Libel lawsuit settled

FORT STOCKTON – A defamation lawsuit by Clayton Williams and his Fort Stockton Holdings against Mayor Ruben Falcon was dismissed Monday after Falcon issued a clarification and retraction of earlier statements.

Falcon has opposed plans by Williams’ Fort Stockton Holdings to export about 41 million gallons per day of groundwater from more than 17,000 acres it owns or leases in the Leon-Belding area west of here.

Funding of threats debated

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has released the Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan 2010-2015, a strategic plan that will guide the state’s response to all types of threats over five years.

But a group of West Texas congressmen say Perry’s efforts in the past were not enough.

AUSTIN – When Travis Roberts of Sanderson competes at the state track meet here today, he may set a new record for the mile run, set by another Sanderson runner 35 years ago.

Rick Marquez of Andrews packs up his bags and heads to Austin for the UIL Track and Field Championships every year.

County to prepay debt

SANDERSON – Terrell County Commissioners Monday agreed to prepay an $88,778 balance from a 2004 issue of “tax notes,” due in February, 2011.

County Treasurer Lynda Helmers said the payout will be somewhat less than the current balance because it includes interest that would accrue if the balance went full term. She said there will be no penalty for early payment.

Fence bids give hope

SANDERSON – Officials here were encouraged by the dollar amounts in a bid opening Monday for a “game-proof” fence around Terrell County Airport.

Twin Mountain Fence Company of San Angelo was the apparent low of three bidders with an offer of $45,088.41 for two sides of the 640-acre airport.

By ANNA La FLEUR

Production Manager

SANDERSON – Julian & Norma Martinez, owners of the El Patio Bar here, had two special visitors over the weekend.

Son Armando Portillo and his college friend Cristoval Chavira visited from the Milan School of Cosmetology in San Antonio. The two will graduate this year.

The friends visited Portillo’s family here and earned tips for school money at the bar over the weekend.

SANDERSON – Cameron Baker was re-elected president of the Terrell County 4-H Club Monday and Dryden Baker was re-elected vice president in an election on the voting machines their parents use on Election Day.

Terrell County Commissioners agreed to let the club use the touch-screen machines to give the members a lesson in Democracy.

‘Wax Museum’ Monday

SANDERSON – Visitors will have a chance to guess who students are supposed to be at the Sanderson Junior High School Monday.

Students will dress up as someone from history and people will be given clues to the historical identities.

Pool parties available

SANDERSON – The school year ends May 28 in the Terrell County Independent School District and the swimming pool in Bicentennial Park will be open for the summer season the next day.

Pool parties also are available, Pool Manger Mike Sanchez said.

He said Monday eight of the ten lifeguards had been certified and the other two were expected shortly.

EMT staffing mulled

SANDERSON – Terrell County might have to consider privatizing its ambulance service if it can’t find people in the county to operate its ambulances.

That was a concern cited Monday as county commissioners discussed the issue with EMS Director Butch Maldonado.

SANDERSON – The elementary school students here gathered at the track to participate in the field day events last week, including ball throwing, Frisbee throwing, the long jump, weaving around and over an obstacle course, sack races and running meter races.

The students in the pre kindergarten grade level competed a few at a time so there was more than one student who placed first in an event.

‘Fruitcake and Ice Cream’

By ANNA La FLEUR

Production Manager

SANDERSON – The final movie in the Passion series by Louie Giglio was shown on Sunday evening at Calvary Baptist Church here.

The movie “Fruit Cake and Ice Cream” took viewers on a journey through the transformation of a college student’s spiritual life.

Sales tax but at lower rate

AUSTIN – Sales tax receipts for Terrell County were off again this month but by a lower percentage than recent months.

The state will send $31,928.55 to the county in May, down 48.89 percent from the $47,538.66 in the same month a year ago.

Pecos Trail Board to discuss rock art

DEL RIO – The rock art in the lower Pecos River basin will provide the entertainment portion for the Texas Pecos Trail Region Board of Directors meeting next week.

The board will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 20, at the Ramada Inn Sun Blossom Room A at 2101 Veterans Blvd. here.

SR graduation set

ALPINE – Spring commencement for Sul Ross State University here and Sul Ross-Rio Grande College will be tomorrow, May 15, here and in Del Rio.

The ceremonies here will begin at 10 a.m. in the Pete P. Gallego Center. RGC ceremonies will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Del Rio Civic Center.

Historical Commission set to meet

MARATHON – The Mountain-Pecos Region County Historical Commission will have an all-day meeting at the Ritchey Brothers Building here Saturday, May 22.

“There is an excellent program schedule on the early history of our region,” Commission Chairman Travis Roberts of Marathon said. “A staff person from THC [Texas Historical Commission] in Austin will be present to discuss some of the programs planned for the future.”

The program will include the “Visionaries in Preservation Program” for Brewster County.