San Angelo Standard-Times from San Angelo, Texas • 11

ni The San Angelo Standard-Times Your Paper Your Partner Stnulard-Tbnss SanAngelo8tandardTlmaacom Saturday May 28 2005 Section State lawmakers agree on adding CPS caseworkers 1986 Lake View grad awarded Bronze Star caseworkers investigated for possible neglect or abuse but decided the children were safe to remain with their parents The bill By NATALIE GOTT The Associated Press AUSTIN Texas House and Senate negotiators agreed Friday on a Child Protective Services agency reform plan that would allow for the hiring of 2500 more caseworkers cut caseloads and move some of the agency's tasks to the private sector Reforming CPS has been a top priority for state lawmakers this year after high-profile cases of child homicides that happened after agency Nelson exceptionally meritorious service during combat and stability operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom First Class professionalism and dedication to mission accomplishment were instrumental to the success of the Fourth Brigade Combat" according to the citation Garcia received Please see STAR next page think I Just did my Job" said Garcia a 19-year veteran from his home at Fort Hood the award was a big surprise to me" Capt James Tighe supervisor with the Fourth Brigade Combat nominated him for the medaL The medal is given to members of the military who have displayed their dedication and professionalism while serving in combat Garcia was rewarded By CONNIE TORRES Staff Writer Sgt 1st Class Oscar Garcia says he did nothing extraordinary in Iraq The Army disagrees Garcia 37 a San Angelo native and a 1988 Lake View High School graduate was awarded the Bronze Star fin his service in Iraq Garcia served in Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005 think I stuck out I would not prevent homosexuals from serving as foster parents even though the House earlier this session had included the ban when it Please see CPS next page out so is the pool i The San Angelo Municipal Pool 18 Avenue A was sched-j uled to open today but the new water filters 1 arrived Offi- dais hope to have the pool open Friday I The National Cut- I ting Horse Association series returns to San i Angelo this weekend The contest will start at I 8 am today at the 1st Community Credit Union Spur Arena 4722 Grape Creek -s I Road vV- VX -jj It is open to the X' public i TOMORROW s' RONALD ERDRICHABILENE REPORTER-NEWS Juan Lopez carries a mannequin into the new WASP World War II Museum at Avenger Field in Sweetwater The museum has its first stand memorial fly-in this week WASP museum to open I Skate contest Professional skateboarder Jake Nunn will be in town Sunday for a skateboard comped- don to benefit building a new skate park The competition will be at the San Angelo Skate Park 105 i River Drive Registra- 1 tion begins at noon Sunday The novice contest will be at VXX 1 pm and advanced 1 at 6 pm '-X 1 qmafact WASP Memorial Fly-in ii i Sweetwater site to host the first Memorial Fly-in When: Saturday Where: Avenger Reid on the west side of Sweetwater at the National WASP WWII Museum Hangat 210 Loop 170 How much: Free Events open to the public 1 0:30 a jn Photo opportunities with WASPs on the flight line 11 am Memorial Patriots Parade on the flight line honoring WASPs and veterans All veteran groups encouraged to participate Giriand Boy Scouts also wil participate 11:30 Dedication of National WASP WWII Museum Noon Flyover with missing WASP formation Noon-4 pim Hangar touc WASP forum live band vintage and WWII aircraft displays vendors free event marks the opening of the National WASP WWII Museum at Avenger Field home of Sweetwater's airport A historic hangar dating to 1929 is being converted Into a temporary facility to house the museum while fond raising and construction for a permanent facility take place over the next four years Gov Rick Perry declared May 28 as WASP Day in Texas which coincides with festivities A parade starts at 11 am on the flag line where the first graduating class marched on the same day in 1943 Events include live entertainment food vendors children's activities exhibits and more Special guests include Col Chris Lafferty who is a senior official at the Pentagon and Dr Irene Trowell-Harrls the director of the Department of Please see WASPS next page By STAC1 SEMRAD Abilene Reporter-News Mary Alice Vandeventer remembers revving up the engine of an open-cockpit plane and shivering in 7-degree weather for an hour while the oil pressure increased enough for takeoff She was then 21 and on a team of pilots moving planes from a military site in Oklahoma to another in Kansas during World War II "I wrapped a blue scarf around my face and my breath froze as frost on the outside of the scarf" she first WASP Memorial Fly-in The WASPs were among more than 1000 female pilots who trained In Sweetwater to fly military and other aircraft within the United States during World War Their actions allowed more male pilots to be sent overseas About 400 WASPs are still living said We were numb by the time we landed" Vandeventer now 82 served during the war in an elite group of women known as Women Air Force Service Pilots She and 29 other WASPs from around the country as well as numerous pilots will arrive in Sweetwater this weekend for the Lizards give scholarships to 3 grads fGoUcn oldie On this day in 1937 the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco opened to vehicular traffic according to the History Channel The bridge which is one of the world largest single-span sus- pension bridges was designed by Clifford Paine Staff report She also received the inaugural Youth Leadership Award which will be named after her starting in 2006 "Whitney has been very instrumental in file Lil' Lizard program since It started" Adams said "We want to reward her for her effort time Perkins said she was excited to win a Lil' Lizards "I expecting to have the award named after riie said Perkins added that that Lizards who knew her will get an award in her name Ramos received a $600 sdudarshipi Her name will be added as the Britney Ramos Outstanding Female Youth Runner award In 2006 for the Please see GRADS next page among youth Scholarship recipients must participate in all the events and do other things to promote running Adams said four scholarships were awarded The group still needs certain information from the fourth recipient before it can give that $500 award Perkins received the largest scholarship $2000 were recognized recently at the celebration of Fort Concho Days by the Lizard Youth Running ami Fitness Program as scholarship recipients Gene Adams director of the organization said the scholar ships were awarded to the people who have been consistent and dedicated to the program The Lil' Lizard Youth Running and Fitness program helps promote fitness and wellness By BRANDY RAMIREZ Staff Writer Three graduating seniors from the area are getting the Lizards running group to help them foot the bill for college Whitney Perkins from Central High School Britney Ramos from Ozona High School and Amberly Greig from Grape Creek High School i ii i it lONTACT: John Merculief (325)659-8249 or jmerculiefQsastandardtimescom a -iir-r 4' tev- tfhr rt r-jt yj 1 f9-' 11.