RECORD BREAKER – J.D. Brotherton broke two records last week at the Rio Grande Relays in Sanderson. He broke his own record in the
100-meter dash and broke the record of J.D. Leva of Alpine in the 200-meter dash.
SANDERSON – Terrell County revenues were $4.5 million in the last fiscal year, up by $599,036 from the year before, and expenditures
were $3.6 million, down by $132,430.
Total revenues exceeded expenditures by $856,689 in 2008 and $770,629 the year before.
“You all
are in good shape, Auditor J. Shaw Skinner of Alpine told County Commissioners Monday.
Skinner, who provided the annual audit of the
county’s finances, said the county assets were up by $531,689 from 2007 in the fiscal year ended last September and liabilities are
down by $305,000 in the same period.
Total assets were $8 million and liabilities were $730,000.
Skinner said Terrell County is in better
shape than many in the area. Brewster and Culberson are also in “pretty good shape,” he said. Others, including Presidio and Val Verde,
are not.
The news may not be as good in the current year, though, with a projected loss in property values.
Most of the income in the
county is from oil and gas exploration and production and the current economic down-turn has affected everyone, including oil and
gas.
A joint meeting has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, March 16, in the county courthouse with the school board and other taxing
entities to discuss next year’s projected property values.
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 – Residents here flooded the News Leader and the Sheriff’s offices with questions last week about the appearance of a full-color, full-motion sign on display at the Terrell County Fire Station.
Dan O’Bryan with Arrow Signs of San Angelo agreed to bring a sign to Sanderson so residents could see what he has to offer.
Read more...
Burn Ban extended 90 days
SANDERSON – The burn ban in Terrell County was extended for another 90 days in action by County Commissioners Monday.
At the time of the action Monday, the county had officially received only 12 hundredths of an inch of rain this year and no significant rainfall since September.
Read more...SANDERSON – The continuing saga of a potential convention center in downtown Sanderson moved a tiny step forward Monday with the placing of a sign at Oak and Second Streets saying it’s “coming soon to this site.” The sign displays a drawing of what the facility might look like.
“This is not a set-in-stone design,” County Judge Leo Smith said.
“Tell people to write me a letter and tell me whether they like it or not.
Read more...OC offers reduced tuition
ODESSA – Odessa College will offer its summer classes at a reduced tuition rate again this summer.
At a called board meeting last week, the OC board of trustees voted to approve reduced tuition rates for summer college credit classes in order to help break down educational cost barriers.
Read more...Court splits on nativity
SANDERSON – In a rare 3-2 split vote, Terrell County Commissioners Monday agreed to buy a Christmas nativity scene for the courthouse from Display Sales of Bloomington, MN, for $11,603.
A committee of Commissioner Yolanda Lopez, County and District Clerk Martha Allen and County Attorney Marsha Monroe had been involved in buying the Main Street lights last year and were looking into Christmas decorations for the Courthouse for this year.
Read more...Ward wins twice at wool judging
SAN ANGELO – Edward Hudson “Ward” Kerr, III, won “First High Individual” out of 82 participants at the San Angelo Live Stock Show Wool Judging Contest here last month. The award included a $500 college scholarship.
Earlier, he won second place at the San Antonio Live Stock Show event and a $10,000 scholarship.
Read more...Drought Watch: levels up
in river basin
EL PASO – The 2009 storage is up at reservoirs north of here, snowpack is above average and
flows in the Rio Grande have begun.
Much of West Texas has been in drought conditions through much of the winter, eased only somewhat by more than an inch that fell in Sanderson Tuesday night through Wednesday.
Read more...Ground broken for ‘Century Plant’
FORT STOCKTON – Work on the proposed $1 billion Century Plant between here and Sanderson was expected
to begin soon after a groundbreaking Wednesday.
SandRidge Energy of Oklahoma City and Oxy Petroleum Corp. of Los Angeles are teaming up on the plant near US 285 and Puckett Road which would separate carbon dioxide from methane, thus benefiting both companies.
Read more...Sgt. Keith Williamson resigns
SANDERSON – The Terrell County Sheriff’s Office is again short one deputy with the resignation
this week of Sgt. Keith Williamson, who worked for the department almost exactly one year.
Sheriff Clint McDonald said Williamson left because of a “dispute over procedures.”
Read more...SJHS girls place fourth at RG Relays
SANDERSON – Sanderson Junior High girls placed fourth overall at the Rio Grande Relays last weekend
and the boys placed seventh out of 11 schools.
Danae Fisher won first place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:45.49, third place in the 400-meter dash, crossing the line in 1:12.30, and fifth in the discus throw, sending the disc soaring 49 feet, 11 inches.
Read more...National ‘Ag’ Day next week
FORT STOCKTON – Next Friday, March 20, will be National Ag Day to mark the abundance provided by agriculture in the country.
American agriculture is responsible for providing the necessities of everyday life – food, fiber and even fuel, said Cullene F. Heritage, executive director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Pecos and Terrell Counties.
Read more...By STEVE LANG
Sul Ross News and Publications
KENT – Misty Sumner proudly posed with a trophy mule deer buck on the Jobe Ranch.
Then, her co-workers untied bindings and the buck, wearing a new radio collar, lurched to its feet and bounded back into the brush.
Read more...Bargain Barn on TV
SANDERSON – Some items from Sanderson’s Bargain Barn may be seen on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” Sunday.
Johnny Hogg of El Paso comes to Sanderson on a regular basis to visit his mother, Henry Beth Hogg.
Read more...“Period Promenade" set at Museum
FORT STOCKTON – The Fort Stockton Historical Society will host a “Period Promenade” here on Saturday,
April 4 in honor of the town’s Sesquicentennial Year.
The event will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Annie Riggs Memorial Museum and is free and open to the public.
All are invited to participate in period dress, from 1859 to 2009, and promenade.
Read more...By KIM RAPP
News Leader Production Manager
SANDERSON – Two Sanderson High School boys set three new meet records Friday as the Eagles
hosted the Rio Grande Relays here, pacing the boys’ team to a first place win with 162 total points.
J.D. Brotherton broke two records. He won first place in the 100-meter dash breaking his old record of 11.08, set in 2008, with a new record of 10.96.
Read more...RUNNER UP – Sanderson Lady Eagle Blakeney Chriesman came in second place in the 100-meter hurdles at the Rio Grande Relays meet last
week. Here, she ran in a preliminary race to warm up for the Main Event.
MOVING MESSAGE – Terrell County Commissioner Kenn Norris, who chairs a committee looking into a new moveable sign, inspected a demonstration
sign at the Fire Station this week. The committee will meet at 4:15 p.m. Monday at the courthouse to consider what to include in bid
specifications. The Commissioners Court Monday went on record as supporting the purchase of a sign and agreeing to advertise for bids.
COMING ATTRACTIONS – A new sign at the corner of Oak and Second in Sanderson announces the site of the proposed Terrell County Convention
Center. A drawing is County Judge Leo Smith’s idea of how it might look, with a Southwestern theme. It was drawn by Leo Smith, Sr.
CENTER OF INTEREST – The proposed Terrell County Convention Center might have a Southwestern theme as indicated on a new sign at the
corner of Oak and Second in Sanderson on the site of the facility. County Judge Leo Smith suggested the theme, drawn by Leo Smith,
Sr., in proposing the facility.
DAISIES – Sanderson Girl Scout Daisy candidates got their sashes and badges last week. They were, back row from left, Alliyanna Harris,
Brooklin Zuniga, Kate Roberts, Analise Galvan and Taryn Mitchell. Front row from left were Landry Lowrance, Katy Jahn, Kaelyn Cash
and Kylie Dominguez. Leaders are Tammy Truesdell and Tawny Zuniga, not shown.
CAT IN A HAT – Suzie Grusendorf's first grade class at Sanderson Elementary read Dr. Seuss books all week. March 2 was Dr. Seuss
Day. Watching Grusendorf whip up some green eggs were, from left, Justin Maguire, Alli Harris and Bria Akers.
HONDO – US Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez last week announced $33.72 million to be spent on road projects through-out his Congressional district.
The
projects are funded in the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” also known as the “stimulus bill,” and will be implemented by
the Texas Department of Transportation.
The road projects include new construction and road repair in Brewster, El Paso, Pecos, Edwards,
Val Verde, Maverick, Uvalde and Medina Counties.
“The recovery package will
Read more...Photo by Jim Hedrick
SIGN OF THE BURRO – It won’t be easy to miss Marathon’s newest eatery any more. A new “Burro” sign was erected
last week marking the spot of the Famous Burro, Neil Chavigny’s new restaurant and bar at Main and Avenue D in the location of the
former Cottonwood Station. Workers, from left, were Matt Campbell, Chavigny, Mike Johnson, Patrick Picasso and Ben Ramirez, hiding
behind the pole.
By MARK GLOVER
Contributing Editor
After a short dig, the animal pulled itself under the 16-foot- high fence and squeezed free.
It dashed across the short soggy apron, then found the hard traction of asphalt under its paws.
Read more...RADIO CONTROL – A mule deer buck, wearing new radio collar, was re-released on Jobe Ranch near Kent recently. Sul Ross State
University’s wildlife management research project and Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife are studying habitat, health and other
criteria in mule deep populations.
LION OF A KILL – Terrell County rancher Cody Carruthers, left, and trapper F.M. Galvan displayed a mountain lion they killed in this
1994 picture. West Texas Mountain lions have been transported to Florida to stem a loss of panthers from the Florida Everglades.
