Tommy Taylor, CNE- Texas Hill Country Realtor

2011 Texas Wildfires- Big 3

To date over 1,000,000 acres have burned and over 200 homes have been destroyed due to dozens of Wildfires throughout the State of Texas. The 3 major wildfires still burning in Texas are Possum Kingdom, Wildcat, and Rockhouse Fires. These 3 wildfires alone have destroyed 191 homes, 2 businesses, and 2 churches as well as burning more than 500,000 acres.

The largest of the “Big 3” wildfires is the “ROCKHOUSE” still burning in Presidio and Jeff Davis Counties of West Texas. So far this fire has torched more than 230,000 acres and destroyed 23 homes and 2 businesses and has resulted in the closure of the Davis Mountains State Park. “Rockhouse” also threatens the historic Indian Lodge within the state park area and the Buffalo Trail Boy Scout Ranch. The “Rockhouse” is only predicted to be 75% contained and is expected to expand to the north and east over the next couple of days.

The next largest of the Texas Wildfires is the “Wildcat” currently burning in Coke County near San Angelo. This fire has been responsible for blackening almost 160,000 acres and the temporary evacuation of the West Texas towns of Robert Lee, Grape Creek, Quail Valley, Bronte, Orient, and Tennyson. Although “Wildcat” is still burning north of San Angelo, it is believed to be 80% contained and is mainly a grass fire at this point.

The smallest of the large Texas Wildfires is the “Possum Kingdom” burning about 80 miles west of Ft. Worth in Palo Pinto and Stephens Counties. With it’s 126,000 acres this fire has not blazed as much acreage as the “Rockhouse” or “Wildcat”, but has far exceeded the combined damage of both large wildfires. To date, the “Possum Kingdom” has left 167 homes and 2 churches in ashes. It has also been responsible for closing the Possum Kingdom State Park as well as the Possum Kingdom Fish Hatchery. This fire is believed to be 90% contained and by the end of this week the Texas Forest Service expects to be able to release it manpower from this site to help assist at other fires across the state.

Fort Sumter, a fort built on an island in the Harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, is the The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter 150 years ago this week.

At approximately 4:30 am on April 12, 1861, Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter. Over 2 hours later, Union forces returned fire- 1st shot fired by Captain Abner Doubleday. The Union and Confederate forces exchanged 100s of cannon blasts over the next 34 hours until the Union forces at Fort Sumter surrendered. Although no Union Soldiers were actually killed as a direct result of the battle, 1 Union Soldier died on the 47th shot of what was supposed to be a 100 shot salute(shorten to only 50 shots after the disaster). The battle ended on April 14, 1861- 150 years ago today.

The pictures in this post were taken in June of 2010 during a tour that I took of Fort Sumter. If you ever get a chance to visit Charleston, South Carolina,be sure to set aside several hours to take the tour of this National Monument. The tour guides give a great history of the battles that occurred there and other interesting facts about the fort.

A view of the interior court yard of Fort Sumter

One of the original cannons used in the Battle at Fort Sumter

Texas Historical Markers- Captain Joseph A. Tivy

In 1837 Joseph A. Tivy and his two sisters came to Texas from Canada. After serving as a Texas Ranger, Tivy joined his sisters in the California Gold Rush of 1849. There they operated a hotel and he later served in the State Legislature. After returning to Texas in the late 1850s, Tivy fought in the Civil War, attaining the rank of Captain. A surveyor, rancher, and Texas Legislator, he served as the first Kerrville Mayor in 1889. During his term of office he gave land for the city schools. He and his wife Ella and his sister Susan are buried on nearby Tivy Mountain.

Tivy Mountain- Kerrville, Texas

View of Kerrville from Tivy Mountain.

Bulls have horns- cows do not!?!? That one is a bull-cow(actual word used) see the horns and that one is a cow-cow, no horns.

This is actually what I over heard a Houston Real Estate Agent telling his clients(husband & wife) one day while I was driving them around looking at Kerrville area Ranches. I coughed and sputtered and almost couldn't keep the laughter in while thinking to myself "This is the reason residential city real estate agents have no business representing buyers looking at Hill Country Ranches!" Just for the people reading this that have absolutely no background in "Bull-cows and Cow-cows"- the presence of horns or lack of horns have NO RELATION TO THE SEX OF THE ANIMAL!!! The husband knew right away that I had politely withheld from telling his Realtor that he was misinformed.

Long Story Short- If an agent doesn't know what they are doing or even talking about, they are better off not opening their mouths- Better not to say anything than to speak like an idiot. This applies for agents trying to represent clients in transaction out of their markets and in fields of real estate that they have no training on and no background in. Sooner or later it will catch up with you and could land you in court or at the very least cause an embarrassing moment.

13th Annual Scholarship Gala was a Success!!!

I would like to thank all the guests and volunteers that helped make this year's West Kerr Community Scholarship Gala a success. We had a great turn out and everyone had a wonderful time while helping raise money for scholarships.

I would like to thank all the Sponsors and Auction Item Donors that help us raise over $34,000 for ITM High Graduating Seniors this year.

The Hawkins Family- Vista Camps, Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, Mr. Glen Callaway, Sterling-Turner Foundation, Randolph Brooks F.C.U., Jeff Talarico- Wells Fargo Advisors, Broken Arrow Ranch, Guadalupe National Bank, Texas Etc.- Wayne & Pam Este, Sherron Properties- Tommy Taylor, Kerrville KOA- Annie Wirth, West Kerr Current, Steve & Victoria Goebel, Crenwelge Motors, Camp La Hunta, Ken Stoepel Ford, Secor Equipment, Arch & Jacqueline Bishop, Rex & Sheila Brand, Si Ragsdale Family, Five Star Wireless, JM Lowe & Company, Gold's Body Shop, Wells Fargo Bank, Security State Bank & Trust, Kerr County Democratic Exe. Committee, Dezie Lerner, Kerrville Daily Times, Mike & Janelle Carothers, Mr. & Mrs. John Wooten, Dick & Tweety Eastland, & Kristina Arlitt, Attorney.