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SANDERSON –
This year’s Fourth of July celebration here next week will be a little more
meaningful than the last few years. It unofficially marks the county’s 105th
birthday.
But the
celebration will not be a match for the Centennial five years ago, something
that brought the community together like little else in its century of
existence.
Sanderson
actually goes back to the 1882 when Charley Wilson bought a square mile along
the new railroad passing through the area and then sold it off in pieces as
the railroad increased its value.
But the county
was still part of Pecos County and when someone from Sanderson – or Dryden
even further away – needed to conduct county business, they had to trek to
Fort Stockton, a trip that could take two days or more.
On April 8,
1905, Gov. Joseph D. Sayers signed legislation that carved Terrell County out
of Pecos County and the action became official on July 14, 1905.
The county was
named for Alexander Watkins Terrell, a veteran of the Confederate Army in the
Civil War and a state legislator.
Because the
dates were so close, the anniversary has been celebrated with the Fourth of
July activities.
While the
105th anniversary of the county might not contribute much more to the normal
turnout next week, an American Legion softball tournament that weekend could
swell the crowds enjoying the nation’s “birthday."
Some 150
visitors are expected to swing their bats and many can be expected to
participate in the food and fun at the courthouse Saturday, July 3.
The hometown
dance band, the Terrell County Bs, will kick off the weekend of events on
Friday, July 2, with a “rehearsal” on the stage in front of the old Sanderson
High School building.
The Bs have
played for Fourth of July street dances in recent years but Eric Cooksey, a member
of the Bs, suggested the Chamber of Commerce bring in other bands from time
to time for variety sake.
This year’s
street dance band will be Southern Comfort of Del Rio and disc jockey J.R.
Roman of Odessa will perform during band breaks Saturday, July 3.
Roman will
start playing a mix of music at 7 p.m. and the band will play starting at 9
p.m.
Promptly at 10
p.m., the band will take a break and professional pyrotechnician Dr. Darrel
Wells of Sanderson and Huntsville will provide a fireworks demonstration.
Saturday’s
activities will begin at 8 a.m. with the two-day American Legion Softball
Tournament at Legion Field.
The concession
stands also will open at 8 a.m., providing breakfast tacos and burritos for
players, fans and parade participants alike.
The regular
Legion Saturday breakfast will not be offered July 3 because of the
concession stand and requirements for volunteers elsewhere.
Books will
open at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 3, for the Sanderson Roping Club’s annual
saddle roping event at Downie Arena on US Highway 285 north of here.
The Legion
Auxiliary’s annual parade will line up starting at 10 a.m. on the west side
of Sanderson Bank. Monica Graham is parade chairman.
Judging will
be at 11:30 a.m. and the parade will travel east on Highway 90 to Legion Hall
for the noon barbecue provided by the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary in
the newly-air-conditioned Legion Hall.
Most will not
fit inside the hall but a “misting system” will keep the crowds cool at
outside tables.
Vendors then
will set up at the Courthouse Lawn for an afternoon of activities, including
several food booths, some selling products and others offering entertainment.
The Old
Timer’s Hour by the Texas Historical Commission will be at 2 p.m. The oldest
man and the oldest woman present each will receive an award.
The Ice Cream
Social at 3 p.m. will offer prizes in several age categories for the best
homemade ice cream.
Vendor forms
have been arriving at the News Leader office and more were expected next
week.
While there is
no charge for vendors, they were asked to fill out a form so their
requirements would be known.
Vendors can
also contribute voluntarily to a fund for cleanup after the events each of
the two days.
The Chamber of
Commerce agreed to contribute $100 to the cleanup and any donations can help
offset that cost to the Chamber.
Class and
family reunions generally bring former Sanderson residents to town, swelling
the ranks of participants.
The Legion
tournament will continue into Sunday and there will be a non-denominational
service at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 4, at the Pavilion in Bicentennial Park.
Ten
kids win 13 at AAU
By
ANNA La FLEUR
Production
Manager
MIDLAND – Ten
Sanderson kids competed at the West Texas Amateur Athletic Union District
meet here Saturday and Jalen Chrisman, William Roberts, Hunter Truesdell,
Travis Roberts and Grace Jahn won 13 first-place awards.
Jalen was
first in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.66, first in the 100–meter
hurdles with a time of 17.48, first in the 200–meter hurdles with a time of
30.32, first in shot put youth with a distance of 8.69 meters and first in
discus throw youth with a heave of 28.24 meters.
William came
in first in the 800-meter intermediate with a time of 2:11.75, first in the
1,500–meter run intermediate with a time of 4:42.92 and first in the
3,000–meter run intermediate with a time of 9:53.34.
Hunter placed
first in shot put with a distance of 4.18 meters, second in the 800–meter run
sub–midget with a time of 3:18.47 and third in the 400–meter dash sub–midget
with a time of 1:30.51.
Travis came in
first in the 1,500–meter run young with a time of 4:25.66, first in the
3,000–meter run young with a time of 9:38.06 and second in the 800–meter run
young with a time of 2:02.82.
Grace won
first in the 800–meter run youth with a time of 2:43.25 and the 1,500–meter
run youth with a time of 6:05.16.
Ian Perez was
second in the 100–meter dash with a time of 19.01, second in the 200–meter
dash with a time of 37.20 and second in the long jump sub–bantam with a leap
of 2.93 meters.
Jacob Helmers
came in second in the 400–meter dash midget with a time of 1:16.88, fourth in
long jump with a distance of 3.26 meters and fifth in the 200–meter dash
midget with a time of 39.29.
Joseph Hopkins
placed second in the 110–meter hurdles intermediate with a time of 19.73,
second in the 400–meter dash with a time of 1:06.79, second in the long jump
intermediate soaring 5.41 meters and fourth in the 400–meter dash
intermediate with a time of 58.95.
Shawn Stegall
was third in the 3,000–meter run with a time of 10:40.20 and fourth in the
1,500–meter run young with a time of 4:51.63.
Brianna Lozano
placed third in the long jump youth with a distance of 4.19 meters, fifth in
the 100–meter dash youth with a time of 15.30 and fifth in the 200–meter dash
youth with a time of 31.44.
Stephanie
Lozano, Brandee Stegall, Cassie Woosley, Abby Carrasco, Ashley Woosley,
Elijah Carrasco and Joseph Carrasco did not compete because of a conflict
with band camp but were awarded an arbitrary time so they can compete at the
AAU West Texas National Qualifiers Meet at Abilene Christian University on
Saturday, July 3.
The Terrell
County Recre-ation Program and the Hardin Simmons University had an overnight
camp on June 21 through June 23.
The camp was
for AAU AB members ages 12 to 18 and included free meals.
McMurry
University and the recreation program will have a three-day cross country and
distance camp starting Wed-nesday, June 30, and ending Friday, July 2.
It is intended
for the same age group and Terrell County has funded meals for all
participants in both camps.
Contact Travis
Roberts to register or for more information at 432/290-6295.
Round House closes
By
ANNA La FLEUR
Production
Manager
SANDERSON –
Local restaurant, the Roundhouse Café, closed its doors Monday.
“I stayed open
for Father’s Day but decided to close the restaurant due to a lack of
customers,” owner Sharon Wolfe said. “I will be keeping the laundry
facilities open.”
Wolfe said
there were suggestions that she rent the facility to those interested in
short-term use of the building.
“I might
consider that thought,” she said.
Wolfe said
Century 21 Realty in Fort Stockton has the restaurant listed for sale and all
who are interested in purchasing the property can contact the realty company.
She said the
restaurant has a full and very spacious commercial kitchen and could be used
for banquet dinner preparations, cooking classes or private parties.
A few
residents had discussed finding a place to rent for a few days at a time to
sell their wares and not have to worry about the hassle of selling things out
of their homes.
Wolfe said she
is trying to figure out how to manage the utilities for the restaurant if she
does rent it out for short time spans.
“Do I leave
them on or turn them on and off for the times that they will be used?” Wolfe
asked.
“I am trying
to get the Dos Lobos sign moved closer to the laundry facilities and want
people to know that it will still be operational,” she said.
Wolfe said
staying open for the Fourth of July weekend would put her into the next
fiscal quarter with significant tax penalties.
Meanwhile, the
old No Name Café, later known as Mi Tierra which closed last year, sits idle
at Oak and Third with the weeds growing.
Some have
questioned what it would take to have the weeds mowed in time for the Fourth
of July activities but Road and Bridge Supervisor Mike Sanchez said his crews
“can’t touch it” as long as it remains in private hands.
The restaurant
was sold in a foreclosure sale at the courthouse in May to LNV, a Plano-based
corporation. Ironically, the company bills itself as helping stop the
foreclosure process.
The News
Leader tried to reach the company without success.
Sanderson
Pizza Company will open towards the end of the summer under a new name in the
building known for years as the Kountry Kitchen next door to the RoundHouse.
Owner Shellie
Martin told the News Leader she plans to name the restaurant “Cheli’s.” The
other name created the impression that she offered only pizza, she said.
Martin said
she feels strongly she can provide her customers with healthy and tasty meals
prepared fresh with fresh ingredients.
“You shouldn’t
open a business that you can’t run yourself,” Martin said.
She will serve
breakfast, lunch and dinner.
On the menu
will be spaghetti and meatballs, salad bar, pizza sold whole or by the slice,
sandwiches made with homemade breads, pies, cakes, pastries and breakfast
items.
There have
been many improvements made to the building, she said. The old flooring was
taken out and the concrete floor will be stained.
The dropped
ceiling was taken down, which she said left the place feeling spacious and
airy.
“As soon as
the new roof is in place we should be ready to open for business,” Martin
said.
Pay
up front for lunch
SANDERSON –
While not directly tying it into the current national recession, the Terrell
County Independent School District cited a need to “keep cafeteria costs
down” with a new rule to no longer accept delayed payments for school
lunches.
“The district
will no longer allow charges in the cafeteria,” Superintendent Gary Hamilton
said. The School Board ratified the decision at its monthly meeting Monday.
“The district
encourages all families to fill out the free and reduced lunch applications
for each child, which will be mailed in July,” Hamilton said. “Prices
will remain the same for 2010-2011.”
A standard
breakfast is $1.25 and lunch is $2. A reduced breakfast is 30 cents and lunch
is 40 cents. Adult guest prices are $3 for breakfast and $5 for lunch.
“Students will
need to pay daily or prepay for an extended period of parental choice,”
Hamilton said. “Final bills for the 2009-2010 school year will be mailed in
July.
“Students who
are not paid when school or summer band/ football begins will not be issued
textbooks or equipment,” he said. Hamilton referred parents to school
secretary Kim Dominguez at 432/345-2515 for further questions.
The School
Board also approved a plan to eliminate school busing for children living in
Sanderson.
Hamilton said
the Texas Department of Public Transportation had installed sidewalks around
Javelina Hill.
A lack of
sidewalks resulted in calls from parents for busing because children living
west of the hill had to walk on the highway to get home.
Board
President Ada Lee Robbins noted that the busing was started when the district
used large school buses, many of which have since been replaced with smaller
vehicles.
Eliminating
stops within Sanderson would save on vehicle and driver costs, she said.
“Many other
districts don’t have stops in town,” Business Manager Blain Chriesman said.
“Marathon doesn’t have them. Fort Davis doesn’t have them.”
He said
eliminating in-town bus stops will save the district “many thousands of
dollars.”
Buses will
continue to run for children who live within the district outside of the
two-mile limit but all of Sanderson except Lomita Terrace lies within the two
miles.
All star games set
SANDERSON –
The 2009-10 school year is over and the year’s seniors are now high school
graduates. But three of them will be in action again next month.
Two football
players and one basketball player will compete in all-star games.
Darren Seidel
will be in the football all-star contest at Garden City at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 10.
Jacob
Benavidez will play in the Six Man Coaches All-Star Football game in Lubbock
at 7:30 p.m. July 17.
And Sarah
Sivils will compete in the Six Man Coaches Association All-Star basketball
game at 1 p.m. that date, also in Lubbock.
Darren was
all-defensive MVP and played nose guard on the Eagle football team last fall.
He is the son of Darrel and Cheryl Seidel and plans to attend Angelo State
University in the fall, majoring in agriculture.
Jacob was
quarterback for the Eagles last fall and won the all-offensive MVP. He is the
son of Eddie and Dora Benavidez and plans to attend Angelo State where he
will major in sports medicine or physical therapy.
Sarah was a
varsity letterman all four years in high school, playing on the Eagle
basketball team. The daughter of Lamon and Tina Sivils of Dryden, she plans
to attend Tarleton State University at Stephenville majoring in agricultural
business.
Sanderson
recycling available
SANDERSON –
The American Legion Auxiliary now has a recycling program here that will
accept plastic, glass, paper and cardboard.
The only
stipulation is that bottle caps be taken off because they are difficult to
recycle.
The program is
open from 9 a.m. to noon every third Wednesday of the month, the same day the
food pantry is open.
Receptacles
have been placed next to the Legion Hall but items will be collected only
once a month.
Volunteer
Shellie Martin said there are plans to accept materials at other times. In
the meantime, those needing to take recyclables to a receptacle at other
times can call her at 432/345-2172.
The proceeds
from selling the materials to recyclers will go towards the American Legion
Auxiliary, veteran’s fund, Girl’s State, cancer fund and other projects.
‘Tea
Party’ plans Alpine meeting
ALPINE – The
“Tea Party” movement started last year after the Obama Administration got
several bills, including a $787 billion “stimulus” bill, through Congress and
adding significantly to the national debt, will be here next week.
“We will have
another Tea Party Rally in Alpine on July 3rd from 3 to 6 p.m.,” organizer
Stacey Roberts said. “Sanderson people have asked to be included in our next
rally and Sandersonites will be thrilled – well, some will.”
The rally will
be on the Brewster County Courthouse lawn.
The rallies,
which began in April, 2009, were based in part on the Boston Tea Party of
1773, which was one of the events leading to the American Revolution for
independence from Great Britain.
The TEA in the
name stands for “Taxed Enough Already.”
While not
formally organized into a political party, the Tea Party movement has already
been credited with several electoral victories including Tuesday’s
come-from-behind win of Nikki Haley for the Republican nomination for
governor of South Carolina.
Earlier,
Sarron Angle also came from behind to win the Republican nomination to face
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada. And there have been others
credited to Tea Party help.
“Since the
last Tea Party, I have found that there are still some people who don't know
what we are about or have misconstrued ideas about why we are rallying,”
Roberts said. “I would like to set the record straight first by saying that
we are not a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or, in the most negative
terms, a racist group.
“We are tired
of big government taxing away our children’s future and trying to demolish
our Constitution,” she said. “The Tea Party movement is a national
organization that promotes the basic belief in our Constitution.”
She said the
goal of the Tea Party is to "attract, educate, organize and mobilize our
fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values
of fiscal respon-sibility, Constitutionally-limited government and free
markets.
“We believe
that the best way to ‘get our country back’ is to stand up, be seen and be
heard,” she said.
Roberts said
the government still wants to raise the deficit, which stands at more than
$13 trillion, “increase taxes, increase all government-run programs and grow,
grow, grow the government into a socialist-run system.
“Our Country
was not founded on any of these principles and history has shown – and is
currently showing us in other countries – that this does not work,” she said.
“This corruption of our core values and basic knowledge of our country’s
history has been deteriorating over decades.
“This is not a
problem that has just begun but now has spun so far out of control that our
heads are spinning,’ Roberts said. “All the while, the liberal progressives
are wring-ing their hands with joy.”
She said she
hopes it is not too late but the movement wants to “take our country back one
[Congressional] seat at a time.
“The idea is
to show the nation that we are not the minority, not radical and not going to
sit back and let this happen,” Roberts said. “I urge you to come join us on
July 3rd.
“Bring your
signs, bring your patriotism and bring your hope,” she said. “Stand vigilant,
patriots. We will get this Land of the Free, Home of the Brave back.”
Toler
touts trees for Terrell
SANDERSON – A
plan to provide some shade on the main street through town by planting trees
was suggested this week to the Sanderson Chamber of Commerce.
Terry Toler
told the Chamber he would be willing to undertake a plan to plant “oak trees
along Oak Street, pine trees along Pine and some others along Hackberry” to
provide some needed shade in the hot summer.
He said
“nobody” wants hackberry trees to match that street name.
Toler agreed
to head a “Main Street Committee” to investigate ways of making Main Street,
officially known as Oak or US Highway 90, more inviting to passing motorists.
Serving with
him on the new committee will be Randy Feille and Anna La Fleur.
Toler also
said he was taking a survey of how much people in town lost when the power
went out for seven hours May 24.
Toler said
power companies are “required by law to provide reliable service. A seven-hour
power outage is not reliable service.”
The News
Leader last week asked officials at Texas-New Mexico Power Company to
investigate providing a battery or generator for Sanderson to provide power
during outages. They had not reported back at press time this week.
A single line
from Fort Stockton is subject to outages, particularly during electrical
storms.
A battery
backup system has been provided to Presidio, which is at the end of a 60-mile
line from Marfa.
Toler said
Sanderson would not need a battery as big as the four megawatt battery at
Presidio but the power company needs to investigate one for Sanderson.
“How much do
we lose with a one-day power outage?” he asked. “It may not be a lot of money
to a big city but it is to us.”
He said a
power failure affects not just shops and restaurants but also people on
breathing machines, portable telephones, e-mail and other equipment.
In other
action this week, the Chamber elected Canyon’s RV Park as its “Business of
the Month” and discussed criteria for future awards.
It was
generally agreed the award could go to any “business or citizen” providing a
worthwhile service to the community.
Cactus
Chat
Girl
has new beginning
By
ANNA La FLEUR
Production
Manager
SANDERSON –
Clarissa Gabrielle Fuentes celebrated her quinceañera at St. James Catholic
Church here Saturday, hosted by grandparents Arturo & Bertha Fuentes of
Sanderson.
Clarissa is
the daughter of Jose A. Fuentes, Sr., and Iris A. Bernard of Odessa.
During the
church ceremony she received a Bible, a rosary and roses.
Many witnessed
her turning 15 years old and watched as she was given her first pair of high
heels, her last doll and danced with her brother Joey Fuentes and father
Jose.
Her uncle
Richard Fuentes was the photographer. He brought his wife Mitzi Fuentes and
their children Audreyana and Seth Brian, who were both in the court.
Clarissa’s
other uncle, Art Fuentes, Jr., was the DJ and brought his wife Angie Fuentes
and their sons Artie, who was an usher, and Adam & Anthony who were both
in the court.
Her aunt Anna
from Wicket brought her children George who was an usher, Daniel, Francisco
& Adrian, who were all in the court.
Clarissa’s
other grandfather, Roy Arul Bernard, and aunt Jennifer Bernard came from
Odessa with cousins Christian Gonzales, who was in the court, and Tristan
Gonzales.
Yolanda Garza
& Amy Garza of Eagle Pass made the cake.
Earlier that
day, Violita McDonald welcomed her new twins Ashlyn & Colt McDonald, in a
baby shower.
The shower was
postponed until after their birth while one of the twins stabilized.
“I didn’t have
many family members here due to the short notice but I still had a large
turnout,” Violita said.
Aunt Rosemary
Lopez attended with her daughters and granddaughters from Fort Stockton.
Rosemary’s
daughter Danika who is nine came. Her other daughter Samantha Fuentes, 24,
brought daughters of her own. They said they were happy to be a part of the
shower.
Samantha’s
daughters are Zada, who is three, two–year–old Zoe and baby Zaylei, who is
just one and a half weeks old.
There was a
yard sale at Aurora’s Market over the weekend.
Aurora
Abrigo’s daughter Henrietta Abrigo of San Antonio, came to help and brought
family friend Yeedy Garza, also from San Antonio.
Henrietta
brought some of her yard sale items to sell.
“I am selling
items to raise money for my daughter,” Henrietta said. “She is going to
college at Concordia at St. Paul Minnesota.”
There were
clothes, furniture and many knick knacks.
Sharon Wolfe
of the RoundHouse Café here had a visit from her granddaughter Brittany
Wilson of Lumberton.
Wilson is
attending Angelo State University next year at San Angelo. Wilson & Wolfe
will shop for apartments in that area for Wilson to rent.
Wilson works
with the Children’s Ministry at Friendship Baptist Church in Beaumont.
Beating
arrest made
ALPINE –
Police here reportedly have made one arrest in the severe beating last week
of Continental League baseball star Trey George, a member of the Big Bend
Cowboys, and an account has been set up to help pay for travel and medical
expenses.
News reports
identified the suspect as Dominique Carson but no other information was
immediately known.
Alpine Police
said Lt. Darrell Lasoya was the “only one” with information on the case and
he was not available for comment this week.
George, who
was the league’s most valuable player and won the homerun derby at the league
all start game last year, was severely beaten along with four teammates at an
Alpine night spot last week.
The five were
jumped by 20 or more people and George suffered a severe neck injury.
He was taken
to Medical Center Hospital at Odessa and the family was in the process at
press time of trying to have him transferred to Houston.
An account was
set up in his name at West Texas National Bank to help with travel and
medical expenses.
Team Manager
J.R. Smith said there also are containers for walk up donations at Morrison's
True Value Hardware.
As they are
prepared others will be placed at various locations around town, he said.
Smith said the
accident did not happen in a game so George’s team insurance policy will not
cover medical expenses.
Smith said
George suffered a neck injury but he did not know if he would be paralyzed.
But he said it
was not likely that George would be able to continue his baseball career.
PG
2011 starts fundraisers
SANDERSON –
The Sanderson High School graduating class of 2011 got a $403 boost toward
next year’s “Project Graduation” party after a bake sale Saturday at Uncle’s
of Sanderson.
The School
Board Monday appointed Board Secretary Johnnie Couch to be chairman and PG
members were told they could elect other officers as they saw fit for next
year’s all-night, chemical-free party for graduates.
The group
chose Laura Galvan-Rubio as vice chairman Tuesday. The new secretary is Maria
Rodriguez and co-treasurers are Candy Calzada and Veronica Luevano.
Calzada,
Couch, Rubio, Rodriguez, Ofelia Ramirez, Kathy Lawson, Aurelia Galvan and
Kristine Woosley took part in the Saturday sale. Others contributed cakes and
other items for the sale.
The group is
raising money for the party for the 16 students expected to graduate next
year.
The group also
is conducting a raffle for an ice chest full of goodies with the winner to be
drawn at the group’s Fourth of July booth Saturday, July 3, on the Courthouse
Lawn.
The group also
will sell burgers, hot dogs and Frito pies at their booth.
Lawson asked
the School Board Monday which sports concession stands might be available as
fund raisers during the next school year.
School Board
President Ada Lee Robbins said someone had already “spoken for” for the
concession at the Rio Grande Relay track tournament.
She said no
decision had been made on who would get the chance to run any of the
concession stands.
AC
installed at Legion Post hall
SANDERSON –
American Legion Post 160 in Sanderson now has a five-ton central air
conditioning system to keep meetings cool in the summer heat.
Post Commander
Dean Autrey said the accomplishment was only possible because the post and
its auxiliary worked together to raise the needed funds.
He said
special thanks are due to the post and auxiliary members who participate in
the Saturday morning breakfasts each week and to the customers who come for
breakfast.
It is served
from 6:30 until 10 a.m. on Saturdays. It will be suspended next week for the
Fourth of July but the Legion will offer a concession stand with the softball
tournament that weekend.
The weekly
breakfast features eggs, bacon, sausage patties, hash browns, French toast,
pancakes and waffles along with coffee and orange drink for $7.
Post adjutant
Bill Hawn said the air conditioning was a major milestone for the local post
and for Sanderson.
“We can now
offer the people of Sanderson an air-condi-tioned facility in which they can
hold events,” he said. “Current rental
charges are $75 for the hall. With the
air conditioning in place it will rise to $100 during the hot months. This is very competitive with the other
options available.”
Hawn said the
post was grateful to all the local businesses that sent customers their way
and to the Border Patrol personnel who eat with them every Saturday.
“It will only
get better from here,” Autrey said. “We look forward to growing and to
helping our veterans and our community”.
Installation
of the system was by Meehan and Sons of Fort Stockton.
Fifty
years and counting
BRYAN – Frank
and Diana Steelman celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary yesterday,
June 24, and will have a formal observance next month.
Diana Steelman
is the former Diana Duke, daughter of Helen and Stump Duke, who lived in Sanderson
for 50 years.
The Steelmans
were married in Sanderson and have five children, Susan Butler and her
husband Tell, Robin Thurmond, Joan Bentley and husband Andrew, David Steelman
and wife Meleah and Carol Piña and husband Darrell. They also have 17 grandchildren.
The formal
party will be on Saturday, July 24, at Briarcrest County Club in Bryan.
UAVs
on border get OK
WASHINGTON –
The use of Predator unmanned aerial vehicles along the US-Mexico border has
been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Associated
Press yesterday quoted Homeland Security Department officials as saying FAA
will allow it to operate UAVs along the border and the Gulf Coast region.
Customs and
Border Protection will base a surveillance drone at the Corpus Christi Naval
Air Station.
DHC also said
it is working with the Office of National Drug Control Policy on
"Project Roadrunner," a license plate recognition system” designed
to seek out possible drug traffickers.
And the
department is collaborating with the Justice Department to improve
information sharing between state, local and federal law enforcement
agencies.
In a speech at
the Center for International and Strategic Studies, DHC Secretary Janet
Napolitano announced a new partnership with the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
The agreement
would allow non-border cities to provide more assistance to state and local
law enforcement agencies that are on the border.
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