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TERRELL COUNTY

NEWS LEADER

YOUR SOURCE FOR NEWS IN AND ABOUT SANDERSON AND THE

TRANS-PECOS/BIG BEND REGION
412 E. OAK
P. O. BOX 99
SANDERSON, TX 79848
(432) 345-2676

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editor@tcnewsleader.com

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BROTHERLY RUN – Travis Roberts won first in the 3,200-meter run and the 1,600-meter run at the district track and field meet in Grandfalls Monday. Brother William was right on his heels, winning second in both events.

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SANDERSON – Terrell County Commissioners this week instructed attorney Bob Bass to seek a final resolution on the issue of the county-maintained road at Independence Creek in east Terrell County.

Smith said the parties reached an agreement “some time ago” to the long-time dispute over maintenance on the road and, in particular, the crossing of the creek toward the end of the six-mile roadway.

“The formal document closely followed suggestions by the Chandler interests” that the county would provide a crossing for the creek, Smith said.

Under the agreement, the county would provide the crossing but if it washed out in any calendar year, the Chandler family would pay half the cost of a repair and would assume all of the costs if it washed out again in any calendar year.

Smith said the agreement was circulated in October but there has been “a virtual wall of silence from all parties” since.

Then, Smith said, “without prior notice or consent of the county, private interests have constructed a crossing at Independence Creek.”

He said if the county is to provide maintenance, it should have a say in the specifications for the crossing.

Smith said the crossing “appears to be made without substantial rock or gravel which will make the crossing hazardous when wet.”

And he said it provides fewer culverts than the county has used in the past, making the area of damming deeper, posing greater risk to people crossing the creek and

Action sought on creek

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

SHS track teams win in district

Photo by Annette Harris

WIDENING THE GAP - Jacob Benavidez put some distance between him and second place runner Chris Harris at track last week. Boys and girls both won district and advance to regionals next week at Levelland.

Editorial

It's really all our own fault

Mailbox

Thanks for deputies

Cactus Relays recalled

Beware the Bear

Tumbleweed

Meditations

Stargazer

Movies

Terrell County News

TCISD News

By ANNA La FLEUR

Production Manager

GRANDFALLS – Both high school boys and girls won the district track and field championship here Monday and advanced to the regional meet at Wink scheduled for yesterday.

Barron wins runoff

SANDERSON – Assistant Terrell County Treasurer Ana Barron will step up to her boss’s job next year after apparently winning the Democratic runoff election over challenger Leila Cash Tuesday.

There was a question on the totals. Some figures were transposed in early voting for Precinct One and Democratic Party Chairman Lea Hawn has asked for a recount. But it was not expected to change the outcome.

FORT STOCKTON – As “race coordinator” for the Big Bend Open Road Race, Kenda Furman of Fort Stockton has been a prominent face behind the scenes.

MARATHON – It’s been a suggestion that has fallen on generally deaf ears for many years but the prospect of the Alpine Independent School District taking over the Marathon ISD has again resurfaced.

Superintendent Neal Harrison circulated a letter to Marathon parents, guardians and citizens telling them of a threat from the Texas Education Association that could result in a merger with Alpine ISD more than 30 miles west.

Students ‘on roll with Honor Roll’

SANDERSON – Seniors with all As on their report cards are Jacob Benavidez, Clarissa Brotherton, Vicky Busch, Blakeney Chriesman, Jessica Garza, Chris Marquez, Travis Roberts and Darren Seidel, in honor roll results released last week.

SANDERSON – The Sanderson High School building will become a Terrell County annex if approved Monday by the School Board.

Terrell County Commissioners approved the agreement Monday.

By ANNA La FLEUR

Production Manager

SANDERSON – Albert Cantu recently had a visit from family passing through from their home in El Paso to a Spurs basketball game in San Antonio.

ALPINE – Medalist Amber Bon of Sanderson High School placed third in District with a score of 97 Monday and was the only girl to advance to Region in golf this week.

The boys golf team placed fifth in District with a score of 408.

Accident kills deputy

PECOS – A Reeves County deputy sheriff was killed early Sunday when his car rolled over on the service road of Interstate 20 near the zoo here.

Fuentes feted second time

ODESSA – Art Fuentes of Sanderson, a lieutenant in the Odessa Police Department, won a second life-saving honor this year last week when he and two other officers were recognized at the department’s Inaugural Awards Recognition Breakfast.

SHS performs one-act play

SANDERSON – Julianna Larrinaga and Darren Seidel were named all star cast members for this year’s Sanderson High School One Act Play while Juliana Castro received honorable mention.

Sales taxes still down in report

AUSTIN – Sales taxes collected for Terrell County were off by nearly 60 percent this month, from $51,811.09 reported in April, 2009, to $20,879.57 this year.

FORT DAVIS — The Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve will be open for hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, picnicking, photography, birding and other outdoor activities tomorrow, April 17.

Bikers descend on area

SANDERSON – Several local vendors have stepped up to the plate for the West of the Pecos Motorcycle Run scheduled here April 30, May 1 and 2. Vendors will set up booths varying from food to crafts.

“There are several of out of town vendors who have called to confirm they will be here,” El Patio Bar owner Norma Martinez told the News Leader. “One lady comes from Midland who does on-the-spot stitchery.

Legion officers drop in

SANDERSON – Several American Legion and Legion Auxiliary from other parts of the district visited the Sanderson Legion Hall this week.

SANDERSON – The semi-annual Terrell County Rabies Clinic Saturday inoculated and registered 153 animals.

County Judge Leo Smith said the number was just seven short of the record.

Boys and girls of summer

SANDERSON – Youth baseball is making a comeback here this month.

Little league baseball has two teams listed, the Astros coached by Jay Lozano and the Rangers coached by Wayne Truesdell.

By MARK GLOVER

Contributing Editor

ALPINE - Director Ron Steinman fidgets at the podium in the Band Room at the Fine Arts Building at Sul Ross State University.

He runs his hand through his snowy blonde hair as he faces a sea of music stands at the third rehearsal.

Park honors volunteers

BIG BEND – Jim and Ginny Herrick of Las Cruces, NM, were awarded the nationally recognized Presidential Service Award at Big Bend National Park’s Volunteer Awards Dinner last week. The award recognizes volunteers who have contributed more than 4,000 hours of service to the park.

BIG BEND – Officials of the National Park Service and the US Border Patrol, joined by local and county officials and area residents, gathered in Big Bend National Park last month to break ground for new housing in the park.

Alpine-Marathon ISD?

GOING AWAY? – The Marathon Independent School District was again being rumored this week as subject to a takeover from the Alpine ISD. Superintendent Neal Harrison said the Texas Education Agency placed the district under “accreditation probation” and threatened to assign a conservator. But no one from TEA showed up as threatened at the last school board meeting and “we’re in the dark” about the issue, he said.

Furman to navigate in race

‘FRIENDLY’ AWARD – Kenda Furman, left, is trading her race coordinator’s hat in the Big Bend Open Road Race for one as a navigator this year. She was shown last year presenting the trophy to Charlie Friend of Alamogordo, NM, one of three drivers in the “unlimited” class this year. Helping with the presentation was Furman’s assistant Cynthia Olivas. Friend’s 1965 Chevrolet Corvair finished last year with an average speed of 166.722 miles per hour.

County to use SHS building

HIGH SCHOOL ANNEX – The old Sanderson High School building, which dates to the 1930s, could become a county annex if approved by the School Board Monday. Terrell County Commissioners agreed to take over the building for county office expansion. The school district is nearing completion of a $14 million bond issue program that will provide new high school classrooms.

Amber places third in golf

MEDALIST – Amber Bon of Sanderson placed third in the district golf finals in Alpine this week. She was congratulated by Terlingua School District Superintendent Kathy Killingsworth.

FORE – Sanderson High School boys placed fifth in District this week. Golfers, from left, were David Bon, Cordell Lawson, Joe Hopkins, Roy Shoemaker and Robert Montalvo.

Cantu family passes through

Preserve to be open

TALL HIKE – At 8,378 feet above sea level, Mount Livermore is the fifth highest peak in Texas. It is part of a mountain chain in Culberson and Jeff Davis Counties that includes Guadalupe Peak, the highest in the state at 8,749 feet. The Fort Davis Open Preserve Day is tomorrow and interested campers can hike to the summit, although registration for a guided hike is now full.

A night with Sinatra, Basie

JAZZMAN COMETH – Director Ron Steinman prepared his Sul Ross jazz ensemble for “An Evening with the Masters – Count Basie and Frank Sinatra” recently. The dinner, dance and show will be Thursday, April 22, at the Grenada Theatre in Alpine.

BAND OF GALVANS – Three generations of a US Marine Corps family posed for a picture recent. From left, they were Michael Galvan, who enlisted in 2008 and is currently serving his country, his dad Carlos Galvan of Sheffield, who served from 1980 to 1984, and grandpa Paul Galvan of Sanderson, who served from 1945 to 1948. Michael was honored by family and friends on at a farewell party Saturday before leaving for Afghanistan.

Housing started in Big Bend

HOUSING BOOM – Big Bend National Park Superintendent Bill Wellman, Brewster County Judge Val Beard, Chief Park Ranger Allen Etheridge and Marfa Sector Border Patrol Chief John J. Smietana, Jr., broke ground last week for new BP housing at BBNP. The Marfa Sector Honor Guard was in the background.

SRSU to inaugurate Maestas

Dr. Ricardo Maestas

ALPINE – Inauguration ceremonies for Sul Ross State University President Dr. Ricardo Maestas will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 30, in the Pete P. Gallego Center here.

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

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

Old Yeller gets ‘shot’

OLD YELLER SHOT – Veterinarian Dr. Paul Weyerts gave rabies shots Saturday to one of two dozen Blackmouth Curs belonging to Randy Wright of Dryden, who helped with the shots. Animal Control officer Jim Scott looked on. The breed is the same as Old Yeller of book and movie fame.

CONTAIN YOURSELF – Containers arrived this week at Sanderson Elementary School, indicating bond work is coming. The containers will hold supplies and furniture while the school gets a “facelift” under the current $14 million bond issue. When it’s all over – hopefully this summer, the school will get new paint, flooring, carpeting and even new furniture.

CANTUS – Albert Cantu, second from right, had company last week. Visiting, from left, were daughter-in-law Heather, son Tyler, granddaughter Jocelyn, 2, Cantu and granddaughter, Juliana, 5. The visit was next door to the Kim Rapp home where the Rapps were sharing burgers and beer to say good bye to the community.

CROSSING – This crossing of Independence Creek washed out in heavy rains in September, 2008, something that happens frequently. Terrell County authorized a letter this week in an effort to finalize an agreement with the families involved on maintenance of the road and its crossing six miles east of State Highway 349 in east Terrell County.

CIVICS CLASS – A dozen of the 14 members of Sanderson Elementary’s second grade class visited Commissioners Court Monday. They were, front row from left, Brooklin Zuniga, Analise Galvan-Rubio, Dusty Johnson, Kate Roberts, Taryn Mitchell, Jacoby Campos and Ali Harris. Second row from left were teacher Irma Mendoza, Cori Hilton, Isaiah Aguilar, Jaden Montalvo, James Bon and Ian Perez. Looking on, from left, were Mike Sanchez, Mark Carroll, C.D. Curry, Michelle Marquez, and Terry “Tex” Toler.