Huge vessels due again

By LYN ROSAS

Business Manager

SANDERSON – The scene of a giant tank on the back of a 206-wheel truck moving between here and the Sandridge Energy-Oxy Petroleum Century Plant 37 miles north should be repeated this month.

James Weston, project manager for Barnhart Crane and Rigging of Houston, said two more giant tanks are due in Sanderson this weekend.

SANDERSON – The much-delayed Terrell County Convention Center moved another step closer to reality this week when bids for part of the proposed facility came in under budget.

Justin Gilmore, vice president of Southwest Architects, Inc., of Fort Worth, presented a plan in March for a facility he estimated to cost $1.027 million to be built at Oak and Second Streets in Sanderson.

SANDERSON – The Nopalito Market will have a test run on September 4 and committee members are encouraging all who are interested in participating to contact Anna La Fleur at 432/290-6782. Interested vendors should call or text before Sept. 1.

Local vendors are needed and encouraged, she said.

“This is a fun opportunity to market your merchandise or food,” La Fleur said.

SANDERSON – The 2010-11 school year is just around the corner with first classes just ten days away, on Aug. 23.

Sanderson Eagle football also is in progress and the first scrimmage of the year will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Aug. 14, at Fort Davis.

Football parking ‘scarce’

SANDERSON – Parking for mobility-impaired fans at Sanderson Eagle home football games this fall will again be scarce because of construction on a new field house at the east end of the stadium.

As with last year, parking for those with handicap license plates will be allowed at the west end of the field on a first-come, first-served basis.

‘Rain dates’ rescheduled

By ANNA La FLEUR

Production Manager

SANDERSON – Rain from Hurricane Alex and a tropical storm a week later inundated much of the state and canceled most Fourth of July events here. But some of them are coming back.

The Sanderson Roping Club had its rain date last week and others are scheduled for Labor Day Weekend and the next week.

Flood maps face delay

SANDERSON – Another change in federal requirements has caused another delay in getting flood plain maps upgraded, which could save property owners here on their flood insurance.

After the 1965 flood, the US Soil Conservation Service erected 11 new dams and an improved channel in Sanderson Canyon, taking most of the town out of the 100-year flood plain.

Sales taxes down again

AUSTIN – Sales tax receipts for Terrell County last month were down more than 32 percent, from $26,372.13 a year ago to $17,863.04 in July, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said.

For the year to date, the county has taken in $243,842.28, down 19.48 percent from the same period a year ago.

Combs said statewide sales tax revenue in July was $1.69 billion, up 2.2 percent compared to one year ago.

Ciro backs border, stimulus

WASHINGTON, DC – US Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez Tuesday co-sponsored HR 6080, which he said strengthens security initiatives along the Southwest border, and voted for a $26 billion “stimulus” bill for teacher and government jobs.

The border bill, which passed the House by voice vote, funds border security initiatives at lower levels than Rodriguez had fought for, but he said it does provide for important needs along the border, such as additional agents, unmanned drones and technology.

Drive set to collect hazardous waste

SANDERSON – A drive to collect “hazardous” waste from households here may be in October after action Monday by Terrell County Commissioners.

County Judge Leo Smith said the county had received a $5,000 grant last year and another this year, pared down ten percent to $4,500, from the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission for that purpose.

Canseco top ‘Young Gun’

SAN ANTONIO – The National Republican Congressional Com-mittee has announced that Francisco Canseco has reached “Young Gun” status, the top level of its three-tiered Young Guns program.

Canseco was scheduled to be in Sanderson yesterday, Aug. 12, meeting with voters at the Community Building.

Toler airs state issues

By ANNA La FLEUR

Production Manager

AUSTIN – Democratic Terrell County judge nominee Terry Toler said he attended the Senate District 19 County Judge Seminar, hosted by Sen. Carlos Uresti here last week.

The seminar at the state Capitol was to inform county judges and nominees of the challenges the counties face in Uresti’s district, the largest in the nation covering 55,000 square miles including Terrell County.

SANDERSON – Juan Alvarez is the new commander of the American Legion Post 160 of Sanderson, a post Dean Autrey held for a year.

Alvarez has been a member here for two years and was a member of the Fort Stockton Post 7475 since the 1970s.

“I was the first Hispanic member here and the first ever Hispanic commander here,” Alvarez said.

He said he was the post commander for three years at Post 7475.

“We hope to get more members at our post soon,” Alvarez said. “We also hope to

County gets new ambulance

SANDERSON – Terrell County Commissioners Monday agreed to the lease-purchase of a 2009 ambulance from Lone Star Emergency Vehicles of Midlothian near Dallas, a brand new “demonstrator” which is available for immediate delivery.

In making the motion, Commissioner Kenn Norris asked that it be financed through Government Capital Corp. on a three-year lease with a buyout for $1 at the end of the lease.

SANDERSON – The mini cheer camp this week drew more than 20 future cheerleaders from pre K to fifth graders in the old high school auditorium.

The kids were separated into small groups and were instructed by their teenage counterparts.

Methodist get pastor

SANDERSON – Pauline Williamson has been hired on a one-year agreement as pastor of the First United Methodist Church here.

She recently graduated from McMurry University and will only be in town on the weekends.

Williamson begins preaching to her flock Sunday, Aug. 15.

About red-hot chili peppers

By MARK GLOVER

Contributing Editor

SIERRA BLANCA - “I don’t remember much about my father,” Debbie Martinez recalled. “I was one of 12, south side of Dallas. He wasn’t home much. Worked all the time. I left when I was 12.”

She looked up from the picnic table.

“But I do remember him eating jalapeños,” she said. “It would be hot outside and we would finish eating and then dad would ask for jalapeños. He would eat two or three with a straight face and nothing would happen to him except the sweat that broke out between his nose and lips.”

By LYN ROSAS

Business Manager

SANDERSON- Kody Gentry of Alpine was the top money winner at the Sanderson Rodeo Club roping event Saturday, a make-up date for the event that was rained out July 4.

Gentry took home a saddle donated by Pecos County State Bank, Lemon Abstract and Charles and Nancy Stegall.

TXDOT phones to ‘talk Texan’

AUSTIN - The Texas Department of Transportation wants to train its automated telephone system to learn to speak “Texan.”

TxDOT launched its new interactive voice response interface for the Texas Travel Information Line this week, which provides both road conditions and travel information at 800/ 452-9292.

SANDERSON – An unidentified passenger on the Amtrak train had difficulties with his pacemaker Tuesday afternoon and was taken by Care Star helicopter to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa.

The patient was loaded onto the aircraft at the US Highway 285-90 interchange west of Sanderson.