AHEAD – Sanderson Eagle Darren Seidel was way ahead of a Fort Davis Indian defender on a 60-yard pass play from quarterback Jacob Benavidez Saturday. The Eagles got their first action in a scrimmage against the Indians and Balmorhea. In a real game, Darren’s reception would have resulted in six points for the home team.

SANDERSON – The Terrell County Independent School District Monday sold the remaining $4.5 million in bonds for school construction and agreed to submit another bond issue for an entirely different problem to the voters in November.

The voters approved $14 million in bonds in May, 2007, for school improvements. The first $9.5 million in bonds were sold two years ago.

The $14 million is all to be used for construction but a new $1.6 million issue would be used to protect some school revenues from “recapture,” to “help keep some local money in the district,” said bond counsel Nick Bulaich, vice president of First Southwest Company of Dallas.

Voters will be asked to approve a five-year bond issue in the Nov. 3 General Election with the sole purpose of allowing the district to use more of its own money.

The new construction bonds have an 18-year payout.  

Under the state’s so-called “Robin Hood” finance scheme,Terrell County is now sending more than $1 million per month to other school districts in a formula requiring 86.58 percent of its tax dollars to be sent to other districts.

Business Manager Blain Chriesman told the School Board he expects reduced property values in the county this year will result in a reduction in the recapture rate to about 75 percent.     

Under state law, “voter approved bonds” are exempt

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Bonds sold, more offered

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

 

Eagles get first look

SANDERSON – With the first scrimmage Saturday, the 2009 Eagles got their first action of the season and the first look at a couple of frequent opponents, one of which they will face during the year.   Read more...

WHERE THERE’S SMOKE – A big column of smoke was visible in Sanderson Monday from a grass fire on the Steve Forest Ranch north and east of town. The fire blacked more than 500 acres but action by local Fire Department and Road and Bridge crews, volunteers and theTexas Forest Service brought it under control by Wednesday. 

 

 

Fire blackens Forest Ranch

SANDERSON – In a scene scarily reminiscent of major grass fires in March, 2008, a fire on the Steve Forest Ranch north and east of Sanderson this week sent a column a smoke into the air and blackened more than 700 acres but caused only minor damage.  Read more...

School supplies donated

SANDERSON – An anonymous donor has contributed school supplies to children at Sanderson Elementary School for the coming school year, which begins Monday, Aug. 24, and more donations are on the way.   Read more...

‘Good sound’ seen

SANDERSON – after a “relatively successful” summer band program, the Sanderson High School Band should have a “good sound” this year, Band Director Eric Cooksey told the News Leader this week.   Read more...

SANDERSON – A brief, cooling rain shower set the stage Saturday. It didn’t even hit every place in Sanderson but it was enough to cool the air for the event that followed.   Read more...

Area to get $6 million

WASHINGTON, DC – Seven Southwest Texas counties will receive a combined $6 million in Operation Stonegarden grants to bolster law enforcement efforts along the border.   Read more...

Sales taxes down 40 percent

SANDERSON – Sales tax revenue receipts to Terrell County were down 40.76 percent this month to $26,372.13, compared to $44,523.23 in the same month a year ago.   Read more...

By KIM RAPP

Production Manager

SANDERSON – The First Calvary Baptist Church kept newcomer Ely Guzman busy with Vacation Bible School here last week.

Read more...

SANDERSON – Anna LaFleur of Sanderson has made the Chancellor’s List at Colorado Technical University where she is studying on line to get an associates degree in accounting.

LaFleur has had a perfect 4.0 grade point average since she started in May and made the Chancellor's list for both sessions.

“It is the hardest thing I have taken in college to date,” she said. It included “long hours of studying, incredibly long essays and little time for my kids.”       Read more...

Bridge on US 285 to open

FORT STOCKTON – A traffic bottleneck going into town from Sanderson should end when the US Highway 285 bridge over Comanche Creek opens next week.   Read more...

Rebecca Wallace graduates at SRSU

ALPINE – Rebecca A. Wallace of Sanderson was among 136 students, 84 from the Alpine Campus and 52 from Rio Grande College, who were candidates for degrees during summer commencement exercises at Sul Ross State University last week.  Read more...

Weekend is ‘tax free’

Texas shoppers will get a break from state and local sales taxes this weekend as the state offers its annual tax holiday.   Read more...

Food Pantry thanks Patrol

SANDERSON – Terrell County Food Pantry volunteers responded this week to a story in the News Leader last month in which the US Border Patrol said it has donated to food pantries in the area (News Leader, July 31, Page 8.)   Read more...

SHEFFIELD – The Nature Conservancy of Texas has invited the public to camp, swim and fish at an open preserve weekend at Independence Creek Preserve, September 4 to 6.   Read more...

SANDERSON – Brothers Danny and Richard Butler of Eagle Pass have provided a “substantial” check to help the News Leader stay afloat.  Read more...

Reform plan held ‘harmful’

AUSTIN – The health care reform plans pending in the US Congress would cause more harm than good, a study released this week by the Texas Public Policy Foundation said.    Read more...

‘Pyramid’ scheme seen

MIDLAND – The Better Business Bureau here has warned consumers about a company making big promises that could be a “pyramid scheme.”     Read more...

UC now Morgan Center

ALPINE – The University Center at Sul Ross State University was official named in honor of President R. Vic Morgan and his wife, Mary Jane.   Read more...

Convocation next week

ALPINE – The 11th annual Sul Ross State University new student convocation will be at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, in Marshall Auditorium, welcoming all new Sul Ross students and acquainting them with the history and traditions of Sul Ross.   Read more...

Barbecue supports Sittners

HONORED – Lea and Bill Hawn were among those present at a community benefit barbecue for Travis Sittner Saturday. Their grandson Travis was accidentally killed last month at their home and the benefit was to help with funeral expenses. Joining the couple were, from left, Loretta Marsicano, Henry Beth Hogg and Forrest Stumberg.

DINNERTIME – Chamber of Commerce Vice President Ruth Engledorf helped serve at a benefit barbecue Saturday for Travis Sittner, who was killed accidentally last month. Getting their goodies, from left, were Reid McClellan, Lindy Stumberg and Don Kelso.

AND THE BAND PLAYED ON – Members of the Terrell County Bs played for a barbecue benefit Saturday at the Bicentennial Park Pavilion. They were, from left, Jimmy Davis, John Dewey Stutes, Eric Cooksey and Ernie Ayers.

VBS keeps new director busy

HAVE A BALL – Ely Guzman, the new youth director at First Calvary Baptist Church, will get to double the size of his inflatable ball, which he uses in his “Teens Rejoicing About Christ” program. Here, he sported a 30-inch ball. Proceeds from a “Penny March” at last week’s Vacation Bible School will get him a 60-inch globe.

TRAVELING FAMILY – The Sloan family slowed down long enough to get a quick “photo-op” this week. In the back row, from left were Joanna, Tom, Carly, Mona and Ester. In the front row were Lydia and Hank. The Sloans came to lend a hand to the Calvary Baptist Church recently.

LaFleur ‘aces’ grades

MAKE A SPLASH – Jesse Roberts prepared to “make a splash” at the Terrell County 4-H Enrollment Party at Bicentennial Park. Summer vacation is just about over, though. School starts Monday, Aug. 24. 

Youth wins awards - again

CINCINNATI, OH – Caden Villegas was selected for the second time in his second appearance to represent Texas on two separate teams in the 2000 and 2001 birth year divisions at the United States Roller Hockey Championships here.

Caden was able to accumulate 12 points in the 11 games played over the weekend.

Of particular importance, were Caden’s last two points of the tournament, the game winning assist in the semi-final playoff game, followed by the game winning goal in the Championship game versus New York a few hours later.

Outstanding play by Caden and the rest of his Texas teammates earned them the right to hoist the cup and call themselves the 2009 National Champions in the 2000 Division.      Read more...

Preserve offers open weekend

Photo by Amber Willis

STORMY WEATHER – Storm clouds hovered over the Oasis Ranch in this photo supplied by the Nature Conservancy ofTexas. An open weekend Sept. 4 to 6 will allow the public to camp, swim and fish at the ranch on Independence Creek south of Sheffield. 

STATE WARS – No, not “star wars.” Caden Villegas, grandson of Romelia Cleveland of Sanderson, was selected to represent Texas at the United States Roller Hockey Championships in Cincinnati, OH. It was the second time in as many appearances that Caden won the honor.

Donation supports TC News Leader

LIFE SUPPORT – County Judge Leo Smith, right, presented a check from Danny and Richard Butler of Eagle Pass to News Leader Publisher Jim Street this week. Street said the check will help pay off past due accounts and tide the paper over until revenues from some new ads placed by Sanderson Bank, the county and school district come in.

DEER ME – A young mule deer wandered onto the lawn of Justice of the Peace Corina Castro this week. It’s not unusual to see deer in town but this one seemed abnormally tame. She didn’t find much to eat at the Castro residence, though, because the bushes had all been sprayed with a deer repellant.

SHADY CHARACTERS – The mid-August sun was hot at the first scrimmage of the year Saturday. But the Eagles found some shade to cool off after a heavy workout. The shade provided by the scoreboard was the only spot in the field out of the direct sun.

SIGN UP – Terrell County School Board President Ada Lee Robbins signed papers Monday to sell $4.5 million in construction bonds to Frost Bank. Providing guidance was Nick Bulaich, vice president of First Southwest Company of Dallas, bond counsel to the school district. 

KEEP SOME MONEY – Bond counsel Nick Bulaich, vice president of First Southwest Company of Dallas, told school board members Monday a proposed five-year, $1.6 million bond issue could “help keep some local money in the district.” The issue, to be submitted to the voters in November, would allow the district to keep all of its proceeds because it is not subject to “recapture.” Looking on was Superintendent Gary Hamilton.

BROWNSVILLE – Christine Francis V. Escamilla of Brownsville, granddaughter of Louisa and Cutberto Gonzalez of Sanderson, graduated with honors from South Texas Vocational Institute here this summer.

She received a massage therapy diploma and an honor roll award.

She is the daughter of Mary Frances and George Villarreal of Laguna Vista.

Escamilla kin graduates