March 5, 2009
 
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TERRELL COUNTY
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STORY TIMESanderson Elementary Assistant Administrator Tanna Lowrance has lots of special charges but two are even more special to her. She read to her own two, three-year-old Laycee and kindergartner Landry, 5, at the school’s Book Fair Family Night Monday night.

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SANDERSON – Terry “Tex” Toler celebrated his birthday Tuesday with a win in the race for Democratic nomination to county judge, unseating two-term incumbent Leo Smith 287 to 225.

He still faces Libertarian Dean Autrey in the November General Election. Pete Sanchez also filed for the Libertarian nomination but he told the News Leader Wednesday he was going to withdraw from the race at the party’s county “caucus” next week.

And Smith indicated he had support for a write-in campaign in the fall and may decide to run that way.

“I am humbled and grateful to the citizens of Terrell County who first encouraged me to run, supported me throughout the campaign and believed in my ability to be the community’s public servant as county judge,” Toler said. “I welcome anyone and everyone who wishes to discuss any matter or idea with me to call or visit.

“Of course, I have my own ideas and solutions I would like to propose but I want to hear as many of the citizens as possible,” he said.

Smith was philosophical about his loss.

“I have no regrets,” he said. “Terrell County has been good to me and I wish everybody well.”

Smith said he does not pray for a particular outcome.

“I ask that God’s will be done,” he said. “If it’s meant to be, it will be. If not, I accept His will and will move on.”

Smith said he has left the county in excellent fiscal shape for the next administration.

Whether there is a write-in campaign or not, the change will not be the only one on the Commissioners Court next year. Precinct Two Commissioner Della Fuentes lost to challenger Michelle L. Marquez 67 to 52.

The     other   commissioner      running      this      year,

Read more...

‘Tex’Toler beats Smith

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


 

 
News Leader
Features

Burglary trial halted

NOMINATIONTerry “Tex” Toler won the Democratic nomination to Terrell County Judge Tuesday, unseating two-term incumbent Leo Smith. Toler still faces a challenge from Libertarian Dean Autrey in November and Smith indicated he may run as a write-in candidate.

Just a little question: Why?
 
New Arrivals
Sarah Joy Sublett
Colby Pendleton
 
Obituary
Tommy Ray McDonald
 
 
Tumbleweed Smith
 
 
Meditations
 
 
Stargazer
 
 
Terrell County News
 
 
TCISD News
 

SANDERSON – The trial of eight Mexican nationals on burglary charges was derailed Monday when a potential juror complained about the cost of the trial to the county.

Terrell County Commissioner Charles Stegall said he was concerned about the cost of the trial and felt he might not be an impartial juror.

Read more...

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar | Hurricane Center

Mapping could aid coverage

AUSTIN – A team of graduate hydrology students plans a trip to Sanderson this month to prepare information that could be used to update flood plain maps and, perhaps, give homeowners a break on the their flood insurance premiums.

Part of Sanderson southeast of Pine and Second is within the published “100-year flood plain.”

Read more...

A friend remembers ‘Buff’

By KIM RAPP

Production Manager

SANDERSON – We felt a heavy sigh in Sanderson this week as Tommy “Buff” McDonald went to be with the Lord after losing a bout with cancer.

Tommy McDonald was known to many as Buff.

Read more...

Eagles victorious at relays

By ANNA La FLEUR

News Leader Writer 

FORT STOCKTON — Sanderson division one boys came in sixth overall at the Comanche Relays here last week, competing against much larger schools.

Jacob Benavidez placed first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.15. He also placed fourth in the 800-meter run.

Read more...

Libertarians to‘caucus’ next week

SANDERSON – The Libertarian Party of Terrell County will meet twice in the next week in preparation for the General Election in November.

There was only one contested race for Libertarians, that between Dean Autrey and Pete Sanchez for county judge.

Read more...

‘Live’ entertainment set for benefit

SANDERSON – A series of benefits on the first Friday of each month has been planned to benefit Tracey Nevarez, who moved to Sanderson from Sheffield after she was released from a Dallas hospital.

Live entertainment by a group calling itself “Live Music” will be at the Cantina el Gavilan from 8 to 11 p.m. on first Fridays.

Read more...

Legion to fete seniors with dinner

SANDERSON — The American Legion Post 160 will host a dinner for Sanderson’s senior citizens on at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 11, and the senior van will be available for getting to and from the dinner.

“This is one of our ways to say thank you to the town and its citizens,” Legion Adjutant Bill Hawn said.

Read more...

By ANNA La FLEUR

News Leader Writer

SANDERSON — the GFWC Culture Club here treated the National Honor Society students to a Texas Day luncheon at the Presbyterian Fellowship hall Tuesday.

The students on the society are Jacob Benavidez, Jessica Garza, Darren Seidel,Blakeney Chriesman, Victoria Busch, Sarah Sivils, Ernestina Gonzales and Noemi Nuñez.

Read more...

SHEFFIELD – The Nature Conservancy of Texas has invited the public to camp, swim, fish and enjoy the onset of spring amid the beauty of a natural oasis in the wilds of West Texas during the open preserve weekend at Independence Creek Preserve, March 19 to 21.

The event is free, although advance registration and reservations for camping are required by Friday, March 12.

Read more...

BP offers ‘horseshoe’ tourney

SANDERSON – The Sanderson US Border Patrol station will have its first annual Horseshoe Tournament Saturday, March 13 at the Bicentennial Park Pavilion.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and for $20, a two-person team can have a crack at a first, second or third place trophy, complete with “braggin’ rights.”

Read more...

SANDERSON – Jimmy Lee Rapp of Hobbs, a 2009 Sanderson High School graduate, will preach the sermon Sunday at First Baptist Church here.

Rapp came to Sanderson in 1998. At age seven, he was baptized and started in Awanas until he reached sixth grade and was too old to attend.

He attended church camp several times and was very involved in the youth group “180 Degree Revolution.”

At    age    16,   Rapp  decided

Read more...

Students to ‘dig’ Terrell

ALPINE – Interested students will get to “dig” Terrell County this summer as part of an archaeology field trip.

Sul Ross State University’s Center for Big Bend Studies will conduct a five-week archaeological field school June 1 to July 1 on the Nature Conservancy’s Independence Creek Preserve in Terrell County.

Read more...

January Bean count 1,185

LANGTRY – There were 1,185 visitors at the Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center here in January.

Totals were 518 Texans, 555 from other states and countries, 109 telephone queries and three mailed packets.

Foreign countries represented in January were Australia, Germany, England, Canada, the Netherlands, Brazil, Israel, Mexico, Denmark, Switzerland, South Korea, Africa, Austria, Tahiti, Italy, France, Japan and Belgium.

Read more...

Alumni football begins

MENARD — Alumni football, a chance for former high school football players to again put on pads and hit ‘em hard, begins with a doubleheader at Findlay Field here, kicking off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday April 2.

The Christoval Cougars alumni team will take on the Sonora Broncos in the opener.

Read more...

ALPINE – Dr. Ricardo Maestas will officially become president of Sul Ross State University at inauguration ceremonies at 10 a.m. Friday, April 30, in the Pete P. Gallego Center

Maestas was appointed by the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System as the 11th President in September, 2009. He assumed his new duties Nov. 9.

He previously served as vice president for student and university relations and dean of students     as     well  as associate 

Read more...

GANG’S ALL HEREIt might have been easier to list who was not called for jury duty Monday as potential jurors crowded into the District Courtroom at Terrell County Courthouse for the trial of eight Mexican nationals charged in a series of home invasions last summer. Like church, the last row to fill up was the front row. The trail ended when one potential juror complained about the cost of the trial to the county.

HOW MUCH?Analise Galvan Rubio counted out her money Monday at the Sanderson Elementary Book Fair. Theme of this year’s fair was “Take a Bite Out of Reading.” A lot of kids – and parents – took a big bite out of the books and other wares available at Monday’s Family Night.

NEWEST DEPUTYGreg Hines, right, is the newest Terrell County deputy sheriff, seen here with Chief Deputy Kenneth Turner. Hines, a native of El Paso, began his law enforcement career in the US Coast Guard in 1997, worked for the US Border Patrol in Deming, NM, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office before coming to Sanderson. He brings a wife and three girls, ages 11, 9 and 7.

NHS gets taste of ‘culture’

NHS LUNCHThe GFWC Culture Club of Sanderson hosted members of the National Honor Society at a luncheon this week. Honorees included, from left, Jacob Benavidez, Darren Seidel, Sarah Sivils and Blakeney Chriesman. 

Conservancy to open

UP THE CREEKIt’s not what it may look like. It’s just Logan Wrinkle, 5, taking a dip in the cool waters of Independence Creek in eastern Terrell County. The Nature Conservancy will have open preserve weekend at the creek March 19 to 21.

Rapp to ‘rap’ for Sunday sermon
Jimmy Lee Rapp

WHAT’S THAT?Hunter Pacheco, who’s “almost three,” had to stand on tiptoe to view the wares at the Sanderson Elementary Book Fair’s Family Night Monday. Kids old and young – and even younger – browsed through the goodies being offered. 

Maestas to be seated
Dr. Ricardo Maestas

OFF AND RUNNINGCounty Judge Leo Smith posed for a picture with Office Manager Kristine Woosley recently in the new Emergency Operations Center. The county acquired the old US Border Patrol Headquarters and will use the building for an emergency command center.

TO THE MATNew concrete matting have been installed on boat ramps at Santa Elena and Rio Grande Village in Big Bend National Park. The blocks were imbedded in the river banks to prevent slipping as boats are inserted into the water.