments will be provided.
Contact Judge Travis Floyd, 940-459-2191, with questions.

North Texas ED Summit

2008-11-17T09:09:00.001-06:00

Please share with your community leaders, volunteers, City and County representatives! Spread the word and let's have a crowd in Wichita Falls!

SAVE THE DATE!

Join us Tuesday, December 16, 2008,
For The North Texas Regional Economic Development Summit!

Dillard College of Business - Midwestern State University Wichita Falls
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Lunchtime presentation by Commissioner Todd Staples
Texas Department of Agriculture

Summit workshop topics include:

Growing Your Own - A Recipe for Rural Success – Remelle Farrar, Knox County Visioning Team
Regionalism – Nicki Harle, Texas Midwest Community Network
Retire in Texas - Sherri Gothart-Barron, Texas Department of Agriculture
When Hollywood Comes to Town - Carol Pirie, Texas Film Commission
Made in Texas – Darrell Dean, Texas Department of Agriculture
Association of Rural Communities in Texas (ARCIT) – Donna Chatham, ARCIT
How Entrepreneur Ready Communities Grow Local Businesses - Dr. Greg Clary, Agrilife Extension Service
Manufacturing Retention – Ernesto Villalobos, Southwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center

$25.00 per person includes lunch and program materials
Registration details coming Tuesday, November 18th!

Amy Lorance
Rural Economic Development
Texas Department of Agriculture

Celebrate...

2008-10-20T11:22:00.001-05:00

Ribbon Cutting & Open House

2008-10-20T09:37:00.004-05:00

Next Meeting...

2008-10-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

Visioning Partners,

I hope you are having a wonderful Fall Season. I have been out of town, so I apologize for being late in getting this notice out to you. Our monthly Visioning Group meeting will be in Goree at the Community Center at 5:30 PM this Thursday. Please plan to attend. Good things are happening all around us.

Thanks

Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

Service to Community Award

2008-09-29T21:24:00.003-05:00

Greetings,

The Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board has nominated the Knox County Visioning Team for a Texas Workforce Commission Service to Community Award. The award will not be announced until the State conference in early December; however, the Board would like to recognize the Knox County Visioning Team at our next meeting on Wednesday, October15. We will be presenting KCVT with an award and would like to invite team representatives to join us for lunch at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Board meeting at noon. I realize this is the same day as the TMCN meeting, which is in San Angelo, so I know that may be challenging.

Please let me know if you or other representatives will be able to attend to accept the award and if so, how many folks will be joining us for lunch. We appreciate the great work that you're doing in Knox County and look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to contact me, if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Mary Ross,
Executive DirectorWorkforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board

Book Premier Party

2008-09-29T12:32:00.005-05:00

Hey gang,

Everyone is invited to a book premier party, October 20th, 5:30 - 8:30 pm at the Circle Bar Ranch Lodge, downtown Truscott.

The Truscott ladies will prepare desserts for 200 servings. I suggested cakes and cobblers, their specialties etc. We talked about the hors devoures and pretty much both agreed it would be too much, but Eujanie wants to think about it some more. I'll talk to her again closer to the date, and order whatever they don't do.

We didn't talk the other day about plates, cups, napkins, serving pieces, centerpiece etc. or at least I don't remember it if we did. Any thoughts?

Marla, I am so glad you suggested this location! It was inspired! Even with having been there this summer, I was awed at how beautiful the place is now. The bedrooms and great room are partially furnished, there's still some touch-up work to be done and lots of clean up but both Eujanie and the contractor (who was there this morning when I got the grand tour) assure me it is not a problem and will be ready.

And, knowing Eujanie, ready is an understatement...it will be perfect! She seemed genuinely happy that we asked, just worried about whether anyone will want to drive to Truscott. I assured her for a sneak peak at the Lodge before it goes public, and a chance to hear Wyman, congratulate Sylinda and get their book(s) signed before the holidays.....they'd probably walk! Of course, we might need to be a little cautious, and issue a warning, as there is no telling what the Visionaries like Pepper will be inspired to do when they see this!

So let's, "Come on over and see what they've done now! Join in for the first party at the Circle Bar Ranch Lodge, our just completed renovation of Truscott's historic rock church."

Isn't it exciting? All these firsts: Sylinda's first book publication with Badlands Design & Production, located right here in Benjamin, Texas.

Wyman's first self-published book, in partnership with Sylinda, and his first inspirational volume.

Jerry Bob and Eujanie, renovating another much loved landmark and opening the first official lodging in Truscott.

And, all these are new businesses in Knox County, with all of them reflecting our history, heritage, natural resources and talented folks! I'm glad the new book is inspirational....because this whole thing is INSPIRING!

I think there's another inspirational story here, too, in Marla, from Knox City, having the idea of a book signing party, but suggesting it be held in Truscott. And, her belief that our High School students need to attend and that their teachers will encourage, in fact bribe, them to do so, because they need to know the official State Photographer of Texas grew up and lives right here in Knox County ...proving you can aspire to be anything, even, oh my, an artist right here at home. Oh yeah, let's don't forget, she didn't just have a great idea, she's taking on the lions' share of the work to get it done. Now Marla, that's neighborly!

The Ripple Effect~

2008-09-04T20:39:00.005-05:00

Remember how your Mom always told you that everything you did influenced your little brother? Or the encouraging words about whenever you planted a seed, ….. Or dropping a small pebble in a pond leading to wider and wider circles of ripples in the water?

Well, it was true. Every time we work together on a project to benefit Knox County, good things happen. Sometimes, totally beyond what we were aiming or even would have hoped for.

Let’s look at some after affects of the Real Rural Tourism Symposium:

Our buddy, local mover and shaker over in Knox City, Steve Pepper finally took Marla Hawkins, Chamber President, seriously when she assured him going to Foard County first really was an ok plan and that he really didn’t have anything more important to do that Friday than drive a tour “bus” for us. Here are the ripples in chronological order, as best I can tell:

Steve ended up being the guide for April, a Texas Historical Commission representative, who was so taken with our friendliness, enthusiasm, respect for our heritage and awesome activities that she went back to Austin and suggested that we could be teaching them the course they were putting together for Texas cities on Civic Tourism…and she has been bragging about Knox County statewide ever since. Our friends in Abilene this week told me we were the example ad nauseum at last weeks conference/workshop for the board members of the states 10 Heritage Trails. Hmm… good advertising?

Steve got so excited, about the entertainment he found better than Branson, that he “converted” to the Visioning Committee’s way of thinking and went right to work to catch up. First, he renovated, remodeled, refined and re-defined an abandoned building on Main Street, downtown Knox City…now he’s making it available for all kinds of community and county-wide events. Go look at this fab place… rock front, red awning, rustic interior with real wood slab walls, generous public restrooms, glorious kitchen, comfy outdoor seating and all.

Then Steve and Marla, looked around and said…We gotta get more of our young adults involved in Knox County’s future and the Young Gun program was born. Two gatherings already, every one of the identified “mover and shaker” young families that were invited came, one group met in Munday at Judge and Brenda Floyd’s home and the next enjoyed a steak dinner at the Chamber building in Knox City. The message…y’all are not the future…y’all are the NOW of Knox County. So, what do you want to do and how do you want us to help you?

Their answer? Well actually they had lots of ‘em…but they got on the ball, too and October 25th these YOUNG GUNS are hosting the Great Pumpkin Shoot Out featuring one of the entertainment ideas they proposed over dinner…professional lawn mover and go-kart racing. That’s right! With the support of the City and Chamber they’ll offer all of us the excitement of gas fumes, crashes and blowouts on our own Knox County track, plus a Halloween Spook House, Concessions and a surprise…pumpkin shoot-out. Don’t miss it!

Not to be getting behind the youngsters, Steve and Kay looked around again and said “Hey, those tourist people were right.” They said, “Gotta have a place to put folks up overnight.” Now, Kay’s driving Steve, his words not mine, to have their new B&B, the old 2 story next door, ready by Christmas!

And, while Steve was looking for a way to get his rock on that Main Street building, a couple of strangers came in to shop @ Peppers. Of course, Kay struck up a friendly conversation, found out the gentleman was a stone mason…got that done…then that they might be interested in a new place to call home. So, spent the day this past weekend touring them around via…you guessed it, the Adventure Trail, developed for our Real Rural Tourism Symposium!

And speaking of our Adventure Trail, coming soon, very soon, you will be able to check out our cool new ad for TMCN, which will also morph into our Knox County is Adventure Country brochure and trail map…and serve as the logo for a partnership with the Knox County Historical Commission and their Adventure! Advertising!

These ripples just keep going around and around!

'The' Survey

2008-09-04T20:34:00.002-05:00

Here it is… the famous survey you’ve heard your neighbors talking about, you saw Brittany out on the streets and in stores interviewing folks, asking them these questions. Now it’s your turn, just in case you didn’t get a chance yet to participate…. we really do want to know what you think. Print it out and mail to us at P O Box 77, Benjamin, Texas 79505, or copy and paste as an e-mail attachment and send to us at remellefarrar@sbcglobal.net. Read the notes under our Summer Intern story and Brittany’s picture to see what your neighbors are saying:

Knox County Visioning Committee’s
We Really Want to Know What You Think Survey

Why do you live in Knox County?

How long have you lived here?

If you could wave your magic wand and “fix” one thing in Knox County, what would it be?

What one thing are you most concerned about when you think about the future of Knox County? Your community?

Do you own a business, farm or ranch in Knox County?

Are you employed by a locally owned business?

What do you see as the greatest challenge local businesses face?

Did you grow up in this area?

If not, what brought you here?

Do you believe you live here now by choice or would you like to move if you could?

Are you aware of the Knox County Visioning Team?

How did you find out about the Team?

Have you been involved in working with the Team?

What other volunteer activities are you involved in?

Did you participate in the Job Fair, Youth Engagement Day or Rural Tourism Symposium hosted by the Visioning Team this year?

Did you think it was worthwhile?

What was most important/interesting?

Would you be interested in seeing a follow-up program to any of these? Which ones?

What would you change if the program was done again?

Have you read any of the newspaper articles or the column in the newspaper about what the Team is doing?

Have you looked at the Blog?

Any thoughts you’d like to share about either one of those?

Do you believe we have more jobs that need to be filled, or more people who need jobs in Knox County?

Would you be interested in any kind of job training or continuing education for either yourself or your employees? Another family member?

If you own or manage a business have you encountered any challenge in finding new, capable employees?

What would help you with that?

Would you be willing as a business owner to mentor or have as an intern a Knox County high school student? If the program was free to you? If you had to pay them as a part time employee?

Would you be willing to “coach” someone interested in participating in the Entrepreneurial Fair or starting their own business? Help them develop a business plan? A model/display of their business idea? Find and compile financial information? Put together and make a presentation about their idea?

Would you be interested in teaching a class on your particular skills?

Have you looked for a job in Knox County in the last 3 years?

What did you find was available?

What additional skills or education would you need to either find a better job or move into your “dream” job/career?

If you have children or grandchildren:

Do you want them to live in Knox County as adults?

Do they?

Why not?

What would have to change for your family to live here for another generation?

Have you or anyone you know bought or rented a house in Knox County in the last year?

Did you/they have trouble finding something?

Do you know anyone who doesn’t live here because they couldn’t find a house, or a house they liked, could afford?

Do you think we have enough available houses or good enough quality housing to attract people to live here?

If not, do you think we need more low income housing, middle class new houses, apartments, a mobile home park?

Do you think you will always live in Knox County?

What would cause you to leave?

What would it take to change your mind about leaving?

Do you buy groceries in Knox County? What about your other shopping, do you do that locally or where do you go?

How many businesses in Knox County would you guess you go into in a month?

Do you go to the Dr here or somewhere else? Where do you go to get your prescriptions filled?

How often do you or your family eat out? Where?

Name a business you think could succeed in Knox County that we don’t have now.

Do you get one of the local newspapers? Which one?

How do you find out about local events?

What radio station do you listen to?

Summer Intern Program

2008-09-04T20:26:00.003-05:00

On the last day of summer break, in between volleyball practices, Brittany reflected on her summer intern experience:

Brittany Coop

On my first day of this internship, I wrote a short essay on what I thought The Knox County Visioning Committee and Ogallala Commons meant to me. My definition of these two organizations has been greatly influenced and expanded by my work here. My internship has not been very long, but already I have learned so much more about where I live. Even though I have been here almost all my life in this county of just over 4,000 people, I have never really gotten to know the residents of each town until now.

At the beginning of my internship, I interviewed Knox County Visioning Team members about where the Team has been and where they would like it go. Each one had a genuine interest in making Knox County beautiful and resourceful, and a place our children could come back home to. After meeting with several local leaders from different areas of the County, I learned that, among other objectives, they all had a common goal: to bring a sense of community between the different towns.

Whenever I got a chance, I worked on compiling and organizing a mailing list of the young families in Knox County. After completion, I learned that it was to be used by the County Judge, Travis Floyd, to invite some young families to his home for a get-together. There was eating, visiting, and a discussion of what was going on within the County, and how they could get involved with local events. I was pretty surprised and honored when Judge Floyd asked me to attend as well. One of the most interesting and fun things about the night was that the couples were encouraged to bring their families, and I got the chance to help another teenager watch some of the younger kids. Overall, it was a very fun and informative night.

Next, the annual Donald Johnson Memorial Watermelon Festival was upon us! This event is the perfect opportunity to get the word out on local organizations, and we did not want to miss it. After securing us a place to set up a display, work began on an exhibit that would clearly and simply tell people what The Visioning Team is, while still making it eye-catching to the many different people who walked by that hot Saturday afternoon. The main idea of the four posters I assembled was “Opening the Door to New Possibilities.” One told of the origins of the Knox County Visioning Team, another detailed the future and the other two utilized quotes from Board Members discussing the progress so far. I also made postcard-sized flyers detailing what the Team was, and how they could find out more about it. Many people stopped by to learn more about us, and they almost always expressed, “I’m so glad we have something like that!”

In the final week of my internship, I surveyed local residents from all walks of life about what they feel the County is, what they love, and what they would like to change about it. My answers were not as common-goal oriented as they had been when I interviewed Team Members, but instead turned out to be as diverse as the people who live here. From talking with the people I met, I felt that I was able to get the word out on The Visioning Committee. After I collected all the surveys, I took the information and opinions I received and created a profile on the project. The most striking thing I learned from this was that nearly everyone I spoke to truly loved their hometowns and wanted to tell everyone they could what a wonderful place we live in!

I have had such a great time and learned so much in the month I have been here; that I wish the summer wasn’t over! I have at times stepped out of my comfort zone and met people from all over the community and learned that I had more in common with than I would have previously thought. I hope to continue working closely with all the organizations and people I have come in contact with, and watch our community flourish!

I hope Brittany truly did enjoy and learn from her time working with the KCVC and Ogallala Commons. We were surely blessed to have her! You’ll be seeing more of her innovative ideas in the next few months!

On the street interviews...

2008-09-04T20:17:00.003-05:00

Brittany designed and constructed a multi poster sized display to help tell the story of KCVC and then interacted with hundreds of visitors who visited our “booth” at the Knox City Watermelon Festival, on the hottest day of the summer. She felt the heat again in August when she visited all of our communities surveying the citizen on the street to find out what they knew about their home county and the Visioning team and its work, and what they thought should be happening! We were prepared for folks to hurry by and not take time to talk to her…boy, were we surprised. Seems almost everybody was just waiting for someone to ask their opinion! People who really couldn’t take time to participate requested surveys to take home, and actually returned them! And, they asked for extra copies to take home to their family or friends to complete. Here’s Brittany’s review of what they said:

Interview Notes
Brittany Coop

Biggest difference in answers came from gap between lower and higher income:
~low income tended to be more negative when talking about overall satisfaction or opportunities within the county
~higher income tended to be more positive when talking about overall satisfaction or opportunities within the county; were only group to mention drug problem
~Those of higher income tended to believe we have more jobs that need to be filled, and were willing to pay a little more to keep their business local, while those of lower income tended to believe we didn’t have enough jobs and were looking for the lowest price.
Not as much difference between races as anticipated.
People under the age of twenty-five were more likely to indicate that they were here because “they had to be.” Also, most likely to put that they were leaving and nothing was going to make them stay. Of those who would like to stay, most put they would leave for a better job, while older people tended to put that nothing could make them leave.
The surveys indicated that many residents had been raised here and had lived here all their life.
Many people were most concerned with the County not being here in the future, or being a very changed version (some towns drying up, being controlled by people with no ties to County)
The things most often cited by residents as needing to be “fixed” included more jobs, more recreational activities (this was listed most by younger people), the lack of a variety of retail stores, and a lack of more places to eat.
Many said that for their family to live here for another generation, they would need more opportunities: more jobs and more housing.
Most thought we did not have enough quality, available housing; several people indicated that they knew someone who couldn’t live here because they couldn’t find a house.
Many people expressed that to get their “dream” job, they would need more education.
Jobs most often listed as being available when residents searched in the last three years included: school systems, hospital, and retail.
Most people were enthusiastic about job training for themselves or someone in their family.
Not many people volunteered to teach a class on their skills (but this most often seemed to be because the interviewee didn’t think they had any skills).
Many people said that the greatest challenge for local businesses was the competition from Wichita Falls, Abilene, and Lubbock.
Many people were aware of the programs and activities of the Visioning Team, but not the actual group itself. After telling them who has been behind the County’s progress, they were eager to know what was planned for the future.
~Of those who were already aware of the KCVT, many learned of it by attending a program, knowing someone on the committee, or through an event like the watermelon festival or parenting fair.
Not many people knew about the blog.
Most people received at least one of the two local papers, and looked to them for information about community events.

2008-09-04T20:13:00.000-05:00

Along with the entire Jr and Sr classes at Benjamin High School, Brittany participated in our Ranch Country Communities Youth Engagement Day, with students from Knox City and Munday High Schools. Her report of the day follows:

Brittany Coop

The Youth Engagement Day was a program intended to show students in Knox County the opportunities that abound in our home communities. With a treasure hunting theme, the day really showed Knox City, Munday, and Benjamin students what opportunities could be found right here at home. Stacy Henry, Vice President of Crowell State Bank, presented “Show Me the Gold”, a workshop that asked us, "How many of you are ready to leave town? And never come back?" He shared that he too had been in that position, but found his dream job in his hometown. Tibb Burnett, cowboy poet, gave “Clues from the Past” which was a telling of the history of our region through poetry and the melodies of his harmonica. He instilled in us a sense of pride and amazement at the wonders of our county. Remelle instructed us to attach clues we had picked out to a bulletin board. We chose which was most important to us: excitement, closeness to family, career, etc. When the bulletin board was turned over, it revealed a map that showed us all the things we wanted could be found in Knox County. This was unexpected and got our attention. Barbera Rector, Amy Lorance, and Lorrie Coop were our group leaders and escorted us to the various workshops and lunch. Karina and Remelle led “Mining the Riches”, where we found out the abilities and gifts we possessed and matched us to a career path in Knox County. Area Health Education and Texas Workforce Commission partnered with the Visioning Committee to present this workshop. We learned that there were a lot more great careers here than we thought! Health proved to be a major career path of interest for many students, which was interesting to me after we realized how many health related jobs were in the area. Sylinda Meinzer, Jennifer Shaw, and Tammie Trainham presented “Creating Your Own Treasure”, where we learned about developing a career that is not necessarily on the map. The entrepreneurial spirit of these ladies was very contagious, and definitely made me want to open my own business! Fall 2008 Ranch Country Youth Entrepreneurship Fair was introduced by Darryl during “Leadership NOW”, a workshop where we learned about getting ahead through service activities. This was very important because most of us are college-bound, and leadership activities can definitely have an influence on a college application. An interview of a few students followed lunch, and it was revealed that we had learned a lot that day about what our County had to offer us for the future.

Ogallala Commons

2008-09-04T20:05:00.003-05:00

The KCVC works hand in hand with the Ogallala Commons, a multi-state rural resource network, and is the center of the Real Ranch Country Community program. Brittany outlined the philosophy of our partnership this way:

Brittany Coop

Ogallala Commons is a nonprofit organization intended to help sustain our rural communities. It addresses the six common challenges that face us:

By assessing and prioritizing, we know where we are and where we hope to go.
By conserving natural resources, we are able to establish practices that conserve and regenerate our natural capital.
By growing leaders, we are able to turn responsibility over to the next generation.
By engaging youth, we encourage them to seek out a career here, rather than lose them to the impersonality of a large city.
By supporting entrepreneurs, we are able to establish goods and services here in our own community and eliminate the need to spend money on these in a larger town. This boosts our hometown economy and creates a new career path for our residents.
By harvesting wealth, we are encouraging lands and businesses to stay in the control of people with ties to our hometowns.

The six “fenceposts” represent common obstacles facing rural communities today.

The commonwealths are community assets that can be invested in to create new resources over long term time frame. There are twelve commonwealths of Ogallala Commons: sense of place, education, health, leisure and recreation, spirituality, history, renewable energy, foodshed, soil &mineral life, wildlife & the natural world, arts & culture, and the water cycle.
These factors are the top twelve things a person would look for when choosing where to live and build their future. For me, these are things I want more developed in my community so that when I return from college, my hometown is a place where all my needs can be met.
If our communities could pool our assets and come together, I feel like Knox County could meet these commonwealths and strive for even more for our residents.
From what I have seen of Ogallala Commons, the rural spirit is alive and well. If we can help our residents develop the skills they need to sustain our communities, Knox County will be a place youth will wish to return to year after year.

Interviews

2008-09-04T19:52:00.003-05:00

You probably noticed the reference of what Lorrie, and yes, she is also Brittany’s Mom, had to say about the Visioning Team. That’s because another of Brittany’s first assignments was interviewing Visioning Team members to get their perspective on who we are, what we are trying to do and why.

Here are some quotes from other members she interviewed that first week:

Barbara Rector- Knox City, City Manager- “it is important to support the businesses we already have. It is extremely difficult to start a business right now, so we need to help the ones we have.”
Durwood Thigpen- Munday, Chamber of Commerce - “the Visioning Committee is about getting people to realize what resources we have in the county. The main purpose is to think about the county as a whole instead of as just towns. The Tourism Symposium opened people’s eyes to what we have in Knox County.” He said it even surprised him. “Youth Engagement Day planted the seed for Young People. The question was asked “How many of you want to leave and never come back?” “At the beginning of the day, 90% wanted to; at the end of the day the question was asked again and the number wanting to leave had been reduced about 30%.”
Lyndell Reeves-Banker- Munday- said he came to realize the redevelopment of this area would be more effective if the citizens worked as a county wide group. “The Visioning Committee is a long term commitment. We have to accomplish our initial goals then we will be able to clearly see what new goals need to be set.”
Dwayne Bearden- City manager- Munday- said that he Judge Floyd and Mark Reed attended a Texas Midwest Community Network program in Ranger on what small towns were doing to jump start their economic development and survive. On the way home he wondered, “what will we do with this new knowledge?” One of the programs that came from trying to answer this question is the sponsorship of job skill training classes. Dwayne chairs the committee that has successfully offered Certified Nursing Attendant, EMT and Welding Classes. The committee’s targets for the future include filling classes in heating & air conditioning repair, plumbing , electrician and small engine repair. “We don’t have enough craftsmen to meet the demand for their services, and this lets us create opportunities, one job at a time.”
Judge Travis Floyd- Knox County – summed up the attitude of the Visioning Committee - “We’ve drawn a line in the sand. No more losses, now we are going to grow !”

Summer Intern Program

2008-09-03T22:54:00.003-05:00

The first County wide event the Visioning Team hosted this year was our Job Fair. It was an exciting night, showcasing just how many opportunities there really are folks to live and work in Knox County. And, absolutely the most excited person there was a high school junior from Benjamin, who already knew she wanted to come back home and open her own store after college. She’d been waiting her entire life for everybody else to realize that she could! After visiting with this deceptively fragile looking ball of energy, optimism and opinions for a whole five minutes I, Remelle, found myself telling her about the Internship working with Ogallala Commons and the Knox County Visioning Committee coming up this summer. She immediately decided that was the summer job for her and convinced me almost as fast that she was THE person for the job. She was! Brittany is committed to the idea of small towns as settings for a BIG life and communicates that to everyone around her.

From her first day when she wrote the essays telling about herself and her impression of what OC and the KCVC were about, through days spent putting together, hauling around, and setting up booth displays in 107 degree heat or interviewing people in check-out lines with sticky-handed babies who couldn’t keep their hands out of that shiny blonde hair, she never lost her excitement or her commitment to the view that everyone, teens included, has a responsibility to do what they see needs doing in their hometown.

Here’s Brittany’s intro of herself and thoughts on her new job:

Brittany Coop
Knox County Visioning Team

My name is Brittany Coop. I am seventeen years old and a senior at Benjamin High School. I am active in 4-H and raise goats and sheep as a livestock project. I am captain of the UIL spelling team, play volleyball and golf, run cross country and track, and cheerlead.

As someone who is growing up in Knox County, I feel like there is a niche we, as young people, have to fill. We will travel at least 90 miles to shop, eat out, and visit the doctor. The obvious demand for these services proves that these businesses could thrive in Knox County. Every time we travel to Wichita Falls or Abilene to spend money that could be spent rejuvenating the economy here, I am reminded that we lack coffee shops, restaurants, clothing stores, tailors, etc. Who better to open these businesses than the future college graduates who sit in our high schools undecided on the future? Why not encourage us to seek out higher education and then return to our hometowns to enrich our communities?

Ask almost any high school student in Knox County if they want to come back home after graduation and not many will say yes. The reason for this is young people are under the impression that if they return after college, they must be failing at making a future for themselves. We have to show high school students that there is opportunity beyond the Metroplex. One of the most important things we can teach young people right now is that if you see something we need here, if there is a niche that needs to be filled, fill it!

Lorrie Coop, a Knox County Visioning Committee member, said the Committee would like to increase the sustainability of present businesses while bringing in new enterprises to further meet the needs of our residents. Lorrie said she felt the Visioning Team was making great strides through programs they have sponsored, including The Rural Tourism Symposium, the Job Fair, and the Youth Engagement Day. She also felt that we, as a community, need to be aware of our natural resources and what we already have to offer. The question now is, how best to promote these resources?

After college, I hope to return to Benjamin and open my own business. I chose to work with the Visioning Team this summer because I feel like rejuvenating our communities in Knox County is very important for the future of my family, my neighbors, and me.

In the Ranch Country Cluster territory...

2008-08-30T17:24:00.003-05:00

There's a new business in Baylor County! Smokey Bros! Atmosphere is as pleasing as the food! We are proud of this entrepreneurial pair of brothers gettin 'er done!

Visioning Meeting

2008-08-29T17:29:00.001-05:00

Visioning Partners,

This is a reminder of the Visioning meeting scheduled for next Thursday, Sept 4th, at 5:30 PM in Munday. More information will follow next week, just wanted to give you time to schedule this on your calendar.

Have a GREAT Labor Day!!!!!

Thanks

Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

Visioning Meeting

2008-08-12T09:04:00.001-05:00

Visioning Partners,

I have had a difficult time scheduling the August meeting. So, since the last date is not going to work, we will just go back to our regular schedule in September, which is the 1st Thursday in the month or September 4th. It will still be Munday's time to host.

Let me restate, the next full meeting will be September 4th at 5:30 PM in Munday.

There has been and is a lot going on and we have a lot to discuss, so please try to make the September meeting.

Thanks so much.

Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

Visioning Meeting

2008-08-11T09:01:00.000-05:00

We will plan on August 21st, at 5:30 PM in Munday.

Thanks,
Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

Tammie's Transom

2008-07-31T09:40:00.008-05:00

There are times when I read, hear or watch something that sends me into deep thought. My brow usually crinkles, my head sometimes tilts and my eyes gaze upward through the transoms of my hundred year old Victorian home. In those moments, visions of sugar plums dance in my head. I guess one could call it a transom trance.

I had such an experience this morning upon reading a CNN article and proclaimed, "This is it!" This is just one of the visions that we, Goree...rrrr bigger than that...Knox County, could encapsulate. Here are some of the 'buzz' phrases* that I picked up on while reading that article which was sent to me by a Goree home comer who still longs for her hometown to be the best it can be.

"Once we understood the vision, we chose to come here," Keith Brown said...
He sees it as an opportunity to help his native area, and he likes being able to keep a fishing rod in his office that he sometimes uses on lunch breaks. The Browns are happy to be close to his family, and think this is a safer place to raise their daughter...
They are both classical musicians...
They miss the arts...
Julia Brown is a little troubled by a lack of ethnic diversity...
I think it's much better for her (daughter) to live in a more wholesome place where we're not caught up in this rat race all the time," Julia Brown said...
The Browns can fly kites in their front yard when the wind is good, and Keith Brown likes to pack a picnic supper and take his daughter on walks up the hill behind their house to view the rolling landscape. Wendy is a big fan of the night sky, a spectacle masked by city lights. 'We'll get out of the car and she'll look up and she'll go 'Wow!' when it's a really clear night,' Julia Brown said. 'How many 3-year-olds notice that?'*

My question is how can we beckon 'big city' professionals to come home to their roots even if they've never called here home to begin with? We, KCVG, already have a plan to draw professionals with Knox County roots home, which is great. But, I thought this angle was worthy of attention, too. Let's face it, we have valid challenges. There is somewhat of a resistence from country folk towards the efforts of bringing the theatric, classical arts, music, ethnic diversity, and technological advances into our backyards. But, as the story articulates, Rural America needs to advance without losing its' sense of wholesome place in order to attract. How do you have a Starbucks lifestyle without Starbucks? I don't know the answer, 'cuz this country girl sure loves an occasional vente caramel frappucino! (See? Even my spell check doesn't know what to do with vente or frappucino, for Pete's sake?)

*The Associated Press: CNN.com/living

Next Meeting...

2008-07-28T16:56:00.001-05:00

Visioning Partners,

This is a notice that we are recommending that we change the monthly visioning meeting scheduled for Thursday the 7th of August to Tuesday, 12th of August. Several of us will be unavailable for the 7th, so would like to make the change.

I will send out a reminder sometime next week reminding everyone.

Thanks for your understanding.
Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

Congratulations!

2008-07-21T11:41:00.003-05:00

Visioning Partners,

Congratulations!!!!!! We are a winner of the 'Communities that Care' award from Texas Rural Health Association. The county, along with our team are identifying the need for Rural Health opportunities, and taking steps in fulfilling some of those needs, that we have been noticed. Also, we have been working with the Big Country Area Health Education Center, along with Dr. Finley in providing opportunities for training interns. Anyway, we are going to be a recipient of an award. My question is, how many of you would like to go to Austin for a luncheon to receive the award? We have been given two seats, but as many as would like to go will be able to attend at a cost of $25. I am planning on attending, are there any others interested? Please let me know as soon as possible.

Thanks,

Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

More Info.

The Symposium Scoop

2008-07-02T13:33:00.003-05:00

~Knox County Hosts First Ever Real Rural Tourism Symposium

Visitors from across the state pioneered Knox County’s Real Ranch Country Trail rating it as “fabulous family fun” last week during the 1st Ever Real Rural Tourism Symposium. The trail’s and Knox County’s first foray into regional tourism development drew participants from San Saba to Farmersville, Austin to Canadian with 66 people registered for the three day seminar and activities.

Gathering on Thursday evening for a get-acquainted tour, to find out what our neighbors are doing in Foard and Baylor Counties, served to prime the pump for Friday and Saturday’s assessment and planning missions. Thursday night explorers were treated to an outstanding example of “destination dining” with succulent steaks, and a great explanation of what and how by owners Duane and Margie, Doug and Angie Johnson at the Longhorn Steakhouse. They also experienced an eye-opening treat at the Comanche Springs Astronomy Campus, which few in the group had even imagined in this area, and with Carolyn Henry and Stacy Henry sharing the stories of Crowell and Foard County’s successful funding and renovation of a beautiful and functional activity center and the 12,000 acre Teacup Mountain recreation site leased by Foard County from the Corps of Engineers and managed by the non-profit Pease River Partners. Rusty and Malinda Moore hosted the group at their Crazy Lady Trading Post and Raggedy Creek Ranch a true one-stop shop offering everything from booking your trip, outfitting your hunting experience, buying all your take it home gifts, feeding you while you’re here, processing the meat and getting the mount done then bringing you back and hosting your special event. Wow, talk about inspiration for conversation on the ride home!

Friday’s road trip wound through Knox County beginning at the Courthouse in Benjamin, viewing our national landmark Brazos River Bridge, learning about Knox City’s awning, tractor art and mural projects and touring the old City Hall building. While there resource specialists from the Texas Historic Commission and Texas Department of Agriculture offered suggestions on financial support for historic and downtown building renovation and members of the tour group, many of whom were tourism and economic development professionals, shared their own experiences and ideas with the local tour group members. From Knox City the group went to Munday enjoying the sculpture and streetscape across from Munday Elementary, learning how the project was funded and is maintained, viewing the ongoing work on the old church being renovated into a theatre and Munday’s award winning Keep Munday Beautiful campaign.

Miller Creek was termed a “destination draw” that, although outside Knox County, can bring many visitors to Goree, Munday and Knox City. Positioning itself as the Gateway to Miller Creek makes sense for Goree, advised the tourism experts, as does that City’s attempts to support the clean-up and promotion of this neighboring attraction. Bob Rogers, representing Texas Parks and Wildlife and Dick Wilberforce, with the Texas Prairie Rivers Region, inspired the group with stories and examples of their nature tourism success, piggy backing private landowner and small town programs on public sites, to everyone’s advantage. With Roger’s example of the success of a program as simple as “Turtle in a Bucket” and Wilberforce’s 5 minute assessment of the seemingly endless possibilities for bird and wildlife observers right on the peninsula where the group was standing, locals and visitors loaded back up in their cars excited to see what lay around the next bend of the trail, convinced they could hold a visitors interest right in there own backyard.

Tours of downtown Goree, with the animated planning discussions led by Tammie Trainham, an eye opening visit to Todd Leake Farms in Vera and its’ 20,000 + native plants watered and fertilized from the old fish tank and drive by viewing of Knox County’s only orchard had the entourage engaged in multiple “What if” conversations as they arrived at Ranger Creek Lodge for lunch. Amid “oohs and awes” over the facility and expressions of surprise at the size of this major tourist operation, which brings guests from across the United States to Knox County, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch, and the even more delicious air conditioning, while host Randy Walker shared the story of how this successful business started from the families need to diversify and find extra income from their traditional farming operation.

Rejuvenated, the tour moved to the beautiful and inspirational St. Joseph’s Church in Rhineland, itself a parable for the ability of a farm community to accomplish greatness with hard work and dedication. The tour guide was Dot Myers. Imagining a group of farmers making bricks, carving alters and statuary over 30 years, through the Great Depression, drought, sandstorms and World War II then putting it all together to create the magnificence and beauty of this traditionally beautiful building would convince the most cynical of what a small group of dedicated souls can accomplish.

Crossing The Narrows, Knox County’s National Historic Landmark, and the basis of Knox County’s national recognition in natural science and historic circles, taking a few moments to reflect on its’ significance as the watersheds split, sending one rivers’ water to the Mississippi and the other to the Gulf of Mexico, changing bird and wildlife designations as “eastern or western” species and historically making up the major corridor where Native American, Military and Frontier civilizations moved across the country, inspired a flurry of suggestions and comments from the tourism, nature education, history and event professionals in the group on the potential marketing opportunities to bring visitors to Knox County.

Like all good tours, the Real Ranch Country Tour paused with plenty of time and opportunity to spend money with the merchants, back in Benjamin, before gearing up again for the evenings’ entertainment in Truscott. Following a visit with Wyman Meinzer at the historic County Jail and primed for historic observation after a visit to the new Museum and presentation on the regions history by Clara Brown, participants literally stepped back in time on arrival in Truscott. An old fashioned community dinner, horse drawn stage coach, chuck wagon and “war” wagon rides and tours of the historic renovation set the stage for storytelling, poetry and harmonica by Tibb Burnett and story in song with Andy Wilkinson, Texas Tech University, Southwest Collection.

Rested up physically and charged mentally with the sights and conversations of the last 36 hours the Symposium convened Saturday morning at Stanfield’s Big Honker Lodge near Knox City. Welcomed by Knox City Mayor, and Lodge owner, Jeff Stanfield, the group began the day in awe of the fact that this small town business is the largest waterfowl hunting outfitter in the United States, even though many people in Knox County are unaware of its very existence. Professional presentations and the report from the Assessment Team, led by Eden Texas’ Economic Development and Tourism Director, Genora Young, soon turned to serious reflection and planning around the theme “How to Sell Your Hometown without Selling Your Soul”. Recurring comments by local participants like Jerry Bob Daniel, repeated their desire to diversify, to bring visitors to Knox County, to host them and have them enjoy our assets and life style and to be sure that what they enjoyed while they were here was authentic, respectful of our roots and reflective of our integrity. Andy Wilkinson led a discussion of how our art and history can frame that, Bob Rogers and Dick Wilberforce encouraged reflection on keeping it real and keeping it simple and bringing in other aspects of our natural resources. All three were key to remembering that we have more to offer than hunting. Just as these first businesses diversified from traditional commodity production agriculture to hunting, now we have the opportunity to diversify again, to expand our economy and opportunities to host and perhaps become home to others who enjoy and cherish the natural gifts we’ve been blessed with in Knox County. Resource team members from Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Workforce Solutions, Texas Historic Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Baylor County and Texas Prairie Rivers Region kept local participants busy taking notes as they presented sources for funding and technical support for local development and tourism projects and offered their own commentary on the possibilities they had seen over the last 3 days.

Steve Pepper, Knox City entrepreneur, closed the symposium’s program with a local outlook and response encouraging and challenging the local group from his own changed perspective, to become aware and involved. Pepper encouraged his friends and neighbors to do as he planned to, channel the time and energy used to develop success individually into a cooperative effort to preserve and develop Knox County together, benefiting each of us personally and communally.

Knox County Visioning Team’s Community Development Director, who organized the First Ever Real Rural Tourism Symposium, when asked to comment on the success of the event and what she hoped to see come from it offered her favorite quote “Never, ever doubt the ability of a small, dedicated group of people to change the world. In fact it’s the only thing that ever has.”

July Meeting Update

2008-07-02T09:37:00.001-05:00

Knox County Visioning Partners,

I thought we had a great meeting last everning and I want to thank each of you for taking part in it. We had great ideas and a general theme ran through the meeting "Let's just do it".

One of the items some thought was very important was to get young couples involved. A committee was established (Steve, Marla, Exa Lee, Brenda, and Travis) to identify the young couples and plan how to get them involved. This committee will meet on July 8th at Pepper's In Knox city at 5:30 PM. If you have any additional ideas for this committee, or if you would like to volunteer to be on the committee, please contact me.

Again, thanks for all your support.
Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

July KCVG Meeting

2008-06-30T09:43:00.002-05:00

Visioning Partners,

This is a reminder for the Knox County Visioning Committee Meeting scheduled for this Tuesday, July 1st at 5:30 PM. We are fortunate that Kay and Steve Pepper offered their business as a meeting place, and I took them up on it. The meeting will be held at Pepper's in Knox City and a meal will be provided.

I am hopeful that Remelle has recovered enough so that she can attend. The Real Rural Tourism Symposium was a huge success, and a huge thank you is due to Remelle.

Please make every effort to attend the meeting, as we have had, and have a lot going on.

Thanks

Travis C. Floyd
Knox County Judge

What all did we see???

2008-06-28T00:39:00.006-05:00

The morning of Friday, June 27th began at 8:30 a.m. in the hospitality room of the courthouse. There only seemed to be one mishap from the previous evening...Miss Windthorst and Miss Vernon were barely recovered MIA's from the Vera fiasco the night before at the tune of 1:00 a.m. They laughed hysterically about their gallivant thru the Vera dirt roads, which is better than crying or ripping someone's head off! They, by the way, had to put up with me, Tammie, and Bob Rogers in our car caravan and I might add we were lead dawgs. (...till the very end, huh Dwayne)

Let's see at 9:20 a.m., our ten to fifteen car caravan headed towards Knox City on Hwy 6 and enjoyed the Brazos River Bridge. It didn't take my carlings long to crank up the enthusiasm with a Bridges Over Knox County joke or two or three. (by the way Bob, I think I made up a new word~carlings?)
9:34 am – Knox City- We parked in front of old City Hall building and Marla Hawkins and Daveine Clark hosted. We gawked and awed at the awnings, murals and tractor art. (the Flower Power tractor to be exact) The Watermelon Festival information was shared by Mrs. Clark. Barbara Rector opened the old City Hall and many enjoyed the wall mural and dreamed of what this structure could be used for.

9:55 am - We left Knox City going east on Hwy 222 and took notice of Dillon’s, Gillespie Cemetery, Johnson’s Memorial Cemetery. 10:06 am – We arrived in Munday and parked in front of school at the centennial park. We enjoyed seeing the streetscape and church renovation for a theatre. Durwood shared a little bit about Quilt Show, Ranch Rodeo and Keep Munday Beautiful efforts. Someone noted the awards and successes of this organization.

10:33 am- We left Munday, noting streetscape and the church as we drove by, and we stayed on Hwy 222. We passed the Lake Creek Golf Course which was looking good in preparation for Saturday's womans' tournament. We turned north on Hwy 266 then right on FM 1608 to Miller Creek Lake. It was a bit windy, but that kept the skitters and heat down.

10:50 am- We arrived at the lake. An awning and refreshments were set up on peninsula thanks to Caroline Garcia and Glen Blacketer of the City of Goree. The drinks were provided by Miller Creek Ranch and the snacks were from Trainham Ice & Meat. Bob Rogers & Dick Wilberforce presented “Real Simple, Real Popular”. They described the success they have experienced in their nature tourism programs. We heard how the "turtle in the bucket story" originated and we were amazed to hear the advantages of inviting 'birders' into your area. Did I mention that this was the point in time that Miss Vernon realized she was sharing the backseat with two turtles?

11:41 am- We left for Goree- we went right on FM 266 under the overpass and parked at the Memorial Building. This was our first restroom break. Bob said, "Can I wash my hands in there?" Seems the turtle couldn't wait till we arrived in Goree. We made notice of historical sites, Domino Hall & Old Jail, while waiting. Tammie Trainham presented “Rebirth of a Town” keeping it real, using what you have, and HOW? (Interesting discussion about the cause of Goree's death)

12:15 pm – On Hwy 266 we headed toward Vera passing Hefner Cemetery and then had our breath taken away as we dropped over the bluff and crossed the Brazos for yet another time. At the intersection of Hwy 82 we turned left, then right on County Rd 3185. We arrived a little late at Leake Farms (12:45 pm) and our hosts had given up, I suppose. After two gates and a little bit of a rough road we came upon - 26,000 native plants! “Real Diversification-Real Agri-Tourism”! We didn't hear about it, but we saw it with our own eyes. No electricity and yet a fully functioning nursery with an indigenous plant population. The plants are not sold unless they are two years of age and fully acclimated. A gas powered pump watered these plants from Mrs. Paris' famous catfish tank. We met one of our hosts, Dee Winn, as we were exiting the place. And she proceeded to join us at Ranger Creek Ranch to supply us with more information.

12:45 pm- Upon leaving Leake Farms we opted to forgo the drive-by the vineyards and head straight to the chow wagon. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Ranger Creek and a presentation by Randy Walker-“Real Story of Ranger Creek”.

2:15 pm- We turned right out of the Ranch then went left @ CBar ranch gate and out on County Rd 3150. We turned west on Hwy 82 then left on Hwy 267 to Rhineland. Upon arriving at St. Joseph’s Church, Mrs. Dot Myers was our host and she gave us a tour of this famous church and shared the story of the community, “What they had, Where they were & Who they are”. It was simply majestic.

2:45 pm- We left Rhineland on Hwy 267 going north to Hwy 82 then west back to Benjamin. We made notice of the roadside park which overlooks "The Narrows" on our way. At a later time Remelle talked about how a town is using what it has- this Hwy. I almost forgot to mention that on this stretch of highway is where Dwayne forgot who was lead dawgs...sorry Sherrif Dean. I was Cole Trickle passing that villian in the Daytona of 'Days of Thunder'. My carlings made me do it!

3:05 pm-4:15 pm Back in Benjamin, everyone enjoyed some free time shopping at Redford Ranch and Santa Fe On The Brazos. We also enjoyed site-seeing at the Museum, Veteran's Memorial and then a guided tour by Wyman Meinzer at the jail and his personal homestead. We were amazed by a story about Ernest Tubbs sisters' jail time. It finally dawned on me why Bob kept the windows cracked on my car...so we wouldn't have 'steamed' turtle for dinner!

4:15 pm Back at the courthouse we were greeted with “Welcome to Benjamin-What We Are Doing With What We Have” by Sylinda Meinzer and Pam Duke. These ladies introduced the new businesses headed their way and shared about the school system. Interestingly, the highway traffic brings a lot of business to Benjamin. A presentation was given by a town historian, also.

5:30 pm- We assigned drivers and loaded ‘em up, moved ‘em out and headed to Truscott, north on Hwy 6. As we arrived in Truscott, supper was on the agenda, first things first. The community provided us with such a memorable evening. Cowboy dinner with goat-balls, too boot! How many will ever forget that? Then, after dinner the stage coach, buggy, hay ride and chuck wagon tour ensued. We were like kids at Six Flags...just ask anyone about Miss Vernon on top of the stage coach!

8:30 pm- We were entertained with songs and stories of the Old West. Bob Rogers was the MC for the evening. Featured were Mr. Tibb Burnet, cowboy poet, of Benjamin, TX and Andy Wilkinson, Artist in Residence, The Southwest Collection and Texas Tech University. Andy shared history through song and Tibb shared history through poetry.

10:00 pm Time to get along home, lead doggy. Our car on the caravan was apparently so much fun that we had two stowaways. We laughed till we cried and all was well.

Y'll come back now, ya hear?

Miller Creek/Goree Tour

2008-06-26T11:23:00.004-05:00

The tour will encompass so much in Knox County and there is no way we are going to see or hear it all. I look forward to the adventure. The small part of the county that I do know about is Goree. The work seems slow, but when it's put together in a slideshow it does add up to a lot. Above is a sample of the 'goings on' in and around Goree that will be part of the tour tomorrow. See you then, Tammie

Miller Creek Reservoir (fishing, boating, camping)

Detailed Schedule: First Ever Real Rural Tourism Symposium

2008-06-23T09:25:00.003-05:00

Detailed Schedule
June 26th, 27th, 28th

Knox County, Texas

June 26th Thursday

Step I: Get to know your neighborhood: What your Neighbors are Doing, What Your Neighbors are Doing and What We Could Do Together!

Focus on Crowell & Seymour

2 pm – Hospitality Center set up at Courthouse to greet out of town attendees, get them to their accommodations, guide if necessary, answer questions.

Register & count; assign drivers
4 pm- Welcome everyone, quick overview of what we are going to see, do, accomplish
4:10 pm – Introduce car pool drivers
4:15 pm- Load ‘em up, move ‘em out
4:45 pm- Arrive Crowell Activity Center

Carolyn Henry will tell story of why, how, how funded and how operating. Compare to our need and opportunity for meeting place in County.

Stacy Henry – will present story of Pease River Partners and their Tourism and Conservation partnership, private land and 12,000 acre Teacup Mountain Wilderness Area
5:15 pm – walk across to Crazy Lady Trading Post – presentation by Rusty and Malinda – Putting it all together – Story of their combined, store, catering location, lodge, hunting outfitter, processing plant and now resident taxidermist
5:45 pm- leave for Longhorn Steakhouse
6:05 pm- arrive, dinner, presentation on Destination Dining
7:05 pm- leave for Comanche Springs
7:15 pm – tour & presentation by 3RF and Seymour EDC Director and Chamber Director on Science and Tourism
9 pm – 9:50 pm – sky viewing
9:55- 10:30 drive back to Courthouse

June 27th Friday

Step II: Discover Your Own Assets! Use What You Have, Where You Are, Who You Are; Keep It Real & Keep It Simple!

8 am- Hospitality Room at the Courthouse – Coffee & Morning Snacks
9 am- Tour details; assign drivers
9:15 am- Hit the road!
Hwy 6 to Knox City
Note Brazos River Bridge
9:30 am – Knox City- park in front of Old City Hall building
Marla Hawkins will host : Awnings, Murals, Tractor Art, Watermelon Festival, renovation of old City Hall
9:45 leave KC
Note Dillon’s, Gillespie Cemetery, Johnson’s Memorial Cemetery
10:05 am – Munday- park in front of school- Karen Longan will host- streetscape, school park, old church renovation to theatre, Quilt Show
10:20 am- leave Munday- note streetscape, church as drive by
Stay on Hwy 222, go under overpass of Hwy 277, note Lake Creek Golf Course
Turn on Hwy 266 then right on FM 1608 to Miller Creek Lake
10:40 am- awning and chairs and refreshments are set up on peninsula; Bob Rogers & Dick Wilberforce will present on “ Real Simple, Real Popular” Nature Tourism programs
11:15 am- leave for Goree- right on FM 266 under overpass, park on side of Memorial Building – restrooms inside- may visit Domino Hall & Old Jail while waiting-Tammie Trainham will present on “Rebirth of a Town” keeping it real, using what you have, HOW?
11:30 – Hwy 266 toward Vera – note Hefner Cemetery
@ intersection of Hwy 82 turn left, then right on County Rd 3185
12:05 pm – Arrive Leak Farms- Todd Leak will host - 26,000 native plants- “Real Diversification- Real Agri-Tourism”
12:35 pm- leave Leak Farms, left @ Leak gates, 1 mile west, 1 mile north to Vineyard, 2 miles back to Hwy 82, turn West
Note Vera cemetery, church, community center
W side of Vera Hwy 82 curves left, stay right, dirt road to Ranger Creek Lodge
12:50 pm – lunch at Ranger Creek- presentation by Randy Walker- “Real Story of Ranger Creek”
2:15 pm- left @ CBar ranch gate out on County Rd 3150- turn W on Hwy 82 then left on Hwy 267-to Rhineland- St. Joseph’s Church- Mrs. Dot Myers will host tour of famous Church and story of the community “What they had, Where they were & Who they are”
2:45 pm- leave Rhineland, Hwy 267 North to Hwy 82 West-
2:50 pm- The Narrows – scenic view- RF tells story and invites to see Benjamin- “Real Town using what it has- this Hwy”
3:00 pm- Hwy 82 West to Benjamin-
3:05 pm – arrive Benjamin-Court House - shopping, refreshments, reception – Redford Ranch, Santa Fe on the Brazos, Museum, Veteran’s Memorial
4:00 pm- Dennis Duke- “Welcome to Benjamin-What We are Doing with What We Have”
4:15 pm- What We Saw- Impressions, Reflections, Comparisons, Ideas
5:15 pm- “Our Heritage, Our History, Doing it Our Way” – introduction to Truscott, TX
5:30 pm- assign drivers and load ‘em up, move ‘em out
6:00 pm- arrive Truscott- Group I: Stage Coach & Wagon Rides & Tours, Group II: Truscott Brine Lake
6:45 pm- Switch groups I & II
7:30 pm- Cowboy Dinner at the Community Center
8:30 pm- Songs & Stories of the Old West- MC Bob Rogers; featuring Mr Tibb Burnet, Benjamin, TX and Andy Wilkinson, Artist in Residence, The Southwest Collection, Texas Tech University
10 pm- Get along Home!
10:30 arrive Court House

June 28th, Saturday

Sell Your Hometown…..without Selling Your Soul
Assessing, Soul-searching, Planning, Developing & Marketing in Your Hometown

8 am- Meet any carpoolers- Hospitality Room – coffee and breakfast snacks
8:30 am – travel to Stanfield’s Big Honker Lodge – Knox City-
(8 am- Hospitality center at Stanfield’s open with coffee and breakfast snacks)
9:00 am- Welcome by Mayor Jeff Stanfield – Owner Stanfield’s & Big Honker Lodge
Presentation on Stanfields, largest waterfowl outfitter in United States and the role of tourism business in a community and the community’s role in the tourism business
9:45 am - Assesment Team Report and Recommendations – “What’s real, real simple, real honest and your real opportunities” Facilitated Discussion
10:45 am -What’s really going on- What we did with what you have- What works- What doesn’t!
11:45 am -Resource Team – “What you really need, What we really can do to help.”
12:30 pm – LUNCH
1:15 pm- Let’s Do Something- Putting it all together-for real.
2:00 pm- Heading Home! Start your own Real Rural Success Story!

We are on our way...

2008-06-21T09:58:00.006-05:00

What fun we had preparing for the Real Rural Tourism Symposium today! Remelle and I toured the tour. We mapped, timed and played all afternoon. Tough job, but someone had to do it. We blazed our way around Knox County and 'experienced the prairie'.

A heavy rain last night kept us from experimenting over in Vera, but that makes our excitement of the unknown grow even greater. I'm showin' up for the simple purpose of finishing what we started.

As this event plays out, it will be well worth the time and effort. The symposium is like a bridge which unites, connects and serves its' purpose. Through our county-wide connection we can accomplish something together that we couldn't alone. All of our little pieces make one beautiful picture called the Knox Prairie.