2019: A Year in Review

January:
Deputy Clerk Lena Rodriguez retired after serving 35-years in Garza County. Carla Sanchez was elected in her place.

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Norman celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on January 1, 2019.

Archie Gill, who served the City of Post for over 19 years, announced that he would not be seeking re-election in the upcoming mayor’s election in May.

District Judge Carter T. Schildknecht retired from her elected post with the 106th Judicial District after serving 17 years on the bench. “It has been a good ride,” she said. “I have Thoughly enjoyed serving as judge of this district. Judge Reed Filley was elected in her place.

February:
Post Elementary PE classes started the Kids Heart Challenge (formerly known as Jump Rope for Heart). Students learned about their heart and how to stay healthy by eating right and participating in physical activity for 60 minutes a day.

Ashley Hawkins was promoted to Vice President and Banking Center Manager at Centennial Bank.

Coffee Wizards was welcomed to Downtown Post. Originally part of Old Mill Trade Days, Jeff and Dawna Hood set up their trailer at Main and Broadway.

County Judge Lee Norman and Post Mayor Archie Gill signed a joint proclamation declaring February as Heart Health Month.

March:
Post Special Olympics Basketball Team won Bronze in the 5 on 5 Basketball Tournament.

Garza County Sheriff’s Office recognized 10-year employees: Michael Copeland – Jail Administrator, Rebecca Beggs – Detention Officer and Michelle Ramirez – Detention Officer.

An early morning fire destroyed a home at 610 West 11th Street around 1 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. The two occupants of the house received superficial burns. A minor child also experienced minor burns to the bottom of his feet.

PHS won District One Act play advanced to Area Competition by winning second place during a Bi-District contest.

Family Dollar announced that it will be closing and making way for Dollar Tree, Inc.

Payton Easter, an eighth-grade student at Post Junior High, spent her spring break at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Her hard work and determination sent her to sale with her 8th place pig.

Ricky Abraham led a group of Post students in a trip to Spain.

Shirley LaBlanc predicted a “bad” year at the annual Taba’na Yuan’e ceremony in the City Park.

The Post Area Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Award Banquet. Jackson Brothers Meat Locker received Business of the Year. Jaime “Bodine” Hernandez was named 2018 Citizen of the Year. Bill Aten and Aten Farms received the Outstanding Farmer of the Year Award.

April:
Marvin Self announced that he was running for Mayor.

Local resident James Quinonez was charged with Sexual Assault of a minor and received a life sentence.

Post High School One Act Play, under the direction of Cathy Sawyer and Ricky Abraham-Alvarez, won their Regional Competition in Odessa and announced that they will be heading to State.

Post FFA Livestock Judging team announced that they will be heading to state. The team consisted of Kyna Hudman, Payton Easter, Michael Dean and Jayden Carroll. Tray Blount was the Instructor and FFA Advisor.

Lady Lopes won the Area Track Meet.

May:
The Post High School Softball and Baseball teams announced that they were playoff bound.
Brennan Riker represented Post High School at the State 2A-UIL Journalism Contest in Headline Wiring.

One Act Play advanced to the State OAP Contest.

Garza County Judge Lee Norman received the Sam D. Seale Award of Excellence from the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association.

Marvin Self was elected Mayor of Post by an overwhelming margin during the local election.

A tornado formed north of West Highway 380. The storm traveled south near FM 1054, four miles west of Grassland. Power lines were snapped and damage to homes, barns and farm equipment was evident.

Machala Hengen took the gold medal in the Grils 300 Meter Hurdles Class 2A with a time of 46.32 at the State Championship.

Post Dollar Tree had their Grand Opening.

Post High School announced Aubrianna Perez as Valedictorian and Ariana Gomez as Salutatorian.

Post ISD Trustees Drew Kirkpatrick and Milton Williams were sworn in.

June:
Garza County First Responders were called out to a Tractor Accident at the home of Natha Jo and Bob Arnold. Bob was laying on the ground next to his work area. He told responders that he was using a Ford Tractor to move equipment when the tractor slipped into gear when he was on the ground and ran over him. Bob reportedly had a broken hip and fractured pelvis but was feeling very lucky that his injuries were not worse.

The Pride of Post Band was awarded State Rankings.

Nathan Dahlstrom, author of “Wilder Good,” visited the Post Public Library.

Overflow Music Festival was scheduled at the Old Mill Trade Days event stage.

The school year came to a close.

July:
State Representative Drew Springer scheduled a Town Hall Meeting in Post.

The city joined Coalition to aerial spray for mosquitos one night during the first week of July.

Garza County Historical Commission Members Linda Puckett, Ruth Ann Young and Jeff Williams received the Texas Historical Commissions Distinguished Service Award.

Dawn Jones took over as Elementary Principal. She told the dispatch “I am very excited to be back on a campus and very blessed to be here in Post.”

The Post Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored a patriotic parade that made its way through Downtown Post to kick off the July 4th Celebrations.

August:
The 11th Annual Fishing Derby at South Lake was a success with a record-breaking number of young fishermen attending. Coordinator Archie Gill said, “This year’s fishing derby was a great success. It was great to see so many kids and their parents out at the park.”

Post Dispatch Editor Julia Childs retired and decided it was time to have some “me time.” Childs took over the Post Dispatch in July 2016 after “the job just dropped in her lap.”

Flow Heath and Fitness was set to open on August 30. Jen Strawn and Cara Cash said it was a dream come true to be able to open something like this. Flow not only serves as a 24/7 fitness center but also a spa and physical therapy facility.

Suzanna Hudman marked the start of her 50th year of teaching. She has taught elementary, middle school and high school levels where she has been a counselor, reading teacher and writing teacher over the years.

Long time resident of Post Marge Tannehill was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with the Wayland Hutcherson Flying Queen’s. Marge played on the Flying Queens Basketball team for three years from 1961-1963.

Danya Peterson was hired at the new AgriLife agent for Garza County.

The rodeo grounds were getting ready for the 79th Post Stampede Rodeo. The bucking shoots were painted with a fresh coat of their signature red paint and the grounds were groomed in preparation.

The attendance of the rodeo even made the books. “We had 3,100 people that paid at the gates each night,” President Lane Jones said. “That doesn’t even count the 6-year-olds and under, or all the passes for sponsors, workers and their families.”

September:
The Post Antelopes began their season with a big victory against the Brownfield Cubs.

Second grade teacher Heather Hill received the Texas Tech Federal Credit Union $500 award after entering her name and school.

The Bold Gold Antelopes shut down the Roosevelt Eagles in front of a homecoming crowd with a 63-6 victory. Five beautiful young ladies were on the 2019 Homecoming Court. Football Sweetheart was awarded to Maddie Guthrie, daughter of Amy and Vance Guthrie. Band Sweetheart was Krystal Soto, daughter of Davina Vega and Valintino Soto. Sydney Walls, daughter of Athena Lopez and Lucas Walls, was crowned as the 2019 Homecoming Queen.

Brandy Fannon was elected Chairman of the Texas Indigent Health Care Association.

Lightning stuck a George R. Brown tank battery on South Ave. S at about 5:30 p.m. Black smoke could be seen for miles. Garza County Sheriff’s Office alerted the residents of the 800 and 900 blocks of 3rd, 4th and 5th streets to evacuate their homes. The Post Fire Department remained on the scene until 10:34 p.m.

October:
The Pride of Post Marching Band received Best in Class at the Lubbock Westerner Marching Festival with their show Disparate Queen.

The Cross Country Boys and Girls were announced to be District Runner-Up qualifying them for the regional meet.

Author and Texas Tech associate professor of the Department of Design, Don W. Collier M.F.A., held a book signing at the Heritage Houe on Saturday, October 12, 2019 to celebrate his new book C.W. Post and the Bungalows of Post City, Texas.

November:
Freshman Samuel Walls and Senior Michael Dean advanced to State in Cross Country.

Richard “Rick” Tucker retired from the Post Office. He began his career in 1992 and spent is entire Postal time with the community of Post, Texas.

The undefeated Post Antelopes began playoffs.

Post Middle School One Act Play, directed by Cathy Sawyer, took second in the District UIL contest.

Blackburn Media Group announced that they were selling their newspapers to LK Media Group.

The 6th annual Veteran Hunt was held at the Sanderson Ranch where military warriors met for a fun weekend.

The Lady Lopes Volleyball team defeated Memphis in Bi-District.

December:
The annual lighted Christmas Parade was held on the 7th. It kicked off a weekend of festive activities including Old Mill Trade Days Christmas Extravaganza.

The Post Antelopes advanced to State for the first time in history. They lost to Refugio at the State Championship after an undefeated season.

The OS Museum displayed a collection of nativities from around the world. There were 100 nativities displayed from the 700 that were collected by the Giles McCrary family through their extensive travels around the world.