Goliad, Texas may be small, but it is the third oldest municipality in the state and is literally drenched in history stretching back almost five hundred years. Founded in the 16^th century by the Spaniards as Santa Dorotea it became Goliad on February 4, 1829. Today’s Goliad County has 1,000 square miles and only 7,000 citizens. 

Like many rural communities nationwide, Goliad struggles with an aging population. The  hoping to prevent younger people from bolting to more exciting environments thought to be found in Dallas or Houston. Eighteen percent of Goliad’s population is over 65 compared with 10% statewide. 

As the head law enforcement officer in the County, Sheriff Robert DeLaGarza and his head deputy William J. “Bill” Schaefer oversee the usual duties of a Sheriff’s department and still find time and resources to pursue special programs such as D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training)

Beyond that, they’re vitally concerned with the welfare of the growing population of Seniors within the County, taking responsibility for providing each resident in need with a free working 911 access cell phone and charger. The first distribution was at the Senior Citizens Center in early April, attended by Sheriff DeLaGarza and Chief Deputy Schaefer. A follow-up program is planned at the La Bahia Adult Day Care center.

Secure the Call wishes to thank and recognize the efforts of Chief Deputy Schaefer as the head of the program. As our first Community Partner to distribute phones in Texas, we are proud to be associated with him and the Sheriff’s Department of Goliad.

Several months ago, several of the cell phone carriers discontinued supporting the older “analog” cell phones that been around for the past 15 years.  If you have one of these phones, you’re going to have to get an updated phone to replace the 911 phone you have now.

It’s simple to find out if your phone works.  From your cell phone, dial 611 and then hit the send button.  If the phone number you’re calling starts ringing, you can hang up.  Your phone works!  There’s no need to stay on the line and wait for someone to answer the phone (call 611 connects you with the cell phone carrier and is always a free call).   If it rings to 611, it’ll ring to 911. 

If you don’t hearing the phone ringing, your phone no longer works.  If this happens to you, don’t worry.  We’re working with a great organization called Secure the Call, which supplies us with 911 cell phones that works and is always free for you to use.  Let us know if you need a new phone. 

In addition to our interest in recycling old cell phones to redistribute to the community, we like finding other ways to preserve our resources, for example by using power strips.  On average, using a power strip for TVs and stereos  can save the energy equivalent of a 100-watt light bulb that is always on.  This small change can help to preserve valuable resources, as well as save consumers money.

A typical 150-watt computer consumes approximately 876 kilowatt hours per year, totally about $87.60 per year before taxes and fees!  Using a power strip for large appliances, such as computers, washers, dryers, and refrigerators can drastically reduce energy costs.  Even devices that are in “standby” mode, such as computers, still consume energy if plugged-in.  One way to reduce this type of wasted energy is to utilize a power strip, which could cut energy costs by up to $10 per month.  This simple solution helps to preserve valuable resources, as well as safe money.