Photo by Sam Cole
RESCUE WORK – Emergency crews worked to extract victims from two cars that collided on the Pecos River Bridge on
US Highway 90 Saturday. The accident killed one and injured seven when a car speeded past the red light controlling one-way traffic
through construction on the bridge.
SANDERSON – The Terrell County Independent School District is “well on the way toward keeping a positive fund balance” and the time
is ripe for another issue of “tax notes” to shield revenues from the state’s “recapture” provisions, the school’s auditor said last
week.
Auditor Tracy B. Tarter of Fort Worth joined the Texas Association of School Boards in recommending the tax notes, a form of
bond issue.
TCISD is a “Chapter 41” district under the state’s “Robin Hood” finance scheme and thus must send a major share of its
tax revenues to other districts.
Tarter noted that the district has paid off a 2004 issue and it may be time to consider a new issue.
Chapter
41 districts pay a formula based on the tax base and the number of students but only the Maintenance and Operations budget is subject
to “recapture.”
Money in the Interest and Sinking Fund all stays in the district.
Revenues in the 2007-08 school year, which Tarter
audited, were $11 million, of which $7.7 million went to other school districts.
Any “capital” expenditure can be paid by the
Brewster County Judge
Val Beard
P. O. Box 1630
Alpine, TX 79831
432/819-2412
Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson
201 W. Ave
E.
Alpine, TX 79830
432/837-3488
County Commissioner
Ruben Ortega
P. O. Box 233
Marathon. TX 79842
432-294- J 096
Marathon
ISD Superintendent Conrad Arriola
N. 5th Street
Marathon. TX 79842
432/386-4431
Terrell County Judge
Leo Smith
P. O. Box 4810
432/345-2421
Terrell County Sheriff
Clint McDonald
P. O. Box 320
Sanderson, TX 79848
432/345-2525
Terrell County
ISD Superintendent
Gary Hamilton
P.O. Box 747
Sanderson, TX 79848
432/345-2515
SANDERSON – As of Tuesday, there already were 125 entries in this year’s Big Bend Open Road Race between here and Fort Stockton.
The race will be on Saturday, April 25, with race-week activities starting Wednesday, April 22, in Sanderson.
Read more...SANDERSON – Jessica Garza and Blakeney Chriesman have been chosen by the American Legion Auxiliary to attend Girls State with Vicky Busch as an alternate.
The girls will attend Girls State at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin from July 14 through July 20.
Read more...Chili supper gets tentative date
SANDERSON – The Sanderson Band Boosters had an “emergency” meeting last week to re-determine a date for its annual chili super.
The club is has set a tentative date of March 26, with March 17 as an alternate, depending on the availability of the St. James Hall.
Read more...Chamber to coordinate Halloween
SANDERSON – The Chamber of Commerce has agreed to coordinate activities for the community Halloween observance each year.
Terrell County Independent School District stepped in at the last moment last fall when it was learned that St. James Hall would not be available.
Read more...Cowboy poets gather
ALPINE – The 23rd Annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering opens at 10 a.m. today, Feb. 27, in Marshall Auditorium on the campus of Sul Ross State University.
Chuck Jividen will host the “Howdy! Let’s Get Started” session. Doris Daley, Michael and Dawn Moon and Dave Stamey will perform during the session.
Read more...Cowboy poetry winners named
ALPINE – The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering has announced the winners of the event’s 2009 Poetry Contest, which is open to children in kindergarten through high school senior and must be about ranch life.
Dr. Nelson Sager, Sul Ross State University English professor and long-time member of the Poetry Gathering’s steering committee, made the announcement.
Read more...Project Graduation nears
SANDERSON – Parents of Sanderson High School seniors met Wednesday to make pre-parations for Project Graduation.
Efforts are in full force with fundraising, including a Krispy Kreme donut sale and a Schwan Food sale at the Sanderson Tire Center on March 14. There also is a drawing to win a Kawasaki Mule all-terrain vehicle at the end of March.
Read more...Events of the year reviewed
SANDERSON – Representatives of most civic groups in town met last Friday to discuss which organization
is responsible for what events during the year.
There was no conflict on most events but there had been confusion over who was responsible
for a few of them.
“We needed one organization with overall responsibility and that was the reason for the meeting,” said Chamber of Commerce President Jim Street, who called the meeting.
Read more...By LYN ROSAS
News Leader Business Manager
SANDERSON – For those who haven’t noticed, there is a new business in town.
El Patio Lounge is located on Highway 90 East at the end of town and across from the Budget Inn. It was known most recently as Johnny D’s.
Read more...By KIM RAPP
News Leader Production Manager
SANDERSON – There is a new US Border Patrol wife among the population of our little town.
Janna Sanchez is the wife of Border Patrol agent Fernando Sanchez, who has been here since August of ’07. The newlyweds moved here from Whiteface near Lubbock.
Read more...Our own UFO sighting
SANDERSON – A stargazing couple reported more than stars in the eastern skies over Sanderson about 11 p.m. Sunday.
Cristian and Destiny Thompson said they spotted unknown lights, or “UFOs,” over the hills northeast of town.
Read more...SANDERSON – The 10th annual Falkfest, honoring the late Walter Falk, is in the books.
For a decade, approximately 20 people or so have gathered for barbecue and a show of Falk’s art.
Read more...DEL RIO – A two-car head-on collision on the Pecos River Bridge 40 miles west of here Saturday afternoon killed one and injured seven others, closing the bridge for four hours.
Monika Rowitha Kretshmer, 64, of Germany, was killed in the accident when the westbound car in which she was a passenger apparently disobeyed a stop light at the entrance to the bridge and collided head-on with an eastbound car.
Read more...DEATH SCENE – Construction has limited traffic to one lane over the Pecos River bridge on US Highway 90, 135 miles east of Marathon.
The one-lane traffic apparently contributed to a fatal accident Saturday when a westbound car disobeyed the stop sign controlling
traffic and smashed head-on into an eastbound car.
EASY ENTRY – Dave Carpenter of Parker, CO, climbed into his “M&M” car last year before winning the unlimited class in the Big
Bend Open Road Race between here and Sanderson. Carpenter’s 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix made it from Fort Stockton to Sanderson and back
at an average speed of 166.535 miles per hour. This year’s race week will be April 22 to 25.
OPEN WIDE – A row of Chevrolet Corvettes sat with hoods open at last year’s turnaround in the Big Bend Open Road Race, to be run this
year on April 25. The cars race the clock from Fort Stockton, turn around in Sanderson and race back in the afternoon.
TO GIRLS STATE – Blakeney Chriesman, left, and Jessica Garza were named delegates to Girls State this week. Vicky Busch, right, was
named an alternate. The girls will attend the annual event at Lutheran University at Seguin July 14 to 20.
ALPINE – The varsity basketball season for the Sanderson Eagles came to a close Monday as the boys team lot to the Vaqueros from Sierra Blanca 51-29 in the first round of the play-offs at the Pete Gallegos Center at Sul Ross State University.
The Lady Eagles were eliminated last week when the Dell City Cougars bested them 58-53.
Read more...UP IN THE AIR – The Sanderson Eagles ended their season in the first round of the playoff Monday with a 51-29 loss to Sierra Blanca
at Sul Ross. Going for the ball here were Cordell Lawon, 11, Phillip Lascano, 10, Travis Roberts, number not visible, Darren Seidel,
50, and J.D. Brotherton, 20.
TULETA – Louella Graham, who died last week, was honored by the Pettus-Tuleta Fire Department for her many years of dedicated service. She was the mother of Perry Graham of Sanderson.
The department presented her with a plaque last month.
Graham joined the department in 1955 as the first woman in the department.
Read more...
Town gets new
Patrol wife
By KIM RAPP
News Leader Production Manager
SANDERSON – To see cyclists cruising through town is not that unique – unless they’re hauling
300 pounds. Sam Cole of Austin did just that.
Formerly homeless, Cole is an “extreme alignment photographer” whose purpose for this particular trip is to take pictures of everything from Comet Lulin to Big Bend National Park and to share the word of God with those he comes across.
Read more...THE WORD – Sam Cole of Austin pointed to the words “Jesus is Lord” scrawled on the truck of his bicycle trailer. Cole is spreading
the word on his trip out west, photographing everything from Comet Lulin to Big Bend National Park. He hauls 300-pounds of equipment
behind his bike with electronics and other equipment.
BACK AGAIN – Joyce Malatek and Mary Adkins sported their new jackets they bought from Paris Galvan at this year’s Falkfest. The twosome
will return for Falkfest every year for as long as it continues. The tenth annual fest was last weekend.
YOUR MAJESTIES – Raquel Hinkley and Phillip Lascano, left picture, were crowned Prom Queen and King Saturday. Blakeney Chriesman and
Darren Siedel were voted Duke and Duchess for the 2008-2009 school year.
WHAT’S THIS? – Noel Carrasco and Alli Harris inspected the wares at Family Night at the Sanderson Elementary School Book Fair Tuesday.
Books and other goodies were on sale for kids of all ages at the annual event.
SANDERSON – A large crowd braved a cold, blustery wind Saturday to attend an auction at the home of the late Ethel Laura Haley.
Auctioneer Kenn Norris sold hundreds of items from Haley’s estate and that of Ginette Litton.
Read more...$240 ONCE – Auctioneer Kenn Norris sold a dozen “German medals” at a combined auction of the estates of Ethel Laura Haley and Ginette
Litton Saturday. This display sold for $240. Looking on, from left, were Clay Houston, Joey Carrasco with his back to the camera and
Luke, Mark and Lauryn Carroll.
NEW BAR – Norma Martinez, right, is the new owner of El Patio Lounge on East Oak in the building last known as Johnny D’s. She posed
with her daughter Martha Rangel and grandkids Anthony and Ellyana Rangel.
CAKE SALE – Sanderson Junior High School Student Council volunteers Daniel Luevano, left, and Dryden Baker stood guard over the strawberry-chocolate
cake donated by Ronnie Fuéntez Saturday. The council provided the concession stand for the estate sale at the home of the late Ethel
Laura Haley and the cake alone brought more than $400.
NEWLY WEDS - Janna Sanchez joined her husband, Fernando, in Sanderson six months ago. Fernando is a Border Patrol agent
and has been here since Aug. of ’07. The couple hails form Whiteface near Lubbock.
YOUR SERVE – Casey Couch served up a ball on the new tennis courts at Sanderson High School this week. The new courts were the first
item out of the box from the current $14 million bond issue and students, alumni and just plain citizens are all itching to have a
play.
DRAW ONE – Brooklin Zuniga drew a name from a jar held by Librarian Pam Deaton at Sanderson Elementary School’s Book Fair. The drawings
were for several posters given away to those at Family Night Tuesday.
SWEET TREAT – A strawberry-chocolate cake donated by Ronnie Fuéntez brought more than $400 for the Sanderson Junior High School Student
Council Saturday. The council provided the concession stand for the estate auction at the home of the late Ethel Laura Haley.
