August 8, 2008
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SANDERSON
– It seems like a long time since Terrell County School District voters
agreed to a $14 million bond issue in May, 2007, to finance several improvements
to the district. But
dirt should begin to fly soon on three major projects with bids due at the
next school board meeting on Monday, Aug. 18. Board
President Ada Lee Robbins said there was “quite a bit of interest” in bidding
for a high school addition to the junior high building, a new field house and
a vocational education building east of the junior high. All
three projects were estimated at a combined $6.2 million. Work should begin
by Oct. 1. Robbins
said Alan White, president of Mid-Tex of Midland, told a pre-bid conference
here Tuesday that he had produced 40 pre-bid packets and needed to produce
more. Mid-Tex
is the construction manager for the bond program and Kevan Amonett of San
Angelo will be the on-site Mid-Tex representative. The
six new tennis courts behind the old Sanderson High School building have been
completed, the first of the bond projects to go to be built. The
purpose of the classroom addition to the south of the junior high building is
to get all secondary students under one roof. It
was decided not to renovate the old 1931 high school building because it
would cost some $5 million versus less than a tenth that amount to turn it
into office space. It
can be used for classrooms in the future, however, if enrollment increases to
the point that it would be needed. from
TEA for TAKS AUSTIN
– The Texas Education Agency has rated Terrell County Schools in the top two
positions in its annual district accountability ratings for 2008, released
last week. TEA
moved Sanderson Elementary School up one notch from last year from
“recognized” to “exemplary,” or from the second to the top rating. Sanderson
High School also moved up a notch from “academically acceptable” in 2007 to
“recognized” this year. Sanderson
Junior High School slipped one place from “exemplary” in 2007 to “recognized.” “We
are extremely proud of our all our students and all their hard work,” Board
President Ada Lee Robbins said. “We also thank our faculty for their
dedication to the students so that the students are able to excel in their
class work.” In 1993, the Texas Legislature mandated the creation of
the Texas public school accountability system to rate school districts and
evaluate campuses. The 1993 system remained in place through the 2001-02
school year. The ratings issued in 2002 were the last under that system. Beginning in 2003, a new assessment, the Texas
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, was administered. The school ratings are based on the results of those
tests. Schools can be rated exemplary, recognized,
academically acceptable or academically unacceptable. The state can impose sanctions on schools ranked unacceptable
but it usually gives them a few years to get up to speed. School starts for the new school year Monday, Aug. 25. SANDERSON
– Terrell County Extension Agent Mark Carroll will load up with eight adult
volunteers and roughly 29 youth and head for the McDonald Observatory near
Fort Davis next week. The
trip, which is funded by the 4-H Club, will be Friday and Saturday, Aug. 15
and 16. The observatory is operated by the University of Texas at Austin
and receives its main funding from the university. It is equipped with a wide range of instrumentation for
imaging
and spectroscopy
in the optical
and infrared
spectra and operates the first lunar laser ranging station. McDonald works closely with the astronomy
depart-ment of UT Austin but maintains administrative auto-mony. The observatory also pro-duces and consults on “StarDate,”
a daily syndicated radio astronomy segment hosted by
Sandy Wood that airs on stations throughout the United States in both English
and Spanish. The Otto Struve Telescope and the Harlan J. Smith Telescope are located on
Mount Locke at an
altitude of 6,791 feet. The Hobby-Eberly Tele-scope, dedicated in
late 1997, is located on the summit of Mount Fowlkes at 6,659
feet above sea level. The high and dry peaks of the Davis Mountains make for
some of the darkest and clearest night skies in the region and provide
excellent conditions for astronomical research. The
4-H members will get a tour of the facility and get to peer through a
telescope into the night sky. Carroll
said the tour, including the observatory’s regular “Star Party,” started with
an astronomy class last month. “It’s
really exciting that we’ve got this many kids interested in astronomy,” he
said. SANDERSON
– There was a fire at the US Post Office here Wednesday but the Terrell
County Volunteer Fire Department did not get a chance to show its stuff. A
carelessly discarded cigarette in a trash can started a fire but Teresa Brotherton
said she and three others “put it out with a cup of water.” She
said Fire Chief Bobby Brotherton, who happens to be her husband, was not
called. at
Sul Ross ALPINE
– When Ryan Zent walks across the stage tomorrow, Aug. 9, to receive his degree
at Sul Ross State University, he will continue a tradition begun in the 1940s
by his great grandparents. Zent,
of Tucson, will receive a Master of Business Administration degree during Sul
Ross State University's summer commencement, the fourth generation of his
family to complete his education under the Bar-SR-Bar. Actually,
Zent became the fourth generation in 2007 when he received his Bachelor of
Business Administration degree. His
parents, Gary and Gracie Vee McMillan Zent, are 1977 graduates. His grandfather,
Wylie McMillan, completed his degree in 1955 and Ryan’s great-grandparents,
Elmos A. and Betty Odessa McMillan, began the tradition in the 1940s. The
elder McMillans, who taught in Eldorado, spent several summers and received
master’s degrees from Sul Ross. In
addition, the Sul Ross educational tree branched out for both sides of the family.
Ryan’s
uncle, Jeff Zent, received a bachelor's degree. Wylie
McMillan's sister, Betty Jean, and brother, Elmer, both received master’s degrees. Ryan’s
aunt, Vickie McMillan Wilson, received a bachelor’s degree in 1985 and a master’s
degree in 1987. Her husband, Dave, director of the Big Bend Region Minority
Small Business Development Center at Sul Ross, also holds two degrees from
1980 and 1987. Ryan
Zent learned about Sul Ross as a small boy, coming to visit his grandparents,
Wylie and Prudella McMillan, at least once a summer. Wylie
McMillan, after a lengthy career with NASA that included living in Bermuda,
Florida, New Mexico and El Paso, returned to Alpine to help his wife manage
her Hudspeth County ranch. “I
think it’s a good university and it has served my family and me very well,”
said Wylie McMillan. Despite
the family legacy, Ryan first attended Pima Community College in Tucson, then
Arizona State University before transferring to Sul Ross in the fall of 2005. “I
didn’t really decide what I wanted to do at first,” he said. “I studied
construction management at Pima Community College, then transferred to ASU to
study aeronautical engineering. “I
had my pilot's license and I thought I wanted to build airplanes,” he said. When
he changed his mind, he also changed universities. “I
decided I wanted to be more involved with flying airplanes than building
them, so I came here to get a business degree,” Zent said. “Ultimately, it
was family that brought me to Sul Ross. I came here once or twice a year to
visit, so I grew up loving Alpine. “I
also received a scholarship from the Sul Ross Alumni Association that helped
me afford the out-of-state tuition,” he said. He
has savored his Sul Ross experience and plans to go into real estate
appraisal business here after graduation.
“I have loved the education I have been able to receive,” Ryan said. “I made a lot great friends, both with students and my professors. “Alpine
just carries with it everything I enjoy and like to do, the people, the outdoors
and the airport,” Ryan
Zent’s graduation will not end family involvement, however. The
Wilson’s son, Tyler, will continue the Sul Ross tradition as a member of this
year’s incoming freshman class. Artists,
jalapeńos visit library MARATHON
– Artist Mary Baxter and photographer Luc Novovitch, both of Marathon,
visited the Marathon Public Library this week. They
showed children attending the Summer Reading Program how to do photo paper
art. The
youngsters put objects on paper and placed it in the sun for two minutes.
Then the paper went into a water bath to bring out the designs. “The
children really enjoyed the art project,” Librarian Carol Townsend
said. Jackie
Boyd read “Jalapeńo Hal” by Jo Harper this week. The
22 attendees colored pictures, photo art papers and decorated cookies. Shirley’s
Burnt Biscuit made Jalapeno cookies for the children to decorate. “We
wish to thank Don for all his hard work and donating the cookies,” Townsend
said. “They were very good. The
End of Summer Reading Party was yesterday at the Baptist Hall. “Marathon
Public Library is a great little library with wonderful community support,”
Townsend said. ALPINE – “Pecos Bill and the Ghost Stampede,” a tall tale of the
Wild West, opened last night, Aug. 7, on the Theatre of the Big Bend stage
here. It will be performed at 8:15 p.m. nightly tonight, tomorrow and
Sunday, Aug. 8, 9 and 10. Written by Eric Coble and directed by Keith Ray West, “Pecos
Bill and the Ghost Stampede” promises to bring out the kid in every
spectator. The biggest herd of cattle west of the Mississippi has disappeared
and, when that herd transforms into ghosts, Pecos Bill gets involved. When Young Missy Cougar-Wildcat, who has always wished she could
live a tall-tale, steps into the scene, a whole new legend begins. For more information about show times, ticket prices or group
rates, call 432/837-8218 or 888-722-SRSU or the website www.sulross.edu/tobb |
Robbins
said she had hoped the work could have been under way by July 1 and was frustrated
it was taking so long. “Everybody
is backed up,” Architect Monty Hunter said. School
districts including Pecos, Monahans, Andrews, Stan-ton, Seminole, Ozona and
many others have all passed bond issues. By KIM RAPP News Leader
Production Manager SANDERSON
– The Sanderson Eagles 2008 football season was born early Monday morning
with the first of the two-a-day football practices. It
also signaled the start of school is just around the corner. The
fans’ first look at the team in full pads was last night with Midnight
Madness at Eagle Stadium. The
Eagles face their first opponents on Saturday, Aug. 16, in Balmorhea when
they will scrimmage with the Bears and the Fort Davis Indians at a time to be
announced. Assistant
Coach Jerry Garza said he is “looking forward to the upcoming season with
high hopes for the younger players.” Three
freshmen and two sophomores will join their more experienced classmates for
the season, which begins in earnest when the Eagles host Grady at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 29. In
his annual Texas Football Magazine, Dave Campbell picked the Eagles as
“one of the teams to beat with loads of experience coming back.” He
noted running back Jonathan Calzada was picked as District II newcomer of the
year in 2007. Unfortunately,
Jonathon suffered a serious knee injury late last season and has opted not
play football this year. He said he will focus on basketball and possibly
track. Campbell
said “players to watch” included Johathan, along with running backs Phillip
Lascano and J.D. Brotherton. Others
included guard Darren Seidel, back Jacob Benavidez and Ryan Rosas at safety. Something
that will be very obvious in the new school year, not just for the
athletically inclined, will be major construction on a high school addition
to the junior high school building, a new vocational arts building and a new
field house. The School Board is expected to consider
bids on the projects at its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 in the
High School library. There
was concern at the last board meeting that the concession stand at the east
end of The Pit would have to be moved to make way for construction of the new
field house. But
Board President Ada Lee Robbins said she was told at a pre-bid meeting
Tuesday, the concession stand could stay where it is until after football
season. Preliminary
groundwork can be done around the concession stand and it can moved before
work begins on the building, but not until after the season ends in November. Band
Booster President Laura Galvan said hungry fans need not worry no matter
where the concession stand winds up. “The
Booster Club will be on hand selling cold cokes, hot dogs and other football
favorites from somewhere near the field,” she said. Teachers will return to work on Monday,
Aug. 18, and students will report on Monday, Aug. 25. Also new this year will be Band Director
Eric Cooksey, a Sanderson native who has been teaching music in Ysleta, near
El Paso. Cooksey
said band activities started with a meeting last night, Aug. 7, and a first
“rehearsal” will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at band hall. And
for those who haven’t finished their school shopping, the state’s “No Tax
Weekend” will be Friday to Sunday, Aug. 15, 16 and 17. Shoppers
will be able to save the sales tax on items students will need for the new
school year. By JACOB BENAVIDEZ Sanderson HOBY Ambassador SANDERSON
– My experience of being the HOBY Ambassador for Sanderson was amazing. I
learned how to be a better leader for our community, innovative opportunities
for learning and communication skills and the impact of technology. We
also got educated on how important it is to volunteer in our world and community. I
got to meet a lot of people who are really successful in the world today. I
met Richard Castro of El Paso, who owns a little over 30 McDonald’s
restaurants in Texas. There were many others I got to meet as well. My
favorite part of HOBY was going to a baseball park where kids with
disabilities play. I
got to help them receive their end-of-the-year awards. I met a lot of new
friends while at HOBY. I
was also the only one who got to write a letter to the President of the
United States. The
President wrote to us thanking us for participating in HOBY and I was chosen
at random to respond. I
hope to go back next year as a junior facilitator and have another wonderful
experience. EDITOR’S NOTE: Jacob was the 2008 Sanderson
representative at the Hugh O'Brian Leadership Conference in El Paso.. Founded in 1958 by American actor Hugh
O'Brian, it is an organization dedicated to training and nurturing the
young leaders
of tomorrow whose mission is to provide lifelong leadership development
opportunities that empower youth to achieve their highest potential. To attend seminars, a student must be
chosen by their high school out of all students in that school’s sophomore
class. SAN
ANGELO – Kinsey Chandler, 10, of Sanderson won her age division in barrel racing
at the American Junior Rodeo Association Finals at the First Community Credit
Union Spur Arena here last week. Her
ride of 14.94 seconds not only won her 9-12 age division but was also would
have won the 13-15 division and 16-19 division. Of
the 20 barrel racers to compete, Kinsey was the only one wearing a helmet but
it clearly didn’t slow her down. “She’s
worn it from Day One,” said her mom Tia. “She wants to run in the NFR in a
helmet. She believes in it. “We
know people who have had head injuries and you only have one head,” Tia Chandler
said. “It can happen in a heartbeat so why not go ahead and be safe?” She
said Kinsey won the world championship as well as the average at the finals. “She
received a saddle and buckle for the championship as well as a buckle for
winning the average,” Chandler said. “She went to 16 of the 18 qualifying
rodeos. “At
these rodeos, she won money at 12 of them and was in the points at 14,”
she said. “This weekend brought her earnings on Bender up to over
$3,000.” Kinsey
has won four saddles and more than 20 buckles on five different horses. “It’s
pretty cool,” Kinsey said. Kinsey
gave a lot of credit for the ride to her horse Bender and Mom praised both
rider and horse. “She
works hard,” Tia Chandler said. “She’s at the barn every day,” Kinsey’s
use of a helmet wasn’t the only thing that set her apart from her
competitors. Only
two barrel racers at the AJRA rode stallions. Kinsey was one of them. “Most
of the girls ride mares or geldings,” Tia said. “That testosterone can kick
in and they can be bad sometimes but he takes care of her. I’d never want to
get my child or someone else’s child hurt but I finally tried it [letting
Kinsey ride Bender in a race for the first time last October] and he was a
perfect gentleman.” Another
story from the event was the ride by 12-year-old Wesley Thorp of Throckmorton
who ignored a broken thumb and won a pickup for his winning ride in
double-mugging calf-roping. Even
with a cast on his right hand, Wesley had the fastest time at 14.91 seconds
in the 9-12 age group. “It’s
pretty nice,” Wesley said of his new pickup, though he has to wait four years
to drive it. “My parents are hauling me around to rodeos in it now,” he said. STUDY
BUTTE – A draft agreement between Terlingua Ranch near here and the Texas
General Land Office could give the public access to the Christ-mas Mountains. Terlingua
Ranch General Manager Alida Loria told the News Leader this week that
the agreement is just a draft but, if approved, the mountain range north of
Big Bend National Park would be accessible to the public through her development. Access
would not be limited to Terlingua Ranch property owners. “Commissioner
[Jerry] Patterson [of the Land Office] wants to open it to the public,” she
said. The
GLO acquired an easement from Big Bend National Park in April, allowing
public access to the property. But
it involved a rugged, four-mile hike from the nearest park road to get to the
property. Patterson
said in April he was working to provide public access to the mountain property. The
draft agreement, if approved, would not allow vehicular traffic of any kind
to the range, including four-wheel-drive vehicles, but hiking and horseback
access could include a scenic outlook that provides vistas as far as northern
Mexico. “There
is a wonderful old road that goes up into the Christmas Mountains into section
91 that leads to an over- look,” she said. “It
is actually at the top of cliffs that provides a view of Big Bend National
Park, Santa Elena Canyon, the canyons of Mexico, Mules Ears, the Window and
west to Lajitas,” Loria said. “It’s an incredible view.” The
draft agreement has a provision that preclude “hunting” in its proposed uses. But
it also limits what hunting is allowed to bows and arrows, black powder
muzzle loaders and shotguns. Loria
said hunting is completely under the control of the state. Hunters
would be requested to register at Terlingua Ranch but only so the state can
keep up with the activity. The
resort facility at Terlingua Ranch, “despite its temporary closing, gives a
perfect public access” to the mountains, Loria said. The
ranch lodge will be closed from Sept. 2 to “early 2009,” partly because of
“budget issues,” she said. “We
are going to take this as an opportunity to do some very necessary
maintenance on property itself,” she said. Having
access to the Christmas Mountain property through the ranch can be a win-win
for all parties, Loria said. “The
potential good for the POA (property owners association) would be increased
occupancy, increased revenues and, you would think, land values,” she said. A
Land Office spokesman said they could not comment on the draft agreement
until it is approved. “It
is just a draft,” public affairs officer Jim Suydam said. But he did provide
a copy of the draft agreement. ALPINE – US Rep. Ciro Rodriguez will be honored at a private
breakfast Wednesday, Aug. 13, at Sul Ross State University. Rodriguez, who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District,
will be recognized for his support of higher education and service to Sul
Ross. His support has been instrumental in the award of several grants
to the school, including the US Department of Agriculture grant to conduct
research of freshwater resources in the Rio Grande Watershed. The research is conducted through the Rio Grande Research Center
at Sul Ross with collaboration from researchers from four other universities
within the Texas State University System, Texas State San Marcos, Lamar
University at Beaumont, Angelo State University and Sam Houston State
University at Huntsville. Rodriguez also has supported funding for GEARUP, Upward Bound
and TRIO programs at Sul Ross. |
Current
Terrell County ISD projects will be financed by $9.5 million in bonds sold a
year ago. The remaining $4.5
million of the approved issue can be sold later as new projects are undertaken. to
celebrate week SANDERSON
– Cactus Health Services, Inc., of Sanderson plans to celebrate National
Health Center Week, starting Monday, Aug. 11. “The
second week of August each year is dedicated to recognizing the service and
contributions of community, migrant, homeless and public housing health
centers in providing access to affordable, high quality, cost-effective
health care to medically vulnerable and underserved people in the US,” Cactus
Executive Director Teresa Smith said. “America's
Health Centers: Home of America’s Health Care Heroes” is the theme for
National Health Center Week 2008. “It
recognizes the vital role of health center providers in achieving the success
of the health center mission,” Smith said. “From primary care physicians to
behavioral health specialists to nurses and pharmacists, nearly 40,000 health
care professionals serve on the front lines each day in health centers.” Cactus
Health Services, Inc., is a Federally Qualified Health Center, serving
patients in Sanderson, Fort Stockton and the surrounding area. The
“health care heroes” in Sanderson are LVN Kathy Lawson, Billing Clerk Lupe Sanchez,
Community Health Worker Karen Sanchez, who also fills in as receptionist, and
Pharmacist Jill Jahn, Smith said. J.P.
Schwartz, DO, and Physicians Assistant Raymond J. DeLille rotate between the
Sanderson and Fort Stockton facilities. Smith
oversees operations in both locations. A
highlight of the weeklong observance will be a special Open House at
Sanderson Clinic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7. There
will be a ribbon cutting at the Fort Stockton clinic at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug.
12, and a board meeting there at 6 p.m. The
center is also offering a raffle for a trophy white tail deer hunt and a
two-hour helicopter ride. Tickets
for the raffle are printed on Page 4 of this week’s News Leader. The
Cactus Health Center in Sanderson is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, closing for lunch from 12 noon to 1 p.m., and 8 a.m. to 12
noon on Friday. The
Sanderson facilities at 213 Persimmon currently provide care to more than
1,300 residents of the Terrell and Pecos County areas, including primary care
and preventive care, and are expanding into health disparity programs,
exercise and nutrition programs, employment physicals/testing and outreach
services including program qualification and application. “Our
goal is to develop mental health and oral/dental health programs in the very
near future,” Smith said. “Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are also
welcome. “Insurance
and Medicare/ Medicaid paperwork will be filed and there is a sliding fee
scale available,” she said. “The
Board of Directors and I want to thank every employee for their dedicated service,”
Smith said. “Please feel free to come by the health center sometime next week
and help us honor our ‘Health Care Heroes.’” Smith
said the employees have worked extra hard to get the clinic to where it is
today. “We
couldn’t have done it without their dedication and effort,” she said. To
recognize the week, both Sanderson and Fort Stockton clinics will have open
house all week with drawings and other activities. There
will be drawings for cholesterol screening, flu shots, physical exams, osteopathic
manipulation treatment, bone density screening, hearing screening, Pap
smear/well exam and other prizes. US
Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez of San Antonio has been invited to the Sanderson
Clinic. A Rodriguez spokesman said he will not be available for the clinic open house but will appear at a “Congressman in your Corner” town hall meeting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Paddy’s Restaurant. He
will then go to Fort Stockton for a 12:30 p.m. town hall meeting, a
flag-raising ceremony at the Pecos County Courthouse at 2:30 p.m. and a
private tour of SandRidge Energy at 4 p.m. SANDERSON
– There will be a short music program at 12:30 p.m. today, Aug. 8, to show
off some music skills being practiced all week at Sanderson Elementary
School. John
and Leah Carnagey, along with music teacher Sandy Breckenridge, are “making
music” with the younger musicians at the school. Thirteen
elementary and junior high school students showed up to participate in the
music camp. Raquel
Hinkley, Jessica Garza and Miriam and Noemi Nuńez were volunteers helping the
teachers teach. The
kids are writing their own songs, then adding melodies and chords using an
assortment of instruments from tambourines to plastic tubes to a wooden frog
all the way from Thailand. ALPINE
– Sul Ross State University Associate Professor of Music Dr. Donald Freed
will present a paper at the fourth International Conference on the Physiology
and Acoustics of Singing next year. The conference is scheduled Jan. 7 to 10, 2009, at the
University of Texas at San Antonio. Freed’s presentation, scheduled Jan. 9, will deal with stroke,
singing and the teaching of singing, arising from his experience as a stroke
victim. SANDERSON
– The Terrell County 4-H Club will host its annual enrollment party Monday,
Aug. 18, at the Bicentennial Park Pavilion. The pizza and swimming party will
begin at 6 p.m. All
Terrell county youth and adult volunteers are invited to attend. The
annual event is a chance for local youth to sign up for the upcoming 4-H year
and discuss project groups planned for this year. Extension
agents Evans Foster and Mark Carroll will be available to answer questions
for the upcoming 4-H projects. 4-H
is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership,
citizenship and life skills. For
more information call the extension office at 432/345-2291. The
annual back-to-school state “tax holiday” will be next weekend, Aug. 15 to
17, to help parents stretch their budgets for school supplies. The
“No Tax Weekend” will allow shoppers to save the sales tax on items students
will need for the new school year. To
allow lifeguards, many of whom are school students, the Bicentennial Park
Swimming Pool will be closed Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16 and 17. Many
of the lifeguards are also football players or cheerleaders so the pool will
also be closed on Friday, Aug. 22 for a scrimmage at Imperial. “We
had one of the best groups of lifeguards ever this year,” Pool Superintendent
Mike Sanchez said. “They did a really super job.” The
pool will open Saturday, Aug. 23, for the final day of the year. The
tax holiday law exempts most clothing and footwear priced under $100 from
sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they
spend. Backpacks
under $100 and used by elementary and secondary students are also exempt. Lay-away
plans also can be used to take advantage of the sales tax holiday. By MARK GLOVER
Marathon News Leader SHAFTER
– Aurcana Corp. of Vancouver, BC, has completed the purchase of the Shafter
Silver Mine and expects to commence mining in 2010 after engineering modifications
are completed. Aurcana officers met
with about 25 Shafter residents in a series of meetings last week with groups
of three to six to discuss the impact that the new corporate neighbor will
have on the town’s residents. “Disturbance of
lifestyle played a big part in the discussions,” mining engineer and Aurcana
Vice President of Operations Andy Nichols said. “Water [supply] was their top
concern, followed by dust, noise, jobs, etc.” The mine has supplied
most of Shafter’s residents with water for many years. The water is sourced
from one of the mine’s flooded shafts. “We plan to drill a
new well on the east side of the Highway [67] and continue to supply water to
the town,” Nichols said. Ten-year Shafter
resident Angela Perea attended one of the meetings. “They said the present
water had been tested and was safe but that they would drill another well at
their expense and continue to supply water to the town,” Perea said. “Water
pressure has always been a problem here. “Good water pressure
would be fine but I think I can safely say that many in the town were hoping
the deal wouldn’t go through,” Perea said. “This has been a quiet little town
and that’s why most people moved here.” All that quiet is
likely to change once the company commences operation. Aurcana plans to
operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with two 12-hour shifts on the
milling operation and two 10-hour shifts for underground mining. “They talked about
building a ramp to put the jaw-crusher underground, to make it quieter,”
Shafter resident Brenda Worsham said. “But they also said they’d have to
raise the money to build the ramp.” The jaw-crusher
reduces the ore from large chunks to two- inch pieces by crushing the earth
with powerful steel jaws. Not
only does Aurcana intend to pulverize the raw ore to small pieces but they
also plan to process it and produce silver dore on site, a 98 percent pure
silver product. An
ore processing mill, capable of refining 900 tons of ore per day is already
at the mine. The
dore will then be shipped by armored car to another location where the final
two percent of silica and quartz impurities will be removed to make silver
bullion. Aurcana
President Ken Booth said the company plans to produce three million troy
ounces of bullion per year, which will require processing approximately
325,000 tons of ore. The
sequence for converting ore to silver dore includes a chemical leeching
process where the ore is agitated in a bath of cyanide. Cyanide
is a deadly poison and its handling is regulated by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality. “We’re
a responsible mining company and members of the International Cyanide
Manage-ment Code,” Nichols said. “Outside third-party auditors are involved
in the process and they expect much beyond what the law requires. The cyanide
is recovered at the end of the leeching and only small parts per million show
up in the tailings.” According
to the Blacksmith Institute, five of the ten most polluted places on the
planet are mining sites where heavy metal ore processing takes place. None
of the five sites is in the United States. “They
didn’t sugar coat it, although they did have soft drinks and snacks at the
meeting. They told us what they planned to do,” Perea said. “They were nice
people. But I wondered if it really mattered what I or anybody at the meeting
had to say. I mean, they’re going to do it anyway, right?” “We
asked them, what’s in it for us,” Worsham said. “And they said, ‘jobs.’ Well
most of us are not interested in working 1,000 feet under-ground, shoveling
dirt or whatever they do down there. “They
said something about the infant mortality rate in Africa going up when mining
companies were not allowed to mine,” Worsham said. “As if jobs provide
vitamins and health care.” Shafter
silver deposits were discovered in 1882 by John Spencer, a soldier in the US
Army who was stationed in the region. He
convinced William R. Shafter to purchase the land where the discovery was
made. Mining
expertise was brought in from San Francisco. In 1890 a smelter was
con-structed in Cibolo Creek just downstream from present day Shafter to
process not only silver but also lead. At
that time, mercury was used to separate the minerals from the ore. Later
cyanide was found more effective and a cyanide plant and new smelter was set
up in the creek upstream from Shafter in 1912. The
following year, hand drills were displaced by air driven percussion drills
and by 1930 the main shaft of the mine was 700 feet deep. The
first laborers of the mine were Irish who had come to Texas via the boom gone
bust placer region of northern California. The
next set of laborers came from Mexico and they became the backbone for the
mine until its closure in 1942. “We
don’t know for sure but under full production we expect 80 to 100 jobs to
open up,” Booth said. “We will employ from the local area.” “They
said Shafter residents would be given priority for jobs. They also said that
they would bus workers in from Presidio and Ojinaga,” Perea said. “Maybe it’s
selfish not to want the mine because a lot of people in Presidio and OJ need
the work.” Presidio
City Manager Cindy Clarke said unemployment in the area has dropped
drastically in the last few years and now hovers around 18 percent. Oilfield
work in the Permian Basin has exploded with the high price of crude oil and
many Presidio County resi-dents have moved or commute north. The
Pińon Gas Field north of Marathon employs close to 2,000 people alone. “I
don’t know if I’ll stay,” Perea said. “I’m hoping the impact will be minimal.
But it might be too early to say.” |