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SANDERSON –
The long-delayed Terrell County “Convention Center” took a big step forward
in front of a crowd of almost-unanimous supporters at the weekly
Commissioners Court meeting Monday. Architect Justin
Gilmore, vice president of Southwest Architects, Inc., of Fort Worth, drew
applause after his presentation for a proposed $1.027 million “Convention
Center” at Oak and Second Street in Sanderson. County Judge
Leo Smith noted the building was to be called a “convention center” because
an attorney general’s opinion six years ago said the county could use a
half-cent “venue tax” approved by the voters in 2000 “only” in conjunction
with a “convention center.” “It’s going to
be called a ‘convention center’ but it’s really a civic center,” Smith said.
“We are not going to try to bring in 500 people for a convention or anything
like that.” Gilmore said
the plan will be “within budget” and he drew applause when he said he could
get started right away. “If the county
chooses, we can start today,” he said. Many were
impatient with the several years it has taken to bring the project to life
and were anxious to see it started. But there was
concern that no money be borrowed for the project, that it be paid for by
cash on hand and not increase taxes. Commissioners
voted to authorize Gilmore to proceed with the plans and, if the final plans
are within the budget, to advertise for bids. He said work
could get started in about 90 days and construction would take nine to ten
months, meaning the facility could be a reality in a little more than a year. Gilmore’s plan
was for an “iconic structure” with two buildings separated by a covered
walkway with a 32-space parking lot to the east. The existing
building on the lot – or the walls on it that that remain – would not be part
of the new facility. In the eastern
building would be an open amphitheater with tiered seating for 125, a dance
area and a stage for presentations complete with backdrops. In the western
building would be a large meeting room with room for “almost 100” for a
seated dinner or theater-style seating for 150. A smaller room would seat 40
for dinner and there would be a “small kitchen.” He said the
use of the two meeting rooms plus tables in hallways could provide for a
seated dinner of “almost 200.” There would be
large visitor center at the front with room for galleries or other displays,
a small office and rest rooms. At a public
hearing almost a year ago, people clearly said they wanted the facility to be
built with the venue tax funds on hand. Smith said the $1.027 million would
be within the fund when the bill comes due. Virtually
everyone who spoke Monday was enthusiastic about the project. “It’s an
awesome idea,” Sheri Thorn said. “It will bring something new to Sanderson.” Terry “Tex”
Toler, who won the Democratic nomination to county judge last week, called it
a “beautiful concept. I like the materials.” Gilmore
presented drawings showing Spanish architecture using native flagstone, adobe
and other materials available locally. Toler asked if
the building would allow expansion in the future and Gilmore said that was
very much in the plans. “I’m in
shock,” Dorothy Marquart said. “This is great.” Nancy Stegall cautioned
about a facility getting too big, noting the Sanderson Arts and Education
Alliance offers free concerts at the Bicentennial Park Pavilion in the fall
and they are “doing good” if they draw 14 to 20 people. Steve Reeves
said the plan “shows the distinction of progress” but he wondered if it
should have been larger. “The Hunter’s
Feast feeds over 200 people,” he said.” Shellie Martin
urged caution in keeping within the budget and said she would like to see
another community meeting take place. “We should
keep it looking like West Texas,” Jeff Boyd said. “We need to make people
stop and spend a couple of bucks. If we can stay on budget and pull it off,
I’m happy with it.” Tara Boyd said
she thought it was “beautiful.” Ron Valdez
said Gilmore’s plan would be a “beautiful building, a masterpiece for
Sanderson.” Chloe Baer
wondered if the open amphitheater could be covered in case of rain. Gilmore said
it could be provided with a canvas top but that might detract from the
amphitheater concept. Kenneth Turner
said the plan was “beautiful. It’s the way to go.” Gilmore
indicated he could be back in about two weeks to move the project forward. By
ANNA La FLEUR News
Leader Writer SANDERSON — The
committee named by the Chamber of Commerce to develop an arts market here met
Tuesday in the News Leader office to take the next step. A working name
is the “Nopalito Market,” named for the vegetable part of the prickly pear
cactus pad. Serving with me
are Steve and Shellie Martin, Randy Feille, Dale Carruthers and Donna Muñiz. The original
plan for a single market grew to one in which it would be spread throughout
Sanderson, not only to get travelers to stop but also to get them to
experience the town. In the meeting
this week, we decided to have several venues in town with a map to show the
locations of each. For example,
there could be animal sales at Memorial Park, Saint James Hall could be used
for arts and crafts, jewelry and fine art while the fun things for kids plus
food vendors could be at Bicentennial park. This will give
the town more chances to be seen, as we see it. There also
would be venues at businesses on Highway 90 to draw the eye of passing
motorists. We also
discussed rules for vendors and vendor fees. These things need more
refinement before everything is final. There were
suggestions for live entertainment, out-of-town vendors and where to place
information booths. We could have booths
for lost and found – both articles and people – and information and small
first aid kits would be available for the occasional injury or illness. There could
also be bottled water for emergencies like dehydration. It is our goal
to have things up and running before July of this year. Before that
day comes, there will be a website and online registration available for
booth rentals. Ideas and
suggestions are always encouraged and welcomed. You can e-mail
me at anna.tcnl@yahoo.com with any
and all inquiries and suggestions. Eagles
win firsts at Relay events By ANNA La
FLEUR News Leader Writer SANDERSON —
Sanderson Junior High Lady Eagles came in first in several events at the Rio
Grande Relays here Saturday. Abby Carrasco
was first in the 2,400-meter run, the 1,600-meter run and second in the 4 X
400-meter relay. Grace Jahn was
awarded first place in the 800-meter run and second in the 4 X 400-meter
relay. Brianna Lozano
was first in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, second in the 4 X
400-meter relay and fourth in long jump. Cassie Woosley
was third in the 400-meter dash and second in the 4 X 400-meter relay. The junior
high boys placed first in two events Saturday. Luis Garza
placed first in the 2,400-meter run. Daniel
Luevano, Mason Blackmon, Luis and Jalen Chriesman were in first place in the
4 X 200-meter relay. Second place
went to Jalen in the 110-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. Third place
went to Anthony Fuéntez, Chris Birkenfeld, Joseph Carrasco and Mason in the 4
X 400-meter relay. In the
200-meter dash, third place went to Daniel and in fifth place was Mason. Daniel also
placed fourth in the 400-meter dash. The Sanderson
High School boys took several firsts in Saturday’s action. Travis Roberts
placed first in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:01.28 and the
1,600-meter run with a time of 4:35 and fifth in the triple jump of 36 feet,
9 inches. Chris Marquez
placed first in the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.46 and third in the 800-meter
run with a time of 2:06.52. Second place
was given to William Roberts in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:24.4
and the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:49.02. In discus,
David Shoemaker heaved the disc 123 feet and Darren threw it 113 feet, 5 inches. In shot put,
David heaved the heavy ball 41 feet, 3 inches. The Lady
Eagles team placed third overall in Friday’s events. Hanna Swanson
placed second in the 100 meter dash and third in the 4 X 200-meter relay. Noemi Nuñez
was second in the 3,200-meter run, second in the 1,600-meter run and third in
the 4 X 400-meter relay. Vicky Busch
placed third in the 4 X 400 relay, the 4 X 200 relay and the long jump,
fourth in the 200-meter dash and sixth in the high jump. Jessica Garza
was fourth in the 1,600-meter run and fifth in the 3,200-meter run. Julianna
Castro placed third in the 4 X 200-meter relay, third in the 4 X 400-meter
relay and sixth in the 400-meter dash. Clarissa
Brotherton was third in the 4 X 200-meter relay and the 4 X 400 meter relay. Julianna
Larrinaga placed fifth in the discus. DRYDEN –
Terrell County rancher Steve Forest told the News Leader this week he plans
to create a “recall” committee to deal with a crime wave in eastern Terrell
County and to steer him to what he sees as “more professional” law
enforcement in the area. “In Sanderson,
you live in Mayberry but we live in the Old West out here,” he said. “It’s
great to read about the Old West but not to live in it.” Forest has
created a “Recall Committee” to pursue his goals. He said state
law does not provide for a “recall” for sheriff but his goals for the
committee are to promote law enforcement candidates who are “competent,
honest and fair” and to encouraging hiring local residents to serve as deputy
sheriffs. “It doesn’t
seem to be working with deputies not staying,” he said. Sheriff Clint
McDonald hires new deputies and “boom, they’re gone,” he said. Local people
would be more inclined to stay around and not leave shortly after being
hired, he said. Forest said
the county could save money in the long run paying for law enforcement
training if the officer would stay around after being hired. Experienced
lawmen have that training and experience behind them but most of the new
deputies tend to move away after a short stay. “Local people
need the chance to apply for deputy positions,” he said. “And there are two
reserve positions that don’t cost the county a penny.” Each new
deputy has a learning curve and they are gone shortly after that, Forest
said. “We are an isolated
community and we need local people,” he said. “By the time [new deputies] get
trained, they are gone.” Forest, who
has a ranch near Terrell County Airport near here, said it is “pretty rough
on the east side.” He said
between Sanderson and the Val Verde County line, he knows of only five
residences that have not been burglarized in recent months. McDonald said
there have been a few burglaries in the county in recent months but they fell
off sharply when nine Mexican nationals were arrested in August after a
string of break-ins. “If there have
been other burglaries, I wish they would have called us,” he said. “We can’t
know about them if people don’t tell us.” McDonald said
hiring local people is not as attractive as it might seem. “The hardest thing
in law enforcement is to work in your own town,” he said. Officers find
it particularly difficult to be impartial when a dispute involves a relative
or a close friend. And he said he
has had a couple of reserve deputies but they have moved away. The state
requires a reserve to be a state-licensed peace officer, not just a citizen
wanting to help. Forest was
concerned about confusion over which precinct he lives in. The 2002
redistricting after the 2000 census moved his residence from Precinct 2 to Precinct
3 but the change was not noticed until last year. It was first
thought he was in Precinct 4 until it was discovered he was in 3. “Dyer Road is
the dividing line and Steve lives on the Precinct 3 side of the road,”
McDonald said. “I would like to have had the chance to explain it to him but
he has not given me the chance so far.”
“I was hoping
get more ideas and improve things here,” Forest said. By
ANNA La FLEUR News
Leader Writer FORT DAVIS —
Teacher and Coach Jarime Baethge was released on $40,000 bond last week after
being arrested on two felony counts of improper relationship between an
educator and a student. The
28-year–old Baethge, a seven-year veteran of the Fort Davis school system,
was arrested Feb. 24 as a result of an investigation by the Jeff Davis
Sheriff’s Office after a parent had complained to High School Superintendent
Larry Butler. District Judge
Kenneth DeHart lowered the bond from $200,000 to $40,000 after a hearing last
week. The Jeff Davis
Mountain Dispatch said Alpine attorney Mike Barclay, who is representing
Baethge, had filed the request for bail reduction. Butler said a
few parents informed him of the suspicions relationship between Baethge and a
female student. There were
other students who knew of the situation but it was unclear how many were
questioned by officers. “This is a
legal issue now,” Butler said. “We take these things very seriously here and
as soon as I heard about it, I contacted the authorities.” Baethge was
placed under administrative leave with pay while the investigation was
underway. Fort Davis
Deputy Bill Kitts said that Peace Justice Fred Granado issued a warrant for
Baethge and he was handcuffed and placed under arrest. Authorities
said Baethge could face 20 years on each charge. Baethge, who
had no previous record, was a science teacher, a boy’s basketball coach, a
baseball coach, track coach and an assistant football coach here. There was no
information about a trial date as of press time. District Attorney Frank
Brown did not return phone calls from the News Leader. SANDERSON —
With Spring officially starting next weekend, summer is again on the horizon.
The swimming pool at Bicentennial Park will open May 30 and Terrell County is
now looking for lifeguards. Adults and
teens at least 15 years old are welcome to apply. “Since
certification lasts for three years, then why not apply because you will
qualify for three years of summer employment at the pool basking in the sunshine?”
Pool Superintendent Mike Sanchez said. The pay for
the position is above minimum wage and the hours are flexible, he said. “Summer jobs
are scarce and why not do something you will enjoy doing?” Sanchez said. If you worked
this position last year, your certification is still good but you must still
reapply to get the job, he said. Adults
applying might use the opportunity to spend the day at the pool with their
families. “You would
basically get paid to enjoy somewhat of a family day,” Sanchez said. Teens applying
for the job can consider getting paid to watch over their friends, making
sure they play safe while getting a tan. Sanchez said
the job is an opportunity for a cool summer job for those who don’t want to
be stuck indoors and a job that does not require a lot of hard work. Lifeguards
have authority, respect and may get to save the day for someone. Terrell County
will provide transportation to the training and pay for the majority of the
cost. Applicants
should contact Sanchez at 432/290-8984 to find out more details and apply. SANDERSON –
There may be an answer to stray dogs and cats that have plagued Sanderson
residents for a long time. Chloe Baer of
Austin and Sanderson told County Commissioners Court Monday she could
volunteer her services to “make what we have more animal friendly.” Baer said
there is a new state chain law for dogs that needs to be enforced and feral
cats are a particular concern. Justin
Gilmore, vice president of Southwest Architects, Inc., of Fort Worth, was in
court for a presentation on a proposed convention center. He also has
been tasked with designing a new animal control facility among the facilities
he is looking into. Gilmore said
counties “typically” have the animal control function under the sheriff’s
office because their officers are “on the street all day” anyway. “What we have
[in animal control] is not working,” County Judge Leo Smith said. Baer met with
Road and Bridge Superintendent Mike Sanchez after the Commissioners meeting
to explore ideas. She also had
requested permission to allow rock climbing on Javelina Hill Park but she
told the court rocks there were “too sharp” to be used. She asked if
there were other property that could be used for rock climbing activities. In other action,
Emergency Medical Services Director Butch Maldonado urged commissioners to
meet as soon as possible to consider buying a new ambulance. The county’s
newest ambulance was recalled by the manufacturer for a brake problem and the
older ambulance, which he said is 15 years old, is undergoing repairs,
leaving the county without a working ambulance. Commissioners
Monday also awarded bids for new drainage ditch work. Pedro Martinez
was awarded a contract for cement work at $5 per linear foot and Francisco Hernandez
got the bid for rock work at $2.75 per square foot. Wilson Culvert
got a $212,781 contract for culverts and Harrison Stone was awarded a
contract for 147,721.60 for the rock. Ellis Helmers won a contract for $950 per month
to provide maintenance at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Helmers’ bid
was the second lowest but it included fertilizer, pesticides and other
materials. Smith said
that could “more than make up” the difference between his bid and the low
bid. There were no
bids for lease of land in Gaines County, the lease proceeds to benefit the
county’s Permanent School Fund. A potential buyer had enquired about the land
but there were no bids at deadline. Another
property in Gaines County will be bid for lease starting in this week’s News
Leader. Commissioners
agreed to hire Julia Muñoz at minimum wage and to move the free computer
service at the Adult Education Center to the library, museum or visitor
center when her Experience Works program ends. Smith said the
EW program was the replacement for the “STEP” program and was envisioned as a
“temporary” program to give part-time employment to seniors. He said the
computers at the AEC are “junk” because they are more than ten years old. He said other
computers could be used for the service. And
commissioners agreed to buy a new banner to go over Highway 90 promoting the
Big Bend Open Road Race. This year’s
race from Fort Stockton to Sanderson and back will be Saturday, April 24,
with activities Wednesday and Thursday, April 21 and 22 in Sanderson. Visitors bring
long look at area history By
ANNA La FLEUR News
Leader Writer SANDERSON – Ed
Layton & Marcia Kneeland came into the News Leader office bringing along
friends of theirs Tuesday. Glenn Wilson
visited here with his two daughters, Julie Wilson Skye & Jan Wilson, who
had roots in Sanderson’s history. Glenn
described how his grandfather built the house that the Laytons live in at
School and Mansfield near Eagle Stadium. His
grandfather was a county commissioner here for a time and pioneered in Ozona
in 1909 before getting married and moving to Sanderson. He built the
house in 1905. It looked much different then. It had a covered porch and lots
of trees. His
grandfather was W.E. Stirman and he lived here until the 1940s. He was an
undertaker and is in the book “Terrell County, Texas Its past - Its People”
that can be found at the Visitor Center, Museum and other venues in town. Glenn’s mother
Loraine Stirman also lived in that house. Now, from time
to time, the Wilson family comes to Sanderson to see the house of their past
and what the town of Sanderson now looks like. Julie Wilson
Skye is from Tulsa, OK. Her sister Jan is from Evanston, IL but lived in
Dallas for a while. Glenn is
retired, living in Kerrville, and enjoys looking at the pictures of his
family in that house his grandfather built so long ago. He recently
took a picture in the same spot his mother had photographed him in as a child
in the yard next to that home. Glenn said the
older generations of his family would move into that house when it was time
for them to die. The Wilson
family has a lot of history wrapped up in this little town and would love to
find anyone who might have known their family long ago or know anything they
might want to hear. Anyone
interested in sharing thoughts about this can email me at
anna.tcnl@yahoo.com. Sul Ross State
University has accepted Clarissa Brotherton, daughter of Bobby & Teresa
Brotherton of Sanderson, for the fall semester of 2010. Clarissa, a
cheerleader and 2010 Sanderson High School senior, plans to major in
psychology. Sul Ross State
University has served the higher educational needs of West Texas and the Big
Bend region since opening classes since 1920. With an
enrollment of 2,000 students on the Alpine campus, it offers a combination of
small class sizes, an appreciation of both fine arts and sciences and popular
professional programs. FORT DAVIS –
The Nature Conservancy of Texas offers an open preserve this weekend at its
Davis Mountain facility near here. Visitors may
participate in camping, horseback riding, self-guided hiking, picnicking,
photography, birding, stargazing and other activities at their leisure. Open weekends
are today, March 12 through Sunday, March 14, May 7 through 9 and July 9
through 11. The
conservancy will also offer open days April 17 and August 14. On open
weekends, the preserve will be open from noon on Friday until 2 p.m. on
Sunday. On open days, the preserve will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. Guests will be
required to sign in and out at the McIvor Conservation Center. Only
high-clearance vehicles will be allowed past the center. Overnight camping is
allowed at the center, Madera Windmill and 48 Tank. Visitors
should inquire upon sign-in as to the location of the areas. Only camp stoves
are allowed and open camp fires are prohibited. Restrooms are
available at the McIvor Conservation Center. Horseback
riding is allowed on the roads and the preserve provides a corral and water. Horses must
have current Coggins test. Guests should
bring binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, hats and plenty of water to drink. Firearms,
stereos and televisions are prohibited. For safety reasons, children must be
supervised by their parents or other designated adults. No pets of any kind
are allowed. The Davis
Mountains Preserve is approximately 25 miles northwest of here on State
Highway 118, about 10 miles past McDonald Observatory and about a quarter mile
past the Lawrance E. Wood picnic area. Preserve staff
and volunteers will be on hand for several hours each day to register guests,
provide maps and information and answer questions. The Davis
Mountains Preserve Madera Canyon Trail adjacent to the Lawrence E. Wood
picnic area is open year round from dusk to dawn. For further
information, e-mail DMP Director Chris Pipes at pipes@tnc.org
. MARFA – The repatriation
of volunteers to Mexico over Presidio/Ojinaga has been extended from Tucson
to El Paso. The Marfa and
El Paso Sectors of the US Border Patrol, in consultation with their Mexican
counterparts, have instituted a program to help protect citizens of Mexico
who have requested and are eligible for a voluntary return to Mexico. A similar
program with two busloads per day from Tucson drew complaints when it was
introduced in November. “To ensure
that Mexican citizens who were apprehended by the Border Patrol are not
subjected to the violence currently prevalent in Juarez, Chih., and
surrounding areas, the agency will repatriate those individuals via the
Presidio Port of Entry,” the Patrol said in a press release. The program
began Wednesday, March 10, and will continue indefinitely. Each day,
seven days a week, one bus will travel from El Paso to Presidio. The bus will
carry Mexican citizens who have requested a voluntary return to Mexico. They will be
provided with a meal prior to departure and will be provided with another
meal to take with them for the bus ride. The bus will
be unloaded at the international bridge between Presidio and Ojinaga The returnees
will make the short walk across the bridge where they will be met by Mexican
immigration officials. The modified
repatriation program to include the El Paso Sector apprehensions is a
coordinated effort with the government of Mexico intended to reduce the risk
to repatriated Mexican Nationals. WASHINGTON, DC
– More than $10 million has been approved from the “Stimulus” bill for road
and trail preservation at Big Bend National Park. US Rep. Ciro
D. Rodriguez said the $10.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
funding will allow for concurrent treatment of the park’s 123 miles of paved
roads, rehabilitation of historic early-20th century officers’ quarters and
repair of infrastructure damaged by flooding. “Anyone who’s
ever been to Big Bend National Park knows what a treasure we have in our
district,” Rodriguez said. “I am proud to represent this area and am also
proud that the Stimulus continues to deliver on the promise of strengthening
our economy while providing needed funds for important initiatives. “These
projects mean additional jobs and upgrades to some of our district’s most
historic and environmentally significant areas,” he said. Big Bend
National Park Superintendent William Wellman commended Rodriguez for his
leadership and support of what Wellman calls “The Jewel of Texas.” “I can’t tell
you how happy we are to have the support of a congressman who truly realizes
how important the park and park services are for Texas and beyond,” Wellman
said. “Big Bend is probably the most remote park in the lower 48 and people
come a long way to get here. “When they arrive,
the only services they have are what the park can provide,” he said. “They
can only drive if the roads are in good shape. They can only hike if our
trails are in good shape. And they can only enjoy a river trip if they can
get in and out of the river.” Wellman said
the Stimulus Act has helped bridge the gap for maintenance at Big Bend, which
is critical to allowing people to the resources found at the Park. The National
Park Service said the funding also includes $103,000 for rehabilitation of
sewer, septic and potable water systems at Mission Espada in San Antonio,
$208,000 for removal and debris along the shoreline of Amistad National
Recreational Area, $309,000 for trail rehabilitation and upgrade to the
Guadalupe Mountains Park Visitors Center and $46,000 for preservation of a
historic brick oven at Fort Davis National Historic Site. The funding
for the congressional district is a result of cost savings on several large
construction projects totaling approximately $129 million. Rodriguez said
the savings will fund an additional 30 high-priority projects nationwide. Rodriguez and
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will have a “media availability” at the
Panther Junction visitor center at Big Bend at 11:30 a.m. today, March 12. The two will
highlight projects at the park under the economic recovery package and
on-going efforts to promote international cooperation between the United
States and Mexico on park and conservation issues. Pfc.
Lascano visits home on leave SANDERSON – US
Marine Private First Class Phillip Lascano arrived here for leave this week
after graduating from Boot Camp at Camp Pendleton, CA, March 5. Lascano, the
son of Dale Carruthers of Sanderson, graduated as first squad leader and with
a rifle expert medal. Attending the graduation
ceremony were his mother, his grandmother Guadalupe Hagelgans, nephew Anthony
Scott Lascano, cousins Rob and Annette Harris and Ashley Hagelgans, friends
Teri and Blakeney Chriesman and others. His grand
uncle Joseph Salazar, a Marine who attended the same boot camp in the 1960s,
and a special military homecoming greeted him at the Midland Airport
Saturday. ALPINE –
Sanderson's Terry "Tex" Toler is the newest addition to the Big
Bend Texas Mountains Travel Association board of directors, elected at its
meeting this week at the Museum of the Big Bend on the Sul Ross State
University campus. The full Board
of Directors confirmed for 2010-11 are President Mike Davidson of Alpine,
Toler will serve as vice president, Beth Nobles of Van Horn will take the
task of secretary, Ron Sanders of Alpine was elected treasurer and Mercer
Black of Marfa is the editor of the Big Bend Texas Mountains Travel Guide. Toler served
on the board of directors in the late 1990s while economic & tourism
development director for Terrell County. "I'm
especially happy to represent Terrell County as part of the greater Big Bend
region and feel honored and privileged to be included among these dedicated
and talented advocates of Big Bend, many of whom I've worked with for many,
many years," Toler said. "Travel
and tourism to the Big Bend region is such a vital element of our economy and
my goal will be to promote our Terrell County and Sanderson resources and
assets to their fullest potential and work for our local community to
encourage hospitality and marketing for our local businesses," he said. The newly
redesigned 2010-11 Big Bend & Texas Mountains Travel Guide is at press
and will be delivered within the next few weeks. AUSTIN – The
Texas Department of Transportation has offered a chance for high school
seniors to earn cash for college by composing a 350-word essay suggesting
additional mea-sures to be used in the state’s fight against litter. Dow Chemical
Company is partnering with Keep Texas Beautiful to sponsor the 2010 Don’t
Mess with Texas Scholarship Program. High school
seniors can submit essays explaining how they tackled a litter-related
problem in their own school or community. The
grand-prize winner will receive $3,000 for college tuition while two
second-place winners will receive $1,000 each. “Here at Dow,
we know that ensuring the health and sustainability of our environment takes
a commitment from everyone, but particularly our youth,” said Community
Relations Manager Trish Ritthaler. “We’re proud to sponsor a program that
encourages high school seniors to come up with great ideas for litter
prevention while enabling the winners to get support in furthering their
educations.” The TxDOT
spends millions of dollars each year to pick up litter along Texas highways
and research shows those most likely to litter are young Texans. “If you don’t
tolerate litter, and if you’ve ever done something about it, you have a great
shot at winning,” said TxDOT Travel Information Division Doris Howdeshell. Eligible high
school seniors must plan to pursue a two- or four-year degree at a Texas
university or college. Essays must be
350 words or less and are now being accepted. To apply
online, download an application and view complete rules, log onto the website
at DontMessWithTexas.org. Completed
applications and essays must be submitted online or postmarked by April 16. Mailed entries
should be sent to the Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship Program c/o
EnviroMedia Social Marketing at 1717 West 6th Street, Suite 400, Austin, TX
78703. |
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